When I stopped uploading to YouTube, I admit that, at the time, I didn’t exactly know why. I knew I needed a break and that I wasn’t feeling fulfilled, but it took time to really understand why I felt the need to step away from a channel at the height of its popularity. It didn’t take long to realize that I wasn’t alone, and that burnout and long breaks from YouTube are a pretty common trend among popular creators, or influencers, or whatever we’re called these days. During my break from this channel, I did a lot of work to find a way to return to uploading content that would be sustainable and enjoyable. Hence, this new show. It’s a chance for me to share my thoughts, no matter how absurd they may be, while also diving way too deep into the topics that interest me. Plus the bi-weekly schedule allows us more time to research, write, and make sure each episode is a final product we’re truly proud of. When I recently heard from a friend that most of his students said they wanted to be YouTubers and influencers as a career, I had to see if it was a larger trend. And it was. Being an influencer is literally the #1 most desired job amongst kids. The more we researched, the more I felt like there was a whole side to this career that people weren’t considering. The side that can be super damaging and have longterm effects on a person’s self-esteem and self-worth, especially if they’re not aware of the potential dangers. So I felt like I had to share some wisdom that I wish I’d had when I first started out. Because this job really is amazing, but I also don’t want people lighting themselves on fire and eating sticks of butter on camera for a hit of fleeting digital dopamine, all for the sake of calling themselves an influencer. So now everyone wins. I get to share some (hopefully) useful advice and you guys get me back on YouTube. I also really had to make sure people knew about the fucking pig influencer with 17,000 followers. See you in two weeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.