Unashamed with the Robertson Family - Ep 1188 | Jase & John Crist Swap Proposal Fails & Hard-Won Marriage Advice

Episode Date: October 16, 2025

Jase, Al, and Zach sit down with comedian John Crist to talk clean comedy in a cancel-culture world, comedy bombs, and how to recover with humility. Jase reacts to John’s recent engagement and, after confessing his own proposal fiasco, offers honest marriage counsel about apologizing and keeping humor alive. Jase ‘fesses up to finally watching one of John’s stand-up routines, and the guys debate trendy preachers and onstage finesse. The guys agree that laughter opens doors to vulnerability and true communication about tough subjects. Chapters: 00:00 - 14:59 Jase & Missy watched John's latest comedy special & have thoughts  15:00 - 17:59 Why Jase won't try comedy anymore  18:00 - 19:14 John's latest bit that failed at a comedy club  19:15 - 21:59 When Al's Fauci joke bombed at an event  22:00 - 24:59 Making jokes in varied crowds 25:00 - 25:44 One of Phil Robertson's corporate speaking gigs 25:45 -28:44 One joke Jase got from Phil & uses in every speech  29:45 - 31:34 Laugher breaks down walls  31:35 - 37:40 John's getting married!  38:41 - 41:09 Jase's marriage advice 41:10 - 51:01 Al's marriage advice  51:02 - 58:52 John set the bar really high with the proposal  — Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I am unashamed. What about you? Welcome back to Unashamed. We're still in Nashville, Zach. Yeah, we are. And I just got caught a liar, but that's another topic for another day. Zach just told our special guest, which, look, I guess we, you need to be a contributor. You're like a contributor after three times, right? Unpaid contributor. Yes, zero pay. Yeah. But people do come up to me all the time at our meet and greets and say that they know me from this pot.

Really? That is a true story. That is a dead true story. It's hard for me to follow you because I don't know when it's real. He's very sarcastic. I'm dead serious. Yeah. John Chris,

welcome back doing a shame. We loved having you. The first time you were on, I don't know, I've told it the last time we were here, but we told it a minute ago. One of my all-time favorite moments on the podcast is when you were on the very first time and you're like doing your thing.

You're telling some funny stories and dad's constantly looking up verses the whole time you're speaking. And after about the third time, he didn't say a verse at first. About the third time, you're like, why does he keep looking at verses? Every time I speak. And we laughed, but Dad didn't. He just kept looking. He didn't get it.

Nothing. He goes to the thou shalt not section. Well, since my dad's gone to be with the Lord, I felt like I was just being transparent. Because I said the first time you came on our podcast when we walked out, you are not in our presence my dad looked at me he actually i gave you the tame version a while ago he actually said where do they get these clowns i'll say that's what i am he's a well i think that was his joke it's like was he a christian comedian that's an oxymoron what are you talking to that where they get these clown how can you be a comedian that's on the patreon

after the you guys should do a review of the guest after the guest leaves yeah but then you came back. Yeah. And so. Somebody invited a bank. It must have done well. It must have. We're just, I mean, you're a comedian.

I was saying you're not a Christian. You're just, you're a Christian who is a comedian. I was going to say, I have one story to contribute. Now that you said that, I have to tell you, look, I did something. Now we're talking now. In the spirit of what you do, I did something last night as, as maybe a pre-illustration for this conversation. We had a very long day yesterday.

We did three podcasts. We did. I had a dinner date with my wife and her friend and her husband. So I didn't even get home until late. And I was tired and she was tired. And I said, do you mind if we listen to this Christian comedian? I think we, because we've had long days. And she said, sure.

So we're in our bed. So are you saying that as a, let me just get your mindset, as a way to just unwinded in the day with something comical or like you were doing research for the podcast. No, no, she had no idea he was coming on her podcast or even who this was she was listening to. And so I didn't know if I could find something online, but I did. There was a special you did in Georgia.

And I was stunned. It had been released just a few months ago. And there was like three and a half million. And I thought, oh my goodness, this guy's, you're having a moment. This clowns for the guy. This guy's having a moment. Now, look, my wife. Like, leans over like she's going to sleep.

And so I start playing. It was a 50-minute routine that you did. Well, she started laughing. And at first, you know, I wasn't laughing just because I was thinking, like, where you were getting the jokes, I thought, this is kind of sad. Just what you're making fun of, it's kind of made me think of like organized religion. I thought, you know, he's right. I was thinking more like, people are not. laughing because this is kind of sadly true and it's true it's kind of yeah that's why it's

good in your humor you know but she kept laughing she kept laughing way more than I did and so after we get done you watch the whole thing the whole thing wow we watched the whole thing and I did chuckle he actually brought up a little bit about sex you know and because you were you were getting the audience involved a lot which I thought was very uh you know you have a knack for that but when you said that about sex, very little audience response. They didn't laugh at that. Well, it worked for his what he was fixed to come out because he's like, well, how come when we say that?

And I don't want to give away all your material, but it was really funny because we're talking about it. Yeah, we had a similar childhood. It's like we can watch somebody's head get cut off. But there's a sex thing. Oh, yeah. But if there's any kind of kissing. Yeah.

It's like my mom. would slap me in the face. I'm like nine years old, don't you watch this. I'm like, well, you put it on. Yeah. And we just watched Braveheart. The guy was being beheaded. Yeah.

And that was no problem. Right. Exactly. So here's where I wanted to get to since Zach said that. So at the end, I said, what did you think? And she said, that guy was funny and clean. She said, but he's not a Christian comedian. And I was like, oh, no, he really is.

