I realized that I’d completely changed my algorithm on YouTube over the last two years, and it has been extremely helpful in exploring all kinds of topics. I’ll start a list, and update over time. I also want to show that I like recommendations that aren’t about money.

• Making
  • Laura Kampf
    • Laura is a German carpenter and metal worker that not only does videos for adults, but is on German television doing maker programs for little kids. She just moved to LA. All her videos are fantastic, and I have learned so much.
  • Get Hands Dirty
    • Cris is a Portuguese maker who emphasizes DIY for organizing your home. She completely transforms small spaces, and it is a joy to watch. My favorite thing she’s built on the channel is a desk that incorporates room for her keyboard (electronic piano) with her computer desk.
  • MD Fish Tanks
    • I’ve always been interested in freshwater aquariums, and this is the best channel I’ve ever found for learning how to create fish tanks with live plants that maintain themselves.
  • Ants Canada
    • If you are so squeamish about ants that you’re terrified, don’t click on this link. However, if you’re only a little bit scared of ants, this might help you get over it. I have never seen a more creative person when it comes to designing vivariums. He creates entire environments specific to the ants he’s trying to keep, and they’re beautiful. He’s done everything from a volcano to a rainforest. Plus, his narrations are really fun. He’s definitely the David Attenborough of ants. I hope he knows I mean that as a compliment.
  • Tyler & Todd
    • A gay couple living in the wilds of Nova Scotia and building their own homestead. However, the channel has changed over time. That’s what they’re doing now. The channel started with being digital nomads and doing van life, then they settled in Nova Scotia to be near family during the pandemic. They’re great hosts.
  • Blacktail Studio
    • Cam is one of the funniest people on YouTube, and his channel is all about making furniture….. supposedly.
  • Chip Channel Restorations
    • Quite possibly the most detailed maker channel on YouTube, because there are so many different kinds of making involved with restoring old toy vehicles. There’s all kinds of wood and metal work, plus using a CNC machine to create wooden and metal parts that are no longer available. I found this channel looking for ASMR to put me to sleep, and it’s too fascinating for that. I cannot imagine how much he has spent on all these tools, but you cannot argue with the results. They’re impeccable.
  • Odd Tinkering
    • Another ASMR channel I really like that focuses on technology restorations, like the Nintendo Entertainment System. It’s amazing how new everything looks when it’s finished….. mostly due to baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and blacklights. It’s really interesting because he literally finds these things in the trash. I’m sure he has a very good business selling these items.
  • Bourbon Moth
    • Jason’s videos are the millennial version of “This Old House,” because he’s as lovable as Bob Villa and you just trust him implicitly. He’s also funny and snarky. I watch him often, because he’s genuine edutainment. He has this bit where he calls his son “the foreman,” and I think that cracks me up more than anything.
  • Foureyes Furniture
    • Chris is a talented artist when it comes to furniture design, and an excellent entry point for people who don’t know anything about woodworking. You just pick up terms as you watch because you want to watch him…. just like Jason on Bourbon Moth.
  • Jeff Geerling
    • Jeff is literally the glue that holds all of this together. If you use technology in your maker space, nine times out of 10 you’ll want a Raspberry Pi for its GPIO pins and extensive library of plugins, hats, sensors, etc.. Like, you don’t have to write a script to collect data from a sensor, someone has already done it. By evangelizing for Pi, he’s basically democratizing the maker space. You don’t have to pay for software, you only have to pay for hardware. And even the hardware isn’t expensive. You can buy Raspberry Pis as cheap as $25 that are perfectly capable of handling multiple sensors and sending logs. So, I enjoy the technical aspect of homesteading just because of Jeff Geerling, because so many homesteaders have already scripts for the kinds of things you would need to do for it.
  • The International Spy Museum
    • There’s no better way to make it where you can sleep or make it where you cannot, depending on the episode. 😛 So many ops are creative because it takes that kind of mind to take advantage of what most people don’t notice.
• Creativity and Writing
  • Actors on Actors
    • Because I’m a writer, these days I like hearing people talk about creative things more than I like watching media itself. I love getting into the psychology of how characters are created, and these are the best of the best (it’s not a channel, it’s a section of Variety).
  • The Graham Norton Show
    • This is another show that’s more “Actors on Actors” than a traditional talk show because what Graham has discovered is that actors want to impress each other. They want to meet each other. So, put them on a couch together. It’s always a good mix of people and a great conversation.
  • 2020 Creative Writing Lectures at BYU
    • It’s an entire course posted online called “Intro to Science Fiction Writing,” taught by Brandon Sanderson. Sanderson took over for the guy who made him a millionaire.
• Automotive Restoration/Repair
  • BigTime
    • Jobe and Jerry are vehicle enthusiasts who always have several projects going on. Right now they’ve got cars, motorcycles, and a big rig (presumably to haul the motorcycles…). They’re hysterical and pass on lots of information through humor.
  • PowerNation TV
    • Lots of restorations of old muscle cars. Comfort shows that are easy to fall asleep to because I know very little about cars- it’s just soothing to hear them talk.
  • The Detail Geek
    • Pure autistic bliss using the perfect ASMR- detailing a car.

There are so many more recommendations than I can think of off the top of my head, but at least I can show you what kind of information my head likes to receive.

(Seriously. Watch Chip Channel and be amazed.)