Unashamed with the Robertson Family - Ep 1398 | Korie Robertson Finally Clears Up Her Infamous ‘Duck Dynasty’ Bleep

Episode Date: August 13, 2026

Korie joins Al, Jase, and Zach to clear the air around the time “Duck Dynasty” producers bleeped her unnecessarily, the battle against manufactured family drama, and her biggest struggle with Hollywood producers. Korie also opens up about the next chapter she and Willie are building through movies, podcasts, and a new family-friendly streaming platform. The guys relive the surprising ways entertainment has shaped how people wrestle with faith, forgiveness, and hope, and Korie shares about her life with 11 grandkids, 20 years of Buck Commander, and the next generation of Robertsons carrying on family traditions. “Unashamed” Episode 1398 is sponsored by: https://myphdweightloss.com — Find out how Al lost 80+ pounds. Visit the website or call 864-644-1900 and mention "Al Robertson" to get 2 weeks free in the program! https://chministries.org/unashamed — Get a better solution at half the cost of traditional healthcare! https://bravebooks.com/unashamed — Get both of the Robertson books completely free, plus a free starter kit, all for 70% off! http://unashamedforhillsdale.com/ — Sign up now for free, and join the Unashamed hosts every Friday for Unashamed Academy Powered by Hillsdale College Check out At Home with Phil Robertson, nearly 800 episodes of Phil's unfiltered wisdom, humor, and biblical truth, available for free for the first time! Get it on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and anywhere you listen to podcasts! https://open.spotify.com/show/3LY8eJ4ZBZHmsImGoDNK2l Listen to Not Yet Now with Zach Dasher on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or anywhere you get podcasts. Chapters 00:00 Korie’s Fake ‘Duck Dynasty’ Curse Word 06:52 Fighting Manufactured Family Drama 12:37 Phil’s Unforgettable Punishment for Al 18:44 Watching Al’s Darkest Years on Screen 25:51 The Robertson Family’s Next Venture 35:33 Redemption vs. Revenge in Hollywood 41:53 The Movie That Wrecked Al 44:21 Korie & Willie’s 11 Grandkids 45:28 Buck Commander Celebrates 20 Years 47:43 Willie’s Mysterious Pizza  51:19 The Kids Inherit the Cooking Gene — Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I am unashamed. What about you? Welcome back to Unashamed. This is what I like to call an unashamed upgrade. When we have someone who is smart and lovely and not male like the rest of us, I'm talking about our sister-in-law days, Corey. Welcome, Corey, back to Unashamed. Thank you. I'm happy to be here, and that was a good introduction. So last night, which we'll talk about, but we did a little red carpeting last night, and one of the guys he was doing the interviews, he said, welcome to the talented Willie Robertson

and his wife, Corey. I was like, wow, you got the talented. I just got in his wife, Corey. I was like, I didn't comment on it, but Willie did thankfully so we could laugh about it, but it was pretty funny. Of course Willie's going to. He's not going to let that slide. I'll tell him I got the smart.

I don't know what else you said, but smart. I'll take that. Smart and lovely. Lovely, yes, I'll tell him. So you have a book that you did a few years ago on parenting called Strong and Kind, and I think I've told you this before, but I can't think of two words that describe you more adeptly than those two words. It was the perfect title because you are both strong and kind, like your mother and your

grandmother, and it's just a long line of amazing women. So I'm blessed. I got to work with you for many years at WFR. you were a children's minister and did a lot of other stuff. And of course, Willie was there a lot as well. But I was thinking about when you said that, I thought, man, that plays right into Willie's idea of the way he looks at himself because every time we would get on a private plane, he would look around and say, you know, y'all are the other five.

And everybody would look at him like, what are you telling me? I said, well, if this thing goes down, it's Willie Robertson died in a plane crash along with five others. I had that exact thought when you were talking about. I've heard him say that. I was like, I'm not sure that's a good reflection joke of your... So that's like the talented Willie Ryerson and his wife, Corey. I wonder why we fought every day for three years as teenagers. So Corey, we were...

Right before we came on air, we were talking about when the show first started, one of the things that startled us because they had filmed, the pilots and then put them together, which is kind of weird because most shows, like, they just do some sizz. And that's all you get. Then you sell the show. But they actually had done enough for like two episodes, even just to pitch the show. And so when we were all watching the first two episodes together, there was, you were the,

you were beeped out like you had said a curse word. I was bleeped. Yes, I was. Like three times. Yes. More than once. Yeah. I couldn't even think of that many cuss words.

I don't even know. what I would have possibly said. And without even having a conversation, I don't know if you knew this, but I called one of the producers, and I was like, for some reason, somebody has bleeped my sister-in-law,

Corey, and I didn't have to ask you, did you say that? I mean, I was like, there is no way on earth or under heaven that my sister-in-law said a cuss word in this silly show. And they were like,

drama. drama, because I remember, because then I told Phil that. And when I said, they said drama, and he said, sinful, these producers are sinful, demonic. What did you think when you were watching that? Well, I appreciate y'all coming back, you know, coming to bat for me. But I was just like, wait, there's no way. And then I'm thinking, like, did I say shoot? And maybe they thought I said something else.

I don't know. I think I probably said crap. I mean, crap was like our cuss word, you know. That was our bad cuss word. I remember the first time I heard my dad say crap, and I was like, oh, my gosh. I thought it was so bad. But anyway, I probably said that. And then they bleep me, yeah, like two or three times.

And, of course, I did not cuss. So thank you for going back for me. I think that, like, some places they took the bleep out. So it's not everywhere you see it. But sometimes people will comment on the fact that I cuss on Duck Dynasty. I was like, I did not. I promise. I didn't.

What was funny to me was out of every. everybody that was on that episode, you were the least likely one to say a curse word. Maybe Jay's too, but everybody else could have let one, you know, slip, but not, Corey. That was just too far. Oh, I remember. I was so angry. And I think you're right. They did later.

They didn't take it out them. But later they did because when Phil's infamous prayer over them editing out in Jesus' name, I think he threw in the bleeping cuss words. that weren't cuss words in that rant that day, which I think did lead to them finally unbleeping a cuss word that was never said. Right. It was just like literally, I mean, you see all these shows

that have bleeps all through them. Now it makes you question like, were they cussing that much or did they just think that was funny or dramatic or what? But I will give it to them. They really did listen to us. I mean, they did take that out. They added in Jesus' name in. At some point, I remember,

whenever we were all watching it and that that was back in and we were all so excited you know so we got some victories that was fun even even the even the new show and i want you to talk a little bit about the new show because uh we've had william i think talking about it and maybe a couple of family members but i haven't gotten your perspective because i felt like they even listen more to you guys on the second run like it just feels like you guys are so much more you know in ahead of what's what's being put out there and all those things that it did in the old show. But I may be wrong. I mean, how has it been to do it again?

I mean, after having the few years off. The new show, the revival, is on Hulu right now. So you can go watch the whole second season. The first episode, we got to do a tribute to Phil, which was really, really special because. So good. Yeah. You know, he wasn't able to be a part of this new, you know, iteration because of his health or anything. And so that was really special for us to get to do that.

Well, I actually took over the role of Phil. Yeah, he pretty much did. I did because he's doing the same thing on the podcast, Corey. He's turning into dad. So almost every podcast. Because when you were talking about them listening to us, because I said, here's what I've been doing with your son-in-laws in real life. And I was like, if you want to film that, you can create the atmosphere.

And so, of course, you know how these TV producers, they have all these ideas. And when I got out there, I just went full feel mode. I was like, turn the camera on. And they were like, well, let's set up. I was like, there's no setup. Just give me the guys. Turn the camera on. If you don't like what happens, then we can talk.

Yeah. And they're just looking at me like, is he serious? I was like, turn it on, let's go. And they did that. And they never went back. We never had a discussion. So it's like, however many episodes I was on was five, or six.

Because we had to rehab that speech. Yeah. I went the next time and they're like, no, what are we going to do? I was like, turn the camera on. I got it. Yeah. If you don't like it. Yeah.

And I thought it was kind of free. It was fun. It was fun. I will say as the second season went on, we did get more of that. But early on of doing it again, I mean, it's always this kind of battle between production and network and us and everything because they had these. about what they think, like the audience wants or wants to see and all that. And the first episode, we really battled.

I struggled with the first episode of the new, not season two, season one, because they wanted to just kind of like pit like that next generation with the older generation so much and just show how different, which they are different. Like, obviously they are, but it was just this like, it was a weird juxtaposition. And I was like, okay, you're setting, you're setting this up for it to be a challenge kind of to win. but and they want they want that they want to raise the stakes and what's the you know who's going to take it over you know all these things they're trying to kind of build this drama into it but anyway for the most part we we had a lot of fun and our production crew was great and it was fun doing together

yeah but that but Corey that's kind of what the age old problem always is because the the idea is always you know you got to create tension yeah and for a lot of situations and families the tension may be there anyway and you're just like filming it but for a family that actually loves each other and gets along pretty well, it was the same thing with the original show. It's like, we really don't have that much tension. I mean, it's more fun tension than like serious tension. So I get it because, you know, in James, we've been studying this idea about worldly wisdom versus godly wisdom. It's kind of the same thing. I mean, from a worldly perspective, there's always this inner fighting and all this. And I remember them trying to do that,

especially y'all, with the daughter-laws. The idea was there was always this idea of, about, well, I can do this better and we can do the, I can cook better than you. And it was just trying to fall into those things. But it just always never really rallied to us because we just don't live that way. So I think that's always kind of attention. Well, I think Jesus being the focus of our lives is what, because I think about all the most tense-filled moments of my childhood and early years as a teenager, they're all like the funny stories now.

Yeah. You know, when my dad whipped your rear in at like 20 years old with your three buddies, I was actually 15, but yeah. Oh, I don't know how old you were. You were a man. I was 15, but I was living like I was 20. That's for sure, 21. So, you know, I don't know how it is for you, boys, but for me, it was in the mid-40s

when I kind of just hit that place where metabolism just wasn't quite working the way that it used to. And it's interesting because Zach talks about, you know, finding the lost episodes. And you can kind of watch my roller coaster over the last decade of, you know, gaining weight, losing weight, putting it back on. And so our good friends at PhD weight loss, a company that has helped change my life, they focus on restoring your metabolism so that your body works with you and not against you. And that's where the real change happens. Here's a picture of me, if you're looking at this on YouTube.

And here's me, 80 pounds lighter. I'm in maintenance now. I'm a year and a half from the beginning point. Much healthier. I'm off all my meds, off my CPAP machine. I have a lot more energy and just generally feel better. So I know some of you out there have been wanting to try this, but you just haven't dove in for whatever reason. I'm encouraging you to do it right now. Call and mention Al Robertson. You'll get two free weeks, and they'll pay for the cost of your food. That's a $1,500. You call $864, $6.64, $1,900. That's $8, $8,600. That's $8, $8,000. 664-6-4-9100, or you can go to my PhD weightloss.com. Because the goal isn't to just lose the weight once, is to not having to start over a gift.

