Podcasts > Rotten Mango > “My Parents Were Pedophiles & Forced Me Into Being With Other Pedophiles”- A Day With Lisa Plumb

“My Parents Were Pedophiles & Forced Me Into Being With Other Pedophiles”- A Day With Lisa Plumb

By Stephanie Soo & Ramble

In this episode of Rotten Mango, guest Lisa Plumb discusses her experience of childhood sexual abuse within her family and at Glen Eden nudist camp. She shares her journey through the legal system in attempting to hold her abusers accountable, describing the challenges she encountered with Megan's Law enforcement and the limitations of legal proceedings.

The discussion also covers Plumb's path to recovery, including her work in martial arts and her transition to becoming a therapist who helps other trauma survivors. She addresses systemic issues at nudist camps that can enable abuse, including insufficient protective measures for minors, and describes her efforts to implement stronger safeguards through policy changes at these facilities.

Listen to the original

“My Parents Were Pedophiles & Forced Me Into Being With Other Pedophiles”- A Day With Lisa Plumb

This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the Oct 9, 2025 episode of the Rotten Mango

Sign up for Shortform to access the whole episode summary along with additional materials like counterarguments and context.

“My Parents Were Pedophiles & Forced Me Into Being With Other Pedophiles”- A Day With Lisa Plumb

1-Page Summary

Lisa Plumb's Childhood Sexual Abuse Experiences

Lisa Plumb shares her story of enduring childhood sexual abuse from multiple perpetrators within her family and community. Starting at age five, Lisa experienced abuse from her mother's boyfriends, including John and Larry Feldman, who used manipulation tactics to exploit her. Her stepfather Don Gordon, along with his girlfriend Jodie, continued the pattern of abuse at Glen Eden nudist camp. Lisa also discusses her father's questionable behavior, including his possession of pedophilic materials and failure to protect his children.

Lisa's Efforts to Hold Her Abusers Accountable

In her pursuit of justice, Lisa encountered significant obstacles within the legal system. She discovered that many of her abusers exploited loopholes to avoid registry requirements under Megan's Law, and enforcement of restrictions was often lax. Her attempts to testify against her abusers were frequently thwarted by sudden guilty pleas, and the legal process itself proved re-traumatizing without adequate support. These systemic failures led Lisa to contemplate vigilante action, though she ultimately chose not to pursue this path.

Lisa's Healing Journey and Becoming a Therapist

Lisa's path to recovery included various therapeutic approaches, with martial arts playing a crucial role in managing her PTSD and rebuilding confidence. She found strength through protective relationships and support groups, eventually becoming a therapist herself. Lisa emphasizes the importance of therapists engaging in their own healing work, drawing from her personal experience to help other trauma survivors.

The Issue of Nudist Camps Enabling Child Abuse

Through her experiences at Glen Eden Sun Club, Lisa reveals how nudist camps can become hunting grounds for predators. She describes an environment of lax rules and minimal accountability that enabled abuse to occur unchecked. Lisa has initiated a campaign to ban children from nudist resorts, highlighting the systemic issues that make these spaces potentially dangerous for minors. The presence of individuals known as "COG" (Creepy Outside Guys) underscores the camps' awareness of predatory behavior, despite insufficient protective measures.

1-Page Summary

Additional Materials

Actionables

- You can educate yourself on the signs of manipulation and abuse to better protect yourself and others by reading books or taking online courses on psychological manipulation, understanding the tactics abusers use, and learning how to support survivors.

  • By recognizing the patterns of behavior that abusers like those mentioned in Lisa's story exhibit, you can become more vigilant in your personal life and community. For example, if you notice someone consistently violating boundaries or using guilt to control others, these could be red flags. Sharing this knowledge with friends and family can create a more informed and protective environment.
  • You can advocate for stronger enforcement of existing laws and policies related to sexual abuse by writing to your local representatives and demanding better oversight and accountability.
  • This could involve requesting more resources for law enforcement to monitor registered offenders, pushing for laws that close loopholes allowing predators to evade detection, or advocating for better support systems for survivors within the legal process. For instance, you might campaign for a local initiative that ensures survivors have access to a support person during legal proceedings.
  • You can support organizations that offer martial arts or self-defense classes for survivors of abuse, which can help rebuild confidence and provide a sense of empowerment.
  • By donating to or volunteering with these organizations, you help make these resources more accessible to survivors who may benefit from them as Lisa did. Additionally, you could encourage local community centers or schools to partner with such organizations to offer classes, emphasizing the potential mental health benefits for participants.

