September 14, 2025 • 14 mins
In 2018, Princess Märtha Louise of Norway meets Hollywood's most controversial spiritual healer through mutual friends. What starts as a six-month friendship becomes a secret romance that will rock the Norwegian monarchy. From Durek Verrett's celebrity clients to his claims of being part-reptilian, this is the story of how an angel-talking princess fell for a shaman who promised to change her world forever.
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Unlock an ad-free podcast experience with Caloroga Shark Media! Get all our shows on any player you love, hassle free! For Apple users, hit the banner on your Apple podcasts app. For Spotify or other players, visit caloroga.com/plus. No plug-ins needed!
Subscribe now for exclusive shows like 'Palace Intrigue,' and get bonus content from Deep Crown (our exclusive Palace Insider!) Or get 'Daily Comedy News,' and '5 Good News Stories’ with no commercials! Plans start at $4.99 per month, or save 20% with a yearly plan at $49.99. Join today and help support the show!
We now have Merch! FREE SHIPPING! Check out all the products like T-shirts, mugs, bags, jackets and more with logos and slogans from your favorite shows! Did we mention there’s free shipping? Get 10% off with code NewMerch10 Go to Caloroga.com
Get more info from Caloroga Shark Media and if you have any comments, suggestions, or just want to get in touch our email is info@caloroga.com
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Kalaruga Shark Media. The year was twenty eighteen. In the
glittering world of Hollywood's spiritual elite, where celebrities seek enlightenment
between red carpet appearances, one man had carved out an
extraordinary niche Derek David Verrett from Sacramento, California, had transformed
(00:29):
himself into Shaman Durek, describing himself as a sixth generation
healer whose client list reportedly included aless stars. But nothing
could have prepared this controversial spiritual guide for the encounter
that would rock a monarchy. Three thousand miles away in
the royal palaces of Norway, Princess Marta Luise was on
(00:52):
her own spiritual journey. The daughter of King Harold fifth,
had always been different from other royals. While her brother,
the crown Prince Hakon, prepared for his future throne, Marta
Luise claimed to communicate with angels, ran alternative therapy sessions,
and openly embraced beliefs that made Norway's famously secular society
(01:14):
deeply uncomfortable. This is Crown and Controversy Norway's Royal Rebels
Episode one, when the Princess met the Shaman, their worlds
collided through mutual friends in the entertainment industry. Marta Luise,
who had been exploring spiritual practices for years, was intrigued
(01:37):
by this charismatic American who made extraordinary healing claims. Durek
would later admit he was initially hesitant about pursuing romance,
saying she fell in love with me first. I was
a little apprehensive because I thought, maybe I'm going to
end up with a man. As far as I'm concerned,
it doesn't matter if it's a male or a female,
(01:58):
or it could be another being from another planet. For
Princess Marta Luise, the attraction was immediate and profound. Here
was someone who didn't just tolerate her spiritual beliefs, he
lived them as deeply as she did. After her divorce
from author Ari Bain in twenty seventeen, following fourteen years
(02:19):
of marriage, she had been rebuilding her life as a
single mother to three daughters. Her spiritual practices had become
even more important during this period of transition. Durek represented
something she had never encountered before, a partner who could
match her mystical interests while bringing his own extraordinary claims
(02:39):
to their relationship. In his book spirit Hacking and various interviews,
he claimed to be part reptilian, part alien. He said
he possessed the ability to reverse aging by turning atoms.
He spoke publicly of past lives as an Egyptian pharaoh
(02:59):
and connections to ancient Atlantean technology. The early stages of
their relationship unfolded quietly, away from public scrutiny. Durek would
fly to Norway for private visits. Friends described the princess
as appearing happier during this period, though the specific reasons
weren't publicly known at the time. She seemed more energetic
(03:23):
about her spiritual work and was traveling more frequently. As
their relationship deepened throughout twenty eighteen, the couple faced logistical challenges.
Durek had built his reputation and income around his Los
Angeles based healing work, Marta Luise had royal duties in
(03:44):
Norway and three school aged children who needed stability. The
solution they chose was a long distance relationship with frequent visits.
Durek would fly to Norway for extended stays, while Marta
Luise would travel to California to immerse herself in his
spiritual world. During these California visits, Martin Luise was introduced
(04:07):
to direct circle of celebrity clients and spiritual seekers. She
attended his healing sessions and workshops, where clients reportedly paid
hundreds of dollars per session. She observed him selling various
spiritual products, crystals, meditation tools, and the medallions that would
(04:27):
later become controversial. Durek would share details about his beliefs
during interviews given years later. He claimed to be in
contact with beings from other dimensions. He stated that he
could see people's past lives and predict their futures. In
his book and interviews, he spoke about what he described
(04:50):
as government conspiracies involving five G technology and what he
called those who enslaved the planet. Pallace sources suggested that
courtiers were beginning to notice changes in the princess during
this period. She seemed more excited about her spiritual work
and was spending longer periods away from her royal duties,
(05:11):
though the specific reasons weren't yet known to palace staff.
King Harold the Fifth and Queen Sonya were reportedly optimistic
about their daughter's apparent happiness during this time. They didn't
yet know the details of her new relationship, but could
observe that something in her personal life was bringing her joy.
(05:33):
Crown Prince Hakkun was more skeptical about his sister's increasingly
unconventional spiritual pursuits. Her alternative therapy center a start at
education was already causing discussion within royal circles. Adding a
new romantic relationship to the mix seemed potentially problematic to
the future king. As twenty eighteen drew to a close,
(06:05):
both Marta Luise and Derek found themselves at a crossroads.
Their relationship was becoming more serious, but it remained a
secret from the Norwegian public and largely unknown even within
royal circles. They knew that eventually, if the relationship continued,
they would need to make it public. They spent the
(06:25):
Christmas holidays of twenty eighteen together in Norway, with durrect
meeting Mata Luis's family for the first time in a
formal capacity. The meeting was cordial but tentative. King Harold
the Fifth and Queen Sonya were polite but reserved, trying
to understand this charismatic American who had captured their daughter's heart.
(06:50):
Crown Prince Hakon was more direct in his skepticism, asking
pointed questions about Durek's background and spiritual practices. The future
king had done his research and was concerned about some
of the claims associated with his sister's new boyfriend, but
Marta Luise was determined to make the relationship work. She
(07:10):
believed she had found her soulmate, someone who understood her
spiritual gifts and supported her unconventional path. The fact that
he was controversial only seemed to strengthen her resolve. She
had always been the rebellious royal, the one who challenged
conventions and pushed boundaries. What she didn't yet realize was
(07:33):
that Direct's controversies went far beyond unconventional spiritual beliefs. His
claims about healing serious medical conditions, his promotion of products
with unproven health benefits, and his dismissal of conventional medicine
would soon put her in an impossible position. As they
planned for the new year, both Marta Luise and Derek
(07:55):
knew that twenty nineteen would be the year they would
have to go public with their relation relationship. The secrecy
was becoming difficult to maintain, and both felt ready to
face whatever challenges lay ahead. They had no idea that
going public would unleash a media firestorm that would consume
Norwegian headlines for years to come, threaten the stability of
(08:18):
the royal family, and ultimately force a princess to choose
between love and duty in the most dramatic royal crisis
in modern Norwegian history. But who was Derrick David Verett
before he became Shamandurek Born November seventeenth, nineteen seventy four.
(08:39):
He grew up in Foster City, California, in what he
claimed was a wealthy family with deep Shamanic traditions, but
Norwegian investigators would later discover that almost everything about his
past was complicated. Some family members publicly disputed aspects of
his personal history. His claims of privileged upbringing faced scrutiny
(09:02):
when relatives spoke to press outlets. His assertions about Norwegian
West Indian heritage through his mother, varushka Urquat appeared to
shift depending on the audience. Sometimes she was described as
Native American, sometimes white, sometimes West Indian. His father's ancestry
(09:22):
also seemed fluid in his telling, sometimes described as African
and Haitian, other times claimed as Native American Blackfoot. The
transformation from Derek to Durek happened gradually. Court records show
he legally changed his name to Durek Verret in twenty fourteen.
His website originally claimed he was a third generation shaman.
(09:46):
Later versions upgraded this to sixth generation. His rise in
Hollywood's spiritual circles seemed meteoric. By his own account, he
built a practice serving wealthy clients seeking alternative healing methods.
His website advertised sessions costing fifteen hundred dollars for a
one hour virtual private consultation. Durek sold various spiritual products
(10:11):
alongside his healing services, crystals, meditation tools, and what he
called spirit optimizers medallions that he claimed were imbued with
frequencies and energies that connect to the spirit world and
to the physical world. The celebrity endorsements seemed to validate
his approach. Gwyneth Paltrow was reported as among his clients,
(10:34):
though the specific details of their professional relationship haven't been
publicly disclosed. These high profile associations helped build his reputation
as a shaman to the stars, but beneath the glamorous facade,
troubling questions were emerging about his background and credentials. His
(10:56):
claimed shamanic lineage couldn't be independently verify. His stories about
studying with indigenous healers worldwide lack specific details that could
be confirmed. Most concerning were the extraordinary claims he made
about his abilities and background in his book spirit Hacking
(11:18):
and various interviews. He claimed to have worked at Shamer
Medical Center in Israel, treating children for cancer using shamanic methods. However,
the hospital denied that he had ever worked there. He
also claimed to be a reincarnated pharaoh from Egypt. These claims,
while perhaps meaningful to spiritual believers, raised questions among skeptics
(11:41):
about his credibility. The stage was set for one of
the most extraordinary and controversial royal romances of the twenty
first century. A princess who claimed to talk to angels
had fallen in love with a shaman who claimed to
be part alien. Therefore, fairytale was about to become a
(12:01):
nightmare that would test the very foundations of the Norwegian monarchy.
But on those quiet winter evenings in twenty eighteen, as
they walked through the snow covered grounds of her estate
and planned their future together. Marta Luise and Durek believed
that love would be enough to overcome any obstacle. They
(12:22):
were about to discover just how wrong they were. Next
(12:44):
time on Crown and Controversy, Princess Marta Luise and her
American shaman go public with their relationship. Norwegian media explodes
with coverage of the royal romance. The Princess and the
Shaman tour across Norway faces protests and cancelations. Medical professionals
(13:05):
sound alarms about dangerous healing claims, and as the controversy
reaches fever, pitch leaked excerpts from Durek's book reveals shocking
claims about cancer, children and women's bodies that will horrify
the Norwegian medical establishment. While no one truly knows what
happens behind closed palace doors, This entertainment series uses news sources,
(13:30):
on the record, quotes, and some artistic license. Some moments
have been dramatized for storytelling effect. A I narration was
used in creation of this series. To keep up with
royal families around the world. Follow our sister podcast, Palace Intrigue,
a seven day a week, ten minute update on Royalty
(13:51):
and if you love royal stories like this one, be
sure to check out Crown and Controversy, our deep dive
series on the British royal family. Crown and Controversy Norway's
Royal Rebels is a production of Calaogua Shark Media executive
producers Mark Francis and John MacDermott
Kalaruga Shark Media. The year was twenty eighteen. In the
glittering world of Hollywood's spiritual elite, where celebrities seek enlightenment
between red carpet appearances, one man had carved out an
extraordinary niche Derek David Verrett from Sacramento, California, had transformed
(00:29):
himself into Shaman Durek, describing himself as a sixth generation
healer whose client list reportedly included aless stars. But nothing
could have prepared this controversial spiritual guide for the encounter
that would rock a monarchy. Three thousand miles away in
the royal palaces of Norway, Princess Marta Luise was on
(00:52):
her own spiritual journey. The daughter of King Harold fifth,
had always been different from other royals. While her brother,
the crown Prince Hakon, prepared for his future throne, Marta
Luise claimed to communicate with angels, ran alternative therapy sessions,
and openly embraced beliefs that made Norway's famously secular society
(01:14):
deeply uncomfortable. This is Crown and Controversy Norway's Royal Rebels
Episode one, when the Princess met the Shaman, their worlds
collided through mutual friends in the entertainment industry. Marta Luise,
who had been exploring spiritual practices for years, was intrigued
(01:37):
by this charismatic American who made extraordinary healing claims. Durek
would later admit he was initially hesitant about pursuing romance,
saying she fell in love with me first. I was
a little apprehensive because I thought, maybe I'm going to
end up with a man. As far as I'm concerned,
it doesn't matter if it's a male or a female,
(01:58):
or it could be another being from another planet. For
Princess Marta Luise, the attraction was immediate and profound. Here
was someone who didn't just tolerate her spiritual beliefs, he
lived them as deeply as she did. After her divorce
from author Ari Bain in twenty seventeen, following fourteen years
(02:19):
of marriage, she had been rebuilding her life as a
single mother to three daughters. Her spiritual practices had become
even more important during this period of transition. Durek represented
something she had never encountered before, a partner who could
match her mystical interests while bringing his own extraordinary claims
(02:39):
to their relationship. In his book spirit Hacking and various interviews,
he claimed to be part reptilian, part alien. He said
he possessed the ability to reverse aging by turning atoms.