We're having him on the podcast. She thought, well, he's not a Christian. after the whole thing. Yeah, she's like, he's not a Christian comedian. And I was like, well, why don't you think he's a Christian comedian? And she's like, we had all that about the neighborhood gossip and all. And he never really clarified that. I said, I think that was the joke.

That's the highest compliment. You're not a Christian comedian. Or that it was funny. And because it really, you kind of like if Chris Rock does a joke about race, you laugh. But if it's done right, you lay your head on the pillow at night and goes, yeah, we probably shouldn't be treating different skin colors. If it's done bright, right, right. Yeah, I thought it was fascinating.

That was her response. Like, legitimately, she thought, oh, he's not like, they would never, they would never have him. You know, she's going on about it. You push the boundaries a little bit. A little bit. Well, I think people, I used to at the beginning would be like if I'd made a joke about it's all the inside things about, it's all the inside things about. Christian culture. I try to be holding a mirror up to us rather than pointing a finger.

Yeah. So because when I started my career, everybody's like, is this guy a Christian or not? Yeah. Everybody wanted it. It was obsessed because they were like, if he is, this is hilarious. Yeah. If he's not, this is wildly offensive. That is.

You're walking a dangerous slope. Well, I've come back on here every quarter and you guys tell me if I'm doing it right or not. following off the clip. It's so funny. The hardest she laughed was, and you told a joke for one person in the audience because you were doing this bit about, like, how we hop around to different denominations. Oh, yeah. Which is why I said it wasn't funny because I thought, this is kind of sad.

That's what people do. You get offended and they go down the road. I mean, there's literally, we're in a town where there is a church home. A thousand. Every street. Every major streetcours. And, but you asked. One woman said that she was a member of the church of Christ.

Well, that's where my wife was raised in. And you said, how's it feel being this close to the stage? My wife laughed so hot. Well, the audience didn't really laugh. No, no. But to people, she was like, because my dad used to do a bit. And he wasn't a Christian comedian, but it was funny. because the first time at the church where they were at,

which is the same church, they had women get up in front. And he's like, oh, everybody's upset because the women have moved 30 feet. Oh, yeah. And turned around. Turned around. And, oh, is that a microphone?

Are they fixed to sing? But not on the stage. They weren't on the stage. They started on the floor. They started on the front row. But then the evolution process moved 30 feet, But my dad used to make fun of it. And it really, I think, really helped the church laugh at themselves and say, what do we?

They move 30 feet and turned around and saying, you know, I mean, what are we? That would be the goal. Yeah, to be like, Tim Hawkins has a great bit about raising your hands in church. He's like, you can do the carry the TV, the change my life ball, the wind shield wiper. And people would be like, that's wildly sacrilegious to you're making fun of how people would express their love for God. And he goes, no, and if the joke is done right, it'd be like, I'm trying to say it doesn't matter. You can do it the way different. Everybody's doing it, and it doesn't, we shouldn't be separating ourselves based on how every church does it different.

This, this, this, this. And you're like, these are the silly things about religion that separate us all, that it's really, we're all here for the same. Well, I mean, I think there's a comedy is like this super important art form for like it's a pressure valve that you can if it's not like we're coming out of woke you know the woke thing that you couldn't tell jokes anymore and then Chappelle did his Netflix special which was outrageous but it was like a moment it was like but it was a moment in culture where it was like well you can't say that anymore and he but he's saying it yeah and and then I can't believe he's saying this well yeah that's for years well the the I was telling this last night at the comedy club where I was down in Huntsville

You know a comedy club if you've ever been into one. There's 200 people. That was the biggest venue for a comedian in town prior to like 2018-19. You get maybe a blue collar would go to the theater. But now you got comics doing theaters. Nate Bargettze is doing arenas. Shane Gillis is doing stadiums. And it all changed in 2018, 19, 20,

when you were like, you have to stand six feet apart in an airport, but then you're going to all get on this plane. And we all were going. Yeah. And nobody could say anything. So everybody was like the world was kind of upside down. And everybody just had to be like, they didn't want to get fired from their jobs

or lose their status or be canceled or whatever. So the world was so upside down and nobody was allowed to say what everyone was thinking. We all had to be like, so we just tune into these podcasts where people were saying it. Don't you think that comedy that was, was kind of like the first step into it. I felt like Chappelle and, um, and, uh, Von, Theo, Theo, Vaughn.

Yeah, maybe Rogan a little bit. Yeah, Rogan there. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And they were like put a, you know, people were getting arrested for paddle boarding or, or like, you know, they were like stuff that we were all watching this like,

like what? But nobody could, you were like, oh, you want to kill your grandpa? And you're like, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. And we were just had to be like, remember in the grocery store we had to go this way down the aisle. Yeah, the arrows. And we were all doing it.

We're looking for the circles, you know. Well, because there were people in those aisles that if you didn't do it, it's just like. Oh, the Cairns, you know.

Yeah. I mean, what are we doing here? So we're in our closet watching these comedy shows secretly laughing. And everybody's, yes,

everybody's kind of had doing it in secret. And I think maybe something they probably got us through it was comics, being like, all right, this is nuts.

But, and then, all the people go, yeah, thank you. Yeah. I was thinking it. I was just like, this is wild, but nobody could really. But you got to take the risk to be funny. So it's like you're putting yourself out there because this could land and be highly offensive.

Yeah. And that's why I always find myself defending comics because I go, well, you, you can't bat a thousand. You want us to push, push, push. And then somebody pushes too far and you're like, get rid of them. I'm like, that's not how it works. Yeah, this joke was probably insensitive or you probably heard in an hour. If you watched it, there was probably one or two that were like, I don't like that one or two that were like, I don't like that way. She was like, I mean, he never really clarified.

She literally made that argument. Because you were talking about something. The neighborhood app. We weren't really familiar with. Because I was like, there's a neighborhood app. Oh, there's one in our neighborhood. Yeah. And people are like checking.

I was like, this is happening. I don't know what the neighborhood. It's like a Facebook group from your neighborhood. We have it. We have it in Lakewood Gardens. His bill was really funny because he... Oh, I've laughed so many times in things that are set on there. Someone said one of our, and she's a dear friend of ours, but she said somebody had damaged

the sign going into our neighborhood, some kids or something. Somebody ran into it and some bricks were on the thing. She said, somebody's got to do something and no one's taking responsibility for this. As if it was like a terrorist attack. Who's going to take responsibility? In the group chat. Exactly. Well, he was really going to the edge because then he was using multiple ways to have different handles and like representing both sides.

And then it got political because he was like, I got one guy's Trump saying, oh, build a wall. And then the other guy was like, no, just to stir the pot. Oh, yeah, I didn't really resolve it. But I told my wife, I was like, but I think you're missing the point. I was like, he's making, and I explain the joke. I was like, you know what's sad? Is there's people in church buildings who are participating in that? Like, they're going home thinking, I'm not going to watch football.

I'm fixing to see what's going on in the neighborhood. People say that to me in the airport all the time. I've been on my app. I've been stirring it up. Oh, yeah, yeah. I said, babe, it's a sad reality. You have to laugh. And maybe somebody will say, you know, maybe I should not do that.

Yeah. that's what you would hope that the joke would kind of, oh, this is, it should have a point if it's done well. And you go, yeah, I can't believe we, you know, treat this person this way, or I can't believe, yeah, we, as Christians, all divided because you're like, we're not, our pastor decided he's not wearing a tie anymore. And we started our own church. You're like, all right. Well, we have one on every block now because everybody goes, well, you guys wearing sandals. We don't wear sandals at ours. We're out of here. And you're like, all right. Well, this is not really the point. I think you should do a bit. I've done a bit, and I'm not a comedian about. Jay's is accidentally funny. He's only funny ways to join up to me. And I don't know if it's still going on today, but I noticed that like some pastors,

they all started dressing the same. Like they were fixed to take off to space. Like high top. He's like the bootlegs you're wearing. The skinny jeans and I'm like, to go into events. And they're like, they introduced me in the pasture and like half his head is shaved.

And they got the boots. And I'm like, is this a thing? Yeah. Are you the worship leader of the pastor or the small group guy? Everybody has the same look. You've hit that before. We covered it. I think so.

Oh, because it needs to be done. And one of my speeches at an event, I attempted a comedy bit, which now I'm not going to do it anymore. Because nobody laughed. And then after it was over there, like,

you really have a problem with the way I'm dressed? Because I said, look, do I look like a preacher? And then, because I usually say, you know, because of the beard. No, I was like, you know, I don't have half of me. my head shaved.

I don't have the high top tennis shoes and the tight leather jacket or whatever. I said that. Nobody laughed. Because the guy that introduced me looked like that. So I was like trying to use him as an icebreaker. But your joke was it doesn't really matter. That was the ultimate joke was, but if you missed the angle of it, then you should be like, I'm the first, I'm John the Baptist.

Well, I'm the first preacher. Do you use that one? Do you like the Johnny Carson thing? Like if something bombs, do you then just make something about it bombing? Yeah, you have to. Yeah, because there's no way to, the comedy's different in a way like music. You can practice it in your closet in the studio until it's good and then bring it out. We just have to do it in front of everybody.

I made a joke last night at the show, I go, it didn't work. And I go, all right, well, I was like, how long into heaven for you to not, would you not see a buddy that you start to get worried? You know, like when you get there, your family. there and your grandparents, you're like, have he seen Chuck from the office? You're like, I don't know. How long into heaven until you're like, I don't know if he's up here. I would probably say not long.

You think not long? It depends on the way he is. Yeah. But he's like an acquaintance, you know what I'm saying? He's not going to be at your welcome party. Yeah, exactly. You're like, it's been a month up here and I haven't seen him. A month, I would say he's probably not here.

We're actually concerned that we didn't get raptured yesterday. Oh, yeah, that was yesterday. Well, we thought when we were here with that, what if he had, everybody else did. We just, we're still sitting here. We missed the whole thing. So I was going to ask you this. So I told this years ago on the podcast, because like sometimes I'll use humor. My bits are kind of time tested. You know, I have stuff that goes with them. It's about the family. They almost work every time. But sometimes, you know, when you're going to speak someplace different, you come up with something kind of that just happens in a moment. Like I would if I was on my way to preach somewhere and I had

something happen. So sometimes they work. Sometimes they don't because like you said, it's off the go. I was speaking at a conservative environmental group, which there's not many, but this one's like an oxymoron. Yeah, exactly. And it's in D.C. Everybody in there is under, everybody's young. Okay. And so they're about the cause.

We're conservatives, but we care about the environment. And they want to ask me to come to speak about our conservation. See, I would have come to that. Yeah. I have conservative environmental tendencies. Exactly. Well, that's what I said. I'm an outdoors.

We have our property. So I was excited about it. So anyway. so in the airport when we land Fauci now this is back right after Cochie comes by and he's got these little four bodyguards around him and I just happened to see Fauci in the airport I thought

well that's I got to use that how can I use that so it has nothing to do with the conference so I get up and I thought this was going to be funny and I said very divisive topic I yeah I mean that's what I said so I saw Anthony Fauci in the airport of course they're probably not knowing whether I really did but I really did

see it. I said, but he wasn't wearing a mask, you know, and, and I said, I guess that makes sense, though, because masks don't keep out BS. Yeah. That was my joke. That's a good joke. I thought it was pretty good. Nothing. I mean, not even a single, like, chortle. Did you address the flop? Well, so I said, ooh, I guess we got some Anthony Fauci and that got a couple of chuckles. And then I just went into my thing. I thought they were not, they were not, even the whole rest of the time

and the fun. You got to benefit, if they're coming to one of your shows, they're coming to loud. They already know. And they weren't expecting. I realize I caught them up there.

Maybe because you're a pastor and you used a reference. Well, even though you used the initials, I'm thinking that matter about. But look, if I would have, but it wasn't a Christian organization,

but even if you're right, if they had laughed, I already had my follow up. I said, now I meant Barbara Streis then. That would have been my follow-up. for the BS. Since they didn't laugh, I just...

Well, that would have been a funnier joke. Well, that probably would have laughed at that. That's a rush limbo. I'd say he wasn't wearing a mask, but he was wearing devil horns or something like that. You could see the horns in the pitch for it. But apparently they were not there. I mean, whatever, I don't know, maybe it was too soon. I just gave it up.

I quit trying to be funny. Well, mine, I got the benefit of the doubt because I'm on the poster. everybody's coming to see me. That's like, I couldn't do it in y'all's position. Right. Because everybody's new. Yeah. Everybody's brand, even if I go to West Monroe or Portland, it's the same people in the

crowd. Right, right. They all kind of know, they're like, we love Jesus. That being said, our parents didn't drink alcohol, never. But we still watch Netflix, but we still want to make sure our kids don't swear. It's this, I kind of know who's in there. Yeah. If you guys are just getting booked at random.

Oh. It could be anything. That sounds terrified. I've said this many times. I have spoken before in front of audiences where I'm pretty sure I was the only sober person there. I was telling a story last night at dinner. I was like, when I got up to speak, they wouldn't even pay attention. Everybody was just hammered.

So I just went Phil style and held my Bible up. And it did get quiet. And I kind of gave a Jesus presentation that felt awkward, you know, for them. and me. But then, then I felt like now that you know where I stand,

I'll tell you some jokes over the money. And I did. And I think, you know, they all clapped. I'm not sure. It was a smattering.

We need some kind of, some kind of objective rating system for these shows. You're like, sometimes it's good. It's a 5.6. What was it? A 7 point?

Well, we did a thing, Dad. I got to come to one. In Sauer, spokespeople for a company. And so they invited them to speak at their corporate thing.

It was just part of them. And they were making a lot of money to be the spokesperson. And so they invited, but I thought to myself, I hope they know what they're getting. So he's going to the band's playing. Everybody's drinking. There's a bar back there. And it's just hopping, you know. Dad gets up.

He just starts, boom, right into John the Babba. He's going to the, the music dies down. The laughing stops, the dancing stops. The beer goes under the table. over the table. And their people are just slack, jaw. They're like, who is this person? And so after it was over, dad goes off and says, I'm out of here. You know, and there's a kind of a little bit of applause. And dad looked at me and he said, boy, into that party. Yeah. I had a, I mean, he was almost proud. Didn't care. Didn't care. There's one joke. Don't ask me back. There's one joke that I got

from my dad that I use every speech that always has laughter. except for one time. I'll share that. And my dad was very clever about taking something complex and making it real simple. And a way of turn the phrase. And he would bring up that we're all like the problems of humanity. And of course, it's right after just a withering barrage

of how much sin is a problem. And my dad really hammered that where it like, it made people really uncomfortable. And they're looking at their life. Well, then he gets to death. and he's like, you're all going to die. And he's like, oh, I know what you're thinking. Some of you have rationalized in your mind that you're into now.

And he's like, you say, I eat right and I work out. And he's like, you'll die healthy. And everybody laughs. So I got invited to speak at a, which I didn't know it until I got there. Who's booking y'all? Who's the book? Just random. I don't know how this.

and this was a few years ago. But I show up at a hospital and I thought, are we going in this hospital? And she's like, oh, yeah, this is the hospital staff? And I was like, is this a Christian hospital? And she said, no. I was like, why would they want me to speak at just a hospital? And so now I'm cringing on the way on the door thinking,

I'm going to give the same message. You're like the last person that's going to do. This is a true story. I've never shared this. never heard this so i thought i have one joke that i know will work die healthy the die healthy at the hospital so i i started it by saying i have some breaking news there's been a development in the health care world and i want to share this with you and i said i got to set it up first so i told that joke i was like we're all you know going to die and then i went the denial and i said the joke

no one laughed. Not one. When I said not one person. And then I revealed my development. I was like, there is something that's happened on this planet. That's the greatest health care ever. And it's called the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And I thought some people would applaud.

This is nothing. Nothing. I said, okay. Have you ever been duck hunting? Because I talked to the duck calls. And I thought, there was my... speech. That was my, and I thought it would be kind of funny, and they would think, oh, you know,

there, God. And you put it in their genre. I went through the gospel, little presentation. That's the problem with our approach of humor. You see, you're trying to do life. And I thought, I tried to be funny. And, like, to get, I wanted to share Jesus to these people, and I did. But I thought, I don't, I don't think that went well.

But it made me interesting. I don't think it went well. No. That's a good. I, I, I don't. I don't know how you do it. I don't know how you... If you look at it, if you watch...

If you watch any... If you watch Joel Osteen, which comes on after the news, he starts with the joke. Yeah. He starts every service with a joke. And I remember when we did Winter Jam in 2019, it was all the bunch of Christian artists.

Then I was up. I did 12 and then Carrie Job and Cody Carnes were after me. And we were talking at the beginning, like, I don't know how this is going to work. She came to me like probably 15, two months into the tour, she goes, I'm going to be honest with you, it is such a privilege to lead worship after you've done comedy. I go, I'm just saying these dumb jokes about all this kind of stuff and denominations. And she goes, well, everybody comes into that arena from all these

different churches and you have brought them all together. You have broken down all the barriers that you're Church of Christ, you're different from Presbyterian, and we, and then you have, we've all, laughter is very communal. You hear something funny, you want to, you know, the guy next to you, all these people have come together. I mean, like, yeah, then you're more open. And you're more vulnerable. You've all laughed together. And she said, man, it was just so, the spirit could just move in there so easily because everybody was loosened up. And I go, I never thought about it like that, but it's an honor. You just described exactly what I do, what I used to do a dad. I would do a little opening 10 minutes, the little bits that I do. They're funny about

the family. Because like you said, everybody came there because they love the family. So I would do funny stuff about that. About the family. Exactly. Then I would bring dad up because I knew he was going to be none of that. He's just straight to, but it, it relaxes them. So when Lisa and I speak, I do the exact same thing. We may be at a pregnancy center and like her stuff is heavy. Yeah. I mean heavy. And so I get up and do my thing, 10 minutes. Everybody's laughing. We've let the guard down. We all came in here from whatever and now. And then she just gets up and does her thing.

And it does. It like, I feel like it doubles the impact of what it. And you become receptive to that person. If they made you laugh, you kind of trust them or build a little bit of rapport with them. Maybe. Yeah,

sometimes we do with like a, if you have a joke about, I go, like, a joke about my niece and nephews being bad kids. And I go, we got to start hitting these kids. And if I say it,

I got, when I say it right out. the gate, it never gets a laugh. I go, I got to move this later. Yeah. 40 minutes into the show when they know me. They listen up, man. That I love my family. They trust you. You can't go in hard like that with something too early. I got to just move that back in the show. It may be something a little bit more surface level, more ease, get to know you humor, then get into this. So what are you going to do now, because now you're, you get big news. You're engaged. You're getting married. Oh, yeah. What do me what am I going to do now? I have the most material

well time. She knows what she knows the rules, right? Are you getting married for the material? Tell the truth, John, on this podcast. This is the unashamed podcast. This word comes out. This means you're out of material. So look, I need to get married. I need a wife and I need kids to keep the trailer. I got one YouTube

special. I got a we start having some kids. See, I'm out of material. That's the next phase. Ain't no business like show business, right? Yeah. So you sat down and you choreographed how your material would evolve. So you bring the Y phone. Yeah, the strategic move.

Well, I should have done that probably 15 years ago if I was doing it for that. Yeah. She said the other day, she goes, she tells us how you like, choose your battles, you know, choose your battles.

And you go, well, you didn't tell me how many I could choose. I could choose them all. You want to correct them. And she goes, uh, I forgot my lunch. I forgot my lunch. And I'm at work.

And now it's going to be a nightmare. I just, I totally bit myself in the foot. I go, me or something. I don't think he's saying that right. I go, do you mean shot yourself in the foot? She's like, why do you always do this? Why is it to correct me? She goes, you always have the perfect word to correct me. What are you like an encyclopedia? And I was like, oh, I think you meant dictionary. I don't think I've ever heard I got bitten. Or she just says, she goes, you know what I meant. I go. Yeah, I should have let it go.

But I am a comedian. I couldn't have let that go. I got to let that go. You're going to have to be careful with that. Does she think you're funny? That's my question. Does she laugh at your stuff? Oh, yeah, yeah. But she does want to, not the public. She's like, I can't listen to your podcast. This is too much.

Missy won't listen to our podcast. No, well, you got to marry me. That's why I think I can help you. So, look, have you had premarital counsel? Yes. All right. Did y'all do the little compatibility test? Uh-huh.

I think so. How did that, there's a rating system that comes, are you all compatible to live together? I believe we are, yes. Well, me and my wife. took the compatibility test. The guy where me and I went to a Bible school. One of our mentors. He was my premarital counselor.

And he's a guy who like, he's just like the happiest guy in the room. It's a football coach before he became. He was, but he became a Christian. So he was, he pulled me off to the side. He's like,

I got the results of your compatibility test. And if you're pulling him off to the side, I don't think that. Already, we're going to have a conversation. I was a little nervous because I was like, come over here. Come on.

I got to talk to you and I said well how did we do and he said how's your prayer life and look I did not get the joke he made a joke he's not going to joke yeah he was but he was basically saying he was softening the rough you're not compatible he didn't want to say that because he thought we live in a free country we're free to choose and he just didn't know how to say i bet out of all the pre-marinals he had ever done you were probably the first one that came back that way. I said, so after I didn't get the joke, a week later I see him and I said, so you're basically saying that whatever test we did that we should not get married, that we're

not compatible? And he said, you got it. Well, are you formally giving me this advice as my pre-barital case? Or is this just what the numbers say? That's a true story. Whatever, I thought, I think you need a new test. Yeah, that's bad advice. I mean, that was the advice.

But now that I've been married 35 years, I have been married 35 years, so we've proven that wrong. So what's your advice? You've got to give John some advice. Well, I'm just, that's what I was going to say. It's been combustible. There wasn't. There was an element to that. Highly-flammable.

There was an element to that that was true because we, and I used to say this now until she came on the podcast and proved me wrong. Because I said, we have, because I said, the only thing we had. We can be proved wrong. The only thing we had in common was Jesus. And I thought it was a moving point. I'm like, that's enough. I've told crowds that.

She volunteered to come on the podcast without my knowledge and wrote a list of 10 things we had in common besides that. But they were stuff like we like chips and salsa. You know, I'm like, you had to strain. In times of desperation, chips and salsa is not holding you together. Yeah, that's the bond, really. That's the answer. Before we're our kids.

I'm like, okay. That would be everybody. That's almost a given. I'm like, you're kind of straining to my point. She thought the list was impressive. Not really to me. Who's more difficult, do you say? You or her.

So I think it does come back to. I think the marriage advice is going this way. I don't think. Give him some marriage advice. I like outdoors. She likes indoors. It's like everywhere we go. go. It's almost like you're incompatible.

Yeah. She likes a plan. I have zero plan. It's just, it is, that is the way we are. But it'll work out. But you've heard the whole axiom about opposites of tracks. I mean, sometimes. I don't really believe that anymore. Although you're living proof of it, yeah, I get it.

I mean, there's a, there's a part of me as long, and this would be my vice. There is a part of me that is learning. Sometimes it's taken mostly the three-day period. now I realize why Jesus stayed dead three days. Because these disagreements that we have had happened in the last 35 years, it's kind of a three-day process to get through it. And I'm like, it's a three-day death. But we always come back together.

And it's great. And it's wonderful. But it's a lot of that in our relationship. It's a lot of the three-day burial. And then we come back. I'm like, as long as we come back, we're 35 years in. That's a good word. remember that when you're on like day two of the not speaking i like keep god god i got three days

yeah go to bed well go to bed when you get angry just go to bed yeah right go to bed that's the opposite that's the opposite yeah yeah yeah yeah that's what i give the devil a foothole that's what i go to her point about getting bit in the foot oh yeah getting maybe she's a callback yeah that's call back yeah nice yeah that's what i preach that's what i said the difference in judas and peter was one way to three days till he came back the other one didn't so I would say the number one advice is that there's no amount of material that you can research or study up on or no amount of premarital counseling that is prepared you for what's fixed to happen to you.

That's what everybody says. Everybody said that? Or they said like, hey, this is going to be unbelievable, but it's also going to be impossible. Oh, no. Impossible. That's a lie. That's a lot. I think the first month after we were married.

married, which my dad had given me this advice. He's like, one day you're going to look up and she's going to be crying for no reason. And so after the first week, I thought, oh, my dad didn't know what he was talking about. But it was a month. And I woke up and she's over there crying. And I was like, what's that? And I remembered the words of my dad. I was like, oh, man, he was prophetic.

And so when I gave the, don't do this. Don't say, why are you crying? Just figure it out. Don't ask that question. My favorite response. this reason on podcast is I'm so sorry babe and I am but I can't anything else so like

when she's in some place of difficulty unless she wants me to say more I'm just like man I'm so sorry the other night she's stuck in the airport and I know she can't get home I'm here I'm like man I'm sorry but I was so you are so yeah I am but that's all she really need to hear but I'll try to fix it I can't fix it

okay so here's my advice my advice because you're a comedian is that because like my favorite everything in the world is when I make Lisa laugh. It's nothing better. And I do this. Like you do this for your living.

I sort of do too. And so I love, but you kind of feel like your own for that group. And so then you kind of want to turn off because it makes sense. You've been doing that. But man, the laughter of the people that care about it. If you can say funny things,

like I'll say things that get her laughing. There's nothing better than that. So never stop making her laugh. And you'll be able to do it. I know you will. But sometimes we forget that. I spend a lot of early life. like so focused on the church, the bride of Christ.

I mean, I love the church and I loved what I was doing. But my own bride was left out for a few years, you know, and I just, I feel like that was a mistake I made younger. I was so committed to the craft. I made a similar mistake. Yeah, I was doing good things. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But you're a thing.

I was kind of kidding about the first advice, my real advice, because now that we're moving around in a circle, Kumbaya. He's funny. He's funny. When he's, I just formal jokes, that's when you hurt yourself on stage.

When you just do regular stuff, it's unbelievable. That's it. When it gets a little more serious, are you like, I got to break this. It was some kind of joke. I don't mind. I'm here to listen to it. No, I like your vein now that I,

it took me three podcasts for you to kind of grow up. I was kind of with my dad. And watching an hour of my other party. Well, then he saw your act. Well, your act was actually, I was impressed. I was like,

you're very surprised. I couldn't believe it. Let me translate. That's a raving endorsement. I'll take it. I want to imagine. you, I thought, okay. How's this working?

This is all raving endorsement. This is one of Sadie's friends. Well, I just didn't know what your jokes would be. But I think where I connected with you is it bothers me. And this is a conversation I have with Dallas Jenkins, and it really has nothing to do with what we're talking about. But we had a similar conversation. But I was like, we came out with a show about our family.

Well, it was a comedy. But it wasn't like a plan comedy. People watch it because it's funny. It's not a religious show. We pray at the end. But it's basically us living our life, which we have a lot of laughter. Doing crazy stuff. And I'm like, we're made in the image of God.

And people don't have a problem watching our show and laughing. They'll watch The Chosen and what organically happens when you're watching people, funny things happen. Yeah. that kind of not even were the purpose of it because that's God made us to be funny. That's where this came from. But people will call him and say, how dare you be funny on a religious show? And I'm like, so let me get there.

I remember telling him this. I thought, so they can watch our show and laugh. You can't watch the Chosen and laugh. I was like, I think there's a problem in there somewhere. Yeah, where is the line? Which kind of squires into your world. Yeah. Yeah.

But I'm like, I used to do this that my wife just could not. stand when I did, because I did this on stage. I was like, look, there's, I know there's people in the audience that when someone breaks when and you won't laugh, I was like, I'm married to a woman who is like that because she was raised in a virus. That's not funny. Okay. Yeah, I'm not, and I'm like, I was like, you're not living in the image of God.

He created the sounds of the modern. Yeah. There's your marital advice right there. I fart. She doesn't laugh. You're not living in the image of Christ. That's what I did. And I was like, because that's funny.

And you've repressed that laughter. Laughter's good for the soul. We were doing a yoga class at church one time years ago. And all of a sudden, we're ever getting in a tight pose. And all of a sudden it's like, meek. And so nobody does anything. And so it was like several beats go by. And so I just couldn't help it.

I was like, are we not going to address what just happened? Somebody just did that. And then everybody just. Loosed it out. Oh, busted out laughing. But nobody ever made it. I'm saying if God created the body. And he puts this sound in there with a double down with the smell.

You're telling me you're going to go through life and not enjoy a few moments. Would that be too much, body humor for your act? No. I mean, especially the older you get. Now, I got over 50. I reached down to pick up something. It happens without my knowledge. It really is the funniest joke of all time because how many times have you heard it

and how many times have you laughed? You still laugh. You wouldn't laugh at the same joke. That's one that you laugh at comforts. And then your dad added the joke to it. Your voices changed, but your breasts are the same. Yeah. It's got about that.

So what are you don't think that's funny? If you don't think that's funny. I mean, I got. I chased a rabbit and I miss. What I was going to say, the best advice I ever got was about five years ago. This is the rambling most. Yeah, well, I'm dying. I was reading Ephesians 5 and, you know, every,

and you ought to do a whole bit about that, you know, because everybody's like, stay in your lane, you know, about the marital role. and I'm like, God created this awesome thing called marriage, and you can just pick up the pieces throughout the entire Bible, starting in Genesis 2, where something beautiful does occur. But it's filled with struggles, and we're created differently, and it's just affirmation that what people are now calling common sense

was actually written in the first two chapters of the Bible. It's like, this is not breaking news. You want to discover something awesome on the planet, get married, have kids. It's awesome. But the struggle part of it all is kind of what galvanizes the relationship. I mean, I used to think, where are we going to get to a point where we're like, oh, okay, we've made it. I'm like, no, it's the whole process because it's ever evolving and changing. There's nowhere to get to. Yeah, it's not the destination. And somebody said, you both get to live like Jesus in your role as a male and a female. And I remember. And I

read that Ephesians 5, I was like, I never really made that connection. But just that one thought in my mind, I'm like, because you think, oh, well, the guy's in charge, but it's like, yeah, you love your wife, so you'll lay down your life. And I'm like, oh, well, wait a minute now, laying down my life. It's a big ask. Well, yeah. So I think you kind of find your role in that through Jesus, which is a better way, I think, to just start reading that passage, especially with all the baggage that we bring from our religious. The older we get, too, the more opportunities we have to laugh at each other. Because at least and I were on a trip.

We've got driving home. And we're both getting to where we can't hear that well. And she said, do you have the hotel address? Because we were about to pull into a place to go. That was her question. What I heard was, do I have diverticulitis? Which I thought was such an odd time to even ask that question, right? it was like, where did that come from?

And I looked at her and she's looking at me like, why are you looking at me so strange? I said, do I have diverticulitis? And she bust out laughing. She's like, why would you think I would ask you that? I said, I don't know. It's so strange. I don't think I did. And she said, do you have the hotel adorn?

But also do you? Yeah, but now that we brought it. Then I thought and I said, well, I did get a colon scope two months ago. The fact that you even know that word is disturbing to me. Oh, I've heard it. I have pre-diverticulitis. So when, have y'all said a wedding date and all that? Not yet.

Okay. You think I'm going to announce it on the Unashamed? Well, we're trying to get. We're trying to get a scoop. Anything we can get. Yeah. We may have another. Yeah.

We may have an intervention here. Yeah. Because look, what seems to be the hold up there? Once you may just got engaged a week ago. Yeah. It's just got a lot a month to go. About a minute. Congratulations.

No. Okay. I think we need to nail that day down. We're trying to figure out which, which city to do it in my city or What are the two cities? Bentonville, Arkansas, or Nashville. Oh, wow. Yeah.

Well, Bentonville's nice. But the problem with, I thought, this is where I might have messed up. I thought the proposal was my, this is my Super Bowl. Yeah. I'm going to go all out. I got a boat. I got the symphony. I got the, and then, and I think I played my hand too early.

And I think when you're 41, I think you might be on the hook for paying for some of this wedding. Oh. as I found out. Really? You should have consulted with us before you went through this. Yeah. I was like, this is going to be the big, the proposal is going to be, the wedding's hers. Yeah.

This is mine. Now you're paying for, you pay for something, then you've got to dial it back in. Yeah, and it's got to be the, I was like, if this was the proposal, what's the wedding? Well, you've always one of the small. You set the bar very. Yes, way too high. Oh, look, I went the opposite direction by accident. I said it's so low that when I proposed, she cried, not tears of joy.

I put her ring in dirt in a potted plant. And for Christmas, I gave her the potted plant. And I said, dig through the dirt. Because she's not, she's a yuppie part. She doesn't like getting her hands dirty. Because I was kind of saying, if she won't dig in that dirt, I'm calling this whole thing off. So you're giving her a metaphor right out of the best.

