More Travel and Dining Expenses for "Bowdlerizing Brigham"?

[Doctor Scratch]

-A Carnation breakfast drink; a mushroom-and-Swiss burger + onion rings; and a chocolate milkshake.

Even when I was a kid growing up with barely enough to eat, had my parents offered, I would have refused two meals a day of pure chocolate.

Eating that way would basically nullify whatever you were gaining from following the WoW. I mean, why not just eat healthy and then chug two bottles of wine each night?

But he offers up details from his more recent menu selections:

I savored a hearty gourmet breakfast of instant oatmeal and hot water at the motel restaurant this morning, washing it down with a small carton of orange juice, and then, after several hours of further filming for Becoming Brigham at the Utah Territorial Statehouse (on Brigham Young, race, and slavery), went again with the group to The Eatery in Fillmore for lunch. I had a chicken-fried breakfast steak, but I couldn’t actually finish the meal.

A few observations:
--So, the OJ. I guess that's meant to be the token 'fruits and veg' for the day, eh? Toss back that little carton of OJ, and, feel virtuous about it, right?
--And mein Gott! The chicken-fried steak? I don't doubt that he "couldn't actually finish" it." If I had eaten what he ate the day prior, I would feel too sick to choke down a chicken-fried steak. (Why did he order it, I wonder?)

Meanwhile, he claims that he really has no choice:

Fast food places aren’t known for healthy nutrition, and Peterson didn’t really have the time to explore the various vegan, vegetarian, or pescatarian options in Fillmore (2020 population 2592). This isn’t his usual diet. Where the group goes, he goes.

The trouble with this is that he provided a link to The Eatery, and what do you know? They actually have something called "salad" on the menu. (And it sounds pretty good!) It's interesting to note that he doesn't provide details on what his companions ordered. Mr. Wilson and Ms. Bagley Fox both look like healthy, svelte individuals. Did they *also* order burgers, onion rings, and chicken-fried steak? Meanwhile, is it really true that he "didn't really have time" to explore other options? It looks to me like he had time to type up a blog entry. And he had time to peruse the "POB." And to post comments on his blog. Could it be that this is less a matter of time and more a matter of priorities?

And you know, there is a part of me that wonders if this is some kind of stunt. Maybe you remember a food travel show from a while back called Man vs. Food? The show's host--Adam Richman--would travel around the country taking on various gustatory challenges: e.g., trying to down a plate of chicken wings that had been seasoned with Carolina Reaper chiles, so that they were mouth-searingly spicy. Other challenges were about volume: can he polish off a 3-pound steak (plus sides) in under 2 hours? Maybe something like that is at play here?

Meanwhile, it's funny to note that he portrays himself as some kind of innocent "victim" in all of this: "It's all Redbrick's fault!" Yeah--he's being dragged by the ear to all these locations, motels, eateries, etc. Nevermind that he is the *PRESIDENT* of the organization that is paying Redbrick to make these movies.

[Gadianton]

--So, the OJ. I guess that's meant to be the token 'fruits and veg' for the day, eh?

Orange juice is worse than his chocolate milk, it's just another cheap sugar rush. The kind he got is probably a 66 on the GI. If he got an orange instead, it would be much better because then you get the fiber, a GI around a 40, and no preservatives.

-And mein Gott! The chicken-fried steak? I don't doubt that he "couldn't actually finish" it." If I had eaten what he ate the day prior, I would feel too sick to choke down a chicken-fried steak

I doubt I've eaten more than 10 onion rings in my entire life. They are significantly worse than fries. Overall I haven't had the greatest diet, but there are hard lines, like at onion rings, good Lord. And chick-fried steak? Are you kidding? The deep fried onion wasn't enough he had to deep fry his steak in batter and then drown that in a glaze of fat and sodium?

The trouble with this is that he provided a link to The Eatery, and what do you know? They actually have something called "salad" on the menu.

Anytime I've ever got a steak eating out, I've been able to get it without deep frying it in batter, and it comes with broccoli and cauliflower or asparagus spears, and always a salad with red wine vinegar or something. I usually take it with a house merlot. The fact his choice passes the WoW and mine doesn't shows you just how empty his morality is -- a short list of meaningless technicalities.

Maybe you remember a food travel show from a while back called Man vs. Food?

I never watched it, but I'm embarrassed to say I do watch beard-meets-food on YouTube. And since you brought it up, he's been hitting Utah challenges recently and it's quite revealing. Utah, especially as you go south and it gets more Mormon and more red, is the most hollowed-out culture on the planet. These people are zombies. When he's at a bar in Europe or Canada and many spots in the US even, the staff is friendly and alive, and into their challenges. In Utah he goes into the place and he's like, "You folks have a food challenge I understand?" and the response is, "um, I guess." everything is bland and looks dead. This is a direct result of DCP's generation and their vision for the world. This series is an attempt to make more of the world like this.

Yeah--he's being dragged by the ear to all these locations, motels, eateries, etc.

Isn't that the point of the venture? Think about it -- suppose you make a movie that's 3 hours, you've got to put a lot of work into the props and setup and everything, but overall there aren't as many days for "executive producers" to hang out for the shoot. Didn't someone say 80 episodes: 80x3 = 240. We're talking minimum 240 days of comp'd meals and hotel living.

[Marcus]

--So, the OJ. I guess that's meant to be the token 'fruits and veg' for the day, eh?

Orange juice is worse than his chocolate milk, it's just another cheap sugar rush. The kind he got is probably a 66 on the GI. If he got an orange instead, it would be much better because then you get the fiber, a GI around a 40, and no preservatives.

-And mein Gott! The chicken-fried steak? I don't doubt that he "couldn't actually finish" it." If I had eaten what he ate the day prior, I would feel too sick to choke down a chicken-fried steak

I doubt I've eaten more than 10 onion rings in my entire life. They are significantly worse than fries. Overall I haven't had the greatest diet, but there are hard lines, like at onion rings, good Lord. And chick-fried steak? Are you kidding? The deep fried onion wasn't enough he had to deep fry his steak in batter and then drown that in a glaze of fat and sodium?

The trouble with this is that he provided a link to The Eatery, and what do you know? They actually have something called "salad" on the menu.

Anytime I've ever got a steak eating out, I've been able to get it without deep frying it in batter, and it comes with broccoli and cauliflower or asparagus spears, and always a salad with red wine vinegar or something. I usually take it with a house merlot. The fact his choice passes the WoW and mine doesn't shows you just how empty his morality is -- a short list of meaningless technicalities.

Maybe you remember a food travel show from a while back called Man vs. Food?

I never watched it, but I'm embarrassed to say I do watch beard-meets-food on YouTube. And since you brought it up, he's been hitting Utah challenges recently and it's quite revealing. Utah, especially as you go south and it gets more Mormon and more red, is the most hollowed-out culture on the planet. These people are zombies. When he's at a bar in Europe or Canada and many spots in the US even, the staff is friendly and alive, and into their challenges. In Utah he goes into the place and he's like, "You folks have a food challenge I understand?" and the response is, "um, I guess." everything is bland and looks dead. This is a direct result of DCP's generation and their vision for the world. This series is an attempt to make more of the world like this.

Yeah--he's being dragged by the ear to all these locations, motels, eateries, etc.

Isn't that the point of the venture? Think about it -- suppose you make a movie that's 3 hours, you've got to put a lot of work into the props and setup and everything, but overall there aren't as many days for "executive producers" to hang out for the shoot. Didn't someone say 80 episodes: 80x3 = 240. We're talking minimum 240 days of comp'd meals and hotel living.

Lol couldn't agree more about the food choices. A chicken-fried steak for lunch? Is he serious?? And why do none of his orders seem to come with vegetables? Also, even at the worst motel breakfast (or god forbid a 7-11 on the way to your shooting site) you can always get an apple or banana. He could have brought a jar of peanut butter, a little jar of honey, and a couple of pieces of multigrain bread from home and eaten more healthily. But, I don't buy for a second his fellow film-makers eat this badly. He's choosing his WoW-sanctioned poison.

But he's also not being clear about his 'executive producer' standing. His wife was also a executive producer on all 3 previous movies, but he recently stated her meals and airfare were not paid for when she accompanied him, the other executive producer, to filming events, eve though his expenses were. Maybe we are being punked on all of this.

[drumdude]

Interpreter never provides any details about how much money they're shoveling at Redbricks Filmworks. But fortunately that information is required to be public when they file their 990.

Here are the day-to-day spending reports:
https://interpreterfoundation.org/foundation/expenses

And here's the total spending:
https://projects.propublica.org/nonprof ... /460869962

The right-most column is what Interpreter spends money on and doesn't list in their detailed financial reports. 90% of their expenses are hidden from their "financial transparency" report.



Add in 2025, and we can guess that Interpreter has spent around 7-8 million dollars on these film projects. Only 10% of their donations go to the rest of Interpreter.


What's most shocking to me is how much more expensive filming has gotten on this latest round of mediocre youtube videos, compared to their theatrical feature films. Redbrick filmworks must be charging Hollywood prices for these 15 minute "webisodes."

[I Have Questions]

Interpreter never provides any details about how much money they're shoveling at Redbricks Filmworks. But fortunately that information is required to be public when they file their 990.

Here are the day-to-day spending reports:
https://interpreterfoundation.org/foundation/expenses

And here's the total spending:
https://projects.propublica.org/nonprof ... /460869962

The right-most column is what Interpreter spends money on and doesn't list in their detailed financial reports. 90% of their expenses are hidden from their "financial transparency" report.



Add in 2025, and we can guess that Interpreter has spent around 7-8 million dollars on these film projects. Only 10% of their donations go to the rest of Interpreter.


What's most shocking to me is how much more expensive filming has gotten on this latest round of mediocre youtube videos, compared to their theatrical feature films. Redbrick filmworks must be charging Hollywood prices for these 15 minute "webisodes."

Peterson is rinsing Interpreter on behalf of his chums at Redbrick Filmworks to the tune of at least $1 million a year, and in return he gets to choke down free burgers and milkshakes and play at being a somebody. What a great con he’s pulling on the donors.

[I Have Questions]

Does the following sound like someone intent on living the spirit of The Word Of Wisdom?

I began the day with an exquisite bowl of Quaker instant oatmeal at our motel in Richfield, and I polished that oatmeal off with a very fine glass of reasonably cold milk. For lunch, we pulled in at The Wild Rabbit café, in Torrey (population, in the 2020 census, 171), where I ate a really rather good Philadelphia cheesesteak sandwich. For dinner, I had two chicken strips and some chocolate milk at a food truck.

Quite the calorie count.

[Doctor CamNC4Me]

...With John Donovan Wilson and Camrey Bagley Fox, as well as James Jordan and Russ Richins and Mark Goodman of Redbrick Filmworks — unfortunately, my wife could not come along...

This is an interesting admission. Why not? If she could have "come along", would the Interpreter have paid her expenses also, as they have in the past?

I’m surprised this isn’t gaining more traction. Something’s up with putting Deborah Peterson as an Executive Producer. She serves as Secretary (Treasurer? It’s a little unclear) of the Interpreter Foundation. The IF pulls about $1.7M/year, so she ostensibly manages the money? She shows up on a 990 as an unpaid volunteer for the org. She’s been credited on several IF films.

So. What’s the point of it? Legacy? What does she do as an Executive Producer? Write the check as IF Treasurer? Or she does secretarial work? But, she’s now an Executive Producer? And no one is getting paid for this? Ever? Huh?

[Marcus]

This is an interesting admission. Why not? If she could have "come along", would the Interpreter have paid her expenses also, as they have in the past?

I’m surprised this isn’t gaining more traction. Something’s up with putting Deborah Peterson as an Executive Producer. She serves as Secretary (Treasurer? It’s a little unclear) of the Interpreter Foundation. The IF pulls about $1.7M/year, so she ostensibly manages the money? She shows up on a 990 as an unpaid volunteer for the org. She’s been credited on several IF films.

So. What’s the point of it? Legacy? What does she do as an Executive Producer? Write the check as IF Treasurer? Or she does secretarial work? But, she’s now an Executive Producer? And no one is getting paid for this? Ever? Huh?

And Peterson responded by saying when he has traveled for filming in the past he has had his expenses covered but when she has traveled with him, she did not. Why not, if they were both exec producers?

[Tom]

Interpreter never provides any details about how much money they're shoveling at Redbricks Filmworks. But fortunately that information is required to be public when they file their 990.

Here are the day-to-day spending reports:
https://interpreterfoundation.org/foundation/expenses

And here's the total spending:
https://projects.propublica.org/nonprof ... /460869962

The right-most column is what Interpreter spends money on and doesn't list in their detailed financial reports. 90% of their expenses are hidden from their "financial transparency" report.



Add in 2025, and we can guess that Interpreter has spent around 7-8 million dollars on these film projects. Only 10% of their donations go to the rest of Interpreter.


What's most shocking to me is how much more expensive filming has gotten on this latest round of mediocre youtube videos, compared to their theatrical feature films. Redbrick filmworks must be charging Hollywood prices for these 15 minute "webisodes."

I see that the Interpreter Foundation reported revenue of $111,020 from Six Days in 2025. The film closed in theaters in late December 2024, so ticket sales don’t seem to explain that figure. Plus, I know the Relief Society Sister in Parowan and her fellow widowed ward members regularly watch Six Days online for free (they live on limited incomes and blessings from automatic monthly tithing donations), so revenue is not coming from them. (To be frank, the Relief Society Sister has also shared the link with the Old High Priest in Ogden and the Little Old Lady from Pasadena Ward and their many friends.)

[Gadianton]

Is this guy ten years old? Chicken strips and chocolate milk? I can't even remember the last time I drank chocolate milk. A couple times in the winter I might drink hot chocolate. But a pint carton of chocolate milk like in grade school? And didn't he just have two full meals of chocolate two days ago?

Instant oatmeal is near radioactive with sugar. And I'm going to assume that he's not eating a single packet. Assuming two packets, he's already near max sugar for the day depending on whose values you go by. I used to mix one packet with ~ 2 parts quick oats and that's still plenty of sugar.

Of the matter of the Philadelphia Cheesesteak, I'll admit if I could bamboozle a non-profit into buying me a cheesesteak I might just do it. However, a true Philadelphia is made with Cheese Whiz, which in addition to the carb tsunami of that huge roll makes for another low quality meal. I've had a true Philadelphia and I'd rather get a cheesesteak with actual cheese. But I have to say, I can't remember three days in a row eating huge burger, then a steak (chicken fried no less) and then a Philadelphia. And were those breaded chicken strips for dinner?

I guess there's a reason there's Ozempic and statins. Don't tell me science didn't do more for the Saints than the Word of Wisdom ever could.