Here are 5 Youtube creators and channels I believe deserve more attention in 2022:
#1 Country Life Vlog
I’ve often fantasized about owning a chunk of land, raising my own food, and being closer to nature. I never would have guessed I would want to do that in Azerbaijan.
Country Life Vlog is cast in the mold of Primitive Technology in its nearly wordless documentation of skillful construction projects and cookery. It’s appeal is at a wide intersection (as evidenced by the channels 8-figure view counts): rustic culture, cuisine, construction, and even ASMR. It’s great to watch with children: it shows life on the farm and two grandparents who clearly love one another. The skill and competence of the two subjects are nothing short of awe-inspiring.
I like to watch it when I feel unaccomplished in my day. It gives me great comfort just knowing my two favorite farmers got something done.
Recommended episodes
#2 3Blue1Brown
I have such envy for folks who can take a complicated subject and explain it simply and clearly. Grant Sanderson of channel 3Blue1Brown is a master of the craft. 3Blue1Brown is like Veritasium for mathematics—I mean, of course Veritasium covers plenty of math—but 3Blue1Brown only does math.
Grant is a virtuosic visual story-teller with an impressive and ever-improving command of animation production. He makes topics that might seem dense and—dare I say—uninteresting, captivating and thought provoking. Heck, he even improved my Wordle strategy.
Recommended episodes
#3 Practical Engineering
Grady Hillhouse covers one of my favorite beats: civil infrastructure. It’s the unofficial video companion to my favorite newsletter on human doings: The Prepared. Grady provides an essential service: just what do our tax dollars pay for and how does all that big technology work? Grady covers his subject with a frankness that is somehow never dull. I always feel like I know the world humanity has built for itself better after watching one of his videos.
Recommended episodes
#4 Peter Santenello
When it sometimes feel harder and harder to relate to people I don’t identify with, folks like Peter Santenello try to tell stories to bring us all together. At his best, Peter’s courage and curiosity brings us to places and settings I wouldn’t ever venture or likely be invited in—like an Amish family’s backyard barbecue or on a cruise with some L.A. lowriders—and reveals the humanity and dignity of the people he meets.
Recommended episodes
- Inside Largest Amish/Mennonite Community – First Impressions 🇺🇸
- East LA Gang Member – 3rd Generation Maravilla 🇺🇸 🇲🇽
#5 Ali Spagnola
There are artists who you get the sense would go on turning themselves inside out to create even if they had no audience at all: Ali Spagnola feels like just such an artist to me. She’ll writes songs, she’ll make concept art (such as her chia-covered car and chia-covered suit), and she’ll even teach us how to be more fit.
The central force that unites all of Ali’s endeavors is telling a story about the creative process. She’ll start by sharing with us—dear viewer—how she’s become enamored with an idea, an itch she just has to scratch, and then documents the process to bringing it to life. While she always hits her goal, on this channel the process is the product.
Recommended episodes
- What if Lizzo’s Truth Hurts was by Mumford & Sons? (ft. Nataly Dawn of Pomplamoose)
- 50,000 Candy Hearts! I Create a HUGE Artwork
BONUS: The Kiffness
At the intersection of all the internet’s memes sits The Kiffness. Watch this one-man band (occasionally accompanied by his wife) develop songs that always crack a smile.