It was under the dirt. It was in the dirt. The ring was in the dirt. This is a true story. Here's my advice. Now do you understand why they're not compatible? The youth pastor was right. She was looking at me like frustratedly and she started digging and then she saw the ring

started crying. I thought, oh, this went great. She got my metaphor. She's like, why would you make me do that? And I said, you pass the test. Will you marry me? There was a long pause. And she said yes, but in kind of a frustratingly.

I thought this is going to be different. When I was a child, I imagined this day going different. You just imagine digging in the dirt. It seemed to make sense in my mind. I was a bit immature. But look, that's opened up and that's how we got married. I never heard that story somewhere in an interview.

Not on this podcast. Well, I did it with her, which was another mistake. She's still angry about it. But what I learned, look, here's one I'm so cool. Even though she's still upset about it. I think this whole podcast is great. Don't what not to do. She realized.

that was so low bar that I think it actually helped me in a weird way. Yeah. Where she's like, he's coming a long way. Then you get dinner reservations and they're like, this guy will do anything. Yeah, that's a good way. Yeah, that's a true story. Set the bar low. You did set a high bar.

Yeah, too much. I've rented out the symphony. Oh, yeah. See, I would have said go somewhere in between the pot and the dirt. Yeah, maybe. Yeah, maybe at the park. The park would have been good. The park would have been good.

park. Yeah. That's bridge and the cap. With one fiddle. Yeah. All these engagements have things. It's a thing now. Oh,

it's a huge thing. Now it's like because of the social media, mostly. Yeah. You know, it's a big deal. I think you're better off letting her decide where. Because that way you,

when it gets rough and it's going to happen, you can go back and say, remember that time I'll let you have your way there? You know what I? But you probably need to see that it with like, I've always wanted a small, intimate wedding. Oh, yeah.

start dripping that. Yeah, seed that in. Yeah. That's like kind of when I go on the road to do, like on the working on the weekends, I'm like, baby, it's so tough out here. I'm sacrificing for this family, for a future family. But we're like out there living the dream. Yeah.

Oh, yeah, yeah. I'm like, guys, be quiet. I'm struggling for the Lord out here. Will she travel with you and all that when you? She does sometimes. Yeah, I say I got a show in, uh, actually she wanted to come to West Monroe to see Sadie. But sometimes I was in Paducah last Saturday, and she was pretty busy to not come out to Paducah.

But I go to New York or L.A. She's like, I'm free. Go to West Palm. West Palm Beach. She's like, I actually checked. I'm free that weekend. What about Fort Wayne? I am.

Completely buck that week. Fort Wayne. Because of the San Diego, I'm glad Weston-Roe got up on the charge. They got notched up. I think your future wife and wife could be friends because she does the same thing. Let me go. Well, now Tim Hawkins used to say, they would ask him in a meet-and-grate, is your wife okay with you traveling this much?

And I'd ask you guys this. He says, I'm home Monday to Friday. You don't understand. Come Friday. My wife is like, you got it. Oh, I think. You guys relate to that? The longer you get married, that becomes thing, we need some space.

But it depends on how old your kids are. Oh, I got a 4-year-old. So, Jill's, I mean, any time, it's. You're not leaving. No. But you can't say it. It's just assumed. So like I'm an empty Nashville now sort of.

But so like, oh, I'm going to Nashville for three days. And it's like, oh, okay, well, I'll miss you. But really, you're both thinking we needed a break. But you don't say it. You don't say it, do you? What about can I get like maybe like all four of us getting on a group chat? If I'm dealing with something, I just put it in there and you guys tell me what to do. If you think you can handle the truth, I'm going to give you.

Jack Nicholson over here says, You can't handle the truth, John Chris. I think I'm ready. This is my third visit. Third visit. And again, it's been a classic because we're 50 minutes here. We're out of time. But, man, I needed a good life today.

No, I'm excited. I think you needed some help. Oh, you did. And the wife is defined as a helper in Genesis. Help me. So I was a nice way to say. Did she book me on this? She did.

And I want you to tell her, there was the best thing you did, getting that redneck wisdom into your, Oh, man. Yeah, well, I think that any couple that is not to what y'all said, if they're not laughing. Yeah. God, I don't know if you can make it. I don't know if you can make it.

That's a red blood. Even if it's like a fart or like something serious, like I'm out of me. You got to laugh. I'll give you one more before we go to. This is serious. Because my family, you guys know my family. We're kind of like functional dysfunction, that makes sense. You've embraced the dysfunction.

I've embraced that. But I was raised that way. And the one thing that was constant was a spirit of repentance, just confession open. Like, I think that's the, you kind of mentioned that with that three-day period. Yeah.

You're going to hit issues, but I mean, I think you can always come back to, you know, we're going to deal with it. I think that's like, because that opens a way to a laugh of forgiveness. Yeah.

Which you never have more opportunity to forgive than in a marriage. Which later on, you will then laugh about something that you're like, staring at a wall saying, it's over. We got in something a couple of days ago, and I go, oh, you know, it's different about this. There's no leaving.

Yeah. We got to figure it out. Like in a small way, I'm not married yet, but I go, we. Yeah, that's it. Like, I didn't, nothing I think that we ever went through that made me want. But you go, that was a, or you were trying to see if that person was a mate for you. So if they, and you go, oh, this is different because we got to. We're all in.

no matter what we're figuring that's going to be the mantra that will never end we're not leaving all right so the next time we have you on John we'll get a hopefully if it happens between now and the end we'll get a follow up and we'll see oh yeah I'll write some time try out our new stuff I'm sure I got plenty of them there you go

it's always a pleasure honor to be here thank you bud 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.