The Light On Demand

Welcome to Part One of a truly special conversation on Real Talk. Host Rachel Awtrey sits down with the one and only Annie F. Downs—beloved author, podcaster, and everyone’s favorite “Queen of Fun.” What starts as a joyful catch-up between old friends quickly opens into something deeper as they talk about what it means to hold both joy and grief in the same hand.

In this first half, you’ll hear the story of how Rachel and Annie first met, laugh at some of their classic banter (mysterious sports bras included), and gently enter the harder spaces—like navigating personal loss and the sacred timing of sharing your story. Rachel vulnerably shares her recent experience with miscarriage, while Annie offers tender reflections on co-writing Where Did TJ Go?, a children’s book about grief written after the loss of her nephew.

This is an honest, compassionate, and faith-filled conversation—and it’s just getting started. Make sure to listen all the way through and then jump into Part Two, where things go even deeper.

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EPISODE CREDITS:

Podcast Cover Photography: Jay Barr Photography

Production by Phillip and Cait Howard by Amplify Boutique

Intro Music: "Luxurious" by Sunny Tones

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The views and opinions expressed in each episode are those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast host and team or the owner of this Intellectual Property. This podcast is not an authority of legal advice, and listeners are encouraged to seek professional counsel with regard to their brand, business, and otherwise. We all hope you enjoy and find value in each episode.

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In this power-packed episode of The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, Ginny Yurich welcomes back two of the most trusted voices in parenting—David Thomas and Sissy Goff from the Daystar Counseling Clinic and The Raising Boys & Girls Podcast. For the first time together on the show, David and Sissy dive deep into the social, emotional, and spiritual milestones our kids must hit to thrive—skills that don’t show up on a report card but make all the difference in life. From why listening is the secret to becoming an interesting person, to how healthy risk fuels resilience, they bring real insight and practical tools for every parent.

With warmth, wit, and decades of clinical experience, David and Sissy explore everything from perfectionism in preschoolers to the epidemic of anxious adolescents—and how playful training can shift the entire trajectory. They introduce their new Daystar Dogs book series, designed to equip even the youngest children with courage, resilience, and emotional vocabulary. This episode is a hopeful call to action: parenting is the training ground, and we have what it takes to raise kids who do, too.

**

Learn more about David and Sissy and all they have to offer here

Get your copy of Lucy Learns to Be Brave here

Get your copy of Owen Learns He Has What it Takes here

Get your copy of Are My Kids On Track? here

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Today's reading is Luke 19-21.

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Join our ⁠group on Facebook⁠ as we go through ⁠⁠⁠Let's Read the Gospels: A Guided Journal⁠⁠⁠ together through the month of May!

. . . .

This month, we will be reading from the ⁠⁠⁠New Living Translation. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

. . . .

Your ratings and reviews help us spread the Gospel to new friends! If you love this podcast, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rate the podcast on Apple Podcasts and leave us a brief review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! You can do the same on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Google Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ as well.

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Thanks for listening to The Morning Five! Thanks for listening, rating/subscribing The Morning Five on your favorite podcast platform. Learn more about the work of CCPL at www.ccpubliclife.org. Michael's new book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, is now available! You can order on Amazon, Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, or at your favorite local bookstore. Join the conversation and follow us at: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@michaelwear⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, @ccpubliclife Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MichaelRWear⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, @ccpubliclife And check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tsfnetwork⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by: King Sis #politics #faith #prayer #Qatar #Trump #ethics @foreignpolicy #DavidHogg #MalcolmKenyatta #DNC #GOP #MiddleEast #Syria #SaudiArabia #Iran

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Last month ago, we sat down and shared the heartbreak of getting rejected from law school — a moment that felt like a punch to the gut after months of studying, praying, and hoping. It was raw, real, and left us asking, “God, why would you bring us this far just to say no?” But this week… we have an update!

In this episode, we open up about what’s happened since the rejection — the doubts, the prayers, the unexpected twists, and how God moved in ways we didn’t see coming.

If you’ve ever faced a closed door, been disappointed by an outcome you prayed for, or questioned where God is in the silence, this one is for you. We get honest about how this law school journey has stretched our faith and share what we’ve learned about trusting God in the middle of “not yet.”

Whether you’re chasing a dream, waiting on an answer, or trying to hold on to hope — we pray this encourages you to believe that God’s timing really is better than ours.

Because sometimes, the rejection isn’t the end of the story… it’s just the beginning of a better one!!

ORDER MY BOOK! - https://jeanineamapola.com/book

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Okay, podcast friends…get ready to have your hearts melted because we have the most adorable podcast guest on Raising Boys and Girls today: Henry Weber! Henry is Sissy’s 6 year old nephew who shares lots of his thoughts on what’s helped him learn to be more resilient and courageous. We share our favorite tricks on helping the kids we love discover both how resilient and brave they truly are!

Lucy Learns to Be Brave: A Lesson in Courage

Owen Learns He Has What it Takes: A Lesson in Resilience

The Worry-Free Parent

. . . . .

Grab your tickets today for the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Raising Capable Kids Conference⁠⁠⁠⁠ with David Thomas, Sissy Goff and special guests!

Sign up to receive the ⁠⁠⁠⁠monthly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ to keep up to date with where David and Sissy are speaking, where they are taco'ing, PLUS conversation starters for you and your family to share!

