Listen Now

This week, the MennoBrarians muse on the highs and lows of season 3 and wonder at how fast time moves. We also check up on important statistics about listener location, types of content reviewed, and tropes encountered. We also issue some corrections, clarifications, and updates (including about the "witches" in our families).  Let us know your thoughts! You can reach us at plainwrongpod at gmail.com, or on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Follow us:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/plainwrongpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plainwrongpod/  Website: http://plainwrongpod.com/ 

This week, the MennoBrarians discuss the Amish romance novel Strength in the Storm by Laurel Blount.  We give lots of quizzes, lament the underappreciation of the heroine, and applaud the book's attempt to dismantle toxic masculinity.   Content note: Gun violence is referenced and discussed throughout this episode, albeit without the depth that such an issue merits. If this might be triggering for you or other listeners, we recommend stopping after minute 14.  Let us know your thoughts! You can reach us at plainwrongpod at gmail.com, or on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow us:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/plainwrongpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plainwrongpod/  Website: http://plainwrongpod.com/ 

This week, the MennoBrarians discuss Breaking Amish Season One, a reality tv show that ran for 6 seasons on TLC and can now be streamed on Discovery+. The premise of the show is five Amish and Mennonite young adults go to New York City to experience urban life and decide whether or not to return to their Amish communities.  We recap the plot of season one in depth, while discussing what is actual "real" about this tv show, what is manufactured, and why people might watch it.  Let us know your thoughts! You can reach us at plainwrongpod at gmail.com, or on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Follow us:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/plainwrongpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plainwrongpod/  Website: http://plainwrongpod.com/ 

This week, the MennoBrarians discuss With Open Arms,  an explicit romance novel by Kathy Alerding (or sometimes Aldering) from 1986.  We discuss unlikely sabbaticals, confusing flashbacks, somewhat surprise tornados, and more!  Content note: As this book contained explicit sex scenes, these are referred to in a non-explicit way; some sexual euphemisms from the text are quoted.  Links Let us know your thoughts! You can reach us at plainwrongpod at gmail.com, or on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Follow us:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/plainwrongpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plainwrongpod/  Website: http://plainwrongpod.com/ 

This week, the MennoBrarians discuss the Amish themed episodes of Murder She Wrote and Orange is the New Black. In Murder She Wrote, we follow Jessica Fletcher as she stumbles upon a body while in Amish country to buy a quilt. The Orange is the New Black episode tells the backstory of prisoner Leanne Taylor, an inmate who grew up Amish. We chat accidental detectives, implausible plot lines, bad accents, and more.Let us know your thoughts! You can reach us at plainwrongpod at gmail.com, or on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Follow us:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/plainwrongpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plainwrongpod/  Website: http://plainwrongpod.com/ 

This week, the MennoBrarians discuss Letterkenny, a TV show about a small town in Canada, and the various episodes revolving around Old Order Mennonite characters.  We chat regional language quirks, Dyck jokes, Old Order Mennonites and more.  For our US listeners, you can find Letterkenny on Hulu.  Content note:  We did mark this episode as explicit on purpose! Explicit warning is for mild sexual innuendo.  Let us know your thoughts! You can reach us at plainwrongpod at gmail.com, or on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Links:  Follow us:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/plainwrongpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plainwrongpod/  Website: http://plainwrongpod.com/ 

This week, the MennoBrarians discuss a variety of comics with Amish themes. Matthew Murray of the Book Club for Masochists podcast joins us to offer expertise on comics and graphic novels.  We chat illustrations, vampire-prevention with farm equipment,  sexual butter churning and lots more!Follow Matthew on Twitter @MidniteLibrary, and be sure to check out Book Club for Masochists, a Reader's Advisory podcast. Comics covered this episode: Beavis & Butthead, V. 23, October 1995Amish in Space, National Lampoon, April 1974Mennonite  at the 7-11, Negative Burn, 2007SharkFarmer: Attack of the Amish Vampires,  Jan 2018Rumspringa!: An Amish Punk Yarn, March 2015Clementine book one, by Tillie Walden, 2022 Let us know your thoughts! You can reach us at plainwrongpod at gmail.com, or on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Follow us:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/plainwrongpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plainwrongpod/  Website: http://plainwrongpod.com/ 

This week we are thrilled to be joined by Regina Shands Stoltzfus and Tobin Miller Shearer to discuss their antiracism work and their book Been in the Struggle: Pursuing an Antiracist Spirituality.  We chat about their friendship, work in and for the Mennonite church, and why we think they should consider branching out and writing Amish romance.  Purchase their book, Been in the Struggle, through MennoMedia or wherever you get your books. Let us know your thoughts! You can reach us at plainwrongpod at gmail.com, or on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Follow us: Twitter: https://twitter.com/plainwrongpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/plainwrongpod/ Website: http://plainwrongpod.com/ 

This week, the MennoBrarians discuss and read excerpts from a handful of Amish publications: The Budget, Die Botschaft, and Family Life.  We chat scribes, weather reports and more.  Let us know your thoughts! You can reach us at plainwrongpod at gmail.com, or on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Follow us:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/plainwrongpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plainwrongpod/  Website: http://plainwrongpod.com/ 

This week, the MennoBrarians discuss Follow Your Heart, a 2020 Hallmark movie. In the movie, Katrina "Kathy" Yoder is a successful author, having published several books in her Broke Girl's Guide travel series. She and her boyfriend have just been offered a TV deal when she finds out her father has passed away and she needs to return home to the Amish community where she grew up. We chat love triangles, unlikely publishing and tv opportunities, and how ridiculous a bonnet looks with bangs.  Let us know your thoughts! You can reach us at plainwrongpod at gmail.com, or on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Follow us:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/plainwrongpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plainwrongpod/  Website: http://plainwrongpod.com/ 

This week, the MennoBrarians discuss the first book in the Half-Stitched Quilting Club series by Wanda Brunstetter. We chat and rant about quilting, clubs, stereotypes and frustrating tropes. Let us know your thoughts! You can reach us at plainwrongpod at gmail.com, or on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Follow us:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/plainwrongpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plainwrongpod/  Website: http://plainwrongpod.com/ 

This week, the MennoBrarians discuss Zeke Yoder vs. the Singularity by Stephen Beachy, a 2017 Amish cyberpunk novel. Tim Nafziger, Abby’s brother, fills in for Erin and we chat about cyberpunk, radical Anabaptism, the singularity and more.  Content note: This book contained references and depictions of suicide. While we don’t discuss that theme in depth, there are references to suicide during this episode. If that theme is triggering to you, we recommend skipping over minutes 29 - 32 of this episode Links to things mentioned in the episode:  Tim Nafziger's blog: https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/ Stephen Beachy’s website: http://www.livingjelly.com/  Stephen Beachy’s boneyard: https://www.versechorus.com/boneyard  Daniel Shenk Cruz’s website: https://danielshankcruz.com/  Book: Queering Mennonite Literature: https://www.psupress.org/books/titles/978-0-271-08245-5.html  Let us know your thoughts on this week's episode! You can reach us at plainwrongpod at gmail.com, or on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Follow us:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/plainwrongpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plainwrongpod/  Website: http://plainwrongpod.com/ 

This week, the MennoBrarians discuss the mystery thriller Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo and its Lifetime movie adaptation, An Amish Murder. We chat favorite movies, bad romances, Amish alarm bells, and more.  Content note:  This episode contains non-descriptive discussions of murder, violence, sexual assault, and police brutality.  Let us know your thoughts! You can reach us at plainwrongpod at gmail.com, or on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Follow us:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/plainwrongpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plainwrongpod/  Website: http://plainwrongpod.com/ 

This week, the MennoBrarians discuss the Amish episodes of two adult cartoon shows,  Futurama (S. 6 Ep 19) and Family Guy (S.10, Ep 7). We chat favorite cartoons, roller coasters, bad puns and the prevalence of non-pacifist Amish characters in media we've covered.  Let us know your thoughts! You can reach us at plainwrongpod at gmail.com, or on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Follow us:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/plainwrongpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plainwrongpod/  Website: http://plainwrongpod.com/ 

This week, the MennoBrarians veer away from the usual and into Jello! We taste Jello in 3 rounds: Savory Horrors (Salmon Dill mouse, BBQ Jello cubes, and Orange & Carrots), Jello Shots (Conrad Grebellinis, jello style), Desserts (Graham cracker fluff, 7 layer salad, Dream salad, and Strawberry Pretzel salads. Following the tasting, we discuss the best and worst. Be sure to check out the videos of our tasting on YouTube! We will also post recipes and pics to social media.  Let us know your thoughts! You can reach us at plainwrongpod at gmail.com, or on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Follow us:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/plainwrongpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plainwrongpod/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDkeicmyZI38XqNGUa_PuQg Website: http://plainwrongpod.com/ 

This week, the MennoBrarians, discuss the horror movie Amish Witches: The True Story of Holmes County, along with special guest Emily Hedrick. We chat about the Pennsylvania Dutch practice of Braucherei and its connection to Amish and Mennonite groups, as well as our thoughts on horror movies and the very confusing plot lines this movie offers.  Content note:  Horror movie themes and violence are discussed in a non-graphic manner.  Let us know your thoughts! You can reach us at plainwrongpod at gmail.com, or on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Follow our guest Emily Hedrick: Website:  https://goingodless.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goingodless/ Follow Just Plain Wrong:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/plainwrongpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plainwrongpod/  Website: http://plainwrongpod.com/ 

This week, the MennoBrarians discuss and review a pile of children's picture books about the Amish, including the Reuben series (Reuben and the Fire), Ruthie Goes to Town, and Raising Yoder's Barn. We chat our favorite books, illustrations, and the prevalence of barn raising in Amish themed kid's books. Let us know your thoughts! You can reach us at plainwrongpod at gmail.com, or on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Follow us:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/plainwrongpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plainwrongpod/  Website: http://plainwrongpod.com/ 

This week, the MennoBrarians chat with Joe Springer, the curator of the Mennonite Historical Library (MHL) at Goshen College. The MHL is a comprehensive research collection with the mission to collect everything by and about Mennonites and related groups. The collection includes everything from rare works on early Anabaptism to 20 yards worth of Amish Romance books. We chat with Joe about the MHL collection, the work he does at the MHL, and test his knowledge of Amish romance publishing and Amish romance plot summaries.For more info about the Mennonite Historical Library: https://www.goshen.edu/mhl/ Let us know your thoughts! You can reach us at plainwrongpod at gmail.com, or on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Follow us:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/plainwrongpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plainwrongpod/  Website: http://plainwrongpod.com/ 

This week, the MennoBrarians discuss Kingpin, a 1996 comedy movie in which an Amish man is recruited to participate in a bowling tournament. We chat about sports and Amish, personal bowling experiences, 90s movies, and more.  Let us know your thoughts! You can reach us at plainwrongpod at gmail.com, or on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Follow us:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/plainwrongpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plainwrongpod/  Website: http://plainwrongpod.com/ 

This week, the MennoBrarians return to Amish Romance, discussing the 2021 book by Mindy Steele, an Amish Flower Farm. We chat gardening, cozy romances, hot showers in summer time, the Mennonite and Amish valuation of hard work,  how "Amish" a book needs to be to qualify as an Amish romance, and spicy meatloaf.