He spoke publicly of past lives as an Egyptian pharaoh
(02:59):
and connections to ancient Atlantean technology. The early stages of
their relationship unfolded quietly, away from public scrutiny. Durek would
fly to Norway for private visits. Friends described the princess
as appearing happier during this period, though the specific reasons
weren't publicly known at the time. She seemed more energetic
(03:23):
about her spiritual work and was traveling more frequently. As
their relationship deepened throughout twenty eighteen, the couple faced logistical challenges.
Durek had built his reputation and income around his Los
Angeles based healing work, Marta Luise had royal duties in
(03:44):
Norway and three school aged children who needed stability. The
solution they chose was a long distance relationship with frequent visits.
Durek would fly to Norway for extended stays, while Marta
Luise would travel to California to immerse herself in his
spiritual world. During these California visits, Martin Luise was introduced
(04:07):
to direct circle of celebrity clients and spiritual seekers. She
attended his healing sessions and workshops, where clients reportedly paid
hundreds of dollars per session. She observed him selling various
spiritual products, crystals, meditation tools, and the medallions that would
(04:27):
later become controversial. Durek would share details about his beliefs
during interviews given years later. He claimed to be in
contact with beings from other dimensions. He stated that he
could see people's past lives and predict their futures. In
his book and interviews, he spoke about what he described
(04:50):
as government conspiracies involving five G technology and what he
called those who enslaved the planet. Pallace sources suggested that
courtiers were beginning to notice changes in the princess during
this period. She seemed more excited about her spiritual work
and was spending longer periods away from her royal duties,
(05:11):
though the specific reasons weren't yet known to palace staff.
King Harold the Fifth and Queen Sonya were reportedly optimistic
about their daughter's apparent happiness during this time. They didn't
yet know the details of her new relationship, but could
observe that something in her personal life was bringing her joy.
(05:33):
Crown Prince Hakkun was more skeptical about his sister's increasingly
unconventional spiritual pursuits. Her alternative therapy center a start at
education was already causing discussion within royal circles. Adding a
new romantic relationship to the mix seemed potentially problematic to
the future king. As twenty eighteen drew to a close,
(06:05):
both Marta Luise and Derek found themselves at a crossroads.
Their relationship was becoming more serious, but it remained a
secret from the Norwegian public and largely unknown even within
royal circles. They knew that eventually, if the relationship continued,
they would need to make it public. They spent the
(06:25):
Christmas holidays of twenty eighteen together in Norway, with durrect
meeting Mata Luis's family for the first time in a
formal capacity. The meeting was cordial but tentative. King Harold
the Fifth and Queen Sonya were polite but reserved, trying
to understand this charismatic American who had captured their daughter's heart.
(06:50):
Crown Prince Hakon was more direct in his skepticism, asking
pointed questions about Durek's background and spiritual practices. The future
king had done his research and was concerned about some
of the claims associated with his sister's new boyfriend, but
Marta Luise was determined to make the relationship work. She
(07:10):
believed she had found her soulmate, someone who understood her
spiritual gifts and supported her unconventional path. The fact that
he was controversial only seemed to strengthen her resolve. She
had always been the rebellious royal, the one who challenged
conventions and pushed boundaries. What she didn't yet realize was
(07:33):
that Direct's controversies went far beyond unconventional spiritual beliefs. His
claims about healing serious medical conditions, his promotion of products
with unproven health benefits, and his dismissal of conventional medicine
would soon put her in an impossible position. As they
planned for the new year, both Marta Luise and Derek
(07:55):
knew that twenty nineteen would be the year they would
have to go public with their relation relationship. The secrecy
was becoming difficult to maintain, and both felt ready to
face whatever challenges lay ahead. They had no idea that
going public would unleash a media firestorm that would consume
Norwegian headlines for years to come, threaten the stability of
(08:18):
the royal family, and ultimately force a princess to choose
between love and duty in the most dramatic royal crisis
in modern Norwegian history. But who was Derrick David Verett
before he became Shamandurek Born November seventeenth, nineteen seventy four.
(08:39):
He grew up in Foster City, California, in what he
claimed was a wealthy family with deep Shamanic traditions, but
Norwegian investigators would later discover that almost everything about his
past was complicated. Some family members publicly disputed aspects of
his personal history. His claims of privileged upbringing faced scrutiny
(09:02):
when relatives spoke to press outlets. His assertions about Norwegian
West Indian heritage through his mother, varushka Urquat appeared to
shift depending on the audience. Sometimes she was described as
Native American, sometimes white, sometimes West Indian. His father's ancestry
(09:22):
also seemed fluid in his telling, sometimes described as African
and Haitian, other times claimed as Native American Blackfoot. The
transformation from Derek to Durek happened gradually. Court records show
he legally changed his name to Durek Verret in twenty fourteen.
His website originally claimed he was a third generation shaman.
(09:46):
Later versions upgraded this to sixth generation. His rise in
Hollywood's spiritual circles seemed meteoric. By his own account, he
built a practice serving wealthy clients seeking alternative healing methods.
His website advertised sessions costing fifteen hundred dollars for a
one hour virtual private consultation. Durek sold various spiritual products
(10:11):
alongside his healing services, crystals, meditation tools, and what he
called spirit optimizers medallions that he claimed were imbued with
frequencies and energies that connect to the spirit world and
to the physical world. The celebrity endorsements seemed to validate
his approach. Gwyneth Paltrow was reported as among his clients,
(10:34):
though the specific details of their professional relationship haven't been
publicly disclosed. These high profile associations helped build his reputation
as a shaman to the stars, but beneath the glamorous facade,
troubling questions were emerging about his background and credentials. His
(10:56):
claimed shamanic lineage couldn't be independently verify. His stories about
studying with indigenous healers worldwide lack specific details that could
be confirmed. Most concerning were the extraordinary claims he made
about his abilities and background in his book spirit Hacking
(11:18):
and various interviews. He claimed to have worked at Shamer
Medical Center in Israel, treating children for cancer using shamanic methods. However,
the hospital denied that he had ever worked there. He
also claimed to be a reincarnated pharaoh from Egypt. These claims,
while perhaps meaningful to spiritual believers, raised questions among skeptics
(11:41):
about his credibility. The stage was set for one of
the most extraordinary and controversial royal romances of the twenty
first century. A princess who claimed to talk to angels
had fallen in love with a shaman who claimed to
be part alien. Therefore, fairytale was about to become a
(12:01):
nightmare that would test the very foundations of the Norwegian monarchy.
But on those quiet winter evenings in twenty eighteen, as
they walked through the snow covered grounds of her estate
and planned their future together. Marta Luise and Durek believed
that love would be enough to overcome any obstacle. They
(12:22):
were about to discover just how wrong they were. Next
(12:44):
time on Crown and Controversy, Princess Marta Luise and her
American shaman go public with their relationship. Norwegian media explodes
with coverage of the royal romance. The Princess and the
Shaman tour across Norway faces protests and cancelations. Medical professionals
(13:05):
sound alarms about dangerous healing claims, and as the controversy
reaches fever, pitch leaked excerpts from Durek's book reveals shocking
claims about cancer, children and women's bodies that will horrify
the Norwegian medical establishment. While no one truly knows what
happens behind closed palace doors, This entertainment series uses news sources,
(13:30):
on the record, quotes, and some artistic license. Some moments
have been dramatized for storytelling effect. A I narration was
used in creation of this series. To keep up with
royal families around the world. Follow our sister podcast, Palace Intrigue,
a seven day a week, ten minute update on Royalty
(13:51):
and if you love royal stories like this one, be
sure to check out Crown and Controversy, our deep dive
series on the British royal family. Crown and Controversy Norway's
Royal Rebels is a production of Calaogua Shark Media executive
producers Mark Francis and John MacDermott
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