The Create Unknown

Something unique and amazing is happening on YouTube, and oddly enough, it was revealed by Rekieta Media and the Kyle Rittenhouse trial. It’s a contentious, complex event in the public interest, and Rekieta and his guests have democratized expertise. And they’ve obliterated the traditional networks in the process.Media companies are beholden to many, many people and organizations. Streamers aren’t. And this mirrors what we’re seeing in sports commentary, where the future probably suggests that we’ll have the ability to run live commentary on game broadcasts.That sounds great, but it also comes with a few sticky parts -- like the proclivity for the internet class to lob undue criticism. Kevin says that we’re becoming “culturally obsessed with outing the bad guys,” and he’s right. The question is to what degree that’s beneficial and whether we can keep it from being destructive.Michael Che and Tim Dillon had a Twitter fight, and Matt thinks that means traditional media like Saturday Night Live has already lost. The moral of the story here is that the doors are about to bust open for anyone -- including you -- to be the expert. Do not wait. Start this now. Because as Kevin says, you need to give yourself a chance to get ‘the call.’ And that might be the most useful bit of advice we’ve given in 118 episodes of The Create Unknown.Thanks to the robust crowd who showed up to talk with us about this live, and a special thanks to the Patrons who make this show happen each and every week. We’ll see you at next week’s TCU Friendsgiving!Patreon: https://patreon.com/thecreateunknownRekieta Law: https://www.youtube.com/c/RekietaLawJoin our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: https://discord.gg/qAQV3JwApple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownAppleSpotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotifyGoogle Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts CREDITS:  Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor Produced and Edited by Ben Webster → https://twitter.com/benwebsterTCU "Created in the Unknown" theme by Basswaite: https://linktr.ee/Basswaite  Theme by Mega Drive → http://megadrivemusic.com  Opening Animation: Kidmograph City Animation: Eric Langlay  "The Create Unknown" is produced by Unknown Media.  CONNECT WITH US: » Chat with us on DISCORD: https://discord.gg/qAQV3Jw  » Follow us on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/createunknown  » Follow us on INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/thecreateunknown  » Follow us on FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/thecreateunknown   » View our website: https://thecreateunknown.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jose Arroyo has almost certainly made you laugh even if you don’t know it -- and he’s bringing decades of experience as one of Conan O’Brien’s writers into The Create Unknown to put on an absolute masterclass in creativity. The first lesson? Outwait your impatience.Kevin’s got a unique perspective on all this, since he interned for Conan a lifetime ago (which is how he met Jose). Jokes are little, fleeting moments, and Jose describes what it’s like to juggle so many potential projects, especially now that it’s independent.Oh, and when Jose met Kevin, he thought, “I am in the company of a fevered mind.” It was probably the potato comics.Matt points out that we’re almost always wrong when it comes to what other people think. We don’t know their motivations or what drives their decisions and reactions -- so why put much effort into worrying? It’s necessary to some degree, though, like when you’re in a writers room figuring out what’s going to be funny that night for, say, 10 million people. What’s the difference between comedy and just being funny? A lot, actually. It’s like the difference between playing basketball in the NBA and at the YMCA.Jose’s epic journey is one of the best stories we’ve had on TCU, from faxing jokes into Jay Leno and crossing his fingers, to figure out which of a dozen options he’s got right now. If you make anything -- or you WANT to make anything -- you need to listen to this one.Thanks to everyone who went live with us, and thanks to the Patrons who make this show happen each and every week. You really are the best.Patreon: https://patreon.com/thecreateunknownJose Arroyo IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0037434/Website: https://www.josearroyowriter.com/This Guy Has Never Seen Any "Star Wars" EVER: https://youtu.be/YGF-0ZB_cm8Eggplant Farmers Want You To Stop Sexualizing Their Crop: https://youtu.be/Mkiq_lu-ehUJoin our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: https://discord.gg/qAQV3JwApple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownAppleSpotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotifyGoogle Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts CREDITS:  Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor Produced and Edited by Ben Webster → https://twitter.com/benwebsterTCU "Created in the Unknown" theme by Basswaite: https://linktr.ee/Basswaite  Theme by Mega Drive → http://megadrivemusic.com  Opening Animation: Kidmograph City Animation: Eric Langlay  "The Create Unknown" is produced by Unknown Media.  CONNECT WITH US: » Chat with us on DISCORD: https://discord.gg/qAQV3Jw  » Follow us on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/createunknown  » Follow us on INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/thecreateunknown  » Follow us on FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/thecreateunknown   » View our website: https://thecreateunknown.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark Douglas’s pioneering work on Barely Political and Key of Awesome is one of YouTube’s most unique stories -- and Mark’s going through every detail with us. He’s been on a break for a few years now, and that’ll probably stop when he commits himself to being in a jam.Mark’s passions have changed a bit over time, but now Kevin’s going to threaten harm to get Mark’s album done. What could go wrong?Kevin realized the difference between hanging out with funny friends and actual professional comedians. Mark got started because he didn’t really have an outlet for his humor and nowhere to use his jokes. YouTube gave him that outlet, but it’s absolutely changed over the years to the point where traditional comedy might not even be necessary anymore. When Mark moved into music, everything got a bit more complicated. Producing parodies required meeting certain standards of fair use, hiring actors and actresses ran up budgets, and even Journey slapped complaints on him. Add in having to respond to current trends and feeling trapped and it was time to relax for a while. It’s time to stop when it’s time to stop.Mark’s singular professional life has taken several twists and turns, and we can’t thank him enough for coming into the Unknown to put it all on display. Thanks as well to everyone who showed up for the live episode -- and a special thanks to the Patrons who make this show happen each and every week. You really are the best.Patreon: https://patreon.com/thecreateunknownThe Key of Awesome: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheKeyofAwesome/videosJoin our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: https://discord.gg/qAQV3JwApple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownAppleSpotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotifyGoogle Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts CREDITS:  Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor Produced and Edited by Ben Webster → https://twitter.com/benwebsterTCU "Created in the Unknown" theme by Basswaite: https://linktr.ee/Basswaite  Theme by Mega Drive → http://megadrivemusic.com  Opening Animation: Kidmograph City Animation: Eric Langlay  "The Create Unknown" is produced by Unknown Media.  CONNECT WITH US: » Chat with us on DISCORD: https://discord.gg/qAQV3Jw  » Follow us on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/createunknown  » Follow us on INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/thecreateunknown  » Follow us on FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/thecreateunknown   » View our website: https://thecreateunknown.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

William Osman, I'm Done: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVCpKfedfokAfter too many negative comments, TCU alumnus William Osman has announced that he’s had enough. He’s done despite continued success with his content, and he detailed why in a recent 20-minute video. Every large channel has some form of this problem, and Kevin is no stranger to mean comments about his appearance, style, and content. So, what does a creator do when a tiny percentage of people are criticizing them in a way that hits too hard? Is there any defense to that, or do you have to learn to live with it?Matt asks whether some of those same people would criticize actors or musicians as cruelly as they themselves are criticized, and Kevin thinks a significant component of this is biological. We’re actually programmed to identify and heighten awareness to danger, and some comments might trigger that reflex. This is a really complex issue, and the possible solutions can only go so far. And if you make anything, you’re going to have to deal with this at some point -- so it’s worth thinking about it before you need it.Thanks to everyone who came out to discuss this one live in the Discord, and a special thanks to the Patrons who make this show happen each and every week.Patreon: https://patreon.com/thecreateunknownAfter The Upload | Kevin Lieber from Vsauce2 Has A Field DayJohn Swan's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/johnswanyt Join our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: https://discord.gg/qAQV3JwApple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownAppleSpotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotifyGoogle Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts CREDITS:  Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor Produced and Edited by Ben Webster → https://twitter.com/benwebsterTCU "Created in the Unknown" theme by Basswaite: https://linktr.ee/Basswaite  Theme by Mega Drive → http://megadrivemusic.com  Opening Animation: Kidmograph City Animation: Eric Langlay  "The Create Unknown" is produced by Unknown Media.  