Unashamed with the Robertson Family

Ep 1261: Jase Breaks Down Why Jelly Roll’s Grammys Speech Felt Like a Light in Darkness
Release Date: February 3, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, the Robertson family (Jay, Jase, Al, and Jason), broadcasting from West Monroe, Louisiana, unpack their harrowing experiences during a devastating ice storm—dubbed the “Ice Apocalypse”—that left them and much of their community without power for over a week. Their stories of survival, family bonding, hunting adventures, and challenging conditions naturally lead into deeper spiritual discussions about “light in darkness,” both literal and metaphorical. At the heart of the episode, Jase and the group reflect on Jelly Roll’s moving Grammys speech and its bold, positive testimony about Jesus—a “light” moment that resonated deeply with the hosts. Through personal anecdotes, faith applications, and scriptural connections, the Robertsons highlight themes of spiritual preparedness, generosity, and the ultimate hope found in Christ.

Key Discussion Points

Surviving the Ice Apocalypse in Louisiana

• Life During an Ice Storm (00:06-08:59)
  • The hosts recount the “Ice Apocalypse”—a rare Southern ice storm that left them without power for 8+ days. Slippery ice, impassable roads, and resourcefulness were the order of the day.
  • Duck hunting became both a bonding experience and a necessity, resulting in an epic, meat-filled hunt. (03:06)
  • Neighborly help was essential: “You have givers and takers, and people who need help. We did our best.” – Jason (15:36)
• Caring for Family & Community (08:59-16:15)
  • Al and Jason share stories of welcoming family and neighbors who had lost power—sometimes at the expense of privacy or comfort:
    • “We moved Missy's parents and their pets in... I was thinking, honor your father and mother. But in the back of my mind... leave and cleave.” – Jason (09:09)
  • Dangerous conditions: Tree falls, power outages, and injured neighbors underline how precarious things became.

Spiritual Lessons from Darkness and Light

• Power Outages as Spiritual Metaphor (19:09–21:03)
  • After days without light, Jase frames the experience as “fumbling around in the dark”—a vivid image of life without Jesus:
    • “This is what it's like to be outside of Jesus and have no purpose. You're bumbling, fumbling… Bad things are happening. You need that heat. You need light… it just was a living illustration.” – Jason (19:07)

Jelly Roll’s Grammys Speech: A Light in the Darkness

• Why the Speech Resonated (20:31–25:02)

  • The hosts discuss a clip from Jelly Roll’s acceptance speech at the Grammys, highlighting his unashamed proclamation of Jesus:
    • “I want to tell y'all right now, Jesus is for everybody. He's not owned by one political party… Jesus is Jesus, and anybody can have a relationship with him. I love you, Lord.” – Jelly Roll (as quoted by Al, 24:19)
  • The Robertsons are struck by the authenticity and the universal, non-partisan gospel message. Even amidst industry backlash, the testimony stands as a beacon.
    • “It was just like a moment that was shockingly like a bright light in this place.” – Al (20:31)
    • “He sounds like a man who received a pardon and it was good news, and he can't quit talking about it.” – Jay (25:02)
    • “You can be under lock and key and still be free in Jesus.” – Phil (quoted by Al, 25:32)

• Contrast With the Culture (Negativity vs. Light) (23:10–24:19)

  • Discussion of other Grammy nominees' political or negative acceptance speeches is contrasted with Jelly Roll's positivity and focus on Christ.
    • “Jelly Roll, he was like, man, let's just have something positive and good.” – Jay (24:13)

• Faith Through Storms and Success (50:46)

  • Reflecting on Jelly Roll's message to a room of worldly “success”:
    • “Even in your best efforts and your best preparation, literally one storm can come in and hold more power that you can't do anything about…Nobody…can stop a storm. Nobody can stand against that power. Except the one who calmed the storm: Jesus.” – Al (50:46–52:21)

Real-World Adventures & Humor

• Duck Hunting & Spiritual Growth (03:06–05:55)
  • Amid adversity, family and friends experienced “the greatest duck hunt ever,” with a touching moment when Zach, often teased for being a “yuppie,” successfully shoots a duck for the first time:
    • “I said, who fired that shot? ...That was me. And I said, well, you finally arrived. Your yuppiness has been removed.” – Jason (05:55)
• Challenges: Vehicle Loss, Near Hypothermia, and Danger (27:35–31:02)
  • The group details losing a truck, damaging an Argo, and a near-hypothermia incident—with signature Robertson humor:
    • “Well, we lost a truck. We lost an Argo. I said, we had a guy have hypothermia. We thought he was gonna die…” – Jason (31:05)
• Preparedness & Family Resilience
  • The importance of planning ahead—physically and spiritually—is a recurring theme.

Biblical Ties and Faith Applications

• Scripture as Foundation (53:33)

  • The hosts ground their stories in biblical principles:
    • “If you put all your hope in created things on the earth, you're going to be disappointed. …Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory…” – Jason, paraphrasing Romans 1 and 2 Corinthians 4 (53:33)

• Practical Faith in Adversity

  • Whether dealing with power outages or spiritual questions, the Robertsons consistently model turning to prayer, the Bible, and helping others.

Memorable Quotes with Timestamps

• On Living Without Power:
  “This is what it's like to be outside of Jesus and have no purpose. You're running into things… It's chaos. You need… light.” – Jason (19:07)

• On Jelly Roll’s Speech:
  “I want to tell y' all right now, Jesus is for everybody…Jesus is Jesus and anybody can have a relationship with him. I love you, Lord.” – Quoted by Al from Jelly Roll at the Grammys (24:19)

• On Faith and Adversity:
  “Even in your best efforts and your best preparation, literally one storm can come in and hold more power that you can't do anything about… Nobody…can stop a storm. Nobody can stand against that power. Except the one who calmed the storm: Jesus.” – Al (50:46–52:21)

• On Spiritual Preparedness:
  “Are you prepared? And that's a big part of it. …It starts with thinking ahead to your eternal life… and whether you survive something or not… you win because…the resurrection, it's always there.” – Jay (49:16)

• Scriptural Perspective:
  “…though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” – Jason (53:33)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:06–08:59 – Life in the “Ice Apocalypse": Setting the scene, resourcefulness, family stories, and unexpected hunting success
• 19:09–21:03 – Light vs. Darkness Metaphor: Faith lessons from days without electricity
• 20:31–25:02 – Jelly Roll’s Grammys Speech and Impactful Gospel Moment
• 27:35–31:02 – Epic Duck Hunt: Vehicles, Hypothermia, Humor, and Spiritual Talks
• 49:16–52:21 – Preparedness: Temporal and Eternal
• 53:33–54:43 – Perspective from Scripture on Suffering and Renewal
• 54:55–55:23 – Prayer and Closing Reflection

Tone and Takeaways

The conversation is casual, family-oriented, full of humor, storytelling, and “down-home” wisdom. The Robertsons’ faith consistently undergirds their reactions to hardship. Jelly Roll’s public faith declaration becomes a touchstone for how a single voice can bring light into a darkened culture. Their experiences during the ice storm serve as both a literal and spiritual metaphor for relying on Christ as the ultimate light and hope, no matter how dark or unpredictable life becomes.

Final Reflection:
Whether facing power outages, storms, or cultural darkness, the Robertsons champion preparation, family, neighborliness, and unwavering faith in Jesus—the true “light in the darkness.”