The Rolling Thunder Podcast

In this episode, Chuck Halford continues the series on escaping sin, focusing on one of the hardest steps for most of us — forgiveness. Whether it's forgiving others or learning to forgive ourselves, true peace can't begin until we let go of the weight we carry. Drawing from scripture and real-life experiences, Chuck reminds us that forgiveness isn't a feeling — it's obedience.

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." – Ephesians 4:32

Following last week's message on Humility, Chuck Halford continues his walk through the six steps to escaping sin — this time focusing on repentance. Building on the idea that humility opens the door to seeing our need for God, Chuck explains that repentance is what moves us through it. It's not just about feeling sorry, but about real change — turning away from sin and choosing to walk in obedience. With scripture and real-life perspective, Chuck reminds us that repentance is a gift that brings restoration, peace, and a renewed closeness with the Lord.

"If we confess our sins, He i...

In this episode, Chuck Halford continues the six-step path to escaping sin—following last week's focus on honesty—with a lesson on humility. He reminds us that humility is more than modesty; it's the doorway to repentance, forgiveness, obedience, and true kingdom living.

Chuck explains how pride blinds us to God's grace, while humility opens our hearts to His correction and mercy. By laying down self-reliance, we make room for renewal and strength that only the Lord can provide.

Key Verses:

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up." — James 4:10

In this episode of First Light, Chuck Halford introduces the six steps to escaping sin—beginning with honesty. He explains how true freedom starts when we're willing to be truthful with ourselves, with others, and with God. Honesty opens the door for the next steps: humility, repentance, forgiveness, obedience, and kingdom living.

"Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy."
— Proverbs 28:13

In Episode 10 of the First Light Podcast, Chuck Halford takes on the topic of sobriety and the pull of addiction that so many face. He reminds listeners that temptation is always present and raises an important question: Should we keep sinning just because God's grace is always there? Chuck points to the truth that grace is not a license to remain in sin, but the strength God gives to overcome it and walk in freedom.

Romans 6:1–2
"What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are th...

In this episode of First Light, Chuck Halford shares a heartfelt story from his life as a veterinarian, focusing on one unforgettable dog named Fighter. Born still and against all odds pulling through, Fighter lived up to her name in every way. She became a constant source of joy at the shop—greeting customers, lifting spirits, and shining light into every situation. More than just a loyal companion, Fighter was a living reminder of God's grace and His presence in our daily lives.

Lamentations 3:22–23 – "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an e...

In Episode 8 of First Light, Chuck Halford shares his story of unwavering faith and how God has been a steady presence throughout his life—from childhood to today. Raised with a deep love for the Lord, Chuck reflects on how his walk with God shaped him from a young age and gave him strength and direction as he grew.

He also shares how that same faith sustains him through life's hardest moments. In the aftermath of tragedy, Chuck has witnessed how God moves among His people—drawing hearts together, grounding them in Scripture, and bringing healing through His...

In this powerful episode, Chuck Halford dives into the feeling of being stuck — in life, in faith, or in circumstances beyond our control. He unpacks how difficult and disorienting these seasons can be, but reminds us that through the Lord's wisdom and guidance, we don't have to stay there. Drawing from Romans 12:1–2, Chuck challenges us to reject the patterns of this world and renew our minds through biblical thinking — because true transformation doesn't come from culture, but from Christ.

When life feels stuck, God is still at work. As Psalm 40:2 says, "He lifted me out of the slimy p...

In this episode of First Light, Chuck Halford reflects on the importance of paying attention—not just in the small details of life, but in the most important relationship we have: our walk with the Lord. He shares how being present and attentive can shape our faith, our decisions, and the way we live each day.

Drawing from Scripture, Chuck reminds us to "set your minds on things above, not on earthly things" (Colossians 3:2), and to "pay attention to what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and still more will be ad...

In this episode of First Light, Chuck Halford reflects on the importance of paying attention—not just in the small details of life, but in the most important relationship we have: our walk with the Lord. He shares how being present and attentive can shape our faith, our decisions, and the way we live each day.

