National Polygamy Advocate

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed by Aarne Heikkila for Lester Holt for the TODAY Show on NBC-TV, on March 15, 2006. The network had flown the producer and a TV crew to record the interview at a hotel in Portland, Maine, for a segment that would later air on March 19, 2006. On behalf of Lester Holt, producer Aarne Heikkila asked questions of Mark Henkel that would be used on a segment by the show's anchor Lester Holt. The producer asked questions that required lengthy answers while otherwise seeking to get sound-bite responses that he could use in the segment.  HBO had just premiered its fictional series, "Big Love," that same month - the first of its kind about polygamists. This interview, however, focused on Christian Polygamy and the larger non-Mormon based UCAP, Unrelated Consenting Adult Polygamy.  The former had made the latter larger movement possible, even paving the way for such a show to even be considered. This interview contains many excellent sound-bites as well a

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel's 3of3 negotiating with producer Aarne Heikkila for the TODAY Show on NBC-TV, on March 14, 2006, to set terms for a taped interview (the next day). This conversation was the third of three steps to the negotiation for the terms and conditions of agreement for a taped interview with Mark Henkel and for another interview with one of the polygamous families from the TruthBearer.org organization that he founded. The eventual segment was broadcast on March 19, 2006. Mark Henkel had been requiring that it be written into the Agreement that the crew and producer (et al) would neither follow nor record anything else after the formal interviews. In the beginning of this third negotiation, the producer opened the negotiation by trying to get out of having to formally write that requirement.  Mark Henkel used his negotiation skills to both initially and conditionally concede on that issue. Later, however, the producer brought up a separate issue of how media companies can be

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel's 2of3 negotiating with producer Aarne Heikkila for the TODAY Show on on NBC-TV, on March 10, 2006, to set terms for a taped interview. This conversation was the second of three steps to the negotiation for the terms and conditions of agreement for a taped interview with Mark Henkel and for another interview with one of the polygamous families from the TruthBearer.org organization that he founded. The eventual segment was broadcast on March 19, 2006. Because NBC had aired another show called "Dateline" that had made false associations about UCAP, Unrelated Consenting Adult Polygamy, two years previously, Mark Henkel was clear that he was not going to tolerate any misrepresentation of the movement again.  The purpose of the piece was to be about the movement, Mark Henkel, and the TruthBearer.org organization -not exclusively about the family from his organization. Mark Henkel explained, "This will be NBC's shot to repair the damage of Dateline two years ago, and we

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel's 1of3 negotiating with producer Aarne Heikkila for the TODAY Show on on NBC-TV, on March 9, 2006, to set terms for a taped interview. This conversation was the first of three steps to the negotiation for the terms and conditions of agreement for a taped interview with Mark Henkel and for another interview with one of the polygamous families from the TruthBearer.org organization that he founded. The eventual segment was broadcast on March 19, 2006. Because NBC had aired another show called "Dateline" that had made false associations about UCAP, Unrelated Consenting Adult Polygamy, two years previously, Mark Henkel was clear that he was not going to tolerate any misrepresentation of the movement again. When Mark Henkel was specifically limiting specific things for the terms and conditions, the producer countered them as supposedly not being necessary, saying, "You're free to say stuff like that when we interview you." Refusing to be misled by that argument, Mark Henkel

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed on The Ed Tyll Show on Florida Man Radio, WDYZ 660AM / 105.5FM, in Altamonte Springs, Florida, on February 28, 2020.  Over the previous decade, Mark Henkel had been a guest a number of different times on the host's past syndicated programs - each of which had always been positive interviews.  For this interview, Mark Henkel was originally asked as a guest to discuss a new state law being passed in the Utah Legislature to reduce the charge of bigamy from a felony crime down to an infraction in cases of UCAP, Unrelated Consenting Adult Polygamy, in which no other crimes occur. (NOTE: months after this interview, that law became fully passed and effective on May 12, 2020.)  The Florida Man Radio station obviously targets a male demographic in the greater Orlando, Florida market.    Along those lines, the host took the discussion toward a more physical direction of marital relations, although being neither vulgar nor salacious.

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed on The Jiggy Jaguar Show, hosted by James Lowe (aka Jiggy Jaguar), in Hutchinson Kansas, on March 13, 2013, to discuss how the Roman Catholic institution's selection of its newest Pope Francis that same day might impact UCAP, Unrelated Consenting Adult Polygamy.  The host was both positive and generous in his praise and comments to Mark Henkel and UCAP polygamy.  http://www.NationalPolygamyAdvocate.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nationalpolygamyadvocate/support

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was on HLN Special Report with Vinnie Politan, on Headline News TV network, on July 21, 2011. The host had brought Mark Henkel onto the show to join a panel of two 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 made the renowned soundbite that observed 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 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed by Jennifer Dobner for the Associated Press (the AP newswire), on September 25, 2007. This was on the same day that the guilty verdicts were handed down against Warren Jeffs, cult leader of the FLDS, the Fundamentalist LDS. For the report she was writing, the reporter got the statement from Mark Henkel that families in Unrelated Consenting Adult Polygamy, UCAP, were glad that that real criminal was finally going to prison. The interview also discussed the issue of how the "mainstream" LDS always get their special caveat added to AP articles (declaring that the LDS oppose polygamy) and how any referencing to "Mormon polygamists" seems to be prohibited by the LDS themselves when it comes to AP articles - all while not allowing the National Polygamy Rights Movement for Consenting Adults to declare its adamant opposition to Jeffs and his cult (who have never been part of the movement anyway). The discussion also included commenting on how Judge James L. Shu

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was on "John Stossel Special Report" for "20/20" on ABC News, on July 18, 2008, during prime time television hours. The hour-long special looked into how big government over-reaches into what consenting adults do. This 7-minute segment, focusing on polygamy, made its fourfold-purpose clear. One, show that polygamy is not exclusively based on Mormon Polygamy (and that that idea is a myth). Two, show other forms of polygamy in a modern context. Three, show that UCAP (Unrelated Consenting Adult Polygamy) is about unrelated consenting adults making private choices of UCAP for themselves that work for them.  Four, show that UCAP polygamy has nothing to do with criminals and cults that also supposedly "involve polygamy" as otherwise sensationalized and misreported by manufactured news corporations. Mark Henkel was identified as the "National Polygamy Advocate." The segment includes interviews with a Christian polygamous husband and two wives from the TruthBearer.org Org

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was in-person interviewed by producer Kristina Kendall immediately after John Stossel had also interviewed him, for "20/20" on ABC News TV, on January 30, 2008, at the ABC studios in New York City, New York, for a "John Stossel Special" that would air on July 18, 2008.  The producer needed to capture additional soundbites from Mark Henkel.  She took questions that John Stossel had just asked him in the previous interview and continued to have Mark Henkel provide more brief and succinct responses.  It is from this interview that the since-renowned "That's Insane!" soundbite was recorded.   Mark Henkel also gave several other excellent soundbites in this final interview that did not get aired.  The producer expressed her positivity repeatedly, exclaiming at separate times, "Good answer(!)," "Very good(!)," and "You're great(!)."  From her pre-interviews (as previously broadcast in past podcasts) through this last interview here, the sin

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was in-person interviewed by John Stossel, for "20/20" on ABC News TV, on January 30, 2008, at the ABC studios in New York City, New York, for a "John Stossel Special" that would air on July 18, 2008.  Even as producer Kristina Kendall had prepared some of the topics for John Stossel to ask for this full-camera taping, he still asked questions in his own way, was interested and positive toward Mark Henkel, and even offered indirect suggestions on how Mark Henkel could consider answering questions that the show's audience would be able to understand.  (For example, John Stossel suggested that many in his show’s audience might not know what "laissez faire" means, even as he said that he would agree with the term, himself.  The producer said that they were looking to see Mark Henkel's passion on camera - which he both easily and unquestionably delivered.  Mark Henkel offered numerous soundbites and education on many issues such as polygamists not havin

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was pre-interviewed a 2nd time by Kristina Kendall, producer for John Stossel, on "20/20" on ABC News TV, on December 18, 2007. This was the first of 2 pre-interviews, in preparation for a subsequent taped-interview with John Stossel himself at the ABC studios in New York City, New York, for a “John Stossel Special” that would air on July 18, 2008. The producer was preparing a positive story about non-Mormon polygamy. This pre-interview includes preparations also made for recording some B-roll video with one of the UCAP (Unrelated Consenting Adult Polygamy) families in his organization, and also for ensuring that ABC would be flying him to that taping to protect the family as that would happen. The producer was completely committed to protecting the family and the integrity of this story. At one point, the producer even jumped in and exclaimed, "That's one of the most amazing things about your whole philosophy is that it's about complete choice." With this second of tw

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was pre-interviewed by Kristina Kendall, producer for John Stossel, on "20/20" on ABC News TV, on November 21, 2007.  This was the first of 2 pre-interviews, in preparation for a subsequent taped-interview with John Stossel himself at the ABC studios in New York City, New York, for a “John Stossel Special” that would air on July 18, 2008. The producer wanted to do a story about non-Mormon polygamy. She established right away that she knew and that she affirmed that she would first have to build a relationship of trust. Mark Henkel told her how the Unrelated Consenting Adult Polygamists (UPCAPs) had actually “been waiting to hear from John Stossel” for this kind of segment. Mark Henkel gave the sound-bite comparing “CNN on the left and FOX on the right” manufacturing news product as if real news to “saying that MacDonald’s and Burger King sell health food.”  Having been so let down by ABC’s past airing of misrepresentative manufactured news stories about polyg

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed by Peri Muldofsky, former Development Producer for ABC News Productions, but still freelancing for them on June 10, 2006.   In this (the third of three) interviews, the producer said that she was no longer full time employed by ABC News, that she worked for the History Channel instead, and that she was still able to write articles for major media such New York Sunday Times magazine, Glamour, and other print media. She still very much wanted to so something with Mark Henkel and this story. The interview referenced Mark Henkel's several experiences/observations with various personalities in the media, including Lester Holt of NBC-TV, Stanley Kurtz of The Weekly Standard, Albert Mohler of CrossTalk.com (who made the outrageous claim that supposedly "legalization of polygamy means the destruction of marriage"), and Karole Honas of KIFI-TV (who had been urprised by the story from a feminist angle). When Mark Henkel lamented the disappointing ordeal

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed by Peri Muldofsky, Development Producer for ABC News Productions, on March 3, 2006.  Three months after a previous lengthy interview together, the producer positively kept seeking in this next interview to develop a working relationship of trust.  She continued to make recommendations for getting polygamous families on TV.  While she knew that that was not going to happen at that time, the producer remained genuinely professional, provided insightful education about how TV/media operates behind the scenes, and offered to write something for print media such as the New York Sunday Times and Glamour magazine (the latter for which she had a direct contact).  This is the second of three comprehensive and important interviews with this very friendly media professional. http://www.NationalPolygamyAdvocate.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nationalpolygamyadvocate/support

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed by Peri Muldofsky, Development Producer for ABC News Productions, on December 13, 2005. In this comprehensive 90-minute interview, the producer sought information for development of a story about the TruthBearer.org organization and the new modern movement of Christian Polygamy (and beyond to UCAP, Unrelated Consenting Adult Polygamy).  She had found it fascinating, as she had never heard about it before she learned of and surfed through the TruthBearer.org website. For her story development, she was initially hoping for families to go "on-air." Mark Henkel identified that idea as a “circus act request,” explaining, "The circus act does not work for us. It just hasn't (worked)." Remaining fully positive, the producer kindly sought to build a professional relationship (developing trust for the future), as she generously offered additional ways that this pro-woman, pro-family, non-Mormon form of polygamy could be given better media attention. She eve

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed by Anderson McGregor, producer for The Alan Colmes Show, on FOX News Radio, on February 7, 2005 and several subsequent times through April 29, 2005. The initial media request sought for Mark Henkel to appear on The Alan Colmes Show on the next night. As other news broke, however, that original plan did not happen. This podcast episode includes 16 different phone calls, made over a period of almost 3 months, as the producer kept trying to find ways that would tie-in to current events, to have Mark Henkel be interviewed by Alan Colmes on the show.  When the overwhelming "Terri Schiavo story" broke, they both tried to use the angle of a comprehensive article that Mark Henkel had written about the issue of marriage that applied to that story. That effort failed to succeed to get him on the show, as well.    As neither the producer nor Mark Henkel was able to find a tie-in acceptable for the show to bring Mark Henkel on to talk about UCAP

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed by Jessica Rosenthal for a report she was preparing for FOX News Radio, on September 24, 2007.  This was during the trial hearings of criminal Warren Jeffs of the FLDS.  This interview includes many persuasive, essential soundbites.  Mark Henkel said, "To connect all polygamists to Warren Jeffs is as slanderous and offensive as connecting all teachers to Mary Kay Letourneau."  The reporter exclaimed, "Huh! That IS a great soundbite!"  Mark Henkel clarified and called out the "illusion that the media continues to portray, and that is, that only practicing polygamists want polygamy rights. There IS a polygamy rights movement of vast quantities of people around the country who want the freedom to do so. And just because they might not practicing, it doesn't mean they don't want that freedom."  He also called out the manufactured news corporations for not letting the story be told: "CNN and FOX, liberal vs conservative, it's li

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel on Live Talk Radio with host Branden Rathert, on News Radio 1620 AM WNRP, in Pensacola, Florida.  As same sex marriage was just then legalized in Florida, Mark Henkel was brought back on to the show (as a previous guest in past years) to discuss UCAP, Unrelated Consenting Adult Polygamy.  The host asked his audience: Which of those two types of marriage do they find more abhorrent? Mark Henkel explained that the modern UCAP polygamy movement is actually a pro-woman's choice movement.  When the host referenced two different reality TV shows about polygamy as being "weird," Mark Henkel clarified that those reality TV shows involved only Mormon polygamous families.  Mark Henkel explained that Mormonism's excusive "pre-existence of souls" doctrine calls for women to have as many children as possible;  but that means that other UCAP families, those who do not come from the Mormon paradigm, do not follow that Mormon doctrine and thus, typically, will

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel persisted again with Jennifer Dobner of the Associated Press (the AP Newswire), on February 1, 2007.  This was in response to a then-proposed bill, HB 2009, introduced by Rep. David Lujan, D-Phoenix, in Arizona, that sought to prohibit judges from granting custody to a parent who engages in "child bigamy" unless the judge determines that no threat exists to the child.  In addition to trying to present the national movement's response to the bill for then-future AP-articles in that news cycle (and to address the falsely-worded idea of supposed "fleeing polygamy"), Mark Henkel was also again persisting to get the needed clarification in the AP Stylebook to include the necessary differentiating adjectives (such as "Mormon polygamy"). http://www.NationalPolygamyAdvocate.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nationalpolygamyadvocate/support