National Polygamy Advocate

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed (a 5th time) for INSIDE EDITION with Deborah Norville by producer Erika Jones for their nationally syndicated TV show, on June 26, 2006, produced by KingWorld. This was the fifth and last interview with her. In a voicemail message that the producer left the week before, on June 21, 2006, she was willing to concede one issue: to allow polygamous families for an interview to meet at a hotel. On June 23, 2006, Mark Henkel called her back, leaving a voicemail message that re-iterated all of the necessary requirements in order to proceed. On June 26, 2006, Mark Henkel finally reached her directly.  She realized that they were not going to be able to fulfill this "Circus Act Request" (C.A.R.) without meeting Mark Henkel's  protectve terms. The project was finally abandoned. http://www.NationalPolygamyAdvocate.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nationalpolygamyadvocate/support

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed (a 4th time) for INSIDE EDITION with Deborah Norville by producer Erika Jones for their nationally syndicated TV show, on June 12, 2006, produced by KingWorld.  This was the fourth of five total interviews with her.  While the plan was for Mark Henkel to fly out for taping later that week, the producer called on this Monday to try to push for more open opportunities to film polygamous families.  After a healthy exchange of deeper clarity and possibilities, the producer ended this interview somewhat abruptly, saying she needed to discuss things more with her producer.   While Mark Henkel was not subsequently flown to New York to be taped, there would still be one more interview, which airs in the next episode. http://www.NationalPolygamyAdvocate.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nationalpolygamyadvocate/support

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed (a third time) for INSIDE EDITION with Deborah Norville by producer Erika Jones for their nationally syndicated TV show, on June 9, 2006, produced by KingWorld. This was the second interview with her on that same day of June 9, 2006, and the third of five total interviews. Although the plan from the previous interview had been to speak the following week, the producer had instead called back that same evening, leaving a voicemail to see if Mark Henkel would be free to travel for a taping the following week. When Mark Henkel called her back, she brought up a magazine that had only had one singular published issue three years previously, a publication which was focused exclusively on Mormon polygamy. This seemed to unfortunately change the project's focus back to the "Mormonland bubble" again instead of a national focus. The producer suggested that maybe "this could be a teachable moment" to show that all polygamy is not always Mormon-based. This intervie

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed (a second time) for INSIDE EDITION with Deborah Norville by producer Erika Jones for their nationally syndicated TV show, on June 9, 2006, produced by KingWorld.  This was the second of five interviews. Following the previous interview two days earlier (on June 7), the producer had come back with more attempted offerings to try to help this project not be a “Circus Act Request” (C.A.R.) - but it still l was. Mark Henkel re-iterated about the producer’s need for “plausible deniability” from being subpoenaed – even referencing a then-current news cycle about a New York Times reporter and a CIA leak that did not protect the journalist.  Mark Henkel painted the picture clearly, “At the end of the day, what you're telling me is: We better deliver you the circus act or we don't have a story." He also informed her that normal polygamous families in his organization were not all that interested in being part of this particular project, once they learn

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed for INSIDE EDITION with Deborah Norville by producer Erika Jones for their nationally syndicated TV show, on June 7, 2006. As the last cliffhanging episode of the first season of HBO's fictional show about Mormon polygamists, "Big Love," had concluded days earlier, the producer explained her intent. She said, "We would like to go inside a family, a sort of real-life 'Big Love' story." Mark Henkel explained how that was what he calls a "Circus Act Request" (C.A.R.). She kindly asked if there were things that could be done to overcome this hurdle. Thus began this first of five interviews for this show. In this interview, Mark Henkel explained to the producer how she needs to have what is known as "plausible deniability." When the producer asked for clarity on what that means, Mark Henkel explained. When it comes to TV producers being subpoenaed by courts, there are certain things they must not ever know. He clarified, "If you don't know where somebody is,

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed for CNN Anderson Cooper 360 by producer Diana Miller, on April 23, 2008. This was 20 days into the ongoing news cycle of the FBI raid on the FLDS cult in Texas on April 3, 2008. This hour-and-a-half long interview provides extensive information and soundbites. In the end, although the producer was positive and polite, the decision-makers at CNN only wanted a circus act (a "Circus Acts Request" - C.A.R.). Moreover, they only wanted this to be a taped interview. Mark Henkel insisted that he would have to be on a live-interview first before doing any taped interview with their network - because CNN would have to first build trust. At that time, it was 3 weeks into the news cycle about the FLDS; yet CNN had still not yet reported anything about actual and normal UCAP, Unrelated Consenting Adult Polygamy, or about the national movement's vehement opposition to the FLDS, Warren Jeffs, and all the underage crimes. So, Mark Henkel declined if it was only going

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was research-interviewed for PEOPLE magazine by a writer named Vicky, on March 23, 2006. Due to the big TV hit of the premiere of HBO's new fiction television series, "Big Love," that month, the writer requested to spend time with a polygamous family. Mark Henkel gently explained to her how that was what polygamists call a "Circus Act Request" (C.A.R.) The genuinely friendly writer positively chuckled and understood it completely. Even so, the interview provides important soundbites and education about UCAP, Unrelated Consenting Adult Polygamy - even as Mark Henkel politely declined the specific request. http://www.NationalPolygamyAdvocate.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nationalpolygamyadvocate/support

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was research-interviewed for "The Lineup" on FOX News television (hosted by Kimberly Guilfoyle) by a producer named Don, on May 11, 2006. This occurred during the major news cycle when the new fictional show on HBO television, about non-cultic Mormon polygamists, called “Big Love,” trhat had just premiered weeks earlier in March, 2006.  t appears that the producers of Kimberly Guilfoyle’s show were significantly hyped to do something "about polygamy" on their show that weekend. Two other producers from the same show, Mary Ragsdale and Michael Bloom, had also attempted making media requests of Mark Henkel that same week too. (They neither answered the phones when called nor called back from voicemail messages that were left for them.) In this interview with the producer who only identified himself as “Don,” Mark Henkel provided some helpful education. As the producer was not sure what he or the other producers wanted to exactly do, and as they seemed to want to be

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed for "The Tyra Banks Show" by associate producer Arlene Wilkinson on July 24, 2006. This was a nationally syndicated daytime television talk show, serving an audience of mostly women, hosted by renowned supermodel and host/creator of "America's Next Top Model" show, Tyra Banks. (The show's name was also known as "The Tyra Show" and later as just "Tyra.") The producer was exploring options for doing an episode or a segment about polygamy, polyamory, or different things involving "poly" relationships. (Mark Henkel made a “poly” joke about plastic that made the producer laugh.) The producer asked her questions considerately and carefully, trying not to be insensitive in asking anything in an unkind manner, even while asking necessary questions. Mark Henkel was able to give her a positive and insightful education. He also made her laugh more than once. While she was seeking for a polygamous family to be willing to come on the show (i.e., what Mark Henkel has

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed for Carlos Watson (for a non-aired pilot TV show) by associate producer Amanda Erickson for Dawn Syndicated Productions, on May 22, 2008.  The producer sought to develop a pilot that would be presented to network executives to see if they would fund a new talk show to be hosted by former CNN personality, Carlos Watson. For this project, the producer made that which Mark Henkel politely identified as a "Circus Act Request" (C.A.R.) - requesting to put a polygamous family "on display" to make a show about UCAP, Unrelated Consenting Adult Polygamy. The discussion remained genuinely positive throughout the interview. Mark Henkel provided some great soundbites, including some attention-grabbing "hype" that the producer quite agreed was possibly helpful. As positive as this interview was, no subsequent project ever occurred. http://www.NationalPolygamyAdvocate.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nationalpolygamyadvoca

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was on "STOSSEL" on FOX Business Network (FBN) hosted by John Stossel, on March 4, 2010.   The set-up featured John Stossel seated on the right, with Mark Henkel and Gretchen Carlson seated beside each on the left. Gretchen Carlson is the renowned TV personality and co-host (at the time) of her own separate television show, "FOX & Friends."  (Note: years later, Gretchen Carlson stopped working for FOX after successfully filing sexual harrassment accusations against that employer.) The show was taped in New York before a live audience on February 24, 2010, the week before it aired.  The entire episode was about modern-day "Prohibition" involving various segments such as drugs, prostitution, polygamy, and more. (Note: a decade later, many states had legalized marijuana.)  John Stossel's topical purpose of this show's particular episode was to demonstrate how making things illegal is what causes more crime - just as America had learned from th

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed for "Weekend America" on NPR, National Public Radio, Reporter Alex Cohen, on February 27, 2006.  This hour-long interview occurred two weeks before the premiere of HBO’s fictional TV series, "Big Love." The reporter was looking to meet and spend time with a polygamous family.  She sought to tape record numerous interactions in order to "put a human face on polygamy."   Mark Henkel informed that, as friendly, positive, and polite as the reporter was in asking for this, the request was still close to what he calls a "circus act request."  With that understood, he and she continued to see how they might find a way to do something for her show – especially because this was for a radio program.  Knowing that the coming "Big Love" news cycle would generate massive publicity for months, the reporter was hoping to complete this project before that pending news cycle, with an intended airdate of March 11, 2006.  The accelerated

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed for "48 Hours" on CBS News, Producer Sarah Prior, on May 19, 2008, preparing a pending episode that later aired on May 27, 2008. This occurred during the news cycle that followed the April 3rd FBI raid in Texas of the FLDS, the Mormon-based cult led by criminal Warren Jeffs. During that news cycle, the manufactured news outlets decidedly chose to focus on that one cult's criminal activities involving underage marriage, pretending and purporting that Jeffs' crimes are "what polygamy is about." No matter how many times that Mark Henkel appeared in media to condemn such things as not being representative of UCAP, Unrelated Consenting Adult Polygamy, numerous outlets in the corporate press mostly refused to report the actual truth; making-up and purporting news was more applied than reporting facts and whole context. Mark Henkel even identified such outlets as the "child-s*x media" because of their craven obsession with the false misrepresentation. The cont

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed for National Geographic Television, by Associate Producer Dana Kemp, on August 24, 2003, preparing to pitch for a segment on a developing episode for a second season of one of their programs. Six weeks before this interview, the U.S. Supreme Court had decided the Lawrence v. Texas decision of June 26, 2003. This interview was a follow-up to the first interview that been conducted two weeks previously on July 24, 2003. (That first interview used to be available for sale before it was later made freely available on Episode 43 of this podcast. With this new episode, this second interview is released for the very first time.) This 64-minute interview centered around how the producer could best pitch the segment to the higher-ups at National Geographic Television channel.  She asked excellent questions, completely understood the importance of the standard of Love-not-Force, and was definitely sympathetic to the issues of persecution for Christian Polyga

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was on HLN Special Report with Vinnie Politan, with Ryan Smith as fill-in host, on Headline News TV network, on July 27, 2011.   After being on Vinnie Politan's show twice the week before (with that main host himself), Mark Henkel appeared again the then-next week with a different fill-on host. As opening arguments  in the FLDS' Warren Jeffs trial were set to begin within less than 24 hours of this segment’s broadcast, the fill-in host had brought Mark Henkel onto the show again to join a panel of another slate of three different guests.  (Jeffs was found guilty the next month, August 2011, to serve a sentence of life imprisonment plus 20 years).  The segment focused on sensationalizing the so-called "lost boys" that the FLDS (Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints) reportedly would abandon. The anti-polygamists tried to allege that that cruelty to adolescent boys is supposedly “what happens in polygamy” because of the so-called "mathematics." This s

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel appeared on Pat Robertson's show, "The 700 Club," on the Christian Broadcasting Network, CBN, on August 16, 2005. For history archiving purposes, Mark Henkel's taped appearance on this specific segment helped "made history." Namely, for the first time in history, a renowned Christian organization (The 700 Club), as led by a worldwide-known Christian leader (Pat Robertson), had publicly acknowledged "Christian Polygamy" as "evangelical Christians" on TV and even said the exact words of "Christian Polygamy" and "Christian polygamists." The two words "Christian" and "Polygamy" were no longer a supposed "contradiction in terms." History had been made indeed. For this segment, Mark Henkel had been previously "interviewed on tape" by a professional woman named Kim Bonney. To hear her lengthy interview with Mark Henkel, listeners will want to hear Episode 99 of this podcast, posted February 5, 2020. The final segment that aired on August 16, 2006  (despite a number of ti

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was on HLN Special Report with Vinnie Politan, on Headline News TV network, on July 22, 2011. The second interview that week, the host had brought Mark Henkel onto the show again to join a panel of three other guests. They were there to discuss the next then-pending trial of Warren Jeffs set to begin on the following Monday. (Jeffs was found guilty the next month, August 2011, to serve a sentence of life imprisonment plus 20 years). All the panelists agreed that Jeffs was a criminal for the underage rape charges, and Mark Henkel clarified that Jeffs was always opposed by the National Polygamy Rights Movement for Consenting Adults. In this interview, Mark Henkel repeated the observation (from the day before) of how Warren Jeffs' court trial that Summer was being tried in "Tom Green County" of Texas - 10 years after Mark Henkel had previously been out in in the media speaking out against another underage criminal named, Tom Green. http://www.NationalPolygamyAdvocate.com

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed by Jennifer Dobner, for the Associated Press (the AP Newswire). **This is a MUST-HEAR Inteview***. On April 3, 2008, law enforcement raided the Eldorado Texas compound of the Mormon-based FLDS, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. For weeks, this raid was the ongoing "big story" for news organizations around the world. As most of those media outlets were routinely yet falsely labelling its leader, the criminal Warren Jeffs, as a supposed "polygamist leader," Mark Henkel had been working feverishly to clarify that Warren Jeffs was no such "polygamous leader" at all, to declare that Jeffs was loudly opposed by the National Polygamy Rights Movement for Consenting Adults, and to completely differentiate that UCAP, Unrelated Consenting Adult Polygamy, has nothing to do with such cultic actions or crimes. The AP reporter had interviewed Mark Henkel several times over the previous years, and she was glad to conduct this interview as

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel discussed the breach of agreement by and with Producer Aarne Heikkila and the TODAY Show on NBC-TV, on March 22, 2006, three days after the show aired a report by Lester Holt, on March 19, 2006.   Prior to that broadcast, Mark Henkel and the producer had conducted extensive negotiation together as conditions for producing the segment.  (Three of those negotiation discussions have been previously posted to this podcast.)  The polygamous family from the TruthBearer.org organization (which Henkel founded) had only agreed to be interviewed for the show with specific conditions, one of which being that the report would not be “all about” them, but centered around Mark Henkel, his organization, and the overall movement for UCAP, Unrelated Consenting Adult Polygamy.  Mark Henkel had made these conditions mandatory due to the actions of another show, “Dateline,” on NBC-TV, that had previously mispresented polygamy horribly.  The resulting TODAY Sh

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was on the TODAY Show on NBC-TV, for a report by Lester Holt, on March 19, 2006. As per the many discussions beforehand, this report was supposed to be about Mark Henkel, his TruthBearer.org organization, and the national polygamy rights movement. In the end, NBC instead made the report "all about" a polygamous family. While that family was from Mark Henkel's organization, there was no mention in the report of any such connection. Mark Henkel's appearance lasts no longer than 12 seconds. Lester Holt states, "As many as 100,000 Americans are believed to be living in plural marriages. But now with the buzz over HBO's hit series, 'Big Love,' and a growing political acceptance of same sex unions, polygamy activists are emerging, some calling it 'the next civil rights battle,' and the battle lines are being drawn." It then cuts to tape, listing "Mark Henkel, Founder, TruthBearer.org." Mark Henkel explains, "We're saying, get government out of the business of defining marria