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- New docuseries explores Ruby Franke's 'twisted dynamic' with Jodi Hildebrandt: See trailer</p>
<p>Amaris Encinas, USA TODAYJuly 28, 2025 at 7:01 AM</p>
<p>Viewers will learn more about the "twisted dynamic" between infamous mommy vlogger Ruby Franke and business partner Jodi Hildebrandt in a new docuseries from Investigation Discovery.</p>
<p>"Ruby & Jodi: A Cult of Sin and Influence," set to premiere in early September, combines exclusive interviews, commentary, as well as extensive archival and police footage to offer "unprecedented insight" into Hildebrandt's rise to power within the Mormon community through her life improvement program ConneXions and how it led her to Franke.</p>
<p>The show, specifically, will chronicle the women's "doomed partnership" and the "dangerous, disturbing results of unchecked influence to reveal the physical and psychological impact of their abusive actions."</p>
<p>Franke, who ran a popular YouTube channel called "8 Passengers" with her family, and Hildebrandt, Franke's counselor-turned-business partner, were arrested and convicted of child abuse after two of Franke's six children were found abused and malnourished.</p>
<p>"The docuseries charts the magnetic connection between the two and how the melding of Franke's strict family values with Hildebrandt's controversial beliefs created a microcosm of control, manipulation, and brutality that led to the devastating emotional and physical abuse of the Franke children," Investigation Discovery said in a news release.</p>
<p>Here's what we know about "Ruby & Jodi: A Cult of Sin and Influence," including how to watch it.</p>
<p>Who is Ruby Franke? And what did she do?</p>
<p>Ruby Franke, 43, is a former mommy vlogger who lived in Springville, Utah, with her husband Kevin and their six children. The couple ran a popular and now-defunct YouTube channel called "8 Passengers," which showed snippets of the family's daily life online to an audience of millions beginning in early 2015.</p>
<p>Franke later became the subject of widespread criticism online for her parenting choices, particularly her discipline methods that some considered borderline abusive.</p>
<p>The pushback intensified when Franke co-founded ConneXions with Hildebrandt, a family counselor turned business partner. Many found that the "parenting style" the pair promoted was extreme and harsh.</p>
<p>The frequent inclusion of what has been called homophobic, racist and transphobic comments did not help their popularity. In one often-referenced example, Franke told viewers that children do not deserve, and should not receive, unconditional love.</p>
<p>Both women were arrested and initially charged with six counts of second-degree aggravated child abuse in September 2023 after two of Franke's six children were found abused and malnourished, the office of Eric Clarke, the Washington County Attorney in St. Georiga, Utah, announced at the time. They both pleaded guilty in December 2023 to four of the six counts as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors, USA TODAY previously reported.</p>
<p>Franke and Hildebrandt were sentenced to prison time ranging from four to 60 years in February 2024 and are currently serving their respective sentences.</p>
<p>What will be in 'Ruby & Jodi: A Cult of Sin and Influence'?</p>
<p>Four-part Investigation Discovery docuseries "Ruby & Jodi: A Cult of Sin and Influence" offers an in-depth look at the relationship between infamous mommy vlogger Ruby Franke and ex-business partner Jodi Hildebrandt.</p>
<p>The four-part docuseries "underscores Hildebrandt's manipulative and dangerous tendencies and how when combined with Franke's strict family values, they created an environment rife with manipulation, control, and abuse," according to Investigation Discovery.</p>
<p>"Ruby & Jodi: A Cult of Sin and Influence" does feature "extensive interviews with former clients."</p>
<p>Jessi Hildebrandt, Hildebrandt's niece, and others, including local journalists as well as current and former members of the Mormon faith, will also offer "additional and exclusive insight" throughout the docuseries, the TV network said.</p>
<p>Jason Sarlanis, president of Investigation Discovery, said in a statement, "The disturbing alliance between Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt has captivated and horrified the public, and this docuseries peels back the layers of that relationship through exclusive interviews with family members, former clients, and experts to explore the broader implications of family vlogging and the devastating impact of family abuse."</p>
<p>Watch 'Ruby & Jodi: A Cult of Sin and Influence' trailerHow to watch 'Ruby & Jodi: A Cult of Sin and Influence'</p>
<p>The four-part Investigation Discovery docuseries will premiere over two nights, Sept. 1 and Sept. 2, at 9 p.m. ET/midnight PT. Episodes will be available to stream on HBO Max.</p>
<p>This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New Ruby Franke doc depicts 'doomed partnership' with Jodi Hildebrandt</p>
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