Welcome to Season 1, Episode 3 of The Messy Podcast!

Tagline: Pioneers of Pain – The Franke family’s move to Springville, Ruby’s miscarriage trauma, and the façade of religious piety.

In this episode, we explore:

• The Move to Springville (2009):

  • Ruby’s obsession with painting the house "cheerful" yellow ("trapped inside a giant banana" from Shari’s POV).

  • Springville’s LDS pioneer history: Founded in 1850, proximity to Provo Temple, and the "Wasatch Mountains as the edge of the world."

  • Chad’s reverse mohawk punishment (haircut incident) as a symbol of Ruby’s escalating control.

• Ruby’s Miscarriage Trauma (2009):

  • Third miscarriage at 17 weeks: Loss of a son named Benjamin, fetal kicks felt, and Ruby’s emotional shutdown (no grieving allowed).

  • The Dream: Ruby grocery-shopping with a boy who says, “I don’t have a mommy” → pregnancy with her fifth child.

  • Psychological impact: Ruby’s fixation on pregnancy as "divine purpose" and emotional volatility.

• Shari’s Baptism at 8 Years Old:

  • Submersion in the baptismal font: "Felt like a warm waffle laid on top of me" (journal entry).

  • Gift of gold-embossed scriptures and obsession with Joseph Smith’s story (compared to Frozen).

  • Juxtaposition: Baptism as spiritual safety vs. growing dread of Ruby’s rages.

• Religious Masking of Dysfunction:

  • Ruby’s "sex talk" on the porch: Shari’s confusion about adult relationships and church leaders.

  • Tithing lessons: Kevin’s explanation vs. Ruby’s emphasis on "a woman’s first duty to husband/church."

  • Journal Entry: "I don’t think my mother loves me" (written at 11) and night terrors about demons.

Key Quotes from the Book:

• "Ruby’s self-worth was built on exceptionalism—if she couldn’t be extraordinary at piano, she’d be extraordinary at motherhood."

• "Baptism felt like safety, security, and warmth... compared to the eternal truths of the gospel, Ruby’s tantrums seemed small."

• "In this house, we don’t make excuses for other people’s bad behavior." (Ruby to Shari after Chad’s punishment).

• "My earliest memories are of Ruby crying… ironic, since she seemed immune to anyone else’s tears."

Themes to Highlight:

• Sacred vs. Sadistic: How Ruby weaponized LDS teachings (e.g., motherhood as "divine calling") to justify control.

• Generational Cycles: Ruby replicating her strict upbringing (helping raise siblings in a "bootstraps" culture).

• Performance Piety: Contrast between public devotion (tithing, baptism) and private cruelty (slaps, emotional neglect).

• Childhood Dissonance: Shari’s anxiety manifesting as lip-picking, night terrors, and self-loathing despite outward obedience.

Narration & Discussion Points:

• Ruby’s Motivations: Did her miscarriage trauma fuel her need for control over her children?

• Cultural Context: How did Utah’s pioneer history and LDS emphasis on large families enable Ruby’s behavior?

• Shari’s Journal: Analyze her entry: "I am so mad at Mom sometimes… I hate myself, and I have for a while."

• Foreshadowing: The haircut incident as a precursor to Jodi’s later sadism.

Recommended Interviews:

• LDS Scholar: Discuss doctrinal views on miscarriage, motherhood, and stoicism.

• Child Psychologist: Link Shari’s scrupulosity/OCD to religious guilt and emotional neglect.

• Utah Historian: Explore Springville’s pioneer roots and its modern "family vlogging" culture.

Soundtrack Suggestions:

• Somber hymns (Come, Come Ye Saints nods to pioneer struggles).

• Distorted church bells during Ruby’s rage scenes.

• Hopeful piano motifs during Shari’s baptism segment.

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