My Favourite YouTube Channels
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I'm not that active on social media, but I do enjoy watching YouTube videos. Here are some of my favorite channels that I often find myself returning to.
Beau Miles
https://www.youtube.com/@BeauMiles
Beau makes beautiful films. They a unique blend of "backyard adventure," philosophical storytelling, and quirkiness. Nature, running, conservation, and an oddball perspective. Thought provoking with a dash of wry Aussie larrikan humour.
Camping with Steve
https://www.youtube.com/@campingwithsteve
The Canadian King of stealth camping. Steve is a great storyteller. He has a knack for finding the most interesting and unusual places to camp, and his videos are always entertaining and informative. He also has a great sense of humour, which makes his videos even more enjoyable to watch.
CityNerd
https://www.youtube.com/@CityNerd
Ray Delahunty goes by the name "CityNerd." His topics are based around urbanism and planning. His delivery is dry and deadpan, but his videos are always interesting and informative.
Cycling Around the World
https://www.youtube.com/@universewithme
Jin spent 10 years cycling around the world, clocking up almost 100,000 km. She hoped to return to her home in South Korea via North Korea after 10 years, but unfortunately was not able to realise her dream. Her videos have unique personal perspective. Lots of travel channels seem to focus on the "best" places to visit and Instagrammable moments. Jin's videos don't fall into that trap. They are authentic and honest. She doesn't shy away from showing the less glamorous aspects of travel.
David Bennett Music Theory
https://www.youtube.com/@DavidBennettPiano
David is a great explainer of music theory to people like me who have no formal training. He has a knack for breaking down complex concepts into simple, easy-to-understand bits. He also has some great Beatles quizzes.
Driver667
https://www.youtube.com/@driver667
If you're into watching Australia roll by from the cabin of locomotive, then Driver667 is the channel for you. A great collection of videos of train journeys around Australia. Some great slow TV content. I find it very relaxing to watch, and it's a great way to see parts of Australia that I might not otherwise get to visit.
GeoWizard
https://www.youtube.com/@GeoWizard
GeoWizard is a geoguesser. He plays the game Geoguessr, which drops you into a random location on Google Street View and challenges you to guess where you are in the world.
He also mixes it with crazy missions such as crossing countries in a straight line. The 8 bit games music soundtrack is a nice touch, especially when he is trying to get by the boss farmers.
Hike N It Up
https://www.youtube.com/@HikeingiTuP
Explores the outdoors just west of Melbourne, Australia. Lerderderg State Park, Wombat State Forest, Werribee Gorge all deserve a visit.
Jim Driver
Jim Driver is a British music industry veteran, author,with a career spanning back to 1972. A key figure in the UK’s 1970s and '80s pub rock scene. He is widely recognised for his work as a promoter. He has a wealth of stories and insights about the music industry.
https://www.youtube.com/@JimDriver
KEXP
https://www.youtube.com/@kexp
KEXP is a Seattle-based radio station that has been around since 1972. They have a great YouTube channel that features live performances from a wide range of artists. The quality of the recordings is excellent, and the performances are always top-notch. It's a great way to discover new music and see some amazing live performances.
Krysta Norwick
https://www.youtube.com/@KrystaNorwick
Canadian hiker. I first came across her series on New Zealand's Te Araroa Trail.
Paul Messner
Paul runs two channels. He is a wealth of information about hiking and camping. Set in Yorkshire, UK, his videos are a great mix of practical advice and beautiful scenery. His wife Jo makes an occasional appearance, and they have a great dynamic.
Phillip Mallis
https://www.youtube.com/@philipmallis
Melbourne based. Phillip delves into the history of Melbourne. He has a great eye for detail and a knack for uncovering hidden gems in the city. His videos are always informative and provide a unique insight into Melbourne's history and culture.
RobWords
https://www.youtube.com/@RobWords
An Englishman based in Berlin. Rob dives into the obscurities of the English language. He has a great sense of humour and a knack for making complex linguistic concepts accessible and entertaining.
Scottish TeeVee
https://www.youtube.com/scottishteevee
A great collection of indie music videos from the 80's and 90's. A great way to discover some hidden gems.
Scotty's Gone Walkabout
https://www.youtube.com/@ScottysGoneWalkabout
Scotty is based in New South Wales. He procudes some beautifully shot videos of his hikes around the state. He has a great eye for detail and a knack for capturing the beauty of the Australian bush. He also has a great series of videos shot in New Zealand.
Set To Hike
https://www.youtube.com/@settohike
Haley provides a great mix of practical hiking advice and beautiful scenery with a dash of quirky humour. She has catalogue of walks around Victoria. She a recent set of videos in the US.
Solo Biker Dave
https://www.youtube.com/@davesolobiker5601
Dave is based in Carlisle, Cumbria. His videos are mix of solo bike rides around the area. He'll often venture out with his friend Ian on multiday rides. You get to see some of the great scenery of the area and the local watering holes.
Wildbaere
https://www.youtube.com/@WildBeare
Claire's health issues have slowed her down a bit recently but haven't stopped from getting out into the wild. She has a great collection of videos of her adventures around the UK.