Naman Shrestha
In Prime Video’s ‘Shiny Happy People: A Teenage Holy War,’ the primary focus is on the Teen Mania Ministries, which managed to attract millennial teenagers into joining the Acquire the Fire rallies and then the Honor Academy. On the outside, it appeared to be an educational and religious organization, but the truth was darker than anyone could imagine. The founder of the Teen Mania Ministries, Ron Luce, and his right-hand man, Dave Hasz, made the teens go through some traumatic experiences in the camp. One of the former Teen Mania members, Liz Boltz Ranfeld, features in the documentary series and talks about her experiences.
Liz Boltz Ranfeld is a Seasoned Educator and Content Writer
With a strong academic background and work experience, Liz Boltz Ranfeld has carved a successful path for herself as a Writer, Educator, and Content Marketer. She graduated from Taylor University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language and Literature/Letters in August 2005. A few years later, she enrolled at the University of New Hampshire and pursued a Master’s degree in Fine Arts – English Language and Literature/Letters (Creative Nonfiction), ultimately graduating after nearly 3 years in May 2011. As of writing, she proudly boasts about 8 years of experience in content writing as well as 20+ years in professional writing and providing education. It was back in 2004, when she was a senior student in college, that her creative writing professor spotted a spark in her when going through the feedback pointers she made for her colleagues. Over time, Liz naturally developed an affinity for the profession of teaching.
Liz’s professional journey began in August 2011 when she joined Anderson University as an Associate Professor of English. It seems like she has departed from the institution after working there for over a decade. However, she has remarked that she stills serves there in an Adjunct capacity. Over the years, Liz assumed multiple positions alongside her role as an educator. In October 2017, she began working for Inbound Back Office as a remote part-time Content Writer. In the next few years, she bagged other remote employment opportunities — as a Freelance Teacher at Outschool (in January 2020) and Content Writer at Netconcepts (in November 2022). While she continues to work in the aforementioned places even today, from March 2022 to November 2023, Liz served as a Writer for Wild Bird Scoop. She is always looking for new avenues that will offer her a platform to showcase her wide-ranging writing talent.
Liz is an Intersectional Feminist and Conducts Spiritual Workshops
Liz enjoys engaging with and imparting knowledge on diverse topics such as rhetoric, feminism, and literature. The independent educator adopts an intersectional feminist approach in her teaching, one that centers on anti-racism, trans inclusion, and nonbinary affirmation. Her works have also been published on reputable sites such as Salon, Jezebel, Everyday Feminism, etc. The writer and SEO marketer takes pride in her ability to write and has served “law firms, staffing agencies, landscaping companies, HR businesses, marketing firms, B2B companies, and technology platforms.”
From time to time, the multifaceted individual also takes up copyediting gigs, publishes personal creative nonfiction essays, conducts spiritual writing classes, and undertakes in-person workshops. Interestingly, she has a 6-week Spiritual Writing Course lined up for the months of August and September 2025. Liz is a fierce and free-spirited personality who never hesitates to raise her voice for what she believes is right or wrong. On her website, she has drafted a self-guided spiritual writing practice featuring 15 activities (with a Pay What You Can option) that help those in opposition of the 47th Presidency to cope with rest, resistance, and reclamation.
Liz’s World Revolves Around Her Husband, Kids, and Furry Babies
Liz Boltz Ranfeld balances her rewarding professional life with an equally fulfilling personal life. She draws strength from her close-knit family and friends. Together, Liz and her supportive husband, Ben, have built a beautiful life for themselves and their two loving children in Indiana. They first met over two decades ago when Liz asked him out for a movie. A casual date at the cinema turned into something much more beautiful, and they got into a relationship. Sometime in November 2024, the couple tied the knot in the presence of their loved ones. For over 20 years, they have created a lifetime worth of memories and welcomed two beautiful kids. Even after all these years of togetherness, they continue to cherish each other’s presence and celebrate the joy in just being with each other.
With unwavering determination, mutual trust, deep understanding, and ever-growing love, Ben and Liz have weathered the storms life has thrown their way and emerged stronger each time. They serve as each other’s biggest cheerleaders. While Ben supports her in her endeavors, Liz stands by him as he deals with a respiratory disease. The mother of two dubbed her family “the Runaway Ranfelds.” Her heart is filled with pride for her two kids. She describes her daughter as a “naturally born skeptic” who is instinctively curious and doubtful of things, while her son, a 5th grader, is an imaginative soul who loves to dress up as famous personalities such as Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, and Elton John for Halloween.
The Ranfeld household is also full of furry babies — dogs Scout and Jasper, a bunch of chickens, and a hedgehog named Zucchini. They also offer temporary residence to foster babies until they find a forever home. The family often embarks on adventures in nature, soaking up the beauty of Earth’s many gifts. At the same time, they also love visiting fun tourist attractions around the world. In 2024, the Ranfelds took a family trip to France, where they checked out museums, historical sites, and the Eiffel Tower. When she is not working, she loves to tend to her garden, watch movies, and read a good book. She is a French cheese enthusiast on a mission to explore the world of the cheese-making tradition. Interestingly, she also takes charcuterie classes and often treats her friends and family members to her delectable boards. Appearing in the documentary has indeed opened a window to Liz’s life, which we hope brings her healing, strength, and peace.
Read More: Phil Boltz: Where is the Teen Mania Survivor Now?
