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/thecreateunknownFor years now, YouTube has been the premiere source of visual entertainment online – but is all that changing? This week we’re talking about this apparent shift on the platform, and how many more people are LISTENING to their content, rather than watching.Kevin kicks off the episode by reminiscing about his diner lunch with TCU alum Art (aka TheGamerFromMars) that sparked this entire conversation. Matt tells us about his viewing/listening habits, and we dive into the kinds of content that fit for each.Then we talk about the colossal rise in long-form videos on Youtube, and how that compares to the philosophy of making videos five years ago. We get into the process of making cuts for a video, uploading highlights, and what all that looks like in the new YouTube ecosystem.Kevin rounds out the episode with his “Rick Beato hypothesis” on why people prefer to listen to YouTube over watching it, and it makes a shocking amount of sense. We also emphasize the astonishing popularity of longer videos, and how that trend is showing up on Vsauce2.Thanks to everyone who joined us this week, and to our patrons who make this show happen. We’ll 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 Produced and Edited by Ben Webster"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’ve been talking a lot about ZOOMERS the last few weeks, but for this episode we figured it was high time we had some boots on the ground. Producer Ben returns to The Create Unknown this week to give us his perspective on the supposedly “risk averse” youth, and whether or not there’s any truth to it.We kick off the episode by responding to some of the comments on our previous podcast. If you’re not the best, is it better to be the worst? Is being creative a waste if no one is around to see it? Where does Matt get his tree jerking machines? All very great questions, and we encourage you all to leave more!Then we examine Ben’s life a little more. When he’s not working on this podcast, he’s studying at a University, producing TV shows, and traveling around playing rock concerts. So we want to know – why does he do things? Are the people around him any different? Is it as bad as people say?We also try to pick apart Ben’s brain to figure out exactly WHY he is the way he is, and he explains the intriguing blend of small-town living, podcast producing, and outside pressures that brought him to where he is today.We talk a lot about zoomers AVOIDING risk, but there might actually be some things that are more dangerous than ever before. We dissect the intricacies of using things like instagram and twitter, the consequences things like that might have, and whether or not it’s actually detrimental to young people today.We finish off this episode with more questions than we’ve ever had. How do you teach someone to be ambitious? How do you handle things completely out of your control? How can you explain the importance of something you can’t even conceive of? We try our best to answer those questions, and Ben gives us his simple three-step plan for success.Thanks to everyone who joined us this week, and to our patrons who continue to make this show happen. We’ll be back again next week, see you then!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 Produced and Edited by Ben Webster"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/thecreateunknownOver the years, the number of resources available to creatives has grown at an absolutely astounding rate. So… why isn’t anyone doing anything? This week we’re diving into exactly that, and trying to answer one simple question: have we reached peak success?We kick things off with an anecdote from Kevin’s early days as a YouTuber. He anticipated that, in the future, good talent on the internet was going to be a dime a dozen. In reality, though, things didn’t really shake out that way, and we pick apart why we think that is.Then we talk a bit about the possibility of peak success, and what that might look like. We get into the incentive and motivation to create in a world full of people more successful than you, and what you can do as a creator to create your own path.We round out the episode by dunking on MILLENNIALS and their seemingly non-existent knack for storytelling. Matt goes on another famous rant about classic literature and its importance in the modern age, and Kevin gives some valuable insights on the current creative landscape.Thanks to everyone who tuned in live this week, and thanks especially to all of our supportive 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 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

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/thecreateunknownThere’s a lot of fist shaking that goes on when you talk about business owners. And sure, the Jeff Bezoses and the Elon Musks of the world might have it coming. But we’re here to talk about the real harsh realities of owning a business – because most of the time, it sucks.We kick off the episode by talking about the people who are truly successful, the 1% of the 1%, and how hyper rare that actually is. Then we shed a little light on the rest of the business owners, and how almost all of them wind up getting nowhere near that level of success.Then we get into the economic nitty gritty of it all, and how revenue can be pretty deceptive when talking about the success of a business. We talk about the entrepreneurial mindset, the volatile nature of success, and how all of that relates to most of the creatives we talk to on this show.Kevin tells us about his recent Shark Tank habits, and how the realities of the show inspired this whole conversation. We also talk about the endgame of owning a business to begin with, and how important it is to balance those goals.We finish off the episode by talking about just a fraction of the risks involved with business ownership, and how critical it is to be able to handle them all. We talk about the strain it can put on all aspects of your life, and the dramatic increase in responsibility that comes with it.Thanks to everyone who joined us live this week, and thanks especially to our supportive patrons. We’ll 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 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

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/thecreateunknownOver the past couple years, artificial intelligence has drastically changed the online landscape. Now, it’s finally hitting Kevin’s home turf – YouTube science content. This week we’re diving into the new trend of AI generated science videos, and what that might mean for the future of content on YouTube.This whole conversation started from a recent Kyle Hill video where he lays out the problem exactly. If you haven’t seen that yet, check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McM3CfDjGs0&ab_channel=KyleHill You might expect lower effort, lower quality videos to get buried in YouTube’s algorithm, but you’d be wrong. We talk about the insane numbers some of these videos are doing, how they’re being promoted on the platform, and the kinds of accounts they’re getting served to.Sure, things might look a little bleak right now, but what about further down the line? Is there a future for this kind of content? Is YouTube going to do anything about it? SHOULD YouTube do anything about it?Then, we finish out the episode by talking about one of the main concerns when it comes to AI generated content – misinformation. When you’re letting a computer make your video from start to finish, and your main concern is putting out as much content as possible, it can be pretty easy to have some factual slip ups. But then again, being wrong isn’t just exclusive to AI.Thanks to everyone who joined us live, and thanks especially to our patrons who make this show happen each and every week. We’ll see you next time!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 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

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’ve got another solo episode for you this week, and this one’s for all our creatives out there. Coming up with an idea can be deceptively difficult, but fear not, because we’ve got some tips on how to generate them.This whole topic came around from Kevin’s unfulfilled promise – his weekly cartoons. A while back, he set a goal to draw one cartoon a week, and for a while he was going pretty strong. But recently, due to LIFE SUCK that was completely out of his control, he stopped. We talk a bit about how to get back into the swing of things when that happens to you, and more importantly, how to start coming up with IDEAS again.Sure, coming up with an idea is tough. But what’s even more difficult is actually following through with it. We talk about the slippery slope of getting consumed by an idea, loss of potential, and how to avoid those pitfalls.Then we give a nod to TCU alum Marques Brownlee, who had a tweet recently talking about how, oftentimes, your best ideas come to you when you can’t write them down. We talk about why things like “shower thoughts” come around, the importance of creative oases, and even a little about the philosophies of Arnold Schwarzenegger.We round out the episode with what might possibly be the most important pillar of creativity – limitations. Matt gives one of his famous rants about how limitations can help you, how they come into play in his own life, and how The Eagles’ Don Felder inspired it all.Thanks to everyone who joined us live this week, and thanks to our patrons who make this show happen. We’ll 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 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

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’ve got another knowledge-filled solo episode for you this week, and it’s actually a pretty solemn one. We’re having a bit of a memorial service for the death of SKILLS. In a world of rapidly advancing tech and artificial intelligence, a lot of talents that used to be a necessity for everyday life aren’t so essential anymore.We start off the episode with a discussion about AI, and the effects it could have on the arts in particular. Kevin dives into the newly emerging world of AI music, and Matt talks about how this sort of tech is turning everyday essentials into fringe hobbies.Matt also talks a bit about the slowly disappearing skill of DRIVING, and what sort of effects that might have on the world of tomorrow. Lots of skills have gone away already, but what are the implications of things like that disappearing forever?We also get into the general shift in mentality that has come with the death of these skills. Kids aren’t playing guitar like they used to, nobody knows how to find a date without Tinder or Hinge, and people just straight up have a harder time communicating when it isn’t on their own terms.Then Kevin brings up a surprising shift in the opposite direction – the near-paradoxical rise in live entertainment. In this internet age, shockingly enough, nobody wants to watch sports from the comfort of their home anymore. Live music has seen a boom like never before, and even content creators are getting a piece of the action with events like Creator Clash. Matt also brings his wild dystopian theory about all this to the table, and if you haven’t started training already, you better start now.We round out the episode by talking about this push to “return to tradition” with things like these live events, and even tangible stuff like vinyl records. We talk about how important it really is to have skills, and how that can help you find real purpose in life.Thanks to everyone who joined us live this week, and thanks especially to our patrons. You really make this show happen. We’ll see you all 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 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

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’re back with another Matt and Kevin solo episode, and we’re here to drop some more hard knowledge on you all. There has never been a time throughout all of human history where it has been easier to be USELESS. But don’t worry, we’re here to tell you how to avoid all that.We kick off the episode by talking about these unprecedented times we live in. Things that might have been shameful even as recently as twenty years ago aren’t exactly so shameful anymore, and now more than ever, it’s pretty easy to do essentially nothing at all. We talk a little bit about how you can provide value in your life, and how it can improve pretty much everything you do.Then we get perhaps our longest and most detailed Matt rant to date, and it all starts with a wojak meme. We dive deep into the myth of how things were “simpler” in the past, and how returning to tradition is supposedly going to fix everything. We finish out the episode with a little lesson about what money ACTUALLY is, and how it goes a little deeper than just simply buying and selling. We talk about exactly where real value comes from, and Kevin leaves us with some parting advice about misplaced rage.Thanks to everyone who joined us for our special WEDNESDAY recording this week, and a huge shout out to our patrons who make this show happen. We’ll see you all 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 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

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 again with another Matt and Kevin solo episode, and this week we’re tackling a topic that’s been on our minds for over a decade now – appearance. How much does what you wear matter? Do you owe it to anyone to change how you look? What does your appearance communicate to the people around you? We dive into all this and more, so buckle up folks.Kevin kicks off the episode with a story from his time working in a Manhattan office. He thought he was dressing casually, but his boss thought he was a SCHLUB. We talk about how what you wear sends signals to the people in your life, and how to handle the consequences of all of it.You may not think too much about what you wear, but in reality, you’re putting on a sort of “costume” every day. It’s not as bad as it might sound, though, and we talk about how you can actually use that to your advantage. All of this is a game, and everyone’s playing it, it’s just a matter of taking control.Then we talk a little bit about some situations where other people are making these decisions for you. Matt brings up the strangely specific dress code of the New York Yankees and Kevin gives us a baseball story of his own. These restrictions are far from arbitrary, though, and we explore all the questions that these types of guidelines set out to answer.We round out the episode by discussing the parts of your appearance that you may not have as much control over, and how those can impact your daily life. Kevin comments on the importance of fairness in all of this, and we talk about the real implications of counter-signaling that everyone has to deal with.Thanks to everyone who joined us live this week, and thank you to our patrons who make this show happen. We really enjoy bringing our conversations to everyone with these solo episodes, and we hope you all take as much away from it as we do. We’ll be back again next week, see you then!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 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

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 our first hiatus in a long time, we’re BACK. Matt and Kevin are both finally on the mic together again, and we kick off the episode by explaining just why we’ve been so absent lately. Sometimes life just sucks, and there’s not much you can do about it.The “life suck” did bring about some interesting questions, though, and it got us thinking about one topic in particular – individuality. We talk a lot on this show about being yourself when it comes to creating content, and we stand by it. But, as it turns out, individualism is a LIE.Matt starts off by telling us the story that kicked this train of thought off for him. He’s had the same pair of boots since 1998, and they’re still going strong. As it turns out, his father wore the exact same pair of boots. And so does his uncle. And so do many members of the Tabor family, even though none of them have ever had a conversation about boots at all. We dive into why that sort of thing happens, and just how much influence the world around you has on you as a person.Then we drop a harsh truth on you all – you have way less control over yourself than you might think. We talk about how that might not actually be a bad thing, especially in the creative space, and how much of this might be influenced by just your genetics alone.There is an aspect of individuality to this all though. Not everything is entirely out of your hands. Kevin talks about the importance of potential, and how that plays into your true identity. There are a ton of outside factors that influence who you are, most of which you probably don’t even know about, but it’s what you do with those circumstances that matters.We round out the episode by getting existential. Or rather, getting critical of being existential. We talk about the idea that we’re all just “stardust floating on spaceship earth,” and how unhelpful that perspective can actually be. Thanks to everyone who joined us this week after our much needed break, and thanks especially to our patrons who continue to support us. You guys really are the best.We’ll be back next week, see you then!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 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