CONNECT WITH US: » Chat with us on DISCORD: https://discord.gg/qAQV3Jw  » Follow us on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/createunknown  » Follow us on INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/thecreateunknown  » Follow us on FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/thecreateunknown   » View our website: https://thecreateunknown.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It seems obvious that someone stealing your content is a bad thing. After all, they’re getting the views, the revenue, and the subscriptions. Most of the time that’s true. But after Kevin had his Vsauce2 YouTube content ripped and re-uploaded on TikTok, it got more complex.Vsauce3 Jake and several of the Baby Gang alerted Kevin to the theft, and… then there was a surge in YouTube views. The other guy got 17 million views from stolen content, but Kevin’s seeing it as a glass half-full scenario.Why? In a weird way, it was a proof of concept that his YouTube videos could be broken down into multiple parts and uploaded to TikTok. He didn’t have to take the time or money to try it, especially after a few social media campaigns with lackluster results. Thanks, thief!It’s an age-old debate, whether there’s any validity to “exposure” in creative life. There’s a lot more to it than even we gave it credit for.A brand new patron asks Kevin why God is dead before a brief discussion of TikTok monetization and what it’s like to make art different from what you’re known for. Thanks to everyone who showed up for the live recording, and a special thanks to the Patrons who make this show possible each and every week!Patreon: https://patreon.com/thecreateunknown Join our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: https://discord.gg/qAQV3JwApple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownAppleSpotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotifyGoogle Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts CREDITS:  Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor Produced and Edited by Ben Webster → https://twitter.com/benwebsterTCU "Created in the Unknown" theme by Basswaite: https://linktr.ee/Basswaite  Theme by Mega Drive → http://megadrivemusic.com  Opening Animation: Kidmograph City Animation: Eric Langlay  "The Create Unknown" is produced by Unknown Media.  CONNECT WITH US: » Chat with us on DISCORD: https://discord.gg/qAQV3Jw  » Follow us on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/createunknown  » Follow us on INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/thecreateunknown  » Follow us on FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/thecreateunknown   » View our website: https://thecreateunknown.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is it possible to have public therapy chats watched by up to 70,000 people that are actually effective? If so, is that even ethical? And if there’s any harm done, does the overall good outweigh it? Is “Twitch therapy” just self-help information, or is it actual therapy?These are the big questions about what Dr. K does on Twitter. His ‘Healthy Gamer’ brand is designed to offer resources and information via social media platforms in an effort to get everyone living happy, healthy online lives. The HG discord has tens of thousands of members; this isn’t a niche thing. But some, including TCU alumnus Slush, are wondering whether Dr. K’s Twitch therapy is useful and ethical.We talk to Slush about his latest video, which examines Dr. K’s therapy streams in the context of the Twitch streamer Reckful. Byron’s mental health struggle lasted for many, many years, and Slush documented it well in his first video, which was a celebration of Reckful’s career. A year ago, Reckful took his own life, and that allows us to review his live therapy streams with Dr. K in a slightly different context.This is a tough subject, and Slush is outstandingly fair. We go in-depth about his video, his research, and what experts think about Twitch therapy. It’s fascinating, and there’s a good chance this topic is going to come up again in the future.Thanks to Slush for giving us 90 minutes of fair and balanced expertise -- and to everyone who showed up to weigh in on the episode. And a special thanks to the Patrons who make this show possible each and every week. You really do make it happen.Patreon: https://patreon.com/thecreateunknownSlush: https://www.youtube.com/c/SlushTVSlushTV_: https://www.twitch.tv/SlushTV_Dr K And The Dangers of Twitch Therapy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9F9uh011S8U Join our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: https://discord.gg/qAQV3JwApple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownAppleSpotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotifyGoogle Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts CREDITS:  Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor Produced and Edited by Ben Webster → https://twitter.com/benwebsterTCU "Created in the Unknown" theme by Basswaite: https://linktr.ee/Basswaite  Theme by Mega Drive → http://megadrivemusic.com  Opening Animation: Kidmograph City Animation: Eric Langlay  "The Create Unknown" is produced by Unknown Media.  CONNECT WITH US: » Chat with us on DISCORD: https://discord.gg/qAQV3Jw  » Follow us on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/createunknown  » Follow us on INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/thecreateunknown  » Follow us on FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/thecreateunknown   » View our website: https://thecreateunknown.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

