1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,440 Speaker 1: Welcome to Noble Blood, a production of I Heart Radio 2 00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:10,559 Speaker 1: and Grim and Mild from Aaron Mankey listener discretion advised. Hey, 3 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:13,400 Speaker 1: this is Dana Schwartz, the host of the podcast you're 4 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:18,040 Speaker 1: listening to a few quick bits of housekeeping before this episode. 5 00:00:18,239 --> 00:00:21,799 Speaker 1: We have merch that's available. I love the merch. I 6 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:24,599 Speaker 1: wear my Noble Blood sweatshirt almost every day in my 7 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 1: house and they're amazing. Pins and mugs that are beheaded queens. 8 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:32,280 Speaker 1: I just love them. The link is in the bio. 9 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:35,880 Speaker 1: We also have a Patreon where you can support the show, 10 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:41,040 Speaker 1: get episode scripts, and get access to exclusive seasonal stickers. 11 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:43,560 Speaker 1: So if you're at a certain level on the Patreon, 12 00:00:43,960 --> 00:00:48,839 Speaker 1: every season we send a new, exclusive designed sticker just 13 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 1: for patrons. Other bits of housekeeping, let's see, oh, I 14 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 1: wrote a book called Immortality, a love Story that comes 15 00:00:56,080 --> 00:01:00,160 Speaker 1: out in February. Pre Orders are so important, so if 16 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:02,960 Speaker 1: you're interested and want to pre order, that would be 17 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:05,240 Speaker 1: a huge help to me. It's the sequel to my 18 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 1: last book, Anatomy, A Love Story, so you should probably 19 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 1: read that one first. You should read both. I think 20 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:13,160 Speaker 1: I think you'll like them a lot. This one, though, 21 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:16,679 Speaker 1: the sequel, has a big Noble Blood Connection, and I 22 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:19,319 Speaker 1: don't want to spoil it, but if you like this podcast, 23 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:21,720 Speaker 1: I think the book will be right up your alley. 24 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:25,959 Speaker 1: Oh and finally, I'm leading in August. I'm helping to 25 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:29,080 Speaker 1: lead a pilgrimage in Cornwall to talk about the novel 26 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:32,960 Speaker 1: Rebecca and Daphne Demurier. I did one of these last 27 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 1: year about Mary Shelley and Frankenstein, and it was just incredible. 28 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 1: You stay in this beautiful house and you're just talking 29 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:43,039 Speaker 1: about books and going on walks and writing and getting 30 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 1: in touch with their creative spirit. I just think they're 31 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 1: incredible experiences. It's called common Ground, the company that runs them. 32 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 1: Google Dani Schwartz, common Ground Rebecca, and it will come up. 33 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 1: It's in August and we're going to Cornwall. The place 34 00:01:57,360 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 1: is absolutely beautiful. If that's something that interest to you, 35 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 1: you should absolutely look it up and enjoy the podcast. 36 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 1: As a member of the generation that grew up with 37 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:20,080 Speaker 1: clickbait articles, it's become alarmingly easy to find myself just 38 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:24,920 Speaker 1: glossing over the majority of absurd, often misleading headlines that 39 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:28,120 Speaker 1: passed through my Twitter feed on a daily basis. It 40 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 1: makes sense that in a culture where clicks equal dollars. 41 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 1: The methods used to entice readers have become increasingly ridiculous, 42 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:40,920 Speaker 1: bordering on desperate, in order to grab our limited attention. 43 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 1: Think about out of context celebrity misquotes designed to anger 44 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 1: niche corners of the Internet, or the alarmist headlines about 45 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:52,639 Speaker 1: the inevitable end of the world being caused by well 46 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 1: any number of things. Considering the onslaught of our daily 47 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:01,120 Speaker 1: media diet, it makes sense that we've con shtioned ourselves 48 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 1: to be able to tune out the perpetual barrage of 49 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 1: insanity we find ourselves doomed scrolling through our phones every day. 50 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 1: But even with all that in mind, truly nothing could 51 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 1: have prepared me for the November tenth headline tweeted out 52 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 1: by The New York Times, a headline in which every 53 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:25,360 Speaker 1: clause of the sentence becomes more and more enthralling. Princess 54 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 1: Martha Louise of Norway, who has long claimed to be clairvoyant, 55 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:34,480 Speaker 1: has quit her royal duties over public criticism of her fiance, 56 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 1: an American celebrity shaman who sells a two hundred and 57 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 1: twenty two dollar heeling amulet and has suggested cancer is 58 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 1: a choice. We rarely do episodes of this podcast that 59 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 1: focus on modern royals, but in this particular case, I 60 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 1: couldn't get the story out of my head. The headline 61 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 1: itself reads more like a Stefn Club from SNL than 62 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 1: it doesn't actual piece of journalism, with as many outlandish 63 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 1: scraps of gossip haphazardly crammed into a meager two character 64 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 1: limit as humanly possible, But incredibly, the clairvoyant princess and 65 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 1: her fiance's two twenty two dollar healing amulets are really 66 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:21,839 Speaker 1: just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to 67 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:27,400 Speaker 1: this story. Even beyond the Times article, researching Princess Martha's 68 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:30,960 Speaker 1: life with her fiance, Dorik Verrett is like opening a 69 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:37,839 Speaker 1: Pandora's box of increasingly unbelievable snippets of information. Highlights range 70 00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 1: from the princess's self proclaimed shaman fiance stating in a 71 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:45,720 Speaker 1: social media post that he is quote a hybrid species 72 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:49,920 Speaker 1: of reptilian and andromeda end quote, to a moment as 73 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:52,920 Speaker 1: recent as June nine of this year, when the couple 74 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 1: went on Instagram live and five minutes in Verett casually 75 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:02,640 Speaker 1: mentions his past life as an Egyptian Pharaoh. The Royal 76 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:06,880 Speaker 1: House of Norway's official statement claims the withdrawal of the 77 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:11,159 Speaker 1: princess from her official royal duties is quote intended to 78 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:15,800 Speaker 1: draw a dividing line that more clearly separates commercial activity 79 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:19,280 Speaker 1: from the Royal House of Norway and quote. But with 80 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:26,720 Speaker 1: publications waiving their metaphorical pitchforks at her fiance's controversial medical opinions, 81 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 1: it's enough to make anyone wonder whether quote commercial activity 82 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 1: is all that the Crown is wishing to separate itself from. 83 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 1: I'm Dana Schwartz and this is noble blood. As I 84 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 1: mentioned earlier, if you're a regular listener of this podcast, 85 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:59,039 Speaker 1: you've probably realized I rarely cover modern royals, if only 86 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 1: for the fact that I consider this, first and foremost 87 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:06,719 Speaker 1: a history podcast meant to contextualize the lives of royals 88 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 1: as real life figures within the rigid institutions that they 89 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 1: were born or otherwise brought into. Adding fuel to the 90 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 1: tabloid inferno of modern royals has never been my aim 91 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 1: with this show, especially since, as I previously mentioned, these 92 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:27,159 Speaker 1: are real life people who I assume are similarly just 93 00:06:27,279 --> 00:06:30,840 Speaker 1: trying to navigate their lives to the best of their abilities. 