Drawing from Scripture, Chuck reminds us to “set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2), and to “pay attention to what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and still more will be added t...

In this episode of the First Light Podcast, Chuck reflects on lessons drawn from his past hunting spots and the simple tools that guided him—like carrying a compass into the field. Just as a compass points you in the right direction, he explains how faith in the Lord provides direction for life. The object of your faith, he reminds us, is what you will ultimately worship.

Chuck also shares a powerful reminder: "You Can Trust the Sun." Each sunrise declares God's presence and prominence, a daily assurance that He is constant and unchanging. Through hunting stories, Scr...

In this episode, Spence gets on the phone with Kenny Winters of Winter Timber Outdoors to talk about his newest store location in Auburn, Alabama. The two dive into the vision behind the shop, the importance of location, and what makes the concept stand out. They also reflect on the value of seeing a brick-and-mortar storefront thrive in today's waterfowl industry—a reminder that community, tradition, and face-to-face connections are still at the heart of the business.

Chuck unpacks The Four F's — Friends, Foundation, Focus, and Faith — and how each plays a vital role in building a meaningful and God-centered life. He explores how these guiding principles can shape a believer's journey by pursuing a deeper, more purposeful life goal. Chuck reminds listeners that while our paths may shift, and life's direction can change over time, God remains constant — present in every decision, every step, and every season. With a blend of Scripture, personal insight, and practical wisdom, this episode offers encouragement for keeping faith at the center, no matter where life leads.

In this episode, Chuck Halford continues exploring The Four F's — Friends, Foundation, Focus, and Faith — timeless principles for living a God-centered life. He focuses on the first two, Friends and Foundation, sharing how meaningful relationships and a solid grounding in Scripture can guide believers through every season. Chuck emphasizes that "success" isn't measured by worldly standards, but by pursuing a life rooted in God's presence and purpose. With heartfelt stories and biblical insight, this episode lays the groundwork for a deeper discussion that continues in the next installment.

In this episode, The Gift of Friends, Spence's father, Chuck Halford, reflects on the blessing of friendship as described in Scripture. He shares how God's Word reminds us that true friends are a rare and precious gift — offering support, encouragement, and accountability in our walk of faith. Through heartfelt stories and carefully chosen verses, Chuck highlights the ways in which strong, Christ-centered friendships can shape our character, deepen our faith, and carry us through life's trials. It's a warm and meaningful reminder of the value God places on the people He places in our lives.

In this special episode, we sit down at the Ducks Unlimited Podcast booth, from inside the DUX Expo, to talk all things waterfowl. From the energy of the show floor to the latest gear announcements, the crew dives into what made this year's expo in Memphis one to remember. We chat about the big news from Rogue Ammo, including the drop of their new steel #6s, and get firsthand reactions from the team. Whether you missed the event or just want to relive it, this episode brings the DUX experience straight to your ears.

In this inspiring series, Spence's father, Chuck Halford, shares timeless wisdom and heartfelt guidance for believers to carry into their daily lives. Drawing from Scripture, each episode is rooted in powerful Bible verses that serve as both a foundation and a focal point for his message. With a blend of personal insight, spiritual encouragement, and practical application, Chuck offers listeners a source of strength, perspective, and faith for every season of life. It's a meaningful and uplifting listen you won't want to miss.

In this heartfelt series, Spence sits down with his family to reflect on the life and legacy of their late grandfather, Berl Bartley Gary Jr, better known as Pop to those close. Through stories, laughter, and reflection, they explore the pivotal decisions Berl made and how those choices shaped generations to come. This series is a tribute to a man whose strength and values left a lasting mark on his family — a legacy worth remembering.

We're right in the thick of tradeshow season, and Spence sits down with the Road Dawgs to talk all about it. From the highs of meeting fellow hunters and industry leaders to the not-so-glamorous grind of life on the road, nothing's off the table! The Dawgs share some hilarious moments, talk hunting, and give a behind-the-scenes look at what it's like living the Road Dawg life—both in and out of the booth.

In this heartfelt series, Spence sits down with his family to reflect on the life and legacy of their late grandfather, Berl Bartley Gary Jr, better known as Pop to those close. Through stories, laughter, and reflection, they explore the pivotal decisions Berl made and how those choices shaped generations to come. This series is a tribute to a man whose strength and values left a lasting mark on his family — a legacy worth remembering.

In this heartfelt episode, Spence sits down with his family to reflect on the life and legacy of their late grandfather, Berl Bartley Gary Jr, better known as Pop to those close. Through stories, laughter, and reflection, they explore the pivotal decisions Berl made and how those choices shaped generations to come. This series is a tribute to a man whose strength and values left a lasting mark on his family — a legacy worth remembering.

This week on the podcast, Spence is joined by Matt Messer from Cotton Gin Smokers, who stopped by the shop to fire up the smoker and treat the crew to a killer lunch. They dive into all things barbecue—from techniques and flavor to what sets Cotton Gin apart—and talk through the journey that led Matt to turn his passion into a business. It's a laid-back conversation full of great food, good stories, and even better friends.

This week, we're talking machines! One of the most critical steps in building our duck calls begins in the machine shop. Every call we make passes through one of our four HAAS     machine—starting as a solid rod of acrylic and ending as a precision-cut duck call blank. Spence is joined by Daniel, Jay, and Russ—our three machinists who help keep the Rolling Thunder world turning. The guys dive into the machines they run, how they use them to craft our calls, and share their backgrounds and experiences working with large CNC equipment.

It's time for Collect No. 6! The LA cut—known for its raspy tone from top to bottom—has been one of our most requested calls for a while now. Well, we heard you, and the guys have delivered. This week, Drake Levey and Riley Bennett from our tuning room sit down with Spence to talk about the new call model, the BruteLA, dropping July 7th. It also makes up this month's batch of 40 Collect Calls.

Giving back to the community is one of the most importnat things for Rolling Thunder, wether it's hosting a quick lunch for the local guys or setting up a charity golf scramble, we enjoy it all! This week Spence is joined by Haley Duffey from the Carl Perkins Center here in Somerville. Years ago Spence called Haley and asked if he and some friends could donate leftover money from a golf scramble to the Carl Perkins Center, and ever since that day our golf scrambled has donated all proceeds to Haley in hopes of making a lasing impact on...

Live at the shop! This one was a special one for many reasons, we had our 7th annual Charity Golf Scramble, live auctions, and a whole hog served by the one and only, Malcom Reed. Malcom started "HowtoBBQright" over 15 years ago, and today Spence is sitting down with he and his team to learn a little more about what goes on behind the scenes with big barbecue! Being their first time at the Rolling Thunder Headquarters, we had to show them a good time with a huge turnout! 

When Malcom first heard about this event, they not o...

It's officially Golf Scramble weekend!! The whole hog is on the smoker, the guys got their practice round in this morning, and the shop is full of people! It's pure chaos here at the shop, but we love it. Sit down with Spence as he catches up with the Davidson brothers after their recent hunting trip out west. The guys talk turkey and get into some controversial topics, as well as go over the whole weekend that's coming up!

This week, we're covering a bit of everything! Turkey season has wrapped up, and we're joined by longtime friend and Rolling Thunder team member, Chris Spencer — Also Delta Waterfowl's Regional Director for Alabama. No stranger to the mic, Chris previously hosted our podcast, but now it's his turn to do the talking. He gives us the inside scoop on what's happening at Delta Waterfowl and shares some exciting updates from his world. Plus, Jacob German and Spence dive into details about the upcoming Rolling Thunder Golf Scramble on June 7th — don't miss it!

Employees of Rolling Thunder are no stranger to having cameras around, but there are a few that tend to stay behind the scenes. Join Spence for episode 178 as he introduces Rolling Thunder's "Hen House", the girls of the shop that make a lot of things possible! Madi Thomas, Maddie Halford, and Libby Flanagan give you some of the day to day life that happens in the shipping room.