Again, that's 864-6-44-1900, or you can go to my PhD weight loss.com. In the moment, it was so scary because I was like, he has fixed a whip these guys. Because he didn't even know one fella, which was part of his little rant as he was spanking him with a belt. Which is illegal to whoops somebody else's kids, I'm sure. Probably. I don't think Bill cared. The only thing that said was all my friends were like two years older than me because I started school when I was like four in Arkansas.

So my friends were 17. So they were probably older. Well, didn't they like voluntarily? Because from what I remember the story, Phil said, if you ever want to come down here again, take it like a man. If you never want to see me again, you get to leave. But they all took it. If you want to come to my house.

You come and get what Al gets. That's what he told him. He said that, but he also added, or we can fight like men, four on one. No, I have not heard that part of the story. He said, if you want to go that route, be my guess. He offered it like, that's the one he was secretly hoping for. He was like, I hope they take me up on this.

So we and I watched a Jack Reaper the day. It was kind of like that. He actually said, and you may take me. He said, you'll never forget it, though. So, you know what we did? We opted for door number one. We all lined up on the back of a Chrysler. And so dad starts in, and he starts in on W.E.

Now, back then he was just Billy Red Shoes. But his parents were there. That was what was so awkward. They were standing there, and he looks at them, and he's like, Yeah, I'm fixing to whip him. You're here. And he looks at things like, now, do y'all want to take care of this? Because this is your son.

And they were like, get him, Phil. And so they watched dad whip him. And then he's like, this is so embarrassing. And I'm having to whip you right here in front of your own parents. That was the dialogue with the licks. And then Elp was next. And then next was this guy he never met. And the line was, son, I don't know who you are,

but you go home and tell your parents that Phil Robertson gave you a buttwet. Oh, my goodness. My point was I was terrified in the moment. Now, we're all laughing about this. It would have made a great TV. If they would have filmed that. Oh, that would have been, yeah. And look, because then they would have been bleeping the guys

every time they got hit with the bad. Leap, bleep, bleep, bleep. They didn't say a word. Oh, my goodness. That'd be a little too controversial for 2026. I don't think that'd make it on TV. It could never make it. Oh, it'd make it once.

And then it would go, wow. Have you told the audience what you did to get that? I'm not condoning any of Phil's behavior or your behavior, but we should, this is a story. We're telling, right? Well, it is. What did you all do to deserve, I guess, deserve that? They broke the law. So I'm glad you brought it up, Corey, because it was a night of, what was the, what we used on the last episode?

Pagan revelry. And it was a night of pagan revelry. Drunkenness, theft. drunkenness, vandalism. So what's funny is in the movie, Corey, and every time you're on, I always like to thank you for our movie because you made it happen,

you and zap. But in the movie, the scene is shown like at a graduation party and we're vandalizing the school and stuff like this. And that was not, you know, for cinematic reasons, that was the way it was.

In real life, it was this night. Because we had gone around and we tore up some stuff, the neighbors that lived over on the river, maybe just three miles from dad. I mean, close to our hunting property. So we vandalized a lot of their stuff.

We was drinking and just carousing. A couple of us went to town and came back and ran off the road. And it was just a, it was a bad night overall. And Bill's parents found out about it from the neighbors because they had a camp over there. So that's how it got back to dad. And so that's what the whole process was. So dad actually drove, we're all still over there like nursing or, you know, Hangovers.

Hangovers. And he all of a sudden pulls up. And then we're like, uh-oh. I mean, you talk about get sober quick. When I saw him getting out of that truck, internally, I was like, oh, boy. And I looked at them and I was like,

you boys, you need to just flee. Every man for himself. Every man for himself. And dad leans in and tells it, he gives me just the old look if you're watching the thumbs out. Like, you get out.

And so I walked out behind him. That's when he looked in at them and said, Now, we're fixing to have some justice for this actions that you boys have done last night. This young man here is going to get it. If you ever want to step foot on Robertson property again, you'll come and get what he gets. Otherwise, I don't ever want to see you again. And so that was it. So then he leaves, but I have to drive my car over.

So I'm trying to plead with him. I was like, look, I don't know what. He's probably fixing to just beat us like men. Yeah, which was offered. It was offered. So I was like, you guys need to go. You just need to get out of here. It's been nice knowing y'all see you at school.

Don't come back. But you know what? They all loaded up with me and came and got it to this day. All for one and one for all. That was a thought process about challenge. Because he's like, you're operating like grown men. You're destroying other people's property. That's why he offered that.

He was like, if you want to fight like a man, if you think you have the right to do that, to other people. I'll take you on and we'll see who wins that. It was really his lap. And y'all continued to be friends. I think that's the cool part because everyone did kind of step up and took it and

y'all continue to be friends. Well, let me tell you this, Corey, you may not know this. But so obviously Bill and Epp are still a part of my life. But Terry, the unknown guy, he moved away after high school and I heard he went to the Air Force yet, but I hadn't seen him forever. Well, he shows up 20 years after that

at WFR and I go to the back and I preached that morning and he's back there and he's looking at me and he's smiling and he looked familiar but I and I was and I shook his hand and he said you're not you don't remember me and I was like you look so familiar and he told me you know Terry and I was like oh my goodness I said I've made you famous because you're the guy because I tell this story all over the country about you know dad whipping us and you're the guy he said and then I when I said that he said I don't know who you are he went right back into it so right about that time dad's walking out of the church. I said, Dad, Dad, come over here. I said, do you remember this guy right here?

And he's looking at him. You know, he said, I don't think so. And I said, this is the one that that day on the car, you said, son, I don't know who you. He said, you're him. He said, well, son, did it turn you around? Did you, did it get you lined out? And Terry said, no, sir, I said, I've had a rough 20 years. But it was so funny because dad was like in that moment you're living in looking back at it. I'm sure Phil said three out of four ain't bad. He probably did. So that's funny.

But yeah, it was, and speaking of the movie, this last weekend I got to speak at a men's event that was actually in Monroe, at North Monroe Baptist. And I was doing my testimony. And so one of the things I was super excited about was getting to use some clips this year from the movie about us woven into the testimony. And we're going to do the same thing for marriage as well. And it was really, it came across great. I was nervous about it because it was different, you know,

and I wasn't sure how they were going to react to it. But they were locked in. Of course, I told them, I said, you want to blow your wives' minds when you get home tonight, when you go to this men's conference, because they were a couple other speakers. I said, tell them that you watched a lifetime movie at the conference. I see what they say.

And so, but when I, when the first clip ran, and this is me and my downward spiral, including this, the whipping is not in there, although that would have been great. But, you know, my spiral was. And so it gets to this point where I blacked out in New Orleans, you know, from just my lifestyle and get beat up. And when I walk back up to the state, to the microphone to then open up the part where I come home, which is in the film, that one of our, that right in front of me were a bunch of CR guys from WFR. and one of them, a guy I recognized, and oh, he said, dang, Mr. Island, you were bad. That was his reaction to the thing.

And I thought, that's what I wanted them to get. I mean, I was hoping they would see it, you know, have somebody act that out. So, again, that's why I'm so thankful you guys made the movie. And really, you guys now are so much behind the scenes and all these things were doing. I mean, that's, you know, with Tread Lively, you and Zach, and movies.

Is that what you were doing last night on the red carpet? What was that about? Yes, it was. Before I go to that, though, I want to tell you about your movie, which one, I mean, thank you for saying yes to doing that, because it is hard to see your story on a screen. I know it was hard for Phil, and it's hard to, you know, it's one thing to tell it, but then to kind of have to relive it in that way is hard. And I know you and Lisa's why you did it, the same as Phil's was to reach people for Jesus.

So thanks for doing that. And I did, I don't know if I ever sent you this. I screenshot it. I could send it, but I actually like reading comments. People are like, don't ever read comments, but we get good comments because we have people, great fans and people who follow our family and all that kind of stuff. And I saw one the other day that said, I started watching Duck Dynasty because of watching Alan Lisa's movie on Lifetime. This person had never watched their Dynasty before, saw y'all's movie on Lifetime, looked up our family, and then started kind of like down the

rabbit trail of our, you know, family story and everything. So I thought that was really neat because, you know, That was like an entry point for this person. She probably just thought she was watching a lifetime movie. Who knows what it is? And gets the story of redemption and forgiveness and all that from y'all. And then followed up to start to watch Dunk Dynasty. And who knows, reads our books or whatever. So I thought that was really cool.

You've been paying attention to anything in the price of groceries, to go into the movies, to rent, to, I mean, everything is skyrocketed. But I'll tell you what's really skyrocketed over the last 10 years is health care cost. Al, you and I are in the same boat, self-employed, and we've had a really difficult time getting insurance over the years. Yeah, it's been hard. And you were paying like almost double what everybody else is paying. The average cost, by the way, to get a traditional health insurance plan is $805 a month for a single person. It's just unaffordable. So even with health insurance, by the way, options can be limited, sometimes keeping you from choosing the best doctors and the

hospitals that you actually need. And that's why Christian healthcare ministries offers a more biblical affordable solution. CHM, it's not health insurance. It's the original health cost sharing ministry where Christians share the burden of eligible medical bills together. Al, you and Lisa were recipients of this whenever Lisa went through her cancer. Yeah, and it was a big health financially and spiritually. And since 1981, check this out, CHM has satisfied 100% of every eligible medical bill

receive. Programms aren't as low as $150 per person per month with added protection for catastrophic medical events. So see why believers across the nation are better off with CHM. Get started today by visiting CH Ministries.org slash unashamed. That's CHministries.org slash unashamed. You know, and Corey, you sent me, you sent me some back and forth that you were having with the folks a lifetime as well, both the ones that made the film and director, which obviously is great. She did a great job. She's from losing Anna, too, which is awesome. And some of their people and their executives, and I was just encouraged and impressed that they loved the project so much. Because, I mean, I don't watch a lot of Lifetime movies. And so the fact that they were so excited

and even the main lady for them that worked on it, she told us when we were there, she had made 60, this was her 60th lifetime movie. And she said, this is probably the most beautiful story out of all the movies I've done. And which impressed me because like she's, she's 83 years old. She's been doing this for, you know, 50 years and to get that from the story. But just to let you know, when we watched it the first time kind of a rough cut, I made the mistake of watching it late at night because we were trying, we were doing some media. And so I watched the thing.

And like, I had a visceral, like, physical reaction. to some of it that I hadn't felt in, you know, 27 years to show you how powerful it is, even to us as we were watching it. I mean, I got the kind of little bit of the shakes, you know, which is what happened to me 27 years earlier living through it. And so I thought, man, if it affects me, and then I couldn't sleep all night. It just kept rolling over in my mind. And I said, never watch a movie about us right before you go to bed. Yeah. But that shows you the power of it, which is what I, you know, we all convinced that,

this art form, this way to express stories, which we all know powerful movies and you remember them and how they affect us and how they impact us. And so to get to put the story in that with professional people that are really good at what they do, and Lisa and I were

super pleased with Haley and with Luke and just, they captured it, you know, and the story and all of it. So I just, we couldn't be more pleased. It was hard. I tell people it was hard to make, to get made. It was hard to watch. but it was much harder to live

except that God gets glory because it turns out for his glory, which is good. That's so good. Yeah, that's true. Tell us about this latest thing you guys are doing. This is what you do in.

Yeah, well, I just flew back this morning and Zach still in Nashville. We were together last night for a premiere of a new movie called Elijah Peel. That will be in theaters August 14th. And Willie and I've talked about this and said how it has similarities

in The Blind and Y'all's story and this story in that it's about redemption and hope and that no one's too far gone for the love of Jesus. But Elijah Pell is this rock star who is opposite of Phil in the blind

where he's kind of like, you know, at his lowest point in life. Elijah Piel is seemingly to the world at his highest point in light, fame and fortune and all the things that people kind of look to and think is so great but he realizes there's nothing to it and he's actually a miserable person,

miserable human being and he ends up in the hospital with the heart attack at 35 years old because of the lifestyle he's living. And then everything changes for him. And it's a really powerful story. And we just got to be a part of it. Lay and I got to executive produce. And it's going to be on our platform, Echle, which, Zach, have you talked about Echle

much on here? I have talked about it a little bit. Yeah. Yeah. But give us your perspective on what we're doing. And I'd love to our audience to hear. We've talked about the lost episodes of Phil that are there. But talk about how we got into it, because I think that's kind of a cool story.

Yeah, so I think like all of us, I mean, whenever Duck Dynasty happened, we realized like, whoa, this is like entertainment is shaping people, is moving people. I always say, like at first it was like we saw people with like growing beards and wearing camo and you know, and you're like, oh, or whatever, or buying duck calls. But then it was like people, I mean, I had someone just literally last night tell me at the movie, one of the actors in the movie, she was like, my family loves unashamed. We listened to it. My dad and I, my dad passed away two years ago. All he wanted to do in his last days was watched Tegonacy because it just gave him hope. It made him feel good and all that. So like really impactful things that it had impact on people's lives.

And then people tell us they pray now before a meal because of our show or their husband became a Christian because he listens to Unashamed and watch our show. So we just kind of opened our eyes to how entertainment was shaping our culture. And so we all just got the bug, I think, to want to do more. more of it and say like we don't want to quit you know um we we saw how god was using our family and so yeah then led to podcast and and then movies and all the things and um so this echo kind of feels like a little bit of a coming together of all that because our podcasts are there our films are there and um it's really just kind of a trusted home for entertainment because i mean i think we all know

it can be a scary place out there in the world of like streamers because there's so much bad stuff out there and so we don't want our families, you know, we don't want to welcome into our homes. But there's also good stuff out there, but how do you find it or know where it is? And so Echle is kind of just like a, like I said, a trusted home, a place to kind of bring together. Echle is short for Ecclesia, which means a coming together. And it's used throughout the Bible for kind of like the church and coming together. And so, yeah, that's the point of it. and we hope to just create more great entertainment,

tell more good stories that move people towards Jesus. It was kind of crazy how we got connected. So when we did the blind, we had difficulty just getting distribution on the blind, which we had never made a movie. So I was like, I don't know. I didn't, we were just trying to figure it out as we went. And so we end up doing the theatrical release with Fathom

because they had worked with Dallas, Jace, that's chosen and they did a great job and we were like you know what maybe maybe we can have a similar kind of experience and so uh we did that through the theatrical release well the other company that did like all the DVDs distribution like AVod which is when you like go are the S-Fod platforms like it's on purefix now or all these different places you can get get it or if you go to Amazon and rent it the rentals that's all called downstream and so the company was a company called Pinnacle Peak that Michael Scott ran and so Michael actually had the idea for what we're doing.

Called me up because we had done a lot of business with them with the blinds. Hey, I had this idea. I wanted to talk with you about it and see what you think. So he started to share me with his idea. And I said, I love this. I don't thought it will only worry about it, but I love what you're doing. And then I said, well, you need to look at what we're doing with podcasting. And the basic premise behind what we're doing from a business perspective is we are really,

we built a model that puts more money back into the hands of actual content creators to enable them to create more content. Because here's the problem that we identified over the years is that we say we need more Christian content. But the truth is there's a lot of great content out there. The difficult part is the distribution of the content. How do we get these shows and these movies and these pie? How do we get them out there? And so that's what we're trying to build and what we're a part of here,

is building out kind of the pipelines for faith-based content to come out, family-friendly content, content that is uplifting content. Because as Corey said, the stories that we entertain us, they shape our imagination for what the good life is. And so we want, as Christians, we believe that we should be at the forefront of telling the best stories. And so, yeah, so we just launched and we had the premiere last night, which was great. and now I'm in a hotel room, filming the Unashamed podcast,

and somebody tried to come in and make me check out. So I'm going to get kicked out of this same. It's also in that, in court. I've been kicked out of places. You just use it. That makes the best stories. As you walked this, you looked up like, what are y'all got going on in here?

I got lights and everything. And Josh is like, uh, I think we have a late checkout at two, but anyways. So Jay's, it's officially what they call back to school season. You know,

you get some pretty kooky things out there in the education system. So we got to find a way to be able to instill the values in our children, and our grandchildren, our Godchildren. And that's why our family loves brave books. Brave Books makes children's books that teach real Christian values, like courage and honesty and fruit of the spirit, loving others, the way that God calls us. There are even questions and games in the back of the book

