Ep 1258 | Phyllis Revisits Phil’s Past, His First Words to Her & the Healing They Found Together

Jan 29, 2026

Family memories of a first season without Phil lead to reflections on legacy, work ethic, and living off the land. A surprising reunion unfolds through a letter, a photo, and the phrase "I never knew." The conversation explores trauma, forgiveness, and how truth told late in life can begin healing.

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INSIGHT

First-Fruits Work Ethic

Growing up working the land instilled a first-fruits ethic: family always got the best of the harvest.
That ethic shaped gratitude, non-entitlement, and a work-centered worldview in the Robertson family.

ANECDOTE

City Folks Can't Handle Muddy Walks

A hunting guide described corporate clients collapsing in shallow mud after a short walk to a blind.
The moment highlighted how modern comforts have eroded basic outdoor resilience.

ANECDOTE

Envelope, Photo, And A Resemblance

Jase found Phyllis' envelope among many pieces of mail and initially dismissed it as junk.
Seeing her photo later triggered curiosity because Jase noticed a familial resemblance to their grandmother.

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As the Robertsons begin wrapping up their first full duck season without Phil, they reflect on legacy, hard work, and the faith that shaped their family. Phyllis joins the conversation to look back on Phil’s later years, the weight of the words “I never knew,” and the healing that followed Phil’s honesty instead of silence. The guys and Phyllis discuss trauma, forgiveness, and how truth spoken even late in life can still bring restoration.

To hear Phyllis’s story from the beginning, watch her first Unashamed appearances in episodes 95 and 96 here:

https://youtu.be/9n4Ab6mL9W0?si=YD9337YYIr5_AC6n

https://youtu.be/kA4BCl5mhbY?si=MJgoQOfNB0EXjkwk

And pre-order her book I Never Knew at https://ineverknewbook.com

In this episode: Hebrews 12, verse 11; Romans 12, verse 2; 2 Corinthians 5, verse 17; Philippians 3, verse 13

“Unashamed” Episode 1258 is sponsored by:

https://ruffgreens.com — Get a FREE Jumpstart Trial Bag for your dog today when you use promo code Unashamed!

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 Opening the first duck season without Phil

03:42 Remembering Phil’s work ethic & love of the hunt

08:27 Living off the land & the values Phil passed down

13:41 Why hard work formed the Robertson family worldview

18:02 Phyllis is sharing her story with the world

23:55 How the letter, the photo, & faith connected the dots

29:48 “I never knew” — the moment Phil met his daughter

34:55 Trauma, forgiveness, & healing later in life

41:10 Telling the truth unlocks restoration

46:20 Phil gets the last word

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