Plain Values Podcast

Plain Values
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The most inspiring and heartfelt podcasts you’ll ever listen to. Hosted by Plain Values magazine Publisher Marlin Miller, he regularly interviews the people with the stories, wisdom, and advice we all need to hear.

  1. EP #37 - Walking Through Grief with Faith and Honesty w/ Marlin Beachy

    7H AGO

    EP #37 - Walking Through Grief with Faith and Honesty w/ Marlin Beachy

    In this episode of The Plain Values Podcast, Marlin sits down with his longtime friend and former pastor, Marlin Beachy, for a raw and honest conversation about life, ministry, and the unimaginable pain of losing a child. Marlin shares his journey from growing up Amish, leaving the church at age eight after his father’s powerful conversion, to pastoring in Alaska for 30 years. But at the heart of this episode is the heartbreaking story of losing their son Ryan in a tragic motorcycle accident when a moose stepped into his path. Marlin doesn’t sugarcoat the shock, the grief, or the long road of learning to live with a pain that never fully goes away. Together, they wrestle with hard questions: How do you trust God’s sovereignty when your world is shattered? What does it really mean to grieve with hope? And how do you keep walking forward when the wound is still fresh years later? This isn’t a polished sermon… it’s a heartfelt, vulnerable dialogue between two men who love the Lord and have walked through deep valleys. If you’ve ever experienced loss, known someone walking through grief, or simply need to be reminded that God is still good even when life hurts most, this episode will meet you right where you are. If this conversation filled your coffee cup, we would humbly invite you to leave a thoughtful comment below and please, don’t be shy … the Like and Subscribe buttons help more friends find this episode.  We’re always looking for more friends. Learn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com

    1h 9m

  2. 2D AGO

    Minute with Marlin EP #1 - A Small Act of Kindness Can Go a Long Way

    Things don’t always go according to plan. In this very first Minute with Marlin episode, Marlin Miller shares a memorable winter day when he and Lisa were trying to take their family to a little cabin for a much-needed getaway. What they didn’t plan on was waking up to a foot and a half of beautiful but heavy, powdery snow. After getting the tractor stuck while trying to clear the steep driveway, Marlin hooked a chain to their Subaru Outback to pull it out… only to bury the car as well. Hours behind schedule and frustrated, they finally got on the road. As they passed their elderly widow neighbor shoveling her sidewalk, Marlin pulled over. Despite being late and the chaos of the morning, they stopped to help her. A small act of kindness in the middle of their own struggle. Marlin’s gentle reminder is simple yet powerful: A small act of kindness can go a long way. These short, heartfelt Minutes with Marlin are quick moments of wisdom, faith, humility, and encouragement—perfect for busy homestead days when you need a reminder of what really matters. Learn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com

    2 min

  3. MAY 1

    EP #36 - Jerry D. Miller: Getting Through the Hardest Days on the Homestead

    In this episode of The Plain Values Podcast, Marlin sits down with his longtime friend and neighbor, Jerry Miller. Jerry shares his life on the family farm in Holmes County, 173 acres that have been in his wife Gloria’s family since the late 1800s. He talks about raising five boys and now enjoying five grandchildren, milking 60–70 Jersey cows, and operating a certified organic, grass-fed dairy. The conversation turns to the deep grief Jerry’s family has walked through. Jerry was the youngest of 11 children when his father died by suicide when Jerry was only four. He reflects on his mother’s strength and the way she never spoke harshly about his dad, protecting her children from bitterness.  Years later, Jerry and Gloria lost their oldest son Kevin in a farm accident at age 15. Jerry also shares the ongoing health challenges their daughter Lisa and son Micah face. Through it all, Jerry emphasizes the power of community, the hands and feet of Jesus shown by neighbors who stepped in during their hardest days, and the importance of allowing God to deal with the roots of bitterness so that healing and fruitfulness can come. He speaks honestly about the need for believers to move beyond simply believing to actively doing… serving, showing up, and carrying one another’s burdens in tangible ways. This heartfelt conversation is filled with hard-won wisdom, deep faith, and a quiet call to live as true doers of the Word. If this conversation filled your coffee cup, we would humbly invite you to leave a thoughtful comment below and please, don’t be shy … the Like and Subscribe buttons help more friends find this episode.  We’re always looking for more friends. Learn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com

    1h 1m
  4. EP #35 - The Radical Truth About Christian Missions | Aaron and Katie Ficker

    APR 24

    EP #35 - The Radical Truth About Christian Missions | Aaron and Katie Ficker

    In this episode of The Plain Values Podcast, Marlin sits down with Aaron and Katie Ficker for the first of several conversations. Aaron, the oldest of eight, shares what it was like growing up as his family followed the Lord’s call from Illinois to Guatemala. His dad, a corporate pilot, gave up a successful career, bought an old school bus, rebuilt it, and drove the family through Mexico to answer what they believed was God’s direction. Aaron describes the adventure, the challenges, and the faith that carried them through a spiritually dark and difficult time in a war-torn area. Katie shares how she first went to Guatemala on a short-term trip while in nursing school, fell in love with the people and the work, and decided to stay. She talks about the clinics they helped run, the deep needs they saw, and the way the Lord used their obedience in hard places. The conversation touches on the realities of serving in a remote area during the tail end of civil war… the poverty, the spiritual darkness, the broken family structures, and the hope that slowly grew as trust was built over time. Aaron and Katie reflect on how their parents’ radical obedience shaped their own lives and how they continue to seek the Lord’s leading as they raise their own family. This honest and encouraging discussion is filled with stories of faith, sacrifice, and the quiet ways God works through ordinary people who say yes to His call. If this conversation filled your coffee cup, we would humbly invite you to leave a thoughtful comment below and please, don’t be shy … the Like and Subscribe buttons help more friends find this episode.  We’re always looking for more friends. Learn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com

    53 min
  5. EP #34 - Linda Kate: As Compassionate as a Judge

    APR 17

    EP #34 - Linda Kate: As Compassionate as a Judge

    In this episode of The Plain Values Podcast, Marlin sits down with his neighbor and friend, retired judge Linda Kate. Linda shares her journey from a small-town Catholic upbringing in Tuscarawas County to becoming one of the youngest judges ever elected in Ohio. She reflects on the weight of responsibility she felt the day she was sworn in, the exhausting good days and excruciating bad days in juvenile court, and how she learned to lean heavily on prayer and the support of fellow judges and staff. The conversation touches on the deep impact of seeing the worst of human nature… and the hope that still remains when someone steps in to protect a child. Linda opens up about the spiritual moments that confirmed her calling, including a powerful sense from God that this was the work He had for her. She also talks about her marriage to Kevin, raising their family, and the many mission trips they’ve taken together, especially to Haiti, where she witnessed both heartbreaking suffering and profound moments of human connection and compassion. Throughout the episode, Linda’s quiet faith, steady wisdom, and deep compassion shine through. From the courtroom to the mission field, her life has been marked by a willingness to show up, serve, and trust God in the hardest places. This honest conversation offers encouragement for anyone walking through difficult seasons or seeking to live out their faith with integrity and courage. If this conversation filled your coffee cup, we would humbly invite you to leave a thoughtful comment below and please, don’t be shy … the Like and Subscribe buttons help more friends find this episode.  We’re always looking for more friends. Learn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com

    1 hr
  6. EP #33 - Brian Dahlen: What it Means to Follow Christ in a Complicated World

    APR 10

    EP #33 - Brian Dahlen: What it Means to Follow Christ in a Complicated World

    In this episode of The Plain Values Podcast … Marlin invites listeners into a warm, wide-ranging conversation with his friend Brian Dahlen. Brian spent 17 years hosting live radio for Moody Radio in Cleveland and Chicago. Known for his quick thinking and kind presence behind the microphone, he joins Marlin for breakfast and shares stories from his life … from growing up in Minnesota, teaching high school social studies, to the unexpected journey that led him into radio. The two friends talk about everything from European travels and Renaissance art to the challenges of family life, raising children (including a daughter serving in the 82nd Airborne), and the deep questions of faith, manhood, and what it means to follow Christ in a complicated world. Brian opens up about the spiritual tension of live radio, the beauty and brokenness of family relationships, and the importance of humility and honest conversation in the Christian life. The discussion touches on pain as God’s invitation to grow, the reality of human depravity, and the freedom found in surrendering our own ideas to Scripture. Whether you’ve ever felt the pull between city life and a quieter calling, wrestled with big theological questions, or simply enjoyed thoughtful dialogue between friends, this episode offers encouragement and reflection. If this conversation filled your coffee cup, we would humbly invite you to leave a thoughtful comment below and please, don’t be shy … the Like and Subscribe buttons help more friends find this episode.  We’re always looking for more friends. Learn more about Brian Dahlen at https://www.clevelandministrycollective.org Learn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com

    2h 6m
  7. EP #32 - Tom and Ferree Hardy: A Widow and Widower with a Beautiful Second Chapter

    APR 3

    EP #32 - Tom and Ferree Hardy: A Widow and Widower with a Beautiful Second Chapter

    In this episode of The Plain Values Podcast…  Some stories remind us that God writes better endings than we ever could. Tom and Ferree Hardy both lost their spouses in 2000. Two hearts shattered by grief, hundreds of miles apart, each raising children and learning to breathe again in a world that suddenly felt empty. Then, in 2002, their paths crossed. What began as a simple connection grew into a marriage that has now spanned more than two decades of blending families, navigating job changes, multiple moves, and discovering God’s faithfulness in the most unexpected places… including a few backyard chickens along the way. Ferree, author of Postcards from the Widow’s Path, has spent years walking alongside other widows through her writing.  Tom, with his steady presence and quiet strength, has been right beside her in that calling. In this tender, honest conversation, you’ll hear real talk about the long road of grief, the surprising joy of a second chapter, and the everyday faithfulness that carries a family through both the hard and the holy. Whether you’ve walked through loss yourself, love someone who has, or simply need to be reminded that God redeems even the deepest valleys, this episode will meet you right where you are. If this conversation filled your coffee cup, we would humbly invite you to leave a thoughtful comment below and please, don’t be shy … the Like and Subscribe buttons help more friends find this episode.  We’re always looking for more friends. Learn more about Tom and Ferree Hardy at https://widowschristianpath.com Learn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com

    1h 26m
  8. EP #31 - Kristen Smith on Faith, Family, and Natural Health

    MAR 27

    EP #31 - Kristen Smith on Faith, Family, and Natural Health

    In this episode of The Plain Values Podcast …  Kristen Smith never planned on becoming an herbalist.  As the oldest of three, she grew up surrounded by farmland in northwest Ohio, helping grandparents with conventional crops and meat chickens.  But life shifted after marriage, college, and her first baby. A routine blood test at 22 revealed severe hypothyroidism. The doctor offered medication for life with little explanation. That moment sparked questions: Why did this happen? Could food help? With no home internet and young kids, Kristen loaded her children into a stroller and walked miles to the library, checking out every book on nutrition and health she could find.  Changes came slowly… first toothpaste and deodorant, then deeper shifts toward whole foods and away from processed items. Her thyroid still requires medication, but the journey opened a world of natural remedies. Years (and nine children) later, Kristen turned her one-acre yard into a “backyard medicine cabinet.”  She grows medicinal plants, keeps chickens, and experiments with herbs. Her faith anchors everything. With a large family on limited land, she relies on God’s strength daily.  Kristen’s story shows how one health crisis, met with curiosity and grace, can grow into a life of stewardship, healing, and passing natural wisdom to the next generation. If this conversation filled your coffee cup, we would humbly invite you to leave a thoughtful comment below and please, don’t be shy … the Like and Subscribe buttons help more friends find this episode.  We’re always looking for more friends. Learn more about Kristen’s work at https://abetterwaytothrive.com Learn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com

    55 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

The most inspiring and heartfelt podcasts you’ll ever listen to. Hosted by Plain Values magazine Publisher Marlin Miller, he regularly interviews the people with the stories, wisdom, and advice we all need to hear.

Information

  • Creator
    Plain Values
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    38
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Plain Values
  • Show Website
    Plain Values Podcast

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