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/thecreateunknown This 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/tcu Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts CREDITS:  Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor  Executive Producer: Ben Webster Editor: 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/thecreateunknown This 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/tcu Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts CREDITS:  Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor  Executive Producer: Ben Webster Editor: 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/thecreateunknown In 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/tcu Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts CREDITS:  Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor  Executive Producer: Ben Webster Editor: 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/thecreateunknown It’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/tcu Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts CREDITS:  Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor  Executive Producer: Ben Webster Editor: 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/thecreateunknown The 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/tcu Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts CREDITS:  Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor  Executive Producer: Ben Webster Editor: 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/thecreateunknown Oftentimes, we set goals for ourselves without ever following through. It happens. But this week, we’re bringing some wisdom to the table from Akira Kurosawa himself to try to help YOU break the cycle. We talk about the true meaning behind “It’s the journey, not the destination” and what it means to be truly driven by your love of working. Kevin gives us some “boner-killing” advice on how to get to the top of the mountain, which leads us to discuss the over-romanticization of reaching your goals. We also dive into the non-linear path of goal-reaching, and the importance of resigning yourself to something useless. Speaking of uselessness, we talk about the uselessness that AI voiceovers would have in our videos, despite the accusations that we’ve been receiving as of late! We wrap up the episode by discussing the fact that frankly, most people don’t know how anything works, and we ruffle some feathers by debunking the myth of work/life balance. 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/tcu Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts CREDITS:  Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor  Executive Producer: Ben Webster Editor: 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/thecreateunknown If you’ve been on Twitter at all in the past week or so, you’ve probably seen the controversy surrounding TCU alum Marques Brownlee and his most recent tech review. Well, we’ve seen it too, and we have some thoughts. Recently, Marques posted a review of the Humane AI Pin, and it was pretty honest. If you haven’t seen it yet, go check out his video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TitZV6k8zfA&ab_channel=MarquesBrownlee If you’re anything like us, you’re probably thinking this isn’t anything out of the ordinary. But as it turns out, one person in particular didn’t feel the same way. We dive right into the backlash Marques faced, and how it relates to the actual purpose of reviewing something in the first place. This isn’t the first time Marques has given out some harsh criticism to a tech company, though, and it’s actually gone pretty well for him in the past. We talk about the change his reviews have been able to make in the past, the incredible amount of honesty and integrity that go into his reviews, and the importance of potential in developing ANYTHING. After that, we talk about one of the main points of issue that this Twitter critic took with Marques’ video – the title. We get into the lack of understanding people have for what goes into a successful YouTube title, the differences between independent content and major publications, and the major issue with some larger brands, particularly in the game review scene. We round off the episode on a hopeful note, emphasizing the hope Marques actually has for the product. We talk about the insane value a bad review can provide a company, the problem with “shooting the messenger,” and Matt even gives us an incredibly relevant story about his beginnings as a writer. 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/tcu Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts CREDITS:  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/thecreateunknown For the past few episodes, Matt has been delivering some WISDOM from his reality TV findings. This week, we’re passing the baton off to Kevin to give us some insight into the coveted LIEBER METHOD, and just how important it can be to your everyday life. Kevin is obsessed with a lot of things. From hot dogs to JRPGs, the list is near endless. But there’s one obsession of his that stands above the rest – TIME. Kevin tells us about the constant scheduling calculus he does on a daily basis and the pitfalls of multitasking, and Matt shares some economic knowledge about the undeniable importance of opportunity cost. Then, we get into Kevin’s next deceptively simple step – avoiding problems. You might think you have that one figured out, but there’s a lot more to it than you might think. We talk about the difference saving future time can make, the crucial importance of preparation, and the roads to enriching your life. These steps aren’t without fault, though, and we highlight a few cases where this stuff can really go wrong. Matt talks about the everyday applications of marginal benefit, Kevin tells us a story about sunk costs in a repair job, and we dive deep into the paradoxically expensive nature of trying to save a buck. For every failure, though, there is a Lieber Method success