Unashamed with the Robertson Family
Unashamed with the Robertson Family

Ep 1412 | Skillet’s John Cooper Backs Up Phil Robertson’s Wild Take on Rock Music

September 2, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

“If they sacrifice an animal on stage, then we are going to leave the show.” That was the condition John Cooper’s mother set before taking him to his first Christian rock concert—a Petra show in Memphis when he was in eighth grade. Cooper, the frontman of the multi-platinum band Skillet, recounts this story on the Unashamed podcast with the Robertson family to illustrate a deeper point about how Christians often misunderstand the role of music, culture, and the kingdom of God. The conversation ranges from the legalism Cooper grew up with to the nihilism of 1990s grunge, the rise of woke culture, and the all-encompassing nature of the gospel.

The Petra Story and the Distortion of Good Things

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (01:09) **Welcome & Phil Robertson Tribute** - John Cooper is reintroduced; the conversation immediately honors Phil’s legacy and his Alzheimer’s-era habit of reciting scripture.
  • 2 (05:36) **Phil’s Rock Music Views & a Camera Man’s Redemption** - A story about a troubled employee who loved heavy metal, and how Skillet’s music became part of his radical conversion.
  • 3 (10:30) **Petra Story: Mom’s Legalism vs. Christian Rock** - John recounts his mom’s strict anti-rock stance and the hilarious, touching story of taking him to a Petra concert.
  • 4 (19:56) **The “Undoing” Theology: Taking Back What the Devil Distorted** - John and the Robertsons unpack the idea that the devil can only distort, not create, and Christians are called to reclaim culture.
  • 5 (30:46) **The Key to Skillet’s Longevity: Being Authentic & Free** - John explains how Skillet survived decades of criticism from both secular and religious camps.
  • 6 (39:38) **All Music Is Spiritual: Rock’s Christian Roots** - John dismantles the idea that rock music is inherently secular or evil.
  • 7 (42:34) **New EP “After the Storm”: A Response to Cultural Nihilism** - John introduces his new music as a salve for the anxiety and despair created by woke culture and social media.

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Guests on this episode

Phil Robertson Zach Robertson

Show Notes

John Cooper of Skillet recruits the Robertsons for his plan to reclaim music and culture for Jesus. John reflects on meeting Phil during his Alzheimer’s journey and learning Skillet’s music helped inspire a Duck Commander cameraman’s dramatic transformation. Jase, Al, and Zach also compare Skillet’s path through Christian rock with the criticism the Robertsons faced on ‘Duck Dynasty,’ while exploring anxiety, identity, and the enemy’s distortion of God’s creation.


In this episode: John 14:15; Luke 15:4; John 4:10-14; Colossians 3:23; 1 Samuel 16:23; John 10:10; Galatians 5:1; Psalm 34:8; Genesis 1:27; Genesis 4:21; Psalm 127:1


“Unashamed” Episode 1412 is sponsored by:


https://chministries.org/unashamed - Get a better solution at half the cost of traditional healthcare! 


https://duckstamp.com/unashamed - Get your digital duck stamp online and keep it right on your phone!


https://ponchooutdoors.com/unashamed — Get $10 off your first order and free shipping when you enter your email!

http://unashamedforhillsdale.com/ - Sign up now for free, and join the Unashamed hosts every Friday for Unashamed Academy Powered by Hillsdale College


Listen to Not Yet Now with Zach Dasher on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or anywhere you get podcasts.


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://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/at-home-with-phil-robertson/id1835224621


Chapters

0:00 John Cooper Remembers Phil

5:17 Skillet’s Robertson Connection

12:57 John’s First Christian Rock Concert

21:05 How Skillet Got Its Name

25:32 Taking Back What Evil Distorts

30:44 ‘Duck Dynasty’ Defies Reality TV

36:34 Skillet’s Secret to Longevity

42:35 Anxiety, Identity & After the Storm

49:15 The Weight Crushing Young People

54:03 Why the Gospel Is Breaking Through

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