WHOA That's Good Podcast - Awkward Amateur

Episode Date: January 20, 2021

Sadie's good friend Annie F. Downs literally wrote the book on fun. Listen in as she and Sadie talk about how we can have more fun, Bible-reading plans, Enneagram types, the joys of being an amateur, how cancel culture limits our fun, and allowing people the grace to learn. Annie's encouraging message from her new book, "That Sounds Fun," will inspire you to love the way God made you and help you use your strengths and the things you love for God's glory. Sadie and Christian close it out with another edition of Good and Bad Advice on the WHOA That's Good Podcast.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sorry I wore a sweatshirt. I'm trying to make sweatshirts business casual. Oh, I like I often wear sweatshirts. I'm normally wear sweatshirts, but you know very little things fit me these days and what's your due date? May 4th. Oh my gosh, that's so soon. Oh, I know or just let me sink go to my own. That's my hope. Like I genuinely hope that she is born for Singo de Mayo because I love birthday parties and I'm like Yes, child you would be blessed with guac and fajitas. That's right. You're right. She would be highly favored. That's right. I'm really favored. Oh, I hope.

Um, are we ready? Oh, I'm so glad you were on the podcast again. Thank you for having me back. This is my dream come true, Sadie. Thank you, then. Well, it's my dream come true. And you know, I think you and Bob Goff are the only two people I've had on the show twice. And you know, like, kind of similar people.

You know what I'm like a cheaper Bob Goff. I'm like the bottom shelf bob goff, and he's the top shelf bob goff. No, you're just a girl version. That's right, that's right, that's right. It's awesome. Well, I miss you. I miss seeing you in Nashville,

our frothy monkey hangs, which I don't even know if that is a thing anymore, because you can be on the porch there. Oh, well, that's good. Yes. Do you like how the sun is coming in right now? By the way, the sun is setting in Nashville. That's the one thing you don't miss in Westman row is the sun does not set it three o'clock or whatever in the winter. No, that's very

good early. That's bad. Yeah. So I was thinking about this because I was just saying I haven't taught to you in forever and how you were the first person that I really saw on social media talking about COVID and how you had the pants count. Which is like the fun. And I was just wondering, do you still have a pants count? Yeah, I mean, so what happened is I got quarantined the first week of March.

So like literally my friend who got COVID was one of the first 10 people in our city to get it. And so at that point, the health department jokes on them, literally thought that they could contain it if all of us stayed home. And of course, Sadie, I'd come home from tour. I'd gotten off the bus Monday morning and Tuesday night, I went and watched the bachelor season finale.

And Wednesday morning, she put test-it-positive for COVID. And we were all like, wait, people have that in America? Wait, what are you talking about? And so then, because I'm not married yet, I don't have kids yet and I live alone, I was like, I have to be in my house by myself for 14 days. And then it just kept going as everything shut down.

And so I was like, I have to count whether I have on, what kind of pants I have on, have to wear a different lipstick every day. I mean, I made all these rules to try to have, I mean, it's what we're talking about. It was, I had to set up all these little, almost like booze or tent poles in my life when I was trapped in my house to try to help me have fun

in a really scary and sad situation. I don't wanna be alone that much, it's terrible. Yeah, that is terrible Well, I mean Annie you you do have a thing for Taken was it live into making it lemonade? Yeah, that's right. That's exactly right Bunch the quote but no you do and like like you said That's what we're gonna talk about today your new book which I actually have right here that sounds fun

And you do you just make life fun and it's cool too because not only did you make something good out of something that was really hard and have fun in a really hard time. And I know that was hard. It's not like that was necessarily fun, but you made fun things happen. My mom took, you know, you said you look at her. She learned from you.

She took from your advice. We had charts on our house. Every kid had to put like what they're gonna do in quarantine, what hobbies, what fun, like all the stuff. And it's from you. You were a fun instructor. Yeah, that's right. I'll take it.

Do you know that happens to me all the time, say, but people will, back when we traveled and such, they'd stop me at airports or at restaurants or even at church and be like, Annie, can I tell you what I do for fun? Cause this the last question I always ask on my podcast is also called that sounds fun. And it's because people have kinda set me up as like the judge and the expert.

Like they want me to coach them and they want me to judge their fun. And I'm always like, if it's fun to you, it's fine. You're doing it. It's awesome. That's so good. I love that. Well, that's a good point. If it's fun to you, it's fun because like my friend's step that you know is I love puzzles.

