National Polygamy Advocate

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was in-person interviewed by John Stossel, for "20/20" on ABC News TV, on January 30, 2008, at the ABC studios in New York City, New York, for a "John Stossel Special" that would air on July 18, 2008.  Even as producer Kristina Kendall had prepared some of the topics for John Stossel to ask for this full-camera taping, he still asked questions in his own way, was interested and positive toward Mark Henkel, and even offered indirect suggestions on how Mark Henkel could consider answering questions that the show's audience would be able to understand.  (For example, John Stossel suggested that many in his show’s audience might not know what "laissez faire" means, even as he said that he would agree with the term, himself.  The producer said that they were looking to see Mark Henkel's passion on camera - which he both easily and unquestionably delivered.  Mark Henkel offered numerous soundbites and education on many issues such as polygamists not having legal standing to sue media for libel or slander, as civil court judges exploiting anti-polygamy laws on the books to decree separation of unrelated consenting polygamous adults from even being near each other, as the "seeds and gardens" analogy of why we see fewer examples of people choosing polyandry, as the "10 men and 10 women" analogy,  as the "Marital Marxism" soundbite, and as many more. It is from this taped recording that the soundbites of Mark Henkel were extracted for use in John Stossel Special's polygamy-segment that eventually aired that Summer 2008.  This is a "must-hear" interview, archived for history and for all researchers of UCAP, Unrelated Consenting Adult Polygamy.  After John Stossel had completed this interview and had left the taping room, Mark Henkel remained, continuing to provide more on-camera answers with the producer to be used in the final product. That additional taped interview will be provided in the subsequent podcast following this one.

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National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was pre-interviewed a 2nd time by Kristina Kendall, producer for John Stossel, on "20/20" on ABC News TV, on December 18, 2007. This was the first of 2 pre-interviews, in preparation for a subsequent taped-interview with John Stossel himself at the ABC studios in New York City, New York, for a “John Stossel Special” that would air on July 18, 2008. The producer was preparing a positive story about non-Mormon polygamy. This pre-interview includes preparations also made for recording some B-roll video with one of the UCAP (Unrelated Consenting Adult Polygamy) families in his organization, and also for ensuring that ABC would be flying him to that taping to protect the family as that would happen. The producer was completely committed to protecting the family and the integrity of this story. At one point, the producer even jumped in and exclaimed, "That's one of the most amazing things about your whole philosophy is that it's about complete choice." With this second of two pre-interviews, the subsequent podcast following this one will provide the actual interview with John Stossel himself.

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National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was pre-interviewed by Kristina Kendall, producer for John Stossel, on "20/20" on ABC News TV, on November 21, 2007.  This was the first of 2 pre-interviews, in preparation for a subsequent taped-interview with John Stossel himself at the ABC studios in New York City, New York, for a “John Stossel Special” that would air on July 18, 2008. The producer wanted to do a story about non-Mormon polygamy. She established right away that she knew and that she affirmed that she would first have to build a relationship of trust. Mark Henkel told her how the Unrelated Consenting Adult Polygamists (UPCAPs) had actually “been waiting to hear from John Stossel” for this kind of segment. Mark Henkel gave the sound-bite comparing “CNN on the left and FOX on the right” manufacturing news product as if real news to “saying that MacDonald’s and Burger King sell health food.”  Having been so let down by ABC’s past airing of misrepresentative manufactured news stories about polygamy over the previous years, Mark Henkel explained how differently that the TruthBearer.org organization perceived John Stossel’s actually-honest reporting.   Mark Henkel shared that he and his organization chucklingly perceived John Stossel as a “diamond in a pile of pooh” - which generated laughter in the producer each time he said it.  Earlier that year (2007), John Stossel had authored a new book, "Myths, Lies and Downright Stupidity: Get Out the Shovel - Why Everything You Know is Wrong."  Mark Henkel said he had more than 10 such "myths, lies, and downright stupidity" about polygamy that he would be happy to share in an episode with John Stossel. This first pre-interview includes so many important sound-bites that the producer even had to stop to write some of them down. She mentioned how positively struck she was by the “love-not-force” standard being so respectful of women, that wives must equally consent. She particular liked Mark Henkel’s use of the “freedom of assembly” argument, affirming that John Stossel could agree with that frame of argument himself. So committed to doing this story, the producer at one point even proclaimed her response to the arguments, “I really think I completely agree.” This was the very first contact with producer Kristina Kendall; and, she definitely lived up to her promise (in this interview and over the subsequent weeks andmonths) to build a positive relationship of trust.  Forthcoming episodes of this podcast will include the subsequent pre-interview, the taped interview with John Stossel himself, and more.  All of these are must-hear interviews.

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National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed by Peri Muldofsky, former Development Producer for ABC News Productions, but still freelancing for them on June 10, 2006.   In this (the third of three) interviews, the producer said that she was no longer full time employed by ABC News, that she worked for the History Channel instead, and that she was still able to write articles for major media such New York Sunday Times magazine, Glamour, and other print media. She still very much wanted to so something with Mark Henkel and this story. The interview referenced Mark Henkel's several experiences/observations with various personalities in the media, including Lester Holt of NBC-TV, Stanley Kurtz of The Weekly Standard, Albert Mohler of CrossTalk.com (who made the outrageous claim that supposedly "legalization of polygamy means the destruction of marriage"), and Karole Honas of KIFI-TV (who had been urprised by the story from a feminist angle). When Mark Henkel lamented the disappointing ordeal of when he and one of the polygamous families from the TruthBearer.org organization were on NBC's "The TODAY Show" (even though it was not a negative report), she again offered some more excellent insights and education about how TV media puts together their spots. Mark Henkel explained how the two wives in one of the organization's polygamous families had traded off working and caring for children with each other in both getting their college education. He said, "Talk about the ultimate feminist success story!" The freelance producer/writer exclaimed, "Right! To me, one of the banner headlines would be like, 'Is Polygamy Better for Women?" The question to me is not even, 'Is Polygamy Bad for Women?' The question is, 'Is Polygamy BETTER for Women?'" Happily embracing the fascinating and feminist angle of this non-Mormon-polygamy, the freelance producer/writer emphatically and politely wanted and invited further exploring into how she and Mark Henkel might put together a story with a wife of a polygamous family that she could write for one of the top major print media. Affirming that intent, she exclaimed, "I think it's a really good story."

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National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed by Peri Muldofsky, Development Producer for ABC News Productions, on March 3, 2006.  Three months after a previous lengthy interview together, the producer positively kept seeking in this next interview to develop a working relationship of trust.  She continued to make recommendations for getting polygamous families on TV.  While she knew that that was not going to happen at that time, the producer remained genuinely professional, provided insightful education about how TV/media operates behind the scenes, and offered to write something for print media such as the New York Sunday Times and Glamour magazine (the latter for which she had a direct contact).  This is the second of three comprehensive and important interviews with this very friendly media professional.

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National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed by Peri Muldofsky, Development Producer for ABC News Productions, on December 13, 2005. In this comprehensive 90-minute interview, the producer sought information for development of a story about the TruthBearer.org organization and the new modern movement of Christian Polygamy (and beyond to UCAP, Unrelated Consenting Adult Polygamy).  She had found it fascinating, as she had never heard about it before she learned of and surfed through the TruthBearer.org website. For her story development, she was initially hoping for families to go "on-air." Mark Henkel identified that idea as a “circus act request,” explaining, "The circus act does not work for us. It just hasn't (worked)." Remaining fully positive, the producer kindly sought to build a professional relationship (developing trust for the future), as she generously offered additional ways that this pro-woman, pro-family, non-Mormon form of polygamy could be given better media attention. She even offered to think more about it to see what else she could later recommend in a few weeks afterward. The producer even exclaimed, "Every single woman in America, every woman in her 30s who's looking for a man to make a commitment, can relate to this." With many of Henkel's important sound-bites and the producer's unsolicited education on how to additionally work the media, this episode is a must-hear interview.

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National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed by Anderson McGregor, producer for The Alan Colmes Show, on FOX News Radio, on February 7, 2005 and several subsequent times through April 29, 2005. The initial media request sought for Mark Henkel to appear on The Alan Colmes Show on the next night. As other news broke, however, that original plan did not happen. This podcast episode includes 16 different phone calls, made over a period of almost 3 months, as the producer kept trying to find ways that would tie-in to current events, to have Mark Henkel be interviewed by Alan Colmes on the show.  When the overwhelming "Terri Schiavo story" broke, they both tried to use the angle of a comprehensive article that Mark Henkel had written about the issue of marriage that applied to that story. That effort failed to succeed to get him on the show, as well.    As neither the producer nor Mark Henkel was able to find a tie-in acceptable for the show to bring Mark Henkel on to talk about UCAP, Unrelated Consenting Adult Polygamy, this series of telephone calls/interview ultimately ended up as being to no avail. Overall, Mark Henkel gave some important, excellent soundbites, though - from pointing out that it is actually "catholic moral relativism that created anti-polygamy," to making his humorous reminder, "Not everything takes place in Utah." In this important experiential episode, listeners will learn significant insights about what is involved in "trying to work the media."

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National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed by Jessica Rosenthal for a report she was preparing for FOX News Radio, on September 24, 2007.  This was during the trial hearings of criminal Warren Jeffs of the FLDS.  This interview includes many persuasive, essential soundbites.  Mark Henkel said, "To connect all polygamists to Warren Jeffs is as slanderous and offensive as connecting all teachers to Mary Kay Letourneau."  The reporter exclaimed, "Huh! That IS a great soundbite!"  Mark Henkel clarified and called out the "illusion that the media continues to portray, and that is, that only practicing polygamists want polygamy rights. There IS a polygamy rights movement of vast quantities of people around the country who want the freedom to do so. And just because they might not practicing, it doesn't mean they don't want that freedom."  He also called out the manufactured news corporations for not letting the story be told: "CNN and FOX, liberal vs conservative, it's like saying McDonald's vs Burger King offer health food. It's just not true. You don't tell the truth about us."  After then failing to trap Mark Henkel in a would-be contradiction about same sex marriage, the reporter asked, "So then you'd be okay with a father marrying his daughter."  Mark Henkel instantly exclaimed, "I said consenting adults! Why why why is polygamy - See?  This is the problem we have.  You continue to put it back into propaganda.  We are saying, 'consenting adults.'  I will say 'consenting adults' to you 10 times, and you'll still come back to me like we somehow support underage. No we don't!"  The Reporter installed apologetically backed off and admitted that it was the only alternative of "unacceptable" she thought of, conceding, "I see your point."  The interview proceeded positively.  Before both said friendly goodbyes, Mark Henkel quickly repeated one last time, "Remember, we oppose Jeffs, and we always did." The reporter immediately replied in a friendly tone, "Ok Got it. I wrote that down. I did." With so many excellent soundbites, this interview is certainly an important "must-hear" one.

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National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel on Live Talk Radio with host Branden Rathert, on News Radio 1620 AM WNRP, in Pensacola, Florida.  As same sex marriage was just then legalized in Florida, Mark Henkel was brought back on to the show (as a previous guest in past years) to discuss UCAP, Unrelated Consenting Adult Polygamy.  The host asked his audience: Which of those two types of marriage do they find more abhorrent? Mark Henkel explained that the modern UCAP polygamy movement is actually a pro-woman's choice movement.  When the host referenced two different reality TV shows about polygamy as being "weird," Mark Henkel clarified that those reality TV shows involved only Mormon polygamous families.  Mark Henkel explained that Mormonism's excusive "pre-existence of souls" doctrine calls for women to have as many children as possible;  but that means that other UCAP families, those who do not come from the Mormon paradigm, do not follow that Mormon doctrine and thus, typically, will not have the "herds and herds of children" that one might see in Mormon polygamous families.  The host chuckled at the "herds of children" reference.

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National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel persisted again with Jennifer Dobner of the Associated Press (the AP Newswire), on February 1, 2007.  This was in response to a then-proposed bill, HB 2009, introduced by Rep. David Lujan, D-Phoenix, in Arizona, that sought to prohibit judges from granting custody to a parent who engages in "child bigamy" unless the judge determines that no threat exists to the child.  In addition to trying to present the national movement's response to the bill for then-future AP-articles in that news cycle (and to address the falsely-worded idea of supposed "fleeing polygamy"), Mark Henkel was also again persisting to get the needed clarification in the AP Stylebook to include the necessary differentiating adjectives (such as "Mormon polygamy").

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