The Phenomenon of Extravagant Challenges and Philanthropy

Jimmy Donaldson — AKA "MrBeast" — has taken YouTube by storm, racking up more than 330 million subscribers with his cleverly edited videos of stunts ranging from performative philanthropy to Fear Factor-esque challenges. Ryan Broderick, creator of the Garbage Day newsletter and host of the podcast Panic World, tells Ben and Amory about the awkward past, the controversial present, and the uncertain future of MrBeast.

Show notes:

• Panic World's MrBeast episode with Ben and Amory
• Garbage Day, the newsletter
• "In the Belly of MrBeast" (Time)
• "Willing to Die for MrBeast (and $5 Million)" (The New York Times)
• "From baking to MrBeast: Meet the YouTuber taking on the platform’s biggest creator" (NBC News)