Podcast
Plain Values Podcast
Hosted by Plain Values · EN
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.
15episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
EP #50 - The Healing Power of Art: Stories from Inside the Hospital Walls | Roc Baker
1w ago00:58:43Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Plain Values Podcast, host Marlin Miller sits down with Roc Baker to trace a life forged in West Virginia hills, Ohio oil fields, and deep family roots. From his father’s hard-earned lessons in the tool-dressing days to raising six boys, Roc shares the gritty, grounded wisdom that shaped him.The talk flows naturally into the healing power of art. Roc recounts painting hospital walls and panels with patients, from a stroke survivor who suddenly spoke again to a troubled teen in Greece who softened with every brushstroke. The process, not the product, builds connection and brings peace. “The pain goes away when they paint,” he says.Music enters too… late-blooming guitars and the joy of learning alongside grandchildren. Roc reflects on grandparenting as the chance to slow down and pass on what matters: birdhouses, whittling, real conversation.He weighs today’s changes (AI, quantum computing, cultural shifts) with steady realism. Energy demands, common sense, and protecting what’s entrusted to us all surface as quiet concerns. Yet his anchor remains clear: gratitude, generosity, and daily prayer for wisdom.Warm, candid, and full of lived truth, this episode reminds us that real wealth lives in relationships, creativity, and the steady pursuit of happiness. Perfect for anyone craving perspective from a life well-rooted.Whether you’re a musician, a creative, or simply someone who appreciates honest conversations about faith and culture, this episode offers encouragement to pursue your gifts while keeping family and integrity first.Learn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com
Transcribe →Minute with Marlin EP #14 – 99% Is Not Good Enough
1w ago00:02:45Tap to summarizeMarlin reflects on the powerful imagery Jesus used when talking about the shepherd and his sheep.He recently became a shepherd himself, and he’s seen firsthand how sheep know their shepherd’s voice. When the shepherd calls, the whole flock comes running.Jesus told the story of the shepherd who leaves the 99 sheep to go after the one that is lost. Marlin notes how easy it is to read that passage without truly grasping the weight of it.Leaving 99 sheep is a lot. It’s risky. But the shepherd cares so deeply about that one lost sheep that he goes after it anyway.Marlin is thankful that our Good Shepherd doesn’t say “95% is good enough.” He cares about every single one.These short, heartfelt Minutes with Marlin deliver quick moments of wisdom, faith, humility, and encouragement… perfect for busy homestead days when we need a gentle reminder of what really matters.
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EP #49 - Conrad Fisher on Music, Faith, and the Creative Life
2w ago01:09:00Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Plain Values Podcast, host Marlin Miller sits down with Conrad Fisher, musician, producer, and founder of Ragamuffin Hall studio, for a rich conversation about creativity, faith, family, and the tension between art and conservative culture.Conrad shares his upbringing in a conservative Mennonite church where his parents, despite the setting, encouraged his musical gifts from a young age. His dad even bought him recording equipment when he was 14, allowing him space to develop his talent.He moved to Tennessee on New Year’s Day 2018 to sharpen his songwriting and eventually built Ragamuffin Hall, a studio where he works with artists from many backgrounds. Conrad reflects on the challenges of balancing a growing career with being present for his wife and three young children, and the difficulty of saying “no” when opportunities arise.He also opens up about a painful experience with church leadership over a song choice, and the healing moment years later when the bishop sought him out to apologize. The conversation touches on the church’s relationship with the arts, the value of authenticity, and the importance of creating space for people who feel on the fringes.Whether you’re a musician, a creative, or simply someone who appreciates honest conversations about faith and culture, this episode offers encouragement to pursue your gifts while keeping family and integrity first.Learn more about Conrad Fisher at https://conradfishermusic.comLearn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com
Transcribe →Minute with Marlin EP #13 – Why Not Take a Risk?
2w ago00:01:29Tap to summarizeA friend shared a powerful story with Marlin.He told him about a soldier-turned-missionary who was recruiting people to join him in one of the hardest, most dangerous places imaginable.When some expressed hesitation, the missionary looked at them and said, “Oh, I get it. You’re afraid to die.”Needless to say, they went.Marlin reflects on how that bold response hits home. Most of us have a thousand and one reasons to play it safe, to protect ourselves and our families from harm.Yet there’s also a deep longing inside us to be part of a story much bigger than our own comfort.We have eternity ahead, a place where we can rest and enjoy God forever. So why not take a risk now? Why not step into something that matters?These short, heartfelt Minutes with Marlin deliver quick moments of wisdom, faith, humility, and encouragement… perfect for busy homestead days when we need a gentle reminder of what really matters.Learn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com
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EP #48 - John Moody on Faith, Food Freedom, and Standing Against Governmental Overreach
3w ago00:53:40Tap to summarizeIn this deeply personal episode of the Plain Values Podcast, John Moody joins Marlin to share his remarkable story of redemption, resilience, and resistance.John grew up in Youngstown, Ohio during the devastating collapse of the Rust Belt. His family was shattered by divorce, alcoholism, and hardship. As a latchkey kid, life was chaotic. When his mother was diagnosed with cancer during his junior year of high school, everything changed. A dedicated guidance counselor, Mrs. Leone, saw potential in John and fought tirelessly to get him accepted into the University Scholars program at Youngstown State University… even when the program initially rejected him due to his family situation. Her quiet advocacy changed the course of his life.While in seminary, John faced a life-threatening health crisis with severe duodenal ulcers. Doctors proposed strong medication and potentially removing parts of his digestive system. Instead, John began questioning the conventional approach and turned to real, clean food. Within a year, he fully healed, an experience that opened his eyes to the power of how food is grown and prepared.In 2006, John and his wife Jessica started a local food buying club to help families access nutrient-dense, farm-fresh food. What began as a simple effort grew into a thriving community resource. In 2011, their club became the first in the country to be raided by the state health department over raw milk. They received cease and desist and quarantine orders. Rather than backing down, John rallied over 130 families. Together, they stood firm on their rights and ultimately prevailed, a powerful testimony of community courage and peaceful resistance.John and Jessica have been married for 21 years and have six children. John emphasizes that the real difference in his life isn’t his own strength, but “Christ in me.” He speaks passionately about stewardship, food freedom, and the need for Christians to thoughtfully engage when government overreach threatens the ability of families to care for one another.This episode is full of hard-won wisdom, redemption, and a clear call to live faithfully and courageously in uncertain times. John’s story reminds us that one person (supported by community and anchored in Christ) can make a real difference.Whether you care about real food, parental rights, or standing firm in faith, you won’t want to miss this conversation.Learn more about Josh Troyer at https://www.youtube.com/@gospelhavenchurchLearn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com
Transcribe →Minute with Marlin EP #12 – Grief is the Price of Love
3w ago00:03:17Tap to summarizeGrief is the price of love.That line, shared from the pulpit at a funeral, made Marlin pause and reflect.It caused him to consider how often we hold back from deep relationships out of fear of getting hurt.We were built for genuine connection, Marlin reminds us. Yet most of our daily interactions stay surface-level (“I’m fine,” “Everything’s great”) because going deeper means risking vulnerability and exposing our true selves.But the few people who ask “How are you?” and truly mean it, who create a safe, judgment-free space, become the rare and treasured friendships we all need.When Marlin looks around at the immense pain, grief, and brokenness in the world—from violence and trafficking to everyday hurts—it can feel overwhelming. But our Creator doesn’t turn away.He cares deeply. And He calls us to be His hands and feet, to be a safe, loving presence for those around us.These short, heartfelt Minutes with Marlin deliver quick moments of wisdom, faith, humility, and encouragement… perfect for busy homestead days when we need a gentle reminder of what really matters.
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EP #47 - Josh Troyer on Rotationplasty, Identity, and the God Who Writes Our Stories
4w ago01:09:58Tap to summarizeIn this moving episode of the Plain Values Podcast, Marlin sits down with Josh Troyer to share his remarkable journey of faith, resilience, and finding true identity in Christ.Born with proximal femoral focal deficiency, Josh was missing his right femur bone. At just two years old, he underwent rotationplasty, a radical surgery in which doctors amputated his leg at the hip, rotated it 180 degrees, and reattached it so his foot could function as a knee joint. At four, he endured another painful surgery with an Ilizarov device to lengthen his bones, a process that involved metal pins through his bones and months of discomfort.As a child and teen, Josh wrestled deeply with his identity. He hated being known as “the cripple boy,” struggled with self-pity, and tried to hide his prosthesis. Through it all, his parents sought wisdom and trusted God’s plan. Josh shares how God spoke to him, reminding him that his true identity is not in his leg or his abilities, but in Christ. He began renewing his mind with Scripture, especially Psalm 139 and Ephesians 1, replacing lies like “I am unlovable” and “I am a victim” with God’s truth.Today, Josh is a pilot, a pastor, and a father of three energetic boys. He credits his challenges with shaping his compassion and gratitude. He reminds listeners that God is the author of our stories, using every hardship to make them beautiful if we respond with trust.This episode is honest, inspiring, and full of hope for anyone wrestling with their own limitations or identity. Josh’s story beautifully illustrates that our greatest challenges often become the very things God uses for His glory.Learn more about Josh Troyer at https://www.youtube.com/@gospelhavenchurchLearn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com
Transcribe →Minute with Marlin EP #11 - Finding Joy in the Dirt Piles of Life
Jul 1400:02:51Tap to summarizeWhen Marlin and his brother were boys, they lived for the dirt pile… the “strip mine” in their mother’s garden.Armed with toy Caterpillar dozers and loaders, they dug huge holes and built towering piles of dirt. To them, those small mounds were massive and larger than life.Their dad would sometimes take them to real strip mines where they got to ride in ginormous equipment. It was genuinely larger than life.Marlin reflects on how our concept of work is changing so dramatically today. Many call work a bummer, something you just do to get by.With the wave of artificial intelligence and rapid change, the future feels uncertain.But Marlin knows this: the people who understand why God put them here, and what work they were built to do, find the most purpose and joy in their labor.God doesn’t look at us and say, “You have to go to work.”He says, “You get to go to work.”These short, heartfelt Minutes with Marlin deliver quick moments of wisdom, faith, humility, and encouragement… perfect for busy homestead days when we need a gentle reminder of what really matters.Learn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com
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EP #46 - Dawn and Carson on Faith, Food, Regulation, and Resilience
Jul 1000:52:21Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Plain Values Podcast, Marlin sits down with Dawn and Carson of Soda Farm to discuss their 20+ year journey of homesteading, natural health, and standing firm in their convictions.What began as a small beekeeping and herbal honey operation at Mockingbird Meadows evolved into functional sodas and a commitment to real food made from God’s creation. Dawn explains her deep concern that many believers focus on spiritual health while ignoring how the food and substances we consume literally build our physical bodies, and how man-made, processed ingredients can harden us spiritually and physically, making it harder to hear God’s voice.Their story includes repeated clashes with regulators. After an inspector suggested using bleach on herbs for “safety,” Dawn asked pointedly if they wanted her to make her products less safe for customers. That moment opened years of scrutiny, demands for commercial kitchen compliance, and later threats during COVID when they refused to compromise on bodily autonomy and free will.Despite deplatforming, website issues, and government pressure, they continued prioritizing real ingredients, family involvement, and speaking truth. Dawn shares how they’ve had to repeatedly rebrand and adapt (from Mockingbird Meadows to Soda Farm and Family Health Steward) while protecting their message and their children.Now in a season of sabbatical and rest, they’re focusing on abiding, slowing down, and rebuilding with peace. Their story is a testament to faithfulness under pressure, the importance of stewarding our bodies as temples, and trusting God through trials.This episode is honest, thought-provoking, and full of encouragement for anyone walking out their convictions in the face of opposition.Learn more about Aaron and Katie at http://aaronandkatie.comLearn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com
Transcribe →Minute with Marlin EP #10 - Love, Help, and Hope for the People Around Us
Jul 700:01:38Tap to summarizeMarlin will never forget the first time he saw homeless people.He was 20 or 21, skating under a bridge in Portland, Oregon with his brother. Across the way were a handful of men with everything they owned in shopping carts. It was a scary and sad scene, one that left young Marlin feeling uncertain.Should he do something? Should he stay away? Should he be scared?Even today, he admits he doesn’t have all the answers.But he knows this: God created a beautiful system where He loves us, helps us, and gives us hope. And He asks us to do the same for the people around us.Marlin’s gentle challenge is simple yet profound: Let’s be that love, help, and hope for others… all through Christ.These short, heartfelt Minutes with Marlin deliver quick moments of wisdom, faith, humility, and encouragement… perfect for busy homestead days when we need a gentle reminder of what really matters.Learn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com
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