YouTube can cop a terrible rap. The slurs comes from that stratum of society – those that deem themselves as high-cultured connoisseurs – that frown upon anyone that refers to themselves as a YouTuber. Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of shit on there. But, there are also channels that progress the platform into a communication artform. These channels below are all storytellers in their own right, much like any writer or filmmaker. Likewise, their storytelling takes you on a journey. Some of these channels educate, some use comedy, but they all interesting. Here are the most interesting channels on YouTube.
Environmental Impact – Our Changing Climate
You get a sense that there is a high-level of PR bullshit that goes with branding, especially in relation to climate and sustainability issues. However, Our Changing Climate is a channel that does an incredible job of critically evaluating these issues, something that the mainstream media would never dare do.
Their videos are bi-weekly with the aim of ‘Investigating humanity’s relationship to the natural world’. All of their videos are both educational and confronting. From Coca-Cola to McDonald’s to The North Face, Our Changing Climate offers a different insight into the impacts these companies have on the environment.
Photo by Sean Foley on Unsplash
Food & Travel – Mikey Chen
There are two pre-requisites that a food channel must have for it to be interesting. The first is that the host needs to travel throughout the world to experience all of its gastronomic wonders. The second is that they have to be able to eat like horse. Mikey Chen ticks both boxes. But be warned in that the channel is also a bit like marijuana, in that if you watch it late at night, you’ll end up with the munchies.
Sports Talk – Pat McAfee
Pat McAfee is such a likeable guy. Why? Because has the ‘gift of the gab’. A skill that that everyone wants, but only a lucky few are born with. It is the ability to tell colorful stories vocally, and keep the listener intrigued throughout. And, McAfee has plenty of stories to tell from his days in the NFL. It’s also not based on hate or hyperbole or whatever else like a Skip Bayless and co. The show is hilarious and needs to be watched by any sport fan.
Photo by History in HD on Unsplash
Science, Technology and Everything Else – Answers with Joe
Research is tedious. This article requires the most basic elements of research, but even on this simple level it is somewhat tiresome. But the research Joe Scott puts into his videos are at the highest level, with the biggest benefactor being us, the viewer, and we receive outstanding content and analysis into a multitude of complex topics. His channel investigates everything from black holes to how long a severed human remains conscious. The videos on average are around 15-20 minutes in length – not too long and not too short.
Politics – The Hill’s Rising
The mainstream media is a mess. It’s also biased, predictable, exaggerated, and at times embarrassing. Whilst it serves a purpose for the staunch left or right, for anyone else, it’s terrible. Luckily, The Hill’s Rising on YouTube has been trailblazing away from the practices of the old-school news media. The hosts Krystal Ball sits left on spectrum, whilst Saagar Enjeti is a conservative, but together they create a balanced outlook on political affairs.
Escapism – Kennedy Walsh
Escapism doesn’t mean a magician. It relates to you escaping from the current grind and taking your mind away from whatever that is happening around you. That’s the beauty of what YouTube can offer – a quick getaway. That’s what Kennedy Walsh’s channel offers. She might look like a Disney Princess, but she’s not designed to be idolized by 6-year-olds. Are her videos educational? Hell no, but they are both funny and entertaining; it’s escapism at its best. She also doesn’t post daily, which means you’re not watching the same menial shit over-and-over again.
Photo by Jeff Pierre on Unsplash
Film Review – Chris Stuckmann
The most entertaining film reviewer going around. Stuckmann systematically breaks down films into their parts and then gives a direct and honest assessment. There’s no bullshitting. This comes from a man who has spent many years studying and working in the industry. Best of all are his Hilariocity Reviews, in which he analyses – ‘Movies that are so bad they’re good’.
Sport Analysis – Jomboy Media
Jomboy’s breakdowns are not just for the sport lover. There is no question that a decaffeinated person could watch his videos and they would still be entertained. His baseball knowledge is second-to-none but what stands out the most is his lip-reading ability. And, with many videos being only 2-4 minutes in length, they have become the modern-day version of the old cigarette break.
ASMR – Goodnight Moon and Atmosphere
Both creators have advanced the craft to levels that make everyone else look basic. And, that is not to knock other creators as ASMR doesn’t need to be a grand spectacle for impact. But Goodnight Moon and Atmosphere are the classics of this genre. Their videos are ASMR grandeur established through a beautiful array of complex elements such as settings, wardrobes, characters, storylines, and editing, all of which, make their videos the equivalent of a Ben-Hur production.
Photo by Julian Myles on Unsplash
Acting – Will Westwater
I’ve never had the guts to be an actor, but I’m fascinated by the craft. I’m also intrigued by Hollywood and how that world operates. Because most of what we see from actors is the end product and the characters that they play. But if you’re an actor or even just curious about how Hollywood operates, then Will Westwater’s channel should be the starting point. His videos cover everything from pilot season, how to make a reel from scratch, and other tips and skills. Better still, it captures the journey of a professional actor working in Los Angeles.
Animal Welfare – Hope for Paws
There is always that dark side to human behavior, in which people can cruelly abuse and abandon animals. Many pets are just dumped on the side of the road and left to fend for themselves.
But, thankfully there are people that have made it their calling to protect these animals. Hope for Paws is non-profit animal group based out of Los Angeles that accomplishes these deeds. They are the stuff of legends. Their videos offer a wave of emotions but their endings always capture the beautiful bond between humans and animals.
Lifestyle/Athlete – Michael and Kianna
One of the interesting things YouTube enables is that it allows the public an insight into the private life of an athlete outside of the gridiron. This is what Michael Pittman Jr, who plays for the Indianapolis Colts, and his wife Kianna achieve with their channel Michael and Kianna. The channel shows them as just normal people, and in doing so, they come across as extremely likeable, which makes you cheer for them, even if you are not a Colts fan.
