Episode 6 : John Godwin of Duck Dynasty
In this episode of The Build Guild Podcast, the guys have the privilege of interviewing John Godwin of the wildly popular A&E tv show Duck Dynasty. Godwin is part of the Duck Commander Family.
Godwin grew up in the heart of Louisiana and had childhood ties to the Robertson family after participating in a duck calling contest where Phil Robertson was a judge. As he grew up, Godwin recalls going down the wrong path and feeling like he needed to straighten up his act, but struggled to do so until Phil convinced him to follow Jesus. Godwin quickly recognized a need in his life, and chose to follow the Savior Phil talked about so easily and with such conviction.
Godwin’s life has always centered on the outdoors, cultivating a love for hunting and fishing from an early age. He began working for Duck Commander in 2002 until the present. He is one of two members of the Duck Commander crew who is not a member of the Robertson family, and has recently launched Fin Commander, the fishing branch of Duck Commander. Ascribing to the ideology of “Don’t sell it till you’d hunt with it,” the Duck Commander brand emerged as a necessity for any outdoorsman. As Duck Commander’s popularity grew, the market for television appearances grew, with the team gearing up for hunting shows or outdoor channels. When the Duck Commander crew was initially approached by A&E, however, the show was a bit different from what they had in mind. A&E wanted Duck Dynasty to focus on a successful business that centered on three things: God, family, and ducks.
With over 130 episodes spanning 11 seasons, the show was wildly successful. Originally the crew would film after business hours, but as the show became more popular, filming during business hours became necessary. One week’s worth of work is the shop was roughly an episode, and Godwin was a part of it all, starring in over a hundred episodes.
Godwin’s story is an example of finding a vocation, honing a craft, and, better yet, finding a family along the way. Godwin’s life has been changed tremendously by the influence of Phil and the Robertsons.
In this episode, The Build Guild talks with John about faith, family, and fame. From foot tattoos, wild Saturday nights, and NASCAR, this episode is an example of family and diversity within the making community that can lead to lasting friendships and change lives for the better.