That's not necessarily fun for everybody, but hey, I love that she loves it. She's in here. That's exactly right. Well, I know you've been on the podcast so you've answered the question what's the best piece of advice, but do you have any other good piece of advice that you've been given recently

or whenever that you've thought of that you wanna share with us? Okay, so I've been thinking about this for some days. And I'll tell you the thing that has changed my life the most in the last probably three to four years has been someone literally said to me, just open your Bible every day, which I know sounds ridiculous because I've been a Christian a long time and you have two. And but I didn't have a very good rhythm of spending time in scripture. I would have quiet times, quote, quote, as they say. And I would read, but it wasn't like daily.

And so what I did last year is I got a plan and I read the Gospels 12 times. I read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John every month for the whole year. Wow. And it has, I know this gets out of the way, but it has changed my life. Because now when we live in a world

where government's confusing and the unrest is confusing, and who is right and who is wrong, I have spent an entire year reading the Gospels and knowing what Jesus is like. It's awesome. And so that's the advice that someone gave me a few years ago that in the last few years has really changed me. It's like, it doesn't have to be 100 chapters a day. It doesn't have to be 100 pages a day.

But just every day, if you'll open your Bible, there's so many plans out there. be 100 chapters a day. It didn't have to be 100 pages a day, but just every day if you'll open your Bible, there's so many plans out there. You version has a bunch. You've created some and she reached truth, has them, he reached truth. And we did one on, that's on my website, that's the gospel one that I did. We designed it for the whole year.

And it just, I know that sounds crazy, but it just, you know this, it changes your life. It does change your life. I love that sounds crazy, but it just, you know this, it changes your life to be in person. It does change your life. I love that. I saw you doing that on Instagram posting about the Gospels each day. And I thought that was so cool.

And I can relate to that because, you know, I'm someone that I love the word. I read the word a lot, but I am not that consistent. And so this year I was like, I'm gonna do a plan. So I started the By-Won-a-Year with Nikki Gumball in the Bible app. And even in the first 18 days of this year

Like I have felt so like secure just knowing that like I'm rooting in the word and like that's my every you know Every day and read it and it's not every time in the morning sometimes I read it for a good a bed But just having that consistency of every day has been huge and I think for me I used to be like oh you don't have to have like a plan You know you can just read it and that's true But sometimes in your life, you need a plan. Like you need to follow something that consistency. So that's such good advice.

I'm taking it. I love it. I was thinking about this. I don't want to talk to you about because I saw you at Q conference. And you and Jenny Allen actually got into a great discussion about the other layers of discipleship online. And I think you use your platform for so much good, your social media,

your podcast, everything. But what would you say practical tips for like the average following person, they're not necessarily an influencer, but they have social media and they're like, I'm the light of the world. Like I'm a Christian, I wanna use this. Like what's a practical tip to help somebody

use their platform for good? Yeah, that's a great question, Sadie. And the truth is, everybody's an influencer. There, if you have more than one follower that's not your mom, then you are influencing someone, someone's looking at you. And they are saying, I wonder what they're wearing. I wonder what they're doing. I'm following them because I want to have some view

into their life that may change my life. Every person I follow, the reason I follow them is I want to keep up with who they are or I want to learn from them or both. And so I think the first thing I'd say is remember that actually you are influencing. You don't have to have millions of followers to be impacting someone's life.

The other thing I would say, especially in times of unrest, is be quick to listen and slow to speak. Because once something is on the internet, it is screenshot for all to see. It only takes, it only takes you losing self-control in anger or in lust or in unkindness or in gossip or in races. anger or in lust or in unkindness or in gossip or in races. And it only takes one moment of you losing self-control and posting something that other people can screenshot it

and we can all read it forever even if you deleted it. So Jesus telling us or God telling us to be quick to listen and slow to speak was a gift before we even knew we would have Instagram and Twitter and Snapchat and TikTok and all the things. I love that because I think when something happens in the world, like you feel like I have to say something or I need to say something or I want to say something and it's so wise to just stop and to think and to listen and pray about it pondered before you put it

out because I think we saw that a lot this year like obviously cancel culture is not a good thing. Right. I think we saw that a lot this year. Obviously, cancel culture is not a good thing, but I feel like there's also something to us thinking a little bit longer or praying a little bit more before we just put something out so that we can avoid offending someone. You can't always. People are very affinable these days.

But at the same time, just using that wisdom with your words, I think that's so good. Because it's important to remember that scripture doesn't say, be quick to listen and then be silent. It actually does say, there is a right time. If you're supposed to be slow to speak, there is a right time to speak up for justice, for our neighbors, for those that are less fortunate

than us, there is a right time to speak up. It's good. We just need to be slow to it, just not never to it. It's great. I love that. that's a good advice, right there, so I'm gonna take that, I love it. Well, I wanna talk about your book, That Sounds Fun, which is also like your podcast, That Sounds Fun.

Okay, so I have to ask you, because you know, any of your grandma's so fun for anybody to talk about, do you think that being a seven kinda helps you influence your writing a book called That Sounds Fun? Totally, because like when I, Ginny and I just talked Gin Jenny on and I just talked about this

When you think about who wrote the Bible I'm like I wish a seven would have written one book so that we'd see like what were the funny things going on Right. Yes, so yeah, I totally I think each it's just like the body of Christ We need all these people serving in all different ways so that we can see the fullness of who God is. Great. And so I need to write books like a seven because the world does need someone while the three is reminding us to work hard

and the fives are reminding us to research and the nines are reminding us to care about other people more than we care about ourselves and the twos are reminding us to serve and all that. The sevens have to remind us like, yeah, but are y'all having a good time at all? Is anyone having a good time? And is anyone making space?

Cause that's what it is, is the healthiest moment of fun, is the moment where you've made some space and there's a little deep breath for your soul. And so yeah, I absolutely think my sevens is pleasant to writing about fun, but you know what? When I was growing up, say I would think, man, how come everybody else doesn't think about fun this much?

Am I immature? Am I like, is there something wrong with me? And the longer I've been Annie, the more I've gone like, no, you know what, God doesn't mess up when He makes me. And He doesn't mess up when He makes any of us. And so the things that I love are the things I meant to love and the things, I mean, like puzzles with stuff, right? But really, the like, the, the strengths

that I have are meant for the world. Yeah. And so, and really the book is called, that sounds fun, it is about fun, but it's so much about learning how to love how God made you. So you go after the things that you love. So the whole world flourishes,

not just you quietly in your own little life. So good. That's like the message of live original. It's like take what guy has originally placed in you. Whether that is something specific or something like the idea of having fun and use it for his glory, use it for good. And I think that's so cool. I wanted to ask you because obviously being a 7 has to play it into that but also there's

who you are, it's who got made you to be. Do you think genuinely that everybody can have fun? I do. I think it looks different for everybody. I think what's happened is that we've decided that fun is Disney World and there are people who think fun is rocking and rocking chair in a back porch. And so they would say to you and me, well, I'm not very fun.

Like a lot of my friends who are moms will be like, well, I'm not the fun mom and I'm like, well, your kids think you're the fun mom, but when you look on Instagram, you don't think you're the fun mom. That's true. Right? So everybody, it happens to me all the time, say, you were people walk up and say,

you know, they'll be, tell me they're fun thing and they'll start with, I don't know if this is very fun. Or when I ask my guests, they're on the podcast at the end, what sounds fun? Do you go, I don't know if you're gonna think this is fun,

but I'm like, yes, if you think it is fun, it is fun. If Steph thinks puzzles are fun, then game on, puzzles are fun for her. But the problem is is when we decide that fun has to be expensive or big or Disney world. And then we think, well, then what I'm doing is not fun. So true. And the reality is, no, if you think you're having fun, you probably are. You probably are. That's

so interesting because you know, we talk about comparison a lot, but you never think about comparing your fun except for you do that all the time. All the time. Because you and it's comparing your cool. It's the same thing. It's that you think you aren't purposely going, is that person more fun than maybe you're going, wait, they look like they're having more fun than me, which makes me sad because I'm in pain or makes me sad because I didn't think of it or makes me sad because I don't

have the money to do that. Well, of course they're having a great time because they're married, or of course they're having a great time because they're rich and you're like, nah man, do you like cross stitching? Then you're having a good time. Do you like cooking in your kitchen? Have you learned to make your own marshmallows during COVID?

That's awesome. Like you're having as much fun because the thing we don't know, or we can't really define about the people who are going to Disney World for fun, or going to Paris for fun, is normally their hurts and their pains are about equal to the level of escapism we see them do.

So true. And so you're like, man, these big celebrities who get to do these big massive trips, yeah, there's a lot of pressure and a lot of pain in their lives too, that we don't experience. So let's like celebrate that a puzzle is relaxing to us because that also means our stress is at a level that a puzzle can help. Yeah, that's so good.

Man, I love this. Right? Actually, I, you don't even know you can learn so much about fun. That's like, oh, girl, I love it. I love this. This is amazing. Okay, so what I found whenever I write books is that like every time I go to write a book,

I always get challenged with the message I'm writing. And I feel like in the writing process, like I start down and like, well, am I really like fearless because I struggle with fear? Am I really like living because today was kind of stinky or whatever it is, you know? It's like, had you been challenged in this message

as you wrote it to, and especially in the year that we've had, a book like that, Sounds Fun, have you felt that challenge in your own life? So I turned in the first draft in April of 2020, and we changed about a third of the book by September, October of 2020, because it was like, I'm talking a big game, but now I'm trapped

in my house alone, and all my trips are canceled. I mean, I had a big birthday in the summer, and I had a big trip to England scheduled, and I mean, you know, we all lost a lot in 2020, and so far in 2021. And so it wasn't, I'm with you that most of my other books, it's while I'm writing that I'm wrestling it down. And this one, I wrote it, was kinda like, yeah, I feel all that. Now there's a couple of really sad moments in this book before COVID of like,

man, I had to like, I thought this was gonna be a thing and it didn't work out. There's a chapter about how I had a dog for six days and then I was allergic to it. Sadie, it was awful. I cried writing it, I cried reading the audiobook. Men tell me all the time that are reading the book that that chapter made it cry.

That is not gonna make me cry. It's awful, it's awful. It's called the pet shop, read it or don't, but I've warned you. I've warned you, I only had the puppy for six days. But what happened during COVID is I, this felt like such a gift from God sort of in that I got to go through the whole book that I had already written with the eyes

of someone living through COVID and rewrite the pieces that were tone deaf to a world where we didn't know we'd be stuck in our houses for that long or have everything canceled. So then I got to go, man, do I actually, it's almost like I got to write a first draft, and then I got to watch to see if it was actually true. And there were a couple of places where I was like, well, that didn't true anymore. If I can't write a whole chapter about flying to Europe,

because who's getting to do that? Europeans, and that's it, you know, like. And so I feel that same thing you feel writing. I just, in a brand new way that I've never done before, it's almost like I got to lay that filter over the whole book and shake it out and all the stuff that wasn't true during COVID and after COVID and in the book anymore.

Wow, what a blessing, that's so cool. I was so glad. And that's so great, even for people knowing who are gonna get this book, which you all should get this book for sure obviously But for people knowing getting the book this isn't gonna be something that is like you said tone death to the situation that we're in It's actually speaking straight to the situation that you're in and so you know You just talked about going through a hard time and it that's still in your book that sounds fun

So what is your advice for people who are going through a hard time, went through the worst of COVID, lost them at it, like these really hard things, like what's your advice to them, and why would you say like this book is for you, and I think it can encourage you because of this. Yeah, I mean, I think the thing I learned the most when I watched that movie inside out

is that joy and sadness are better together. Cool. And so I think for people who are really hurting after COVID are in the middle of COVID, we aren't after it, sadly, yet come Lord Jesus and set us free from COVID, but for people who are living through it as we all are, I actually think fun is a little bit of the medicine

we need for the sickness that our hearts feel. We just need a release. And the problem is, we think I will feel better once I can fly to fill on the blank. Or you know what, I'm going to feel better this weekend because I'm going to drink as much as I want to drink, or I'm going to eat as much as I want to eat. Or the thing I've been seeing, if I'm being real honest with you, say, is my friends are hooking up in ways they weren't doing before COVID,

because they, the single people aren't meeting new people. And so they're just scrolling through their phones and making decisions and secret that nobody knows because there's not accountability because you don't have to look, the dudes don't have to look at each other in the face. They can do whatever they want in secret. And the girls too. And, and so there's been all these things we've run to in COVID because we didn't want to feel alone

or abandoned or sad. And so for our friends who are feeling any of that or who have run to those things, I would say you are allowed to feel that. Yeah. Stop trying to medicate that with things and instead just feel it and believe yourself and then go, well, what really brings me joy?

Because here's how we figured out, you want to know the quiz? I'll give you the fun quiz. When you got home from school in third grade on a Tuesday, what did you do? What did you really do after school on Tuesday, Sadie? What would you do when you're a kid? It's so great. I'm trying to think, well, you know, my mom and dad always made me a jelly to go play outside. Yep.

And that is actually true. Like, to this day, whenever I need a break, like me and Christian go on a walk or I take the dog outside. Like, there's something about just getting outside and being in the freshness and the quiet of Louisiana woods. That's right. That is so interesting. It stays with you.

That thing you did as a kid that made you feel wild and free actually still lives in you. Now it doesn't mean, so I had, do I have time to tell you a quick story? Yes. I was talking to another guy. We were talking about this and I said, okay, so tell me what you did after school and he was like, this isn't going to sound fun. Boba, and I was like, okay, get all that out of your system. Now tell me.

And he said, I used to get the kids together in my neighborhood, and we would like be a choir. And I would direct the choir. And I was like, that is the sweetest thing I've ever heard. That is so cool. And I was like, do you sing now? And he's like getting teary. He's like, no, I don't.

Why don't I do that? Why am I not in a chorus? Why am I not, you know? And and so then because there is something in us That fun thing the reason I want to say that when we're talking about pain is because that thing we're longing for when we're in pain It actually is this thing in us that you know our Eternity is set in our hearts. What we're really longing for is to be with Jesus What we're really longing for is Eden be with Jesus. What we're really longing for is Eden before everything was broken. And the truth is we don't get that here.

We don't get that here. And there was never a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, right? There was never a pot of gold. And so we're sad that we can't get to, we always look at a rainbow. I wish we could get to the end and you never can. God never promised the pot of gold. He promised the rainbow. Wow. And so in your pain, find the kind of fun that is not chasing a pot of gold but is celebrating the rainbow. The thing you did when you were a kid

that made you feel alive, whether it's painting, playing, writing, puzzles, anything, singing. I don't know, writing a bike, playing outside. The thing you did as a kid, if you will put 30 minutes on your calendar this week and just label it fun and you'll go try that thing again, you're going to learn something about yourself. You're either going to love it or you're not going to love it and it's going to give you direction on what happens next. Preach!

I love this, Andy. This is so, so good. I feel like people are going to be so free from this book. And even this podcast, the different things that you talk on, because like even that simple thing of like going back, I was like, what did I do? And it was like, it came to a mind like that. That was so cool. And you still do it. It's you still do it.

Because it's something about being outside. Being outside is always a win. I mean, you know, one of the things they tell you should know this when you're about to have a baby, is they say when a kid gets crabby, put them in water, baby is they say when a kid gets Crappy put them in water, you know like when they act crappy put them in water and the same as true and wear adults Put us in a swimming pool or put us outside It helps it just helps it does that's so good. I love it. Okay. So you talk about this in the book the joys of being an amateur Yes, tell me about that

Yeah, you know what's happened to us and this is this kind of goes back to your influencer question a little bit is we've all kind of been convinced that you can't try a makeup look or Have a conversation about racial injustice or try a sport if you're not a professional at it So don't say or do anything unless you're sure you're gonna be the best Yeah, and that is a concern with cancel culture, right? Is that if you make a, if you're trying to learn and grow and you make a misstep, you're gonna get canceled. And so, but the joy of being an amateur is what if

we just let ourselves and each other be new at something? Like what if we just were allowed to not know how to do everything? Like why, when did we stop, when did I stop saying to you, I hope I didn't say it to you, but when did I stop saying to you, like, say to your, you can't try anything new. You have to only do what you're good at.

And just limits are fine. It's just fine. And put so much pressure on you. I think it, yes. Because that's the thing, people who are even my 23s, like, why do I have to be a professional at 23? I can't be, I have so much to learn.

I have so much to grow in. But when you think you have to be that to start that, you're never gonna start because the pressure's too high. And Sadie, I didn't write my first book until I was 26. It didn't come out until I was 32. When I was 23, I was teaching elementary school. I was playing guitar for fifth graders, trying to teach them how to spell words, right?

Like we never know where our life is going compared to where we are. So don't take the pressure off of, I can't post this picture unless it's edited perfectly. Or I can't tell the story unless it's worked out just like I thought it would. Or I can't try the story unless it's worked out just like I thought it would or I can't try this sport or this craft or this recipe until I know I'm going to be good at it. We are losing so many opportunities at fun by forcing ourselves to be pros. Be an amateur.

Be not perfect at something and you're going to have so much more fun. And we got to do for each other too. We gotta start letting people like, you know what, she's not a professional at that conversation, but she's trying. That's what I was gonna say. Like everybody wants this, but it takes us like actually doing it, ensuring other people on and it too,

for this to actually happen. And it's like, everything you're saying is so practical. Everything you're saying is it preaches, it's practical, it's practical, it's what everybody needs. It's actually like a breath of fresh air, actually, and honestly, but it just takes us actually listening and following through and doing it. And yeah, like you said, not judging others,

not canceling others, allowing people the grace to learn. Oh, so good, I love that. It's one of the things when we're having hard conversations, either online or in person, and you get so offended, I get offended by people. My first question needs to be, tell me more. Tell me more about, I don't even have to start yelling. If I want to engage, my first thing is like,

I'm surprised at what you're saying, tell me more. Because if I'm gonna be an amateur and learn from you, then I also need to give you grace that you're a learner. That's how we have to walk into these conversations that are hard online, they're hard to have online. So true. But it's happening. Yeah, it's so good.

I was actually at the dinner table with somebody two nights ago, and we have totally different lives, and I knew we had totally different views, and you know, you can tip to around those things, and you don't really ask, you don't really dive in, and I finally was like, can I ask you a question? And I just asked him this question that was super controversial that I knew he liked

and thought it believed in. I was like, help me understand what I'm missing because I don't see it, you know? And it was said to me, like our conversation was so awkward, like we just awkwardly stumbled over words and didn't really like get to the whole point, but it was a start and that conversation was so good that night. Like, it opened the door for not even that conversation to get answered, but so many other things.

And I was like, you know, we need to do this more. Like, just awkwardly dive into it. You know, if I could make a t-shirt today Like just awkwardly dive into it. You know, I love that. I love that. If I could make a t-shirt today, just awkwardly dive into it. I'm really going to do it. That relationship you're scared of. That conversation you're scared of,

that grad school you're scared to apply to, awkwardly dive into it. You will be fine. You will not drown. Yeah. The front of the shirt, and you say, be in amateur in the back,

it says awkwardly dive in. That's the best. I love it. I'm wearing it. Me too. Okay, so I love how your subtitle you talk about why you need a hobby. And I thought that was really cool because why do you need a hobby? And so I want to ask you, what is your hobby and how does it help you?

Okay, so I'm still working on getting hobbies lined up in my life. And I'll tell you the one, and I don't think they have to last forever. But I'll tell you the one that I've been really working on lately has been, I picked up cross stitching again. Like my grandmother taught me 100 years ago. When you said cross stitching earlier, I was like, I wonder if she's referring to herself.

Yes, 100%. Because you know what I noticed is I was watching TV and I was scrolling on my phone. Like why do we double-screen? It's unbelievable. It's so annoying. It's so annoying. And so what I did is I went on Etsy

and I found a pattern from Hamilton and it's the three sisters in Hamilton and they're saying work and it's so cute. And I was like, I can cross stitch that. And so now I do that when I'm watching TV or whatever. And but the other cool thing, Sadie, is, so we need hobbies because we need to make space for things like that.

We need things that don't involve our brains. I actually like puzzles too, like Steph. And sometimes I'll listen to audiobooks or listen to podcasts and just work on, with my hands. It's just nice. One of the things Matt Chandler taught me is if you sabith, or sorry, if you work with your hands, sabith with your mind,

and if you work with your mind, sabith with your hands. Wow. Right? And so we need to, now of course we do some of both, because you're like, well I type and I use my brain. I know, I know. People yell at me on the internet like, well, I'm a mom.

So what? And I'm like, stop ripping this apart. Just figure it out, piggy. But so part of hobbies is you need to rest your brain and do something with your hands. Or you need to, if you're building stuff every day, rest your hands and read a book and let your brain engage. So cross-staging has been that for me. And you know the other sweet thing is,

I've met people in the craft store that I would have never met in any other way, except we both needed the same yellow. That's so cool. So Hobbie's build community that you don't have and in a world where we want friends who don't believe everything we believe because we know we have the right answer.

And we want people to know who Jesus is. Sometimes you can stand up in preach and in the in the Isles of Joanne's fabric and that's fine. But other times you can just meet the girl by the yellow and make friends and that's so good. Some day believe that that interaction will continue to lead to people knowing who Jesus is. I love that. that's so good. You know, it's funny you talk about the double screen because I have to admit, I have this terrible addiction to Candy Crush, the game.

