The Create Unknown

Thanks to MAINGEAR for speeding up everything for us. Check out the VYBE line that’s making up the core of Matt’s new studio -- and use code CREATE for a free additional year of warranty on desktops: https://maingear.com/ref/656/Join Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thecreateunknownAfter Conan O’Brien’s universally praised Oscar hosting, Kevin reflects on the magic that makes Conan one of the greats. Kevin even takes us back to a few personal stories from his time as an intern at “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” But what’s the secret to his comedic genius?From working on Conan’s “personal vault” to an unexpected (and slightly threatening) first encounter, Kevin recounts his front-row seat to Conan’s comedic brilliance. Kevin even shares a story that proves Conan never forgets a joke—especially one at an intern’s expense.All the stories lead us back to one central question – what is that actually makes Conan such a unicorn these days? Kevin breaks down his synopsis on what he thinks makes Conan tick, why comedians like him are becoming increasingly rare, and why the Sandworm from Dune playing ragtime piano is not only hilarious but a breath of fresh air.Thanks for tuning in—see you again next week!You love anime. You love tea. Get 10% off your order with code CREATE at The Dragon's Treasure: https://www.thedragonstreasure.com/Buy our T-shirts: https://www.thecreateunknown.com/store/Join our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: http://discord.gg/tcuApple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownAppleSpotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotifyGoogle Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcastsCREDITS: Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor Executive Producer: Ben WebsterEditor: Spencer Vann"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

Thanks to MAINGEAR for speeding up everything for us. Check out the VYBE line that’s making up the core of Matt’s new studio -- and use code CREATE for a free additional year of warranty on desktops: https://maingear.com/ref/656/Join Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thecreateunknownThis week we dive into Technology Connections’ latest video, “Algorithms Are Breaking How We Think.” Kevin breaks down the concept of algorithmic complacency—a term Alec (aka Technology Connections) coined to describe how our internet habits have drastically changed.We explore how times have changed from the active searches of days gone by to the passive algorithmic consumption of today. Kevin unpacks how platforms like YouTube have evolved, with users increasingly relying on recommendations instead of subscriptions, and what that means for content discovery.Then, we get into the bigger picture, how does this shift impact things like attention span, learning behaviors, and cognitive processing? Kevin dives into the psychology of decision-making and probability, drawing upon knowledge from an old Vsauce2 video on the Monty Hall problem as a prime example.Finally, we look ahead to the future of AI and its growing influence on human thought. Will algorithmic complacency make us less capable of independent decision-making? What happens when AI dictates not just what we watch, but how we think? How can we stay curious and engaged in an era of algorithm-driven content, and how are kids even supposed to focus anymore?Thanks for tuning in, we’ll be back next week!You love anime. You love tea. Get 10% off your order with code CREATE at The Dragon's Treasure: https://www.thedragonstreasure.com/Buy our T-shirts: https://www.thecreateunknown.com/store/Join our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: http://discord.gg/tcuApple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownAppleSpotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotifyGoogle Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcastsCREDITS: Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor Executive Producer: Ben WebsterEditor: Spencer Vann"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

Thanks to MAINGEAR for speeding up everything for us. Check out the VYBE line that’s making up the core of Matt’s new studio -- and use code CREATE for a free additional year of warranty on desktops: https://maingear.com/ref/656/Join Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thecreateunknownKevin’s back again to talk about curiosity…and how nobody seems to have any these days.We jump right into the bizarre Mirror Video, a viral clip of a woman struggling to grasp the complexity of her bathroom mirror. We use that anomaly as a springboard to discuss a bigger question: why are so many people uninterested in understanding how things WORK?That leads Kevin to reflect on his old pitch for a TV show, Your Impossible Life, which would uncover the surprising, intricate histories behind everyday objects. From the tech we use to the food we eat – everything has a story.We take this a level deeper by touching on examples from technology, economics, and daily life. Why do we take so much for granted? And more importantly, what are we missing out on by not being curious?To wrap things up, Kevin reflects on a real life example where his curiosity of the ordinary caused friction in the workplace, and viewing the world through a slightly different lens can make a BIG difference.Big thanks for tuning in—we’ll be back next week!You love anime. You love tea. Get 10% off your order with code CREATE at The Dragon's Treasure: https://www.thedragonstreasure.com/Buy our T-shirts: https://www.thecreateunknown.com/store/Join our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: http://discord.gg/tcuApple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownAppleSpotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotifyGoogle Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcastsCREDITS: Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor Executive Producer: Ben WebsterEditor: Spencer Vann"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

