Dear Franklin Jones

Follow Dear Franklin Jones
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Producer Jonathan Hirsch had a childhood much like yours -- except his family had a secret. They were followers of a controversial spiritual leader named Franklin Jones. To Jonathan’s parents, Franklin Jones was a god, but to people outside the group, Jones was a cult leader. Now, Jonathan is going…

Stitcher & Jonathan Hirsch


    • Jul 7, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 14m AVG DURATION
    • 17 EPISODES

    Listeners of Dear Franklin Jones that love the show mention: hirsch, absolutely fascinating, cults, love the music, narrators, great great, appreciated, telling, thank you for sharing, production, group, told, binge, history, first episode, well done, personal, interesting, interested, can't wait.



    Search for episodes from Dear Franklin Jones with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Dear Franklin Jones

    Introducing Toxic: The Britney Spears Story

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2021 5:54


    Comedians Tess Barker and Babs Gray, who you might know from Lady to Lady or the now legendary Britney's Gram podcast, are here to bring you a brand new investigative series about Britney Spears' conservatorship and the court system that's allowed it to persist. After launching the #FreeBritney movement, they started to dig… And what they found out, you won't want to miss!  Join Tess and Babs as they talk to exclusive sources, examine new sides of the story, and uncover disturbing truths about our legal system that go way beyond Britney. Listen to Episodes 1 & 2 right now: link.chtbl.com/ToxicThePodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Witness Docs Presents: The Atlas Obscura Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2021 7:55


    Atlas Obscura's mission is to inspire wonder and curiosity about the incredible world we all share. Atlas Obscura co-founder and host Dylan Thuras is here to guide you on an audio journey to discover new and hidden places; perhaps on the other side of the world, or perhaps in your own backyard. Once there, you’ll hear stories and history from the incredible people who make these places special. Visit ​atlasobscura.com/podcast​ or follow the show in your favorite podcast app! New episodes are available every day, Monday through Thursday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Up Next From Witness Docs: Seizing Freedom

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2021 8:55


    You might have learned that the Emancipation Proclamation and Union victories ended slavery in America. But so much more went into abolishing slavery than battles and declarations, and freedom meant more to Black people than eventually being paid for their labor. ​ Seizing Freedom ​​is a new Witness Docs and VPM podcast that focuses on the agency Black people exercised to define what freedom meant for themselves. You'll hear how they fought to liberate themselves during the Civil War and how they made freedom real by organizing for equality and justice during Reconstruction, despite every attempt at violent suppression. And you’ll hear how they did it in their own words. ​Seizing Freedom ​presents these stories through the lens of lived experience, drawing from letters, diary entries, autobiographies, and more to showcase voices from American history that have been ignored time and time again. Visit seizingfreedom.com, and subscribe now in Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Introducing Verified: Dust Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2020 3:39


    Verified: Dust Up is a new investigative documentary podcast produced by Witness Docs that poses the question: Could a product so many of us have in our medicine cabinets be putting us at risk? In the second season of Verified, Host Natasha Del Toro and the Verified team investigate whether a group of women developed ovarian cancer from dusting their bodies with Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder—an iconic brand associated with innocence and comfort since the 1800s. One woman's mysterious illness snowballs into thousands of court cases; a trusted brand fights to convince consumers and regulators that baby powder is safe while minimizing the work of the scientists who claim it is not. Verified: Dust Up is out NOW — listen and subscribe wherever you find your podcasts. If you want to get the first two episodes right now and weekly early releases of Verified: Dust Up without ads, sign up for Stitcher Premium at stitcherpremium.com. Use promo code WITNESS for 1 month free. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    ​Introducing Unfinished: Short Creek

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2020 12:16


    A divided community in the desert. A prophet with total power. A battle over family, home, and the limits of religious freedom. Unfinished: Short Creek, is the latest investigative true crime podcast from Witness Docs, and Critical Frequency. Short Creek, located on the Utah/Arizona border, is home to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a break-off from the Mormon church that practices polygamy. Since their leader, Warren Jeffs, was sentenced to life in prison in 2007, the people of Short Creek have been forced to reckon with their painful past, and struggle to define their future. Episodes 1 and 2 of Unfinished: Short Creek are out NOW — listen and subscribe wherever you find your podcasts. If you want to listen to the full season of Unfinished: Short Creek now, without ads, sign up for Stitcher Premium at stitcherpremium.com. Use promo code WITNESS for 1 month free. shortcreekpod.com See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

    Introducing All-American: Tiger Woods

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2020 7:29


    All-American is a new documentary podcast from Stitcher that explores a sports icon each season, starting with Tiger Woods. He’s been world-famous for decades and his story has many chapters that we all know: a phenom's rise, a shocking fall from grace, and debatably the greatest sports comeback of all time. But few people have really gotten to know Tiger Woods - it's been largely left to the media to define who he is. Listen to All-American: Tiger Woods now to find out what the media got right, and what it didn't: applepodcasts.co/allamerican

    ​Introducing Unfinished: Deep South

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2020 3:20


    Unfinished: Deep South is a new historical true crime podcast produced by Witness Docs that races to resolve the unfinished business of a small Arkansas town by starting with one question: who lynched Isadore Banks? Sixty-six years after the murder a wealthy African American farmer and WWI veteran who found a way to prosper in the Jim Crow South, this investigative series attempts to restore his legacy and solve the crime before the story goes cold forever. Season 1 of Unfinished is out NOW — listen and subscribe wherever you find your podcasts. If you want to listen to the full season of Unfinished: Deep South now, without ads, sign up for Stitcher Premium at stitcherpremium.com. Use promo code WITNESS for 1 month free. Subscribe to Unfinished: Deep South in Stitcher or wherever you listen: isadorebanks.com.

    Introducing Telescope: Life In The Time Of Corona

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2020 9:10


    We’re bringing you a special clip from Telescope, a new documentary podcast from Neon Hum Media. Telescope tells the human stories during the age of isolation. At a time of social distancing, we'll hear the varied shared experiences of people living in lockdown around the world during the coronavirus pandemic. Even though we're living apart, that doesn't mean we can't be connected. Hosted by Neon Hum’s Jonathan Hirsch, each episode will explore the stories and experiences that are defining this new moment in our culture. Who is most at risk right now? What are the unique challenges that people throughout the world are enduring in this moment of crisis?  Telescope is out NOW, with new episodes dropping on Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays. Listen and subscribe wherever you find your podcasts.

    Introducing Verified

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2020 2:55


    We’re bringing you a special clip from Verified, a new investigative true crime podcast from Witness Docs and Stitcher. Season one of Verified tells the story of a group of fearless women from around the world who band together with a team of Italian reporters to bring a policeman turned sexual predator to justice. Hosted by investigative reporter Natasha Del Toro, this ten-episode, immersive true crime series examines the trust we place in the sharing economy and the power that a simple checkmark or digital review can hold over our lives. Subscribe to Verified in Stitcher or wherever you listen: www.verified-podcast.com

    Chapter 7: Maybe.

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2018 21:06


    An epilogue: what happened to my parents, Jones, and me. Music by Ray Lynch: “Falling in the Garden” from the album “Deep Breakfast” -- Amazon, iTunes “The Oh of Pleasure” from the album “Deep Breakfast” -- Amazon, iTunes “Clouds Below Your Knees ” from the album “No Blue Thing” -- Amazon, iTunes “Celestial Soda Pop” from the album “Deep Breakfast” -- Amazon, iTunes   This episode is brought to you by Madison Reed (www.madison-reed.com [madison-reed.com]) and Acer (www.acer.com [acer.com]). For more info, go to dearfranklinjones.com.

    Chapter 6: Gone

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2018 21:37


    Everything falls apart. For more info, go to dearfranklinjones.com. Music by Ray Lynch: “Clouds Below Your Knees ” from the album “No Blue Thing” -- Amazon, iTunes “Green Is Here” from the album “Sky of Mind” -- Amazon, iTunes “Falling in the Garden” from the album “Deep Breakfast” -- Amazon, iTunes “The Oh of Pleasure” from the album “Deep Breakfast” -- Amazon, iTunes “Celestial Soda Pop” from the album “Deep Breakfast” -- Amazon, iTunes “Here & Never Found” from the album “No Blue Thing” -- Amazon, iTunes   This episode is brought to you by Madison Reed (www.madison-reed.com), Acer (www.acer.com), and Casper (www.casper.com)

    Chapter 5: Initiation

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2018 27:59


    I choose to join the group and finally meet Jones. For more info, go to dearfranklinjones.com. Music by Ray Lynch: “Here & Never Found” from the album “No Blue Thing” -- Amazon, iTunes “What to Remember to Be Happy” from the album “Truth is the Only Profound” -- iTunes “Pastorale” from the album “Deep Breakfast” -- Amazon, iTunes “Falling in the Garden” from the album “Deep Breakfast” -- Amazon, iTunes “Celestial Soda Pop” from the album “Deep Breakfast” -- Amazon, iTunes   This episode is brought to you by Madison Reed (www.madison-reed.com) and Acer (www.acer.com).

    Chapter 4: The Fire

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2018 23:23


    My parents get closer and closer to Jones. Music by Ray Lynch: “Here & Never Found” from the album “No Blue Thing” -- Amazon, iTunes “What to Remember to Be Happy” from the album “Truth is the Only Profound” -- iTunes “Pastorale” from the album “Deep Breakfast” -- Amazon, iTunes “Falling in the Garden” from the album “Deep Breakfast” -- Amazon, iTunes “Celestial Soda Pop” from the album “Deep Breakfast” -- Amazon, iTunes This episode is brought to you by Madison Reed (www.madison-reed.com) and Acer (www.acer.com).

    Chapter 3: The Accusations and The Radiant Presence

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2018 28:32


    The group becomes infamous. Music by Ray Lynch: “Falling in the Garden” from the album “Deep Breakfast” -- Amazon, iTunes “Celestial Soda Pop” from the album “Deep Breakfast” -- Amazon, iTunes “Rhythm in the Pews” from the album “Deep Breakfast” -- Amazon, iTunes This episode is brought to you by Madison Reed (www.madison-reed.com).

    Chapter 2: Origin Myths

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2018 24:33


    How a guy from Long Island became ‘the original giver king.' Music by Ray Lynch: “Falling in the Garden” from the album “Deep Breakfast” -- Amazon, iTunes “The Oh of Pleasure” from the album “Deep Breakfast” -- Amazon, iTunes “Rhythm in the Pews” from the album “Deep Breakfast” -- Amazon, iTunes “Your Feeling Shoulders” from the album “Deep Breakfast” -- Amazon, iTunes “No Blue Thing” from the album “No Blue Thing” -- Amazon, iTunes “Falling in the Garden” from the album “Deep Breakfast” -- Amazon, iTunes “Celestial Soda Pop” from the album “Deep Breakfast” -- Amazon, iTunes   This episode is brought to you by Madison Reed (madison-reed.com). To listen to all of Dear Franklin Jones now without ads, subscribe to Stitcher Premium.

    Chapter 1: Waking Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2018 26:05


    My mom and dad find each other. And Franklin Jones. For more info, go to dearfranklinjones.com. Music by Ray Lynch: “Falling in the Garden” from the album “Deep Breakfast” -- Amazon, iTunes “Celestial Soda Pop” from the album “Deep Breakfast” -- Amazon, iTunes   This episode is brought to you by Audible. Start your free trial and get a free audiobook at audible.com/jones. To listen to all of Dear Franklin Jones now without ads, subscribe to Stitcher Premium.

    Coming Soon: Dear Franklin Jones

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2018 3:47


    Jonathan Hirsch's family had a secret. They followed a controversial spiritual leader named Franklin Jones. Join Hirsch as he embarks on a journey to figure out his past. Subscribe to Dear Franklin Jones now and hear the first episode on February 28th. More info at dearfranklinjones.com.

    Claim Dear Franklin Jones

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel