Let's talk about YouTube.
I won't lie, 70% of my internet time is spent on the video sharing social media platform. My habits are strictly 1.) Obtaining the news in a way that doesn't make me want to vomit and 2.) Self-soothing.
With the world the way it is, I suppose that it isn't all that unusual or surprising.
I get almost all of my news from well-known comedians who are backed by large corporations like Comedy Central, HBO, CBS, and MSNBC, so I won't be advertising them here because they have a large enough platform as it is.
I'll be talking about a variety of indie filmmakers and producers (with large and small followings alike) that I really enjoy.
This lovely ASMR baking channel is run out of Korea and currently has 3.41M subscribers. The content creator bakes a menagerie of interesting and beautifully decorated cakes and desserts from all over the world while sharing the recipes and baking process with viewers. Another thing that I enjoy is that they don't attempt to build a parasocial relationship with the viewers, but still come off as gentile and sweet in the comments. Here are a few of my favorites!
These cookies.(I like gingerbread, okay?)
I think this is one of the largest cooking channels on YouTube clocking in at an impressive 7.7M subscribers. Babish does more than cook- he bakes, too! He'll make anything from simple (Fondue Basics, Potato Hash) to expert spreads (Tampopo Ramen) to as-seen-in-your-favorite-show meals. Speaking of, check out his Lord of the Rings hobbit mealtime series (Part 1) (Part 2) - it's amazing. Babish has a friendly, informative, and clever delivery which make his videos fun to watch and easy to follow.
Brad is a snarky New York-based hairdresser with a 5.87M viewer following, and he's an absolute delight to watch. His repertoire includes the famous Hairdressers Guide To Cutting Your Own Hair And Not Ruining It video (which I've actually followed), as well as his ANTM makeover and home hair bleaching fail reaction videos (which were the first videos of his that I ever watched). He's hilarious, knowledgable, and honest- and it's nice to be able to trust that he'll tell you the truth about your hair if you ask him for his opinion. He even has his own haircare line, XMONDO, and it's been garnering rave reviews from critics. Also, he's started handing out a phone number that his viewers can text if they want his advice on their hair and he sometimes responds. I dunno about you, but I think that's pretty damn cool. (Don't even talk to me about his ambivalent relationship with Wella's T18 toner 'cuz I'll start dying of laughter.)
Ginny is a wonderful cosplayer, singer, and creator out of Colorado and I think she's probably best known in TTRPG circles for cosplaying Jester of the Mighty Nine (from the popular TTRPG show Critical Role which streams on Twitch every Thursday at 7PM PST/10PM EST) was what initially turned me on to her. Sliding in at 150K subscribers, Ginny puts out high production music videos (her singing voice and musical arrangements are incredible, y'all), cosplay and D&D focused content, as well as videos about her creative process. Ginny is such a creative, pleasant, and all-around talented human being, and I'm so proud of everything that she's accomplished! Oh, also, she has a lovely website where you can check out her wares, too!
I would love to eventually interview her for this blog!
This long-form satisfyingly sarcastic content producer is damn good at talking about whatever he wants. He pulls no punches and no holds are barred. At a cool 1.44M subscribers, D'Angelo offers confident and well-researched breakdowns of YouTube drama, and offers logical and evidence-backed takedowns of individuals on the platform. Though I don't live for drama myself, I enjoy getting the skinny every now and then by an unflappable individual with a hilariously dry delivery. Curious about the whole Shane Dawson, Jefree Star, Tati Westbrook, and James Charles drama? He has you covered in spades.
Much like Binging with Babish, Phillip DeFranco is YouTube royalty and he's been around for a good while. With a stunning 6.42M subscribers, Phil's empathetic, good-humored, "get down to business" take on newscasting is the spoonful of sugar that helps the medicine go down. He never tries to manipulate his viewers into subscribing to his viewpoints, but he does encourage healthy discussion in the comment section which is something I appreciate- even if I find myself agreeing with Phil most of the time. He isn't afraid to talk about heavy topics, but he does inject some good news in with the bad, and that's something else I like, too.
I found Stella through one of Brad Mondo's hairdresser reacts videos, and I have to say that this lady knows how to dye hair! Weighing in at an honorable 538K subscribers, she dyes her own hair and it's so satisfying to watch her take her hair from a pale, washed out pink to a vibrant sunset or an emerald green. Even when her hair doesn't turn out the way she wants it to, it still looks incredible! She has such a wonderful, fun energy and I absolutely recommend her channel to anyone who loves Brad Mondo!
At a stunning 1.14M subscribers, Taylor R is a model, DIY aficionado, vlogger, and purveyor of other weird stuff. Like the time she turned her eyebrows into a florist's wet dream. I've been watching Taylor since 2016- and that was the year I found myself in a really dark place. I was looking for living abroad in Japan vlogs to live vicariously through, and I was lucky enough to find her channel. Consuming her daily/weekly vlogs, food videos, and wacky wild hijinx helped me though some heavy stuff, and through her content, I was able to escape my situation vicariously through her. She's gone from Japan to Korea to Hong Kong where she currently makes videos that sometimes feature her husband and poodle companion, Rosie. Taylor is such a fun, creative, and thoughtful person and I absolutely adore her light-hearted and sometimes hilarious content. Also, here's a link to her website where you can check out her wares as well as her beauty, nutrition, wellness, travel, and entertainment based blog!
Comments