94 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 1: But in the case of Princess Martha Louise's withdrawal from 95 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:37,840 Speaker 1: her royal duties, I feel that her relationship with her 96 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:41,600 Speaker 1: fiance in connection to her royal title, as well as 97 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:45,200 Speaker 1: the Norwegian crowns response to their engagement as a whole, 98 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:49,520 Speaker 1: warrants at least a noble blood minisod, which brings me 99 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 1: to my second disclaimer. Obviously, everyone is allowed to believe 100 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:57,160 Speaker 1: in whatever they want to believe in as long as 101 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:01,000 Speaker 1: those beliefs aren't causing harm to others, then it's really 102 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 1: no one's business how someone decides to live their life. 103 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 1: But when someone with a significant platform and ties to 104 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 1: the Norwegian royal family begins spouting that they refused prescribed 105 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:19,560 Speaker 1: medical treatment for COVID nineteen in favor of their two 106 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 1: d and twenty two dollar healing amulet, which they claimed 107 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 1: to use to quote get the poisons out of their 108 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 1: system and quote, then suddenly one person's beliefs aren't so innocuous, 109 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:36,560 Speaker 1: and again, the connection to a royal family adds legitimacy 110 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 1: stature to those beliefs and statements. All this is to say, 111 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 1: while I personally don't believe in the types of spirits 112 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 1: or angels that Princess Martha and her fiance Derick Verrett 113 00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 1: claim to be beholden to. I think the criticism I 114 00:07:54,120 --> 00:07:56,720 Speaker 1: may have toward the couple is less to do with 115 00:07:56,760 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 1: their specific spiritual beliefs and more to do how their 116 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:05,120 Speaker 1: beliefs have harmed vulnerable communities. All Right, with that out 117 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 1: of the way, let's get into it. Long before her 118 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 1: name was ever scattered across tabloid headlines, Princess Martha Louise 119 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:17,680 Speaker 1: was the first child of the then Crown Prince Harald 120 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 1: the fifth and Crown Princess Sonja, born on September twenty two, 121 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:28,600 Speaker 1: seventy one. Like most reigning royal families today, the Norwegian 122 00:08:28,640 --> 00:08:34,319 Speaker 1: monarchy is largely a symbolic institution, having established a constitutional 123 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 1: monarchy following the end of the Napoleonic Wars in eighteen fourteen. 124 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:42,560 Speaker 1: From a young age, the princess claims to have been 125 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 1: what she calls highly sensitive, a trait which she believes 126 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 1: has enabled her to sense other people's feelings. On the 127 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 1: website for her spiritual education center, her bio goes more 128 00:08:56,360 --> 00:09:00,320 Speaker 1: in depth into her sensitivity, detailing how her word with 129 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:05,079 Speaker 1: horses allowed her to quote make contact with the angels 130 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 1: end quote. Despite the inherent public controversy the statements brought forth, 131 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:15,679 Speaker 1: for the most part, Princess Martha's let's say, extracurricular activities 132 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:20,000 Speaker 1: were largely kept separate from her royal persona. This was 133 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 1: predominantly due to the fact that, despite her being the 134 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:27,199 Speaker 1: firstborn child to the King and Queen at the time 135 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:31,560 Speaker 1: of her birth, the Constitution of Norway prohibited women from 136 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:36,600 Speaker 1: inheriting the throne. This meant that in three her younger brother, 137 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 1: the Crown Prince Hakun, became the next in line of succession, 138 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:44,640 Speaker 1: even though he was second born. It wouldn't be until 139 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:49,080 Speaker 1: nine that the constitution would be amended to allow women 140 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:52,560 Speaker 1: to inherit the throne, but with a stipulation that still 141 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:56,640 Speaker 1: kept Princess Martha behind her brother in the line of succession. 142 00:09:57,160 --> 00:09:59,959 Speaker 1: So while she may have had royal duties that require 143 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:04,520 Speaker 1: her presence for charities or social gatherings, her role within 144 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:08,360 Speaker 1: the Norwegian royal family didn't stop her from conducting her 145 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:14,080 Speaker 1: own spiritual practices outside of familial obligations, at least until 146 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:18,280 Speaker 1: two thousand eighteen, when she would be introduced to none 147 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:25,360 Speaker 1: other than the amulet wielding shaman himself, Derrick Verrett. By 148 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:29,760 Speaker 1: the time Direc and Martha met, the self identified sixth 149 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:33,599 Speaker 1: generation shaman was already well on his way making a 150 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:37,600 Speaker 1: name for himself within Hollywood. Raised in the suburban northern 151 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:41,560 Speaker 1: Californian town of Foster City, Dirk Verett claims to have 152 00:10:41,640 --> 00:10:44,640 Speaker 1: been connected to the spirits from the age of three, 153 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:48,120 Speaker 1: when he says from his crib he could quote see 154 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:51,679 Speaker 1: other beings in the room, such as ancestors and family 155 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:56,480 Speaker 1: members that had already passed end quote. Rather than capitalizing 156 00:10:56,520 --> 00:11:00,480 Speaker 1: on his spiritual connections early on, Verrett first began his 157 00:11:00,559 --> 00:11:04,280 Speaker 1: career in Hollywood as a model, with sporadic appearances on 158 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:07,920 Speaker 1: television before he began cultivating his brand as a shaman, 159 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:12,080 Speaker 1: working his way up in elite Hollywood circles. By two 160 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:17,040 Speaker 1: thousand sixteen, Verett was appearing on social media alongside Gwyneth Paltrow, 161 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:20,760 Speaker 1: who described him as her quote light and shining armor. 162 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:26,360 Speaker 1: On his website, he claims to quote demystify spirituality and 163 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:30,800 Speaker 1: quote redefine what wellness means by putting the power back 164 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:34,480 Speaker 1: in the hands of the people end quote, though exactly 165 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:37,840 Speaker 1: whose hands that power ends up in seems to depend 166 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 1: rather heavily on the depth of their wallets. Apart from 167 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:48,040 Speaker 1: the infamous overpriced amulets, which he calls spirit optimizers, the 168 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 1: shaman also offers a one hour private healing sessions for 169 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:55,560 Speaker 1: the humble price of two thousand dollars. Of course, if 170 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:59,079 Speaker 1: you can't afford one of his private healing sessions, Verett 171 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:02,680 Speaker 1: encourages per rusers of his website to sign up for 172 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:06,680 Speaker 1: one of the many quote woke shops available through his 173 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:10,160 Speaker 1: online shaman School, or to pick up a copy of 174 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 1: his book Spirit Hacking, where he goes into detail about 175 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:18,160 Speaker 1: his belief that quote the walls of a woman's uterus 176 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:23,479 Speaker 1: are literally encoded with geometric symbols which act as portals 177 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:27,480 Speaker 1: end quote, or how he talks about how his client's 178 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:31,720 Speaker 1: shadows told him he had cancer quote because the client 179 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:37,400 Speaker 1: hated his job and felt confined in his marriage end quote. Frankly, 180 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:39,560 Speaker 1: I could go on for days with the amount of 181 00:12:39,679 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 1: truly wild conspiracy theories that Derk Verita has released into 182 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:47,160 Speaker 1: the world, but ultimately his importance to us today only 183 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:51,840 Speaker 1: begins after his introduction to Martha Louise in two thousand eighteen, 184 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 1: much to the dismay of the Norwegian press. The couple 185 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 1: quickly hit it off, so much so that in the 186 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:02,080 Speaker 1: spring of two thousand nineteen, the couple announced their first 187 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:06,640 Speaker 1: speaking tour together, which was titled The Princess and the Shaman. 