Ep 1031 | Jase Wonders If He’s Facing an Intervention & How to Connect with Others in a Lonely World

Summary

Podcast Summary: Unashamed with the Robertson Family Episode: Ep 1031 | Jase Wonders If He’s Facing an Intervention & How to Connect with Others in a Lonely World
Release Date: January 29, 2025
Host/Author: Tread Lively

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Introduction and Opening Remarks

The episode begins with a brief advertisement for New Balance, emphasizing the brand’s philosophy, "Run your way" ([00:03]-[00:31]). Following the ad, Si Robertson declares, "I am unashamed. What about you?" ([00:31]), setting the tone for the episode centered around unashamedly sharing faith and personal stories.

Revisiting Past Events and the Hunting Trip

Al Robertson welcomes Jase back to the show, recalling a previous hunting trip where unexpected guests joined the Robertson family ([00:36]-[02:15]). Si Robertson shares concerns about his father’s ability to hunt due to health issues after releasing a new book, noting improvements in his father's quality of life despite ongoing challenges ([01:07]-[01:28]).

The Robertson family discusses the logistics of the hunting trip, highlighting the overcrowded boat situation with only one boat available for eight people ([02:16]-[03:02]). They recount the challenges faced due to incorrect wind direction and the resulting difficulty in hiding their hunting party. As the weather deteriorates, the group experiences extreme cold, leading to physical distress among the participants ([03:58]-[05:43]).

Jase reflects on the effectiveness of their hunting strategies, noting inconsistent shooting accuracy among the group and the companionship of their seasoned hunter, Burley ([05:44]-[07:18]).

Encounter with Law Enforcement and Personal Reflections

Si Robertson narrates an altercation with law enforcement over a seatbelt violation, detailing the prolonged interaction and eventual resolution upon admitting guilt ([07:18]-[25:00]). This story serves as an analogy for the challenges in law-based systems where relationships are lacking, emphasizing the importance of grace and personal connection over strict adherence to rules ([24:34]-[25:35]).

Guest Introduction: John Deloney's Stories

The Robertson family introduces their guest, John Deloney, who shares a harrowing tale of encountering a turtle fisherman with only two fingers due to attacks by loggerhead turtles ([13:02]-[15:45]). John recounts another childhood memory involving his father discovering an old truck filled with loggerhead turtles, further illustrating the rugged and unpredictable nature of their environment ([14:03]-[15:45]).

Discussions on Mental Health and Age-Related Listening Capacity

The conversation shifts to mental health, particularly focusing on how individuals over the age of 40 may become less receptive to new ideas and change ([16:26]-[22:12]). Jase Robertson emphasizes the importance of staying curious and open-minded, using Dave Ramsey as an example of someone who continues to seek growth and understanding beyond conventional accomplishments ([20:10]-[22:12]).

Technology, Connection, and Modern Loneliness

A significant portion of the episode delves into the impact of technology on human connection. Jase criticizes the prevalence of smartphones and social media, likening them to "Twinkies" that provide superficial connections but fail to fulfill the deep social and spiritual needs of individuals ([33:08]-[37:17]).

Al Robertson echoes these sentiments, discussing how technology disrupts face-to-face interactions and contributes to loneliness and mental health issues among young people ([34:55]-[36:52]). The guests agree that establishing real, face-to-face connections is crucial for mental well-being and spiritual growth.

Building Relationships Through Shared Experiences

Si Robertson shares his experience of enforcing a no-phone policy during family meals, which fostered deeper connections and meaningful conversations ([36:52]-[43:07]). Jase adds that creating environments where young people can disconnect from their devices and engage in genuine interactions leads to improved relationships and spiritual discussions ([40:14]-[43:07]).

Sponsor Segment: Acorns Early and Tomorrow Clubs

Phil Robertson presents a sponsorship message for Acorns Early, a financial app designed to teach children the value of money through chores and allowances ([09:06]-[10:56]). Later, Phil introduces Tomorrow Clubs, an organization focused on Christian discipleship for children in underserved communities, urging listeners to support their mission ([26:55]-[28:49]).

Concluding Thoughts on Truth and Relationships

The episode concludes with discussions on the importance of truth-telling and building authentic relationships. Jase emphasizes the need for honesty and openness, even when it leads to uncomfortable conversations, to foster genuine connections and spiritual growth ([53:27]-[56:49]). The Robertson family highlights the significance of presence and meaningful interaction over superficial digital engagements ([29:04]-[48:15]).

Phil Robertson wraps up by encouraging listeners to support their sponsors and subscribe to the podcast for more inspiring content ([57:05]-[57:11]).

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Notable Quotes

• Si Robertson ([00:31]): "I am unashamed. What about you?"

• Jase Robertson ([10:56]): "I put your show on to listen to it this morning and the one I picked was Jason getting carted off by the ATF at the airport."

• Jase Robertson ([22:49]): "Do you want to be right or do you want to be married?"

• Phil Robertson ([26:55]): "Tomorrow Club actually creates generational impact."

• Jase Robertson ([33:08]): "We've created the loneliest generation in human history, and we're melting on the vine."

• Jase Robertson ([42:56]): "It's insanity to give a child access to the World Wide Web. 24/7, 365 in their pocket."

• Phil Robertson ([52:15]): "How's it working out?"

• Jase Robertson ([56:11]): "I have never one time changed my behavior because somebody screamed and yelled me into it. Ever."

Key Takeaways

1. Authentic Relationships Over Rules: The Robertson family highlights the importance of personal connections and grace over strict adherence to rules, both in hunting experiences and interactions with law enforcement.

2. Impact of Technology on Loneliness: The episode delves into how smartphones and social media contribute to superficial connections, leading to increased loneliness and mental health issues, especially among the younger generation.

3. Importance of Truth-Telling: Emphasizing honesty and openness in conversations fosters genuine relationships and spiritual growth, countering the culture of superficial empathy.

4. Support for Youth and Mental Health: Discussions revolve around providing young people with real connections and support systems to combat mental health challenges exacerbated by technology.

5. Sponsor Messages with Mission Alignment: The sponsorship segments for Acorns Early and Tomorrow Clubs align with the podcast’s mission of fostering financial responsibility and Christian discipleship among youth.

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This episode of "Unashamed with the Robertson Family" weaves together personal anecdotes, guest stories, and deep discussions on faith, technology, and human connection, offering listeners both entertainment and insightful reflections on navigating modern challenges with authenticity and grace.

Transcript

[Jase Robertson]

At New Balance, we believe if you run, you're a runner, however you choose to do it.

[Phil Robertson]

Because when you're not worried about doing.

[Jase Robertson]

Things the right way, you're free to discover your way.

[Phil Robertson]

And that's what running's all about. Run your way. @newbalance.com Running.

[Si Robertson]

I am unashamed. What about you?

[Al Robertson]

Welcome back to Unashamed, Jace. The last time we saw you, you were off to the woods. I'm curious as to. As to what happened.

[Si Robertson]

Well.

[Al Robertson]

Cause we had some guests too that were gonna go.

[Si Robertson]

Yeah. Are you gonna like, tell the whole story on that? It's like your best idea Now. I get it. This was a tough situation. My dad.

[Al Robertson]

Don't put it on me. Cause we were all just attacked.

[Si Robertson]

Well, my d away a hunt, according to this story, because he released a new book.

[Al Robertson]

He did it, much to my shock, because he doesn't do that.

[Si Robertson]

My dad, although doing improving, I think we can all agree that his quality of life is improving. Except, you know, he still has the big overall problems that's caused him some problems. But I do think the prayers from everyone and he's improving.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Si Robertson]

So. But he's unable to hunt. And so Al's like, well, we got this. We got this.

[Al Robertson]

We're committed. So what are we going to do?

[Si Robertson]

I was like, well, it's cold. It's really cold here and still is. And so I was like, well, we'll do an afternoon hunt.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Si Robertson]

But we had other people coming, so our sister wanted to come. Her first hunt of the year and.

[Al Robertson]

We'Re still training her, so.

[Si Robertson]

Yeah, she's in training. Well, is she a duck?

[Phil Robertson]

Is she a duck girl?

[Al Robertson]

Yeah, she would be a duck girl.

[Si Robertson]

We have the two guests, husband and wife. I didn't know she was coming, but she.

[Jase Robertson]

She.

[Al Robertson]

I didn't know she wanted to go until we got out there. So that's. That was kind of a last.

[Si Robertson]

So nobody ever told me that.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Si Robertson]

So when we all. I looked up and here's the crowd and I thought, well, is she just going to hang out at the lair in this muddy place? So it got. It got kind of weird. So I was like, oh, do you want to come? Because she didn't look like she was dressed for it. She had blue jeans on and a little jacket.

[Al Robertson]

But, you know, they're from Montana and Colorado. So they were like, yeah, that's where.

[Si Robertson]

I was going with this. She's like, oh, no, this is. This is. This is nothing. Of course, it was like 29 degrees. And we go out there and I had two duck boys. The only person that I have was a seasoned veteran was Burley. And he's from Colorado.

[Al Robertson]

He is.

[Si Robertson]

He's come in for a week to hunt. He usually comes in for, like, six weeks.

[Al Robertson]

And to be hon. I was. When I heard Burley was going, I felt better because Burley is really good at taking care of folks, making sure they get what they need.

[Si Robertson]

So here's what happened. We go out there, and I have. There's. Including me, there's eight of us. Only have one boat. And so with just us getting in the boat, and Burley's the size of two people. So I'm like, this is a lot of people for one boat. Now you're like, oh, Jase, you're putting them in a dangerous situation. My first words were, if we turn this boat over, stand up, it's shallow. Yeah. And so we. We make it to our destination. I decided since we had so many people, to hunt a blind where we have the sun at our back. Because I didn't think we could hide all these people. I cut a little brush on the way, and I thought the wind was wrong. It was in our face. So for you non duck hunters, ducks fly into the wind just like airplanes usually.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Si Robertson]

So I thought, well, they'll come over from behind us. They won't see our hunting party. And this was kind of in the middle of our duck hole. We haven't had a lot of ducks, so I thought we'll just try to put out a little decoy spread. Even though we got the wind wrong, you can't have the wind right and the sun right when it's a. Let's see, we're hunting in the afternoon, and it was a northeast wind. So for you that are smart, you can figure out you're not going to get both of those things right. So I put the sun to our advantage. So we get in the blind, and it wasn't that cold. We were putting decoys out, and it's a clear day moving around. Yeah, it just did. It just didn't seem like. And so I had. I had brought a coat, and we had two heaters. And the two heaters were the last thing in the boat. And somebody said, do we really need those heaters? And I was like, nah, it's a nice. The Colorado people said no, because it was so crowded. And so we get up there at less than one mile an hour, and everything's fine. I said, no, I don't need my coat. And Burley said, I'll go park the boat. Because we didn't have a place to park the boat. So I told him where to go. I was like, there's a little road. You go down the trees. Oh, yeah, I remember that. So he goes and parks the boat. He comes back, we're putting the decoys out. Everybody's happy. Well, we shot a couple of ducks. But I realized real quickly, these people to my right, which is seven people, and we have two guests who are. Then they didn't hunt. They just watched. They're in the other section of the blind, so they're completely safe. Nobody can shoot but me. I'm just being honest, because burley's been.

[Al Robertson]

Doing a long time, but it's not.

[Si Robertson]

The greatest of shots. And. And he did shoot one duck.

[Al Robertson]

Oh, wow.

[Si Robertson]

Yeah, he shot a duck. So because it. We had a bunch of teal light wide, but one of them was in range, and he just, boom. And he got that one. So he's pretty good. If ducks sitting on the water, not moving, but anything that came in flying, I said, shoot them. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. Nothing would fall. I'd raise up. Boom. One fell one time. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. Two fail. Well, I went bonk, Boom. I just thought, okay, they're just not very good shot.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Si Robertson]

Well, then all of a sudden, about 10 minutes, 15 minutes before sunset, which is as long as you can hunt legally. It got cloudy, it covered up the sun, and the wind started blowing almost, say, 25 miles an hour. That moisture got in the air, and look, the whole dynamic changed. Because I look back at the people from Colorado first, and look, they were literally doing. The woman's face was so red. I was like, are you okay? And then Austin, one of the young duck boys, he said, I didn't want to say this, but my waiters leaked. And so when he was helping putting out the decoys, he was trying to just be a man about it. And he started shivering so bad that I thought he was experiencing hypothermia.

[Al Robertson]

Which, by the way, I saw Jeff, and he told me when Austin came in from that hunt, they went by their house first. And he didn't even speak to Jeff as he was running past. He said, I gotta get in the shower. I gotta get in the shower. So he just, like, ran past him.

[Si Robertson]

So I want to say this, that the next 30 to 40 minutes, picking up those decoys and that wind, how cold it was, and us when we got back in the boat, because, look, Burley then couldn't find where he parked the boat. So that extended it another 30 minutes. Fast forward this to when I'm now taking this couple to the hotel aisle, which nobody told me I was giving them a ride. I actually had left, and I had forgot my batteries to charge, and they.

[Al Robertson]

Just got left there.

[Si Robertson]

And I. Yeah, they just got left there. They were fixing to hang out at the la. I came back and they were like. I said, what are y'all still doing there? And they're like, we need a ride. I said, well, I'm glad I came back.

[Al Robertson]

Stephen and Vanessa, if you're listening, I'm so sorry. It was the worst trip you could have.

[Phil Robertson]

Well, I. I want to say this. I've done the studies on this, and. And. And I don't know how it correlates to Colorado, but 20 degrees in North Carolina in the mountains is 42 degrees in the bayou of Louisiana. I don't know. I don't know how it does it, but I'm telling you, on the way.

[Si Robertson]

Back we turn, everybody's personal space was no longer an issue. It was a huddle of shivering people. Because once I got my jacket on, I was fine. That thing's rated for whatever. And I was like, this is what. Be careful what you wish for when you say, oh, let me have my hunt.

[Phil Robertson]

Hey, real quick, real quick. I hate to cut the story off, but we have an incredible guest coming up, and you have to stick around for this guy. Y'all haven't met this next guest yet, so I'm anxious to see now.

[Al Robertson]

We're super excited about it.

[Phil Robertson]

We'll see what happens. Jason, it is a doctor, so I hope this doesn't.

[Si Robertson]

I'm probably going to struggle.

[Al Robertson]

Let's take a break. We'll introduce our guests when we come back.

[Phil Robertson]

So, Jase, did you ever get an allowance growing up?

[Si Robertson]

No, we didn't do allowances. What we did was we worked, and that was just what we did. I'm sure various child labor laws were broken, but I got room and board.

