The Create Unknown

Епизоди

• 
  The Death of Educational Content on Youtube? 11.09.2026 1ч 38мин

  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 Today we tackle one of the more uncomfortable topics of the modern day: what happens when AI can do the work you built your identity around? The conversation begins with Fern’s video “The Death of Educational Content on YouTube,” exploring how AI-generated scripts, visuals, and research are making it easier to produce convincing educational videos at an unprecedented pace. But when the information is wrong, who catches it, and what happens when viewers can’t tell the difference? Next we discuss Matt’s “Tabor Obituary Test,” a simple experiment designed to reveal what AI actually knows about a person, and how easily AI-generated content can blur the line between research and plagiarism. From there, we examine the growing phenomenon of real human work being dismissed as “AI slop,” including a 3D artist whose work was accused of being AI-generated. Has documenting the creative process become part of the job? The discussion expands into YouTube’s responsibility for maintaining quality, the difficulty of correcting misinformation in video, and why educational content may be particularly vulnerable to AI. What can humans still offer that AI still can’t? Is it personal experience, mistakes, perspective, and the strange little details that make something feel genuinely human? Finally we wrestle with the bigger existential question: if AI eventually becomes capable of replicating even those uniquely human qualities, what happens to the value of creativity itself? Big thanks to our 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: discord.gg/vnRnr3rCzt 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 WebsterEditor: 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
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  Should You Eat Grandpa Slop? 04.09.2026 1ч 48мин

  Today we dive into the decline of the Western, starting with Seven Samurai and its influence on The Magnificent Seven. We compare the 1960 original with the 2016 remake, praising the remake's casting while arguing that it leaves out some of the original's most meaningful scenes. Are modern stories losing the lessons of heroism that people like Bernardo O'Reilly's worked so hard to craft? From there, we explore how Westerns evolved from simple good-vs.-evil morality tales into the morally ambiguous films of the Clint Eastwood era, and why Unforgiven may have marked the end of the genre's cultural dominance. Along the way, we also discuss what classic Westerns reveal about courage, masculinity, self-defense, and changing cultural values. Could the Western's irrelevance actually make it more interesting to watch today? We close by recommending several classics, including The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Yojimbo, A Fistful of Dollars, and Once Upon a Time in the West. We’ll be back next week, thanks to our patrons! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  Frieren is Rewriting Masculinity. What? 28.08.2026 1ч 18мин

  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 Today we tackle one of the more uncomfortable questions in modern entertainment: what happened to masculinity in storytelling? The conversation begins with a YouTube essay arguing that anime like Frieren: Beyond Journey's End is "rewriting" masculinity. We go on to question that premise, pointing out that traits like chivalry, courage, self-sacrifice, and respect are hardly new inventions. This leads us to ultimately ask, why can genuinely positive masculine characters feel so unusual in modern Western media? Next we discuss Frieren and its portrayal of Himmel the Hero, contrasting its emphasis on kindness, relationships, and small human moments with the battle-focused storytelling common in anime. From there, Kevin talks about the idea of "millennial writing" and the tendency for modern stories to constantly joke about themselves, undercut serious moments, and make sure the audience knows the creators understand how ridiculous everything is. The discussion expands into why contemporary entertainment seems so afraid of sincerity, the differences between Western and Japanese storytelling, and the unusual success of characters like Reacher. That finally leads us to debate whether online criticism actually represents what audiences want, and whether people are increasingly hungry for stories that simply take themselves seriously. Big thanks to 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: discord.gg/vnRnr3rCzt 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 WebsterEditor: 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
• 
  One Game Stink. One Rules. 21.08.2026 1ч 15мин

  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 Kevin goes solo for a gaming-heavy episode, revisiting his early YouTube history as Jerry Bloop before diving into three recent games and what makes them succeed or completely fall apart. He starts with Beast of Reincarnation, the new action RPG from Pokémon developer Game Freak. Kevin explains why pre-ordering the game for $60 became a mistake, criticizing its tiny enemy roster, endlessly recycled bosses and so much more. Can you actually consider a game to have a 20 hour runtime when you’ve seen all the content by hour 10? In contrast, Kevin also dives into Mortal Shell 2. Is it one of the best gaming sequels ever made? Kevin might think so. That begs the question, what does a sequel need to do to take a flawed original and turn it into something genuinely great? Afterwards Kevin revisits Wuchang: Fallen Feathers and The First Berserker: Khazan, two of his favorite recent Soulslike games, before moving on to Metroid Prime 4...the good, the bad and the tedious. Why do developers keep adding mechanics to established franchises that don't actually make the experience better? Along the way, Kevin reflects on his lifelong relationship with video games, the origins of Jerry Bloop and Vsauce, and the difference between games that are packed with meaningful systems and games that simply stretch a small amount of content into a longer experience. Big thanks to 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: discord.gg/vnRnr3rCzt 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 WebsterEditor: 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
• 
  Project Hail Mary Is... Actually Good? 14.08.2026 1ч 41мин

  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 we dive into the difference between having a great idea and actually knowing how to execute it. Kevin talks about his decision to step away from directly writing Sleep Warrior and instead use short stories to practice the craft of writing itself. Can separating yourself from something you care about be the hidden key to actually get better at it? That leads into a broader discussion about AI, creativity, and why execution still matters when anyone can generate an idea in seconds. We also break down Project Hail Mary and why its relentless escalation makes it such an effective story, comparing its structure to The Godfather and the classic Lester Dent formula. Along the way, we talk about the importance of mundane details, character development, Brandon Sanderson, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and the surprising value of writing about characters who barely exist in a story. Big thanks to our patrons, we'll see you next time! 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: discord.gg/vnRnr3rCzt 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 WebsterEditor: 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
• 
  Does The Godfather Hold Up? 31.07.2026 1ч 46мин

  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 we kick things off by correcting a mistake from last week's episode. We talk about why getting the facts right matters, even when nobody notices. That leads us into a surprising discussion about people watching movies at 1.5x or even 2x speed. Can art survive if we consume it as quickly as possible? Or are we sacrificing the very thing that makes it meaningful? From there, we revisit the new Masters of the Universe film, discussing its incredible visuals, frustrating reliance on constant quips, and why so many modern movies seem afraid to take themselves seriously. The conversation then shifts to The Godfather and, in turn, to a much bigger question: why do classic stories about families resonate so deeply? We explore how films built around parents, siblings, and generational conflict create emotional stakes that surrogate families often can't match, and whether changing family structures and modern social life have fundamentally altered the kinds of stories audiences connect with today. Along the way, we discuss everything from speeding through books and music to the decline of civic life, the rise of chosen families in entertainment, and a handful of modern films that still manage to capture what makes great storytelling timeless. Big thanks to our 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: discord.gg/vnRnr3rCzt 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
• 
  No One Likes Anything. Now What? 24.07.2026 2ч 17мин

  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 we tackle a question that feels impossible to ignore: why does the internet seem to hate everything? Is online negativity just more visible than ever, or have our expectations fundamentally changed? We explore how sports fandom has become more hostile in the age of fantasy leagues and social media, why algorithms may be training us to expect perfectly curated experiences, and what happens when real life inevitably falls short. Are we becoming less tolerant of disappointment...or just louder about it? Along the way, we discuss the Boston Red Sox's dramatic season, the surprisingly low rate of positive engagement online, and why criticism often comes so much easier than praise. We also examine whether it's become "uncool" to genuinely enjoy things, and what that means for creators trying to make work people love. Big thanks to our 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: discord.gg/vnRnr3rCzt 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
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  Saving Physical Media w/ Justin Sevakis 17.07.2026 1ч 13мин

  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 we’re joined by Justin Sevakis, founder of Anime News Network and MediaOCD, to talk about the surprising resurgence of physical media. As companies move toward an all-digital future, are we putting decades of art, games, and films at risk? And if corporations won't preserve media...who will? We explore Sony's decision to phase out physical games, why Blu-ray may be having its own "vinyl moment," and how private collectors have quietly become some of the most important archivists in entertainment history. We also dive into anime's journey from niche hobby to mainstream phenomenon, the rise and fall of Right Stuf, and why younger fans are embracing physical media from an era they never experienced. Justin also shares stories from restoring obscure films, explains what it's really like running a boutique distribution company, and gives us a glimpse into the future of anime preservation. Big thanks to 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: discord.gg/vnRnr3rCzt 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
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  Reshaping Sports Journalism w/ Grant Cohn 10.07.2026 1ч 5мин

  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 we’re joined by longtime 49ers reporter Grant Cohn to talk about the changing world of sports media. We dive into how he went from traditional newspapers to building a thriving YouTube career, why independent journalism is reshaping the industry, and what it takes to cover one of the NFL’s biggest teams. This leaves us wondering, is the future of sports reporting with newspapers...or with individual creators? Along the way, we break down the bizarre saga of Brandon Aiyuk, discuss the importance of maintaining journalistic integrity over insider access, and hear Grant’s perspective on covering both players and coaches, as well as the pressures that come with having a large audience. We also get into the realities of modern sports reporting, what aspiring journalists should focus on today, and what exactly changed in the media landscape over the last decade. Plus, we settle an important debate about Bay Area burritos, swap stories about NFL stadiums, and hear some behind-the-scenes moments from Grant himself. Big thanks to 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: discord.gg/vnRnr3rCzt 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
• 
  The Death of Gaming 03.07.2026 2ч 37мин

  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 we tackle what may be one of the biggest shifts in gaming history: Sony's announcement that physical PlayStation games are coming to an end. With Nintendo already moving toward game key cards and most players buying digitally, we ask the obvious question...is this simply the future, or are we losing something much bigger than plastic discs? We explore what digital-only gaming means for ownership, collecting, preservation, and even the price of games themselves. Why do physical games often become cheaper while digital storefronts rarely do? What happens when you can't resell, lend, or truly own the games you buy? And if everything becomes a license, what rights are players actually left with? From there we zoom out into a broader conversation about physical media and why tangible collections matter. We discuss the satisfaction of rediscovering games years later, the importance of preserving gaming history, and whether future generations will ever experience the same connection to their libraries. We also touch on Sony's recent direction as a company, the disappearance of the used game market, backwards compatibility, game preservation, and why this could mark the end of an entire era of gaming culture. Big thanks to our patrons for making the show possible, 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: discord.gg/vnRnr3rCzt 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
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  The He-Man Movie Is Weird. 26.06.2026 2ч 35мин

  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 we sit down to talk about the new He-Man movie, and we quickly discover that our feelings on it are all over the place. Seeing this property on the big screen is undeniably cool…so why does it feel like something about this movie is nagging at us? Today we see if we can figure out exactly why that is. The deeper we dig, the more we keep coming back to one simple question: does this movie actually like He-Man? We talk about the strange trend modern franchises have been making toward making fun of themselves, even while asking audiences to take them seriously. Why are so many movies afraid of sincerity? And what happens when a story starts treating its own premise like an embarrassment? Along the way we compare the film to the infamous 1987 version, pick apart Martin Scorsese's "theme park versus cinema" argument, and examine several moments that left us completely baffled as viewers. We also find ourselves talking about romance in storytelling, why so many modern movies avoid committing to relationships, and whether or not horror has quietly become one of the last genres willing to play things straight. As we round things out, we find ourselves giving less of a review and more of a conversation about contemporary blockbuster writing. Can a franchise survive if it seems uncomfortable with the very thing that made people love it in the first place? Big thanks to our patrons for supporting the show. 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: discord.gg/vnRnr3rCzt 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
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  The Vsauce2 Video I Got Wrong 19.06.2026 1ч 32мин

  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 starts with a discussion about a few recent losses, including the death of Gene Shalit, and the tragic passing of Oliver Tree. We reflect on the kind of creativity and criticism both represented, and why genuinely original voices seem harder and harder to find. From there, we revisit an old idea: if technology keeps making life easier, shouldn't people be happier? Years ago, we believed automation would free us up for art, relationships, learning, and meaningful pursuits. Today, we're not so sure. Then we explore the strange gap between opportunity and action. Information is everywhere. Books are cheaper than ever. New skills can be learned in minutes. Powerful AI tools can help with almost anything. So why do so many people still feel directionless? Along the way we talk about reading, retirement, motivation, and the uncomfortable reality that having more free time doesn't automatically lead to a better life. If anything, it may reveal a deeper question: do people actually want free time, or do they need structure more than they realize? It's a conversation about creativity, purpose, and what happens when the barriers disappear...but the drive to do something meaningful doesn't magically appear with them. 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: discord.gg/vnRnr3rCzt 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
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  Elfing Will Save Your Writing 12.06.2026 1ч 22мин

  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 we kick things off with a shockingly sad discussion about Ray Liotta and the bizarre internet phenomenon of seemingly widespread celebrity death Mandela effects. That morphs into a conversation about fading news cycles, Scorsese movies, and Kevin's extremely unpopular opinion on The Wolf of Wall Street. After that, we dive into the REAL focus of the episode – a writing technique with a ridiculous name that might actually save your creative projects: Elfing. We trace the origins of the concept back through filmmaker Zach Krieger all the way to legendary Simpsons writer John Swartzwelder, whose seemingly crude writing philosophy could actually be the key to getting things DONE. From there, we zoom out to tackle a much bigger challenge in creative work: learning how to separate your identity from what you make. Why do so many people instinctively defend every sentence of an early draft? Why is accepting feedback so difficult? And why do so many promising writers stall out before they ever finish anything? Along the way, we discuss the realities of editing, the balance between writing for yourself versus writing for an audience, and the constant tension between artistic honesty and commercial appeal. Big thanks to our patrons, and 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: discord.gg/vnRnr3rCzt 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
• 
  Youtube is Fake 29.05.2026 1ч 48мин

  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, we’re launching off of our discussion from last episode by asking a strange question: is YouTube actually REAL? After nearly twenty years of dominance, why does the platform still feel completely disconnected from traditional media recognition, legitimacy, and the broader “culture” in general? We start by reminiscing on the “good old days” of 2015, when it seemed inevitable that YouTubers would fully cross over into television and film. Agents were interested, studios were experimenting, YouTube Red was launching, and everybody assumed internet creators would naturally become mainstream celebrities. But… that didn’t really happen. Why not? To understand that, we break down the failed crossover era. We’re talking celebrity YouTube channels, creator-backed streaming shows, and the awkward attempts by Hollywood to recreate YouTube success. As we all know, that didn’t really work out. We dive deep into why. After that, we get critical as we shift toward what is arguably the biggest problem surrounding online media: LEGITIMACY. How is it possible for someone to have billions of views and millions of subscribers while simultaneously remaining nearly anonymous outside the platform itself? Why do traditional systems like journalism, awards shows, and even Wikipedia still struggle to treat YouTube creators as “real” media figures? We also discuss the strange economics of it all. When successful YouTubers often have more freedom and better income than they would in traditional entertainment… does “moving up” to Hollywood make any sense at all?. We round things out with some discussion on the legendary James Rolfe, the collapse of centralized culture, YouTube’s failed attempts at prestige, and Kevin’s growing theory on YouTube as a closed ecosystem. Big thanks to our patrons, and 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: discord.gg/vnRnr3rCzt 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
• 
  Is YouTube Really Dead? 22.05.2026 2ч 3мин

  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 we begin with the passing of sociologist and author Leah Greenfeld, whose work on identity, alienation, and modern society ended up feeling eerily ahead of its time. That retrospective leads us to a discussion on the importance of talking to older people while they’re still here, especially the rare ones who’ve experienced worlds and perspectives that are quickly disappearing. After that we pivot to a recent viral tweet with nearly half a million likes claiming there’s “nothing to watch on YouTube anymore,” and honestly…it might not be entirely wrong. We break down the strange feeling that many of us seem to be having – that modern YouTube recommendations have become both hyper-specific AND strangely unwatchable. Did you watch a single repair video one time to fix a single issue? Well, enjoy the parade of that exact type of content on your home page from now on! As we dig deeper and deeper, the conversation turns toward what we think was the real turning point for YouTube itself over the past decade – the death of YouTube Rewind. Was THAT the moment YouTube stopped understanding its own audience? Has YouTube become a “solved platform,” where creators optimize around formulas instead of originality? We also talk about a big shift in how creators today get INSPIRED. In the past, a lot of creators seemed to get their ideas from all kinds of outside experiences. But now, YouTubers are seemingly being influenced by… YouTube itself. Is that actually making good content? Or are we truly spiraling into a cycle of derivation and optimization? To close things out we get into some of YouTube’s bizarre moderation inconsistencies. Why are educational Vsauce videos, for instance, being age-restricted while more explicit content remains untouched? That takes us into a larger discussion about platform leadership, creator disconnect, and why modern YouTube culture feels so much different than the “good old days.” Big thanks to our 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: discord.gg/vnRnr3rCzt 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
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  Does Stephen King’s Carrie Hold Up? 15.05.2026 2ч 28мин

  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 we’re diving deep into Stephen King’s iconic novel Carrie which, as it turns out, ended up being Matt’s FIRST real horror novel EVER. We talk about why King’s writing is so easily digestible, and how Carrie feels strangely modern despite being written over 50 years ago. We pick apart the book’s uniquely fragmented structure, and how it actually kind of resembles… modern scroll-based apps? Next we dissect the iconic prom scene and figure out why it might be one of the most perfect “killer app” images ever created in fiction. But what exactly is it that makes this scene so iconic, and more importantly, how did it shape Stephen King into the horror icon he is today? From there we get into Carrie’s horrifying home life, her mother’s religious fanaticism, and why the book’s version of Margaret White is much more interesting (and far more frightening) than most adaptations. We also pick apart the various Carrie movies, including the bizarre TV adaptation, and some truly catastrophic CGI choices. We round things out with a thorough examination of the story’s astonishing moral complexity. Is Carrie’s revenge satisfying…or deeply tragic? We talk about proportional justice, why some readers celebrate the destruction at the end, and the uncomfortable trend of treating mass revenge fantasies as empowering. Big thanks to our patrons, and 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: discord.gg/vnRnr3rCzt 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
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  The Impossible Persona of Hulk Hogan 08.05.2026 2ч 34мин

  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 we’re diving deep into a pop cultural figurehead, and the strange evolution of the medium that propelled him to stardom from a niche sideshow into one of the biggest entertainment machines on Earth. Of course, we’re talking Hulk Hogan, and the incomparable spectacle of WrestleMania. This one gets pretty wild, so buckle up. We start with a trip down memory lane as we reflect on our own introductions to the world of wrestling. We wonder, how did something so openly “fake” become more culturally powerful than many “real” sports? And what exactly was wrestling tapping into that made its stars so recognizable to almost everybody? From there, we break down how WrestleMania completely changed the business, and how Vince McMahon’s impossible gamble paid off so spectacularly. With wrestling turning into such a mainstream event, we wonder how much of modern entertainment owes something to it? Was it really the blueprint? We also explore why Hulk Hogan’s “Real American” persona was expertly crafted and perfectly molded to fit the landscape of the 1980s. Hogan was much more than just a wrestler…he was THE Cold War superhero. From there, we take a turn into Hogan’s bizarre Hollywood career, the infamous Richard Belzer incident, and the surreal energy of celebrity culture in the 80s and 90s. We talk about “Hollywood Hogan” and the overwhelming cultural shift toward cynicism in the 1990s. Naturally, as we wrap things up, we zoom out and take a look at the culture of America itself. What made figures like Hulk Hogan feel so real to people despite being overtly performative? And are larger-than-life personalities even possible anymore in an era obsessed with optimization, irony, and image management? Big thanks to our 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: discord.gg/vnRnr3rCzt 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
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  The Magical Simplicity of Redwall 01.05.2026 2ч 35мин

  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 we dive into Brian Jacques’ fantastical explorations into the world of rodentia through his hit series “Redwall.” But what starts as a dissection of literature quickly leads us to a much bigger question – why did this series resonate so deeply with millions of readers…and does it still hold up? We begin with a biographical examination of Jacques himself, his unlikely path into writing, the strange origins of Redwall, and why a man with no literary pedigree ended up creating one of the biggest fantasy series of its kind. From there, we wrestle with one of the big critiques of the books: morality. Is Redwall’s clear divide between heroes and villains overly simplistic, or strangely refreshing in the current landscape? After decades of morally gray antiheroes, is there something powerful about stories that know exactly where they stand? That leaves us wondering, are the animal archetypes lazy stereotyping, or a literary keystone? Do choices like that rob a story of its complexity or deepen its mythic feel? After that, we hold a magnifying glass up to the act of writing itself. What matters more in a novel: elegant prose, or pure storytelling momentum? Can a book still feel magical if the actual words on the page are cumbersome? And why does there seem to be such a discrepancy in what viewers and critics value? To finish out the episode, we talk about all things ADAPTATION. With the recent collapse of planned Redwall projects, we wonder why translating this absurdly successful world to screen has proven so difficult? Is it the violence? The tone? Or is some of what makes Redwall special just hard to adapt in the first place? Big thanks to our 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: discord.gg/vnRnr3rCzt 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
• 
  The Explosive Art of Phil Summers 25.04.2026 1ч 24мин

  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 we’re sitting down with artist Phillip Summers to take a close-up look at his expertly handcrafted game guides. So join us as we strap on our hiking boots to climb the towering mountain of work it actually takes to make something like this from scratch. We do a proper retrospective on all of Phil’s work, from early projects to more refined guides, and we’re left wondering… where’s the line between fan art and original creation, and when does something like this become entirely new? From there, we dig deep into the nuts and bolts of what it takes to run an operation like Phil’s – things like printing, shipping, damaged copies, replacements, and the many other hurdles Summers had to figure out in real time. What happens when a passion project suddenly scales? And how much of being a creator is actually just logistics? We also talk through hisMetroid Kickstarter that blew up seemingly instantaneously, and shut down just as fast. Hearing it directly from Summers, we ask: what do you do when something clearly resonates with people but legally can’t exist? That takes us straight into a discussion on how Phillip’s canceled kickstarter project led to a direct collaboration with Capcom. We close out with a bird’s eye view on balancing creative work with real life, and what it actually costs to keep making things consistently. If you want to create something like this, what are you willing to sacrifice? Big thanks to our 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: discord.gg/vnRnr3rCzt 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
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  It’s Time to Start Slowmaxxing 21.04.2026 1ч 54мин

  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 kicking this week’s episode off with about as simple a premise as it gets: it’s time to SLOW DOWN.: We’re diving into what it actually means to “slow-max” your life, and why it feels like everything around us is pushing in the opposite direction. We start by giving a shoutout to our Canadian friends from Archspire who have gone fully independent with the band’s newest album. As great as it is, it leaves us wondering, what really happens when creators take on everything themselves? On paper it sounds liberating, but what is there a deeper level of complexity we’re actually signing up for? After that we take a big swing and stake our claim on the term “slowmaxxing,” the idea of deliberately choosing slower, more involved activities. We pick apart the benefits of doing things that were once commonplace: cooking from scratch, reading, building something, even just putting your phone in another room. But, if those things were so normal before, why do they feel harder now than they used to? And what did we lose when convenience removed all the friction? We dig into small, almost forgotten rituals like sharpening pencils, making popcorn by hand, listening to full albums, etc., and we dissect how those tiny processes used to anchor attention in a way that’s disappearing. Is that just nostalgia, or were those steps actually doing something important for how we think? To round things out, we zoom out for a real “big picture” perspective. If everything is faster, easier, and more optimized, why does it sometimes feel worse? Why does scrolling for hours leave you with nothing, while slower activities actually stick? And if the “fast” version of everything is becoming more common, is it actually… better? Or are we slowly forgetting how to engage with anything at all? Big thanks to our 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: discord.gg/vnRnr3rCzt 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