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I mean, I think a positive thing, because I can see, even in the Elijah Peel movie, I can see the heart behind it because the two main characters, which is, you know, a girl dying from cancer, a little kid, and then a rock star who's on top of the

world. Those two individuals, I guess, when we became famous, which was something I really never wanted to do. So what I noticed that happened was two things. I met a lot of other famous people and I was very disappointed. I just thought, wow, I really liked this person until I met them. I'm about lost and just miserable and kind of that lifestyle. And then, since our show stood out where it was family friendly and wholesome and funny. It became probably the number one show for kids who are suffering with cancer in hospital rooms, like trying to find some kind of healthy distraction from all their problems. And so that was my immediate thought. I was like, yeah, I can see why members of my family are behind this kind of idea because it is a false

narrative out there, but also thought one of the good things about so much crappy TV being out there, especially since we all went to streaming and there's so many places, because now Hollywood is just like, they don't even care if the show's that good. Just give it to us. It's like a mass. We just want it and people can consume it. And it doesn't even have to really be that good. Even when we did the treasure hunting show, nobody from the, network that we were involved with, nobody ever, they weren't saying, is it good? They're just like, do it, let's go. Of course, we wanted it to be good because our faces were on it and this was something

we were involved in. My whole point for saying that is, if you can do something good, and I mean kind of counterculture that has something real in it, I mean, there's a reason this Bible is the greatest selling book of all times, which these are the principles we're basing this on. and it's revealing a God that is alive, it stands out so much for people. And I think that is the draw. I mean, I realize distribution is a problem, but it just seems like these kind of shows, because they are real life, people are drawn to it.

And I think it's God's intervention. I shared this story a couple of times already, but it was so fascinated I hadn't told you. but I mean I was on the plane the other day flying to an event and a guy sat behind me I never had a conversation with him I'll give you the cliff notes if you've already listened to the podcast where I shared this story but he he gets up and says I know who you are he's all got all teared up I thought he was going to say I'll watch your stuff none of that he's like I've been wrestling with you know my faith and whether I want to believe in God and he's telling me this as we're walking out of out. And by the time we get to the middle of the Dallas airport, which there's hundreds of people around, he's like, I want to give my life to Jesus. So we had a prayer, it's emotional. And I thought, as he walked away, we had an altar call without an altar or a call. Wow. Yeah. He was ready. I said nothing. He was ready. Yeah. He was just what he had seen me somewhere. Yeah. And knew that, you know,

I'm a believer in Jesus. And there didn't even have to be a conversation. Wow. And then it hit me. I thought, he was on this plane, which is a dangerous thing because we all in the back of our mind think, what if this plane goes down? He's wrestling. And he's like, there's a reason I'm sitting behind this guy who loves Jesus.

And he just responded. Wow. And I thought, that is the power of entertainment and being out there in public. You just, somebody just sits next to you. And they're like, that's it. I'm in. Yeah. without a speech.

It really moved me to see what we're doing. And you have stories like that, which is almost incredible. This was between him and God. I was just on the sidelines. Yes, yes, that's incredible. I mean, I think that's what it is about. It's like people, I mean, we're all consuming entertainment. I mean, that's our world today.

We're consuming so much entertainment or podcasting and all that so much today. I mean, it might as well be meaningful and good and hopeful and all that. It really is impacting us and shaping us. Yeah, one woman told me she said that during the movie The Blind, she said her husband, who had been, like, alcoholic for 17 years, reached over and held her hand. That was first time he had held her hand and, you know, as long as she could remember.

And she's just, like, bawling, you know. So it's just like those kind of stories will make you keep coming back and doing more for sure. Well, like you said, they're the impitive stories of the Bible, which that's why they still work so well in any format. Because, you know, a lot of, a lot of, like, entertainment that I consume and enjoy have been revenge-oriented instead of redemption-oriented, the idea that somehow we can make things right by just taking out our enemies or getting the person back that harmed us. And the thing about how many movies are based on that. And then you see this other idea that instead of that, you know, we see mercy and we see grace and we see forgiveness and we see love. Yeah.

And I'm also open to even tell stories that maybe they're not necessarily uplifting, but they're like, they, they, like, they. properly highlight, like, depravity and sin. Yeah, yeah. I think one area that we, me and Corey's talked about a lot and others that we can explore, too, is I actually think Christians can be involved in the horror space because there is real things that we should be aware of. And, like, and there's a way you can tell these stories that actually, like, that take things serious, that take sin serious, to take evil serious.

Like, these are real, like, so I think that the, I mean, you think about historically, the church has told a lot of stories, the Bible is rated R. I mean, believe it or not, the Bible's rated R. It's not just a book of like, you know, roses, rose petals and sunshine. I mean, there's hard stories in the Bible. So it's more are the stories that we're telling, are they true? And do they really reflect the world that we live in accurately and the revelation that God has given us? And so that's our...

No, I think that's so true. Yeah. I mean, I've been in the Old Testament. been in it for a long time because I'm doing the Bible in a year thing. And I mean, it's like, whoa, it is rough. It is rough back there. And it's rough now. And, but I always think about the musical Les Mis, or if you'll see the movie, Le May Miss. Like, it is a powerful story of forgiveness. But it's a, it's not, you know, I mean, I guess it wouldn't be like in the Christian film space, but it is a Christian film, like, of Christian musical. And it's been, it's a powerful story that's been told over time because

there's truth in it, you know. It's the gospel. One thing you said, that I was thinking about, you said countercultural. And I was like, I think that is so true because nowadays our culture

is all about the shock factor about the, how do you get the, you know, really, there is a lot of that that is out there. It's like, how do you get the tension or the eyeballs

by saying the most shocking, outrageous thing there is? You know, so it is countercultural. Now, to be like, hey, we're doing something that is meaningful, you know, and not that, like you said, it can be, and it should be entertaining, too. Like, good stories are entertaining and fun and we can do things that are funny.

Dick Nisci was a sitcom, essentially, you know, but still point to truth. So I want to mention, when does Elijah Peel, is it, when does it release where everyone can see? August 14th, I thought you said. August 14th in theaters, and then it'll be on the Echo Platform. Zach, do you know when it comes on the Echo Platform after that? It depends because, I mean, it depends on how long it will stay in theaters. And so, yeah, once it comes out of that, there'll be a, you know, we'll announce it on here, but it will be on the Echo platform, which, you know, you can get this podcast ad free, too.

That's, you know, that's the number one complaint we get, Corey, if it don't like the ads. And so, I like, well, you know what, now you've got an option. Yeah. That's right. We got an option. So I wanted to weigh in because we had the census screener to watch it. And then as always, you get a few days. And Jason and I typically both, I shouldn't speak for him.

For me, I always wait until right till the screen time is up. And then I missed it. So Maddie had to rescind it. So I wanted to watch it one afternoon because I had like one day to watch it. And so it's like 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Lisa and I settle in. And I had a bit of a cold. This was a couple of weeks ago.

So I was already sniffly just by nature. Well, I started watching this thing. and I'm telling you, Corey, it wrecked me. I mean, I sent you guys a text when it was over.

It was embarrassing, actually. Wow. Just how emotional I got. But so like I said, I mean, I've got like a pile of tissues, you know,

I guess I probably do need to start watching Lifetime. And next to me, different scenes in it that just, it was so emotionally, is just the visceral scenes of what was happening. And like Jason's already set it up there. You know, there's the two main characters.

And I think part of it was because I was studying Job at the time for a sermon I preached last week. And, you know, those same questions that Elijah Peel was questioning himself in the movie, you know, why would I get blessing and this kid get, you know, the shaft, you know, because she's got brain cancer. And so just all the things we struggle with. And so by the end of the film, I mean, it was, I was super emotional. But it's but so uplifted because it's so redeeming the idea of that. So I wanted to ask you. So I highly recommend it. Watch it.

I challenge you not to cry. Maybe I'm just a big softie, but it was very, very good. But I was going to ask you about that. So it was based on the original, the guy that wrote the film, is the guy that, it's his story. Is that right? Yes. So if you mad here on a true story. Yes.

Kevin, who's the director, he actually wrote all the music for the film and everything. It's his story. And it's based on his life story. I don't know what parts of it are true or what's not true or what was embellished. But yes, it's based on his life story. And it's been a passion project with him for a long time. He loves the Lord. Jesus radically changed his life.

He was a lied to appeal. He was the rock star that was drugged out and had no hope. And his whole life changed. So, yeah, that was neat to get to do it with him. And he, yeah, he put his heart and soul into this movie. In Toronto, every arrival is a single. statement, and nothing says it better than this. Cadillac Optic was the number one selling luxury EV in Canada for 2025.

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what fruit comes from it because of how good it is. So tell us about our last segment here, about just kind of what's going on in your life. I know your grandma, you and Willie believed when the Bible said, go forth and be prolific and flood the earth with humanity. You guys have done that because now the grandkids is exponentially growing in your family. So what's going on on your side of the compound?

I know what's going on on my side. What about yours? Well, y'all, y'all know what this is like with the grandkids is in the house and everywhere, and it's so much fun. Yeah, we're at 11 grandkids now, and we're having the time of our lives. It's so much fun. We have kids everywhere. We put in a pool this last year, so, you know, the pool is getting plenty of use.

We got the in-ground trampoline, so kids are just everywhere, and we absolutely love it. We actually just got back from Montana. We went with Sadie because she was speaking at a conference in Montana. Levi Lesko's church. I don't know if y'all know who he is, but they put on a conference called Movement Conference every year up in northern Montana.

And so Willie and I went to be the grandparents and watch the girls while Sadie spoke. And it was amazing, just beautiful, just in the mountains and a big conference outside under the stars. Brooke Litterwood led worship and Sadie spoke. And it was just really powerful, the sweetest thing to get to see your, you know,

your kid do what God has called her to do. and sitting there and having your grandkids play in the grass. So it was really sweet. So we did that. And then we actually went from there to Missoula, Montana, to meet all the Buck Commander crew. So this is Buck Commander's 20-year anniversary, which is crazy. I went fast.

I know. That went fast, yes. So 20 years for Buck Commander. And so we did a little surprise. So all the Buck Commander guys decided to go surprise. Luke, Brian, and Jason Aldeen, they were performing together. They're doing a little, I think, like four. four city tour together,

which is a big deal. And so we all surprised them and went out and showed up at their concert and got to stay in like a beautiful ranch and just kind of celebrate 20 years. And it was so neat to hear like all the guys and where their life is. And they've just done a lot of life together

over the years and been through a lot. And different was being like, you know, my wife and I are reading the Bible together now every night. And, you know, just to have this conversation and see what God's doing in the different, lives of all the guys and what he's done through

that company was really cool so we celebrated well so at their concert if you get to go to one of their concerts is so fun so Luke sings like three songs and Jason does three then Luke sings three

Jason's like and then they come out together at the end and it's a fun time it was great concert yeah so we did that and then flew home and then went to Elijah Hill yesterday

Willie's in Phoenix today at another event so he's all over the place speaking and loving that and then when we're home We're just getting to be home and up here at Duck Commander doing our thing. Y'all are in and out. I saw, I didn't get to see y'all.

I saw each other, but I saw Willie, who's going on the elevator, and he had a large pizza. I was getting off the elevator. When he was getting on, I was like, what, what do you do? He had a big large pizza. I was like, and something on top of it, too. I'm like, are y'all got the whole family here? Not just me and Corey.

And then later he saw it out. You were hoping for an invite, weren't you? Everybody says Duck Dynasty was made up. But that's like, start the scene. Willie's getting on an elevator with a pizza. That's all you need. That is the show. Well, this is what he said.

What else do you need? What is what he says, TV? He says, I can't, I don't know what this meant. So he had a big, large pizza box in another box on top. He said, dude, I can't wait to show you this bread. Was there bread on top or something? Was there bread on top? Was there something?

There was like a cheesy bread on top, but why did he want to show you? I don't know. So I thought, so I'm like waiting. So I'm thinking that's an invite. Yeah. So I'm like downstairs thinking, Will he's going to. He's going to translate that before you tell us. Yeah.

He wants you to come watch him. Kevin. Eat this bread. He was like giddy. He said, I can't wait to show you this bread. That is funny. While he's eating it. Did he?

Hello? There wasn't. Literally. that he gets, I get out of the elevator and you would think, oh, what do you? Oh, wow. It was like, oh, I can't wait to show you this bread. And then he just goes up the elevator. He doesn't show you. Never shows me the bread. Okay, here's what happened. So he brings up that giant pizza and bread, which I ordered. I mean, we were going to eat it together.

But I was trying to get ready. And then you called, and then someone else called, which has happened. So I'm like, last minute getting ready. So I ate like half a piece and I ate like one piece of the bread. Well, we go to the movie and I'm thinking, you know, that bread will, I could still eat the bread. I mean, the pizza's been out. I'm not like a cold pizza person, but I'll eat that cheesy bread when I get back the room. They cleaned our room and threw it away. So I was like, no. You don't throw it. Never

though. Well, Willie told me at the baby. He said, I said, what about that bread? You never, like, never reached out. He said, oh, he said, I ate 78 percent of pizza. He said, Corey had a half a slice and I ate 78 percent. That is true. But I didn't finish it off. Or he kind of understanding why Corey always looks so nice and felt. Willie's always struggling. I hate to tell you, Coy, that's probably in the top 10 reasons he married you because he thought she's not going to be eating a whole lot. He knew I wouldn't. Because we had some serious fights over food. Well, yeah, he gets most of it.

He doesn't have to lick his pizza anymore. Famously in your family, Willie is the main chef. You've never been much of a cook by your own admission because it just wasn't your thing. And why would you, right? Because Willie's a great cook. That's right. He tells me, he said, you know, I've noticed something about my kids, Al, the last time we taught.

I said, what's that? He said, about 5 o'clock, they just start gathering. They just start, they just start coming. And then a little while later, it's like, what y'all eating tonight, Dad? It's like, it's not really an invite, but it's just an understood thing. Zach, that's where you messed up. Willis just used to you showing up. And at some point, he's going to start cooking.

Well, my kids do that now, though, because I got here in Nashville, because I invited them to the premiere, because they live in Franklin. where we had the premiere. And so we're on a text thread with Max and Layla. And then they're obviously two spouses. And so I'm saying, here's where we're going. Here's where we're meeting. And then the text comes back.

Do you guys want to get together for dinner before? What that means is, Dad, do you want to buy a steak dinner? You want to buy us a steak dinner? Because we're not, we're eating a Waffle House. We know you eat. So I know you're going to eat good and say, can we somehow slide into your menu tonight? Yeah.

Well, I got a brag on my kids, though. All of our kids have gotten to be really good cooks. They do cook, and they invite me over when Willie's out of town because they didn't know I would like just eat ice cream that night. So they invite me over. But Sadie is my one that, like, I did not think she was going to be a cook. She would not make a sandwich for herself when she was a teenager. She loved to go out to eat. But now she loves to cook and she's a really good cook.

And the other night, so she wanted to do Willie burgers. You know, Willie makes burgers a specific way. and homemade french fries. So she invited us over for her to do the Willie burgers and French fries so we could kind of like taste test and Willie could give her tips of what to do better and everything. So yeah, they're all, I think it, you know, it passes on.

My mom was not much of a cook either. Did you have that? We did. Yeah, it was great. What was the verdict was that was good? It was really good, yes. Willie had some tips. I can't, I don't know what they were.

But Willie had some tips. Corey doesn't, Cori doesn't speak cook. I don't really need to learn. But no, Willie did something about. I think it was like get the pan, you know, you've got to get that pan super hot. There's something about that. Something about a pan. That's right.

Yeah. You need the pan. I agree with that. So, yeah, it was good. We enjoyed it. And yeah, they cook. Sadie cooks a lot. Bella cooks a lot.

John Luke and Mary Kate both cook. Mary Kate's a great cook too. And John Luke cooks too. And Rebecca and John Reid, John Reed's a really good cook. He, like, went to Jeff's school and is a really good cook. And Rebecca, But she's kind of like me. She contributes sometimes.

And then Will and Abby, they like to cook too. So we're passing it on. See, it's a generational. Like my mom, you know, was not much of a cook. So, but now that Willie introduced it and our family, our next generation's continuing. Redemption. That's redemption. Right there, y'all.

The sins of the Father, but also the blessings passed down as well. That's right. So we're almost out of time. August 14th, Luke for Elijah Peele. Zach, where can people get to the echo? deal if they want to get there. Go to Echo. PKK.k.l.com.

Eckle.com. Use the code, unashamed, and you get 20% off when you do your subscription. And you just sign up on the website, and then you can download the app or you can get it on your TV and things like that too. And since I mentioned our movie, it's Faith and Forgiveness,

a Dynasty love story. There's several places to find that on, you know, Amazon Prime or YouTube or of course, lifetime as well. So look for that. Of course, it's always a blessing to you on the podcast, you elevate us to new heights. And thanks for all you and Willie do for just the whole group of us. And for the Unashamed Nation, you help make it possible.

So thank you for that. Well, thank you. This was fun. Always enjoy it. All right. We'll see you next time on Unashame. 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.