Annie F. Downs on Modern Dating, Dreaming Again, and Getting Out of Your Own Way
The Jesus Over Everything podcast exists for one reason: honest, unhurried conversations about what it actually looks like to put Jesus first: in your relationships, your doubts, your big questions, and the ordinary and complicated moments of everyday life. This brand new season brings more of exactly that. More real talk. More wisdom from people who have lived it. More of the conversations you didn’t know you needed until you were twenty minutes in and couldn’t stop listening.
Kicking off the season is one of Lisa’s oldest and most beloved podcast guests: Annie F. Downs, who Lisa credits as her very first interview on Jesus Over Everything. A lot has changed since then. Annie just got engaged, is about to share a home for the first time, and has written a book about the very thing she spent decades living: what happens when you stop letting fear, regret, and the voice of “I can’t” make decisions for you.
This conversation goes everywhere, and all of it is worth it.
Listen in to learn more:
(01:32) Giving ourselves permission to be amateurs and extending grace to others
(06:34) Getting married won’t solve all your problems and what Annie discovered about falling in love at 46
(08:08) Do we underestimate the choice of marriage?
(11:46) What we don’t understand about dating in 2026
(15:13) How married friends can better support the single people in their lives
(20:00) How do we respond responsibly to regret without letting it define us?
(25:36) Why hope is crucial to keep dreaming
(30:19) The practicality of dreams: how to tell painful truth in loving ways
(36:50) Crucial questions to ask ourselves about how we hide our bodies
(39:05) Do we suffer from “Christian martyrdom syndrome?”
(41:02) The privileged conversation, and why boldness is still the call
(44:31) Annie’s last word: is Jesus worth it?
Mentioned in the Episode:
Book — Don’t Let That Hold You Back by Annie F. Downs: https://www.anniefdowns.com/dont-let-that-hold-you-back
Book — God Knows by Lisa Whittle: https://www.lisawhittle.com/godknows
Invite Lisa to Speak: https://www.lisawhittle.com/speaking
Connect with Annie F. Downs:
Website: anniefdowns.com
Instagram: instagram.com/anniefdowns ; instagram.com/thatsoundsfunpodcast
Facebook: facebook.com/anniefdowns
YouTube: youtube.com/@AnnieFDownsTSF
TikTok: tiktok.com/@anniefdownstsf
Podcasts: That Sounds Fun ; Let’s Read the Gospels ; Annie's miniBFF Podcast
TV Show: I Gotta Ask with Annie F. Downs
Online Community: Single Purpose League
Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.lisawhittle.com
Substack: https://letsbeclear.substack.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lisawhittleofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisawhittle