Dear Franklin Jones

About Dear Franklin Jones

Producer Jonathan Hirsch had a childhood much like yours -- except his family had a secret. They were followers of a controversial spiritual leader named Franklin Jones. To Jonathan’s parents, Franklin Jones was a god, but to people outside the group, Jones was a cult leader. Now, Jonathan is going back, trying to find out what happened -- and whether the group really did become a cult.

Publisher

Stitcher & Jonathan Hirsch

Category

history

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

13 Feb 2018

Latest episode

7 Jul 2025

Latest episodes

12 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   7 Jul 2025

   The Mind Is Burning: Epilogue

   The episode previews the memoir "The Mind Is Burning: Losing my Father to a Cult and Dementia," available as an audiobook.

2. 

   13 May 2025

   The Mind Is Burning: Chapter 1

   The author shares a preview from their memoir about losing their father to a cult and dementia.

3. 

   22 Apr 2025

   The Mind Is Burning: Prologue

   The host previews their upcoming audiobook memoir, exploring themes of family loss and cult experiences.

4. 

   11 Apr 2025

   Introducing: The Mind Is Burning

   Franklin Jones announces his memoir and audiobook, *The Mind Is Burning: Losing my Father to a Cult and Dementia*, which explores his personal experiences.

5. 

   11 Apr 2018

   Chapter 7: Maybe

   The host reflects on the aftermath and life updates concerning their parents and Franklin Jones, offering closure to their shared story in this reflective episode.

6. 

   4 Apr 2018

   Chapter 6: Gone

   This episode explores themes of disintegration and collapse, depicting a world where everything is falling apart.

7. 

   28 Mar 2018

   Chapter 5: Initiation

   The host recounts their decision to join the group and their initial meeting with Franklin Jones.

8. 

   21 Mar 2018

   Chapter 4: The Fire

   The narrator recounts how their parents become increasingly involved with Franklin Jones, focusing on a significant event referred to as "The Fire."

9. 

   14 Mar 2018

   Chapter 3: The Accusations and The Radiant Presence

   This episode explores the group's growing notoriety and a concept called 'The Radiant Presence,' offering insights into the evolving dynamics of the community.

10. 

    7 Mar 2018

    Chapter 2: Origin Myths

    This episode explores how Franklin Jones, a man from Long Island, transformed into the self-proclaimed 'original giver king,' examining the origins of his persona.

11. 

    28 Feb 2018

    Chapter 1: Waking Up

    The host introduces listeners to the story of their parents finding each other and Franklin Jones, setting the stage for the podcast's exploration.

12. 

    13 Feb 2018

    Coming Soon: Dear Franklin Jones

    Jonathan Hirsch investigates his family's past and their connection to the controversial spiritual leader Franklin Jones in this exploration of secrets.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.4 / 5

979 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 23 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

10

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

90

Contact Dear Franklin Jones

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.