I love how open-minded Nathaniel is. Getting to talk to all these amazing people from different backgrounds is truly amazing! Congrats on this amazingly creative work ,and thanks for sharing it with us!
literally all of her videos are the best video i've ever seen, she's such a talented filmmaker and storyteller, i'm so glad i found her work out through you
I hope Ioana reads these comments! I have been through a similar experience in some ways. I am years and years out from my time as an extremist yet still dealing with the undertones of fear that was embedded in me as a child. Ioana, your conversation with Nathan was so healing for me. Thank you for your vulnerability and your attempt at trying to explain something that’s so difficult to unpack with someone who hasn’t lived it. Much love to you and your continued journey. I’m going to write a “Things to keep” and “Things to let go of” list which I think will be so helpful!
I love this type of video. Meeting new people and hearing their stories. Especially what led them to minimize or simple living. Or why they live their life the way they do. Great content👍😊
This was so interesting to hear. I nearly became a nun and lived in a Buddhist monastery for a year and a half. I had many similar experiences with someone who sounds just like the man she describes. I was so impressionable and didn’t understand that I was in proximity to someone who had bastardized the religion, manipulated and coerced people, and hid behind a cloak of religiosity to run a cult. Amazing similarities.
I will admit I tend to be cynical and find a few flaws in her story. First of all she never actually became a nun as she said. Secondly, she went to a religious camp as an impressionable 13 year old and became intrigued by an adult man ( I wonder how old and was he actually a camp counselor ?). Her parents recognized this man for what he was which was probably a con artist or Romanian gypsy. Her summer in the forest alone was within view/walking distance of a farm with cows and her tent. The park ranger charged her phone and a person brought food supplies to her. She was not foraging for food, water or making her own shelter. She was basically camping and reading religious materials. She talked about being able to survive poor or with wealth, however she was never really poor to begin with. Poor people don't even have possessions such as cell phones or a family home to live in and they certainly do not have food provided to them. She was being primed to be part of a cult which is always nefarious and never in a person's best interest. Her 4 year adventure should be a lesson to parents and young men or women to beware of those who want to "enlighten" you. I am glad she is safe today. She is a story teller and could probably write a good fiction book based on her imagination.
This interview somehow really showed me a different side of Nathaniel, he seemed more natural and authentic to me somehow. Really enjoyed seeing him in this light - in a conversation with a person he seemed as fascinated by as I was. By the way, she reminds me of the girl in the Rammstein - Rosenrot music video, in many ways - the theme of religion (and its dangers), the main character always wearing red, and the fact that the actress that portrayed said main character is also Romanian...
@@janebaker966 oh my god that made me laugh so much 😂 I mean, they are in the same age group which makes him more identify with her and her life path at her age. I say she‘s also artistic and very inspiring. I don’t know sister Benedicta. And yes, she is magically attractive!! They also have a good vibe. Who knows
On the "to keep" list of learnings at the end, Ioana appears to mention "To be precocious sexually", which would indeed be confusing in the context of the discussion. I suspect she meant "To be cautious sexually". In Romanian, 'cautious' is written 'precaut', so she might have accidentally said 'precautious' instead of 'cautious' because she was looking at the Romanian text. (In English 'precautious' is - I think - a valid construction, but not really being used, probably precisely because it can be misheard as 'precocious'). Thank you for this conversation, Nathaniel!
A fascinating and very honest account of her journey. I too spent time in a monastery. So much resonated here with my own experience. Especially the solitude.
That point about humility was so profound ~ honestly never even considered it in that light and hearing it described in that way definitely triggered something (good). The one thing I will say is that 'religion' in gneral is certainly a touchy subject. Personally, I emphasize a 'relationship' over religion; spirituality is personal journey. Great chat, enjoyed it.
Nathaniel I think you'd find a conversation with a Muslim about Islamic spirituality really enlightening, its a blend of Eastern and Western traditions but is so frequently forgotten (or not taken seriously), bc on the one hand Europe has largely Christian history and on the other spirituality is often associated with only Buddhism or Hinduism, and between that Islam gets lost in conversation despite having so much shared history and practices like Ioana said all religions seek very similar things, a series of convos with diff spiritual perspectives would be so interesting!
Wow, she is so beautiful) I really love her style. I find her story sooo relatable, because of similar geography I guess and interest towards religion. I am from Russia, and now live in South-East Asia for last 2 years. And I hope to go to Romania soon!) And of course, I also find Soviet time a giant horrible but great utopic experiment. But yeah, being raised with the same religion around, I have definitely heard of these stories. I am glad that she is here with us in the world, bringing fashion and inspiration)) Thank you Nathan, I always like your podcasts) They are empathic and interesting, and your guests are the best.
Thank you Ioanna for that vulnerability. It’s helping me be okay with my own religious background hearing others talk about theirs even though our experience was a very different one (Christianity can be so different!). But questioning what’s real and what’s not and having a hard time living at least in just in some kind of chosen reality seems weird afterwards. I relate to the humbleness-part. But at the end you are being humble to impress someone and seem more religious a lot of the times so I guess that’s again just the opposite haha. I feel like Christianity had all these expectations, like “love one another, forgive you enemies,…” but never really showed me how to do it (f.ex in gaining more understanding for others perspective etc.) so these values just ended up being “played out” instead of being real.
Bloody typical. Nathaniel,i make a decision to repent and turn from my sins,that is stop.being contrarian,never.again post a sarky or nssty (but honest how i.feel)comment,only be postive and super nice,nicey-nicey-nicey and YOU sabotage my resolve by interviewing someone I end up wanting to throw things at. She is a young woman,she was a bit younger then. All young woman do that,or get the impulse too. We've all "lived in the forest" spiritually. There is a huge range of difference between Orthodox,Roman Catholic,Anglican ete. Now,suddenly I like her again -shes talking about the neccesity to have money. Thats more like it. Ive never checked this out but ive always had a very strong feeling that if you wish to join a religious community ie a convent or monastery you have to pay money,a one off sum,to offset your upkeep for life,ie food,laundry,such minimal human physical needs as you will have.
Unfortunately I feel she is lacking substance in everything she is saying, it’s a superficial message sent here from her side. Her story of course attracts from image point of view, but when you get into depth it’s empty and doesn’t transmit anything. Anyway thank you for your efforts as always, Nathan, if it weren’t for the conclusions you were drawing for her, this whole discussion would have been lost in my humble opinion as a Romanian.
Interesting and love your videos. Slightly confused. This lady wasn’t a Catholic nun? Tired of people who do extreme things - due to personal issues - deciding religion per se is the issue. Age old story of tired stressed parents trying with a rebellious teen (rightly/ wrongly). Would have been helpful to summarise key points like this at the top. Slightly frustrated waiting for context, as the interviewee launched straight into a sea of information.
Nathaniel your curiosity about people and their stories is so captivating, great how you dig deeper. Fascinating story. Thanks for making these interviews, they are great company.
What a unique and interesting story! I'm not a religious person at all but I admire her strengh and dedication to it. Love her sense of humor as well 🙂
I find this interview hilarious. She has no possessions but her smartphone,she was solitary but there was a handy forest ranger to charge her phone,someone to bring her food,and THAT COAT is no THRIFT SHOP buy. But I've known loads like that,charming,not frauds exactly,but embroiderers. Everyone's had their "time in the forest' but it has to be when you're young,fit and resilient.
Yes Nathaniel, it is indeed fascinating to you because you don't understand it. Confused is a generous adjective. Religion is public, faith is private. You're discussing something so profound as faith, using the superficial lens of religion. The things unsaid in this conversation are louder than the ones spoken out. I respect Ioana for how she tackled this interview, she kept the most intimate parts of her journey to herself, while engaging with a Nathaniel preoccupied with why you would find hard things beautiful. Well, because they get the best out of you, while happiness can often times be deceiving. Try praying, from all your heart and all your being. It truly is a very beautiful feeling, that gives you freedom... of fear, of judgement, of the ego, of needs, of all that we don't need. Meditation doesn't even come near. Prayer is beyond. Because in those very moments, there's light, warmth, wisdom and peace coming upon you. Therefore, if you find the willingness, I encourage you to finally become particularly familiar with the matter and see for yourself why. Pascal's wager.
@@chrystelelacroix4681 I believe you exist, even although I have not seen you Love, gravity, time, wind… there’s millions of things that exist that we cannot see Was the universe in all its complexity and intricacy created completely by chance? Look to the effects and you may see the cause
Everyone is drawn to that around that age. Its not about religion. Its about being a young woman. Trust me,I was one once. Addenda: now this was interesting,your interviewee described how she actively made herself as unattractive and positively unsexual as she could,this came across to me as totally genuine and in line with her spiritual quest at that time. Now,she was surprisingly and disconcertingly succesful. And I found her remarks about how lost and bewildered we (as in humanity) get when we no longer get the validation of other peoples approval for how we look. I found this a great insight. For this young lady who,being pretty,must have had that sort of validation all her life that comes across as a very original insight,and she links being loved,feeling loved and being able to love,to that sort of validation. Now,thats what I call interesting.
