My Favorite Youtube Channels
And an update on a new project..
“Why would you want to make Youtube videos?”, asked my friend
I replied, “Because many people enjoy watching videos instead of reading long-form blogs.”
“But you don’t know anything about Youtube”, says my friend
I reply, “I don’t, but I can learn about it, doesn’t look like rocket science.”
And what began as a discussion, started occupying a good amount of my mind space, which has led to me finally becoming a student in Cohort 7 of Part-Time Youtuber Academy. We are in Week 1 and I have to publish my first video before Sunday evening. And the best part is, I have no idea what I’m going to make the video on.
I am excited to work on the craft, but I am very slow at handling the various elements needed for a good video - audio, video, lighting, editing, thumbnails, background music, B rolls, and so much more. But I’ll get there, hopefully soon ;) It’s time to go beyond my textual expressions and make something for broader consumption.
But for now, you can imagine me as an archaeologist with dirty clothes and digging for hidden artifacts on a remote island thousands of miles away from any urban life.
Since I have been immersed in learning about making youtube videos for my written content, I will take this opportunity to share with you a few of my favorite youtube channels. All of these channels have educated, entertained, or inspired me in many ways.
I didn’t realize their contribution to my life until I was going through the preparatory material for this course and was required to fill out a questionnaire regarding my interest in Youtube and how it’s helped me out in my journey. Today’s post is about many of these realizations.
I also would like to share why and how each of them have they been important and influential in my development as a rational decision-maker.
The dictionary defines ‘rational’ as based on or in accordance with reason or logic. And ‘decision’ is a conclusion or resolution reached after consideration. These are important definitions to highlight because I wasn’t thoughtful or wise with money for the 1st two decades of my professional life. It’s taken me a lot of time to be able to reason and come to a sensible conclusion regarding the choices at hand where I can stack the odds in my favor.
In some cases, they have made me laugh so hard that it would make me forget all the stress from the day's work. Some have been purely for satisfying the wildly curious soul that resides within me
Some videos have contributed towards building wealth, some towards getting in shape and longevity, and others have been great to gain wisdom and learn from history or experts. Hence, I will break down the piece into 3 parts - Health, Wealth & Wisdom so that it gives you clarity on what to expect from these youtube channels if you chose to subscribe to any.
Health #
https://www.youtube.com/@DaveAspreyBPR/videos
Dave Asprey is the founder of Bulletproof Diet and the Bulletproof brand of products. Brain Octane Oil & Coconut Charcoal are my favorite products. I have been following his blogs, podcasts, and videos for the last 7 years. His content has been the reason why I could defeat Thyroid, Psoriasis, and chronic fatigue. I don’t take pills of any form and haven’t needed medication in 99% of cases since 2015.
Hence, it would not come as a surprise to you if I told you that I have tried to watch at least one of the videos on the channel every single week since 2015. That makes a total number of 350 + videos and it isn’t an effort especially when I know that I have 100x to gain from input of this time on a weekly basis. It’s been worth it.
https://www.youtube.com/c/athleanx
Jeff Cavaliere is a Physical therapist and strength coach. His videos have been watched and implemented by millions of people globally, including the best in the Indian Film Industry e.g. Aamir Khan.
Every time I have tried a new workout in the gym or experimented with a new fitness routine, I have viewed his channel for its pros and cons, for gaining clarity on this choice at hand, and for the added guidance that comes along with everything at the edges of the subject being discussed.
Currently, I am following the whole body cross-training routine for the 5 days that I am at the gym. Jeff may be miles away in the USA, but his videos are good enough for me to get a feeling that he is assisting me in the best way possible.
Wealth
https://www.youtube.com/@AswathDamodaranonValuation
Mr. Aswath Damodaran teaches corporate finance, valuation, and investment philosophies at the Stern School of Business at New York University. His videos on corporate finance, investment valuation, business case studies, and macro topics like inflation or the impact of war on valuations are invaluable. He even goes the extra length to make all his Business School teachings available to the public for free. I don’t know of a single professor who does that🤔 Do you?
This channel is the best investment of time and energy for anyone investing in capital markets globally.
https://www.youtube.com/@SOICfinance
And for those investing in India, you cannot miss out on SOIC. Ishmohit Arora is the founder of this channel and he has taken all relevant investing frameworks from legendary investors like Warren Buffet and Charlie Munger and turned them into a palatable format for Indians/NRIs.
His videos are of top-notch quality, very objective in their analysis, without any overconfident predictions, and laced with disclaimers on the inherent risks in the strategy discussed or business analyzed. The added feature that would delight any subscriber is the quick response of the team to queries regarding the videos on their channel.
He also runs an Investing course on his website and its value is 100x of what he actually charges. For those who aspire to be great stock pickers in India, SOIC is the channel to dive deep into.
Wisdom
https://www.youtube.com/@timferriss
Tim Ferriss would rank at the top of my list for many reasons. It was his channel that got me introduced to Stoic philosophy when I was going through a phase where I wanted to be rich and famous but was burning myself out trying to do everything and be everywhere.
I used to think that I can control everything or I am responsible for everything. There was so much burden on “I” that stress became an integral part of me, leading to hyperthyroidism and other ailments.
The Stoic school of thought came into my life at the perfect time, germinated in my mind, and impregnated me with its value system and philosophy. One of the practices of stoicism is differentiating between what we can change and what we can’t. What we have influence over and what we do not. This distinction was an epiphany for me and it has guided me ever since.
Life has been simpler since then and I strive to keep it as simple as I possibly can. I also feel 100 pounds lighter with this mindset while enjoying enough room to do what I enjoy the most.
I have also written many pieces on Stoic philosophy and you can find them here and here.
https://www.youtube.com/@aliabdaal
Ali Abdaal is a very successful Youtuber and also the founder of PTYA, besides being a doctor from Cambridge, UK. He is 15 years younger than me but his videos on various topics have nudged me in directions that I am extremely grateful for.
E.g. his videos on various methods to prep for exams helped me to clear my CFA Level 3 exams in 2020. His pieces of training on the second brain (note-taking systems) have also been very handy in being on top of my work at all times.
Besides these tools that aid in accomplishing goals, it’s his positive vibe at all times that leaves an influence on you in some way or another.
https://www.youtube.com/@kurzgesagt
This is a fantastic youtube channel and is run by illustrators, animators, and number crunchers. Their videos are informative, educational, and entertaining too. It’s something I have resorted to watching when on a break from my work. My favorite video has been the one on anti-aging.
Funny
https://www.youtube.com/c/TanmayBhatYouTube/videos
https://www.youtube.com/@KapilSharmaK9
Tanmay Bhat and Kapil Sharma are two of the best comedians in India and both have very different styles of entertaining their audiences. Kapil Sharma uses the TV Show format and delivers one home run after another and has been doing so for years. Whereas Tanmay chooses the vlogging route to dish out nonstop humor in collaboration with his fellow comedians across India.
It’s a treat to watch both of these artists. They make you forget the responsibilities you shoulder or the burdens you carry. But 30-60 mins in their vortex, you might just get back to work in a vibrant mood, ready to deal with whatever the world has to throw at you.
At least that’s what it does for me. You too can try this prescription. It might just work ;)
I have looked at youtube for entertainment or news purposes for a very long time. It’s only recently that I have started appreciating the role it plays in the self-development of the wildly curious folks out there.
If you want to learn something, youtube has enough to teach you. In fact, it has more than enough to take you from amateur to a master, only if you deeply desire to become one through your effort to implement everything that you learn.
Try it out. Experiment with going deep into a subject you are fascinated by. Youtube might just live up to your expectations and even overdeliver.
Wishing you a fantastic day ahead and God Bless.
Loads of Love and Luck.
Manish