New docuseries explores Ruby Franke's 'twisted dynamic' with Jodi Hildebrandt: See trailer
"Ruby & Jodi: A Cult of Sin and Influence," set to premiere in early September, combines exclusive interviews, commentary, as well as extensive archival and police footage to offer "unprecedented insight" into Hildebrandt's rise to power within the Mormon community through her life improvement program ConneXions and how it led her to Franke.
The show, specifically, will chronicle the women's "doomed partnership" and the "dangerous, disturbing results of unchecked influence to reveal the physical and psychological impact of their abusive actions."
Franke, who ran a popular YouTube channel called "8 Passengers" with her family, and Hildebrandt, Franke's counselor-turned-business partner, were arrested and convicted of child abuse after two of Franke's six children were found abused and malnourished.
"The docuseries charts the magnetic connection between the two and how the melding of Franke's strict family values with Hildebrandt's controversial beliefs created a microcosm of control, manipulation, and brutality that led to the devastating emotional and physical abuse of the Franke children," Investigation Discovery said in a news release.
Here's what we know about "Ruby & Jodi: A Cult of Sin and Influence," including how to watch it.
Who is Ruby Franke? And what did she do?
Ruby Franke, 43, is a former mommy vlogger who lived in Springville, Utah, with her husband Kevin and their six children. The couple ran a popular and now-defunct YouTube channel called "8 Passengers," which showed snippets of the family's daily life online to an audience of millions beginning in early 2015.
Franke later became the subject of widespread criticism online for her parenting choices, particularly her discipline methods that some considered borderline abusive.
The pushback intensified when Franke co-founded ConneXions with Hildebrandt, a family counselor turned business partner. Many found that the "parenting style" the pair promoted was extreme and harsh.
The frequent inclusion of what has been called homophobic, racist and transphobic comments did not help their popularity. In one often-referenced example, Franke told viewers that children do not deserve, and should not receive, unconditional love.
Both women were arrested and initially charged with six counts of second-degree aggravated child abuse in September 2023 after two of Franke's six children were found abused and malnourished, the office of Eric Clarke, the Washington County Attorney in St. Georiga, Utah, announced at the time. They both pleaded guilty in December 2023 to four of the six counts as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors, USA TODAY previously reported.
Franke and Hildebrandt were sentenced to prison time ranging from four to 60 years in February 2024 and are currently serving their respective sentences.
What will be in 'Ruby & Jodi: A Cult of Sin and Influence'?
The four-part docuseries "underscores Hildebrandt's manipulative and dangerous tendencies and how when combined with Franke's strict family values, they created an environment rife with manipulation, control, and abuse," according to Investigation Discovery.
"Ruby & Jodi: A Cult of Sin and Influence" does feature "extensive interviews with former clients."
Jessi Hildebrandt, Hildebrandt's niece, and others, including local journalists as well as current and former members of the Mormon faith, will also offer "additional and exclusive insight" throughout the docuseries, the TV network said.
Jason Sarlanis, president of Investigation Discovery, said in a statement, "The disturbing alliance between Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt has captivated and horrified the public, and this docuseries peels back the layers of that relationship through exclusive interviews with family members, former clients, and experts to explore the broader implications of family vlogging and the devastating impact of family abuse."
Watch 'Ruby & Jodi: A Cult of Sin and Influence' trailer
How to watch 'Ruby & Jodi: A Cult of Sin and Influence'
The four-part Investigation Discovery docuseries will premiere over two nights, Sept. 1 and Sept. 2, at 9 p.m. ET/midnight PT. Episodes will be available to stream on HBO Max.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Tracee Ellis Ross always brings four suitcases. Her 'bring it all' packing philosophy.
In the first episode of 'Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross,' the actress lingers in the lobby of her Morocco hotel trying to decide whether she wants to get a drink or not. 'One of the many advantages of solo traveling is that you can change your plans last minute,' she says in voiceover. 'I don't feel like going out anymore, and no one gets upset.' She turns around and orders room service instead. The three-episode show, which premiered Friday on The Roku Channel, follows Ross on vacations to Marrakech; Mexico's Riviera Maya; and Marbella, Spain, highlighting the joys of exploring the world on your own. Ross, who is also a producer and the founder of PATTERN Beauty, spoke to USA TODAY about her love of solo trips, airplane etiquette and why she usually has at least four checked bags. This interview was edited and condensed for clarity. You mention in the show that you've been solo traveling since your 20s. What do you enjoy about solo travel in particular? I really like my own company. I like being by myself. You know, I live a very full and jam-packed life. I often am working seven days a week and working when I'm on vacation, and doing things. And so it's an opportunity for me to allow the dust to settle and for life to kind of integrate into my being. I really enjoy the luxury of being. I do a lot of doing in my life. And so there's something about solo travel – the kind of solo travel that I do, because some people go on solo travel for adventure, some people go to meet people, some people go to sort of be away from their lives. The kind that I do really is about being, and I gain a muscle strength, which I liken to a baseball player that swings with two bats and then gets up to plate and swings with one. I feel like solo travel is a little bit like swinging with two bats, and I gain a muscle strength around the ability to hold my own self with confidence out in the world. I come back and you're like, going to a party by yourself is no big deal. I was curious what it was like documenting the travels, as opposed to other types of solo trips you might have taken in the past? It was weird. The first episode was weird. I was very uncomfortable. It was interesting. It was very important to me that we included the packing as part of the show, my packing and my travel and sort of what that experience is for me, because that's the sort of authentic truth of it. And I didn't want cameras in my home, so when we figured out how to do the cell phone and record that way, it ended up being one of the best tools on the show, because I was able to do that in a lot of the intimate moments where there wasn't the ability to have a camera person there, and that helped the experience feel more intimate. The other thing that we ended up doing, I recorded a lot of the quiet moments where there's no talking, and that's what happens when you're solo traveling. And then when we were in the editing process, there was the discovery that as much as that sort of reportage, what do you call it? Like, that documentary feeling, that it needed a voiceover, sort of an inner dialog voiceover. So, as opposed to it being written, it was really me talking my thoughts, and I thought that helped me feel more comfortable with what I was sharing, so that the experience of, 'Can you be yourself by yourself out in the world?', which is really what the underlying theme of the show is, felt articulated in that way. We get to see in the show your very meticulous packing process. What is one of your travel must haves that you always bring? Well, I always bring a medical kit, and that's both one that, you know, has a tourniquet, like, Band-Aids and Neosporin, and also your basics like Theraflu and anti-nausea (medication) and stuff like that, just in case. … The other is a pillow. It's a must have. I have a smaller pillow that will go in an onboard roller bag, because I know that I have expressed this and I think I talk about it in the show that I am a checked-bag girl. One of my packing philosophies is BIA, which is, 'bring it all.' I often check a minimum of four bags. And then I also talk about how I prepare for beauty and disaster. I also, in my carry-on, have a very meticulously and strategically put together bag that if the luggage doesn't arrive, I can still look chic and be fine for an extended period of time before I can get to a store. And so those things are really important to me. But, yeah, I kind of think it all through. I'm like, is it going to rain? Isn't it going to rain? We all know that now, the weather changes every day, so I have it all. Do you have a favorite travel memory from shooting? I really enjoyed the olive oil (tasting) in Spain. I felt very tickled and also silly that I didn't know that the majority of the olive oil in the world comes from Spain; I thought it was Italy, and I'm like, 'Oh, how did I not know that?' Who knew there were so many shades of yellow and green in olive oil, and who knew that olive oil could be just as intricate and expressive as wine? And I thought that was really amazing. Morocco and the nut carts were (some) of my favorites. Who knew, again, that a cart of nuts could be like a beautiful display of art? Also the 'Red City,' Marrakech, and that beautiful, sort of dusty rose color was one of my favorite, favorite things I experienced in the travel. Do you have a preferred way that you like to travel? We saw you flying in the show but are there other ways, like train or cruise travel, that you enjoy? Up until this moment, I have not been a cruise person at all, but I won't say that that's out of the question. I love flying. I'm an easy flyer. Growing up, I did a lot of taking a train because I went to school in Switzerland … and so I really find there's a real civility to the train that I quite enjoy. But due to my luggage, the train is not my preferred (method), and the airplane is the most easy. Do you have any travel pet peeves, things that bug you while you travel? Oh, I have many. People that cough and don't cover their mouth is just – I just don't understand. I'm sorry, I do not. I mean, put your face in your shirt. It's not that hard. People that go into the bathroom on the airplane in bare feet – I'm at a loss here. I want to help those people understand what is actually happening in the bathroom. … It's sort of airplane etiquette, being in tight, personal spaces with people and the different etiquette that people have. I just sometimes am at a loss why people don't have more courtesy for their fellow human than is right next to them, especially after COVID, and how we learned how easy it really is to protect yourself. Is there anything that you like to splurge on when you travel? I think the biggest is in time. I let myself sleep. Like if I want to stay up and watch my iPad and binge until 2 o'clock in the morning, so be it. If I want to sleep late, I sleep late. If I want to take an afternoon nap, I take an afternoon nap. If I want to have a glass of wine at lunch, I have a glass of wine at lunch and then take a nap. So, I think time is really the luxury for me on solo vacations and following my own pace and my own heart around. The splurge financially – I'm not really a shopper on solo travel. I did in Morocco, because how could you not? Like, it was just something that had to be experienced. But it's not a thing that I do. I'm not a person who goes to a gift shop or even has to go find this or that somewhere. I love museums and restaurants and things like that more in travel. But I do love extravagant first classes. And I do love a hotel room that if I am too anxious and can't sort of experience out there on my own, that I would be fine in my hotel room and in my hotel. Great American Vacation: Josh Gad's favorite travel splurge isn't what you'd expect For someone who hasn't traveled on their own and they're not used to it, do you have any tips for taking your first solo trip? I absolutely do. If you have the impulse to solo travel but you're nervous and you've never done it before, the first thing I suggest is that you go to dinner on a Wednesday night at 6 o'clock when a restaurant opens and see how you do. If you do well on that, try a Friday or Saturday night at 8 p.m. when it is jam packed with couples and groups of people. If you can accomplish that and feel good about it, I then suggest that you take a solo trip. If you still feel nervous about that, then you can either tack on a couple of days on your own during a trip that's already been planned with other people, or go somewhere you've been with other people on your own, so that you know what to expect from that environment. The other thing I ask people to ask themselves is, what kind of solo trip are you looking for? Do you want a solo trip of adventure, to meet people, to relax by yourself? It'll help you define where it is you want to go. And then the last thing that I think is incredibly important is, if you're traveling on your own, I suggest that people treat it like dating in that (you) let somebody know where you're going, give them your itinerary, so they can check on you and know where you are. And also if there are parts of your identity that perhaps will leave you vulnerable in a foreign place, perhaps if you are a woman on your own, a Black woman, LGBTQ, differently abled, anything that might perhaps be perceived as a vulnerability out in the world, do your due diligence to the best of your ability to find a location that you will be safe there. Obviously there's the unexpected, but that you can, to the best of your ability, make sure that you will be safe where you go.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
What was the NBA even thinking back in its sleeved jersey era?
What was the NBA even thinking back in its sleeved jersey era? Fans of the Boston Celtics in particular can remember the utterly vile 'sherseys' that looked something like the garbage can Sesame Street's Oscar the Grouch lived in that were somehow supposed to represent the Celtics. And truth be told, they were one of the better-looking monstrosities floating around in the ether thanks to the NBA's less popular marketing ideas. Mercifully, the shersey era quickly faded, to be replaced with an endless cavalcade of poorly designed 'City Edition' alternate jerseys in their place (recall the Boston Enya-In-An-Irish-Pub City Editions, as just one example). The man behind the eponymous "Kofie" YouTube channel put together a clip not too long ago that takes a closer look at the dreaded shersey era of the NBA. Take a look at the clip embedded below to see his snapshot of that moment it might be better if we all blotted out of our collective memories forever.
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
'Emaciated' Dog Travels Over 9,000 Miles to Forever Home
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A dog who was found on death's door has not only made a remarkable recovery but has also found a forever home over 9,000 miles away from where she was initially rescued. Poppy was a street dog living in Thailand who was rescued and brought to the animal welfare organization Soi Dog Foundation. She was "emaciated and too weak to stand," states text layered over a YouTube clip sharing her story. She was covered in mange, infested with fleas and ticks—"no one thought she'd survive." But she refused to give up and underwent months of treatment. Eventually, she was adopted by Kerrie, who lives in Houston, Texas, where they've lived happily ever after since. (L-R) Poppy, once reduced to skin and bone and suffering from severe mange, began to recover after receiving extensive medication and tender loving care. Over time, her fur grew back, revealing a much healthier and... (L-R) Poppy, once reduced to skin and bone and suffering from severe mange, began to recover after receiving extensive medication and tender loving care. Over time, her fur grew back, revealing a much healthier and happier dog. More Soi Dog Foundation She told Newsweek: "As soon as I saw her photos and read about her, I broke down in tears." "I knew this was my next soul connection," she added, noting that she had previously adopted a three-legged dog from the same charity in 2016. "Kwanjai was a senior pup with a resilient soul. She had three legs, one eye, four teeth, and a tail worn down to the bone," she said. "When she passed away, I created a short video in her memory, documenting our final day together on the beach. I sent it to Soi Dog to thank them. "I didn't expect much in return, but their response moved me. They told me that, whenever I felt ready, rescuing again could be a beautiful way to carry on Kwanjai's legacy." A month later, she flew to Phuket, Thailand, to meet Poppy for the first time. Now, four years on, Poppy is living the American dream. Left to right: Kerrie stands beside two dogs before embarking on the long journey back to America. She is seen embracing Poppy. Left to right: Kerrie stands beside two dogs before embarking on the long journey back to America. She is seen embracing Poppy. "When Poppy first came home, she was curious and ready to explore," said Kerrie. "She burst through the door like she had always belonged. "She's not high-energy unless cheese is involved, and to this day she has never barked—not once. "She is such a gentle and wise soul. People who know her say she's more cat than dog, and they're not wrong. She roams from bed to bed and quietly dreams by the window. "My nieces and nephews can climb into her bed and snuggle with her like she's theirs, and she welcomes them with tail wags and kisses. Every night, without fail, she hops into bed and gives me a hug—like she dips her head into my neck and collapses while I hold her. It's one of the most comforting, soul-filling feelings I've ever known." Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