Yes. How many levels are you? It's like, it's embarrassing. Like thousands? I'm in the 900s, so I'm close to the top. But this is so funny, so the other day, I was like, listen, Krishna's like, I know you get annoyed that I play Candy Crush. And he was like, listen, Christian was like, I know you get annoyed that I'll play Candy Crush.

And he was like, no, I don't, and I realize he doesn't get annoyed. I'm annoyed at myself that I play Candy Crush because I'm like, this is annoying. I don't even like that I'm looking at my screen. And it's not like, I'm not like always on it. But I do turn to that. And like, if I'm just like, wanna just like turn my brain up,

but I'm like, I need a better hobby. But what I will say is like, tennis has always been my hobby. And I'll always tell Christian, it's so weird when I play tennis, it's the only place, like truly that my mind shuts off. And that is so cool that you said that because I am working and moving my hands in my body,

but like my brain is at so much peace, I'm not thinking about anything, it's like my true like time to be still, even though I'm not being still. And so that's so cool. That's so important. And it is important to get a hobby that's not also on your screen.

Yeah, and I hate to get a crush. I'm not an anti-candy crush. I have a two. It does turn your brain off a little bit too. It turns your brain off. I love it on airplanes, but I also wonder. So when you say that to me and you like that, I wonder if you got a deck of cards and did the same thing,

but it was in your hands instead of the blue screen in your eyes. So true. Yes. Or if you, I mean, you're about to have a tiny person, you could start working on making knitting blankets or making little things that,

and laning's about to have a baby too, right? Yes. You could do the other. Oh my gosh, I love it so much. Yeah, y'all can learn. And so there is just something, what you've tapped into with Candy Crush in what you've, if you and I,

if we were doing a coaching, a fun coaching. No, that's why I'm actually was like, throwing the Candy Crush out as bait. Like, is that a hobby? Like, because I don't like that it's on the screen, but, but I like that. Right, so what I'm actually hearing you say is that you like games, games are fun. I know that's part of y'all's family history, so you love games.

And you need your brain to turn off, but you don't mind still using your hands. You don't need to be asleep. So you need to start making, you don't have to. But if you said, what should I do? I'd say, think about things you want to make. You like making things with your hands. I like making things. And so there's got to be something small that doesn't matter.

It doesn't have to be a huge blanket that lasts forever. It doesn't have to be like the most beautiful thing ever. You're going to be an amateur at whatever you do. And don't delete Candy Crush. Play it sometimes too. Oh, trust me, I won't delete it. Thank you. That's my plane go to too.

That's where the love started. Yes, me too. The love started like 2012 flying across the country What I fly that's what I do and so I worked my way up to 900 That's okay. That's so good. Okay last thing you want to ask you because obviously the podcast is that sounds fun Your book is that sounds fun. So you know I Know this could probably be a longer story and you can tell whatever long short version of it that you want. But where did that all come from? Like the podcast, what was it like? I'm going to start this podcast because your podcast has killed it. Like, by the way, just can grads. Like I love seeing your Instagram, who all you're interviewing,

how much fun you're having, how much fun the guests you're having, it's truly become such a huge thing. And so where did all that fun start? Yeah, the podcast really started because of fiction authors, like PR team called me and said, will you interview him? And I was like, well, yeah, but where are we going to release it? They're like, at the time I was like, I have a blog, what are, and I have Twitter, what do you want me to do?

And they said, have you ever thought about starting a podcast? And I said, that sounds fun. Hand podcast? And I said, that sounds fun. Hand to heaven. I said, that sounds fun. And then I went home and I was like, that sounds fun podcast. Okay, nobody has it. So here we go. Yes. So that's really how it started.

But that's how the best thing started. I was an amateur. I didn't know what I was doing. I just, what I love is I love when my friends meet my friends and become friends, right? So like, if you met someone else here in Nashville and we all went to coffee together and then y'all got coffee by yourselves, that's a dream to me.

I love when my friends become friends. But that's what I get to do now in the podcast too, is introduce my friends who were making something great, a book, an album, a recipe, whatever, to my friends that are listeners. And so because I called the podcast that, it kind of accidentally set me up as the expert on fun And then I was like, you know what? No one else is taught people use joy people use happy

People don't say fun and I believe in it and so I was like well if they're gonna call me an expert I'm gonna figure it out That is so good the best things do happen like that for us, like somebody asking the best piece of advice that have ever been given. I said it and my mom said, whoa, that's good. And that's literally how it started. So it's so funny.

God, there's a rabbit trail. Like if you follow the Holy Spirit like rabbit trail, you'll fall into the coolest thing. So that's right. And that's what our friends listening to here is like, neither of us had a massive business plan when we started this. No. We had a little inkling of something that might bring us a good time and we stepped toward

it one time and then we did it again and then we did it again and that is the actual essence of what sounds fun. What sounds fun is do the little thing, the little door that's opened and see if and see if and see if and see what happens. That's so good. I love it. Annie, this is so good. This has been so fun. Thanks for it. And I cannot wait for people to be coached on fun and strive to have fun. The amateurs and awkwardly dive in. That's right. You're the best. You're such a good friend and just such a good human. Thanks for being on the podcast. I'm so grateful for you. I'm so glad we're friends. Thanks for having me. All right, welcome back to the good and bad advice segment.

The part of the podcast where that you all love more than the other part, probably, probably, probably, maybe, why? Because you're in it. Maybe, I don't know, but maybe I'm just thinking that maybe you're just thinking highly of yourself. I've seen some of the comments. He reads his comments. I don't read my comments. So good and bad advice. Every time you get in front of a mic, you should make a fart noise.

Good advice. That's good. What's he gonna do in like, check, check, one, two, three. Why don't you just do check, check. Pfft. Well, we just had this conversation. Did you not hear that?

That worked. Because every time he sits down here, he goes like, I'm like, how many times, when do you get to the point where you stop doing that? I got in trouble last week for doing that at my friend's rehearsal dinner. Yeah, that was totally inappropriate. So that was that advice.

But if anything else, it could be good advice. Ooh, this is not good advice, but can I ask you a question? Ask me. And I'm asking all of you two, Sonic ice or Chick-fil-A ice. Ooh, that's a good question. I would say buying and bulk, Sonic,

sounds like you can buy Chick-fil-A in bulk, but you can intentionally buy Sonic and bulk. But if I'm just gonna drink a drink, I'd rather drink Chick-fil-A ice. Me too. Like Sonic ice is where all the hype's at, and I love Sonic ice, but like, Chick-fil-A ice is like really good.

The crunch is specifically good. Speaking of Sonic, did you like the movie Sonic? Yes, but not as much as you. How much I like this? Yes, of course I do. All right, we have to get to this. Okay, sorry. All right, good amount of ice, let's see.

Don't be sad, it's such a waste of time. Dang. Prudle. I think that's bad, advice. Yeah, there's definitely a town of the place to more you've you taught me this too Because I used to like not want to cry cuz I was like crying sad. Why would I cry? Let's just get past it Incrations like you need to feel that like you like tears are a good thing like also that movie the shack Like when it's hot about the tears and how like the Holy Spirit collected all the tears. And it's just so sweet.

But yeah, you really taught me a lot about that. And now I cry at the appropriate times and it helps because it helps you actually move forward. Yeah. And I think and I think that idea of like sadness can like not be a sign of like masculinity. You know, because I think a lot of people who like want to be masked and what to be a man don't sad.

They don't they don't cry. But they don't sad. They don't they don't act whatever they want to do because because of something in their life. But I think it's completely okay to cry. So be a man like a King David. The dude was a beast. Yeah, baby. I love that. That is so good. All right. Let's see. Sushi is great. You should try it. Yeah. Sushi's one of my favorite food, DK, me. You can crush some sushi. I can crush sushi. Me too.

Talking like four-roads is like child's play. Yeah, that might not even be good for you. I actually read something this morning on my glorify app. That's actually a really good advice. Oh, bring it. You wanna hear it? Yeah. You have no authority where you have no love

Cheese Oh, that's good. Howdy Baker you have no authority where you have no love. That's so good. Get that a heart I give it a heart Christian about the glorify and they send you a piece of advice every day Like that it starts with that's a quote and it's always so good that one was particularly It's always just a little nugget to gold And it's always so good that one was particularly it's always just a little nugget to gold Here I explain it for saying nuggets. That's not weird. That's not weird. Okay, fine Tell us if you like chick-fil-a or son of a's let me know if saying that is nuggets of gold is weird or not But chick-fil-a actually does have nuggets of gold. They're legit valid

Check out chick-fil-A today.