Go behind the scenes and watch our podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Download a copy of the Raising Boys and Girls ⁠⁠⁠⁠Feelings Chart⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at ⁠⁠⁠⁠raisingboysandgirls.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.

. . . . .

If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠Advertise with us⁠⁠⁠⁠ form.

A special thank you to our sponsors:

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In this episode of Well Coached, Chris Weinberg unpacks how to build a feedback-rich culture using emotional intelligence (EQ). From navigating tough conversations to celebrating small wins, feedback—when delivered well—becomes a catalyst for growth, trust, and performance. Chris breaks down how to give feedback that’s specific, timely, and constructive, and how to receive it without defensiveness. With practical tools like the SBI model, real-life examples, and EQ insights tied to DISC personality types, this episode equips you to lead with clarity and compassion.

What You’ll Learn Today:

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp.
Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/WELLCOACHED and get on your way to being your best self.

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When Zan Tyler uttered the words “My child needs more time,” she had no idea it would lead to threats of jail time, legal battles, and ultimately helping with homeschooling on a national scale. In this powerful episode kicking off a special homeschool-focused series, Ginny Yurich and Zan Tyler reflect on the early days of the homeschooling movement, the courage it takes to advocate for your child, and why the simple act of stepping outside the system is doing more good than you think.

Zan’s story is one of faith, perseverance, and legacy—but it also speaks directly to the parent who’s feeling unsure, behind, or just plain tired. If you’ve ever wondered whether homeschooling is right for your family (or if you’re doing it “right”), this episode is for you.

**

Get your copy of Homeschooling, You're Doing it Right Just By Doing It here

Learn more about Zan and everything she has to offer (including her wonderful podcast) here

Here Zan speak at FPEA or CHEC

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Ashley Anderson is a ministry leader and wise voice who lives in New York and has become a dear, dear friend of mine. She was our April guest on the Single Purpose League podcast last month, and we had a conversation around having a theology of singleness—What does that mean? Why does it matter? What does Scripture say about being single? It felt so important to all of us so, today, we’re sharing that conversation with all of you. 

We’re doing that this week because Single Purpose League registration is open! We only open it up certain times a year, so we’re able to have intentional time going a little bit deeper with our members, so SPL registration is open RIGHT NOW but it closes on Thursday—THIS Thursday May 15th—at 11:59pm CST. If you have a friend who could benefit from a community of women figuring out our single purpose and our purpose while single, will you text them this episode and let them know about Single Purpose League? Every month we’re tackling topics that help us thrive as single people. We have an exclusive podcast, monthly livestream where we do Q&A (they’re a blast) and opportunities throughout the year to meet up in person and connect. We also just announced our summer book club, so now’s a GREAT time to jump in. You can learn more and sign up at singlepurposeleague.com, but remember registration closes on Thursday night and won’t open again until the fall.

ALSO - Katy and I are doing a live Zoom call tonight (May 13th) called Why Am I Single? And we would love for any of you to join that at 7pm Central. HERE's the Link!

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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!

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Thank you to our sponsors!

If you’d like to partner with Annie as a sponsor for the That Sounds Fun podcast, fill out our Advertise With Us form!

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If you liked this episode, you may also like How to Better Serve Singles, Finding Contentment, and the Permission to Change Your Mind with Ryan Wekenman- Episode 931

Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests!

#thatsoundsfunpodcast

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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.

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Rachel Cruze is back for Part 2 of our conversation, and this time, we’re tackling the B word—budgeting! Now, if you’re like me, you might have a love-hate relationship with this whole budgeting thing. 

It sometimes feels too restrictive, too many numbers, and honestly, a little boring. 

My husband and I have definitely struggled with sticking to a budget, and when it comes to managing family expenses, we’ve had our share of chaos. (our grocery bill alone could feed a small army).

Rachel, a financial expert and former “anti-budgeter” says that budgeting isn’t about limiting fun—it’s about creating freedom and giving every dollar a purpose. 

Now, before you think “ugh, spreadsheets,” she’ll be sharing super-simple, doable budgeting strategies to help families like yours get your finances on track without feeling overwhelmed. 

Whether you’re trying to reign in out-of-control food costs (yep, Rachel hears me on that!), tackling credit card debt, or just trying to get ahead financially, this episode is packed with tips you won’t want to miss.

Key takeaways:

How to use a zero-based budget to take control of your finances.

Why budgeting doesn’t have to be complicated—and how to avoid getting stuck in a system that doesn’t work for you.

Practical tips for saving on food and managing other family expenses.

How to break free from the cycle of credit card debt with simple strategies.

Plus, Rachel shares a game-changing budgeting tool—the EveryDollar app—that I’m trying out myself! Will you join me on this budgeting journey?

LIFE HAPPENS. Let’s Talk About It.

LIsten in 

(00:00) - The Importance of Budgeting for Families

(06:49) - Creating Peaceful Financial Habits Through Budgeting

(18:37) - Saving Money Through Smart Spending

(32:28) - Embracing Budgeting Over Wine

In this episode, we are diving into finding a budget system that works for you, where to start when making a budget, how to budget if your income is inconsistent, an app that makes budgeting easier, tips for paying off credit card debt, three big ways to save you may be missing out on, and stretching your food budget. 

Resources 

Sign up to receive Paula’s email where she keeps it real about what it’s like being a parent in America. And, if you’re a working mom, make sure you’re getting The CARRY ALL email, the load-lessening newsletter for and by working moms. 

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! 

If you want to connect with Rachel, follow her on Instagram.

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