Plain Values Podcast

In this episode of the Plain Values Podcast, Marlin sits down with Rachel Baker of the 99+1 Foundation. Rachel grew up in Holmes County but now lives in Oklahoma where she works for a foundation caring for young people who are aging out of the foster care system. 

If a child enters the foster system above the age of ten, there is a very low chance of being adopted, and a very high chance of them ending up homeless, in prison, or dead within three years of aging out of the system. The 99+1 Foundation exists to change that story.

The Foundation cares not only for the young aging out, but also for widows who may be in need of a place as well. This creates a beautiful dynamic of the older mentoring the younger. 

Neurofeedback is an exercise for the brain that helps calm the central nervous system. Rachel uses Neurofeedback to work with young and old people who have experienced trauma and has helped correct anything from poor sleep to seizures. 

Like George Mueller, the ministry often runs on prayer alone. Meals show up out of nowhere when needed. Buildings get renovated. Needs are met. The heart of the Father is not to disregard the broken, but to take what is there and restore it to something beautiful. This is the story of the 99+1 Foundation. 

If you want to learn more or support this ministry restoring the Kingdom, go to www.99plus1.foundation. 

Learn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

00:48 - Rachel's Backstory

03:29 - Hardships of Aging Out of Foster Care

07:02 - Education Challenges for Foster Youth

10:02 - Unconditional Love and Trauma

11:46 - Neurofeedback and its Huge Benefits

17:00 - 99 Plus 1 Foundation: Restoration and the Father's Heart

22:35 - Coffee Shop Initiative: Job Skills and Community Outreach

24:31 - Trusting God Just Like George Müller Did

26:15 - Don't Forget the Wise Older Generation

27:29 - 99 Plus 1 Today

28:29 - How to Support 99 Plus 1

29:42 - How Can We Pray for You?

🔵 Guest Bio and Links …

https://99plus1.foundation

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A great way to show support is to hit LIKE / SUBSCRIBE on this video, and most importantly, join the conversation in the COMMENTS below. We’d love to hear from you.

👉We have a beautiful magazine called Plain Values, sent quarterly ($49/year): https://plainvalues.com/pv-magazine-yt

👉To receive our FREE Plain Values emails: https://plainvalues.com/

👉To find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plainvalues/

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🎵 Hold My Hand - Sam Burchfield

Recorded Live - Plain Values - Winesburg, OH

Learn more about Sam: https://www.samburchfield.com/

🎵 Other music - Soundstripe

#plainvalues #fostercare #agingout #neurofeedback #restoration

In this Minute With Marlin, Marlin is joined by his friends, Jerry and Lynn Wright, all the way from “the bad half of Washington.” They met at a homesteading event a few years ago and hit it off quickly once they realized they had something in common—they both had loved ones with Down syndrome. 

The golden nugget of wisdom in this episode comes from Jerry as he shares what his father told him when he was a young teenager, “Dad said he was going to be getting dumber over the next few years, and then in my twenties he’d be getting smarter again.” 

Looking back at the words his father spoke into his life during those “dumb” years, Jerry found this to be true. His dad never became dumber or smarter, but his perspective of the wisdom he shared changed over the years and impacted him differently.

Do you have people in your life you’ve found to get smarter as you grow older? 

Learn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com

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A great way to show support is to hit LIKE / SUBSCRIBE on this video, and most importantly, join the conversation in the COMMENTS below. We’d love to hear from you.

👉We have a beautiful magazine called Plain Values, sent quarterly ($49/year): https://plainvalues.com/pv-magazine-yt

👉To receive our FREE Plain Values emails: https://plainvalues.com/

👉To find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plainvalues/

👉To find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plainvalues/

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In this episode of the Plain Values podcast, Dawn Combs joins Marlin for a conversation covering all the Big Corps–Big Ag, Big Food, Big Pharma, Big Chemical, Big Tech and beyond.

Being practically neighbors with Scott’s and Nestlè corps, Dawn says she lives “ in the belly of the beast.” Then, just on the other side of Columbus sits Licking County which has drawn the attention of Big Tech. Data Centers drink up to 50 million gallons of water a day and the large aquifers there have them drooling for the land. Dawn’s husband Carson happens to be the sitting City Planning Director within Licking County. Being a Christian man and advocate for holistic, regenerative ag and stewarding creation, Carson believes he has an opportunity to show the world how we can move forward alongside technology in a responsible way.

Ethnobotany is where folklore and science meet. It’s the study of how certain cultures made use of the indigenous plants in each region, with the aspect of understanding the science behind why it worked. Due to its pagan nature, it’s not a subject many christians find themselves in, but Dawn has been drawn to it all her life, seeking the truth within the lore.

Marlin and Dawn dive deep into the subject of the western infertility world which Dawn experienced for three years before she fired her doctors and diagnosed herself. Treating herself with herbs and teas, she went on to naturally have two children. Not only did she heal herself, but she healed a broken generational pattern within her family. Dawn explains, “Our best healing remedies mimic God’s design… in the western mindset it’s all about controlling the body and making it do what you want it to.” They continue discussing western medicine and processed foods and the “treadmill” these keep us running on.

Big Ag and Big Fertility are essentially doing the same thing. They are forcing infertile soil to produce life beyond its capacity. They are bypassing God’s design and forcing their will upon it, without any thoughts of the repercussions. Dawn says there’s a better way, and she’s dedicated her life to discovering it.

Learn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com

In this episode of Minute with Marlin, Marlin traces the origins of the podcast all the way back to when his dad died, 15 years ago.

A few months after Marlin’s dad passed, he, his brother, and his mom visited Arthur, IL for a large family reunion. Inevitably at some point, the stories of his dad began to flow, and Marlin wished the day would never end.

Marlin’s vision when he began the podcast in 2025 was to recreate that day of storytelling and connection, so stories and moments like those could live on. It became wildly clear how real that vision was soon after he sat down in the studio with his uncle “Monk” along with some cousins to record a four-hour conversation. Unexpectedly, just three weeks later, they lowered Monk into the ground and said goodbye.

This is why the Plain Values Podcast exists. Capturing the stories for the next generations. If you have a story worth capturing, send us an email at [email protected].

Learn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com

In this episode of the Plain Values Podcast Marlin meets Ben Garrett, a woodworker (though he failed at that), pastor, writer, podcaster, and bigfoot researcher. Ben is the pastor at Refuge Church in Ogden, Utah, the co-host of the Haunted Cosmos podcast, and author of the book Killing Lust: Fighting for Purity in a Pornographic Age.

Ben begins the episode talking about how he came to Utah and Refuge Church. They discuss childhood, family, and parenting. Then they jump into the deep end discussing the spiritual realm, Bigfoot, mythology, scary stories, and what these should mean to us today. 

What do we gain by talking about scary stories? Ben answers this question first by cautioning against an unhealthy fascination with the ugly. He goes on to say, “When you (in a measured and sober minded way) are exposed to the ugly, it gives you a greater appreciation for the beautiful. When you make adequate eye contact with the terrible lie, it gives you a much greater appreciation for the truth.” 

Ben talks about “the cababasis of man.” The descent of man into death or the underworld, and the ascent out. In stories the character grows and learns something that could only come through that descent. Ben and Marlin also discuss materialism, AI, and Ben’s newest book, Killing Lust. 

This book was written to be worked through alongside a mentor. Not an “accountability partner” or group of guys on the same level of maturity as the addict, but someone further along the journey who can call them out when needed. Anyone who struggles with lust, if they are in church, already has all the tools they need to overcome this sin. This book reminds us of those tools.

They close in discussing Milton’s Adam in Paradise Lost and how even after his sin, he may have been the most joyful man who ever lived because he saw Christ and tasted salvific grace.

Learn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com

🔵 Where to find Ben:

@tompawnbadil (X)

newchristendompress.com/killinglust

thehauntedcosmos.com

Ben is the senior writer at New Christendom Press, Co-host of the Haunted Cosmos podcast, and Pastor at Refuge Church in Ogden, UT.

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🤝THIS EPISODE’S PREMIERE SPONSOR: Rustic Strength

Rustic Strength is the real deal. This hardworking family-owned company in Missouri makes high-quality, non-toxic laundry, home, and body care products in small batches… completely free from harsh chemicals, dyes, and synthetic junk you don’t want around your family.

Learn more: https://rusticstrength.com/

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🤝THIS EPISODE’S FEATURED SPONSOR: Azure Standard

Our friends at Azure Standard have been quietly setting the standard for clean, wholesome food since the 1970s. Family-owned and values-driven, they make it simple to fill your pantry with organic, non-GMO groceries, bulk staples, and household essentials delivered straight to your door or a convenient local drop point.

Learn more: https://www.azurestandard.com

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A great way to show support is to hit LIKE / SUBSCRIBE on this video, and most importantly, join the conversation in the COMMENTS below. We’d love to hear from you.

👉We have a beautiful magazine called Plain Values, sent quarterly ($49/year): https://plainvalues.com/pv-magazine-yt

👉To receive our FREE Plain Values emails: https://plainvalues.com/

👉To find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plainvalues/

👉To find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plainvalues/

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🎵 Hold My Hand - Sam Burchfield

Recorded Live - Plain Values - Winesburg, OH

Learn more about Sam: https://www.samburchfield.com/

🎵 Other music - Soundstripe

Where does the name “Plain Values” come from? The magazine was started 14 years ago within the Plain Community. Marlin himself was born Amish and still has many Amish family members. Though Marlin is no longer Amish, these “plain values” are rooted deeply within him and the brand he created. 

While reading in Romans, Marlin had a “light bulb” moment where he realized that God is always revealing to us new things and connecting new dots. Sometimes it just takes us a little while to see the bigger picture that He is painting. 

Learn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

A great way to show support is to hit LIKE / SUBSCRIBE on this video, and most importantly, join the conversation in the COMMENTS below. We’d love to hear from you.

👉We have a beautiful magazine called Plain Values, sent quarterly ($49/year): https://plainvalues.com/pv-magazine-yt

👉To receive our FREE Plain Values emails: https://plainvalues.com/

👉To find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plainvalues/

👉To find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plainvalues/

In this episode of the Plain Values Podcast Marlin finally sits down with Daniel Salatin—son of “the most famous farmer in America.” 

The conversation begins with Marlin asking Daniel about his childhood. Daniel reminisces of his very normal years on the farm, long before fame and documentaries placed his dad in the spotlight. His dad's love of literature, as well as his many roles in the massive chicken butchering operation, played a part in shaping Daniel's life. 

The conversation moves on to some of the different programs Polyface has each year. Their Steward program brings many interesting people from all walks of life (including Veterans) to the farm, creating plenty of memorable stories. 

Daniel’s favorite routine farming work happens in the cattle corral. He loves to see how certain farming methods, like the low stress technique and others, have been scientifically proven to bring about health and healing. 

Daniel is a farmer and doesn’t think a whole lot about Artificial Intelligence, but he says, "You can't Google experience." AI gives facts but cannot give you the context of "talking story," which largely affects those facts.

Daniel and Joel ask for prayer for the legacy of Polyface Farm. Not for the Salatin name but for the practices of healing and restoration of the land.

Learn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com

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🤝THIS EPISODE’S PREMIERE SPONSOR: Rustic Strength

Rustic Strength is the real deal. This hardworking family-owned company in Missouri makes high-quality, non-toxic laundry, home, and body care products in small batches… completely free from harsh chemicals, dyes, and synthetic junk you don’t want around your family.

Learn more: https://rusticstrength.com/

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🤝THIS EPISODE’S FEATURED SPONSOR: Azure Standard

Our friends at Azure Standard have been quietly setting the standard for clean, wholesome food since the 1970s. Family-owned and values-driven, they make it simple to fill your pantry with organic, non-GMO groceries, bulk staples, and household essentials delivered straight to your door or a convenient local drop point.

Learn more: https://www.azurestandard.com

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🤝THIS EPISODE’S FEATURED SPONSOR: Invited: Collection 001

If you're craving stories that restore faith in hard times, Invited: Collection 001 is a handpicked "best of" from Plain Values magazine… uplifting accounts of triumph, simple joys, adoption beauty, homesteading wisdom, and gospel-centered living.

Learn more: https://plainvalues.com/invited

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A great way to show support is to hit LIKE / SUBSCRIBE on this video, and most importantly, join the conversation in the COMMENTS below. We’d love to hear from you.

👉We have a beautiful magazine called Plain Values, sent quarterly ($49/year): https://plainvalues.com/pv-magazine-yt

👉To receive our FREE Plain Values emails: https://plainvalues.com/

👉To find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plainvalues/

👉To find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plainvalues/

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🎵 Hold My Hand - Sam Burchfield

Recorded Live - Plain Values - Winesburg, OH

Learn more about Sam: https://www.samburchfield.com/

🎵 Other music - Soundstripe

Do you have a story to tell? A story of miraculous nature or of ordinary faithfulness? A story of life and love, of grief and pain? The Plain Values podcast is here for stories such as these. Stories from people who have been through it, and despite the odds come out grateful on the other side. 

If this story is yours, or if you know someone who Marlin should meet, please email us at [email protected].

Learn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

A great way to show support is to hit LIKE / SUBSCRIBE on this video, and most importantly, join the conversation in the COMMENTS below. We’d love to hear from you.

👉We have a beautiful magazine called Plain Values, sent quarterly ($49/year): https://plainvalues.com/pv-magazine-yt

👉To receive our FREE Plain Values emails: https://plainvalues.com/

👉To find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plainvalues/

👉To find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plainvalues/

In this episode of the Plain Values podcast, Marlin sits down a second time with Joel Salatin to discuss several cultural hot potatoes like Big Pharma, Big Ag, Big tech, and how Christians should think about these things. They also discuss several Christian mandates around business, animal care, the elderly, and how we should view death. 

They begin by discussing what Joel considers to be the biggest crisis in America–our tendency to accept without question the narratives that are fed to us. Joel shares his belief in the Christian mandate to question the given narrative and discover for ourselves the truth behind the lies. 

Continuing on, they also discuss the rise and danger of communism in America, how Joel thinks about money, and his philosophies for growing his business.

Does God care about the happiness of farm animals? If you’re a Christian, the answer is of course, yes. Joel poses the question, “If God cares about the chicken, how should this affect the way we raise them?” Christians are the salt of the world and are meant to stand out. From the way we raise our animals, to how we run our business, and all the relationships in between, we should look different from the world. 

In issue 145 of Plain Values magazine, Joel wrote an article called “Postponing Heaven.” Marlin and Joel discuss this article and all the ways we ignore the realities of death in our culture. They close out the episode discussing life and death, and what Joel would like to do with his remaining time on earth.  

Learn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com

🔷🔹🔷🔹🔷🔹🔷

🤝THIS EPISODE’S PREMIERE SPONSOR: Rustic Strength

Rustic Strength is the real deal. This hardworking family-owned company in Missouri makes high-quality, non-toxic laundry, home, and body care products in small batches… completely free from harsh chemicals, dyes, and synthetic junk you don’t want around your family.

Learn more: https://rusticstrength.com/

🔷🔹🔷🔹🔷🔹🔷

🤝THIS EPISODE’S FEATURED SPONSOR: Azure Standard

Our friends at Azure Standard have been quietly setting the standard for clean, wholesome food since the 1970s. Family-owned and values-driven, they make it simple to fill your pantry with organic, non-GMO groceries, bulk staples, and household essentials delivered straight to your door or a convenient local drop point.

Learn more: https://www.azurestandard.com

🔷🔹🔷🔹🔷🔹🔷

🤝THIS EPISODE’S FEATURED SPONSOR: Invited: Collection 001

If you're craving stories that restore faith in hard times, Invited: Collection 001 is a handpicked "best of" from Plain Values magazine… uplifting accounts of triumph, simple joys, adoption beauty, homesteading wisdom, and gospel-centered living.

Learn more: https://homesteadliving.com/invited-collection-001/

🔷🔹🔷🔹🔷🔹🔷

A great way to show support is to hit LIKE / SUBSCRIBE on this video, and most importantly, join the conversation in the COMMENTS below. We’d love to hear from you.

👉We have a beautiful magazine called Plain Values, sent quarterly ($49/year): https://plainvalues.com/pv-magazine-yt

👉To receive our FREE Plain Values emails: https://plainvalues.com/

👉To find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plainvalues/

👉To find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plainvalues/

🔷🔹🔷🔹🔷🔹🔷

🎵 Hold My Hand - Sam Burchfield

Recorded Live - Plain Values - Winesburg, OH

Learn more about Sam: https://www.samburchfield.com/

🎵 Other music - Soundstripe

318EAKWK3YLRWQIK

XGP2ONZKO2TOQJQV

#plainvalues #joelsalatin #lunaticfarmer

Marlin had never shot a deer before. His friend took him hunting for another chance at his luck. They were talking, laughing, and rattling some antlers to try to lure the deer in.

They must have been doing more talking than hunting for they didn’t even notice when they had brought in a nice shooter buck. They only noticed when Marlin finally laughed a little too loud and the buck took notice of them. The buck spooked and ran away, and Marlin missed another chance at a nice buck.

Marlin reflects on this story and realizes he has no regrets about losing out on that deer. He decides he treasures the memory of sitting in a tree stand with his cousin, laughing and losing a buck, more than he would antlers on a wall. He chooses relationships over trophies.

Learn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com