What happened to Nathaniel Drew?

You're moving in circles dawg it's borderline insanity at this point.

Nathanael - I appreciate you and you're one of the first YouTubers I subscribed to shortly before Covid.

Count how many times you say 'I', 'myself' etc in your recent videos. Since your Paris Gertrude Stein atelier experiment (you bought a nice flat and it was good to see it) and the move to the countryside (lovely reno on that old house), it's started to feel like the same video every time. One time there was a little song with the guitar and that was fun but dude it's not the stuff you do best.

You are far too introspective. We're watching a (let's face it, fairly privileged Gen Z influencer likely backed by some level of parental money) naval-gaze, you don't need to do this on youtube. You don't need to keep 'reinventing', 'recalibrating', 'learning how to live life all over again.' It's not that deep, it's not that dramatic. You're just reflecting on how your view-count streak dropped, it wasn't going to last forever.

You're a talented linguist with interesting things to say about languages, cultures, and historical figures. Adapt back towards the subjects you used to explore and introduce us to - like daily routines of famous people, the culture and mindsets of specific European nations eg. France (or specific regions of it), Portugal, Mexico, Argentina etc. That was fascinating. Be more interested in the world and less in your head man. Therapy isn't always needed, when's the last time you travelled into Paris and hung out with some old friends? Have a beer by the Seine and just chill.

Tell us about the world, not your personal overthinking. When you look outward at the world with curiosity, you'll produce interesting content.

Losing yourself and finding versions of yourself that you'd either lost or are completely new is growth. I also am going through a change where I had to let go of something I thought was essential to my well being. It was not. I'm currently reading this tiny book called Of Human Freedom by Epictetus and he sums it all up by saying "Taking account of the value of externals, you see, comes at some cost to the value of one's own character." If you chase money, views, reputation etc you end up being enslaved to that very thing and lose a part of yourself trying to maintain it. Your work here is to be the best version of yourself and let go of things you can't control and that's what you're doing. So keep on Nate!

You’re so obsessed with yourself that it’s honestly a little scary. We support you, but you don’t have to take yourself so seriously.

Really appreciate the honesty man

Hola Nathaniel,



Solo quería darte las gracias. Hace un par de años vi muchos de tus vídeos, y hubo uno en particular que supuso un gran cambio en mi vida: aquel en el que dabas el consejo de crear un calendario mensual.



Pues lo hice. Durante cuatro años (2021-2024) anoté cada día mi productividad en diferentes ámbitos de mi vida. Hice un estudio sobre mí mismo y, con la información de más de 1.460 días, elaboré gráficos en los que podía ver mi productividad, mis malos hábitos, mis días difíciles, mis días felices… Todo: alcohol, drogas, gimnasio, en definitiva, tanto lo bonito como lo feo de uno mismo.



Dejé algunos vicios, como los videojuegos, y adquirí otros. Pasé de tener 60 malos días en 2021 a solo 15 malos días en 2024, de 253 dias Satisfechos a 295 dias Satisfechos, mejora importante en todos los ámbitos.
Te cuento todo esto porque creo que eres la única persona a la que realmente le puede interesar, y porque probablemente te alegrará saber que has provocado grandes cambios en la vida de personas que nunca has llegado a conocer.



Por último, igual que yo recibí un consejo tuyo aquel día, me gustaría intentar darte uno. Dios te ha dado un talento extraordinario para el storytelling y, aunque lo has estado utilizando muy bien, existen muchas formas de contar historias. Contar las historias de personas que necesitan ser escuchadas es un tipo de poder diferente. Tú lo tienes; solo hace falta salir a buscar esas historias que merecen ser contadas.

The search for truth and meaning will always lead you to Christ. I genuinely love witnessing glimpses of your life through your videos and seeing your willingness to be honest in a world that so often masks itself in lies.

As someone who’s also in 20 something, my friends and I go through what these commenters are calling a “life crisis” a lot - not in a bad way, but questioning our thoughts and changing our opinions based on research and experiences happens along the way. I feel what you described in the video quite a lot: I feel one thing, and then later question it like what if I’m wrong, what is true for me and what isn’t. I’m not comfortable telling people openly, mainly because I might get judged, like these commenters but you are really brave!
Thank you for sharing your journey and letting lots of people know we’re not alone with all these tangling thoughts in our head. I love your videos so much that I tried not to binge-watch them when I found out your youtube. I’m someone who loves stories, and you tell damn good stories!!!☺️

As a theologian, Aquinas scholar, and long-time viewer of Nathaniel Drew videos, this was an awesome watch

mucho blah blah blah

(I don't think I've ever commented on a video before but this deserves it). It passes through the screen your newly unlocked freedom, and with that I can also intuit a new and different level of confidence and authenticity within yourself. I've only recently realized - after many years as a teen seeking for it - that freedom is nothing but invisible and internal, it has nothing to do with our doing but with our being. Love that you are in pursuit of both freedom and living more with the heart - I found happiness is found there (im on the process too). Good luck with the never-ending search :)

Thank you for opening a door to your soul, Nathaniel. Was truly moving and I could feel the warmth and flowing energy through the screen. Like something had been untangled in you, so I could also experience a part of this relief. What a wholesome experience 💕

Just watch out for falling branches

A distraction like something other than the search for life’s meaning is said to help with it. Something like a cause seemingly bigger, but more ordinary than your own idealistic thoughts.
I honestly thought this was going to be about something else. But I’ve accepted the fact that you might never make that video. Which means whatever it would mean to each of us privately, separately.

life must be lived forward but can only be understood backwards - this is you act II already btw (:

Thank you Nathaniel for sharing your journey with such artistry and honesty. I immensely relate to your transformation/evolution/transition, being myself in a similar phase. I wish we could take a walk and talk about this through nos campagnes francaises. I wish you a beautiful new chapter. Juliette

I actually like this a lot some people may call it overthinking but I feel like you are just putting your emotions into words which I find super cool! Life is something that is very difficult to explain, and I feel that these are emotions that are very relatable and interesting to think about.

