Welcome to Season 2, Episode 3 of The Messy Podcast!

Tagline: The Unseen War – Jodi enforces homeschooling, sleep deprivation, and isolation while Shari fights to alert authorities.

In this episode, we explore:

• The Homeschooling Mandate:

  • Jodi’s decree: “Public schools breed distortion.” Siblings pulled from classes under the guise of “spiritual safety.”

  • Chad removed from athletics despite record-breaking runs. Ruby: “Sports feed vanity and distract from Truth.”

  • “Curriculum”: Scripture study, forced labor (digging trenches for Jodi’s home renovations), and accountability sessions.

• Sleep Deprivation Tactics:

  • Bed confiscation: Siblings forced to sleep on yoga mats to “cultivate humility.”

  • Chad’s collapse: Fainting during scripture study due to malnutrition and exhaustion. Ruby’s response: “Weakness is a choice.”

  • Journal entry: “My brother’s ribs pressed through his skin like piano keys.”

• Social Isolation:

  • Phones confiscated; monitored “Truth Team” meetings replace friendships.

  • Eve’s punishment: Shunned for waving at a neighbor, forced to wear a sign: “I Choose Distortion Over Family.”

  • Siblings forbidden from speaking unless quoting scripture.

• Shari’s Covert Resistance:

  • Secret DCFS calls from payphones: “My siblings are starving. Please help.”

  • Neighbor allies: Smuggling protein bars through windows, documenting weight loss.

  • Audio evidence: Shari’s hidden phone recordings of Ruby berating Chad for “laziness.”

Key Quotes from the Book:

• Ruby’s ultimatum: “Hunger is the body purging Satan. Comfort breeds sin.”

• Shari’s journal: “Every DCFS call felt like screaming into a void. Why won’t they listen?”

• Jodi’s teaching: “Friendship outside the family is adultery against God.”

Themes to Highlight:

• Spiritual Sadism: Weaponizing LDS doctrine to justify starvation and isolation.

• Systemic Failure: Bureaucratic red tape preventing DCFS intervention despite 12+ reports.

• Covert Resistance: Shari’s evolution from obedient daughter to secret operative.

• Childhood Erasure: Loss of education, autonomy, and identity under Jodi’s regime.

Narration & Discussion Points:

• Ethical Dilemma: Should minors have legal rights to report abuse without parental consent?

• Religious Context: How did Jodi twist concepts like “humility” and “chastity” to enable abuse?

• Psychological Toll: Link sleep deprivation/malnutrition to Chad’s athletic decline and cognitive fog.

• Foreshadowing: Eve’s sign punishment presages Ruby’s later use of duct tape/restraints.

Recommended Interviews:

• Child Welfare Advocate: Discuss gaps in Utah’s mandatory reporting laws.

• Former DCFS Worker: Explain why Shari’s reports were dismissed (Ruby’s “model parent” reputation).

• Education Specialist: Analyze long-term impacts of educational deprivation.

Soundtrack Suggestions:

• Suspenseful, ticking-clock motifs (time running out for the siblings).

• Distorted hymns during isolation sequences.

• Heartbeat monitor sounds during Chad’s fainting scene.

Support Us: Visit https://themessypodcast.com to support our mission.

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 2 of The Messy Podcast!

Tagline: Rules of the Regime – Jodi’s psychological torture tactics, Ruby’s radicalization, and Kevin’s marginalization.

In this episode, we explore:

• Jodi’s “Truth vs. Distortion” Doctrine:

  • Weaponizing LDS teachings: Labeling normal behavior (privacy, friendships) as “distorted” and “evil.”

  • Mandatory “accountability” sessions: Forced confessions of “sins” like daydreaming or eating without permission.

• Food Deprivation & Control:

  • Oatmeal punishment: Siblings forced to eat plain oatmeal for weeks as “humility training.”

  • Ramadan-style fasting: No food/drink until sunset, justified as “spiritual cleansing.”

  • Ruby’s journal entry: “Hunger is the body’s way of purging Satan’s influence.”

• Forced Labor & Physical Abuse:

  • “Service projects”: Digging trenches in 100°F heat, hauling bricks for Jodi’s home renovations.

  • Sleep deprivation: Siblings forced to jog laps at 3 AM for “disrespectful thoughts.”

  • Duct-tape discipline: Wrists/ankles bound as punishment for “lying” (e.g., denying crushes).

• Kevin’s Exile:

  • Jodi declares him “complicit in family distortions” after he questions Chad’s malnutrition.

  • Ruby bans Kevin from disciplining kids: “You’re too soft—you’ll ruin Jodi’s work.”

  • Custody threats: Ruby warns Kevin she’ll take full custody if he interferes.

• Psychological Torture Tactics:

  • Isolation: Siblings forbidden from speaking to each other except during monitored “Truth Team” meetings.

  • Public shaming: Chad forced to apologize on camera for “Naruto runs” (deemed “gateway to sin”).

  • Gaslighting: Ruby tells Shari, “Your anxiety is a demon—pray harder.”

• Sibling Surveillance:

  • Truth Teams: Kids ordered to document/report each other’s “sins” to Jodi.

  • Burn journals: Shari forced to burn her childhood diaries as “distorted lies.”

Key Quotes from the Book:

• “Jodi’s ‘service projects’ were slave labor disguised as spirituality.”

• Ruby to Kevin: “If you stand against Jodi, you stand against God.”

• Shari’s journal: “Chad’s ribs pressed through his skin like piano keys.”

• Jodi’s mantra: “Suffering builds character. Too much comfort breeds sin.”

Themes to Highlight:

• Spiritual Sadism: Using LDS doctrines to justify abuse (e.g., repentance through starvation).

• Systemic Failure: How Utah’s insular culture enabled Jodi’s unchecked power.

• Bystander Complicity: Kevin’s paralysis between protecting kids and losing his family.

• Cult Rebranding: Framing abuse as “parenting coaching” for ConneXions clients.

Narration & Discussion Points:

• Jodi’s Manipulation: How she mirrored Ruby’s existing control tactics but escalated them with theological legitimacy.

• Religious Gaslighting: Analyze Jodi’s twist on LDS teachings (e.g., conflating chastity with isolation).

• Kevin’s Dilemma: Why did he comply? Fear of losing access to kids vs. moral duty.

• Foreshadowing: Early signs of Chad’s physical decline (malnutrition, fainting spells).

Recommended Interviews:

• Former ConneXions Client: Expose Jodi’s “parenting seminars” where she tested tactics on other families.

• Cult Intervention Specialist: Break down how Jodi exploited Ruby’s grief over miscarriages to gain control.

• Chad Franke: Discuss lasting trauma from forced labor and food deprivation.

Soundtrack Suggestions:

• Ominous monastic chants (distorted to sound robotic).

• Metallic clanging during forced labor sequences.

• Heartbeat monitor flatlining as Kevin’s authority erodes.

Support Us: Visit https://themessypodcast.com to support our mission.

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 1 of The Messy Podcast!

Tagline: False Prophet – Jodi Hildebrandt’s arrival, Ruby’s radicalization, and the unraveling of the Franke family.

In this episode, we explore:

• Jodi’s Background:

  • Introduction to Jodi’s credentials: Licensed therapist, self-styled “relationship expert,” and founder of ConneXions, a controversial self-help program.

  • Her reputation in Utah’s LDS circles for “fixing” troubled marriages and “rehabilitating” rebellious teens.

  • Early red flags: Ex-clients’ accusations of coercive tactics, including isolation and forced confessions.

• Ruby’s First Encounter:

  • How Ruby met Jodi through LDS networks in 2020, seeking help for Shari’s “rebellion” (secret Snapchat use, therapy defiance).

  • Jodi’s pitch: “Your family is drowning in distortion. I can teach you Truth.”

  • Ruby’s journal entry: “Finally, someone who understands the sacrifices of motherhood.”

• Ideological Seduction:

  • Jodi’s “Truth vs. Distortion” framework: Labeling normal teen behavior (privacy, crushes) as “evil.”

  • Ruby’s transformation: Adopting Jodi’s militarized jargon (“accountability,” “suffering builds character”).

  • Early “interventions”: Forcing Shari to apologize on camera for “manipulating” Ruby via depression.

• Family Dynamics Shift:

  • Kevin’s gradual sidelining: Jodi declaring him “complicit in Shari’s lies.”

  • Chad’s punishment for “Naruto runs”: Jodi’s decree that “playfulness is a gateway to sin.”

  • Ruby’s mantra: “Jodi speaks for God. Resistance is rebellion.”

• Cult Tactics Emerge:

  • “Truth Teams”: Siblings ordered to monitor and report each other’s “distortions.”

  • Isolation: Phones confiscated, homeschool transitions, and bans on friends.

  • Jodi’s control over Ruby: 4 AM prayer calls, demands for loyalty oaths.

Key Quotes from the Book:

• “Jodi swept in like a hurricane, rewriting our family’s rules with Old Testament fury.”

• Ruby to Kevin: “If you won’t stand with Jodi, you’re standing against God.”

• Jodi’s warning: “Your children’s souls are at stake. Softness is sin.”

Themes to Highlight:

• Spiritual Gaslighting: Weaponizing LDS theology to justify abuse.

• Erosion of Autonomy: Jodi’s takeover as a “divine mandate.”

• Cult Dynamics: Love-bombing, isolation, and us-vs.-them mentality.

• Motherhood Hijacked: Ruby’s metamorphosis from mom to zealot.

Narration & Discussion Points:

• Ruby’s Motivations: Did Jodi fill a void left by YouTube Fame? Analyze Ruby’s journal: “Jodi sees my greatness when no one else does.”

• Systemic Failure: Why did Utah’s LDS community ignore Jodi’s predatory history?

• Parallels to Cults: Compare Jodi’s tactics to NXIVM/Heaven’s Gate playbooks.

• Foreshadowing: Early signs Ruby would choose Jodi over her own children.

Recommended Interviews:

• Former ConneXions Client: Expose Jodi’s manipulative methods.

• Cult Expert: Break down Jodi’s psychological manipulation tactics.

• LDS Historian: Discuss how fundamentalism enables authoritarian figures.

Soundtrack Suggestions:

• Ominous choral music (Mormon Tabernacle Choir distorted).

• Clock-ticking motifs (symbolizing Ruby’s race to radicalization).

• Dissonant strings during Jodi’s “teachings.”

Support Us: Visit https://themessypodcast.com to support our mission.

Welcome to Season 1, Episode 8 of The Messy Podcast!

Tagline: A Million Subscribers, A Million Lies – Ruby celebrates viral fame while Shari battles isolation, illness, and religious guilt.

In this episode, we explore:

• The 1M Subscriber Milestone (September 2017):

  • Ruby films a "celebration" video while Shari suffers from mono, vomiting off-camera.

  • Scene: Ruby pulls over mid-errand to document the moment, declaring, "Hitting this milestone while doing the little things!"

  • Shari forced to feign "deathbed" weakness for clicks: "You can’t smile while at urgent care!"

• Shari’s Secret Life:

  • "Kissing spree": Shari’s exploration with 4–5 boys, including Mark, conflicting with LDS teachings on chastity.

  • Guilt-ridden journal entry: "I went from never kissing to realizing… boys don’t taste like frogs."

  • Ruby monetizes her "crush" on Mark with clickbait titles despite their platonic dynamic.

• The Snowboarding Charade:

  • Shari’s DIY "Shari Competes in the Olympics" video: Crumbling backyard half-pipe, trampoline fails, and bruised authenticity.

  • Ruby’s critique: "Your editing’s messy, but the cringe sells!" vs. Shari’s private joy in unfiltered creativity.

• Isolation & Scrupulosity:

  • Secret therapy sessions end after Ruby claims Dr. Winters called Shari a "drama queen."

  • Panic attacks worsen: Shari dissociates during scripture study, fixating on "unclean lips" from impulsive kissing.

Key Quotes from the Book:

• "One million strangers knew me… yet I’d never felt more alone."

• Ruby’s mantra: "We’re not normal—we’re public figures."

• Journal entry: "I irrevocably hate myself… God must loathe me for these kisses."

• Shari’s lament: "My mono diagnosis became a 1M subscriber milestone."

Themes to Highlight:

• Exploitation vs. Celebration: Ruby monetizing Shari’s illness and first crushes.

• Religious Scrupulosity: Shari’s OCD-like guilt over normal teen experiences.

• Stolen Adolescence: Isolation magnified by public scrutiny and Ruby’s gaslighting.

• Duality of Fame: Viral success funds family luxuries (Chevy SUV, remodels) but erodes privacy.

Narration & Discussion Points:

• Ruby’s Motivations: Was her 1M video a genuine celebration or narcissistic branding?

• Shari’s Conflict: How did LDS teachings on chastity exacerbate her self-loathing?

• Ethical Debate: Should minors have legal rights to revenue from family vlogs?

• Foreshadowing: Ruby’s dismissal of therapy foreshadows her later reliance on Jodi’s abusive "counseling."

Recommended Interviews:

• Child Psychologist: Link Shari’s OCD/scrupulosity to repressed autonomy.

• Digital Ethicist: Discuss profit motives in monetizing children’s illnesses (e.g., mono video).

• LDS Scholar: Analyze how chastity doctrines impact teen mental health.

Soundtrack Suggestions:

• Distorted carnival music (mirroring the grotesque celebration of Shari’s suffering).

• Echoed whispers of "unclean, unclean" during guilt sequences.

• Snowboarding montage scored with ironic pop-punk (e.g., "All the Small Things").

Support Us: Visit https://themessypodcast.com to support our mission.

Welcome to Season 1, Episode 7 of The Messy Podcast!

Tagline: Cracks in the Facade – Shari’s secret life, panic attacks, and Ruby’s manipulation of mental health struggles.

In this episode, we explore:

• Secret Snapchat Rebellion:

  • Midnight phone raids: Shari’s covert retrieval of her iPhone from Ruby’s closet to maintain contact with Jake.

  • Jake’s texts and Snapchat memes: A lifeline to normalcy (“Each message felt like oxygen in a suffocating house”).

  • Ruby’s punishment: Confiscating Shari’s smartphone, replacing it with a Nokia-style flip phone.

• Forbidden Crush on Jake:

  • First kiss under an oak tree: “A thousand tiny fireworks exploding beneath my skin” vs. Ruby’s later discovery via Jake’s mother.

  • School transfer: Pulled from junior high to a faith-based school to “protect” Shari from Jake’s influence.

• Panic Attacks & Suicidal Ideation:

  • Shower breakdown: Hyperventilating under cold water after learning of her forced transfer.

  • Journal entry: “I want to die. The idea of not existing brought perverse relief.”

  • Kevin’s intervention: “We’re going to get through this together” vs. Ruby’s dismissal.

• Ruby’s Gaslighting & Therapy Sabotage:

  • Dr. Winters’ sessions: Shari tiptoeing around Ruby’s abuse, focusing on “safe” topics like sleep issues.

  • Ruby’s lie: “The doctor thinks you’re a drama queen. No more therapy!”

  • Weaponized scripture: Ruby citing LDS teachings on stoicism to dismiss Shari’s depression.

• Public vs. Private Shari:

  • Viral eyebrow waxing video: Ruby’s exploitative “SHARI, I’M SO SORRY!!” clip (500K+ views).

  • “Shari Competes in the Olympics”: Goofy backyard snowboarding skit masking inner turmoil.

Key Quotes from the Book:

• “Panic attacks felt like drowning on dry land… but Ruby only saw ‘drama.’”

• “My journal was the only place I could say: I don’t think my mother loves me.”

• Ruby’s mantra: “All problems can be solved with prayer, diet, and exercise.”

• “I knew the line between authenticity and exploitation had blurred when my mono diagnosis became a 1M subscriber milestone.”

Themes to Highlight:

• Public Perfection vs. Private Desperation: The contrast between 8 Passengers’ wholesome image and Shari’s suicidal ideation.

• Digital Double Life: Snapchat as Shari’s rebellion vs. Ruby’s branding of autonomy as “sinful.”

• Religious Gaslighting: Weaponizing faith to dismiss mental health struggles (“Bishop called it scrupulosity. Ruby called it weakness.”)

• Generational Betrayal: Ruby replicating her own repressed upbringing by denying Shari’s pain.

Narration & Discussion Points:

• Shari’s Journals: Analyze entries like “Silence is my armor” and “I irrevocably hate myself.”

• Ruby’s Motivations: Did she genuinely believe therapy was unnecessary, or was she protecting her “perfect mom” persona?

• Ethical Dilemma: Should minors have legal rights against being monetized as “content”?

• Foreshadowing: How Shari’s covert Snapchat use prefigures her later activism and escape.

Recommended Interviews:

• Clinical Psychologist: Link panic attacks to prolonged emotional abuse and religious guilt.

• Digital Privacy Advocate: Discuss long-term impacts of restricted social media access on teens.

• LDS Therapist: Explore how Ruby distorted church teachings to justify gaslighting.

Soundtrack Suggestions:

• Discordant piano chords (reflecting Shari’s fragmented mental state).

• Static interference sounds during Snapchat scenes.

• Choral hymns warped into minor keys (symbolizing distorted faith).

Support Us: Visit https://themessypodcast.com to support our mission.

Welcome to Season 1, Episode 6 of The Messy Podcast!

Tagline: The Viral Machine – How brand deals and viral fame turned the Franke home into a monetized set, eroding privacy.

In this episode, we explore:

• The Crib-Climbing Phenomenon:

  • 50M+ views: Analysis of the viral 2015 video showing Shari’s toddler sister escaping her crib.

  • Ruby’s reaction: “Our little lady is a bona fide internet sensation!” vs. Shari’s unease (“What’s so interesting about a baby climbing?”).

  • Ethical debate: Exploiting a toddler’s milestone for content without consent.

• Monetization Machinery:

  • AdSense & thresholds: Ruby’s obsession with hitting 1K subscribers (2015) and 1M subscribers (2017).

  • First brand deals: Slow-cooker sponsorships, free vacations (e.g., Seattle Airbnb trip), and tech gadgets.

  • Shari’s line: “Outfit hauls became tax write-offs… gas was a business expense.”

• The Home Remodel:

  • Aesthetic overhaul: Yellow walls → Instagrammable white board-and-batten.

  • Porch transformed with lanterns, pillows, and removed house numbers (to avoid blurring in videos).

  • Set design logic: Kitchen staged for cooking segments; living room arranged for “casual” vlog scenes.

• Privacy Erosion:

  • Filming rituals: Early-morning shoots, forced smiles (“Smile, Shari! Say good morning!”).

  • Shari’s humiliation in “Shari’s Piano Recital” (Ruby’s exploitative editing of awkward tween moments).

  • Stolen autonomy: Shari’s puberty documented for millions (acne, “First Crush” clickbait).

• Psychological Toll:

  • Shari’s secret journal entry: “I felt like a sideshow freak.”

  • Ruby’s mantra: “We’re not normal—we’re public figures.”

  • Chad’s resentment: Mocking the “Naruto runs” vs. Shari’s bookish isolation.

Key Quotes from the Book:

• “Our lives revolved around nonstop content creation—whether we liked it or not.”

• “The line between authenticity and exploitation blurred so completely… none of us could tell the difference.”

• Ruby’s justification: “God gave us this platform. We’re showing people the way!”

Themes to Highlight:

• Exploitation vs. Ministry: Ruby’s belief that vlogging was “passive missionary work” for the LDS Church.

• Childhood as Content: Loss of privacy (e.g., filming Shari’s mono diagnosis for 1M subscriber milestone).

• Generational Pressure: Shari’s secret YouTube channel exploiting siblings (“The guilt eats at me now”).

Narration & Discussion Points:

• Ruby’s Motivations: Was monetization about financial security, validation, or narcissism?

• Shari’s Bargaining: How she traded compliance for privileges (“Film your ice cream outing = 8 Passengers credit card”).

• Utah’s Vlogging Culture: Why LDS families dominate “wholesome” content.

• Foreshadowing: How viral success enabled Ruby’s later extremism (Jodi’s arrival).

Recommended Interviews:

• Child Psychologist: Long-term effects of growing up on camera.

• Digital Privacy Lawyer: Legal gaps in protecting child influencers.

• Family Vlogging Historian: Utah’s role in monetizing domestic life.

Soundtrack Suggestions:

• Upbeat ukulele music (contrasting curated “happy family” intros).

• Ticking clock effects (symbolizing Shari’s countdown to freedom).

• Distorted camera shutter sounds during vulnerable moments.

Support Us: Visit https://themessypodcast.com to support our mission.

Welcome to Season 1, Episode 5 of The Messy Podcast!

Tagline: Silent Rebellion – Shari’s covert struggles with anxiety, her hidden journals, and Ruby’s militarized discipline.

In this episode, we explore:

• Shari’s Secret Anxiety:

  • Panic attacks: The shower incident (post-school transfer) where Shari hyperventilated under running water, dissociating to escape Ruby’s control.

  • Physical manifestations: Chronic stomach pain dismissed as “colic,” lip-picking, and self-loathing journal entries (“I irrevocably hate myself”).

  • Night terrors: Visions of demonic possession linked to LDS teachings and Ruby’s volatility.

• Journaling as Survival:

  • Secret defiance: Shari’s coded diaries (“The truth is, I retreat into silence because it’s the only peace I get from you”).

  • Breadcrumbs for the future: Explicit documentation of Ruby’s meltdowns (e.g., piano practice rages) to preserve her reality.

• Ruby’s Military-Style Discipline:

  • Conditioning punishments: Forcing Shari and Chad to run laps or do pushups for minor infractions (e.g., delaying chores).

  • The haircut incident: Shaving Chad’s head into a reverse mohawk after he cut Shari’s hair, branding disobedience publicly.

  • Ruby’s justification: “In this house, we don’t make excuses for bad behavior.”

• Stolen Autonomy:

  • Midnight phone raids: Shari’s secret retrieval of her confiscated iPhone to maintain Snapchat contact with Jake.

  • Therapy sabotage: Ruby gaslighting Shari by falsely claiming the therapist dismissed her depression as “dramatic.”

• Emotional Shutdown:

  • Bishop consultations: Shari’s obsessive confessions about kissing Jake/Mark due to scrupulosity (religious OCD).

  • Ruby’s dismissal: “You just need more sleep and less screen time.”

Key Quotes from the Book:

• “Panic attacks felt like drowning on dry land… but Ruby only saw ‘drama.’”

• “Bishop called it scrupulosity. Ruby called it weakness.”

• “My journal was the only place I could say: I don’t think my mother loves me.”

Themes to Highlight:

• Internalized trauma: How Shari’s anxiety manifesting as self-harm (lip-picking) and suicidal ideation.

• Faith as suppression: Using LDS teachings on stoicism to justify emotional neglect.

• Public vs. private: Contrast between Ruby’s “wholesome mom” persona and private sadism.

• Scrupulosity’s toll: Shari’s religious OCD conflating normal teen behavior with eternal damnation.

Narration & Discussion Points:

• Survival mechanisms: Analyze Shari’s journal entry: “Silence is my armor.”

• Ruby’s motivations: Did her strict upbringing and miscarriages fuel her need for control?

• Ethical dilemma: Should minors have legal rights against being monetized as “content”?

• Foreshadowing: How Shari’s secret Snapchat use prefigures her later activism.

Recommended Interviews:

• Clinical Psychologist: Discuss links between scrupulosity, OCD, and authoritarian parenting.

• Digital Ethics Expert: Debate child labor laws in family vlogging.

• Faith-Based Counselor: Explore how LDS teachings on motherhood enabled Ruby’s abuse.

Soundtrack Suggestions:

• Dissonant piano motifs (nod to unresolved trauma).

• Accelerating heartbeat sounds during panic attack sequences.

• Choir vocals distorted into whispers (symbolizing repressed emotions).

Support Us: Visit https://themessypodcast.com to support our mission.

Welcome to Season 1, Episode 4 of The Messy Podcast!

Tagline: The Camera’s Gaze – A deep dive into the launch of 8 Passengers, early viral fame, and Shari’s struggle between obedience and privacy.

In this episode, we explore:

• Launch of 8 Passengers (January 2015):

  • Ruby’s motivation: To emulate her sisters’ YouTube success and monetize family life.

  • First video: Retrospective gender reveal (2013) and newborn sibling footage.

  • Ruby’s tagline: “A place for my children to see how they’ve progressed” vs. reality of staged content.

• Early Viral Moments:

  • The Crib-Climbing Video: Shari’s toddler sister scaling her crib (later hitting 50M+ views).

  • Shari’s humiliation in “Shari’s Piano Recital” video (Ruby’s exploitative editing).

  • Ruby’s obsession with milestones (e.g., “Spiders Slugs and Snails OH MY!” and “Shari Competes in the Olympics” skits).

• Shari’s Conflicted Role:

  • Forced participation: Early-morning filming sessions and Ruby’s directive: “Smile, Shari! Say good morning!”

  • Leverage for freedom: Bartering compliance for privileges (e.g., “If you film your ice cream outing, you can use the 8 Passengers credit card”).

  • Secret rebellion: Midnight phone retrieval to maintain Snapchat contact with Jake.

• Family Dynamics Reshaped:

  • Home remodel: Yellow walls replaced with “Instagrammable” white board-and-batten.

  • First brand deals: Slow-cooker sponsorships and free vacations (e.g., Seattle Airbnb trip).

  • Ruby’s mantra: “We’re not normal. We’re public figures.”

Key Quotes from the Book:

• “Our lives revolved around nonstop content creation—whether we liked it or not.”

• “I felt like a sideshow freak: ‘Step right up and witness Shari, the Amazingly Awkward Adolescent!’”

• “The line between authenticity and exploitation blurred so completely that sometimes, none of us could tell the difference.”

• Ruby’s justification: “God gave us this platform. We’re showing people the way!”

Themes to Highlight:

• Exploitation vs. Ministry: Ruby’s belief that vlogging was “passive missionary work” for the LDS Church.

• Loss of Childhood Privacy: Shari’s puberty documented for millions (e.g., acne, “First Crush” clickbait).

• Generational Pressure: Shari’s secret YouTube channel (“I exploited my siblings… The guilt eats at me now”).

Narration & Discussion Points:

• Ruby’s Motivations: Was 8 Passengers a creative outlet, a bid for validation, or a narcissistic enterprise?

• Psychological Toll: How did Shari’s anxiety (lip-picking, journal entries) correlate with public exposure?

• Ethical Debate: Should family vlogging require minors’ consent? Analyze Shari’s line: “No child should have to earn a parent’s affection with compliance.”

• Foreshadowing: How did early viral success enable Ruby’s later extremism?

Recommended Interviews:

• Child Psychologist: Long-term effects of growing up on camera.

• Family Vlogging Historian: Utah’s role in monetizing “wholesome” content.

• Digital Privacy Lawyer: Legal gaps in protecting child influencers.

Soundtrack Suggestions:

• Upbeat ukulele music (nodding to Ruby’s curated “happy family” intros).

• Ticking clock effects (symbolizing Shari’s countdown to freedom).

• Distorted camera shutter sounds during Shari’s vulnerable moments.

Support Us: Visit https://themessypodcast.com to support our mission.

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.

Support Us: Visit https://themessypodcast.com to support our mission.

Welcome to Season 1, Episode 2 of The Messy Podcast!

Tagline: The Performance of Perfection – A deep dive into Ruby’s curated online persona, Shari’s traumatic piano lessons, and the emotional neglect masked by a "perfect" family image.

In this episode, we explore:

• The Birth of "Good Lookin Home Cookin":

  • Launch of Ruby’s mommy blog in 2007 under the guise of “documenting family growth.”

  • Aspirational recipes (raspberry butter, trail mix cookies) vs. reality: Ruby rarely cooked the dishes she posted.

  • Expansion into other blogs like Full Suburban and Yummy Mummies, branding family photos with "It’s A Franke Life."

• Shari’s Piano Lessons: A Tool for Control:

  • Daily 6:00 a.m. practice sessions under Ruby’s supervision.

  • Ruby’s rage: Slapping Shari’s arm, flicking her lips, or tugging her ears for “wrong facial expressions” or mistakes.

  • The piano teacher incident: Shari’s panic when Ruby’s judgment clashed with the teacher’s feedback.

• Emotional Neglect and Hidden Anguish:

  • Shari’s chronic stomach pain and anxiety dismissed as “colic” or attention-seeking.

  • Night terrors about demonic possession, fueled by LDS teachings on evil spirits.

  • Journal entry: “Mommy isn’t very nice to me.”

• Ruby’s Explosive Temper:

  • “Military-style” punishments: Forcing Shari and Chad to run laps or do pushups for minor infractions.

  • The haircut incident: Ruby buzzes Chad’s hair into a reverse mohawk as retaliation for cutting Shari’s hair.

  • Slapping Shari for showing discomfort during piano practice.

• The Curated Family Image:

  • Ruby’s blog tagline: “A place for my children to see how they’ve progressed” vs. reality of staged perfection.

  • Nolly the Labrador: The dog provided Shari more emotional support than Ruby during piano sessions.

Key Quotes from the Book:

• “Ruby’s blog recipes were aspirational. I’m not sure she ever made those dishes.”

• “I learned my pain didn’t matter. My needs were inconvenient.”

• “Mommy isn’t very nice to me.”

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

Themes to Highlight:

• Performance vs. Reality: The disconnect between Ruby’s wholesome online persona and her volatile home life.

• Religious Scrupulosity: How LDS teachings on demons intensified Shari’s childhood fears.

• Emotional Neglect: Ruby’s dismissal of Shari’s physical/emotional pain as “weakness.”

• Generational Trauma: Ruby repeating her strict upbringing, using parenting as a tool for control.

Narration & Discussion Points:

• Ruby’s Motivations: Was the blog a creative outlet, a bid for validation, or a precursor to her YouTube empire?

• Impact of Early Public Exposure: How did Shari’s childhood as a “content prop” shape her self-worth?

• Religious Context: Analyze the role of LDS values in justifying Ruby’s harsh discipline.

• Psychological Toll: Link Shari’s anxiety/self-loathing (e.g., lip-picking, journal entries) to Ruby’s neglect.

Recommended Interviews:

• Child Psychologist: Discuss long-term effects of emotional neglect and strict discipline on development.

• Family Vlogging Historian: Explore Utah’s blogging culture and its ties to LDS values.

• Ethics Expert: Debate the morality of monetizing family life without children’s consent.

Soundtrack Suggestions:

• Tense piano melodies.

• Distorted, eerie tones during demon-nightmare sequences.

• Upbeat kitchen sounds (contrasting Ruby’s “domestic bliss” facade).

Support Us: Visit https://themessypodcast.com to support our mission.