story that makes it all worth it. We talk about a friend’s recent struggles with a raise in rent and apartment hunting, the surprising solution that wound up working out in the end, and how “mortgaging” your future time can actually be beneficial. Thanks to everyone who joined us live this week, and thanks especially to all of 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/tcu Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts CREDITS:  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/thecreateunknown If you thought we were done talking about “My 600-lb. Life,” you thought WRONG. Turns out, there’s still plenty more wisdom to be found with this show, and this week we’re back again to dispense some more of it. Matt starts us off by highlighting another critically important concept to the show – trying. It’s a lot harder to define than you might think, but Kevin hits the nail right on the head. We also get into the incredibly famous Yoda quote that’s probably been floating around in your mind already, and the sheer number of different varieties of “trying” there really are. We talk about the importance of mentors, and the dramatic increase in their availability in the internet age. After that, Matt delivers his final big point. His “602-lb.” point, as he calls it. He tells us about the biggest fallacy of all when it comes to, not just weight loss, but trying in general – the cheat day. We talk about the real implications of cheat days, how they apply to real human relationships, and even how they relate to the famous “creator burnout” that seems to have magically disappeared. Then, if you can believe it, we bring together two of the world leaders in “trying:” mechanics, and GAMERS. We talk about the indifference that comes with car trouble, the roadblocks of losing a level, and how navigating those obstacles is crucial to all this. We finish out the discussion with an age old paradox for us here at The Create Unknown – is it actually better for things to be worse? We dive into the value of difficulty, the paradox of choice, and how this all fits into the new work on Popular Science. Matt even gives us another tidbit about his “gamer’s journey.” Thanks to everyone who tuned in live this week, and thank you to all of our patrons who support the show. 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/tcu Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts CREDITS:  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/thecreateunknown Recently, Matt went on a little bit of a knowledge binge, but probably not where you’d expect it. This week we’re back to talk about the wisdom of reality television, and how shows like these can really help you learn how to be HUMAN.  We kick off the episode with a discussion about the uniquely useful window that reality TV provides to observe actual, real human behavior. While some shows are definitely more narratively driven and sensational than others, shows like “My 600-Lb. Life” tell a different story. After that, we dive right into the thick of it. Matt emphasizes one of the two key pillars of understanding shows like these: motivation vs. discipline. We talk about the shocking simplicity of “motivation,” the very real difficulty of sacrifice, and the part that’s really important in all this – discipline. Then, Matt drops the second key point to really understanding the wisdom of the show: language and accountability. We get into the ironically incorrect nomenclature of the show, the truth about the uselessness of manifestation, and the balance between caring for yourself and others. We round out the episode by bringing it all together and discussing how inseparable these ideas really are. Shows like these might seem like an excuse to gawk at the extreme scenarios of someone’s life, but there’s really more to it than that, and we talk all about the rich vein of knowledge something like 600-Lb. Life can be. 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/tcu Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts CREDITS:  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/thecreateunknown After another fight with an old friend, Kevin is back with us this week, and he has some grave news… he’s turning in his gamer card. Well, not exactly. If you’ve been listening intently to the show over the past couple months, you probably remember the time Kevin CHEATED DEATH. Or, at least overcame the trials and tribulations of having a kidney stone. Well, turns out that little urinary pebble had some fight left in him, and Kevin was back in the hospital yet again. He tells us about the process of dealing with it again, the likely cause, and his bittersweet breakup with energy drinks. Then we hold a sort of “in memoriam” for Kevin’s long history with energy drinks. He tells us how they fit in his daily routine, WHY they fit in his daily routine, and the happy ending to this sorrowful story. After that, Matt dives into a serious discussion about caffeine, and the deceptively sinister effects it has on all of us. You’re probably wondering, what does ANY of this have to do with creativity? Well, we tie it all together with a theme we’ve been harping on for quite a while now – YOU are the problem. We get into all the ways you might hinder your own productivity, how quitting energy drinks helped Kevin more than he ever imagined, and how Matt’s prescription switch up really changed things for the better. We finish out the episode with a discussion on the near-paradoxical nature of finding the REAL solution to your problems, the shocking amount of control you actually have over outside influences, and the absurdity of… DoorDashing your breakfast. Matt even gives us a useful lesson on food economics at no extra cost. Thanks to everyone who joined us live this week, and thanks especially to our patrons. You really do make this show happen. 