Católica y fan de tu canal, no esperaba escuchar la historia de San Agustín XD

Try a DMT trip (or psilocybin) ....you'll go so deep into your head you may get out of it.

Beautiful video

🔥 Amazing content! Your editing is top-notch. I'm a Professional YouTube Thumbnail Designer and would love to create a FREE sample thumbnail for your next video. Keep up the great work! 🚀

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkxBlYslpdzuc7XzK1YbluA

wishing you all the best...🙏💖

Dude is starting to talk about himself with "he". Talk about ego...

You look more and more like your father 😄

Loved the Parisian apartment stuff - enjoyed the country house renovation, but this indulgent introspection is 🙄

I find it strange the many comments that are saying to ND to focus less on himself and more on others. Have you all not seen his other content where he literally lived like other famous artists and thinkers? He shared stories of really getting to deeply, intimately know people in romantic ways, friendships ways, and relearning how to relate with his parents. Have you seen his other channels? I find that comments like these “don’t make it all about yourself” are strange because this platform started as a way to share parts of ourselves to connect with others across state and country lines, backgrounds, and even other languages. I’d say this instead, why do those of you who stated he should stop talking about himself so much have such a visceral reaction like that? Our comments are more reflections of who we are and how we see ourselves from moment to moment.

I'm your parents' age. We are all happy to see your age group express who you are and are grateful when you can tell us you're not stuck. You will put out a masterpiece.

I 've missed you a lot...!!

The ego was there, yes - I could notice it in the ways you always overdelivered. Which was great for us, your viewers, but also pointed towards a need to be considered someone great. And guess what - it worked :) Love the honest self reflection here! Looking forward to the next one.

Nice video but a terrible treatment of the history of how the Latin Church received Aristotle.

Being able to watch you navigate your truths, hopes, deceptions and dreams is inspiring. I cannot wait to see what you'll create in the future.

Let it 🐝 Baby

Nathaniel, I applaud you for coming to this realization that life is not about numbers and money. They help of course, because it allows you to do the things that you enjoy. So do those things. The money will come. People watch you because they like you. They find you entertaining and you tell a great story. Thomas Aquinas was awesome. Thank you for sharing that. I’ve seen lots of comments on here about this video. I may be older than your normal demographic so let me impart this wisdom to you. Life is short. My friend‘s father told me that when he lost his 28-year-old son. Life is short. Live it exactly how you are happiest. Do the things that make you happy. The rest will fall in line. Looking forward to seeing the interesting content you create now. Don’t feel pressured to do anything. Just do what you love and the rest will follow.

Very cinematic video

You are inspiring with your words!

Also the clips of young you were endearing

You are not a number, nor are you your output. You are your soul, your essence, your creativity, your spirituality, your ethics. Like Aquinas, you're trying to blend reason with convention, as you said now you're "slowly letting it go and becoming free." It's ironic, isn't it? The very thing that was your goal all along turned into a mental jail that disoriented you and led you astray. But unlike Aquinas, you possess the ability to reconcile your love for a convention, now, with the reality of practicing it through reason. That reason may also show you, in pursuing your purpose, passion, and freedom, that you may have low seasons or no seasons; you may wish to pivot in life. You are not pigeonholed into this career because of sunk cost, or fear. You are uniquely you, and I want to remind you that your worth rests with you, not in what you produce. Passion doesn't always need to breed profit. Pivoting is not a betrayal of your past, it's just the natural evolution of your freedom and life, should you so wish. Maybe, like in Aquinas' case, the recent introspection and self-discovery is YOUR mass moment, it's unexplainable, there's a pull away, there's fatigue, there's worry. Maybe your inner self, the divine, the universe, whatever have you, is sending you a mass moment. I know you said you are unlike Aquinas in that sense, in that you still enjoy your craft and wish to continue..wonderful (hurrah!). Just please give yourself the grace to consider when you don't, you owe it to him. Sending you love and light, Nathaniel. (P.S. This video was beautifully shot, and the storytelling was fantastic.) - Max

Nathaniel you amaze me so much man, I wish I can be friends with you in real life

the reduction in numbers....its cause most of us are busy watching reels Nathaniel, I've been your fan for over 7 years, but I get so caught up with other content that i don't choose to watch but its consuming.

Why did you feel trapped and who made the trap?

You have an audience that loves to be touched emotionally. Maybe using your amazing storytelling skills can give people a voice that have a story to be told and do not have the platform yet.

You do not suffer because you love what you do. You suffer because you demand that what you love remain exactly as you wish.

Absolutely love this one... to step beyond all the assumptions the mind can make and keep that freshness and curiosity alive. You are amazing ❤

So on point….let go and be free, yes 🎉