[Phil Robertson]

It was pro bono is what they call it. Well, for the rest of us out there, we. I did get an allowance, and we gave our kids an allowance as well. In fact, Bear just got his first job. He didn't understand that you have to pay taxes, so probably didn't do a great job in teaching him the value of money. But that's where our sponsor, a new sponsor that we have, comes in. These guys are amazing. It's Acorns Early. Acorns early is a smart money app and debit card for your kids. That helps them learn the value of money. Acorns Early's chore tracker teaches kids that hard work does pay off. Just set up chores in the app, set the payment amount, and take the chores off when you're done. Acorns early lets parents pay allowances automatically, and kids can spend what they earn with their very own debit card, which they love because it gives them a new sense of independence. Plus, parents can keep track of where and when their kids are spending. The Acorns early app has a ton of fun interactive courses that help kids learn the value of all things money. Acorns early helps your kids turn savings into a habit, which is a good thing. Again, it's really important that your kids learn the value of money early. Here's what you need to do if you're ready for your kids to learn the value of money. Just head over to acornserly.com unashamed or you can download the Acorns early app and get started. Sign up now and your first month is on us. That's acornserly.com unashamed terms and conditions do apply. Monthly subscription fees starting from $5 a month unless canceled.

[Jase Robertson]

Can I tell y'all something? I put your show on to listen to it this morning and the one I picked was Jason getting carted off by the ATF at the airport. Oh yeah, listen, a couple months ago, my son and I went on a deer hunting trip on our family place in Texas. And in the hotel at five o'clock in the morning, I stared. He's 14. I lectured him. I said, you listen to me. There cannot be a bullet, a pocket knife. There better be nothing in that bag. Everything's gotta be checked. And he's like, yes sir. Yes sir. Yeah, some gooseball friend of mine had given me a joke. I walk through, I have a little hip pack with all my stuff in it because I got low self esteem when I go to airports. And wouldn't you know it, dude, I had a dagum switchblade in my and you would have thought that guy checking the screen like he won something. It's like, like all these days he sits there doing nothing with his life and he's like, I got one. I got one.

[Phil Robertson]

You hit the jackpot on that one.

[Si Robertson]

Well, doc, I know we just met, but the fact that you're a doctor and you're carrying around a switchblade makes me nervous about where this conversation is going.

[Jase Robertson]

Man, I tell you what some of my wildest adventures were at in Houma, Louisiana, man, Where I learned how the world works is good man.

[Si Robertson]

Well, that's the.

[Al Robertson]

That's the bottom of the whole universe as far as we're concerned. That's where it all happens.

[Si Robertson]

So, Doc, you'll appreciate this. Somebody told me how to make sense of South Louisiana, because once there's a dividing line, that happens about Alexandria. So there's a line. We have two worlds within one state. Kind of like being a member of the kingdom of God in this world. Do you see where I'm going?

[Jase Robertson]

There's Church of Christ and everybody else.

[Si Robertson]

I got you. I got you. So once you, once you enter that, go across that imaginary line when people are talking. So when you were in Homer, it would all made sense if you would have just closed your eyes and realized that everybody sounds drunk.

[Jase Robertson]

It's like a drunk French, something other.

[Si Robertson]

That's it.

[Al Robertson]

It's bad English and bad French. So we have John Deloney. John, welcome to Unashamed.

[Jase Robertson]

I appreciate the seat at the table. I'm grateful.

[Al Robertson]

John, don't feel like you need to hold back.

[Jase Robertson]

I was gonna tell you, I. I grew up eating squirrels and raccoons. I mean, we, we would get anything. But it was only in Houma, Louisiana, that I was fishing in a. And I, I called it a ditch. They called it a baya. And I was, I caught this gigantic, gnarly red ear turtle. And I was, you know how. Trying to get off your hook. And I was trying to get off the hook. And this guy, he must have been 409 years old, comes just h. The edge of that bayou, boy. And he took that turtle and walked off with it. And I was like, what's he doing? And this, the guy was with his father, said that's. That's his dinner and breakfast.

[Phil Robertson]

Turtle soup.

[Jase Robertson]

And I was like, well, I like turtle soup. I never seen anybody eat a red ear out of a body. So anyway, good on, good on them, man.

[Al Robertson]

They'll eat anything.

[Si Robertson]

One of my, One of my most horrific childhood memories now that we've gone to the turtles, because I thought I was going to struggle with what to talk about here today, but you've, you've hit it.

[Al Robertson]

Until we met John. Yeah.

[Si Robertson]

So my dad and I had run the nets back when we were commercial fishermen. And we came up there and there was this old truck, beat up truck parked in our yard. And my dad was like. Because my dad back then was a conspiracy theorist. He's like, why would a truck be parked in my yard? And so federal agent.

[Al Robertson]

That's the first thing he's done.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah.

[Si Robertson]

So we walk up. Knew it. So we walk up there and I could hear the hissing sound coming from this truck and the engine was off. And this guy, like, this guy was probably looked like he was 280 years old. He gets out and he said, y'all want some turtle?

[Jase Robertson]

The Underground Turtle Market South Louisiana.

[Si Robertson]

I kid you not. I looked in the back of his truck and there were 10 of the largest loggerhead turtles. Turtles that you could ever imagine. They were all like in their own little spaces and they were as old.

[Al Robertson]

As he was old.

[Si Robertson]

My dad noticed with all that going on, he said, well, look like you only got two working digits. And I thought, what is he talking about? And I looked at this guy's hand and he only. Most people have 10 fingers, including the thumbs. He had two. He was a turtle fisherman.

[Phil Robertson]

The loggerheads took the, took the.

[Si Robertson]

They had taken all his fingers off.

[Phil Robertson]

Their bite is like, it's like the per pound. I think it may be stronger than an alligator. I mean, it's like, it's insane.

[Si Robertson]

Yeah. And this guy, this guy in a very thick Cajun accent said, yeah, these turtles gave me two hooks and he kind of did his fingers. So I don't know. I know that wasn't planned, but you brought up turtles and that was like flashback, flashback.

[Al Robertson]

John. Welcome down to Shane. This is what we do here. We. We start talking and then you never know where it's going to go.

[Jase Robertson]

It feels like home. And I'm grateful, guys.

[Al Robertson]

Good.

[Jase Robertson]

So you don't need to read all those, those things, man. Those are just, those are things I did because I had low self esteem.

[Al Robertson]

No, you're a, you're a very smart man. We're glad to have you on our podcast. You, you're a connect to it. Tell us what you do, Dave Ramsey, because you're, you're working with him these days.

[Jase Robertson]

I'm still trying to figure that out, man. I spent, I spent, spent a couple of two decades working at colleges and then Dave and I got connected and now, as my 14 year old said, I was arguing with him a couple weeks ago about like, hey, I used to be like somebody of prominence. I wore a suit to work and I was a dean of students. And he said, dad, you're just a YouTuber now. So all I do with Dave is help him with the mental health stuff and the relationship stuff as he's helping people untangle their finances.

[Al Robertson]

So. And you like to hunt because before we came on air, we were talking about hunting and you're from Texas originally. Is that right?

[Jase Robertson]

Yes, sir. I was born and raised there, and I moved out of Texas at 40. My old man sat me down and explained to me that Al Qaeda is waiting for you on the. On the Arkansas border if you ever move out of Texas.

[Si Robertson]

Oh, sound like we had similar childhoods.

[Al Robertson]

Exactly.

[Jase Robertson]

But we've been in Nashville for about. Since 2018, and we love it.

[Si Robertson]

Oh, wow. I have. I have a place up there. We'll have to hook up now that I feel like we're, you know, got a lot more in common.

[Phil Robertson]

Kindred spirit. He was at. You were at ACU for a while, correct? Abilene. Christian.

[Jase Robertson]

I graduated from Love of Christian. And then I. I worked at ACU for a while, and I've got close, close friends. My. One of my best friends in the world is a leader over there at Harding, so. Yeah. And obviously got some friends here at Lipscomb, so that's kind of the gang.

[Al Robertson]

Well, I saw that when I saw you had been at ACU and LCU because, you know, we. We all come out of the same heritage. We come out of the church. Christ heritage and the one true church. The one true church. Yeah. And so I noticed because when their little duck show took off, we were. We were quite popular for people raising money, you know, to come in and try to get some crowds in. In some unusual places, including university campuses. And so I made it my vow that I was going every one of our CoC colleges and universities that are out there, that I was going to try to make sure I made it to everyone. And I did. It took me three or four years of fundraisers to make it around, but it was just. It was a nice thing we could share together, you know, from that idea. So that was pretty cool.

[Si Robertson]

I think I got kicked out at some point and didn't realize it, but I'm just. The relationship was a strain at some point. I have a problem with saying what I think, but I'm beginning to think we've actually had a couple of mental health doctors on in succession.

[Al Robertson]

Are you feeling the intervention vibe?

[Si Robertson]

Well, I'm. Yeah, I'm beginning to think it's me, maybe.

[Phil Robertson]

We had Dr. Amen on. Do you know Daniel Amen? We had Dr. Daniel Amon.

[Jase Robertson]

Oh, he's. Y'all. He's a real doctor. He's real, real smart. Like, there's levels to this game. He's. I'm not there, man.

[Si Robertson]

Well, they talked about. He was a brain scanner, and I thought, I'm really scared to have that done Because I've always thought that mine is a lot more small than the average human.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah, I wouldn't recommend that because it might confirm some of your family suspicions.

[Si Robertson]

Exactly. But like what you said a while ago, you said you hang out in colleges and, and spoke there for a couple of decades. I have a theory. Since you're, you know, understand the human mind, I have a theory that once you reach about 40 years old, that you're no longer listening. So I keep gravitating toward a younger.

[Al Robertson]

Audience to try to catch them before they shut down. Yeah.

[Si Robertson]

Because I'm like, once they get about 40, it's over. They're just shaking their head like no. So is that, have you had that similar experience?

[Jase Robertson]

Absolutely. And I think it's. I think, you know, the person who I hope to emulate the most is quite honestly is Dave Ramsey. He's the. He's probably 64. I've not met a man past the age like I. My experience has been 55 who is so interested in finding out places where he is wrong. And it's been like, I used to think, I want to make this much money. I want to have this kind of accomplishment. I want my family to have the X, Y and Z. I want to be 65 and still curious and wondering how I can do something different or do something a little bit better or learn a new skill or something. So yeah, you're. You're right, man. That I think, I think it gets. We used to talk about this when you graduate with your dissertation. You get that those, that PhD after your name. One of two things usually happens when you go through your dissertation. You realize how much information has out there in the world and how much you don't know. So you do one or two things. You get real, real humble and you say, hey man, my mama, name me John. Call me John. This is just, this is like the PhD is a sticker like they put on the back your car. If you get through a marathon, you can run it or walk it. It just, it's just, it was a high five on a journey I'm taking. Or you become one of those PhD folks that makes the mail. You, you tell the mailman you will address me as doctor because you lock down with this arrogance. Because that's all you got. Because it's so disorienting. And so, yeah, I think most 45, 50 year olds get nervous about what they don't know and they realize, oh, my parents were making it up as they went too. And it just closes everything down.

[Si Robertson]

Well, that makes me feel better because I, I've learned, I keep saying this, I've learned more. I relate that to Bible study. I've learned more in the last four or five years than I learned in the. But I want to be open minded to it. I want to think outside the box. I want to hear what other people say. I want to constantly, you know, challenge myself in that area.

[Al Robertson]

Well, the guy that mentored us here, that led dad to Christ, mentored me and Jace in our early formative years in Bible study, always said, keep studying and stay open to God because, you know, you never know what he's going to reveal to you. And he was a man even as he got older that had some beliefs that kind of were. All of our heritage is coming into this situation. But over time we looked at the scriptures and was fair with. He said, you know, I've been wrong about that. And again, by this time he's in his 70s and 80s and so I'm kind of like you, John. Those sort of things impacted me because I don't ever just shut down, think I know everything that's out there, you.

[Jase Robertson]

Know, and so y'all gonna think I'm lying. I wrote this down this morning during some, I'm embarrassed to say I'm a hunter and I use the J word. I was journaling this morning, but I wrote this down. I'm tired of being, quote, unquote, the most correct guy about stuff. And this, this, this thing that I think's led me through and it's been insecurity and it has been like looking for purpose, is to try to be the most right guy in the room. Whether that's with my kids, whether it's with my wife, whether it's with my anything. And all that does is create space between you and people who are just trying to get with you.

[Al Robertson]

Right?

[Jase Robertson]

As old doctor Dr. Phil used to say, do you want, you want to be right or do you want to be married? Right. And I think that that sentiment has been so powerful for me with theology, with science, with all of it, is do the best you can, but hold it all pretty loosely. Because the goal for me is not to show everybody how right I am. It's to love. Well, right?

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

I heard a pastor say one time to a church he was speaking to, and it was a church that I would say, probably a dead church. And he's speaking to this church that had no life left in it. He said, you guys are dead. Right? And then he stopped. He said, no, I mean you're dead, right? You're right, but you're dead.

[Jase Robertson]

Congratulations.

[Phil Robertson]

That's right, you won.

[Si Robertson]

This is the perfect segue for me to reveal what just happened. So I'll have to. Doc, I'll bring you up to speed. I had an altercation with law enforcement that went on for months. We did multiple episodes because I had.

[Al Robertson]

They were actually. They were actually competing sides in our audience as to who was right, who was wrong.

[Si Robertson]

The story took another chapter this morning and I hope it's the final chapter.

[Al Robertson]

Oh boy.

[Si Robertson]

Because it's the story that I get a ticket for not having my seatbelt on properly. I had it on and so I was going to fight it. Long story short, after I met with the prosecutor, I thought, this is not worth it. I'm going to pay the fine. So I pay the fine. Because this guy, I could see it in his eyes, he wasn't budging. Pay the fine. Soon as I paid the fine, they extended grace, gave me the money back and said, let's just call it at that. So as soon as I admitted guilt, so I guess that took them off the hook for thinking they were giving me some kind of perk. They. They gave me grace. So I thought, well, this is almost.

[Al Robertson]

A spiritual application here.

[Si Robertson]

I thought that was the end of the story. And so this morning I woke up and get in my truck, I'm driving and I have my seatbelt on properly. Because grace is more of a motivating factor.

[Al Robertson]

Grace teaches us to say no to ungodliness. Jesus.

[Si Robertson]

And so I thought, you never know, this guy may be in his spot because I haven't seen him there since. And wouldn't you know it, Right in.

[Al Robertson]

Front of the roundabout.

[Si Robertson]

Right in the roundabout, same guy. And I'm on the right side. So I thought, we're going to have a moment here. I slowed down a little bit and I waved. He did not wave back. And I went on, but he didn't pull me over because wearing it properly, that's when it hit me. I thought, this is the problem with law based work system. There's no relationship. I'm doing what's right. Oh, what, you know who I am?

[Al Robertson]

You remember what happened here?

[Si Robertson]

How about a wave? Guess what? No wave. Well, that's the end of that story. Well, there's a lot of truth in there.

[Jase Robertson]

He was quote unquote, right? And his bosses called him in and said, we're gonna get lambasted on, on in front of millions of people because you had to be right. That's exactly so congratulations. You had a guy that was doing 98, the right thing and staying safe and.

[Si Robertson]

Exactly.

[Jase Robertson]

His head. It's mostly empty. Anyhow.

[Si Robertson]

I just thought it was. I thought it was interesting. And I mean, it was. You brought it up. I thought, this is perfect. This is a. And now I'm doing technically the letter of the law.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Si Robertson]

And. And I was kind of happy about it.

[Al Robertson]

And I like it that you're friendly.

[Jase Robertson]

You should keep coals on his head and Uber eat him. Just some, some snacks.

[Al Robertson]

He was parked right in front of a donut shop. I mean, I'm just. This morning I saw him as well, when I came by.

[Phil Robertson]

Al, your testimony, I love hearing it for a lot of different reasons, but one is that you pay respect to my late mother, Jan Robertson, and her influence in your life. And you tell that story about when she brought you to Camp Chioka for the first time. How monumental was that in you becoming a man of faith?

[Al Robertson]

You know, I mean, it opened every door of opportunity. And what I loved about my Aunt Jan, your mom, is that she spoke words of life and scripture into me.

[Phil Robertson]

I love that. And that's honestly, like, this is why this, this partner that we have with Tomorrow Clubs is so important for me, because they do that. What my mom did for you, discipling you at a young age, that's what this sponsor does. They do that all over the world and they help children who don't have parents who know Jesus and disciple them. You know, the Great Commission is pretty clear. It's not to make converts, it's to make disciples. And so they, they're engaged in long term ministry in some of the most forsaken places in the world. And they're taking young children, just like you when you're a young child out, and they're bringing them into these settings where they can play games and have fun with them. But all the while, the underlying intention is to shape an imagination for the kingdom through Christian discipleship. And so we really, really believe in this mission. I want to invite you, if you're listening to, to help participate with this partner that we have. For just 30 bucks a month, you'll be able to provide Christ centered discipleship to 30 kids. That's a dollar per child per month. These guys have helped over half a million children come to know Jesus. I mean, that's incredible. Half a million children have learned to follow Jesus in their Tomorrow Club. But it doesn't stop there. Tomorrow Club actually creates generational impact. Al, think about. We're having this podcast right now because of someone that impacted you years ago. If you want to help, you want to be a part of this mission, go to TomorrowClubs.org Unashamed to become a Tomorrow Clubs ministry partner today. For again, just 30 bucks a month, you'll be able to provide Christ centered discipleship to 30 children in an underserved community. That's TomorrowClubs.org Unashamed. And remember, all gifts are tax deductible.

[Al Robertson]

All right, so. So that's great. So any. Can you analyze Jace on that?

[Jase Robertson]

He's right. 100, right.

[Al Robertson]

Okay.

[Jase Robertson]

100. Right.

[Si Robertson]

Love it. I mean, Jesus said, you know, come and see. We're fixing to get to that in John 1, but he also said, come to me.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Si Robertson]

I mean, it. This is personal. He's a. He's a person. It's a relationship. That's where I was going with that.

[Al Robertson]

Okay. I like it.

[Jase Robertson]

Well, I think that. I think. I think that's the thing for all of us, right, is. Is figuring out that what's the spirit of it and what's the. What's the stuff anchored into concrete.

[Al Robertson]

Right.

[Jase Robertson]

I think that's been the challenge of my life, is, hey, the Sabbath's for y'all, man. If you're hungry, grab something to eat. Like it. You know, I mean, it's a set of principles. And if you're gonna die on some of this nonsense. But also, I think the fear all of us have, especially in our church tradition, is if we cut all the tethers, then it's just going to be anarchy and bananas right everywhere. So I think it's just finding that balance.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah. And if you. And if you never do something, you'll never have to worry about. So I want to ask you this because the. You guys obviously are doing great work with what you're doing with Dave and everything else. We're. We're in another lane and unashamed. But I feel like we're all kind of working together from a kingdom perspective, what we're putting out there. So, you know, because you said you listened to a podcast that we're based obviously in Bible study. And then stories, you know, stories is how. That's how we grew up. My grandfather and my dad and all of our relatives told stories. And so then that shaped right into sort of the biblical story and how we go forward. So that's kind of the unashamed lane that we're in that works for the folks that are here. But I want to ask you about that because I feel like you And a lot of guys like you are what I call in the cultural trenches because you talk to people every day that are right up next to a lot of real issues that they may or may not not talk about their church or some other place because they're just struggling, but they don't know how to get this out. So just to get us started, how do you approach that? Do you. Do you. How do you think people's identity in Christ can help them through mental issues and all the stuff you deal with?

[Jase Robertson]

I think the. This first time I've ever talked about this. I appreciate the invitation. The guiding story that has guided my professional life probably for 20 years is the Jesus with woman at the well. Well. And I say this as a member of somebody who's sitting at the table. So it's not me throwing stones. It's me being honest about my own family. I think the church, especially over the last 50, 60 years, has. Has failed pretty bad in this, which is we like to see the woman at the well, and we like to give her a list of things she needs to do before she's got permission to talk to us. And we like to make sure that she knows that she's wrong, she's bad, she's not good enough. And then if you want to come knock on our door, we'll see if we can let you in. And I think that story is so powerful because you have somebody that breaks every social convention to go to and reaches out and says, hey, you can help me with something. I give you a purpose. And by the way, I see you and I know you and I love you. And then at the very end, there's this sense of, hey, there's another way to do life, right? And if you get that out of order, it's like you say, people will, man, you'll put your seat belt on the right way, and people won't see how many fingers you're holding up because your hands are in your pocket. But there's not a relationship there, right? And the other side of it is like, man, if that guy pulled you over and said, I hate to do this, man, but like, here we are, Somebody's gonna pull you over and they're gonna give you a ticket. It's two inches. And what I'm saying is obnoxious and silly, but it's just a law. Like.

[Al Robertson]

And he.

[Jase Robertson]

And he fist bumped you and drove off, you would laugh. You would. Would. Right? There'd be a relationship there, and he would get what he needs to do, which is hey, you got to move the seat belt on, quote, unquote, properly, right? So I, I, I think we get the relationship stuff. So when it comes to approaching people, I don't care what you're experiencing. What I've learned is, I'll say this. When I first kicked this show off, I listened to two podcasts, and they were like, nerd podcasts. They were like, like really high science nerd stuff. And I, three or four calls into my, my own show, every time I would ask, hey, hey, why are you calling me? Call a friend. And every single person had the same answer, which was, I've got nobody to call.

[Si Robertson]

Wow.

[Jase Robertson]

And I remember thinking, oh, we've created the loneliest generation in human history, and we're melting on the vine, and we got no families to go home to because we all vote different. So that means we have to hate each other. And we've got no churches. The churches isn't a place where we can say, hey, this is going on in my life. And people say, dude, pull up a seat. Me too. It is. Oh, there's a class down the hall for the divorces and for the singles. And, like, y'all go over there. They'll handle you. And so it's just become a place of, I don't care what's going on in your life. I don't care bananas thing you've done or has been done to you. Pull up a seat, and we'll get some nachos, and we'll figure this thing out. And I think presence is, is largely more important than what any answer I'm gonna give somebody, that's that.

[Phil Robertson]

That right there is the thrust of everything we're doing on this podcast. And we're going through the Bible and really our method of interpretation of the Scriptures, it is storytelling. We tell a lot of crazy stories where it's almost like a Seinfeld, a show about nothing with the Bible study, but the way we're interpreting the scriptures through that lens of God's presence. First he's present with us and then allows us to be present with one another. I recently heard, I don't know where you were speaking at, but I saw it on Instagram. And I love your stuff, by the way, because it's always, like, super practical, and it hits people right where they're at. And I'm like. And I agree with almost everything you say. And I'm like, man, I need to send this to somebody. But you were talking about this idea of presence. I think the word you might have used was connection, like being connected. And you said something that's very simple but very profound, and it should be obvious, but it's not in our culture. You said to be connected, you gotta be face to face with somebody. You gotta look at them. How do you see, like, technology, Instagram, phones, all that, as a disruptive. At least with our ability to be president. What would be your advice to someone who's got teenage kids like yourself?

[Jase Robertson]

That's a. That's a. That's a big one, man. Just to put it bluntly, I think it's. It is the same. We're going through the same exact thing with our minds and our spirits and our relationships that our parents went through in 1971, when this awesome thing came out called the TV dinner. And they're like, man, you can just take this box and put it in a microwave, and you don't have to. You don't have to go shoot anything and skin anything and smoke anything you can just. You can have in five minutes. And everybody got real excited. And then we've had a generation of people dropping dead from heart attacks and cancers and all sorts of degenerative diseases and. But we called that stuff food. And I think very similarly, for thousands and thousands of years, we have. I was thinking of this the other day. To listen to this conversation, for all of human history, you had to be in that room y'all are in.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah, Right.

[Jase Robertson]

And so it's some way our body hears these voices talking. They hear the stories, and it's connecting as though we're friends. Y'all meet people when y'all go travel, and they come up and ask you questions. And if you're like me, my body's like, whoa, whoa. You don't. Don't ask me about my daughter. I don't know you. You mean that's like. You know what I mean? You know stuff about my life. And so it's this. It's this Through a glass darkly. It's. We think we're connected, and our bodies are screaming at us that we're lonely.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

And so I think at the end of the day, we'll have a. Same as we're having with the food issue. We'll have a gnarly reckoning with just our basic physiology, that our bodies. Let me put it this way. If your body recognizes that you've lost your tribe, it would be failing you if it let you sleep at night because it knows you are all you've got. And we can have these long text threads full of emojis and funny jokes and that's fine. But that's just a Twinkie. That's just a bag of popcorn. That is not a meal.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

And so your body has to have real people that it knows it can lean on and see and experience your breath and your eye crinkles and your jokes and just your glances. That is the stuff that keeps our brain functioning well. So these phones, at the end of the day, man, they're, they're, they're protein bars when you're out hunting. But man, that can't sustain you for very long.

[Al Robertson]

Oh, such a clutch off season pickup. Dave.

[Si Robertson]

I was worried we'd bring back the same team.

[Jase Robertson]

I meant Those blackout motorized shades.

[Si Robertson]

Lines.com made it crazy affordable to replace our old blinds.

[Al Robertson]

Hard to install.

[Si Robertson]

No, it's easy. I installed these and then got some from my mom.

[Al Robertson]

She talked to a design consultant for.

[Si Robertson]

Free and scheduled a professional measure, Measure.

[Al Robertson]

And install hall of fame, son.

[Si Robertson]

They're the number one online retailer of custom window coverings in the world.

[Al Robertson]

Blinds.com is the goat shop.

[Jase Robertson]

Blinds.com right now. And get up to 40% off select styles plus a free professional measure.

[Al Robertson]

Rules and restrictions may apply. I had never thought about connecting back to 50 years ago and sort of the dawn of the television age with that and how much you're right at how much that has just set the stage for where we are today. Should have been a natural advancement because you, you said it, it is TV dinners. So it's not just the. We lost that, you know, supper time. We lost that meal experience. We lost that idea of connection to what gives us that nutrition for our. Both our bodies as well as our psyche and our soul. Right. But also it was tied to a device. It was tied to the television. And so, you know, back in that day, because I remember being a little kid, it was three channels and you know, it was colored bars at 10 o'clock at night. At least there was a stop to it. But turned it off, right? There was a, there was a way to turn it off. Now it's just endless.

[Si Robertson]

I read yesterday that they sell seven iPhones per second now. Seven. So we've been going for a few seconds. Yeah. Seven iPhones per second.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah.

[Si Robertson]

Which, which it's not shocking. Then on the way over here, took me 15 minutes to get here. I saw at least four or five people who were not going in with the traffic. And every one of them had their cell phone, which I'm thinking this guy didn't wave at me over the seat belt thing. I'm Like, I just passed three people who have stopped traffic because they had their head in their phone, you know, get them. But so I was just gonna say, you know, what we did with our teenagers, which are, you know, now they're all grown, is we had to invite all their friends to come over for meals. I mean, we try to do this once or twice a week because I want to know who they're hanging out with, but it was amazing. If you feed them good food, they're coming because there's not much to offer, to your point. And I always made them turn in all their cell phones, which seem like crazy to them at first. Oh, you go over there. That Jace, he, like, makes you turn your phone in when you come. I'm like, you can come check it, you can come, but it stays right here. And no TVs are on. We just sat around, ate good food and talked and had conversations. Was amazing how much that grew through the years. I mean, it got to where the parking lot couldn't hold them because this is what life should be about. So I'm just offering that as one.

[Al Robertson]

And I'm saying I'm willing to bet that the ones that stayed on as friends of your kids are probably still friends to this day.

[Si Robertson]

They're friends with me.

[Al Robertson]

That's what I'm saying. When you see them, you've got a relationship. So that brings me to something, John, because you. You talk a lot. I saw some of your shows where you talk about getting weird if you have to because you're in protective mode. And Jason, what Jason described as weird, but only because it's just different. It's. Right. Most of us can agree, but most people don't have the courage to do something like that.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah, Jason, I mean, you were ahead of your time on that one. Like, yeah, it breaks my heart. My 14 year old doesn't. He doesn't have a camera on his phone. Why? Because I was 14 years old, I would be wholly unemployable if I'd had a camera on my phone when I was 14. Because stuff is funny when you're 14. Listen, the stuff my son laughs at. I'm in my late 40s. It's still hilarious, but I don't want to explain it to my grandmother. Doesn't need to be recorded somewhere. So, like, yeah, like, he was the only kid in his class in fifth grade without a phone. Phone, yeah. He's the only kid in middle school that did not have a phone. And he's a freshman in high school now. So I've. We've got some contracts and. But he didn't have. He doesn't have Google. And I think it's madness. And I say this boldly, it's insanity to give a child access to the World Wide Web. 24 7, 365 in their pocket. And worse, to give the World Wide web access to your child.

[Phil Robertson]

Wow.

[Jase Robertson]

247 365. It's mad greatness. And Jace, we have the same.

[Si Robertson]

We.

[Jase Robertson]

We have some. A little bit of land out here outside of Nashville. And so my. We experienced the same thing. My wife had a basket. Everybody who came over, I wanted all. I wanted my place to be the place where all the kids came. And I tell you what, man, it started kind of weird. My wife had to text all the moms. We're watching them, they're fine. And it. We found out it's usually the parents that wanted it. They. They are the ones who are anxious all the time about where's my precious little baby?

[Al Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

And so they were the ones that needed to be coached. Hey, we're good parents. We got it. And those kids would come, drop their phones in the basket and then it's. I think their nervous system's regulated. And for a kid, it just felt good because then they now they come over, man, they drop those phones so fast and they are off into the woods and their bodies are just exhaling, right? Like, thank you, God, there's a place where I can put this thing down. And so the weird part, it just stinks when you find yourself the only parent, man. And nobody wants their kid to miss birthday parties because they don't have Instagram or whatever. But. But I. I gotta play a long game with my kids soul and I. Dude, I just been in the room with these tech folks. It's not good. It's not good, man. It's not good.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah, we've got. I think, I think it's the. There is a movement though. We've got Jonathan, I think Jonathan Height.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah, yeah.

[Phil Robertson]

He's coming on the podcast in a couple weeks.

[Jase Robertson]

Oh, good. Well, let him talk. He's the goat man. He's the expert. He's fantastic.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah, his work, I mean, I've read a couple of his books and you know, it's. The irony is. Is the fear. You fear that your kids are not safe by letting them go out without a phone and just do what we used to do. And he said, actually there's not. There's not an increased risk your kids getting kidnapped and all the Things like. And we're de. Risking their lives. But at the same time, like you said, we're giving the world. The World Wide Web access to our children. And it's. That is a. I think he says that not to give kids phones until. Or smartphones access until they're 16. Yeah, 16. I mean. And you know, Europe's passed a law, so I think they're. I mean, this is a. There's a real mental health crisis. I mean, I think we're all seeing this in real time and it's like, we gotta have this conversation. But we're almost afraid of our children because they're like, you know, gaslighting us as kids do.

[Si Robertson]

You know, that's it. I noticed a transition. So when that. Because it was awkward at first and I ran into the same thing with a couple parents and I'm like, I'm not taking their phone away. It's just a public place where they can check their phone. Because I think the most annoying thing in life. And we've had a problem with that this duck season, with taking the Duck Boys in quotations because they'll get in the duck blind while everybody's working, getting ready and they're just sitting over there on their phone, which that, that happens once. They never. Because out there it's a different world, John.

[Al Robertson]

That's why they're called Duck Boys. They have it. He's gotta become duck.

[Phil Robertson]

He's got a whole program. He's got a whole program of raising up these group of young men in the duck line that he just launched. It's called the Duck Men or Duck Boy Society Boys.

[Si Robertson]

To me, I think it would a great TV show. Honestly, if you watch this stuff, it is a fascinating, but I want to say is something powerful because I really, I don't think I've ever shared this, but I did notice that transition after we. The bumpiness came out because then more parents started because they saw a difference in their kid. They're now connected with people and having spiritual conversations. And so their life starts improving and they're like, oh, whatever you, whatever y'all want to do over there is fine. But at first it was bumpy with, with, with a few people, but I would notice they would come down because I'm a late night owl and that's when I do my studying. Well, that one by one they'd walk downstairs and they'd go over there, look at that phone. You know, it's like just through the night. I thought, well, we do it validated what I was doing. I was like, if you're so upset. And so I started. As they would walk by, I'd say it's still there. And just little jokes, you know. But what I notice is that. So those people get older and they keep coming to our house. Well, now most of them are college age. And now I've noticed a difference because they're, you know, they're still gathering up at my house. Every time Mia comes in, there's just all her friends are there. But now they're coming downstairs and they're stopping instead of going to check their phone because I think, because they're still turning on their phone. And I'm like, look, at this point, you're in college. But I don't, I don't say anything because they're like, that's the rule here. But now I've noticed they stop and we've had multiple conversations about Jesus and life. And I thought, isn't that something that all started with just putting their phone in, has now developed into a relationship where they want to talk about life, talk about Jesus. And it's really happened in the last year. I've just noticed more of these same people. We're just having conversations into the night about how we can get Jesus in the world.

[Al Robertson]

It's almost like you flip from defense to offense. Because it's what John was saying earlier about the woman at the well. She starts out, she's isolated, she's alone, she doesn't want to talk to people. She's engaged with Jesus in just a short conversation. All of her life hurts are brought out and then what is the next thing she does? She goes into the village and says, hey, you got to come out of here. I mean, so all the people she's been avoiding, now she's on offense and saying, you know, this guy will tell you everything you've ever done. So I find that that defense to offense makes a big difference.

[Phil Robertson]

Well, even think about the woman at the well, I mean, what she. She's asking the question, where do we worship? Like, where, where is God at? Where is his presence at? And I think that that goes back to everything that, you know, we've been talking about.

[Si Robertson]

Oh, exactly. I, I love this conversation. I mean, I didn't know what we were going to talk about, but I think this is at the top of the list for our young people when.

[Jase Robertson]

It comes to technology. I like to just go back to the. That meal analogy. And whenever we went home from college, whenever I did, I mean, most of my life was eating In a. In a college cafeteria or eating Taco Bell or. There was a little place called Lone Wolf out there in West Texas that had like, 19 tacos for 9 cents or something, or whatever. And it was just like, you eat the tacos, and it's a race back to the bathroom.

[Al Robertson]

Right.

[Si Robertson]

But.

[Jase Robertson]

But when you get home, I knew my mom was going to cook, and it was just that meal that sat in you, and it made you feel home. Right. And I think the technology and the relationship aspect is the exact same. It's just not food.

[Al Robertson]

It's.

[Jase Robertson]

It's that. It's that social connection, that spiritual connection we all are so desperate for.

[Si Robertson]

Well, it's like I was hunting with Burley yesterday. He's from Colorado, and he just got a text from a young guy who recently, you know, came to Christ. But it. I think he said he was 16, but when he read it to me, he didn't say who it was. He just said, what would you say here? And it was basically the guy saying, you know, he's having suicidal thoughts and this kind of thing. And I thought, man, this seems to be a common practice with our young people now. And I don't know if it's from technology or what, but it just seems like every once a week, I'm having some conversation about a young person having these types of problems coming up. So I was going to throw that out. Do you think that's a connection to the technology world or all of the above, or.

[Al Robertson]

Yeah, because you never really thought about this, like, ending your life stuff being that present in young people, but it. It seems to be part of this new phenomenon.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah, I mean, that's. That's the reason I went back to grad school again halfway through, when I thought I was done being educated. Right. Was my students in 2004 and five were talking about what I want to do when I grow up, and should I go into technology or should I go into psychology? And then in 2010, 2012, the conversation shifted overnight to, I don't think I want to be alive anymore. And my response to that. When somebody. I call those grenades, when somebody texts me a grenade, my response is always to pick up the phone, I'm gonna call you.

[Si Robertson]

You.

[Jase Robertson]

I'm gonna talk to you in person. I'm not gonna respond to something that heavy. I'm not gonna dishonor you by. By talking something that big in a text response. Right. We're gonna talk. I remember one of my. One of my graduate students came in one time with a phone and his wife had said, I'm divorcing you via text message. And I was like, this is crazy, this nuts. And then I said, why are you still here? Why aren't you in the car to go see your wife? And he goes, well, we have a zoom call set up. And I was like, man, this world's nuts, right? Yeah. But yes, I do think there's. I mean, Jonathan will talk about Jonathan Hyatt, Dr. Hyatt, but there's a massive increase in suicidal ideation. There's just these pictures in their heads. Every, every 16, 17, 18, 19 year old is uncomfortable in their own skin, every one of them. And there's something about being uncomfortable with a bunch of other kids, being uncomfortable and being anchored to some sturdy, regulated adults. And they don't have that anymore. They've got adults that, that are on their phones all the time or just, just mainlining news of channels and thinking that's gospel truth. And so they've got parents who are angry, exhausted, frustrated, who don't like each other. And so kids have nothing to anchor to. And then they get this picture of, well, it may be that you shouldn't be here anymore, or here's a video of it, or here's 50 ways you can Google 50 ways to take your life. Like, there's just that, that, that ecosystem is so toxic and gross and awful and it just didn't exist for us. There definitely were kids that died by suicide when we were young, but it wasn't as pervasive. And I also think this, Jason, and this, you got to be careful saying this. And so I'm saying this, having done this as a professional. I also knew there were often young people who simply were hurting so bad and no adults in their life would pay any attention to, to him.

[Si Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

And it was a young people learned. I can stop the presses. I can shut down my school, I can shut down my family. I can finally be seen and heard if I just send a text that says I'm having dark thoughts and I can just shut the whole system down and then people will finally come and say, are you okay? And so again, there's six, one half dozen, another when it comes to that stuff. But it's, it's very, very serious. And I take that stuff real serious.

[Phil Robertson]

Well, you, when you talk about that, about these kids, they don't have an anchor or something to anchor into. I think that's the insanity of our cultural moment, is that we're putting them in charge as the experts now. And you're, you're their feelings.

[Jase Robertson]

Not even, not even their thoughts. We're putting their feelings.

[Phil Robertson]

Oh, yeah. In charge of our culture. Yes.

[Jase Robertson]

It's a 16 year old feel. We're insane.

[Phil Robertson]

You have to ask, how's it working out? And I look at what you're doing and, and it's really kind of in the same vein as Dave Ramsey, who's also coming on the podcast soon, too, how he handles it with the financial advice. He's, you might say it's blunt advice, but it's actually just. No, we're not. Like, I'm just telling you the truth. And I think that there needs to be some level of like, truth telling from the adults in the room. Like, I think our culture that has shifted so much that empathy is like this highest ideal that we're all ascribing to. But the man, if I get down in the hole with you, then I can't help you get out of the hole. And so maybe you could talk about your methodology a little bit, because I don't. You, you show a lot of sympathy in what you're doing, but I don't. But I do see you speaking truth in a way that I heard someone call your show and ask about Travel Ball one time and you were very blunt about it. But I'm thinking, I've been thinking this whole thing, this whole time about how this rips families apart. And you just said it in a way that was so matter of fact that I think it's so compelling. And I was listening to the lady on the other end and she was like, like, yeah, that makes sense.

[Jase Robertson]

Yeah. Of all the things I've talked about on my show and we've talked to us about some banana stuff when people call in. The two things I've gotten in the most trouble about is telling some, telling a woman there's no such thing as a dog mom. There's a dedicated pet owner. There's no such thing as a dog mom. Not. That's not a thing. And you would have thought, good God almighty, they came after. And the other one was, yeah, the travel spot, sports thing. I had one person in a book signing line one time and y'all have probably done this and you sit with these, the experts and they're good at what they do and everybody's well meaning, but they're the, the branding folks and like, hey, how are we going to tell the story? Like, what's the picture? We want people, all that kind of stuff. And, and y'all are probably similar to me. Like, I don't understand all that, what y'all are doing, but I'm just going to go be as honest as I can with the person in front of me.

[Al Robertson]

Right. Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

And that. That gets you in trouble sometimes. And also, I think it's. It's endearing sometimes.

[Al Robertson]

Refreshing. Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

A woman came up to me in a book signing line, and she said, you know, you're the big brother that none of us ever had. And when she said it, I remember thinking, that's it.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

Is. I'll. I'll hit somebody for you if I got to, but I'm gonna sit down and tell you you shouldn't have said what you said. Right. I'll. I'll. I'll sit with you, but I'm gonna tell you the truth. And so I think our culture is desperate for truth. But I also think those of us who think we are seeing a world who's being. Being crafted without truth through illusion and lies. Our solution has not been to offer somebody a cup of water. Our. Our solution has been to go set that house on fire. And it's. I think we have to. I can't control what they're doing or what they're saying. I can't control that. What I can control is I have never one time changed my behavior because somebody screamed and yelled me into it. Ever.

[Phil Robertson]

Yeah.

[Jase Robertson]

I have been out on a hunting ranch with my buddy Nate in West Texas, and he. We're sitting next to each other, and he's got a recurve, and I'm poking fun at him, and he's poking fun at me. And then we talk about something serious, and he says, hey, I know you got 17 degrees, but I think you're off on this one. And I know he cares for me. I know we're in this thing together. And then I can go, okay, tell me more. And so I. I think that's. I think that's the move we got. So my methodology is pull up some nachos, pull up a drink, think, sit down, and I'm gonna look in the eye and be honest and hear you and say, man, that stinks. And say if it's ne. If necessary, hey, if we can't agree on. Live on less than you make, we're probably not gonna. We're not gonna get very far.

[Si Robertson]

Right?

[Jase Robertson]

Like, if that's a. If that's a crazy idea, if the idea of you and your husband deciding to date other people while you're still married, if that seems like a good idea, on how you're going to solve your problems. I'm probably not the guy for you, because that's madness. And usually they'll lean forward and go, all right, tell me some more.

[Al Robertson]

Right?

[Phil Robertson]

That's good.

[Al Robertson]

I love it. John, we're out of time. You know, we have a way of rating guests on the Unashamed podcast, the really good ones. It feel like we just got started, and literally, we're out of time. Zach came up with 17 questions to ask you. We asked two, so we got to have you back on. It's the Dr. John DeLoney Show. If you want to check out John's work. He's written some books as well that look fantastic. Thanks, John, for what you do every single day. And, man, thank you for coming on Unashamed.

[Jase Robertson]

Well, blessings to you guys. And you'll have an open invitation to. To do some deer hunting out here in Nashville. The Limits three a day in middle Tennessee. So come on out for the whole season.

[Al Robertson]

Oh, Jace, Jay's lives out there.

[Si Robertson]

I do have a place. We may get together when I come up there.

[Jase Robertson]

My manager is a massive duck hunter, and he always laughs at me because I. My one Achilles heel about hunting is I just hate being cold. And he said, you don't know cold till you've been duck hunt. So I got. I still haven't gone. I got to get out.

[Al Robertson]

All right, we might make that happen as well. John, thank you for coming on, brother.

[Jase Robertson]

Blessings, guys. Appreciate y'all.

[Phil Robertson]

Thanks, John.

[Si Robertson]

That was awesome.

[Al Robertson]

Thanks for listening to the Unashamed podcast. Help us out by leaving a rating and review on Apple podcast. And don't miss an episode by subscribing on YouTube. And be sure to click the little bell and choose all notifications to watch every episode.