The Enemy, Shame, and Learning to See Yourself the Way Jesus Does with Stasi Eldredge- Episode 1082

I LOVED getting to sit down with Stasi Eldredge because it just feels like she’s a mentor to all of us. She knows Jesus intimately and wants us to know Him on that level and know the power we have to push back against the enemy, too. Her new book, Ladder of Love, includes a masterclass on spiritual warfare - and as we’ve been talking about the way the enemy’s stolen, killed, or destroyed our dreams, Stasi’s equipping us to fight back. Head’s up - we talk about her story which includes some really heavy and sensitive topics, so you may want to listen to this before my miniBFFs. We continue the conversation with us over on SpirituallyStronger.com. It’s my favorite place to write, and we love reading your comments there. . . . . I’m hitting the road this week for BOOK TOUR - Don’t Let That Hold You back comes out next Tuesday, but book tour starts this Wednesday in my hometown with my dad, Mr. F. Downs, taking over the mic and interviewing me. I can’t wait to be with y’all and there’s still time to grab a ticket to any of our 6 stops, including our virtual night one with our pal Eddie.  All of the details, cities, and links to get your tickets are at DontLetThatHoldYouBack.com. Every ticket includes a copy of the book! . . . . Pre-order your copy of Don’t Let That Hold You Back wherever you love to buy books! [pre- order gifts available dontletthatholdyouback.com] . . . . Thank you to our sponsors:  AG1: For a limited time, save 20% on your first subscription order of AG1 Essentials at DRINKAG1.com/SOUNDSFUN. Wayfair: Head to Wayfair.com or shop the Wayfair app for all things home. Our Place: Visit fromourplace.com/TSF and use code TSF for 10% off sitewide.  Thrive Causemetics: Go to thrivecausemetics.com/TSF for an exclusive offer of 20% off your first order. SEEDS: Download the free SEEDS app and take one small step today: plant your first seed and see what God can grow. Helix: Go to helixsleep.com/thatsoundsfun for 20% off sitewide. Hearing Jesus: Visit rachaelgroll.com/book to explore the book, download free resources, and get your copy of Hearing Jesus.  Boll and Branch: Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/thatsoundsfun with code thatsoundsfun.  NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends.  Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My new book, Don’t Let That Hold You Back, comes out September 15th, and today I get to read a short portion of it to you! This book is about THAT thing. You know the thing. Maybe it’s fear or doubt or lack of faith. I wrote this book because I want us to get curious about what’s actually holding us back, and then figure out what it looks like to take a step forward anyway. The entire book will be available to you in hardback, ebook, and audiobook format on Tuesday, September 15th which is coming SO SOON, so as you listen, go ahead and pre-order your copy! Plus, we’ve got 4 free downloads for you over at DontLetThatHoldYouBack.com - 1) You can go ahead download the first 2 chapters! 2) I have a message about falling in love with your life that’s not available anywhere else that you can listen to or read 3) I recorded a podcast episode with Sam Gibson from Church of the City in New York and Y’ALL - truly this is just for you and I need you to hear this episode about spiritual warfare 4) We have a BONUS chapter coming your way! There’s a password in the back of the book that you’ll get emailed on release day so you can unlock the new chapter. Isn’t that fun?! All of that is at DontLetThatHoldYouBack.com if you pre-order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we talk about taking steps toward doing the thing you’ve been dreaming about doing, I’ve been interviewing friends I’ve seen exemplify this, and I’m sooo excited for you to hear today’s conversation. Last week, I got to interview Pastor Tim Ross about the ways the enemy has stolen, killed, or destroyed our ability to dream or kept us stuck. It’s one the whole first half of Don’t Let That Hold You Back is about…we get to really deep dive into the ways you’ve truly been held back. But in the second half of the book, we talk about how we’re going to ask, seek, and knock so we can take some practical steps towards the life you’ve always wanted. And Franni Cash was an absolute delight to have this conversation with! She’s been on this really interesting journey in her music career of transitioning from being in a band with family to now pursuing a solo career. It’s been really beautiful to watch her do it. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts and I can’t wait for you to hear her new album… it’s called Here I Am and it’s out September 18th. Find the show notes here . . . . Pre-order your copy of Don’t Let That Hold You Back wherever you love to buy books! [pre- order gifts available dontletthatholdyouback.com] . . . . Thank you to our sponsors:  Thrive Causemetics: Go to thrivecausemetics.com/TSF for an exclusive offer of 20% off your first order. Helix: Go to helixsleep.com/thatsoundsfun for 20% off sitewide. Hearing Jesus: Visit rachaelgroll.com/book to explore the book, download free resources, and get your copy of Hearing Jesus.  Boll and Branch: Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/thatsoundsfun with code thatsoundsfun.  NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show, Eddie and I get to keep talking about ALL the things. We’re chatting about:  Eddie’s fig tree Dairy Cryogenics Burping honey and garlic Canning Setting goals Family Ties And the fact that maybe Eddie isn’t bald afterall As always, we need you to weigh in on ALL of this. We need you over in the comments on @thatsoundsfunpodcast’s instagram and tell us if a TV character ever made you think, “So this is what being a teenager is going to be like”? Find the show notes here . . . . . Pre-order your copy of Don’t Let That Hold You Back wherever you love to buy books! [pre- order gifts available dontletthatholdyouback.com] . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! AG1: Visit DRINKAG1.com/SOUNDSFUN and get a FREE AG1 Flavor Sampler and a FREE bottle of Vitamin D3 + K2 in your Welcome Kit with your first AG1 subscription order. Helix: Go to helixsleep.com/thatsoundsfun for 20% off sitewide. Hearing Jesus: Visit rachaelgroll.com/book to explore the book, download free resources, and get your copy of Hearing Jesus.  Boll and Branch: Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/thatsoundsfun with code thatsoundsfun. NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. #thatsoundsfunpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John 10:10 says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Steal, kill, and destroy-- they're all really different. They're all really unique. There's different things to do for yourself when they happen, and I think it's a really important conversation for us to have. In Don't Let That Hold You Back, I really deep dive into each of these things, but for this week and into the next couple of weeks, I wanted to have conversations with friends of mine who I thought really exemplified and understood and could teach these concepts deeper. What has been holding you back? What has been stolen, killed, or destroyed in your life and what can you do? I'll talk about all of that with today with my friend, Tim Ross. Find the show notes here . . . . Pre-order your copy of Don’t Let That Hold You Back wherever you love to buy books! [pre- order gifts available dontletthatholdyouback.com] . . . . Thank you to our sponsors:  Good Ranchers: Visit GoodRanchers.com/THATSOUNDSFUN to get $50 off anything on their site. CreaTone: Let me get you started with 20% off your first order visit TONETODAY.com… Promo Code TSF. OurPlace: Visit fromourplace.com/TSF and use code TSF for 10% off sitewide. This show is sponsored by BetterHelp: Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/thatsoundsfun. Helix: Go to helixsleep.com/thatsoundsfun for 20% off sitewide. Hearing Jesus: Visit rachaelgroll.com/book to explore the book, download free resources, and get your copy of Hearing Jesus.  Boll and Branch: Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/thatsoundsfun with code thatsoundsfun.  NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever looked at someone else's life and thought, Well... they can do that, but I could never write a book, go back to school, teach, start the thing, do both? Y'all know Dr. Angie Smith as an incredible Bible teacher, speaker, bestselling author, and honestly just one of the funniest humans you'll ever meet. But what I love about this conversation is that we don't just talk about all the things she's accomplished—we talk about everything that could have kept her from doing them. Angie’s talking about her life as a teacher, what it was like earning her doctorate in Developmental Psychology WHILE teaching full-time, and how she learned to keep saying yes even when people told her she couldn't hold both of her callings at once. I loved hearing about what her students call her "Hannah Montana life," and why she believes sometimes faithfulness isn't choosing one thing over another—it's stewarding both well. And we also get to celebrate her beautiful new book, Into the Deep. It's a book she's been carrying for a long time, and it explores what happens when we understand how God uniquely made us and then have the courage to step into the places He's actually calling us.  Find the show notes here . . . . Pre-order your copy of Don’t Let That Hold You Back wherever you love to buy books! [pre- order gifts available dontletthatholdyouback.com] . . . . Thank you to our sponsors:  This show is sponsored by BetterHelp: Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/thatsoundsfun. Daily Look: Head to DailyLook.com to take your style quiz and use code THATSOUNDSFUN for 50% off your first order. Capstone Wellness: Learn more at capstonewellness.com/thatsoundsfun. Helix: Go to helixsleep.com/thatsoundsfun for 20% off sitewide. Hearing Jesus: Visit rachaelgroll.com/book to explore the book, download free resources, and get your copy of Hearing Jesus.  Boll and Branch: Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/thatsoundsfun with code thatsoundsfun.  NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Y'all, this episode is just plain fun for me. David Pollack has lived a lot of life since his football days—playing in the NFL, watching that dream come to an unexpected end because of injury, joining the College GameDay team, walking through his wife Lindsey's battle with a brain tumor (she's now cancer-free!), and learning what it actually looks like to trust God through every season. One of my favorite parts of this conversation is hearing about the rhythms that have transformed his faith.  If you've been around here for a while, you know my Georgia Bulldog heart runs deep. So yes... we absolutely spend a little time talking about the Dawgs and how much college football has changed over the years. It's been fun to cheer for David for the last twenty-five years, and after this conversation, I have a feeling you'll be cheering for him too. Give this one a listen and go grab your copy of Every Day Counts! Find the show notes here . . . . Thank you to our sponsors:  Our Place: Visit fromourplace.com/TSF and use code TSF for 10% off sitewide. This show is sponsored by BetterHelp: Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/thatsoundsfun. WayFair: Join Wayfair Rewards today to get 5% back on every purchase and start saving on your next home upgrade. Good Ranchers: For a limited time, you can get $50 off your first Good Ranchers order. That means you can Build Your Own Box starting as low as $129. Just visit GoodRanchers.com/THATSOUNDSFUN to get $50 off anything on their site. Capstone Wellness: Learn more at capstonewellness.com/thatsoundsfun. Helix: Go to helixsleep.com/thatsoundsfun for 20% off sitewide. Hearing Jesus: Visit rachaelgroll.com/book to explore the book, download free resources, and get your copy of Hearing Jesus.  Boll and Branch: Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/thatsoundsfun with code thatsoundsfun.  NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've talked about how to commit to it, how to be better at communication, and today, we're talking about ways to find community. I'm so excited for you to hear this conversation with Susie Larson. She’s a bestselling author, Bible teacher, and the host of Susie Larson Live. For decades she's encouraged people to know the heart of God and walk with courage and hope. Her brand-new book, More Than You Can Imagine, invites us to trust God more deeply by seeing ourselves the way He sees us—fully loved, deeply known, and created for so much more. After you listen today, head over to spirituallystronger.com (that’s our Substack) so we can unpack this conversation even more together. I LOVE the community that’s formed there in the comments and I love getting to tell you some more stories there, like my old blogging days. We’ll link it in the show notes as well. View the show notes here . . . . Thank you to our sponsors:  Thrive Causemetics: Go to thrivecausemetics.com/TSF for an exclusive offer of 20% off your first order. CreaTone: Let me get you started with 20% off your first order. Visit TONETODAY.com, Promo Code TSF. This show is sponsored by BetterHelp: Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/thatsoundsfun. Helix: Go to helixsleep.com/thatsoundsfun for 20% off sitewide. Hearing Jesus: Visit rachaelgroll.com/book to explore the book, download free resources, and get your copy of Hearing Jesus.  Boll and Branch: Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/thatsoundsfun with code thatsoundsfun.  NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show, Eddie and I get to catch up about ALL the things. We’re talking about: Costco sheet cake Supermarket sweep  Home Goods Legos Rubik’s cubes The World Cup Project Hail Mary And we DO have a question for you today. Tell us your answers over on instagram: If you have $200 and 1 hour, where are you Supermarket Sweeping? Find the show notes here . . . . . Want to watch this episode? Watch on your Spotify App, or head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors!  Capstone Wellness: Learn more at capstonewellness.com/thatsoundsfun. Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/soundsfun⁠. The Wonder Project: Subscriber support makes more great content like I Gotta Ask with Annie F. Downs possible. The Wonder Project subscription on Prime Video is available in the U.S. for $8.99/month or $89.99/year after a 7-day free trial. Visit IGottaAsk.com to learn more! NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. #thatsoundsfunpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you feel like you and your friends or you and your significant other are struggling with communication lately, keep listening. This episode is for you.  As we talk about the importance of community, one of the fastest things to trip us up is communication. Think about how often miscommunication or lack of communication is the root problem in a disagreement or riff with your people. Author and therapist Jason VanRuler is here to help us better understand our communication type. It gives us such a better look into why we may act certain ways in friendships, relationships, at work.  Jason has a new book out called Discovering Your Communication Type, so you’re going to want to grab a copy of this. It’s so good! We continue today’s conversation with you over on spirituallystronger.com - so please join a whole community of us over there as we unpack this together. Find the show notes here . . . . Thank you to our sponsors: OurPlace: Visit fromourplace.com/TSF and use code TSF for 10% off sitewide. Good Ranchers: This July, Good Ranchers is celebrating all 50 states with $50 off your first order at GoodRanchers.com and use my code THATSOUNDSFUN at checkout. ELIC: Head to elic.org/thatsoundsfun to learn more.  This show is sponsored by BetterHelp: Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/thatsoundsfun. Capstone Wellness: Learn more at capstonewellness.com/thatsoundsfun. Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/soundsfun⁠. The Wonder Project: Subscriber support makes more great content like I Gotta Ask with Annie F. Downs possible. The Wonder Project subscription on Prime Video is available in the U.S. for $8.99/month or $89.99/year after a 7-day free trial. Visit IGottaAsk.com to learn more! NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices