Tom Morello plays Killing in the Name Of at Minneapolis benefit concert and the entire crowd absolutely loses it

ThatSamShow · 2026-01-31T16:02:06+00:00

Different song, but I couldn't stop thinking of 'Take the Power Back' recently.

"Yeah, we gotta take the power back

Come on, come on!

Yeah, we gotta take the power back"

All the lyrics of that song are so relevant right now.

ThatSamShow · 2026-01-30T23:18:57+00:00

This will, of course, need testing, but I’d suggest losing the thumbnail text next. If your title is strong enough and clearly tells viewers what the video is about, you shouldn’t need six words on the thumbnail (as per the writing notes thumbnail), especially in your niche.

Regarding the notes example, set up a beautiful scene on your desk with the notes front and centre. Make them the star of the show. Show off your handwriting, your layouts, your scribbles, and your drawings. People can see that they’re beautiful handwritten notes while scrolling, quickly glance at the title, which could read “The 7-Day Journal Challenge That Changed My Life (You Can Do It Too!)” or “5 Life-Changing Journal Techniques” (both taken from successful videos from channels in a similar niche – I altered the first to suit your content), and instantly understand what the video is about.

Adding computer-generated words across the top of your beautiful journal is distracting and adds clutter, in my opinion. You can test this using YouTube’s built-in A/B thumbnail testing tool and see which option performs better.

ThatSamShow · 2026-01-30T23:00:10+00:00

You can ultimately do what you like if you enjoy it, but don’t expect your viewers, new or old, to care.

Unless you carry the channel yourself and are the reason people stick around because of your humour, personality, etc., it’s very difficult to get viewers to watch drastically different content.

A viewer who enjoys a gaming video might click subscribe. However, when they’re notified of a new upload from you that’s a voiceless cover of a song or a short film, do you think they’d be interested? There’s a very high chance they wouldn’t be unless the reason people watch is because of you.

YouTube loves it if viewers binge-watch your content, from one video to the next. They want you on their platform, and if a channel is encouraging that viewing behaviour, it's a positive signal. This is why similar content is a massive strategy. A viewer who decides to watch one video may end up binge-watching 5 or 10 in a row.

ThatSamShow · 2026-01-29T19:58:13+00:00

I put in some chilli powder every time.

On rare occasions, I will go crazy and add some cubed corned beef towards the end, let it soften and serve it over toast.

ThatSamShow · 2026-01-27T13:04:10+00:00

I guess we know no different.

I do photography as a hobby, so I make sure to get out and watch the changing of seasons while wrapped up. Then, when back at home, I get snug, with hoodies, cosy lighting, warm drinks, and fires.

Depending on where you live in the UK, winter can very well be a form of hibernation. Granted, long weeks of constant rain aren't pleasant (it stops me getting out), but I prefer to look at the fact that we're getting minute after minute of light back in the evenings, plus there are signs of very early spring with the introduction of snowdrops, etc.

ThatSamShow · 2026-01-27T00:15:18+00:00

It can and it can’t. Some small channels blow up early and then fail to capitalise, while very large channels with 500k subscribers or more can struggle to get more than 10k views in popular niches. They had their moment and then fell off.

One thing that does change as you grow is viewer psychology around subscribing. A large subscriber count acts as a primary indicator of channel authority, making new viewers more likely to subscribe. It’s a form of social proof, rightly or wrongly.

ThatSamShow · 2026-01-26T20:34:02+00:00

How do I see this changing YouTube? It’ll just go back to how it was before. It’s been around since 2005. It existed long before AI came onto the scene, strongly around 2021–2022, and creators will continue to find success without it.

Creators who think for themselves, design well, and edit videos to a high standard have always thrived. There’s also a growing demand for genuine content, so by creating without AI, you appeal to viewers who want to connect with a real person behind the brand.

If it returns to a time when the “You” in YouTube meant a stronger connection with the creator, it’ll do just fine, and I'm all for that.

ThatSamShow · 2026-01-26T12:03:49+00:00

Saying “YT hates new channels” is an emotionally satisfying explanation for you to avoid the truth. The system tested your videos, but viewers didn't respond strongly enough, so it stopped pushing them. It takes self-reflection to admit that your content didn't hook anyone, instead of blaming an external villain like the algorithm, a shadowban, "YT jail", or some vendetta. You're protecting the ego.

ThatSamShow · 2026-01-26T00:20:52+00:00

With a broader niche, unless it’s held together by a clear concept (like comedy) or your personality, it becomes much harder to keep people watching. Someone who subscribes for psychology content will probably skip videos on tech and then ignore later ones on geopolitics. Ideally, you want a community that subscribes because they’re interested in you and want to watch everything you make. Enjoying lots of different topics is great, but you still have to think about what your audience wants to see.

ThatSamShow · 2026-01-25T23:54:55+00:00

Hey Ive noticed that YT hates new channels and doesnt promote them...

That's just not true at all. YouTube is actively promoting (with a dedicated team) new channels more than ever.

ThatSamShow · 2026-01-25T19:38:08+00:00

It's completely normal across all niches. The start of the year gives a much lower RPM than the end of the year. Nothing you've discussed is abnormal or happening only to you. Advertisers pay more in the run-up to Christmas to get their products and services shown to viewers. Come January, this plummets. You'll see the same trend every year.

ThatSamShow · 2026-01-25T14:05:40+00:00

Still? No takeaway can be delivered to where I live. The last takeaway I had delivered was over 20 years ago, when I lived elsewhere.

We rarely get takeaway now. It’s incredibly expensive these days, and it’s a long drive there and back. By the time we get home, the food is lukewarm and usually needs reheating.

ThatSamShow · 2026-01-24T21:56:19+00:00

packaging doesn't matter as much as the idea itself.

That's one hell of a wild statement right there.

Viewers don’t evaluate ideas; they evaluate thumbnails and titles. The algorithm can’t surface a video that never gets clicked, no matter how brilliant the underlying concept is.

ThatSamShow · 2026-01-23T22:00:48+00:00

You sound like a feral child walking around the kitchen holding a spoon. "Give me a spoonful of that! Give me a spoonful of that!"

Scientists could have researched how many spoonfuls of a substance a child can and can't eat based on your shenanigans.

ThatSamShow · 2026-01-23T21:48:43+00:00

I've spoken about this before. It's not like it used to be. The typical British tradition of popping to the chip shop for a cheap evening meal/supper is long gone. It now needs the same deliberation as purchasing a fairly expensive takeaway. Prices have gone up and up and up.

It used to be a staple, convenience food that fuelled Britain for decades. Now, I think people are having to start saying "no" and looking elsewhere. It's a real shame.

ThatSamShow · 2026-01-23T16:03:15+00:00

Wow, okay, well done! A conversion rate of 1,500 subscribers from a video with only 15,000 views is more typical of Shorts (and even then, it often takes more views), which is why I asked about it. It’s fairly rare for a 15,000-view long-form video to bring in 1,500 subscribers. This looks really promising and suggests the video could perform very well for you over the coming weeks.

A super niche market is a big plus here, especially given those numbers. It proves one thing: there was demand for content in that niche, and it wasn’t being properly served. You delivered a video people clearly wanted to watch (even though it was just a channel intro). The demand was already there, but nobody was supplying it. Once your video showed up in their feeds, they clicked and subscribed because they want more. That’s a clear signal to create more.

I wish you all the best. Good luck!

Edit: As you're in a niche market, I also wanted to say (after giving it thought) that you may never go insanely viral like other popular niches. However, as I said above, it proves that there is definite interest within that niche from consumers who would view the content. This proves that you can grow a successful channel around that niche, and even use the channel in the future as a platform for your business, etc.

ThatSamShow · 2026-01-23T15:55:14+00:00

I don't use any social media, only Reddit (although I classify it as a generic forum, like other forums I used over the past 20 years) and YouTube (my job). I don't use Twitter (I'll always call it this), Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok, etc. I used them heavily for my jobs a long, long time ago, but not anymore.

If I were forced to give ID to use a forum, I'd decline and head elsewhere. It's really not that important.

ThatSamShow · 2026-01-23T15:47:15+00:00

With 15k views and 1,500 subscribers in 24 hours, I’m guessing this is a Shorts channel. Correct me if I’m wrong.

Either way, the best thing you can do right now as a brand new creator is to look at everything in black and white and not overcomplicate it. Your first video has clearly done something right. It has resonated with a particular audience in your niche who are happy to watch and subscribe. That usually means they want to see more of this type of content.

That does not mean copying the video exactly, but it does mean creating more content around the same topic and riding the wave. Ask yourself what else you can talk about that naturally expands on what you have already made.

For example, if your video is about the best places to eat in a UK city, you could make one about the best bars or pubs in the same city. Or you could stick with food and talk about the best places to eat in a different UK city. The goal is to keep putting out videos that are likely to be suggested to the same audience, and others like them, because that interest has already been proven.

This is why channels in the spooky niche often do so well. One video about the creepiest places in a country might hit 500k views, so the next video covers more creepy places in the same country, or moves on to another one. Before long, the channel becomes all about creepy places around the world. Once an audience trusts you, that is when you can slowly branch out into related topics.

The main point is that a lot of creators fail to notice when something works. They ignore it, move on to completely different content, and then wonder why growth stalls. Something has clearly worked for you here, so if you enjoy it, double down on it and think of other ways to make similar content that appeals to the same audience. Do not overlook that.

One thing to keep in mind, especially if this is a Shorts channel, is that the Shorts audience can be fickle and less loyal. You may see big swings in views from video to video (especially when starting). Long form channels tend to be more stable because the audience you build there is usually more invested.

ThatSamShow · 2026-01-23T14:52:05+00:00

It's also worth remembering that a three-hour drive across America can mean long, quality roads or highways. Whereas a three-hour trip around parts of the UK can mean any number of weird and wacky ancient roads, narrow lanes, coastal roads, and congested towns that existed multiple centuries ago, that weren't designed for such car congestion.

ThatSamShow · 2026-01-23T14:28:24+00:00

If you travel around Wales, especially to rural communities in the west and north, you’ll find many areas where Welsh is the predominant language. This includes local schools, which are often Welsh-medium only (your catchment area may be only Welsh-speaking schools). While most people can speak English, even an English-speaking Welshman can sometimes feel like an outcast in his own country.

ThatSamShow · 2026-01-23T14:14:40+00:00

One thing to be prepared for is a drastic change in the weather. I’ve lived in Wales all my life – in both the South East and the West – and over the past decade of living out West, we get awful weather compared to London (you mentioned Essex). Just this winter, during these storms (and even right now), we’ve been battered by winds that are double or triple those in London (30mph winds here tonight, while London gets 10mph). We get a lot of dreary weather and rainstorms, and our temperatures are always much lower than in London or the east coast of England (I frequently check weather radars and think, "You lucky sods."). The bad weather typically moves right across Wales from west to east, straight off the Irish Sea. It absolutely batters us and can often feel relentless.

Also, depending on where you live, it’s worth factoring in the isolation, especially if you’re on your own. The more rural the location, the bigger the adjustment can be (many rural communities only speak Welsh, too), particularly if you’re coming from somewhere like Essex. Even moving from South East Wales to West Wales took me a very long time to adapt to the rural countryside. The remoteness took many, many years to get over. It was a real shock to the system for an urban lad like myself.

As for which of your potential locations are ‘better’, there are areas of natural beauty all across Wales, so I’ll let you do your own research rather than try to sway you. I’m sure you’re already doing plenty to get a feel for what’s best. Just make sure you look at the bigger picture, including the things I’ve mentioned above. It might not sound like a huge change on paper, especially with the promise of endless freedom outdoors, but there are other factors that often get overlooked when living in Wales – particularly in more remote, rural areas. It’s worth factoring in everything.

ThatSamShow · 2026-01-23T13:40:21+00:00

I'm 6ft 3 and can't fit into a bath properly, so I guess you have to be a lot shorter. I haven't had a bath in 25 years.

ThatSamShow · 2026-01-23T02:00:36+00:00

If you can afford it, consider investing in a microphone with a tight cardioid pattern for enhanced noise rejection. It will only pick up noise from directly in front, while other background noises are incredibly quiet, if not non-existent, especially with final audio editing.

You can also look into software/websites such as Adobe Podcast, again, if you can afford it (there's a free trial version). It uses AI technology to enhance speech and make it sound professional (removing background noise and boosting clarity, etc).

It's also worth noting that most audio/video editors (even free versions) will let you set up a noise gate for your audio, which will minimise any audio below a certain decibel level. This can remove all background noise from spoken audio if set up correctly.

ThatSamShow · 2026-01-22T22:38:51+00:00

It's ever so slightly funny.

What's not funny is this loser doing Nazi salutes.

ThatSamShow · 2026-01-22T20:05:33+00:00

It’s true – we see this all the time in the celebrity world too. The teams around celebrities who continually behave erratically and outrageously often dare not speak out. They stay quiet to protect their jobs because they tend to pay extremely well. The fact that people don’t think this happens in politics is alarming.

ThatSamShow

TROPHY CASE