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/tcu Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts CREDITS:  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/thecreateunknown We’ve been away for a little while, but it was for a very good reason. If you haven’t seen the news, we’ve taken over the YouTube channel for POPULAR SCIENCE, and this week we’re here to talk about it. First and foremost, we’d like to thank everyone for the overwhelming support on the first two videos that dropped. You guys really are the best. If you haven’t already seen them, check them out here: https://www.youtube.com/popsci  Now if you’ve tuned in to any of the past few TCU episodes, you might think this is our version of the “creator quitting” we’ve been seeing a lot of lately – and you’d be dead wrong. We talk about the slate of new Vsauce2 videos on the way in addition to the new PopSci content, as well as our plans for the TCUniverse going forward. After that we dive deep into our PopSci discussion. We talk about the storied history of the brand as well as our memories of it, the fascinating nature of invention, and the process that went into developing the new logo. Matt even gives us an anecdote about the place that PopSci had on the literal hearth of his childhood home. Then we get into the “Butler in a Box,” and the insane history of the man who made it. We talk all things Gus, the paradoxical nature of the box itself, and the actual use cases for this Amazon Alexa predecessor. This new chapter with Popular Science also got us reflecting on the past, and we finish out the episode with a discussion about the idea of “YouTuber” being a career. We talk about the volatile nature of putting all your eggs in the “creator basket,” the lack of any real barrier to entry, and Kevin shares some stories from his past about moving to the platform full time. Thanks to everyone who joined us live in the Discord, and a special shout out to all of our 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/tcu Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts CREDITS:  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/thecreateunknown We’re back again this week for some real INDUSTRY TALK. We talk a lot about the YouTube side of the creative world, but we rarely touch on the more traditional spaces, and this week we’ve got the perfect way in. If you’ve been paying attention online at all recently, you probably noticed one of the biggest additions to the line of “YouTubers quitting” – Rhett and Link. We start off by diving into their unique take on the situation and the surprising new trajectory they’re taking, and we define the two prevailing paths of creativity that seem to be popping up these days. After that, we get into the WHY. It’s no secret that Rhett and Link have been titans of the YouTube world for over a decade at this point, and they’ve made plenty of appearances in traditional spaces as well. We get into all the factors at play when it comes to shifting your creative focus, and there really is more going on than you’d probably think. Then, Matt and Kevin tell us about some of their own expeditions into the traditional world, and just how easily these things can go awry. We talk about the lack of creative control, the expectations of different studios, and the real driving force behind it all. We close out the episode with some advice for people who ARE looking to get funded, and it just so happens to be pretty much in line with all the advice we’ve been dishing out over the past 220 episodes. We talk about the importance of demonstrating value, some TCU alumni who have proven it, and Kevin’s own career plans for the future. Thanks to everyone who tuned in live this week, and a special shout out to our patrons. You really make this show happen. 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/tcu Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts CREDITS:  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/thecreateunknown By this point, you’re almost certainly familiar with “The Hero’s Journey.” Even if you don’t know what it is, you’ve seen it a thousand times. Well, this week, we’re here to tell you that it’s FAKE, and the kinds of real stories that nobody seems to talk about anymore. Kevin kicks things off with his recollection of an old episode of Intervention that he saw. Here’s the tl;dr – one man built a business empire for his family, and they were all living pretty comfortably. But then, as all people do, the man passed away and the entire empire crumbled because no one was really able to take up the mantle. We talk about how this kind of story is much more common than you’d think, despite the way we see it on screen. That leads us into a discussion about the very short list of movies and television that come to mind that portray these kinds of stories. Things like The Godfather and Succession come close, but never really hit the mark. Turns out, it’s been quite a long time since anything has. Then we talk about the inevitability of change, and how things you love can fade away without even realizing it. Matt reminds us of his undying love for PsychicPebbles despite his YouTube presence being almost nonexistent after the smashing success of Smiling Friends, and we talk about how unpredictable these situations are despite them being incredibly common. After that, Kevin talks about the astonishing number of people who do good and go completely unrecognized, and Brock Purdy springs to mind yet again. We talk about how The Hero’s Journey is all about saving the world, and how that’s actually much easier than you get led to believe. Matt talks about the importance of transferring values when you do this type of good, and how an interaction during one of his annual grocery store runs showed the kind of spectrum that these good deeds lie on. We round out the episode with a big discussion on RESPONSIBILITY. When you’re in a sort of keystone position like the patriarch of the Intervention family, how much responsibility do you have to keep it going after you’re gone? This sort of thing is crucial to football, relationships, and even writing YouTube videos – it really is everywhere. Thanks to everyone who joined us live this week, and a special shout out 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/tcu Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts CREDITS:  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/thecreateunknown We’re back again this week, and for this episode we figured we’d tackle a nice easy topic – THE WORLD. Everybody has their own experiences and perceptions of the world around them, but more often than not, those perceptions are just not based in reality at all. This week, we’re here to find out why. We kick things off with a special shout out to long time patron NRM who has really been popping off with his channel “Bear Bites” recently. Check him out here: https://www.youtube.com/@BearBitesShow/videos  After that, Kevin plunges us right into the thick of the discussion. We start off by talking about the controversial quarterback that inspired this discussion: Brock Purdy. We talk about the perception of his talent, his ACTUAL talent, and the uniquely quantitative nature of sports. Then, Matt wants to get to the bottom of it all. We talk about the factors that come together to make this disconnect from reality possible, the shockingly common misinterpretation of fairly common terms, and how that all relates to the political climate of today. We touch on the effects of the “tailored experience” that the internet and social media create pretty often on this show, and it’s more relevant now than ever. Matt talks about the critically important difference between this and the idea of an “echo chamber,” the difficulty that comes with finding people with well-rounded perspectives, and the unfortunate reality of wanting to care about any of it in the first place. We close out the episode by SUFFERING. Well, kind of. We talk about the Russian idea of “feeding on suffering,” and the surprisingly optimistic outlook that can provide for you. Matt relates that to his rekindled fixation on the Roman Empire, and Kevin shares some of his recent tea frustrations. Thanks to everyone who tuned in live this week, and thanks especially to 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/tcu Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts CREDITS:  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/thecreateunknown Have ever tried to hold a conversation with someone and noticed that they haven’t actually been listening to you? Or maybe you’ve noticed you haven’t actually been listening yourself? Well, this issue runs a lot deeper than you probably realize, and this week we’re here to talk about it. Matt kicks things off with a FOUR HOUR conversation he had with some of our patrons in the discord after last week’s recording. He tells us about the general state of conversations today, and the impressive communicator he met at an event that sparked this train of thought. We talk about the shift in how we talk to people across the board, and the growing list of things that don’t even require human interaction anymore. Then Kevin highlights the absolute WORST way to interview someone, and the clear similarities that has to everyday interactions. We talk about the critical importance of listening and how that should shape conversation, and we relate that to our near five-year run in doing just that on this show. Unfortunately, though, there may not be a whole lot we can do about it – not deliberately at least. Kevin emphasizes the need for natural change, Matt talks about the loss of community activities, and we come to some tragic realizations about how it shapes storytelling today. After that, Matt tells a uniquely personal story about bowling and ice cream, and we talk about how experiences like that shape artists. We dive into the apparent lack of writers with those kinds of experiences, and how that shows up in pretty much all popular media these days. We round out the episode by talking about the importance of surprise and discomfort, the tragic inability to “tickle yourself,” and the surprising importance of HANDS. It all makes a lot more sense than you might think, trust us. Thanks to everyone who tuned in live, and a special shout out to all of our patrons. You 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/tcu Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts CREDITS:  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/thecreateunknown Fitting right in with our all-too-common theme of “life-stopping interruptions,” we had to take a little time off last week. Why, you might ask? Because Kevin single handedly CHEATED DEATH. Kind of. Kevin starts off his story by describing the “odd twinge” he felt one day, and the increasingly unbearable pain that accompanied him on the drive to the hospital. Matt digs to get into the gritty details, and Kevin talks about his unexpected difficulty in the emergency room. Then we talk about the surprising difference between morphine in the movies, and what actually happens in real life. Kevin gets a CT scan, and along with it a surprising diagnosis: a kidney stone. He talks about the process of getting the scan, and the deviously deceptive nature of his symptoms. We round out the episode by talking about the REAL benefit of passing a kidney stone – the amazing conversation starter that comes with it. Matt gives Kevin a new title, and we speculate on how people in the past had to deal with these horrific nuisances. Thanks to everyone who tuned in live, and a special shout out to our supportive patrons. We’ll see you all 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/tcu Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts CREDITS:  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/thecreateunknown If you’ve been on YouTube at all these past couple of weeks, you’ve probably noticed the astonishing number of creators announcing their RETIREMENT. People like Meat Canyon, Tom Scott, and even MatPat of Game Theory fame are all changing directions with their content, or stepping away from YouTube altogether. We’re here to talk about why. We kick off the episode by highlighting some of the major announcements that have been posted recently. Whether they’re about a change in content style, or a complete, formal retirement, they all have one thing in common – these people are at the top of their game. We also talk about the possible “time limit” on a grind-heavy operation like the ones these creators are running. Is there a set amount of time someone can create like this, or is it something else? How much do real-life changes get in the way of things? Why stop at all? In his true scholarly fashion, Kevin has been studying these videos since they started popping up. If you’re just as curious about them as we are, you’re in luck, because he’s prepared a series of six key points that all these announcements touch on. We talk about the entirely unique nature of a career as a YouTuber, the influence of the parasocial relationship, and the role that an artist’s motivation plays in all of it. We round out the episode by looking to the future, but this time it’s not our own. We get into the probable increase in YouTuber retirements over the coming months, and the incredibly strong position that a career as a content creator can put you in. Thanks to everyone who tuned in live this week, and a special shout out to all 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/tcu Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts CREDITS:  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/thecreateunknown If there’s one thing everyone’s got, it’s an opinion, and you’re probably pretty clear on where you stand for most things. Whether it’s Matt’s laundry-list country songs or the chugging distorted guitars of Kevin’s favorite music, you know what you do like and what you don’t. But have you ever really stopped to think about why? This week, we’re here to get you to at least try. First, though, we kick off the episode by talking about the strange time of year between Christmas and New Year’s that Kevin has given an affectionately vile name. People generally don’t expect much of you during this week-long span, but we talk a bit about the serious grinding we’ve been up to through it all. After that, Kevin starts off our discussion by talking about some of the difficulties he has articulating some of his thoughts. We talk about how easy it is to have an opinion on something, and the surprising lack of people who take that next step to figure out WHY you have it in the first place. Then, we take that and evolve it into the topic at large for this episode – introspection. When you start to think about your motivations for liking a thing, it gets a whole lot easier to understand not just yourself, but the world around you as well. We get into just how important that process can be, how it relates to famous auteurs like Wes Anderson, and how much of a difference it makes when you inevitably face some change in your life. We round out the episode by looking into the new year, and how we can apply all this going forward. You really have to think about whether or not you’re even trying to know who you are, or if you’re not even interested at all. Kevin talks about the mental exercises required to grow that “muscle,” and Matt gives us a clear set of steps that’ll help you reach the optimal end-goal. Thanks to everyone who supported the show in 2023 – exciting things to come in the new year! 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/tcu Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts CREDITS:  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/thecreateunknown After Kevin’s miraculous recovery from an intense bout of the flu, we are BACK to talk about a controversy that slammed the Vsauce2 channel recently. This week, we’re recounting the epic tale of Kevin’s battle against YouTube’s age restriction. To get the full story on what we’re talking about this week, take a look at the infamous video on Soviet Science that sparked the controversy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhSBQOTW018&ab_channel=Vsauce2  If you’ve already seen it, the gist of the whole debacle is this: YouTube age restricted the video. That meant the only people that could see it were people who were above the age of 18 AND were signed into their YouTube account. Why did they restrict it? We have no idea. We talk about the complete lack of shocking content in the video, the ACTUAL demographic it catered to, and the colossally negative impact age restriction can have on a video. Then, we get into the nitty gritty about this particular struggle. We talk specifics about receiving a flag on a video, the intricacies of post-COPPA regulations, and the actual process of getting your video reviewed – this time, YouTube dropped the ball on all of them. Naturally, Kevin tried to reverse the restriction. He details the shocking number of hoops he had to jump through just to get a response from YouTube, and the incredibly underwhelming result when he finally got it. We get into all the fixes we tried to remedy the situation, what actually worked, and the inevitable fallout that came with it. During this entire process, Matt fired back on Twitter with a thread showcasing an absurd number of videos with much more graphic content that received zero restrictions whatsoever. Kevin talks about the incredibly incorrect reasoning YouTube gave for the restriction, and Matt emphasizes the real-life consequences of an ordeal like this. We do finish out the episode on a somewhat positive note, though, as we look to the rapidly approaching new year. Kevin talks about overcoming his content-halting illness, Matt talks about the increasingly efficient process of his voiceover work, and we briefly look back on the catalog of content we released this year. Thanks to everyone who tuned in live this week, and a special thank you to 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/tcu Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts CREDITS:  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