video essayists you enjoy watching (or people who you are constantly learning something new from!) preferably longer form like YouTube

Question

Lexie · Answer

Tom Scott: I love all of his videos, but his new series is especially fun. Longer form (20ish minutes) fun explorations of something cool and specific about each county in Britain.

Dylan · Answer

Shannon Kim - YouTube: this diva is SMART as hell

Dylan · Answer

Anna Howard: Wild Geese: one of my fave youtube channels. podcasts you watch. i love her visual accompaniments and expert use of tumblr references and niche memes. very smart, very interesting, very much my current vibe. research as a leisure activity core.

Daniel Menegaz · Answer

The Alt-Right Playbook: incredible video essay series on how the alt right mainstreamed. If you thought the Louis Theroux manosphere doc was neat but nothing especially revelatory this gives a lot more insight into how the tendrils of nihilistic bigoted poison were deliberately wrapped around the brains of so many young men.  conservatism is a mental illness

Maj · Answer

AT Restoration YOUTUBE: Based in Estonia, this lovely man, my YouTube crush, restores all manner of historical furniture using traditional techniques and materials. Relax, zone out and learn a thing or two.

Diana McGrail · Answer

The Spectacular Failure of the Star Wars Hotel: Jenny Nicholson does the most incredible deep dives on theme parks and both obscure and nerdy movie/ TV franchises. She is so thorough, a joy to watch/listen to.

Maj · Answer

Can't Get You Out of My Head (Adam Curtis): Adam Curtis is a genius and this is the only history of the 20th century you need (YOUTUBE)

Minna Kelly · Answer

kogonada video essays: Very pretty, very satisfying little educations on directorial motifs, etc.

Joe · Answer

3Blue1Brown: Popular Math Videos: Sanderson has developed a whole visual language for mathematics that is now finding its way into classrooms. It’s really, really hard to write popular mathematics content that isn’t either super shallow or deeply incomprehensible (or even both) but 3Blue1Brown regularly threads that needle.