Behind the Bastards: Part Two – The Sordid Story of Nature Boy: The Instagram Cult Leader Who Hates Toilets

Host/Author: Cool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts
Release Date: May 15, 2025

Introduction to Nature Boy and the Conscious Community

In the second installment of "Behind the Bastards," Robert Evans and Katie Stoll delve into the unsettling rise and fall of Nature Boy, an Instagram cult leader whose bizarre ideology centers around hating toilets and forming intentional communities in Central America. The episode unpacks how Nature Boy capitalized on the conscious community subculture to amass followers, ultimately leading to manipulation, abuse, and his eventual downfall.

Early Influences and Misappropriation of Black Consciousness

Robert begins by contextualizing Nature Boy within the broader conscious community—a subculture blending black spiritualism, natural living advocacy, and alternative histories. He references David Peisner’s description:

"An ecosystem of black spiritualists, natural living advocates, herbalists, alternative historians, motivational speakers, and backpack rappers." ([04:28])

He highlights how Nature Boy distorts the principles of the Black Consciousness Movement, originally spearheaded by Steve Biko in apartheid-era South Africa, to promote toxic beliefs. Evans explains:

"A big part of black consciousness is the idea that we need to really get people to accept that being black is not an aberration. The toxic sort of way that's taken is like, no, having more melanin makes you inherently better." ([11:07])

Formation and Planning of the Movement

Nature Boy's journey begins with his obsession with Young Pharaoh, a once-prominent figure in the conscious community who spirals into erratic behavior and conspiracy theories. Evans recounts how Nature Boy idolized Young Pharaoh before his mental decline:

"Young Pharaoh used to make serious money discussing police brutality and white supremacy, but then he shifted to anti-Semitism and was banned from platforms." ([05:25])

Inspired by this figure, Nature Boy quits his job, isolates himself, and immerses in conspiracy theories, leading to significant behavioral changes. Evans notes:

"Nature Boy starts ranting about America, which he calls Babylon, and predicts its fall, but not for revolutionary reasons—he becomes fixated on hating toilets and adopting extreme fruitarianism." ([18:29])

The Move to Central America

Nature Boy's plan to establish a conscious community materializes when he responds to an offer of 30 acres in Honduras. However, his lack of preparation becomes evident:

"He immediately rejects Honduras in favor of a more unspecified South America destination, demonstrating poor planning and unrealistic expectations." ([26:53])

The initial meetup in Florida reveals a mismatch between Nature Boy’s expectations and reality, with only three men attending instead of the anticipated young women. This discrepancy foreshadows future difficulties in establishing the community.

Attempts at Building the Community

Upon arriving in Honduras, Nature Boy and his small group struggle to set up their intended village. They pivot to renting a house in Santa Fe, Honduras, instead of living off the land, contradicting their proclaimed ideals. Evans sarcastically comments:

"They camp in a landscaped city yard instead of forming an intentional community in the jungle, undermining their mission to 'drop out of Babylon.'" ([32:35])

As followers inundate the group, Nature Boy introduces polygamy, referring to his multiple partners as "directs." His convoluted explanations about DNA and knowledge transfer during sex further alienate members:

"My dick is a USB. Through sex, I'm transferring my knowledge directly into you." ([36:35])

Growing Recognition and Media Attention

The group's antics catch media attention, labeling them as a cult. The CBC and BBC produce documentaries highlighting their dysfunctional dynamics. A notable moment from the BBC documentary showcases Nature Boy addressing his followers:

"We really don't like using toilets. The soil belongs to the trees, and I'm in an abusive relationship with the tree." ([45:00])

These portrayals expose the shallow and manipulative nature of the group's beliefs, attracting further scrutiny and anti-cult sentiment.

Internal Struggles and Abuse

As the community's facade begins to crumble, internal conflicts and abusive behaviors surface. Nature Boy exerts increasing control, enforcing strict diets and punishing dissenters. Katie and Robert discuss instances of physical abuse and emotional manipulation:

"Nature Boy starts hitting women in the group, justifying it by saying, 'I've been programmed by European men to be weak.'” ([72:04])

Followers like Velvet Marquez and Janae Newell experience coercion and abuse, culminating in legal actions against Nature Boy for rape and revenge porn. These heinous acts highlight the cult's descent into toxicity and criminal behavior.

Downfall and Legal Consequences

The culmination of Nature Boy's manipulative tactics leads to his arrest and conviction. Despite rejecting a 30-year plea deal, he is ultimately sentenced to life in prison without parole, plus an additional 10 years. Evans reflects on the swift justice Nature Boy faced compared to longer proceedings seen in other cult cases:

"His cult collapses rapidly due to media exposure and internal dissent, unlike more resilient cults that persist over decades." ([77:31])

Comparison to Other Cults

Evans contrasts Nature Boy's cult with NXIVM, noting the latter's more sophisticated structures and longer period of influence. He emphasizes that Nature Boy's lack of preparation and purely self-serving motives made his downfall inevitable:

"Unlike NXIVM, which targeted wealthy and prominent individuals over years, Nature Boy's lazy and sloppy approach led to swift justice." ([81:19])

Conclusion and Reflections

The episode concludes with reflections on how social media has lowered the barriers to forming cults, enabling charismatic but unprepared leaders like Nature Boy to manipulate followers with minimal effort. Evans and Stoll discuss the importance of community vigilance and the role of media in dismantling such harmful movements.

"Social media has made it easier to start a cult with less effort, but increased visibility also means faster accountability and justice." ([83:58])

Notable Quotes

• Robert Evans ([04:28]): "Most people wouldn't know, but Steve Biko was a pivotal figure in the Black Consciousness Movement, pushing against the lies of white supremacy."

• Robert Evans ([11:07]): "The toxic sort of way that's taken is like, no, having more melanin makes you inherently better."

• Young Pharaoh ([15:48]): "My dick is a USB. Through sex, I'm transferring my knowledge directly into you."

• Courtney Townsend ([72:04]): "We'd end up having these meetings that would last six, eight hours, where he's explaining why he's locking Velvet in a room."

Final Thoughts

"Behind the Bastards" exposes the manipulative tactics and destructive consequences of Nature Boy's cult. Through detailed analysis and firsthand accounts, the episode underscores the vulnerabilities exploited by such leaders and the critical role of societal awareness in preventing similar tragedies.

Note: Advertisements and non-content segments from the transcript have been excluded to maintain focus on the core narrative.