The Rise and Fall of Ruby Franke

Wondery
The Rise and Fall of Ruby Franke

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Ruby Franke, a Utah mom turned YouTube “momfluencer” who amassed 2.6 million subscribers, was known for her strict disciplinarian parenting style. But authorities now say that her "tough love" was actually child abuse. Ruby Franke's son escaped from the Utah home of her self-help business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt. The boy was reportedly starved and tied up with duct tape along with his 10 year old sister. As law enforcement dug deeper, they uncovered injuries, torture, and emotional harm inflicted by both Franke and Hildebrandt. Law&Crime takes you behind the scenes, from Ruby and Jodi's path to internet stardom, to the investigation that brought them down. Binge all episodes of The Rise and Fall of Ruby Franke ad-free by joining Wondery+ on the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/the-rise-and-fall-of-ruby-franke/ now.

  1. EPISODE 2 • WONDERY+ ONLY

    The Rise and Fall of Ruby Franke | Meet the Frankes

    They call themselves and their YouTube channel the “8 Passengers” — mom Ruby, dad Kevin, and their six kids in tow. By all appearances, they’re your stereotypical American Mormon family, but there’s something simmering under the surface. Loyal fans of the 8 Passengers page have been picking up on something startling over the years, and it’s not long before the genie is out of the bottle. You can listen to all episodes of The Rise and Fall of Ruby Franke exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. Find Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start Your free trial by visiting https://wondery.com/links/the-rise-and-fall-of-ruby-franke/ now.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    36 min

  2. EPISODE 3 • WONDERY+ ONLY

    The Rise and Fall of Ruby Franke | #FreeChad

    As 8 Passengers’ following grows, so do their subscribers' concerns about the welfare of Ruby Franke’s children. Specifically her oldest son, Chad, who becomes noticeably absent from vlogs in the summer of 2019. Viewers press in the comments for answers as to his whereabouts, and what they learn provides more clues into Ruby’s punitive parenting philosophy. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    38 min

  3. EPISODE 4 • WONDERY+ ONLY

    The Rise and Fall of Ruby Franke | Enter Jodi Hildebrandt

    Ruby’s vlogs see a shift in their consistency and messaging. 8 Passengers’ family diary style videos are now peppered with self-improvement advice. Ruby shares news that she’s now affiliated with a program called “ConneXions”, which is owned and operated by a woman named Jodi Hildebrandt. And under the influence of Jodi’s counseling, both Ruby’s marriage and family life are turned upside down.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    30 min

  4. EPISODE 5 • WONDERY+ ONLY

    The Rise and Fall of Ruby Franke | Under Her Thumb

    Ruby has fully come into the ConneXions fold, and she’s no longer just promoting Jodi’s work – she’s become integral to her operation. Together, Jodi and Ruby forge a new venture on social media called “Moms of Truth.” But how well can they be trusted? Jodi’s past transgressions come to light, jeopardizing her authority.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    30 min

  5. EPISODE 6 • WONDERY+ ONLY

    The Rise and Fall of Ruby Franke | August 30, 2023

    Law enforcement across Utah jump into action after a 911 dispatcher in Ivins receives an alarming call from Jodi Hildebrandt’s neighbor. As the day unfolds, the extent of Jodi and Ruby’s disciplinary practices are revealed, and they are nothing short of shocking. The two women are thrust into the national spotlight and are forced to face the consequences.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    31 min

  6. EPISODE 7 • WONDERY+ ONLY

    The Rise and Fall of Ruby Franke | Guilty as Sin

    Ruby and Jodi’s abusive ways are no longer just speculative. Now that the two have been formally charged, the details of their actions become public record. What the court documents reveal are worse than anyone could have imagined. And, the treatment Russel and Eve suffered under Jodi’s roof catches the attention of someone from Jodi’s past who says they were subjected to nearly identical treatment.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    27 min

  7. EPISODE 8 • WONDERY+ ONLY

    The Rise and Fall of Ruby Franke | Truth and Distortion

    Nearly 6 months after Ruby and Jodi were arrested and charged with four counts of aggravated child abuse, the two finally face sentencing. We learn how much time each woman could spend in prison, hear from mental health professionals about how the Franke children can heal, and explore ethical questions surrounding family vlogging. -- A note from our Executive Producer: This episode was intended to be the final episode of The Rise and Fall of Ruby Franke. However, in the early morning hours of Friday, March 22nd, 2024, as we were putting the final touches on this episode, the Washington County Attorney’s Office in Utah released police reports, body cam footage, investigative photos, and interviews as well as portions of Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt’s recorded phone calls made from the Washington County Correctional Facility. The Law&Crime team is carefully reviewing all the materials and we’ll be back with a deep-dive bonus episode on April 8th exclusively on Wondery+. We thank you for your patience. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    59 min

  8. EPISODE 9 • WONDERY+ ONLY

    The Rise and Fall of Ruby Franke | Bonus: What We Didn’t Know

    On March 22, 2024, a month after Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt were sentenced, the Washington County Attorney’s office released a treasure trove of never-before-seen documentation related to their cases, including phone calls from prison, body cam footage from the day of their arrests, Kevin Franke’s interviews with detectives, photographs, and Ruby’s journal. In this bonus episode, we dig into all the shocking details we didn’t know…until now.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 43m
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About

Ruby Franke, a Utah mom turned YouTube “momfluencer” who amassed 2.6 million subscribers, was known for her strict disciplinarian parenting style. But authorities now say that her "tough love" was actually child abuse. Ruby Franke's son escaped from the Utah home of her self-help business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt. The boy was reportedly starved and tied up with duct tape along with his 10 year old sister. As law enforcement dug deeper, they uncovered injuries, torture, and emotional harm inflicted by both Franke and Hildebrandt. Law&Crime takes you behind the scenes, from Ruby and Jodi's path to internet stardom, to the investigation that brought them down. Binge all episodes of The Rise and Fall of Ruby Franke ad-free by joining Wondery+ on the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/the-rise-and-fall-of-ruby-franke/ now.

Information

  • Channel
    Wondery
  • Creator
    Law&Crime | Wondery
  • Episodes
    21
  • Seasons
    1
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Law&Crime
  • Show Website
    The Rise and Fall of Ruby Franke
  • Provider

    Wondery, Inc. has identified itself as a trader for this podcast and confirmed that this product or service complies with European Union law. Address 9229 W Sunset Blvd Ste 820 West Hollywood California 90069-3400 United States Phone Number +1 6193300067 Email get@help.wondery.com

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