Minty: "Since you've established that this fundamental truth was the driving force behind your work, and you were in a period where you weren't relying on traditional faith, I have to ask about the act of creating itself. Did you find that the act of creating worlds and deep, emotional characters itself served as a form of spiritual or existential fulfillment for you during that time, perhaps replacing the kind of meaning religion often provides?"
[The audience is completely hushed, the tea-and-talk atmosphere at its peak. Several people are leaning forward, resting their elbows on their knees, deeply invested in this answer.]
Iboni: "Yes. Yes, it somehow did. I'm only human! And humans must hold onto another belief or anything that they seem fit in their lifestyles for the fear that they might become insane if they had none."
[A low, thoughtful murmur ripples through the crowd. You can see a few people exchange wow looks. That mention of the 'fear of going insane' hits the room with a heavy, honest weight.]
Iboni: "We're humans; not God. We are always dependent on something. It's in our nature."
[A soft ripple of "Mhm" and nodding heads spreads across the studio. One audience member visibly exhales, as if a lightbulb just went off for them.]
Minty: "That is such a keen and beautiful observation, Iboni. You've hit on a core human truth: 'We are always dependent on something. It's in our nature.' We must cling to some source of meaning, or belief, to anchor ourselves."
[The camera pans to a couple in the audience who are holding hands, nodding in unison with Minty's words.]
Minty: "So, during your time of atheism, your dependency shifted. You replaced a formal religious structure with the necessary, self-created structure of storytelling—committing to the belief that you have a choice not to pass on pain. Your writing wasn't just a hobby; it was a spiritual survival tool."
[At the phrase 'spiritual survival tool,' the audience breaks into a sudden, appreciative round of applause. It's a rhythmic, steady clap that shows they truly respect the gravity of her creative journey.]
Minty: "You have given us an incredible look at the moral foundation of your creative journey. Now, let's use all that insight to look at the future of your work as we close out this first part of the show."
[The upbeat, jazzy music starts to swell softly in the background. The audience's energy picks up—there's a buzz of excitement and conversation as people prepare for the transition to the next segment.]