Digest

This episode of Infamous begins a five-part series about Ruby Frankie, a Mormon mom influencer who gained millions of followers for her parenting advice, but behind the scenes, her methods were much more sinister than anyone realized. The episode introduces Tammy Wright, a neighbor of Ruby's in Utah, who shares her experiences with Ruby and her family. Tammy describes Ruby as a seemingly overwhelmed but friendly mom who was always outside with her kids. However, Tammy also noticed some concerning behavior from Ruby, including yelling at her children and spanking them. Tammy's gut feeling told her something was wrong, but she didn't intervene. The episode also explores the role of Mormonism in Ruby's life and how her faith influenced her parenting style. John DeLynn, a former Mormon and host of the Mormon Stories Podcast, explains that Mormon doctrine emphasizes the woman's role as the nurturer of the children while the husband is the provider. Ruby and her husband, Kevin, seemed to follow this model, with Ruby staying at home with the kids while Kevin worked as an assistant professor at Brigham Young University. The episode also discusses the rise of mommy vlogging and how the Mormon church encouraged influencers to project a positive image of Mormon family life to the world. Ruby's videos were filled with domestic labor, parenting advice, and references to her faith. The episode ends with Tammy reflecting on her regret for not intervening when she saw Ruby's concerning behavior and how she wishes she could have helped Sherry, Ruby's daughter.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction

This Chapter introduces the podcast Infamous and the new series about Ruby Frankie, a Mormon mom influencer. The episode will explore the dark side of Ruby's parenting methods and the impact it had on her family and those around her.

00:01:14

Tammy Wright's Story

This Chapter features Tammy Wright, a neighbor of Ruby Frankie's in Utah. Tammy shares her experiences with Ruby and her family, describing Ruby as a seemingly friendly mom but also noting some concerning behavior, including yelling at her children and spanking them. Tammy's gut feeling told her something was wrong, but she didn't intervene.

00:14:32

Mormonism and Ruby's Life

This Chapter explores the role of Mormonism in Ruby's life and how her faith influenced her parenting style. John DeLynn, a former Mormon and host of the Mormon Stories Podcast, explains that Mormon doctrine emphasizes the woman's role as the nurturer of the children while the husband is the provider. Ruby and her husband, Kevin, seemed to follow this model, with Ruby staying at home with the kids while Kevin worked as an assistant professor at Brigham Young University.

00:20:36

Mommy Vlogging and the Mormon Church

This Chapter discusses the rise of mommy vlogging and how the Mormon church encouraged influencers to project a positive image of Mormon family life to the world. Ruby's videos were filled with domestic labor, parenting advice, and references to her faith. The episode also explores the business side of mommy vlogging and how the algorithm favors family content.

00:27:34

Tammy's Reflections

This Chapter features Tammy reflecting on her regret for not intervening when she saw Ruby's concerning behavior and how she wishes she could have helped Sherry, Ruby's daughter. The episode ends with a preview of the next episode, which will delve deeper into Ruby's parenting methods and the consequences of her actions.

Keywords

Q&A

• What was Ruby Frankie's online persona?

  Ruby Frankie was a Mormon mom influencer who gained millions of followers for her parenting advice. She presented herself as a loving and devoted mother who was always there for her children. Her videos were filled with domestic labor, parenting advice, and references to her faith.

• What did Tammy Wright notice about Ruby's behavior?

  Tammy Wright, a neighbor of Ruby's, noticed some concerning behavior from Ruby, including yelling at her children and spanking them. She also heard loud noises coming from Ruby's house, including thumps against the wall and a child crying. Tammy's gut feeling told her something was wrong, but she didn't intervene.

• How did Mormonism influence Ruby's life?

  Mormon doctrine emphasizes the woman's role as the nurturer of the children while the husband is the provider. Ruby and her husband, Kevin, seemed to follow this model, with Ruby staying at home with the kids while Kevin worked as an assistant professor at Brigham Young University. Ruby's faith also influenced her parenting style, which was strict and focused on discipline.

• What is the significance of mommy vlogging in the context of Ruby's story?

  Mommy vlogging has become a popular and lucrative industry, with many mommy vloggers gaining millions of followers and earning significant income through advertising and sponsorships. The Mormon church encouraged influencers to project a positive image of Mormon family life to the world, and Ruby's videos were part of this effort. However, the episode suggests that there was a disconnect between Ruby's online persona and her real-life behavior.

• What is Tammy's biggest regret?

  Tammy's biggest regret is that she didn't intervene when she saw Ruby's concerning behavior. She wishes she could have helped Sherry, Ruby's daughter, and she feels guilty for not following her gut instinct.

Show Notes