The BEMA Podcast

Episode 483: Annie F. Downs — That Sounds Fun

Release Date: November 6, 2025
Host: Marty Solomon with Brent Billings
Guest: Annie F. Downs

Episode Overview

In this episode, hosts Marty Solomon and Brent Billings welcome Annie F. Downs—bestselling author, speaker, and prolific podcaster. The conversation delves into Annie's multifaceted calling: her media companies, writing and publishing journey, public ministry, podcasting—especially her focus on the Gospels—and her recent work around Christian singleness. The discussion is laced with humor, vulnerability, and Annie’s signature exuberance for fun, curiosity, and friendship while addressing the deep realities of living a purposeful public life rooted in faith.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Meet Annie F. Downs: Biography, Interests, and Work (00:51–04:00)

Annie lives in Nashville (formerly split with NYC), currently on tour with the Christian music group, Cain.
Runs two companies:
- That Sounds Fun Network: Supports over 50 podcasts through ads, education, and community.
- AFD, Inc.: Her writing, speaking, and podcast-specific endeavors (including three shows: That Sounds Fun, Mini BFF Podcast, Let’s Read the Gospels).
Annie is a prolific author (published since 2012) and a frequent speaker.
Quote:

"I love learning... I want someone who's an expert at something to sit down and teach me. I'm not great at school. That's why I didn't finish my master's. ... But, man, I'm curious."
—Annie (04:06)

2. The Value of Curiosity and Wrestling with Faith (03:41–06:08)

Annie’s life—and public ministry—has been marked by curiosity and wrestling publicly with faith, which resonates with BEMA’s own ethos.
She’s transparent that growth under public scrutiny is both beautiful and deeply challenging.
Quote:

"Curiosity is a pathway to love. ... If you get curious about people, your judgment goes down, your capacity to love them for who they are goes up."
—Annie (05:13)
She identifies being "black and white about Jesus, and that's about it," seeking understanding in gray areas.

3. Practicing Public Vulnerability (06:08–07:00)

Marty notes Annie's reputation for authenticity in the "influencer world."
Annie views public ministry as a potentially performative OR vulnerably honest space—and she strives for the latter.

4. Podcasting: Process, Purpose, and Powerful Impact (07:00–15:23)

a. Let’s Read the Gospels (07:11–10:08)

Annie launched this daily podcast to democratize Bible listening—reading three gospel chapters per episode.
In 15 months, it has tallied 10 million listens, described as "the most impactful thing I've ever done."
Quote:

“I read the Bible for 15 months, three chapters a day, out loud. ... It was just an offering.”
—Annie (08:24)

b. That Sounds Fun (10:14–15:23)

Annie’s flagship podcast, over 1,000 episodes, based on friendship and introducing listeners to her friends (or those she wishes were friends).
Guest curation: ONLY people she's genuinely interested in or already knows.
Mission: To be a trusted bridge to creators, influencers, and ultimately Jesus.
Memorable Moment: Annie recounts calling out to a listener in a specific scenario (celery in a grocery store) in real time, tapping into podcasting's intimacy and sacredness. (13:12)
Quote:

“If [listeners] stop with me, I haven't actually accomplished my goal. ... I want to be the bridge, hopefully truly to Jesus.”
—Annie (14:59)
Annie is “Catholic-curious,” expressing growing admiration for Catholic traditions (such as the use of incense and deep-rooted communal practices).

5. Notable Conversations & Recommendations (18:31–20:45)

Most Meaningful Episodes:
- Jonathan Merritt & Dr. James Merritt: A profound father-son conversation on faith and deep disagreement regarding sexuality.
  - “You don’t get to hear two people who love each other... who don’t agree. That one is really special to me." (18:37)
- Favorites include: John Eldredge, Dr. Esau McCaulley, Dr. Matthew Sleeth, Dr. Scott McKnight, Lisa Harper.

