Behind the Bastards – Part Two: Romana Didulo: Queen of Canada

Podcast: Behind the Bastards (Cool Zone Media & iHeartPodcasts)
Date: February 5, 2026
Host: Robert Evans and co-host Sophie
Guest: Prop (Jason Petty)
Episode Focus: The bizarre rise of Romana Didulo, the self-declared "Queen of Canada," her cult, grifts, and the real-world harm caused by her delusion and influence.

Overview

This episode continues the deep-dive into Romana Didulo, a conspiracy-driven grifter who leveraged QAnon-adjacent beliefs, sovereign citizen rhetoric, and cult-like manipulation to become a destructive, if absurd, figure in Canadian fringe politics. The team unpacks how her fantasies evolved from online absurdity to real-world danger, exploring both the psychological appeal and the tragic fallout for her followers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Grifting Playbook: From Delusion to Real-World Cult

(03:33–07:05)

Romana’s scam began with typical cult leader moves: invent an extraordinary identity (sovereign head of state, commander-in-chief).
Cult leaders, like billionaires, become unmoored from reality as more people around them buy into their delusions.
Robert: “Cult leaders generally start more sane than they end up. It’s kind of like getting crazy rich… all that shit goes away. You get to opt out of everything everyone else does. Life is just a series of what you want in any given moment and nobody can ever challenge you or question you. And so you grow increasingly unmoored from reality.” (03:57)
Advice (tongue-in-cheek): cult leaders should have a part-time job outside the cult, “to keep sane.”

2. Cults 101: Influence, Delusion, and the “Goat”

(07:05–07:41)

The team repeatedly cites L. Ron Hubbard (LRH) as the “GOAT” of cult leaders, praising his strategic sense compared to others who spiral out.
Host: “No one has ever been a better cult leader than Elrod, kind of… he was the king of it.” (07:07)
Weaving in references to Hubbard and the persistent endurance of Scientology to illustrate the appeal of strong cult narratives.

3. Didulo, Grifts, Ponzi Schemes, and Quantum Nonsense

(07:41–11:22)

Didulo’s QAnon and crypto Ponzi roots: Early backer "Whiplash347," a crypto scammer, allegedly helped Romana gain a following in hope of fleecing marks together.
Her titles ballooned: “Sovereign Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Sovereign Republic of Canada.”
Indoctrinated followers with promises of a "quantum financial system," where all believers get free money and debts vanish.
Host: “We’re just doing Trump stuff here… me and the other white hats are replacing the global economy with a quantum financial system.” (10:45)

4. The Ancient Appeal of ‘Debt Jubilees’

(12:28–14:32)

Explaining the timeless, cross-cultural lure of debt cancellation (jubilee), used both historically and as a conspiracy-theorist carrot.
How this false hope—solution for the desperate and debt-ridden—makes cults like Didulo’s alluring to vulnerable people.

5. “Evidence” and Absurd Proofs

(15:45–16:45)

Once people are invested, they look for retroactive proof of legitimacy, like Didulo’s name being an anagram for “I am R Donald.”
- Host: “That’s seriously enough proof for some people. Good stuff. Wow, it must be so whimsical to believe in the world the way you do.” (16:41)
Commentary on the childlike cognitive style required to sustain such belief.

6. From Online Cult to Real-World Consequences

(17:52–19:04, 22:59–27:30)

Summer 2021: Didulo tests followers’ commitment, urging them to hand out sovereign citizen “cease and desist” notices to businesses enforcing mask mandates. - Language a mash‑up of American sopsit rhetoric & ESL garble (“Canada Incorporated Corporation”).
Followership crosses from delusion into danger: mass death threats toward medical professionals.
- Host quoting Didulo: "Death is the penalty for crimes against humanity."
- Host: “[Her followers:] She is the only one that is saying anything hopeful or anything that makes sense. It felt completely hopeless before Romana came along." (23:01)
The conversation turns grave as they recognize language moving from childishness into violence.

7. Radicalization and Real Harm

(32:25–35:18)

As followers become more active—posting gun pictures, prepping for violence—the hosts discuss markers of escalating danger.
Didulo orders: followers must stop paying debts—mortgages, utilities, credit cards—declaring all debt forgiven.
Prop: “I’d be so frustrated if this was my partner… you have to pay the mortgage. I’m done with your little telegram thing!” (34:09)
- Real-world fallout: followers evicted, lose power, and suffer real hardship.

8. Compassion & Critique of Vulnerability

(38:27–39:53)

Hosts emphasize the importance of viewing many followers as victims, not mere idiots—anyone can fall for a cult at a moment of vulnerability.
Robert: “I think everyone has a point in their life and a cult that they could have fallen victim to... We're not born immunized to it.” (37:30)
Still, this cult’s marks aren’t “the brightest” given the transparently unreal nature of Didulo’s claims.

9. Escalation: Duck Hunters, Executions, and International Fantasies

(40:18–44:06)

“Duck hunters”: Didulo’s term for followers ready to physically detain or kill “traitors” (doctors, politicians).
- Telegram posts: “I can bunk a few duck hunters in my home. I’m all set to hunting gear ready.” (30:01)
Direct incitement: shoot-to-kill orders morphing into calls for arrests/trials/executions.
Outreach to American gun owners (“my American brothers and sisters… bring extra guns”) as recruitment tactic and to expand movement southward.

10. Flirting with Real-World Violence & Consequences

(44:31–46:49)

Didulo’s online groups penetrated by researchers; threats escalate to a follower arrested for threatening a school shooting (his post: “Time to go hunting. Bang, bang.”)
Law enforcement, including the RCMP, finally intervene with a wellness check—no charges filed.

11. The Trucker Convoy and Public Appearance

(46:49–57:57)

Didulo’s first foray into the public eye during the Ottawa “Freedom Convoy.”
- Her inner circle: Corey and Daisy, first-hand witness to the squalor she lived in and the delusions up close.
- When Didulo burns a Canadian flag (symbolically “destroying” the old regime), many right-wing protesters (themselves no strangers to conspiracy) bail, considering Didulo too extreme—and racist tensions surface.
- Despite attempts, she’s ignored by media, causing visible jealousy and frustration (“Thousands of years this plan’s been in work. And suddenly you say truckers freed the world. Get your head out of the toilet bowl, eh?” [57:42])

12. Cult Life: Caravans, Delusions of Grandeur, and Financial Absurdity

(57:57–64:29)

Didulo’s movement transitions to living in an RV convoy. Fails to abide by rental agreements, returns RVs to avoid financial fallout—proof, say hosts, of some rationality amid madness.
Keeps hotel rooms open “just in case Vladimir Putin drops by”—and claims Putin gifted her a “signed” watch.
Doubles down on narcissistic fantasies: claims Air Force One is now hers (“QR1”), Kim Jong Un displays her flag, MBS is her “brother.”

13. Galaxies Beyond: Intergalactic Queen

(67:39–69:10)

Didulo adopts an otherworldly twist: claims to be from the planet Arcturus, guided by “the Yoda,” and in communication with galactic federations.
Didulo, per interview: “The Arcturians are the most advanced. Like the Yoda.” (68:28)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On cult leaders & delusion:
- Robert: “It’s objectively breaking your brain.” (05:08)
- Sophie: “No more chores. And all grownups have to eat vegetables for everyone. Okay baby, that’s your new laws.” (11:49, humorously comparing Didulo’s policies to a child’s imaginary rule-making.)
On the psychological pull:
- Host quoting follower: “She is the only one saying anything hopeful or anything that makes sense… It felt completely hopeless before Romana came along.” (23:03)
On cult victimization:
- Robert: “Anyone could wind up in a cult… We’re not born immunized to it.” (37:30)
On Didulo’s spiraling claims:
- Sophie (re: MBS and world leaders): “She is wonderful. She covered every base.” (66:20)
- Host on Putin: “For a good period of that time, Corey and Daisy said Didulo made them keep a room open for more than $300 a night. Just in case Vladimir Putin dropped by.” (61:26)
On the “galactic queen” arc:
- Host: “She’s an alien from outer space… from the planet Arcturus. The Arcturians are the most advanced. Like the Yoda.” (68:19)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Time | Segment | |------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:33 | Cult grift origin – how delusions become reinforced, comparison to billionaires | | 07:05 | L. Ron Hubbard as “GOAT” of cult leaders, enduring legacy | | 10:45 | “Quantum financial system” and promises of debt cancellation | | 15:45 | Absurd “evidence”: anagrams, searching for proof after belief | | 22:59 | First offline test: handing out “cease and desist” anti-mask documents; sovereign citizen rhetoric| | 23:01 | Death threats and hope as psychological bait; follower enthusiasm for “hopeful” violence | | 34:09 | Real harm: followers losing homes, power, “son can’t go to school” annotations | | 40:18 | Rise of “duck hunters” – code for armed followers, fantasies of executing enemies | | 44:31 | Actual threats: school shooting plan in Telegram group | | 46:49 | Didulo’s debut at the Truck Convoy, public flag-burning, alienation from other right-wingers | | 57:42 | Her jealousy as the “queen” is upstaged by the truckers’ movement | | 61:26 | Bizarre claims: room for Putin, watch gifted by “Putin,” lies about MBS, Kim Jong Un, etc. | | 68:19 | The galactic queen: claims of being an alien, guided “by the Yoda” |

Tone & Style

The hosts blend sharp wit, deadpan banter, and empathetic critique.
Tone alternates between incredulous comedy (“this song is objectively trash,” “this is like playing tea party with a kid”) and serious reflection, especially at moments where follower harm or real-world danger is discussed.
Memorable running bits: references to “the Yoda,” debates over cult leader tactics, and jabs about cultist intelligence.

Final Thoughts

This part of the Romana Didulo series captures both the wild creativity and tragic destructiveness of modern fringe cults. The episode oscillates between laughing at the outlandishness of Didulo’s claims (alien bloodlines, world leaders, and “the Yoda”) and genuine sadness at the human cost—followers bankrupted, families torn, real people endangered.

Next up: How does Romana’s story conclude? Has her cult peaked or are darker days ahead? Stay tuned for part three.

Behind the Bastards – Part Two: Romana Didulo: Queen of Canada

Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Grifting Playbook: From Delusion to Real-World Cult

(03:33–07:05)

Romana’s scam began with typical cult leader moves: invent an extraordinary identity (sovereign head of state, commander-in-chief).
Cult leaders, like billionaires, become unmoored from reality as more people around them buy into their delusions.
Robert: “Cult leaders generally start more sane than they end up. It’s kind of like getting crazy rich… all that shit goes away. You get to opt out of everything everyone else does. Life is just a series of what you want in any given moment and nobody can ever challenge you or question you. And so you grow increasingly unmoored from reality.” (03:57)
Advice (tongue-in-cheek): cult leaders should have a part-time job outside the cult, “to keep sane.”

2. Cults 101: Influence, Delusion, and the “Goat”

(07:05–07:41)

The team repeatedly cites L. Ron Hubbard (LRH) as the “GOAT” of cult leaders, praising his strategic sense compared to others who spiral out.
Host: “No one has ever been a better cult leader than Elrod, kind of… he was the king of it.” (07:07)
Weaving in references to Hubbard and the persistent endurance of Scientology to illustrate the appeal of strong cult narratives.

3. Didulo, Grifts, Ponzi Schemes, and Quantum Nonsense

(07:41–11:22)

Didulo’s QAnon and crypto Ponzi roots: Early backer "Whiplash347," a crypto scammer, allegedly helped Romana gain a following in hope of fleecing marks together.
Her titles ballooned: “Sovereign Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Sovereign Republic of Canada.”
Indoctrinated followers with promises of a "quantum financial system," where all believers get free money and debts vanish.
Host: “We’re just doing Trump stuff here… me and the other white hats are replacing the global economy with a quantum financial system.” (10:45)

4. The Ancient Appeal of ‘Debt Jubilees’

(12:28–14:32)

Explaining the timeless, cross-cultural lure of debt cancellation (jubilee), used both historically and as a conspiracy-theorist carrot.
How this false hope—solution for the desperate and debt-ridden—makes cults like Didulo’s alluring to vulnerable people.

5. “Evidence” and Absurd Proofs

(15:45–16:45)

Once people are invested, they look for retroactive proof of legitimacy, like Didulo’s name being an anagram for “I am R Donald.”
- Host: “That’s seriously enough proof for some people. Good stuff. Wow, it must be so whimsical to believe in the world the way you do.” (16:41)
Commentary on the childlike cognitive style required to sustain such belief.

6. From Online Cult to Real-World Consequences

(17:52–19:04, 22:59–27:30)

Summer 2021: Didulo tests followers’ commitment, urging them to hand out sovereign citizen “cease and desist” notices to businesses enforcing mask mandates. - Language a mash‑up of American sopsit rhetoric & ESL garble (“Canada Incorporated Corporation”).
Followership crosses from delusion into danger: mass death threats toward medical professionals.
- Host quoting Didulo: "Death is the penalty for crimes against humanity."
- Host: “[Her followers:] She is the only one that is saying anything hopeful or anything that makes sense. It felt completely hopeless before Romana came along." (23:01)
The conversation turns grave as they recognize language moving from childishness into violence.

7. Radicalization and Real Harm

(32:25–35:18)

As followers become more active—posting gun pictures, prepping for violence—the hosts discuss markers of escalating danger.
Didulo orders: followers must stop paying debts—mortgages, utilities, credit cards—declaring all debt forgiven.
Prop: “I’d be so frustrated if this was my partner… you have to pay the mortgage. I’m done with your little telegram thing!” (34:09)
- Real-world fallout: followers evicted, lose power, and suffer real hardship.

8. Compassion & Critique of Vulnerability

(38:27–39:53)

Hosts emphasize the importance of viewing many followers as victims, not mere idiots—anyone can fall for a cult at a moment of vulnerability.
Robert: “I think everyone has a point in their life and a cult that they could have fallen victim to... We're not born immunized to it.” (37:30)
Still, this cult’s marks aren’t “the brightest” given the transparently unreal nature of Didulo’s claims.

9. Escalation: Duck Hunters, Executions, and International Fantasies

(40:18–44:06)

“Duck hunters”: Didulo’s term for followers ready to physically detain or kill “traitors” (doctors, politicians).
- Telegram posts: “I can bunk a few duck hunters in my home. I’m all set to hunting gear ready.” (30:01)
Direct incitement: shoot-to-kill orders morphing into calls for arrests/trials/executions.
Outreach to American gun owners (“my American brothers and sisters… bring extra guns”) as recruitment tactic and to expand movement southward.

10. Flirting with Real-World Violence & Consequences

(44:31–46:49)

Didulo’s online groups penetrated by researchers; threats escalate to a follower arrested for threatening a school shooting (his post: “Time to go hunting. Bang, bang.”)
Law enforcement, including the RCMP, finally intervene with a wellness check—no charges filed.

11. The Trucker Convoy and Public Appearance

(46:49–57:57)

Didulo’s first foray into the public eye during the Ottawa “Freedom Convoy.”
- Her inner circle: Corey and Daisy, first-hand witness to the squalor she lived in and the delusions up close.
- When Didulo burns a Canadian flag (symbolically “destroying” the old regime), many right-wing protesters (themselves no strangers to conspiracy) bail, considering Didulo too extreme—and racist tensions surface.
- Despite attempts, she’s ignored by media, causing visible jealousy and frustration (“Thousands of years this plan’s been in work. And suddenly you say truckers freed the world. Get your head out of the toilet bowl, eh?” [57:42])

12. Cult Life: Caravans, Delusions of Grandeur, and Financial Absurdity

(57:57–64:29)

Didulo’s movement transitions to living in an RV convoy. Fails to abide by rental agreements, returns RVs to avoid financial fallout—proof, say hosts, of some rationality amid madness.
Keeps hotel rooms open “just in case Vladimir Putin drops by”—and claims Putin gifted her a “signed” watch.
Doubles down on narcissistic fantasies: claims Air Force One is now hers (“QR1”), Kim Jong Un displays her flag, MBS is her “brother.”

13. Galaxies Beyond: Intergalactic Queen

(67:39–69:10)

Didulo adopts an otherworldly twist: claims to be from the planet Arcturus, guided by “the Yoda,” and in communication with galactic federations.
Didulo, per interview: “The Arcturians are the most advanced. Like the Yoda.” (68:28)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On cult leaders & delusion:
- Robert: “It’s objectively breaking your brain.” (05:08)
- Sophie: “No more chores. And all grownups have to eat vegetables for everyone. Okay baby, that’s your new laws.” (11:49, humorously comparing Didulo’s policies to a child’s imaginary rule-making.)
On the psychological pull:
- Host quoting follower: “She is the only one saying anything hopeful or anything that makes sense… It felt completely hopeless before Romana came along.” (23:03)
On cult victimization:
- Robert: “Anyone could wind up in a cult… We’re not born immunized to it.” (37:30)
On Didulo’s spiraling claims:
- Sophie (re: MBS and world leaders): “She is wonderful. She covered every base.” (66:20)
- Host on Putin: “For a good period of that time, Corey and Daisy said Didulo made them keep a room open for more than $300 a night. Just in case Vladimir Putin dropped by.” (61:26)
On the “galactic queen” arc:
- Host: “She’s an alien from outer space… from the planet Arcturus. The Arcturians are the most advanced. Like the Yoda.” (68:19)

Timestamps for Important Segments

Tone & Style

The hosts blend sharp wit, deadpan banter, and empathetic critique.
Tone alternates between incredulous comedy (“this song is objectively trash,” “this is like playing tea party with a kid”) and serious reflection, especially at moments where follower harm or real-world danger is discussed.
Memorable running bits: references to “the Yoda,” debates over cult leader tactics, and jabs about cultist intelligence.

Final Thoughts

Next up: How does Romana’s story conclude? Has her cult peaked or are darker days ahead? Stay tuned for part three.

Part Two: Romana Didulo: Queen of Canada

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Summary

Behind the Bastards – Part Two: Romana Didulo: Queen of Canada

Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Grifting Playbook: From Delusion to Real-World Cult

2. Cults 101: Influence, Delusion, and the “Goat”

3. Didulo, Grifts, Ponzi Schemes, and Quantum Nonsense

4. The Ancient Appeal of ‘Debt Jubilees’

5. “Evidence” and Absurd Proofs

6. From Online Cult to Real-World Consequences

7. Radicalization and Real Harm

8. Compassion & Critique of Vulnerability

9. Escalation: Duck Hunters, Executions, and International Fantasies

10. Flirting with Real-World Violence & Consequences

11. The Trucker Convoy and Public Appearance

12. Cult Life: Caravans, Delusions of Grandeur, and Financial Absurdity

13. Galaxies Beyond: Intergalactic Queen

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Timestamps for Important Segments

Tone & Style

Final Thoughts

Summary

Behind the Bastards – Part Two: Romana Didulo: Queen of Canada

Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Grifting Playbook: From Delusion to Real-World Cult

2. Cults 101: Influence, Delusion, and the “Goat”

3. Didulo, Grifts, Ponzi Schemes, and Quantum Nonsense

4. The Ancient Appeal of ‘Debt Jubilees’

5. “Evidence” and Absurd Proofs

6. From Online Cult to Real-World Consequences

7. Radicalization and Real Harm

8. Compassion & Critique of Vulnerability

9. Escalation: Duck Hunters, Executions, and International Fantasies

10. Flirting with Real-World Violence & Consequences

11. The Trucker Convoy and Public Appearance

12. Cult Life: Caravans, Delusions of Grandeur, and Financial Absurdity

13. Galaxies Beyond: Intergalactic Queen

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Timestamps for Important Segments

Tone & Style

Final Thoughts