YouTube Rewind is officially dead after a near-decade run, and it absolutely felt like giving up in Saigon or Afghanistan. It started slow, exploded, and plummeted faster than... anything else we can think of. It's not common to rise to such heights so quickly and then become the #1 most hated thing on the platform, and it's actually quite a feat.Kevin, a veteran of Rewind himself, has serious thoughts on why this happened and what it means for YouTube's commitment to itself and audiences. There's a lot in this one, from community suggestions for replacements to forcing YouTube employees to play Squid Game.Thanks to everyone who joined in on this one, episode chat really drove the show. And a special thanks to the Patrons who make this show happen each and every week. You really are the best.Patreon: https://patreon.com/thecreateunknown   Join our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: https://discord.gg/qAQV3JwApple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownAppleSpotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotifyGoogle Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts CREDITS:  Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor Produced and Edited by Ben Webster → https://twitter.com/benwebsterTCU "Created in the Unknown" theme by Basswaite: https://linktr.ee/Basswaite  Theme by Mega Drive → http://megadrivemusic.com  Opening Animation: Kidmograph City Animation: Eric Langlay  "The Create Unknown" is produced by Unknown Media.  CONNECT WITH US: » Chat with us on DISCORD: https://discord.gg/qAQV3Jw  » Follow us on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/createunknown  » Follow us on INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/thecreateunknown  » Follow us on FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/thecreateunknown   » View our website: https://thecreateunknown.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The softest t-shirts ever: https://www.thecreateunknown.com/store/It might sound simplistic to say that Norm Macdonald was a guy who *loved* jokes, but that actually has pretty deep meaning. Jokes are some of the most complex, intricate, delicate ways we communicate ideas, and Norm Macdonald was one of the best ever. And as legendary as Norm Macdonald was, some people not only don’t get him, but they don’t get humor at all. Seriously.Comedians have a language of joke-telling, and if you don’t understand that language, you’re a lot more likely to be bothered by their humor. What’s that mean for people trying to be funny on YouTube, Twitter, and TikTok? Are they facing an epidemic of cancellation by people who just don’t understand?And for the people who do love and appreciate humor, why do so many of them think it’s so easy? No one would think they could ever be like Lebron James at basketball, but too many people think they’re just as funny as who they see on TV or the internet. It’s delusional, but it’s also kind of understandable. We wanted to remember Norm and give some extra attention to what he’s done for comedy and for the careers of so many people we know, including his best moments (one of which was making Sarah Silverman severely uncomfortable), and then hit some Patron questions ranging from tone markers on internet speech, an IRL episode, and living out a meme.Thanks to everyone who showed up to hang out with us, these episodes really are some of the most enjoyable because we get to talk to you through the whole show. And a special thanks to the Patrons who make each and every episode possible. Patreon: https://patreon.com/thecreateunknown  Join our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: https://discord.gg/qAQV3JwApple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownAppleSpotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotifyGoogle Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcastsCREDITS:Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt TaborProduced and Edited by Ben Webster → https://twitter.com/benwebsterTCU"Created in the Unknown" theme by Basswaite: https://linktr.ee/BasswaiteTheme by Mega Drive → http://megadrivemusic.comOpening Animation: KidmographCity Animation: Eric Langlay"The Create Unknown" is produced by Unknown Media.CONNECT WITH US:» Chat with us on DISCORD: https://discord.gg/qAQV3Jw» Follow us on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/createunknown» Follow us on INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/thecreateunknown» Follow us on FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/thecreateunknown» View our website: https://thecreateunknown.com#TheCreateUnknown #NormMacdonald #Comedy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The softest t-shirts ever: https://www.thecreateunknown.com/store/We’ve talked to a range of creators about their struggles with demonetization, and we’ve always pointed out how nice it is that educational content is safe. Well… not anymore. Kevin’s latest Vsauce2 video about a very public crime in Britain has been smacked down to the point where AdSense doesn’t even begin to cover the cost of editing. Oh, and the video has been totally throttled. So, what’s actually happening here?But we’re not doomers -- we’re not going to dwell on the sucky stuff. The Patrons jump in to ask all sorts of questions, and yes, there’s more crime content in the pipeline. What’s the tagline that sums up the podcast, and why does it end with our most famous burp? Movies. Expired food. Creative fulfillment vs. creative futility. Lots and lots more -- including Kevin’s most devious lick (which is still soggy). Thanks to everyone who came out for the live show, and especially to all the Patrons who make this show possible each and every week. You really are the best.Patreon: https://patreon.com/thecreateunknown  Join our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: https://discord.gg/qAQV3JwApple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownAppleSpotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotifyGoogle Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcastsCREDITS:Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt TaborProduced and Edited by Ben Webster → https://twitter.com/benwebsterTCU"Created in the Unknown" theme by Basswaite: https://linktr.ee/BasswaiteTheme by Mega Drive → http://megadrivemusic.comOpening Animation: KidmographCity Animation: Eric Langlay"The Create Unknown" is produced by Unknown Media.CONNECT WITH US:» Chat with us on DISCORD: https://discord.gg/qAQV3Jw» Follow us on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/createunknown» Follow us on INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/thecreateunknown» Follow us on FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/thecreateunknown» View our website: https://thecreateunknown.com#TheCreateUnknown #Vsauce2 #Demonetized Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When Dean Lamb auditioned for Archspire, he didn’t feel that he was good enough to play with the band -- it took him weeks of pure practice to get up to match Archspire’s incredible speed that pushes the boundaries of how fast humans can play music. And now Dean is not only an integral part of Archspire’s success, but he’s got a YouTube channel that’s its own standalone enterprise.He knows how to “Stay Tech,” but what he doesn’t know is how to fix a touring van that doesn’t beep incessantly every 5 minutes.Being an artist is one thing, but a band is a *group* of artists -- and everyone’s weird. Kevin talks to Dean about being in the middle of serious talent with a drummer and lyricist that work their own wizardry. And oddly enough, being a virtuoso may not extend to all genres.What makes Archspire (and Dean) so unique is a blend of death metal and classical principles, which can be heard throughout their albums, all of which are concept albums. They have to be, as each album is a child of acid dreams that are enmeshed in a 3-4 year cycle of playing, recording, and refining.The whole thing is one big metaphor for life as an artist, though. Dean talks about how important it is to scrap things rather than hold on forever, developing a connection to the art, and the sacrifices it takes to actually get a project done -- like going into near-seclusion to focus on completing an album.Patrons jump in to ask about his favorite guitar solo, playing other instruments, recommendations on improving guitar playing, the first song he ever learned, and the future of music in a DMCA era. Thanks to everyone who came out for Kevin’s favorite episode, and a special thanks to each and every Patron who makes this show possible every week.Patreon: https://patreon.com/thecreateunknown   Join our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: https://discord.gg/qAQV3Jw Dean's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/DeanLambApple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownAppleSpotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotifyGoogle Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts CREDITS:  Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor Produced and Edited by Ben Webster → https://twitter.com/benwebsterTCU "Created in the Unknown" theme by Basswaite: https://linktr.ee/Basswaite  Theme by Mega Drive → http://megadrivemusic.com  Opening Animation: Kidmograph City Animation: Eric Langlay  "The Create Unknown" is produced by Unknown Media.  CONNECT WITH US: » Chat with us on DISCORD: https://discord.gg/qAQV3Jw  » Follow us on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/createunknown  » Follow us on INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/thecreateunknown  » Follow us on FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/thecreateunknown   » View our website: https://thecreateunknown.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices