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.
11episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
EP #48 - John Moody on Faith, Food Freedom, and Standing Against Governmental Overreach
5d 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
1w 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
2w 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
2w ago00:02:51Tap 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
3w ago00:52:21Tap 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
3w ago00:01:38Tap 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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EP #45 - Missions, Adoption, Loss, and God’s Faithfulness
4w ago02:11:20Tap to summarizeIn this deeply moving episode of the Plain Values Podcast, Marlin Miller sits down for the second time with Aaron and Katie Ficker, who share their powerful journey of missionary life in Guatemala, profound loss, adoption, and God’s unwavering faithfulness through it all.Aaron and Katie moved to Guatemala as newlyweds, where Aaron helped build an aviation program and Katie worked as a nurse. They built a life serving others through medical clinics, a nursing school, and community outreach. But their path included immense hardship: a high-risk twin pregnancy that ended in the loss of their children Gabriel and Ella, a terrifying medical emergency that nearly took Katie’s life, and the emotional toll of raising children amid uncertainty.Despite the pain, they leaned into faith, adopting Genesis and later Moses, and experienced the Lord’s presence in miraculous ways, from answered prayers during crisis to community support that carried them through. They speak honestly about the complexities of immigration, family separation, human trafficking at the borders, and the spiritual battle involved in stewarding broken situations with hope.Now back in the U.S., they continue serving through aviation maintenance, fostering connections, and encouraging others in adoption and missions. Their story is a powerful reminder that God meets us in desperation, redeems loss, and uses ordinary families for eternal impact.This episode is raw, honest, and filled with encouragement for anyone walking through grief, called to adoption, or stepping into hard places with faith. You’ll be challenged, comforted, and inspired by their dependence on the Lord.Learn more about Aaron and Katie at http://aaronandkatie.comLearn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com
Transcribe →Minute with Marlin EP #9 - The Deep Gift of True Hospitality
4w ago00:01:26Tap to summarizeThe concept of hospitality is simple on the surface: invite people over, share a meal, and talk.But Marlin believes it goes much deeper.Our Creator has placed within us a profound desire to truly know others and to be known ourselves.A tiny lady many years ago, known for her incredible gift of hospitality, once told Marlin and his wife a story. She had hosted two families, and as they were leaving, she overheard one husband ask his wife: “Have you ever experienced anything like that?”We all long for that kind of genuine, safe, and rich connection.Marlin reminds us that this is exactly what God offers us, an invitation into deep, authentic community inside His own Spirit.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 #44 - Regenerative Agriculture, Plant Immunity, and Faithful Stewardship
Jun 2601:41:59Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Plain Values Podcast, Marlin Miller sits down with John Kempf, founder of Advancing Eco Agriculture. John shares his remarkable journey from a young boy observing plants on his family’s produce farm in Ohio to leading a global regenerative agriculture movement that now spans over 5 million acres.John explains how close observation of plant health led him to foundational discoveries about plant immunity. Through nutritional balance and microbiome management, he has seen plants achieve 100% resistance to diseases and insects, results that challenge conventional thinking. He describes the Plant Health Pyramid and how healthy plants produce powerful compounds that naturally protect them.The conversation goes deeper than agronomy. John ties regenerative practices to biblical stewardship, questioning modern farming systems that treat the earth as cursed rather than a gift to nurture. He emphasizes asking the right questions, developing personal convictions, and recognizing that agriculture is ultimately a spiritual endeavor.John also addresses real-world challenges: endocrine disruptors in our food system, generational impacts on health, and the power of small, consistent changes. He stresses that true solutions come from working with God’s design rather than against it.This episode is filled with hope, practical wisdom, and a call to better stewardship, whether on large farms or backyard homesteads. John’s story reminds us that asking better questions and caring for creation can lead to remarkable transformation.Learn more about John Kempf at https://advancingecoag.comLearn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com
Transcribe →Minute with Marlin EP #8 - A Mother’s Faith and the Child Who Wasn’t Supposed to Walk
Jun 2300:01:37Tap to summarizeIn a village in India, a mother was told by her own family to take her deformed baby boy to the trash heap and leave him there to die.The little boy, they said, would never walk properly.But this mother couldn’t do it. She brought him back.Enraged, her family kicked her out. She was now on her own.Then she met a man who shared the gospel with her. She got saved and began reading the Scriptures. She learned about the Great Physician, the Healer.Every day she massaged her son’s body with oil and prayed.Slowly, the little boy began to crawl.Then he began to walk.Then…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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