I subscribe to more than 100 channels, but these are the folks that make me stop what I’m doing to watch a video.

Makers who I’m watching

Make Something with David Picciuto – I’ve been watching David for years and really connect with his approach to a lot of things. If we ever meet, it’s either going to be awkward silence or amazing collaboration. Go watch

Wesley Treat – Wesley builds the things I wish I knew how to build. I get some serious mad scientist vibes when he’s making in his creative space. I’d love to be a fly on the wall during one of his projects. Go watch

Wicked Makers – Jaimie & Jay are making some amazing Halloween props all year long. It’s a lot of fun to watch them continue to push themselves to take on bigger and more complex projects. Go watch

Wood If I Could – Who is the woman behind the mask? Doesn’t matter. She’s sharing her woodworking journey with all of us from a shared workshop. She has a lot of wins, a few losses and it’s all documented in a friendly conversational tone. Go watch

Kieth Brown (Rag ‘n’ Bone Brown) – I really enjoy Kieth’s approach to building and fixing things with found and repurposed materials. Go watch

I Like to Make Stuff – Everyone knows Bob and the crew, right? ILTMS always hits the right mix of entertainment and education. Go watch

3x3Custom – I wish I was half as smart as Tamar. She has shown me that the solution to any problem is building a jig. Go watch

Outdoorsy people I’m watching

Kenny of All Trades – A guy and his truck camper. And his dog. He’s not trying to sell you anything or doing anything extreme. He’s a calm, feel-good reminder to get outside close to home as often as you can. Go watch

It’s Good in the Woods – A friend said to me, “I know why you like this channel … he’s basically you.” Maybe? I don’t know. I do know that watching Justin’s videos is kind of therapeutic. His demeanor is so chill. Go watch

Miranda Goes Outside – Miranda’s excitement and enthusiasm for the outdoors and sharing the outdoors with others is unparalleled. Her content is a pure shot of good mood. Go watch

Backpacking with Buckley – There’s no gimmick or flash or anything suspect with Tim. He’s out in the woods probably the same way a lot of us are: having the best time we can with the gear we have. Plus he kinda sounds like Norm Macdonald. Go watch

NDYakAngler – Pretty much Bob Ross in a kayak. You don’t need to be addicted to fishing to enjoy these videos. Go watch

Steve Wallis – The undisputed king of no-frills stealth camping and just being a good dude. Go watch

Berm Peak – I don’t ride mountain bikes anymore (got a gravel bike tho), but Seth is just genuinely entertaining to the point that it doesn’t matter I’m not part of the club. I don’t always understand what he’s talking about and that’s fine. Go watch

My favorite foods

If I ever have to request a last meal, it will be all of the following:

Vegetable Khao Soi – This is my ultimate comfort food and I crave this more often than anything else on this list. There’s something about that hearty sour broth that cures what ails you.

Channa Masala – I have had great versions of this dish in many Indian restaurants, but the best I’ve had is the homemade and dehydrated version made by my friend John. His version is a staple on all of our backpacking trips.

Pizza with sauerkraut, pineapple & jalapeno – I’m glad you don’t like it, that means more for me.

Kimchi – I can eat this as-is all day long, but if I want it to resemble a meal, there is a noodle house near me that makes a great kimchi fried rice.

Hash browns – Shredded potatoes fried in butter and oil? Yes please. Acceptable substitutions include: french fries, waffle fries, potato chips, tater tots, and potato olés from Taco Johns. But not Pringles because those are gross.

Butternut Squash Soup – Easy to make, especially if you have a high-powered blender. Three tips: (1) Don’t grate your fresh ginger into a paste, finely mince it so you get little bursts of zing in your soup; (2) Add a cored and peeled apple to your soup; (3) Seasoning with curry powder and garam masala take this soup over the top.

Tres Leches Cake – My wife has PERFECTED her recipe for Tres Leches. I’ve yet to have a slice from anywhere else that even comes close. Her take on this cake defines the genre.

Key Lime Pie – I like my wife’s the best, but I’ll order a slice any time I see it on the menu.

Bread & Butter Pickles – I like all pickles, but the Bread &Butters are my top pick.

Kombucha – I made a Chipotle Pineapple kombucha one time that was unreal. But I tend to take the easy route and just buy a bottle.