6. The Life of a Writer: Joy, Struggle, and the Sacred in Authorship (20:49–28:49)

Writing, for Annie, is “terrible” but ultimately fulfilling; “I love having written them.”
Books are “yearbooks of your life”—they capture your state-of-being at their moment of creation.
Remember God stands out for its personal impact, catalyzing readers to share their own stories of God's kindness amid disappointment.
Writing Process:
- Annie writes in concentrated blocks (Thursday–Sunday), emphasizing the importance of uninterrupted time for creative flow, with much of the process devoted to thinking rather than just typing.
- She avoids isolation—being deeply extroverted, she needs regular social interaction even during writing seasons.
Quote:

“The only way the enemy stops it is between your head and your hands.”
—Annie (27:44)

7. Events, Speaking, and Friendship-Making Gigs (31:58–37:03)

Annie loves both the stage and the interaction afterward, seeking to make people feel like friends rather than “fans.”
She values meeting those whose lives have been shaped via her work, recalling how much meeting her own heroes mattered.
Memorable Policy: To help people not feel embarrassed about meeting her, Annie will tell a friend: “When y’all get in the car, tell them they did a great job.” (36:14)

8. Travel, Fun, and Maintaining Wonder (37:03–41:49)

Annie created "Tour de Taste Buds" (restaurants) and "Pour de Taste Buds" (coffee shops) to combat cynicism about travel and maintain awe.
- Quote:
  
  "There are a lot of opportunities... to get cynical. The more I can build dams in front of those rivers, the better off I am."
  —Annie (39:37)
She emphasizes gratitude for every travel and ministry opportunity, reminding herself and her team: "They could have picked anybody, and God could have picked anybody. We are so lucky that they picked us." (40:29)

9. Single Purposely: Purpose and Community for Christian Single Women (43:06–49:13)

Sparked by overwhelming response to a single-focused Instagram post, Annie founded Single Purposely—offering encouragement, community, and practical resources for single Christian women.
She mourned being “the poster child” for singleness before embracing the ministry out of sensed divine prompting.
Resource: Free downloadable guide for church leaders—“Pastoring Singles”—is available to help bridge the experience gap and foster pastoral care for singles.
Key Insight:

“Single people aren’t helping either. ... What we need to do is get singles in meetings, on stages, and in conversation with married people and with leaders in the church, not just with each other talking about how this church didn’t meet their needs.”
—Annie (47:12)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

On curiosity:

"Curiosity is a pathway to love. ... You’re more curious about how [people] got there than thinking they’re in the wrong place."
(05:13)
On impact of “Let’s Read the Gospels”:

"I don’t give any commentary. I don’t do anything. I read three chapters a day... It was just an offering."
(08:24)
On the purpose of her podcast:

“My listeners know: If this is a friend of Annie’s, it’s a friend of ours... We can be friends with anybody. You don’t have to agree with them, but you can be friends with them.”
(11:44)
On books and growth:

“Books yearbook your life... what they don’t do is give the reader an exact understanding of me—because they’re frozen in time.”
(22:22)
On processing and protecting writing:

“The only way the enemy stops it is between your head and your hands.”
(27:44)
On gratitude for ministry:

"They could have picked anybody, and God could have picked anybody. We are so lucky that they picked us. Now we’re going to go live like that."
(40:29)
On singleness in the church:

"We want single people to feel welcome in our church... but a lot of our pastors got married at 20 and went to seminary 20 years ago. We are asking these pastors to breathe on Mars, and they’ve never even been."
(45:12)

Interesting Extras

Annie’s Unique Experiences

Baptism in Loch Ness: Annie was re-baptized in Scotland’s famous lake at a pivotal life moment. (50:24)
Belief in “Blurry Creatures”: Annie delights in the mysterious—open to Nessie and Bigfoot—citing the podcast "Blurry Creatures" as a joyful exploration of things unseen. (51:14–53:31)

Useful Resources

anniefdowns.com/pastoringsingles: Free resource for church leaders & singles
“Let’s Read the Gospels” podcast (for daily gospel readings)
“That Sounds Fun” podcast (for conversations with artists, thinkers, ministers, creators)
“Single Purposely” community

Timestamps for Key Segments

00:51 – 04:00 | Annie’s biography, work, and interests
03:41 – 06:08 | Discussion on curiosity and wrestling in faith
07:11 – 10:08 | “Let’s Read the Gospels” purpose & impact
10:14 – 15:23 | “That Sounds Fun” podcast mission and methods
18:31 – 20:45 | Noteworthy podcast episodes
20:49 – 28:49 | Writing books: experience and process
31:58 – 37:03 | Events, speaking, and meeting listeners
37:03 – 41:49 | “Tour de Taste Buds,” travel, and maintaining joy
43:06 – 49:13 | “Single Purposely,” ministry to singles, and the Pastoring Singles resource
50:24 – 53:31 | Loch Ness baptism, Bigfoot, and the world of “Blurry Creatures”

Tone and Takeaways

The episode, much like Annie’s persona, is warm, exuberant, honest, and gently challenging. Listeners are reminded of the power of curiosity, the sacredness of hospitality and of friendship, the costly beauty of vulnerability, and the ongoing need for the church to affirm and empower singles. Annie’s approach to ministry—spanning podcasts, books, events, and friendship—is all about connecting people: to each other, to beauty and playfulness, and ultimately to God.

Where to Find Annie F. Downs

"I'm embarrassingly easy to find. It's Annie F. Downs—F like Fancy—all over the place."
—Annie (49:28)

For show notes, more resources, and everything referenced, visit bematest.com or find it in your podcast app.

The BEMA Podcast

Episode 483: Annie F. Downs — That Sounds Fun

Release Date: November 6, 2025
Host: Marty Solomon with Brent Billings
Guest: Annie F. Downs

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Meet Annie F. Downs: Biography, Interests, and Work (00:51–04:00)

Annie lives in Nashville (formerly split with NYC), currently on tour with the Christian music group, Cain.
Runs two companies:
- That Sounds Fun Network: Supports over 50 podcasts through ads, education, and community.
- AFD, Inc.: Her writing, speaking, and podcast-specific endeavors (including three shows: That Sounds Fun, Mini BFF Podcast, Let’s Read the Gospels).
Annie is a prolific author (published since 2012) and a frequent speaker.
Quote:

"I love learning... I want someone who's an expert at something to sit down and teach me. I'm not great at school. That's why I didn't finish my master's. ... But, man, I'm curious."
—Annie (04:06)

2. The Value of Curiosity and Wrestling with Faith (03:41–06:08)

Annie’s life—and public ministry—has been marked by curiosity and wrestling publicly with faith, which resonates with BEMA’s own ethos.
She’s transparent that growth under public scrutiny is both beautiful and deeply challenging.
Quote:

"Curiosity is a pathway to love. ... If you get curious about people, your judgment goes down, your capacity to love them for who they are goes up."
—Annie (05:13)
She identifies being "black and white about Jesus, and that's about it," seeking understanding in gray areas.

3. Practicing Public Vulnerability (06:08–07:00)

Marty notes Annie's reputation for authenticity in the "influencer world."
Annie views public ministry as a potentially performative OR vulnerably honest space—and she strives for the latter.

4. Podcasting: Process, Purpose, and Powerful Impact (07:00–15:23)

a. Let’s Read the Gospels (07:11–10:08)

Annie launched this daily podcast to democratize Bible listening—reading three gospel chapters per episode.
In 15 months, it has tallied 10 million listens, described as "the most impactful thing I've ever done."
Quote:

“I read the Bible for 15 months, three chapters a day, out loud. ... It was just an offering.”
—Annie (08:24)

b. That Sounds Fun (10:14–15:23)

Annie’s flagship podcast, over 1,000 episodes, based on friendship and introducing listeners to her friends (or those she wishes were friends).
Guest curation: ONLY people she's genuinely interested in or already knows.
Mission: To be a trusted bridge to creators, influencers, and ultimately Jesus.
Memorable Moment: Annie recounts calling out to a listener in a specific scenario (celery in a grocery store) in real time, tapping into podcasting's intimacy and sacredness. (13:12)
Quote:

“If [listeners] stop with me, I haven't actually accomplished my goal. ... I want to be the bridge, hopefully truly to Jesus.”
—Annie (14:59)
Annie is “Catholic-curious,” expressing growing admiration for Catholic traditions (such as the use of incense and deep-rooted communal practices).

5. Notable Conversations & Recommendations (18:31–20:45)

Most Meaningful Episodes:
- Jonathan Merritt & Dr. James Merritt: A profound father-son conversation on faith and deep disagreement regarding sexuality.
  - “You don’t get to hear two people who love each other... who don’t agree. That one is really special to me." (18:37)
- Favorites include: John Eldredge, Dr. Esau McCaulley, Dr. Matthew Sleeth, Dr. Scott McKnight, Lisa Harper.

6. The Life of a Writer: Joy, Struggle, and the Sacred in Authorship (20:49–28:49)

Writing, for Annie, is “terrible” but ultimately fulfilling; “I love having written them.”
Books are “yearbooks of your life”—they capture your state-of-being at their moment of creation.
Remember God stands out for its personal impact, catalyzing readers to share their own stories of God's kindness amid disappointment.
Writing Process:
- Annie writes in concentrated blocks (Thursday–Sunday), emphasizing the importance of uninterrupted time for creative flow, with much of the process devoted to thinking rather than just typing.
- She avoids isolation—being deeply extroverted, she needs regular social interaction even during writing seasons.
Quote:

“The only way the enemy stops it is between your head and your hands.”
—Annie (27:44)

7. Events, Speaking, and Friendship-Making Gigs (31:58–37:03)

Annie loves both the stage and the interaction afterward, seeking to make people feel like friends rather than “fans.”
She values meeting those whose lives have been shaped via her work, recalling how much meeting her own heroes mattered.
Memorable Policy: To help people not feel embarrassed about meeting her, Annie will tell a friend: “When y’all get in the car, tell them they did a great job.” (36:14)

8. Travel, Fun, and Maintaining Wonder (37:03–41:49)

Annie created "Tour de Taste Buds" (restaurants) and "Pour de Taste Buds" (coffee shops) to combat cynicism about travel and maintain awe.
- Quote:
  
  "There are a lot of opportunities... to get cynical. The more I can build dams in front of those rivers, the better off I am."
  —Annie (39:37)
She emphasizes gratitude for every travel and ministry opportunity, reminding herself and her team: "They could have picked anybody, and God could have picked anybody. We are so lucky that they picked us." (40:29)

9. Single Purposely: Purpose and Community for Christian Single Women (43:06–49:13)

Sparked by overwhelming response to a single-focused Instagram post, Annie founded Single Purposely—offering encouragement, community, and practical resources for single Christian women.
She mourned being “the poster child” for singleness before embracing the ministry out of sensed divine prompting.
Resource: Free downloadable guide for church leaders—“Pastoring Singles”—is available to help bridge the experience gap and foster pastoral care for singles.
Key Insight:

“Single people aren’t helping either. ... What we need to do is get singles in meetings, on stages, and in conversation with married people and with leaders in the church, not just with each other talking about how this church didn’t meet their needs.”
—Annie (47:12)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

On curiosity:

"Curiosity is a pathway to love. ... You’re more curious about how [people] got there than thinking they’re in the wrong place."
(05:13)
On impact of “Let’s Read the Gospels”:

"I don’t give any commentary. I don’t do anything. I read three chapters a day... It was just an offering."
(08:24)
On the purpose of her podcast:

“My listeners know: If this is a friend of Annie’s, it’s a friend of ours... We can be friends with anybody. You don’t have to agree with them, but you can be friends with them.”
(11:44)
On books and growth:

“Books yearbook your life... what they don’t do is give the reader an exact understanding of me—because they’re frozen in time.”
(22:22)
On processing and protecting writing:

“The only way the enemy stops it is between your head and your hands.”
(27:44)
On gratitude for ministry:

"They could have picked anybody, and God could have picked anybody. We are so lucky that they picked us. Now we’re going to go live like that."
(40:29)
On singleness in the church:

"We want single people to feel welcome in our church... but a lot of our pastors got married at 20 and went to seminary 20 years ago. We are asking these pastors to breathe on Mars, and they’ve never even been."
(45:12)

Interesting Extras

Annie’s Unique Experiences

Baptism in Loch Ness: Annie was re-baptized in Scotland’s famous lake at a pivotal life moment. (50:24)
Belief in “Blurry Creatures”: Annie delights in the mysterious—open to Nessie and Bigfoot—citing the podcast "Blurry Creatures" as a joyful exploration of things unseen. (51:14–53:31)

Useful Resources

anniefdowns.com/pastoringsingles: Free resource for church leaders & singles
“Let’s Read the Gospels” podcast (for daily gospel readings)
“That Sounds Fun” podcast (for conversations with artists, thinkers, ministers, creators)
“Single Purposely” community

Timestamps for Key Segments

00:51 – 04:00 | Annie’s biography, work, and interests
03:41 – 06:08 | Discussion on curiosity and wrestling in faith
07:11 – 10:08 | “Let’s Read the Gospels” purpose & impact
10:14 – 15:23 | “That Sounds Fun” podcast mission and methods
18:31 – 20:45 | Noteworthy podcast episodes
20:49 – 28:49 | Writing books: experience and process
31:58 – 37:03 | Events, speaking, and meeting listeners
37:03 – 41:49 | “Tour de Taste Buds,” travel, and maintaining joy
43:06 – 49:13 | “Single Purposely,” ministry to singles, and the Pastoring Singles resource
50:24 – 53:31 | Loch Ness baptism, Bigfoot, and the world of “Blurry Creatures”

Tone and Takeaways

Where to Find Annie F. Downs

"I'm embarrassingly easy to find. It's Annie F. Downs—F like Fancy—all over the place."
—Annie (49:28)

For show notes, more resources, and everything referenced, visit bematest.com or find it in your podcast app.

483: Annie F. Downs — That Sounds Fun

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Summary

The BEMA Podcast

Episode 483: Annie F. Downs — That Sounds Fun

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Meet Annie F. Downs: Biography, Interests, and Work (00:51–04:00)

2. The Value of Curiosity and Wrestling with Faith (03:41–06:08)

3. Practicing Public Vulnerability (06:08–07:00)

4. Podcasting: Process, Purpose, and Powerful Impact (07:00–15:23)

a. Let’s Read the Gospels (07:11–10:08)

b. That Sounds Fun (10:14–15:23)

5. Notable Conversations & Recommendations (18:31–20:45)

6. The Life of a Writer: Joy, Struggle, and the Sacred in Authorship (20:49–28:49)

7. Events, Speaking, and Friendship-Making Gigs (31:58–37:03)

8. Travel, Fun, and Maintaining Wonder (37:03–41:49)

9. Single Purposely: Purpose and Community for Christian Single Women (43:06–49:13)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

Interesting Extras

Annie’s Unique Experiences

Useful Resources

Timestamps for Key Segments

Tone and Takeaways

Where to Find Annie F. Downs

Summary

The BEMA Podcast

Episode 483: Annie F. Downs — That Sounds Fun

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Meet Annie F. Downs: Biography, Interests, and Work (00:51–04:00)

2. The Value of Curiosity and Wrestling with Faith (03:41–06:08)

3. Practicing Public Vulnerability (06:08–07:00)

4. Podcasting: Process, Purpose, and Powerful Impact (07:00–15:23)

a. Let’s Read the Gospels (07:11–10:08)

b. That Sounds Fun (10:14–15:23)

5. Notable Conversations & Recommendations (18:31–20:45)

6. The Life of a Writer: Joy, Struggle, and the Sacred in Authorship (20:49–28:49)

7. Events, Speaking, and Friendship-Making Gigs (31:58–37:03)

8. Travel, Fun, and Maintaining Wonder (37:03–41:49)

9. Single Purposely: Purpose and Community for Christian Single Women (43:06–49:13)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

Interesting Extras

Annie’s Unique Experiences

Useful Resources

Timestamps for Key Segments

Tone and Takeaways

Where to Find Annie F. Downs