It's almost time for Collect #5, and this month the design hits home a little harder for some. The Gadsden Flag, displayed on the barrel of the call, is a representation of not giving up our liberties or freedoms as a nation. In this episode, Spence talks about current events in today's economy, and Aaron Blackwood, one of Rolling Thunder's longest-serving employees, gives insight into how his service in the US Marine Corps has helped influence this months collect call.

The guys have brought the podcast back to the shop! To celebrate an amazing turkey season, the guys rolled out the podast table and started frying some turkey. Jacob German, our marketing director, and Lanier Bonner, our leathermaker, sit down with Spence to talk about how their season has gone so far!

Join us for a sit down with Trent Shell and Chris Figge , a Missouri park ranger who was gracious enough to let us invade his home turf to chase a turkey or two.

Let's talk ducks , turkeys , the state of hunting and listen to a Park Ranger story or two.

Thanks for listening , share this episode with a friend , and as always - we'll catch you on the next one!

In this heartwarming episode of the Rolling Thunder Podcast, Chris is in the shop for a different kind of rodeo — a Turkey Rodeo! Tune in as he sits down with a group of young hunters fresh off their first successful turkey hunts. These kids share their excitement, nerves, and stories from the hunt, all with the kind of wide-eyed wonder that reminds us why we fell in love with turkey hunting in the first place.

Whether you're a seasoned hunter or just getting started, this episode is a celebration of tradition, mentorship, and the next generation of tu...

Pop into the RTGC Booth at NWTF and take a couple of minutes to meet - the ROAD DOGS. 

As these fellas get ready to start the '25 Trade Show tour , we get a quick introduction into who they are , some of the cool things Rolling Thunder dropped at NWTF , and an invtite to meet 'em on the road.

Thanks for listening , share this episode with a friend and as always - we'll catch you on the next one!

This week Chris catches up with Roll Tide Riles himself - Mr. Riley Bennett. If you didn't know, RIley is one half of the tuning team at Rolling Thunder and on this week's episode we recap duck season , have a laugh or two , and get a little piece of the story that led Riley to his love for calling ducks and to the calls that make it possible.

Thanks for joining us , leave us a rating and review and as always - we'll catch you on the next one. 

Have questions about the Collect series? Well on this episode Spence and Mr. Jacob German fill Chris in on some of the details. 

Mark your calendars and pay attention to our social media channels and don't miss each month's drop!

On this episode , Chris catches up with Cody and Robbie from More Than A Calling. These are two followers of Jesus that - along with the rest of the MTAC team - are doing some really cool work in connecting other waterfowlers with Christ.

Season 3 of The Fly By is now available on amazon and at www.morethanacalling.com- so tune in and hear a little more about the project and the folks behind it. Make sure to check 'em out on instagram @morethanacalling .

Thanks for tuning in and as always...

This week we had the privilege to sit down with Ich Stewart and Blakley Cobb with The Public Timber project. These guys are part of a team that is doing their best to unite the public land hunters of Arkansas and make the experience better for everyone who steps foot on public ground.

With some cool stuff underway and some big plans for the future - take a listen and get to know a little bit more about the project and what they are hoping to accomplish. If you haven't already, check them out on i...

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of duck hunting and waterfowl conservation with Josh Osborn from the Forbes Biological Station, one of the leading waterfowl research centers in the U.S. Discover some of the science behind duck behavior, migration patterns, and habitat management that impacts us as hunters and conservationists alike.

Learn how research at Forbes Biological Station helps balance sustainable hunting practices with waterfowl conservation efforts. Whether you're a seasoned duck hunter or just a wildlife enthusiast, this episode is packed with insights to enhance your understanding of the sport and its...

There is not much better than watching a dog do what it was created to do. 

This week Chris sits down for a few minutes with Blake Haithcoat of Sinking Creek kennels and we get a little bit of his story and how he became a "dog guy".

Thanks for listening , and as always - we'll catch you on the next one.