The Plain People's Podcast

Renee Franchi and Nathanial Foote from Andreozzi & Foote are currently representing two former Mennonite men suing the Eastern PA Mennonite Church, Martin Nelson doing business as Liberty Ridge Farm. Together they sit down with Jasper to discuss labor trafficking, the Liberty Ridge case and how Amish and Mennonites are not above the law. 

From Groffdale Conference Mennonite to Black Bumper (Horning) to Breaking Amish season 5, Dawn has been on a momentous journey. We were fortunate to sit down and spend some time talking about what is real in the process of shooting reality tv and find out where she is today. 

Lizzie Hershberger is a former Swartzentruber Amish member , which is largest and most conservative subgroups of Old Order Amish. Her recent memoir titled Behind Blue Curtains was published this spring and she sits down with us to talk about what it is like to write, and walk within, your trauma story. 

Last week we introduced you to the incredible Deb....also known as Moxie. This week we pick back up in the story and learn how Deb hiked the entire Appalachian Trail and the fierce tenacity that drove her to finish. 

Deb, who fondly goes by Moxie, grew up in the Beachy Amish church, but never quite fit in. In this two part story series, she opens up about her great adventure of hiking the entire Appalachian Trail, and who she became along the way.  All music featured in these episodes are played for you by Deb. 

In February of this year Mennonite Abuse Prevention published an investigation into the ''ministerial sexual misconduct" of co-pastor at Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church, Tom Harder. Dr. Stephanie Krehbiel, executive director of IntoAccount.org prepared the analysis for MAP's post, and spoke with us about her findings.  To read the MAP post, click here. https://www.themaplist.org/the-map-list/tom-harder/ To access full transcripts of messages and emails used as evidence in this case, click here. https://www.themaplist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Tom-Harder-Transcript-of-Facebook-and-email-conversation-between-Tom-Harder-and-student-S-redacted.pdf

Following along from last week's conversation with Anna Mae, she and Jasper talk more about what it's like to be labeled a bad girl by the church, as well as the differences between their own church upbringings as ex-Amish and ex-Mennonite. 

Anna Mae grew up within the Old Order Amish community, where therapy was not even a concept. After leaving the church and wrestling with depression, she decided to Google for the "best therapist in Nashville", which lead her to Chris Hancock, LCSW, ACMHP. As the owner of Therapy Outside The Box, Chris opens up about his experience working with Anna Mae, and Anna Mae shares how therapy has helped her become the woman she is today.  You can find Chris at https://www.therapyoutsidethebox.com/

"This is where I spent most of my Sundays the past three years. This was my home. And I fully believed that I had to be here or I would go to hell. It was beautiful. It was spiritual. It was also misery. It was repressive. It was legalistic. And I am so proud to say that I am free now. Free to be me. Free to worship the way I choose. You never know true freedom until you've been constrained. I love you, Lincoln County Mennonite Church. And I wish you the best. But I must go."  www.theplainpeoplespodcast.com  

In early 2019, shortly after sharing what we then believed to be the entirely of Audrey's horrific abuse story, the floodgates opened when it was discovered that her ex husband had brutally sexually assaulted her children for years. Through yet another battle of unbelievable odds, Audrey was back in court, but not with just her ex-husband, but her ex-father in law, an Amish Bishop. But whatever for? Surely not those letters so many of us tossed in the trash after we left our church. Or was it......

Tighten your Hushpuppies and lay out the Sunday Pfaltzgraft, because we are back with a bang for our first episode of Season Five. DeLite sits down with Jasper and Marc and opens a can of worms by sharing her first hand experience with "wife swapping".... better known as non consensual swinging. Did you know the Plain People have their own phone sex line? Jasper didn't, but quickly posed the question...is this how young women are being trafficked? What do you think?  Write in and tell us your thoughts! www.theplainpeoplespodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/theplainpeoplespodcast patreon.com/theplainpeoplespodcast

Laura shares her experience adjusting to life outside of her family and where she is today. 

Laura is a therapist specializing in trauma therapy that is inspired from her time within an independent Mennonite church. In this episode we discuss her family's struggle with mental health while fitting into the plain culture. 

Michelle shares her experience within the strict Elmo Stoll community, the struggles with a mentally ill father, spousal rape and life after the church. 

Michelle found herself at a young age suddenly joining into a Hutterite community when her parents decided to for-go the quiet suburban lifestyle. Not satisfied with the community, her family then continued to pursue various cults, finally ending up at the Elmo Stoll community in Cookeville, Tn. 

We pick up with Josh explaining the details behind the Mennonite and Amish facility, Fresh Start and find out where he is today. 

Adopted into a Mennonite family after years in the foster care system, Josh shares his story of growing up and becoming a counselor at a men's facility known as Fresh Start in Indiana. 

Misty Griffin made national news in 2019 when her story of survival went viral. Her memoir, Tears of the Silenced, opens readers eyes to the amount of betrayal and abuse Misty and her sister endured at the hands of those who should have protected them.  You can find Misty's book at https://www.amazon.com/Tears-Silenced-Childhood-Betrayal-Ultimate-ebook/dp/B07FTQDN38 and her Twitter at https://twitter.com/ExAmish101

Misty Griffin made national news in 2019 when her story of survival went viral. Her memoir, Tears of the Silenced, opens readers eyes to the amount of betrayal and abuse Misty and her sister endured at the hands of those who should have protected them.  You can find Misty's book at https://www.amazon.com/Tears-Silenced-Childhood-Betrayal-Ultimate-ebook/dp/B07FTQDN38 and her Twitter at https://twitter.com/ExAmish101

In 2011 Clara and Jimmy Hinton were struck with life altering news when they discovered Clara's husband and Jimmy's father was accused of sexually abusing two of Jimmy's sisters. Shockingly, this pastor later admitted to assaulting more than 20 children and is now serving life in prison - after his family turned him into the authorities.  To find more about Jimmy and Clara's work, you can find them at  www.jimmyhinton.org The Speaking Out Against Sex Abuse Podcast  www.findingahealingplace.com www.Clarahinton.com  www.silentgrief.com 

In 2011 Clara and Jimmy Hinton were struck with life altering news when they discovered Clara's husband and Jimmy's father was accused of sexually abusing two of Jimmy's sisters. Shockingly, this pastor later admitted to assaulting more than 20 children and is now serving life in prison - after his family turned him into the authorities.  To find more about Jimmy and Clara's work, you can find them at  www.jimmyhinton.org The Speaking Out Against Sex Abuse Podcast  www.findingahealingplace.com www.Clarahinton.com  www.silentgrief.com 

We pick back up with Peter and he discusses where he is today after leaving the Mennonite Church.    Connect with us: theplainpeoplespodcast@gmail.com  Facebook: The Plain People's Podcast  Instagram: The Plain People's Podcast  Support us: patreon.com/theplainpeoplespodcast

Peter is a former illustrator for Rod and Staff Publishing Co based out of Crockett KY. From non-Mennonite background origins, Peter shares his stories of finding difficulty conforming as his interests were not aligned with most Mennonite young men. Peter's illustrations touched almost every Mennonite home and he recollects his days drawing for church approved material.    STAY IN TOUCH: email: theplainpeoplespodcast@gmail.com  Facebook: The Plain People's Podcast Instagram: The Plain People's Podcast SUPPORT OUR WORK: patreon.com/theplainpeoplespodcast 

We pick up with Elam Zook and discuss the bigger questions of how we can create change within the churches. 

Has recent Amish history created Amish identity, and is it closely tied to an extreme privilege bestowed on them by the US government? Elam opens up about engagement within the culture, or lack thereof. 

In this episode Oriana opens up about her family's trek from California and the cults they were in, to the Charity Christian Fellowship Church in PA. 

We pick up with Michele, a former Mennonite woman and hear how her family is divided today. 

You can't spell piety without pie, and in this episode Michele opens up about her metamorphosis from being a homeschool mother into a member of the Nationwide Mennonite Church in northern CA. 

Torah Bontrager from the Amish Heritage Foundation sits down with Jasper and discusses the need for overturning Wisconsin V. Yoder to bring a fair education to The Plain People.    Ways to donate and help: www.amishheritage.org Support us: patreon.com/theplainpeoplespodcast Connect: theplainpeoplespodcast@gmail.com

Torah Bontrager from the Amish Heritage Foundation sits down with Jasper and discusses the need for overturning Wisconsin V. Yoder to bring a fair education to The Plain People.    Ways to donate and help: www.amishheritage.org Support us: patreon.com/theplainpeoplespodcast Connect: theplainpeoplespodcast@gmail.com

Harvey shares with us a family secret in hopes of someone being able to help.    Support Us: patreon.com/theplainpeoplespodcast Connect: theplainpeoplespodcast@gmail.com FB: The Plain Peoples Podcast  IG: The Plain Peoples Podcast 

We sit down with Harvey in this series and talk candidly about his struggle as a missionary child in the jungles of Paraguay, and adaptation to "regular" life.    Support us: patreon.com/theplainpeoplespodcast  Connect: theplainpeoplespodcast@gmail.com  FB: The Plain People's Podcast IG: The Plain People's Podcast 

James grew up Old Order Amish in the state of Michigan, and the youngest of his family. We sit down and talk about his path from growing up Amish and gay, and where James is at today.    SUPPORT US: patreon.com/theplainpeoplespodcast CONNECT WITH US: FACEBOOK: The Plain People's Podcast  INSTAGRAM: The Plain People's Podcast EMAIL: theplainpeoplespodcast@gmail.com 

We sat down with Hope Anne Dueck, co-founder of A Better Way Organization, to discuss Christian Aid Ministries and the Jeriah Mast sexual abuse case.  CONNECT WITH US ON FACEBOOK: The Plain People's Podcast CONNECT WITH US ON INSTAGRAM: The Plain People's Podcast SUPPORT US ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/theplainpeoplespodcast EMAIL US: theplainpeoplespodcast@gmail.com

After experiencing a deep loss at a young age, Nikki went on to hide her sexuality as a teenager, struggling to make sense of who she was. Raised in a conservative Christian home, Nikki discusses how she kept her faith while embracing who she is.    CONNECT WITH US ON FACEBOOK: The Plain People's Podcast CONNECT WITH US ON INSTAGRAM: The Plain People's Podcast SUPPORT US ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/theplainpeoplespodcast   Follow Jasper on IG: www.instagram.com/jasper_hoffman_  Follow Marc on IG: www.instagram.com/sparkychar    Email us: theplainpeoplespodcast@gmail.com 

In our final installment of Kenneth's story, we discuss his journey from Amish to Atheism and his reflections on his path to where he is now today.    Music credits belong to Dan Barker 

Let's talk about sex, baby! Part 2 picks up and we dive into the taboo topic of sex outside of procreation purposes and the ultimate price Kenneth paid for curiosity.      

Part 1 of a 3 part series, Kenneth shares his experience of attending various plain churches, from Holdeman to the Tennessee sects, ultimately leading him to a horse and buggy lifestyle. 

Joel grew up under the teachings of Bill Gothard known as the Institute of Basic Life Principles. Hear how those teachings have had a lingering effect on his life today. 

This episode we discuss Bill Gothard's basic life principles teachings and how the effects of this upbringing have changed Joel's personal and professional life. 

We pick back up with in Illinois where Lori shares her experiences after being institutionalized. Sadly, abuse was still in her future and we discuss her current state of mind after finally sharing her story. 

Lori Ann was adopted into the Mennonite Church as a young girl and spent the majority of her young adult life locked away, institutionalized, drugged and abandoned. 

Sharon speaks out on the extreme abuse suffered as an adopted child in the Mennonite church. Her family were missionaries and mother a well known author, meanwhile at home, her life was a living hell.     

We pick up where we left off with Meg struggling to overcome the loss of her family member, and dig into her relationship with her father, as well as hear Meg's beautiful letter to herself. 

"I've been running from pain since I was in my mother's womb". Today's episode is with Meg Delagrange, chief marketing officer of Urban Southern Bags, former Old Order Amish turned entrepreneur.   You can shop at www.urbansouthern.com to see more how Meg has turned pain into beautiful products with her former Amish cousins. 

On this episode Marc and Jasper sit down to talk about the ongoing uncovering of the ranches and farms for "troubled" boys with Justin Sweeney.  Justin was in the Mennonite foster care system as a young man until he was sent away to a ranch in MO that is still running today.    The song at the end of the episode is Justin's request and is sung by The Hoppers, called Jerusalem. We do not own the rights to this song. 

We pick up where we left off with Joanna Yoder when she is caught by the ministry with a radio in her room. 

Joanna Yoder from TLC's Return to Amish shares her past experiences within the TN churches, some of the most rigid and conservative of all churches in the US. Trigger warning, extensive discussion on child abuse in this episode. 

Jasper and Kelli pick up where they left on and discuss balancing a new life with old behaviors.              **Copywrite notice** We do not own the rights to the song at the end, by Anonymous 4. 

Co-host Jasper discusses the struggles of transitioning out of the church and being groomed for abuse with her long time psychologist friend, Kelli Smith. 

The third and final installment of Audrey's story, she speaks candidly about her multiple miscarriages and her struggle to hold fast to her faith while her marriage crumbled underneath her.