Get access to the context and additional materials

So you can understand the full picture and form your own opinion.
Get access for free
“My Parents Were Pedophiles & Forced Me Into Being With Other Pedophiles”- A Day With Lisa Plumb

Lisa Plumb's Childhood Sexual Abuse Experiences

Lisa Plumb openly shares her harrowing history of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of multiple abusers, revealing a disturbing pattern of exploitation and neglect within her own family and community.

Lisa Endured Sexual Abuse From a Young Age by Family Members, Friends, and Other Community Adults

Childhood Trauma: Lisa Molested At Nudist Camp by Mother's Boyfriend

Lisa Plumb suffered abuse as a child, starting with her mother's boyfriend, John, who used crayons and coloring books to lure Lisa into a false sense of security before molesting her. Her sister walked in on one such incident, and it seemed to upset her. At that time, Lisa was nine, and it led to a kitchen conversation with their parents about the abuse. John even went as far as threatening to kill Lisa's mother if she disclosed the abuse to anyone.

Lisa's mother also had a boyfriend named Larry Feldman, who encouraged the family to visit Glen Eden nudist camp when Lisa was only five years old. Lisa, along with her brother and sister, was horrified by the idea but was forced to participate. Larry not only failed to protect the children but also actively involved them in sexualized environments. Lisa recalls a disturbing incident of being sexually abused on the kitchen table by Larry, while her brother was instructed to take pictures.

Lisa's Stepfather Don Gordon and Girlfriend Jodie Abused Her At a Nudist Camp to Meet Other Children

Glen Eden became a site of further abuse for Lisa, who was molested by her stepfather, Don Gordon. She details how Don Gordon, with his girlfriend Jodie, would manipulate her into sexual acts, using grooming tactics to normalize the exploitation. Don Gordon even insinuated that Lisa wanted to have sexual relations with him, an idea he shared openly with Jodie, who did not protect Lisa. Instead, Jodie suggested that if Lisa had a good father, she would want him, deepening the trauma of the abusive dynamic.

Don and Jodie's manipulation extended to telling Lisa that her mother was crazy, increasing her isolation and vulnerability. Lisa describes how sexual abuse frequently occurred at the nudist camp, with Don taking pictures of her and other girls, further highlighting the lack of protection and complicity in the community.

Don Gordon, identified as a predator with numerous charges against him, including assault on minors, claimed he abused children because he wanted to be a father figure. Lisa mentions her connection to both Don and Jodie, while also associating her experiences with a photographer known for killing children.

Father May Have Abused and Failed to Protect Lisa and Siblings

Lisa discusses her father's questionable attitude regarding ...

Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary

Registered users get access to the Full Podcast Summary and Additional Materials. It’s easy and free!
Start your free trial today

Lisa Plumb's Childhood Sexual Abuse Experiences

Additional Materials

Actionables

  • You can create a safe dialogue space in your family by initiating regular, open conversations about personal boundaries and consent. Start by setting a specific time each week where family members can discuss their feelings and experiences without judgment. Encourage everyone to share their thoughts on what makes them comfortable or uncomfortable, and use this as a foundation to establish clear family guidelines on respecting personal space and consent.
  • Develop a personal vetting system for new individuals entering your or your family's life by researching warning signs of grooming and manipulative behaviors. Before trusting someone with access to your home or family, observe their interactions over time, look for patterns that may raise red flags, and have candid discussions with family members about any concerns that arise. This proactive approach can help prevent potential abusers from gaining influence.
  • Volunteer for or donate to organizations that support su ...

Get access to the context and additional materials

So you can understand the full picture and form your own opinion.
Get access for free
“My Parents Were Pedophiles & Forced Me Into Being With Other Pedophiles”- A Day With Lisa Plumb

Lisa's Efforts to Hold Her Abusers Accountable

The narrative of Lisa confronting her abusers reveals a fraught journey marked by systemic obstacles and personal trauma.

Lisa's Abusers Evade Registry Through Loopholes and Weak Enforcement

In her attempts to confirm the release of abusers like Don Gordon into her neighborhood, Lisa encountered significant shortcomings in the system. Despite the intention of laws like Megan's Law to inform the public, the lack of full address disclosure and the need to visit the sheriff's office for information created barriers for Lisa. She discovered that individuals like Jodi Jones (or Jodi Gordon, after marrying to avoid testifying against each other) were not on the offender registry despite their sentencing requirements. Moreover, even when an abuser, such as Jodi Throckmorton, was supposed to be registered and restricted from certain jobs like in-home health care aid, enforcement was lax, allowing these individuals to continue potentially harmful behavior. Lisa’s vigilance was compounded when she found one of her abusers, Jody, who was supposed to be on Megan's Law, in her vicinity, underlining the inefficacy of legal measures.

Lisa's Efforts to Testify Against Abusers Often Fail

Lisa found the legal system frustratingly opaque when it came to holding her abusers accountable. Despite abusers like Glenn and Jody exploiting loopholes to get off Megan's Law, there was scant communication about their status. When authorities in Illinois were alerted about an abuser's high-risk status, there was no follow-up action. The legal efforts Lisa participated in, such as preparing to testify for another of her abuser's recent victims, were often negated by abrupt guilty pleas that nullified the need for her testimony. Lisa recounts b ...

Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary

Registered users get access to the Full Podcast Summary and Additional Materials. It’s easy and free!
Start your free trial today

Lisa's Efforts to Hold Her Abusers Accountable

Additional Materials

Actionables

  • You can support survivors by volunteering with a local victim advocacy group, where you can offer emotional support or assist with navigating the legal system. By becoming a trained volunteer, you'll help individuals like Lisa by providing them with someone who understands the system and can stand by them during legal proceedings, potentially reducing feelings of isolation and re-traumatization.
  • Create a simple, anonymous feedback tool for survivors to share their experiences with the legal system, which can be shared with reform advocates or legal entities. This tool could be a basic online form or survey that allows survivors to report issues like lack of communication or enforcement without revealing their identity, contributing to a larger dataset that highlights systemic problems and areas needing improvement.
  • Educ ...

Get access to the context and additional materials

So you can understand the full picture and form your own opinion.
Get access for free
“My Parents Were Pedophiles & Forced Me Into Being With Other Pedophiles”- A Day With Lisa Plumb

Lisa's Healing Journey and Becoming a Therapist

Lisa shares her story of triumph over childhood trauma and her path to becoming a therapist who helps others heal from similar experiences.

Lisa Heals From Childhood Trauma With Therapy, Including Martial Arts

Lisa Overcame Depression, Anxiety, and Ptsd From Abuse, Making Progress in Healing

While Lisa does not specifically itemize her struggles with depression, anxiety, and PTSD from abuse in her memoir, the references to therapy and understanding early memories signal her profound engagement with healing. Her experiences also emerge during a period of postpartum depression when earlier traumas resurfaced, creating cravings for substances that she had managed to quit at 18.

Therapy Helps Lisa Heal By Aiding Trauma Victims

Martial arts have been vital in Lisa's recovery, providing her not only with emotional strength but also aiding in the rewiring of her nervous system. She gained confidence through this practice, which helped her manage her PTSD. Further reinforcement came from reading Judith Herman's work on recovery and listening to Gabor Mate, highlighting martial arts as a therapeutic method. Lisa's involvement in the 12-step program and abuse recovery groups also played a role in her journey.

Lisa Highlights Protective Factors and Supportive Relationships in Healing Trauma Survivors

Lisa identified protective influences that mitigated the impact of her early adversities and recognizes the role of supportive relationships in healing. Having someone like 'Rei,' a protective figure from her past, proved crucial for her survival. These relationships modeled the empathy and validation she lacked from her mother, who struggled with psychological issues and lacked empathy. Lisa underscores the concept of validation and the power of being heard, recognizing the importance of hope and believing in a positive future.

Lisa emphasizes that as she educated herself to become a therapist, understanding the science of abuse was not just academic—it was a personal endeavor to deconstruct false beliefs and overcome anxiety to the extent that she could genuinely connect with others. In her practice, Lisa relates to many of her clients and ensures she continues to work on h ...

Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary

Registered users get access to the Full Podcast Summary and Additional Materials. It’s easy and free!
Start your free trial today

Lisa's Healing Journey and Becoming a Therapist

Additional Materials

Actionables

  • You can explore expressive writing to process traumatic experiences by setting aside a few minutes each day to write about your thoughts and feelings, which can serve as a form of self-therapy.
  • Writing can be a powerful tool for self-reflection and emotional processing. Start by writing for 10 minutes each day about any topic that feels significant to you, focusing on expressing your emotions and thoughts without judgment. This practice can help you understand your experiences better and may provide a sense of release.
  • Consider taking up a body-focused activity like yoga or dance to complement emotional healing and build resilience.
  • Activities that combine physical movement with mindfulness, such as yoga or dance, can help in reconnecting with your body and managing stress. Start with beginner-friendly online classes or local community workshops that focus on gentle movements and self-compassion. Engaging in these activities regularly can aid in developing a stronger sense of body awareness and emotional balance.
  • Create a vision board to visualize your recovery journey and set personal goals f ...

Get access to the context and additional materials

So you can understand the full picture and form your own opinion.
Get access for free
“My Parents Were Pedophiles & Forced Me Into Being With Other Pedophiles”- A Day With Lisa Plumb

The Issue of Nudist Camps Enabling Child Abuse

Lisa Plumb's distressing personal history exposes the dark underbelly of nudist camps where children's presence may enable sexual predators.

Nudist Camps Allowing Children Create an Environment For Predator Access and Youth Abuse

Nudist Camps: How Pedophiles Groom and Abuse Children Through Lisa's Experiences

Lisa Plumb's experiences at Glen Eden Sun Club, a nudist camp she was taken to by an acquaintance of her mother, highlight the dangers these environments can pose to children. She describes being required to be completely nude, with the camp's culture discouraging even the temporary use of towels. Plumb indicates that nudist camps may serve as magnets for those with ill intentions towards minors. She herself fell victim to pedophiles, experiencing firsthand how such camps become prime territories for predatory behavior.

Lisa Urges Child Ban From Nudist Camps to Shield From Predators

The alarming backdrop of her childhood trauma has propelled Plumb to push for a campaign that would ban children from nudist resorts, seeing it as a critical move to protect children from potential harm. She's started the research phase and reached out to politicians for this cause but hasn't received a response. The support from other victims reinforces her belief in the necessity of such a law.

Lenient Rules, No Accountability at Nudist Camps Enable Undetected Child Sexual Abuse

Plumb’s troubling revelations extend beyond her personal narrative, hinting at systemic issues within the operation of nudist camps. She discusses the lenient rules and a glaring absence of accountability, which could allow sexual abuse to occur undetected. Notably, such camps had lax safeguards against potential abuse, illustrated by the ease of her perpetrators’ entry into the camp using a letter from her mother. She recounts that other adults present at the camp didn't intervene when openly inappropriate behavior occurred. Stephanie Soo notes the term "COG" (Creepy Outside Guys), illuminating the camps' awareness of the problem, yet there appears to be insufficient ac ...

Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary

Registered users get access to the Full Podcast Summary and Additional Materials. It’s easy and free!
Start your free trial today

The Issue of Nudist Camps Enabling Child Abuse

Additional Materials

Counterarguments

  • Nudist camps are not inherently unsafe environments and can have strict policies and background checks to protect members, including children.
  • Many nudist camps have a strong community ethic and take the protection of all members, especially children, very seriously, with clear guidelines and reporting mechanisms for any inappropriate behavior.
  • Banning children from nudist camps could be seen as a form of discrimination against a lifestyle choice that is legal and non-sexual in nature.
  • The presence of children in nudist camps with proper supervision and safety measures can be part of a healthy upbringing free from body shame and stigma.
  • The issue of child abuse is not exclusive to nudist camps and occurs in many different contexts; thus, the focus should be on broader child protection measures rather than singling out nudist camps.
  • The term "COG" (Creepy Outside Guys) could be seen as an acknowledgment of the problem and an attempt to identify and manage potential threats, suggesting some level of vigilance within the community.
  • The experiences of one individual, while valid and concerning, may not represent the experiences of all individuals who attend nudist camps.
  • Calls for s ...

Actionables

  • Educate yourself on the signs of grooming and abuse to better protect children in any community setting. By understanding the tactics used by predators, you can be more vigilant and report suspicious behavior. For example, if you notice an adult paying undue attention to a child or trying to isolate them from others, these could be red flags worth bringing to the attention of authorities.
  • Advocate for clear, enforceable policies regarding child safety in any organization you're part of, including background checks and mandatory reporting of abuse. This could mean approaching the leadership of your local clubs, sports teams, or community groups and asking about their child protection policies, suggesting improvements where nece ...

Get access to the context and additional materials

So you can understand the full picture and form your own opinion.
Get access for free

Create Summaries for anything on the web

Download the Shortform Chrome extension for your browser

Shortform Extension CTA