188 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:10,160 Speaker 1: Now this is where things for the new couple begin 189 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:15,240 Speaker 1: to take a turn. Predictably, news and media outlets had 190 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:19,360 Speaker 1: a field day with the couple utilizing the princess's royal 191 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:24,000 Speaker 1: title in their joint speaking engagement. After all, public engagements 192 00:13:24,040 --> 00:13:26,720 Speaker 1: as a princess on behalf of the Royal House of 193 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:31,440 Speaker 1: Norway obviously means something vastly different than a seminar on 194 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:37,760 Speaker 1: spirituality with a clairvoyant princess and her shaman boyfriend. Predictably, 195 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:41,720 Speaker 1: the Crown did not comment on Martha Louisa's use of 196 00:13:41,760 --> 00:13:45,600 Speaker 1: her title for her and Verett's business ventures, but their 197 00:13:45,640 --> 00:13:49,920 Speaker 1: silence could only last for so long. Following the couple's 198 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:54,760 Speaker 1: engagement this past June, on November eighth, two thousand twenty two, 199 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:59,160 Speaker 1: the Royal House of Norway finally released an official statement 200 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:03,040 Speaker 1: in which they announced Princess Martha Louise would be stepping 201 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:08,160 Speaker 1: down from all of her remaining royal duties. Quote. Princess 202 00:14:08,240 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 1: Martha Louise and Derek Verrett are seeking to distinguish more 203 00:14:12,559 --> 00:14:17,160 Speaker 1: clearly between their activities and their association with the Royal House, 204 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 1: the statement reads. In the statement, the Royal House also 205 00:14:21,160 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 1: seems to finally address the Princess and the Shaman controversy, 206 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:30,240 Speaker 1: stating quote, in two thousand nineteen, the Princess decided in 207 00:14:30,360 --> 00:14:34,000 Speaker 1: consultation with her family not to use the title of 208 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 1: princess in connection with her business activity, adding for good measure, 209 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:42,800 Speaker 1: this principle will now apply to her fiance, Derrick Verrett 210 00:14:42,960 --> 00:14:47,960 Speaker 1: as well. While the Princess still remains fourth in line 211 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 1: for the throne, behind her brother and his two children, 212 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:55,800 Speaker 1: it's clear through the Royal House of Norway's statement that 213 00:14:55,920 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 1: they are attempting to put some space between Princess Martha 214 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:04,520 Speaker 1: and drik Verett's beliefs. The final section of their statement 215 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:08,920 Speaker 1: is fully dedicated to their confidence in the Norwegian Health 216 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:14,840 Speaker 1: Service and Norwegian health Authorities, a structure based on established 217 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 1: medical knowledge and scientific research carried out by skilled health 218 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:23,960 Speaker 1: personnel across the entire health service has resulted in one 219 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:27,280 Speaker 1: of the world's best health care systems for the benefit 220 00:15:27,560 --> 00:15:32,400 Speaker 1: of everyone in Norway end quote. Similarly, in a joint 221 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:37,200 Speaker 1: statement made through the Princess's Instagram following her official withdrawal 222 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:41,840 Speaker 1: from her royal duties. The couple clearly establishes their support 223 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:45,440 Speaker 1: for what they call the school of Medicine, with Veretts 224 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:49,080 Speaker 1: adding quote, I am for the school of medicine and 225 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:53,040 Speaker 1: always have been doubt dot dot. However, I do believe 226 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:57,520 Speaker 1: we should always use all available resources for health on 227 00:15:57,720 --> 00:16:02,800 Speaker 1: our planet end quote. Then again, this is the same 228 00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:09,200 Speaker 1: man who suggested oncologists prescribe chemotherapy quote to make a 229 00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:13,240 Speaker 1: cool million a year off the patient, assuming he lasts 230 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 1: that long end quote. So maybe take that pr statement 231 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:23,000 Speaker 1: with a healthy metric ton of salt. In the wake 232 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:25,720 Speaker 1: of the statement made by the Royal House of Norway 233 00:16:25,920 --> 00:16:29,240 Speaker 1: this fall, news outlets around the world have been all 234 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:32,040 Speaker 1: but foaming at the mouth to tell their own versions 235 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:35,240 Speaker 1: of the story. To be fair, though, there has been 236 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:38,640 Speaker 1: a vocal contingent of the population that has been aware 237 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:42,520 Speaker 1: of and adamantly against the Princess's relationship with the shaman 238 00:16:42,720 --> 00:16:45,200 Speaker 1: ever since they went public as a couple back in 239 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:50,880 Speaker 1: two thousand nineteen. Today, royal institutions are largely meant to 240 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:55,120 Speaker 1: be symbolic of their country's values. Hence why the late 241 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:58,480 Speaker 1: Queen Elizabeth the Second was seen more as a grandmother 242 00:16:58,520 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 1: who favored her coregies than any sort of catalyst of 243 00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 1: public change. Royals are at their strongest when they are 244 00:17:06,280 --> 00:17:11,760 Speaker 1: really not people, when their symbols instead of individuals, because 245 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:17,840 Speaker 1: individuals can have opinions that are wrong. Individuals can be misguided, 246 00:17:18,080 --> 00:17:21,879 Speaker 1: they can fall in love with the wrong people. And 247 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:25,920 Speaker 1: while the Norwegian monarchy no longer has much of any 248 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:28,720 Speaker 1: say in how they govern the day to day lives 249 00:17:28,760 --> 00:17:32,480 Speaker 1: of their citizens, it's clear from the royal family's decision 250 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:36,080 Speaker 1: to have Martha Louise stepped down from the remainder of 251 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:40,200 Speaker 1: her royal duties that they too wish to project a 252 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:45,200 Speaker 1: socially conservative image to the public. Though with the princess 253 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:49,160 Speaker 1: still maintaining her title at their quest of the King, 254 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:53,600 Speaker 1: only time will tell if her and her fiance's beliefs 255 00:17:53,880 --> 00:18:04,680 Speaker 1: will be able to remain separate from the crown. That 256 00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:09,520 Speaker 1: was a quick minisoda on Princess Martha Louise's engagement to 257 00:18:09,640 --> 00:18:13,640 Speaker 1: Derrick Verett, but stick around to hear how Verett's shamanism 258 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:17,720 Speaker 1: is reminiscent of another mystic we've covered on this podcast 259 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:27,960 Speaker 1: in articles analyzing their relationship. Verett has been called everything 260 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:32,080 Speaker 1: from a con man to a conspiracy theorist. There are 261 00:18:32,200 --> 00:18:36,919 Speaker 1: Reddit threads dedicated to his resemblance to Gregory Resputin, the 262 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:40,760 Speaker 1: Russian mystic who manipulated his way into the Romanov's inner 263 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:45,439 Speaker 1: circle with his mystical healing abilities, And if I'm being honest, 264 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:48,720 Speaker 1: the comparison, at least in my mind, doesn't seem that 265 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:52,800 Speaker 1: completely off base. If you aren't familiar with the life 266 00:18:52,920 --> 00:18:57,399 Speaker 1: and legendary death of Gregory Rasputin, I highly recommend going 267 00:18:57,440 --> 00:19:00,520 Speaker 1: back to our episode on him from earlier, this called 268 00:19:00,720 --> 00:19:04,720 Speaker 1: Ra Ra Rasboutine. If you have listened, you'll know the 269 00:19:04,880 --> 00:19:08,679 Speaker 1: morally dubious mystic rose to power by praying off the 270 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:12,600 Speaker 1: beliefs of those, primarily the Czarina of Russia, who were 271 00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:16,439 Speaker 1: desperate for some sort of higher power to heal them or, 272 00:19:16,520 --> 00:19:20,880 Speaker 1: in the case of the Czarina, heal her son's hemophilia. Yes, 273 00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:25,239 Speaker 1: remember when Verett went on Instagram Live to plug his 274 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:30,959 Speaker 1: spirit Optimizer as a cure for COVID same candy, different rapper. 275 00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:35,760 Speaker 1: But Resputants and Verrett's ideas may seem ridiculous to the 276 00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:40,000 Speaker 1: vast majority of people, But giving credit where credit is due. 277 00:19:40,280 --> 00:19:43,879 Speaker 1: There is no doubt that both problematic figures got to 278 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:48,679 Speaker 1: be as popular as they are by being charismatic and 279 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:52,639 Speaker 1: had respued and had the same access to Instagram that 280 00:19:52,720 --> 00:19:56,760 Speaker 1: Derrick Verett does. I have little doubt he also would 281 00:19:56,760 --> 00:20:00,960 Speaker 1: be going on multiple hour long Instagram lives a week 282 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:21,639 Speaker 1: to preach his rhetoric to the masses. Noble Blood is 283 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:24,639 Speaker 1: a production of I Heart Radio and Grimm and Mild 284 00:20:24,720 --> 00:20:28,840 Speaker 1: from Aaron Mankey. Noble Blood is hosted by me Danish Sports. 285 00:20:29,280 --> 00:20:33,240 Speaker 1: Additional writing and researching done by Hannah Johnston, hannah's Wick, 286 00:20:33,640 --> 00:20:37,560 Speaker 1: Mirra Hayward, Courtney Sunder and Laurie Goodman. The show is 287 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:42,320 Speaker 1: produced by rema Il Kali, with supervising producer Josh Thane 288 00:20:42,520 --> 00:20:46,880 Speaker 1: and executive producers Aaron Mankey, Alex Williams, and Matt Frederick. 289 00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:50,320 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from I heart Radio, visit the I 290 00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:53,920 Speaker 1: heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to 291 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:54,800 Speaker 1: your favorite shows.