Thanks to MAINGEAR for speeding up everything for us. Check out the VYBE line that’s making up the core of Matt’s new studio -- and use code CREATE for a free additional year of warranty on desktops: https://maingear.com/ref/656/Join Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thecreateunknownKevin is flying SOLO this week as he explains our brief podcast hiatus, touches on our work with Popular Science, and why Tabor isn’t “with him as always” this time around.After some general housekeeping, we dive into Kevin’s book Sleep Warrior and the astonishing progress he’s made after finishing up his first draft. Then, we take a deep dive into Nirvana’s smash hit “In Utero”, with a special focus on “Francis Farmer Will Have Revenge on Seattle.” Kevin unpacks a particularly haunting lyric, and we pick apart the surprising psychological implications that come along with it.From there, we zoom out to a broader discussion on the paradoxical comfort that sadness can bring, connecting it to everything from weight loss struggles to the challenges of personal transformation. We also take a detour into 80s cinema with Teen Wolf, breaking down how the film serves as an unexpected metaphor for the very same complexities.Thanks for tuning in—we’re excited to be back, and we’ll see you all again soon!You love anime. You love tea. Get 10% off your order with code CREATE at The Dragon's Treasure: https://www.thedragonstreasure.com/Buy our T-shirts: https://www.thecreateunknown.com/store/Join our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: http://discord.gg/tcuApple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownAppleSpotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotifyGoogle Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcastsCREDITS: Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor Executive Producer: Ben WebsterEditor: Spencer Vann"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

Thanks to MAINGEAR for speeding up everything for us. Check out the VYBE line that’s making up the core of Matt’s new studio -- and use code CREATE for a free additional year of warranty on desktops: https://maingear.com/ref/656/Join Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thecreateunknownWe’re back at long last! Where have we been, you ask? Find out in today’s episode.Have you missed us? We kick off a return with the only way we know how: talking about… fruitcake. We compare America’s indulgent pastry culture to international traditions as we try to figure out whether or not bigger and sweeter really means better.Next, we break down a viral tweet claiming meal prep is a “hyper-individualistic capitalist construct.” If you couldn’t already guess, we certainly have some thoughts.Then, Kevin takes us behind the scenes of the Polavision documentary project we did over on Popular Science. He shares how we stumbled upon Doc Caps in Vienna and the wild challenges of working with outdated tech. From logistical nightmares to unexpected roadblocks, he breaks down how we overcame it all.After that, we lay it all out on the table. We come clean about the struggles of keeping up with our regular podcast recordings while juggling the documentary, reflecting on the impact of equipment failures, tight schedules, and other setbacks that disrupted our usual routine.Last but certainly not least, we share our plans for getting back on track, including long-awaited interviews with special guests.Big thanks to everyone for tuning in, we’re happy to be back! More to come soon.You love anime. You love tea. Get 10% off your order with code CREATE at The Dragon's Treasure: https://www.thedragonstreasure.com/Buy our T-shirts: https://www.thecreateunknown.com/store/Join our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: http://discord.gg/tcuApple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownAppleSpotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotifyGoogle Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcastsCREDITS: Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor Executive Producer: Ben WebsterEditor: Spencer Vann"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

Thanks to MAINGEAR for speeding up everything for us. Check out the VYBE line that’s making up the core of Matt’s new studio -- and use code CREATE for a free additional year of warranty on desktops: https://maingear.com/ref/656/Join Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thecreateunknownThis week’s episode kicks off with Matt sharing his recent trip to Vegas, where he had a run-in with COVID. From there, we take a trip down memory lane and touch on the fascinating evolution of slot machines.Next, we dive into Rick Beato’s latest video, where he makes a bold claim about kids today and their interests. With Google Trends showing some surprising data, we can’t help but wonder if he’s onto something.But can we trust Google Trends as an accurate measure of interest? We discuss whether our online behavior is skewing the data, thanks to platforms and algorithms tailoring content for us.We also discuss the lost art of small talk and how it feels like we’ve lost common ground for casual conversations. Could looking to the past help us find more meaningful connections today?After that, we shift our attention to some troubling trends about reading comprehension and memory among the youth. This ties into a broader discussion about Dunbar’s number and our cognitive limits – how much can we really keep track of?Kevin jumps in with some practical advice about the importance of picking something to get interested in. Sometimes, diving into a niche might yield more reward than you realize.We wrap things up with an inspiring story from the UFC world. We focus on Alex Pereira’s journey, and how the power of things like passion and dedication can really help in our day to day lives.Thanks to everyone who joined us live, and a special shoutout to our amazing patrons. We’ll be back next week!You love anime. You love tea. Get 10% off your order with code CREATE at The Dragon's Treasure: https://www.thedragonstreasure.com/Buy our T-shirts: https://www.thecreateunknown.com/store/Join our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: http://discord.gg/tcuApple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownAppleSpotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotifyGoogle Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcastsCREDITS: Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor Executive Producer: Ben WebsterEditor: Spencer Vann"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

Thanks to MAINGEAR for speeding up everything for us. Check out the VYBE line that’s making up the core of Matt’s new studio -- and use code CREATE for a free additional year of warranty on desktops: https://maingear.com/ref/656/Join Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thecreateunknownThis week’s episode kicks off with some news from the front in Kevin’s war on kidney stones. From there, we jump into some exciting news – Smiling Friends has been renewed for Season 3! We’re pumped to see more of this quirky show and can’t wait to discuss what might be coming next.We also chat about the latest and greatest in Rick and Morty bongs. Yep, you read that right – bongs.Next, we dive into a fascinating discussion inspired by Red Letter Media’s take on the decline of movie theaters. We compare how their take stacks up to some wisdom from TCU alumnus Rick Beato on how kids today experience music. Then, we get right down to brass tacks; is the business model of movie theaters just plain outdated? With TVs getting better and home theaters more common, it seems like it.We explore why home theaters are becoming the go-to for many people and what movie theaters might need to do to keep up.Kevin shares his scathing opinions on the current state of cinema, despite not really being a film snob to begin with. Matt talks about the failings of the Hollywood studio system and why, more often than not, today’s movies don’t hit the mark for him.We finish things off with a discussion on movie length – are films just too long now? We toss around some ideas on what would actually make us excited to go back to the theaters, and whether or not that’s even possible anymore.Big thanks to everyone who joined us live, and a special shoutout to our awesome patrons. We’ll be back next week with more fun discussions and updates!You love anime. You love tea. Get 10% off your order with code CREATE at The Dragon's Treasure: https://www.thedragonstreasure.com/Buy our T-shirts: https://www.thecreateunknown.com/store/Join our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: http://discord.gg/tcuApple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownAppleSpotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotifyGoogle Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcastsCREDITS: Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor Executive Producer: Ben WebsterEditor: Spencer Vann"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

Thanks to MAINGEAR for speeding up everything for us. Check out the VYBE line that’s making up the core of Matt’s new studio -- and use code CREATE for a free additional year of warranty on desktops: https://maingear.com/ref/656/Join Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thecreateunknownIn this episode, we tackle the recent struggles of Square Enix and the disappointing numbers behind one of their most recent titles. We explore the current state of the video game industry, the surprising adversity to understanding economics, and the tweet that inspired it all.After that, we dive into the importance of purchasing power and the surprising difficulties game developers face competing against “infinite” and free games.Whether you realize it or not, investors play a crucial role in shaping the media landscape. We break down how their demands influence not only the type of games being developed, but the gaming industry overall. Matt fuels his frustrations with gamers while we reflect on the complexities of innovation marketing and how issues like these affect everything, right down to the Taco Bell Big Cheez-It.We round out the episode with a haul from Kevin’s latest dumpster diving expedition, and a nugget of invaluable food-related wisdom from Matt.Thanks to everyone who tuned in, and a big shoutout to our dedicated patrons. We’ll see you next week!You love anime. You love tea. Get 10% off your order with code CREATE at The Dragon's Treasure: https://www.thedragonstreasure.com/Buy our T-shirts: https://www.thecreateunknown.com/store/Join our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: http://discord.gg/tcuApple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownAppleSpotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotifyGoogle Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcastsCREDITS: Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor Executive Producer: Ben WebsterEditor: Spencer Vann"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

Thanks to MAINGEAR for speeding up everything for us. Check out the VYBE line that’s making up the core of Matt’s new studio -- and use code CREATE for a free additional year of warranty on desktops: https://maingear.com/ref/656/Join Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thecreateunknownIt’s natural to think a good story starts with a rich and vast premise or idea, but as it turns out, that might not be the case. Today we dive into the truth of the matter on how a good story can come from the most seemingly insignificant places.We kick things off with some famous literary examples of this approach, and how we implement them into our own Popular Science videos! We also talk about the faith and willpower it takes to research a new topic. Not sure where that research is taking you? Turns out that most times, it’s better not to know.For the second leg of this week’s episode, we take another stab at Apple for the release of their “Top 100 Albums of All Time” list. We discuss criteria, or lack thereof, and try to understand why the list was written the way it was. We wrap up the episode by discussing which heavy hitters are missing from this list, and entire genres that were just glossed over.Thank you to everyone who joined us live this week, and a special shout out to all of our supportive patrons. We’ll be back again next week!You love anime. You love tea. Get 10% off your order with code CREATE at The Dragon's Treasure: https://www.thedragonstreasure.com/Buy our T-shirts: https://www.thecreateunknown.com/store/Join our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: http://discord.gg/tcuApple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownAppleSpotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotifyGoogle Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcastsCREDITS: Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor Executive Producer: Ben WebsterEditor: Spencer Vann"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

Thanks to MAINGEAR for speeding up everything for us. Check out the VYBE line that’s making up the core of Matt’s new studio -- and use code CREATE for a free additional year of warranty on desktops: https://maingear.com/ref/656/Join Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thecreateunknownThe state of comedy has drastically changed over the last decade alone. From the death of the comedy films to the failure of commercialized memes. This week we dive into exactly what happened.We also talk about another commercial failure, Apple’s most recent iPad commercial. We dive into the importance of marketing, the “framing effect” when trying to convey a message to your audience, and where Apple completely dropped the ball.From there we discuss the critical importance of execution, and the surprising challenges can get in the way of properly conveying your creative vision. We also get into the unforeseen challenges, balances, and realities of collaboration under bureaucracy.To top it all off, we explore why any of this even matters in the first place!Thank you to everyone who joined us live this week, and a special shout out to all of our supportive patrons. We’ll be back again next week!You love anime. You love tea. Get 10% off your order with code CREATE at The Dragon's Treasure: https://www.thedragonstreasure.com/Buy our T-shirts: https://www.thecreateunknown.com/store/Join our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: http://discord.gg/tcuApple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownAppleSpotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotifyGoogle Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcastsCREDITS: Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor Executive Producer: Ben WebsterEditor: Spencer Vann"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