Ep 1190 | Jase Floats the Idea of an ‘Unashamed’ LIVE Tour & Gets Hyped Up With Tom Petty

Summary

Unashamed with the Robertson Family

Ep 1190 | Jase Floats the Idea of an ‘Unashamed’ LIVE Tour & Gets Hyped Up With Tom Petty
Date: October 20, 2025

Episode Overview

In this lively and heartfelt episode, the Robertson family—Jase, Al, Zach, and company—explore faith, family, and boldness in the Christian walk. Jase floats the idea of taking "Unashamed" on a live tour, drawing inspiration from Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down" as his new unofficial “walk up” song. The hosts reminisce about duck season, share personal stories of faith across generations, and dive deep into the concept of the Kingdom of God through scripture and cultural commentary, specifically focusing on the arrest and trial of Jesus in John 18. Notable themes include courage in faith, the resilience of believers, and the need for revival and public declaration in today’s world.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Family Stories & Duck Season Anticipation

• Jase describes a weekend filled with Bible studies, child training, and getting ready for duck season.
• The hosts fondly recall past duck hunts, including memories of “dear old Dad” and the importance of passing down traditions (00:20–03:38).
• Quote: "Nine months of getting ready for duck season, and then you're born again into the wild." — Jase (01:13)

2. Teaching the Next Generation

• Jase shares charming stories about fishing with his grandson "Little man," using moments of failure (a broken fishing line) as life lessons about resilience (02:34–04:32).
• Quote: "I use it as a life lesson at three years old—sometimes your line breaks." — Jase (02:44)

3. Listener Engagement & Fan Gifts

• The team thanks listeners for their engagement and loyalty, showcasing an elaborate metalwork art piece sent by a fan with Romans 1:16 and "Unashamed" welded into it (05:10–06:29).

4. Recapping Recent Speaking Engagements

• Al recounts speaking at events across the country, including back-to-back appearances at the same California church as Jase, leading to friendly family ribbing (07:41–08:58).
• Quote: "I got one word for you tonight… Upgrade." — Al (08:12)

5. Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” as a Faith Anthem

• Jase describes adopting Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” as his pre-speaking “walk up” song, discussing how the song’s story and lyrics resonate with the Christian call to stand firm in adversity (09:50–13:11).
  • Jase recounts Tom Petty’s traumatic inspiration for the song (surviving an arson attack) and explores its scriptural parallels (Matthew 16, Ephesians 6).
  • Quote: "You can stand me up at the gates of hell, but I won’t back down… That sounds like Revelation." — Jase (12:00)
• Zach, a fellow Floridian like Petty, connects the song to University of Florida football traditions and the power of music in uniting people (13:40–14:23).

6. The Courage to Go Public: Live Tour Proposal

• The hosts discuss a tangible spiritual revival they're feeling nationwide. Jase officially pitches a multi-city “Unashamed” LIVE tour, suggesting Dallas, Atlanta, and Knoxville as potential stops (20:11–22:17).
  • The crew agrees on the importance of community, worship, and “declaring Jesus as Lord” publicly.
  • Quote: “Let’s just do three events and declare Jesus as Lord.” — Jase (20:53)
  • “We could call it the I Won’t Back Down Tour.” — Zach (21:31)
• The idea of bringing their wives along, as modeled after their father Phil’s advice, underscores the family nature of their ministry (24:13–24:54).

7. Bible Study: The Arrest and Trials of Jesus (John 18)

• The episode transitions to a Bible study on John 18, wrestling with the profound emotions and ironies of Jesus’ arrest, the corruption of the legal proceedings, and Peter’s denial (25:14–39:30).
  • They highlight Jesus’ boldness (“I am he”) and the illegal, hypocritical nature of the trials.
  • Quote: "You just never would, of all ways to declare yourself king, you would not pick this mode." — Jase (27:03)
• The hosts interweave commentary on the Sadducees and Pharisees, referencing their different beliefs and recurring opposition to Jesus (28:27–29:53).
• They draw connections to messianic prophecies (Daniel 7, Psalm 110) and how these events fulfilled, rather than contradicted, scripture.

8. The Kingdom of God: Power Reimagined

• Zach and Al dig into how Jesus’ crucifixion subverts expectations about the kingdom—revealing that true power is sacrificial, not violent or political (32:33–46:37).
  • The contrast between Rome’s and Jerusalem’s power structures versus Jesus’s spiritual kingdom is emphasized.
  • Christ’s victory comes through love and humility, not earthly might.
  • Quote: "If my kingdom was from this world…we would be doing what you guys are doing. But my kingdom is not of this world." — Jesus (as cited/discussed by Zach, 45:00)

9. The Great Commission and Ends of the Earth

• The hosts discuss the expansive mission Jesus gives his followers, referencing Acts 1:8 and Isaiah 49:6—how God’s plan always aimed beyond just Israel to encompass “the ends of the earth” (47:00–54:54).
  • Quote: “I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” — Isaiah 49:6 (read by Jase, 53:52)
• Zach explains the spread of the early church, showing how even persecution (the stoning of Stephen) fuels the movement God intended.

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Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• "I'm loving the process—Bible studies, dog training, child training, in no particular order."
  — Jase (00:25)
• "Somebody literally tried to kill Tom Petty. He rebuilt his house on that same site, saying, 'I'm gonna stand my ground here.'"
  — Jase (14:41)
• "Let’s do three. We’ve never done that. I’m curious if the audience…if you guys would show up if we did something."
  — Zach (20:36)
• “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight…but my kingdom is of another place.”
  — John 18:36 (Discussed by Zach, 45:00)
• “I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”
  — Isaiah 49:6 (Read by Jase, 53:52)

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Key Segment Timestamps

• 00:25 – 04:38 | Family stories; prepping for duck season; teaching little ones
• 05:10 – 06:29 | Listener gifts; the welded "Unashamed" fish
• 07:41 – 08:58 | Al and Jase’s consecutive speaking gigs in California
• 09:50 – 14:23 | Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down”; faith and resilience
• 20:11 – 22:17 | Proposal and excitement for a LIVE Unashamed tour
• 24:13 – 24:54 | The “bring your wife and Bible” family ministry philosophy
• 25:14 – 39:30 | Bible study: John 18; religious corruption and Jesus’ boldness
• 45:00 – 46:37 | Kingdom of God; power reframed through sacrificial love
• 47:00 – 54:54 | The global mission; Acts & Isaiah references

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Conclusion

Episode 1190 of Unashamed with the Robertson Family is an energy-filled blend of scripture, personal reflection, and family camaraderie. Jase’s inspiration from Tom Petty leads to a major new idea: an “Unashamed” LIVE tour to spur revival and encourage public boldness in faith. Interwoven with their signature humor and storytelling, the Robertsons urge listeners to stand firm, be unashamed, and embrace the call to take the gospel—and Christ’s unique vision of the Kingdom—to the ends of the earth.

Transcript

[Jason]

I am unashamed.

[Zach]

What about you?

[Al]

Welcome back to Unashamed. I'm looking at the box, but I don't see Jay's.

[Zach]

Well, that's the first time. That's the first time I've ever heard him say, I'm gonna water the coffee down. That's not like him.

[Al]

So, Jason, we started and looked up, and you weren't there. What happened?

[Jason]

I made my coffee so strong today because I got up early before daylight, because I had little. We had little man this weekend. So this weekend, I had a lot of Bible studies, and I had some child training and dog training. That's. That basically sums up the weekend. Bible studies, dog training, child training, in no particular order.

[Al]

Well, we are getting close to ducksy. We're a month from duck season, so are you getting in the. You know, are you getting all in the mood and.

[Jason]

Oh, I am. We have. That's the backstory. So I guess that would be a distant number four. We're getting ready for duck season, which is. It's gonna be great.

[Zach]

It's.

[Jason]

It's a new birth. I know. I say that every time, but nine months of getting ready for duck season, and then you're born again into the wild, so. Hey. But I got one thing. One thing.

[Al]

I haven't been in a few years, Chase, but I'm. I am gonna be there. Open day in honor of dear old dad. I'm going on opening day. So you're back.

[Jason]

You're back.

[Al]

Well, I just figured it's the first opening day without dad in 65 or 70 years, whatever it was. And so just to honor him, I'm going to be there. I'm hoping Willie and Jeff will come.

[Jason]

Well, he took me duck hunting for the first time when I was 8 or 9.

[Zach]

So without revealing day.

[Jason]

Well, you. November, a simple search would. Would clear that up, but it's. It's always in Louisiana the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

[Zach]

Yeah.

[Jason]

So There you go.

[Al]

2020. It's coming up about a month. Yeah.

[Jason]

So I. This morning, as I took Little man out, which was a big day this morning, he wanted to go to the beach. So we go to Willie's. He's got a little beach. Just think of how Willie operates. He created. He literally brought in sand to make a beach on his pond.

[Al]

On his little pond. Yeah.

[Jason]

And so we go there. Last time I took Little man last weekend, he had a huge bass that broke his line. For the first time in his life, he's like. He looked at me like, what just happened? Let's reel him in. I said, no, he broke your line. Trying to explain that because every, every other time he just came in. What just. And so I use it as a life lesson at three years old of like things happen sometimes your line breaks. And he was disgusted. It was huge bass. So this morning he's reeling bump getting better, setting the hook. And I was like, what is this? And it was a beast of a crappie off the beat. I mean a beast, huge crappie line didn't break. So very exciting.

[Al]

So did you cook him up?

[Jason]

I cleaned him. I cleaned. Well, last night, the back story. Last night he went on his first night fishing with me at Willy's Pond. And so we caught five crappie or I did because, because we were on the bridge. So he was, he was, you know, he's not big enough to. You're catching a crappie and then you have to lift it over the bridge. So. But he held the bag for me, which was awesome and loved every minute of it. He just, I had a little, you know, like a bag you get from a grocery store. Yeah, he just had it open and wish I didn't have my phone because in the middle of all that, I caught about a three pound bass on two pound test line. And so then I was going to take a picture but I didn't have my phone. Now getting a three pound bass over a bridge that you're 20 foot above the water. Pro, pro move. Just the whole thing fascinated him, you know, so it was, it was awesome. I feel good about this.

[Al]

Good to teach him the ways of the, of the outdoors.

[Jason]

Oh, I'm loving the, I'm loving this process.

[Al]

It's like we've been mentioning our good friends at frc, which is Family Research.

[Zach]

Council and what kind of America are we going to leave to our kids? You know, our friends at FRC are in Washington D.C. they're equipping Christians to pray, vote, and stand firm. By training believers and shaping policy, they're building the future that honors God. So be a part it with us and give [e-mail] unashamed.

[Jason]

But what I wanted to say before we get started, I wanted to commend our viewers. We have the greatest listeners in the world. We do. And I'm going to prove it.

[Al]

Without a doubt that's true.

[Jason]

I'm going to prove it. So when I came in and sat down, there was an obstacle or an obstacle Zach on the table and I took it off because if I, if I didn't, it might be a distraction for while I'M talking. But this came in the mail. I'm going to hold it up from one of our fans. You ready? The reveal. Oh, wow. I hope you heard that sound.

[Zach]

Massive.

[Jason]

I'm having to. Oh, it's massive.

[Al]

So if you're listening. If you're listening, it's a. It's a metal work that looks like a fish that has unashamed in Romans 1:16. But it's all metal. It's. Somebody welded it together.

[Jason]

Right. Jay, you know what I found fascinating? This came in the mail. Wow.

[Al]

Yeah.

[Jason]

Well, thank you. I would say whoever did that.

[Zach]

Thank you. That's awesome. That needs to go right there behind you by Phil's Bible. We got to figure out a way to expand the fireplace offering back there.

[Jason]

Let me tell you something. If somebody breaks in here and with harm. Yeah. I'm going classic fail here. I'm grabbing this.

[Zach]

It's a. It's a metal fish that says Romans 1:16.

[Al]

Unashamed.

[Zach]

Unashamed.

[Jason]

UnashaMed.

[Zach]

Yeah. That's cool.

[Jason]

So thank you for that. That's the gift that keeps on giving. It will be here long after we're gone.

[Al]

Well, Jace, I was. So this last week, I was on the road, of course. I was in North Carolina for a couple of events, and then I parachuted in to a blue state, California. And so. So I get in there.

[Jason]

You jump out of a plane that. On your.

[Al]

Well, that's. That's why I say I parachute behind enemy lines. But actually, I've just flew into Sacramento. It wasn't quite as scary as all that, but I go. I get into the green room, which is, of course, never a green room. It's always some other color. And I'm waiting to go out to speak, and I look up and there's a picture, a huge picture of you on the wall in this room. And. And you had signed the picture and you wrote the gospel symbols on there, and you were. And there were other pictures on the wall as well. And Mac Powell was next to you, and Mac had signed it. And then they were like the. The small bones were there and Rebecca St. James and some other people. And so I was like, I guess you've been there. It was Yuba City. You were there like a month.

[Jason]

Like a month ago, and they had you there a month later.

[Al]

They had me there a month later in the same church. And you're. The church hosted a Christian school fundraiser when you were there. It hosted a pregnancy center fundraiser when I was there. So it was same church, different events. It was so Funny. So when I went out my Open the line, I said, how many of y' all heard Jay speak here about a month ago? And it was surprisingly like a lot of people had heard you speak. And I said, well, I got one word for you tonight. And I just kind of dramatically paused. I said, upgrade.

[Jason]

Nobody laughed.

[Al]

No, it was a big laugh. They got to get laugh. And then I said, no, I'm just kidding. I'm sure Jason did an amazing job. Which they all clapped when I said that too, so. But it was kind of funny. I'd never been, like, right behind somebody else in the family in California, of all places in California. But. But Jay's. Those people were so exc. I mean, just. Man, what an awesome crowd. I mean, wonderful people. The people at my table that hosted us were fantastic. I mean, it was a. It was an exciting event. I mean, I love going to places where folks like that. It's just. It's almost like they're under this tyrannical government, you know, But, I mean, they are thriving for the cause.

[Jason]

It's the perfect place for my new walk up song. And this. I have to admit that this is in response to the Mansions over the hilltop argument about 10 podcasts ago that people in the world every. They see me. They won't let it.

[Zach]

What is their take? It was, are they pro mansion or anti mansion?

[Jason]

They were mostly on your side, saying, it's just a picture, you know, but.

[Al]

Okay, people like that song.

[Zach]

They're like, I want my mansion, man. I want my.

[Jason]

Well, my point is even. And look, I got a new walk up song. And when I tell you this, I debated on whether to bring this up, but I think I will. But as long as you don't argue with me. Zach, here's my new walk up song. Okay. Ready?

[Zach]

Yeah.

[Jason]

And let me give you the context, because I'm. It's not in my nature to speak in front of people. And what I mean by that is I never wanted to do that. I've always said that was my biggest fear from childhood. I did not like speaking in front of people, so. But the Lord changed that. So I'm giving the Lord 100% credit on that. And so. But one thing I have to do is just to get myself going when I'm fixed to stand up in front of people is like, kind of like they do in baseball. They have walk up songs. You know, they do that because you're like, hey, this is. I'm trying to get the vibe. And so most of them are contemporary Christian Music but the one I've been on lately. You ready? I won't back down.

[Zach]

Tom Petty.

[Jason]

Petty.

[Al]

So we've all seen it, the tough moments. When you got a sick pet, the vet bills start stacking up. It's hard to watch, you know, because someone you love, including your pets, are having a tough time. It's always something. Itchy skin, stiff joints, upset stomachs, ear infections. Every time you leave the vet, you have another bag of meds and the same old hope. Maybe this one will work. But most of the issues for your pet start in the same place. It's a worn down immune system from years of processed foods. That's why our good friend Dr. Dennis Black has set out to fix this problem by creating rough greens, which you see, Jay says some of the product there in front of him. It's packed with real live nutrients that help your dog feel better from the inside out. And your cat. No wonder they call it America's number one dog supplement. Thousands of pet owners are finally breaking their vet visit cycle and seeing the difference for themselves. My pets love it. They line up for it. Jase, yours do the booty shake, right?

[Jason]

Well, Al, look, I was driving home yesterday and I have two little bitty dogs and my littlest dog was carrying around an unopened bag of rough greens.

[Al]

Obviously our pets love it and we want you to check them out right now. You can try it for yourselves with the free Jumpstart trial bag. Just cover the shipping because the best doctor visit is the one you never have to make. Go to roughgreens.com and use the promo code unashamed to break the cycle today. R U F F greens.com promo code unashamed.

[Zach]

Oh, I, hey, look, you're in my wheelhouse now. I will never argue with you about making a Tom Petty song your walk up song.

[Al]

I love Tom Petty.

[Jason]

But you know, you know, I say that because I think sometimes you, you know, when you, when, when I first heard that song, I remember me and my dad talking about it and I can't remember if he said it or I said it, but we heard that song and one of us said, I think Tom's been reading his Bible. You know, the first line of it is, you can stand me up at the gates of hell, but I won't back down. And he's like, hey, baby, that sounds like revelation.

[Zach]

Yeah, well, let me tell you a little something. Let me give you, let me tell you a little something about that song.

[Jason]

This is, oh, I, I, I know the history of the song and I'm glad we're going here.

[Zach]

What do you think I'm gonna, What do you think I'm gonna say?

[Jason]

Oh, I thought you were gonna tell the reason he wrote that song.

[Zach]

Oh, I don't know why he wrote the song.

[Jason]

Oh, it is absolutely fascinating.

[Zach]

I was gonna give you a little Tom Petty history. Tom Petty is from a little place that we like to call Gainesville, Florida, where. Which is where I was born and raised.

[Al]

I knew he was.

[Zach]

He went to high school at Gainesville High School with my dad, and he had a band called Mud Crutch back in the day. And if you watch a Florida game, which Florida's about to make a turn here, we, we're gonna get rid of the coach and we're gonna hire. We're gonna hire somebody else. But at the fourth quarter of every game, they sing that song. The whole, the whole stance, everybody. And it is, I mean, it is. I mean, it brought me to tears last time I was down there. The whole, I mean, I went down to a game we were playing Alabama, and fourth quarter starts and they start singing that song. And I, I would be lying if I told you I did not tear up. I did. I teared up during the song. It's powerful.

[Al]

That's funny, because Alabama has Leonard Skynyrd, you know, they've got Sweet Home Alabama and Florida has Tom.

[Zach]

And y' all do that Garth Brooks Baton Rouge song.

[Al]

Yeah, we had. Yeah, the Baton Rouge.

[Jason]

So let me give you, let me give you the history here. So the man is inside his house in California.

[Al]

Yeah.

[Jason]

With his wife, I think, five year old daughter, and an arsonist sets his house ablaze while he's in it. An arsonist they never found, which it traumatized him. I mean, just think about in real life, the fact that there's someone out here who's trying to kill you and your family. And they never caught him. Wow. And so he did interviews about it. He's like traumatized for years. And so one day now, I don't know all the details because, I mean, I didn't devote a lot of time to the research and it was years ago when I did this, because that line got me, because I was like, is he a believer? When I, when I, you know, the lyrics started off, well, I won't back down. No, I won't back down. You can stand me up at the gates of hell, but I won't back down. No, I'll stand my ground. Well, then I was thinking Ephesians, chapter 6, Ephesians 6, stand stand your ground. I was like, okay, I'm seeing a spiritual battle. I mean, because I know at the gates of hell. No way. That's Matthew 16. Jesus said, I'll build my church, and the gates of hell will prevail against it or withstand it. The church. Then it says, I won't be turned around. And. And listen to this line. And I'll keep this world from dragging me down. Remember our little deal about the world gonna stand my ground? You know, there ain't no easy way out. Well, now I'm like, come on, Jesus. Here he is coming into the world, and, you know, he's praying. His heart is troubled. I mean, there just wasn't an easy of this world even to save the world. And so I'm like, okay, another connection. I'll stand my ground. And listen to this. I know what's right. I got just one life in a world that keeps pushing me around. So it's dragging me down. He's got points here. It's pushing me around, but I'll stand my ground. So when they asked him where that song came from, he said after years of trauma and all that, and I would. I would interject my opinion. They're doing a little Bible study. He wrote this song in response, and he rebuilt his house on that same site, saying, I'm gonna stand my ground here. You're not gonna push me around. I'm tired of being controlled in fear. So I thought that was fascinating.

[Zach]

That is fascinating.

[Jason]

Yeah.

[Al]

I've always loved that song. Even though it's a gator song, I've always loved that song.

[Jason]

Yeah. I actually went down the rabbit hole and seeing what happened, you know, after he finally got a divorce and the house was sold and some kind of demonic group moved into the house, they got arrested. Was kind of a fascinating story. And then, of all people, Selena Gomez bought it. I'm not sure if she's still there, but that's where the trail went cold.

[Al]

Well, James came ready today. He's a pop culture.

[Jason]

I'm looking this up here, you know, on the fly. I didn't want to.

[Al]

We took a right turn into TMZ today.

[Jason]

What I'm saying is, what's powerful about that stone? It is, you see, thing, and I'm like, I hope. I know he was raised in a Christian environment, and I. You know, I hope at some point he found the Lord. He's no longer on the earth.

[Al]

Yeah.

[Jason]

And because I would love, when we get up there, to see Tom Petty and just start this off in the Next gathering with a little down. No, I won't.

[Al]

So that's your walk up song now?

[Jason]

That's my walk up song. And so I was just making a point about these songs. I like these songs that come from real life that lead people to try to find the answers to life. And the Bible is the greatest book where that happens, and it leads you to a person. And I think you see so many cross sections in life of those kind of issues. But the thrill is that that's what produces songs like that. I mean, somebody literally tried to kill the guy. You know, he's just in there with his family. I mean, it just burns me up. No. No pun intended.

[Al]

Yeah, it's. It's important. It's important for all of us to realize that. And I don't know if it's maybe more. Just seems like people are more excited everywhere I go. Maybe it's the kind of Charlie Kirk, you know, thing that happened that kind of has people excited about just being, you know. Remember what Charlie Murray used to say out loud and on purpose, you know?

[Jason]

No, it's same thing, Al. I mean, that's why there's a. There's a revival, especially in America, but I'd say around the world.

[Al]

Yeah.

[Jason]

I mean, you know, enough's enough here. When you don't have answers to life's basic questions and you resort to violence to try to silence people, especially people that are declaring Jesus. I mean, and that's another reason that's my walk up song right now. And so all those people that passed me on my way here, that's what I was doing. I was singing that song at the top of my lungs. Let's go.

[Zach]

Yeah, you mentioned, too, in the pre show.

[Jason]

Show.

[Zach]

The pre. You know, we have our pre conversation about that revival spirit that we're all kind of feeling, which we've talked about this. I'm gonna throw it out there. Jace. Even though we were just kicking around, I think we should do some kind of conference either in Dallas, Atlanta, Knoxville. I think we need to do an event.

[Al]

Unashamed event. Let's do three.

[Jason]

Let's do three. We've never done.

[Zach]

We' never done that. I'm curious if the audience. If they. If you guys would show up if we did something. Really?

[Jason]

We just asked. I say we bring our wives.

[Zach]

Yeah.

[Jason]

Yeah, we're going. God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, within all the same dot.

[Zach]

Yeah.

[Jason]

Family. So let's bring the wives and let's just do three events and let's declare Jesus as Lord.

[Al]

And that would be Fun.

[Zach]

I think it would be a good one.

[Jason]

We should do it. Yeah. Nominal fee. So we can do it right production wise.

[Al]

Yeah.

[Jason]

Means that you gotta people. It doesn't matter what you say if they can't hear it.

[Zach]

That's right.

[Jason]

The lighting right. Get the right venue. All this stuff. Yeah. And let's do it.

[Zach]

Have some good worship. We'll get the kids to do some worship.

[Jason]

Great worship. And look, the first song. Tom Petty. Find somebody who will start practicing.

[Zach]

We could call it the I Won't Back down tour. I won't back down.

[Jason]

I won't back down.

[Zach]

Yeah, that's not a bad. That's not a bad play there. The honest I won't down to her with the unashamed podcast.

[Jason]

Yeah. Because I mean, you got to remember these walk up songs become famous. Like Trump has the Village People, whatever. I don't even know what that means, you know, but it's his thing. And people. Ah, yeah. He does the dance. Whatever. I. Let's. Let's go with Tom Petty. Then we'll ease them because we're trying to build the bridge. We're, you know, in the spirit of heaven and earth coming together in jes. So take somebody that. Oh, it's a worldly song. That's. That's good. But, oh, why did he write it? See what I mean? Yeah. Let's build some bridges.

[Al]

I think it'd be awesome. Let's do that, Zach. 2026 will be 2026.

[Zach]

It's funny that, because you said that when we started the podcast about doing something like that. I mean, we just kind of honestly just spitballing around. But I had somebody reach out to me this week who actually plans these things and can organize. I mean, I don't know how to do all that, but a guy reached out to me that we had met when we were in Nashville. He came by the studio to say hello because he listens to the Unashamed podcast and his name is Shannon and he's probably listening to this. And so he said, hey, let's talk about maybe doing a tour. This is what we do for Christian artists. I was like, we never. I don't know if we'd ever do anything like that. I don't think Jason would ever do that. And then you came in this morning and said what you said. So maybe that's God. Well, there's a reason why I'm proud to say Pure Talk is my wireless company. It's because they don't just talk the talk, they walk the walk. Especially when it comes to supporting our veterans. In fact, this month Pure Talk is supporting K9s for Warriors, an incredible organization that rescues and trains dogs and then pairs them with veterans struggling with ptsd. These are men and women who served our country with honor, but when they come home, that brotherhood, that support network that they had in the military too often disappears. Canines for warriors steps in to fill that gap, giving these hero's purpose, companionship and healing. And that's exactly why PureTalk, a veteran led company, supports them. Choosing a wireless company has never been easier. And with Pure Talk, you get plenty of 5G data for just 25 bucks a month. You could be supporting a worthy cause and saving a lot of money along the way. Look, I made the switch to PureTalk a while back. It's super easy. It takes, it takes less than like 10 minutes. I love PureTalk's heart for our veteran community. So you can go to puretalk.com unashamed to make the switch today. Again, that's puretalk.com unashamed to switch to America's website wireless company, Pure Talk.

[Al]

Well, I, I think it's a great idea because, I mean, we've been. Jason, I've been doing quite a bit of speaking this year just in, you know, fundraisers and different events around the country. And I'm telling you, people are hungry and, and people are excited, you know, just about being out there and bold. There's no doubt about it. And man, I run into so many listeners of the podcast that just, I mean, give me life changing stories about how it's impacted them and how the Bible's impacted them. Of course, a lot of comments about dad, you know, so. But I love the idea about the wives too, Jace, because Dad told us, never leave the house without your woman or your Bible. So that's what we're bringing if we come. So.

[Jason]

All right, well, we'll just let the people decide.

[Al]

Yeah.

[Jason]

All right. Al, the number one question I got yesterday at the church that you preach at once a month, are y' all ever going to get to John 18? I said, we're, we're giving you the force, the context, so that when you read John 18, you'll say, oh, wow, I didn't, I didn't say this.

[Al]

We have taken quite a few rabbit hole trails from John 18.

[Jason]

I have quite a few other rabbit holes that have happened in the last three days, and I'm not bringing them up because I want to get to John 18.

[Al]

Well, good. Well, we're there and I think what we were talking about earlier. Contextually, we couldn't be in a better spot because. I don't know. As we mentioned before in this text, I kind of teeter back and forth between anger and just almost disbelief that people could be so corrupt. When I look at the setting that was there around when Jesus. Just the injustice that happened. But at the same time. But you're also filled with this huge underpinning of salvation because you realize what he did for us and what he took for us. So I just kind of feel like my emotions go back and forth in this study. I mean, have y' all felt that way?

[Zach]

Absolutely.

[Jason]

Well, I have, but I've also. I think this idea of us bringing up the defeat of his enemies and this. Not only was he a servant and a sacrifice, he was also this. This is the. What is the best way to put this? The culmination of the kingdom that he has been declaring. The kingdom is near. The king is here. The kingdom is at hand. The kingdom is like all these references because you just never would. To me, the reason we've taken so many rabbit holes is of all ways to declare yourself as king, you just not. You would not pick this mode.

[Al]

Yeah.

[Jason]

I mean, that's why it starts where the. I think the only paragraph that we've covered is when he came up and they're fixing to arrest him. And he's like, I am he. I mean, and Peter's like, get the sword out. And he's like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Not like this. Yeah, because you would just think. I mean, I think I sympathize with Peter because I thought you were a king. Let's do some kingly stuff. Power cut people's ears off. I mean, let's take over the world.

[Al]

No, I think you're right. And we actually did the first 14 verses of 18 because we got into the last couple. We did some rabbit holes last couple of podcasts, but in that we talked about the. The mob that came to get him, which was a mix of Roman soldiers and temple guards. They took him to Annas, which was interesting, because Annas is not the high priest. He's the former high priest, but he's kind of the quote, unquote, godfather of the whole high priest system, which was. We mentioned how corrupt it was. And then also he eventually is going to wind up before Caiaphas, which is the actual high priest. So that's where we are in the text. And then.

[Jason]

Well, and you brought that up. And these were Jewish leaders now, I believe the scholars say These were Sadducees.

[Al]

Yeah. So they're kind of the aristocrats of the Jewish system is what wealthy. Definitely had a different biblical view than the Pharisees, for sure.

[Jason]

Well, the little joke you always can remember is they didn't believe in the resurrection. They were sad, you see.

[Al]

Yeah.

[Jason]

That's the only way I can.

[Zach]

I just thought of that. I was about to, but you preemptively struck on that one. But I was thinking the same thing. They were saying.

[Jason]

You didn't get that. Then we got problems.

[Zach]

Yeah.

[Jason]

I'm saying just to the list. But the. Also the Pharisees, numerous times they were. They were out to get him, too. I mean, when you kind of do that search. And the reason I'm bringing this up especially, I've spent a lot of time in the rabbit holes that I'm not going down in the book of Psalms, which is there's 150 of them. But over and over it talks about this. Jesus being king and his enemies being made his footstool. I think that's Psalms 110, Psalm 110, and other places. And even Isaiah, you keep seeing this about the enemies. And I think that's an important point. So, you know, because there's other. The other gospels kind of go into more detail on how all this happened also. And I think you had that in the notes, Al.

[Al]

Yeah, exactly. Because when you read all. All the accounts together, you piece together a lot more detail. I mean, we're obviously viewing it from the lens of John. So even, like going before Caiaphas, John doesn't even go into what happened there. But if you go to the Matthew account, you can read exactly, you know, the questioning that went down. But you got to remember, all this is illegal. This. This is not how. This is not how the system was. Was laid out. You don't go in the middle of the night to, you know, have these trials. Everything was always public. Multiple witnesses. I mean, when you were talking about a capital crime, which is what they're accusing him of, I mean, they want to kill him. You wouldn't go about it this way at all. So. So none of this is legal or right. Just. Just so you know, this is.

[Jason]

And they did it because they didn't have the right or authority to kill another human being no matter what he did.

[Al]

Right.

[Jason]

The Jewish leaders, they're. They're under Rome's rule. Rome had. They were the only ones that could kill a person.

[Al]

Yeah, well. And take responsibility for it. That. That's the thing, Jason. I mean, they were afraid to come out against him. That's why all the secrecy and the cloak stuff and go get him in the middle of the night and all this. And now that's why it's going to turn when we to Pilate, because they need an official way to blame somebody else for his death.

[Zach]

Which is interesting, because they did have the authority to kill people. It just was because of the territory where this was happening. Because if you remember, they killed John the Baptist, but that was because that took place in a different territory. So I don't think it's a coincidence that Jesus is actually in Roman occupied territory where Roman rule is in charge. And I think that part of that is again, because this is a fulfillment of messianic prophecy going back to even going back to the kingdom. Daniel, chapter two. That statue that lasted, that last part of the statue was the Roman Empire, where the clay and the bronze were mixed together and then that stone rolled out and crushed the feet of that whole statue. And so Jesus is that stone here. So you're seeing all of this come to play. There's a reason why this is happening in the particular area that's happening in because Rome has to get involved because they're part of the story, too. If you go back and read the prophecies, right, Rome's part of the story as well. And so it's not a coincidence that this is happening in an area that the Jewish rulers don't have the authority to kill him and they have to cooperate with the Roman Empire to make this happen.

[Al]

Well, not only that, I mean, you said it. This is, this is all meant to be. And in fact, nt right brought an interesting point in John 19 when we get there, but I just want to mention now, since you brought that up when you remember when Pilate brings Jesus out after he's been scourged and he says, here is the man. And I had not really thought about that, but, like, that's the proclamation, Zach, of exactly what you're talking about. That was the fulfillment in that moment. He was like, here is the man as he's standing there before them now. He didn't mean it that way. He's. He's trying to, like, be mocking and like, because, you know, they made him look the way they did, but he's actually fulfilling the prophecy. Here is the man. I mean, this is him.

[Zach]

Well, if you think about the power dynamic that's happening here, we talked in the previous podcast about how the Jewish rulers were the power brokers and. But that's only In Judaism, Right. So they were the power brokers in the, quote, unquote, like, religious sector. But what Jesus is doing here, he's not just taking down the centralized power structure of religion, he's also taking down the centralized power structure of politics as well in the Roman Empire, which is pagan. So you have Jew and Gentile, both power structures in the same moment, cooperating together to ultimately take down this king. And they think they're going to take him down, and they don't understand it. Which is kind of what John 18 is, kind of the way that the whole passage evolves is into a conversation at the end of Jesus basically saying, hey, let me tell you about my kingdom. You boys don't understand my kingdom. It's not of this world. And so this is all about the kingdom is what the point is. And there's two kingdoms at play here. There's the kingdom of this world, which is religious and political cooperating together, and then there's the kingdom of God that stands against that. And then we're going to find out which one wins.

[Al]

We've been on the road quite a bit these last few weeks, and the one thing I notice most about being on the road is I miss my bed. We don't have our Helix mattress is what we're talking about, because Helix has been one of our sponsors for the podcast for. For quite a while. And they just have a superior mattress. No doubt about it. Zach, you have one as well. So you go on their. Their website and you take a sleep quiz and it matches you with how you like to sleep with your mattress.

[Zach]

I'm a side sleeper. And so the one that we were paired with is called the Midnight Luxe mattress. So it's not like super firm. It's not too soft either. Kind of right in the middle is that. That's. That's for. That's what me and Jill use because we actually are both side sleepers. And it's amazing.

[Al]

Lisa and I were the moonlight because we typically sleep on our back. So they match you to it just whether you like it firm or you like it soft, however you have it. We've had ours for several years now and. And love it. Got it at both of our places.

[Zach]

Yeah. Me and Jill, Al, Lisa, Jace, you and Missy, we're all one Helix family.

[Al]

One of the things I've noticed about it is it really helps with. If you have a lot of hip and shoulder pain sometimes from sleeping, there's been. None of that takes care of that. We absolutely love it and we miss it when we're not at home. So here's what you do. You can check them out. Go to helixsleep.comunashamed you get 20% off site wide. That's helixsleep.comunashaMed for 20% off site wide. Make sure you enter our show and name after checkout so they'll know that we sent you you helixsleep.com unashamed I want to read this little section 19. We, we've referenced it a couple times to 24. And then, and then go back and do the Peter's denial. Because John, the way he does this, he sprinkles that part in. But, but since we, since we got him before Annas, I want to read what he said in verse 19. And now we'll go back and read the the Denial of Peter. Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. So that's what's happened. This is quote unquote, the first trial. Even though it's in Annas's house, it's illegal. But, but this is the way it goes down. And so Jesus says, I have spoken openly to the world. Jesus replied, in other words, you were all here in secret. But he's been very open. I always taught in synagogues and at the temple where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. It why, why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said, which is, you know, very interesting way that Jesus goes about. He said, I'm not. This, this isn't some kind of secret rebellion. When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. Is this the way you answer the high priest? He demanded, and you know, we've said before, I wish Jesus. We wish Jesus would have said, I am the high priest. He is the high priest. But he, he, you know, Jesus says, if I said something wrong testifies to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me? And then Anna sent him still bound to Caiaphas, the high priest. So these going to go to the second level, which is the actual high priest from here. But as we mentioned earlier, this is the first of an entire night and day of violence that begins right here against Jesus, which in the context of what we've been talking about in our culture today, Jay's that that's when you don't have an answer to convince somebody of a point or truth or whatever it is you're trying to, you know, deal with or argue or debate. Violence is where you go when you have no answer. Yeah, and that's exactly what you see here.

[Jason]

Yeah, it's evil. And I mean sin and death. And, you know, the truth in these days was who was king and how much power did you have. That's what dictated the truth. And if you didn't comply, they wielded it. I mean, violence was basically how you obtain truth and power. Right. And you see that in Jesus.

[Al]

So, so let me go back. So that was. That's what happens before Annas. And then he sent on to Caiaphas, which I told you, you. You can read about that in Matthew 27 before Caiaphas, that kind of second. But it's this more of the same thing. They had a. They had a couple of people that said, well, he said he was going to destroy the temple and then he would rebuild it in three days. And. But they couldn't even get any consensus really against him. But while this is happening, you know, he predicted that Peter was going to deny him. So I want to read those two and, and let's talk about that a little bit. In verse 15, Simon Peter and another disciple who most scholars think was John, that he was referencing himself.

[Jason]

Well, that was actually Matthew 26:27 with the Caiaphas situation. Yeah, that's Matthew 26:57. But I do think that is an interesting part. When he said, that's in 61, this fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days. Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, are you not going to answer? What is this testimony these men are bringing against you? But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, I charge you under oath by the living God, tell us if you're the Christ, the son of the living God. And he says, yes, it is as you say. But I say to all of you, in the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and come coming on the clouds of heaven, which is that quote from Daniel 7 that Zach was mentioning. Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, he has spoken blasphemy. Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think he is worthy of death? They answered. Then they spit in his face, struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, prophesy to us, Christ, who hit you? So now they're making fun of him because he's claiming to be this answer to prophecy from Daniel 7, which is awesome, because he's going to establish a kingdom that would crush all other kingdoms, and it itself would endure forever. And he is the king. That's why they're leading to the point of dressing him up and putting a crown of thorns. It's actually. They're making fun of him. But by doing that and then putting the sign King of the Jews, it's actually God is portraying the truth. This is the king of the Jews. But they're like, oh, it can't be. Of course, none of this makes sense until the resurrection.

[Al]

Well, you know, and even I thought it was interesting because reading N.T. wright's commentary on this, he made a point I had never thought about that. You know, Pilate tries to substitute Barabbas, who was a terrorist, I mean, whose basically whole concept was a lie. He thought he could somehow flip the government by doing terrorist acts, but he tries to substitute him for Jesus. But in essence, Jesus is the substitute because he's truth. He's the substitute not only for Barabbas, but all of us, you know, which is really interesting. Yeah.

[Jason]

Oh, exactly. Well, and that's why some of these people I meet on the street, they're like, why do y' all keep talking about the kingdom and the temple? Well, I just read it. Matthew 26. This is what this was all about. Because the temple is where God met humans.

[Zach]

Yeah.

[Jason]

And the kingdom, you have this prophecy in Daniel 7, which we keep bringing up, because if. If you believe the Bible is true, you need to figure out how to be a part of that kingdom that was being predicted. Yeah. Because it crushes all other kingdoms and it endures forever. Well, I want to be a part of that kingdom.

[Al]

Yeah, exactly.

[Jason]

Which is why Peter's getting out his sword, saying, oh, okay. Because he believes he is that king. And so I really think that the reason we were trying to give the big picture of all this, because when you understand what the temple is and Jesus is saying, I am the connection of heaven and earth, this is where God and people meet. You say, where? Is that Him? Yeah. He's embodied the place. He is the place, even though he's a person, where heaven and earth come together. I mean, think Ephesians 1, you know, where it says the whole point of this since the beginning of time, you know, God predestined in love so that everything in heaven and on earth would be brought under one head. That is Christ.

[Zach]

My daughter's in the market for a new home, and she's about to buy her first home. And I told her, you got to call Andrew and Todd if you feel like you're ready to buy a home. I'm telling you the time to acts right now because for the first time in year. I was just talking with my realtor about this yesterday. For the first time in years, buyers actually have the upper hand. The reason why is because there's more inventory right now. There's a lot of inventory on the market, which means you have more power in negotiating, less competition. But opportunities like this, they're not going to last long because as soon as the feds cut their rates, well, they just cut them, by the way, and they may cut them again. Buyer demand is likely to spike and you know what that means. Prices will go up and then sellers will have the advantage. Peak home buying season is in full swing. So now is your moment. Lock in the right home for you and do it on your terms before the market shifts. It's like I told my daughter, it's super important to work with someone who shares your values. So reach out today and get approved for mortgage financing with my friends Andrew and [e-mail] or you can call 888-TRIPLE-81172. These are the guys I trust with 40 years of experience. They really are the experts and they make it easy because they keep everything in House. So call 88 Triple 81172 or visit andrewandtod.com that's andrewandtod.com well, I mean, you think about. I think one of the most important verses in the Bible is right here in John 18 that we. Which centers the crucifixion of Christ in this conversation around the kingdom. I think it's this verse when he says, we read over this so much, but he basically says, my kingdom is not of this world. And then he says that if it was of this world, he said, if it was of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews, but my kingdom's not of this world. And so whatever is being established here, think about what he's saying there. If my kingdom was from this world world, then we would be doing what you guys are doing. What Peter did when he pulled out the sword and cut the dude's ear off. Like we'd let that roll out and play out and see who won. And he's actually reestablishing what true power is. And it's actually going to be in the sacrifice itself that Christ on the cross is going to show a different type of victory that they did not see coming. It's a divine victory. It's a Victory that can't be understood without the Spirit. It is a victory that transcends this world. And I think it is the whole, the very nature of the kingdom of God is that we actually win through sacrificial love. That's the big difference here. And it's right there in John chapter 18.

[Jason]

Well, I was just going to say, and meanwhile, the reason we spent so much time giving the forest for the trees is you see all these players. And I'm saying players, religious leaders, Pharisees, Sadducees, the evil one, you know, entering Judas by the betrayal. You even see Peter's denial and his misinterpretation of what God is like and how he's going to pull this off. You also have the Romans here who think they have all the power. But so not only is God taking care of our sins in Jesus and showing us his love and, and, you know, all these different aspects of what's happening, he's also destroying all these, these walls of people coming together. And you see this predicted in Isaiah and, and you'll, you, you kind of get the feel of it AF post resurrection when he says, go into, Go preach the gospel to all nations. What? Why, why is he doing that? I thought this was a Jewish thing. You remember in Acts 1:8, I brought this up. They're. They're reading that. They're doing a series in Acts at WFR Al. And they, at the end of the service, they read that together. There was a woman sitting to my right yesterday. And when they read it, and I'll, I'll read it. Acts 1:8, it says, you will be my witnesses. Let me get the exact phrase. Acts 1:8. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea, Samaria, and then this little phrase, and to the. The ends of the earth. So I leaned over after we said it, and I said, where are the ends of the earth? And she said, that's a very good question. Which kind of proved my point. We're all quoting something as a group and it's like, what exactly is that? And what I found fascinating was then the service was over, and then I started doing a rabbit hole about the ends of the earth.

[Al]

At least you waited until it was over this time.

[Jason]

Multiple psalms talking about this king that would go out until the ends of the earth. Isaiah 49 has a reference in there toward the end of the chapter. I can find it. But, and my point is, I think the reason we're. We're trying to give the forest for the trees is this was all about Israel. You know, you had Israel, it's God's holy nation. It was holy ground. But then they were unfaithful. And then a remnant of Israel comes out and all these depictions and they're viewed from Isaiah's perspective as servants. You have this righteous remnant who experienced look, judgment and the wrath of God just because they're part of the, the Jewish nation. And then you have this other picture of a servant, this perfect Israelite that's going to come forth the, the root of Jesse. And you know all this language, the suffering servant, you know in Isaiah 52 and 53, which is Jesus.

[Al]

Right.

[Jason]

But, but it's also promised in all those views through Israel that all nations. It's going to go to the end of the earth. He's going to bring everyone under one head in heaven and on earth in Christ. And so that's the. You see all these different players is my point. And all these so called in quotation enemies of God. And he's not only saving Israel but he's also going to launch this new creation to the whole earth. And I think people miss that. That.

[Al]

Yeah. And the Jace. The, the Greek is, I just looked up the Greek on it and it's. If you were doing this by the Greek, it would be the last of the globe. That, that's kind of, that, that's kind of what the ends of the earth is.

[Jason]

Why is he bringing that up is my point. What, what have we missed here? I mean there's still people in our culture today thinking oh we're going to, we're going to fly, have to fly over Israel at some point when Jesus comes back. And I'm like, like I'm pretty sure he's made the whole place the, the earth. I mean think Romans 8, you know, right in between 9 and. And 11 talking about how he would restore Israel in Jesus.

[Al]

Yeah, yeah.

[Jason]

And the role of the righteous remnant. But he has that Romans 8 and you're like man, this, this seems a little bigger.

[Zach]

Well the, the, the way it happens too. I think when people have that viewpoint it's because they're, they're thinking in an earthly kingdom mindset. To my point I was making earlier, what's happening here in this moment is that Christ is establishing a new type of power dynamic. And that's what you see at the ascension which you just mentioned. But you will receive power, right? That's Acts 1:8. You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria into the ends of the earth. So you ask the question. Well, sounds like they're about to. These guys are about to receive some incredible power. They're going to go do something. Wow. They're going to spread across the whole globe. The problem is that they didn't go read Acts 2. They received the Holy Spirit, but they didn't move until Acts chapter 8. And then in Acts chapter 8, after the stoning of Stephen, you think, well, there goes that movement. That whole thing is done. But see, you're seeing the whole thing play out again. Just like when they killed Jesus. They thought it was the end. It wasn't the end. And when they killed Stephen, well, I guess the church is done now. And it says here, Saul approved the execution. And listen to the language in Acts 8. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem. So they were all held up in Jerusalem. They had not done what they were supposed to do in Acts chapter one. They had not gone out yet. And when the persecution broke out, it says, and they were scattered throughout the regions. Listen to where they were scattered. Of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made a great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, entering house to house, and he dragged them out. But basically. So they took. They went. They did not go to Judea, Samaria, into the ends of the earth, until a great persecution broke out against the church after the stoning of Stephen. And so the reason why that's important is because when you look at the way God is always expanding his kingdom. Kingdom, he doesn't need earthly power to do that. In fact, when you think the kingdom's being defeated is actually when the kingdom is expanding. And I think that's such a beautiful.

[Al]

Story, which is the irony, because we're out of time. But the irony, Zach, in the next chapter in Acts 9 is the man who was doing all the persecution. He winds up being the one that takes it to the ends of the earth. He takes it to the Gentiles.

[Jason]

Yeah, yeah, I want to look, I want to give this verse reference, because I referred to it. I want to read it. This is Isaiah 49 speaking of the servant of the Lord in verse 6. Listen to this. And now the Lord says, he who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself. This is verse five. For I am honored in the eyes of the Lord. And my God has been my strength. But watch what he goes on to say in verse six. It is too small a thing for you to be servant, to restore the tribes of Israel. So we're talking about Israel, right? And bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth. And then the Last verse in 49, the last section says, then all mankind will know that I, the Lord, am your savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty one of Jacob. There's a bigger picture here. Here going on.

[Zach]

Well, I want to add more, but we're 47 seconds overtime. But I got. Boy, you just. That's okay.

[Al]

All right, Just hold that thought. Hold that thought for the next podcast. We'll pick it up next time on Ashamed. 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 out.