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 access MAP's post, including full transcripts of messages and emails used as evidence in this case, click here. https://www.themaplist.org/the-map-list/tom-harder/

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." 

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...

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...

We pick up with Steve discussing the difference in his family's abusive discipline measures vs others within the same churches and where he is today. 

Steve grew up within the Amish communities before his family was banned for attending the Crossroads churches when he was a young boy. Growing up with a violent father, Steve opens up to us about his recent realization that his childhood was abusive, not just "hard." 

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 Henton 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. To find more about Jimmy and Clara's work, you can find them at www.jimmyhenton.org The Speaking Out Against Sex Abuse Podcast www.findingahealingplace.com www.Clarahinton.com www.silentgrief.com

In 2011 Clara and Jimmy Henton 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. To find more about Jimmy and Clara's work, you can find them at: www.jimmyhenton.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: [email protected]  Facebook: The Plain People's Podcast  Instagram: The Plain People's Podcast  Support us: patreon.com/theplainpeoplespodcast