September Reading List (Patreon)
Content
Let me know what you think! x
Articles
Why YouTubers are feeling the burn - another think piece about YouTubers and burn out because I can’t get enough of reading about my industry.
My Thoughts on Being a Blogger and Consumerism - Anna of The Anna Edit wrote a blog post all about something that has been plaguing my mind for a while. A lot of bloggers make money from affiliate links which means sharing products such as clothes, makeup, tech etc. The more we share, the more money we’d make. But I don’t want to contribute to the shit show that is fast fashion more than I have to.
For a long time, I thought Goop was hilarious. Not anymore - Goop is Gwyneth Paltrow’s lifestyle, wellness brand covering things like women’s “health”. It recently settled a $125,000 lawsuit and is refunding anyone who bought jade eggs as they were advertised medical claims were not supported by actual science. There are a lot of companies trying to sell us shit to do with our vulvas and vaginas claiming all sorts of crap. Do be careful and if someone is claiming xyz for lots of money it’s probably too good to be true.
Everything You Know About Obesity is Wrong - if there’s one thing you read/watch/listen to from this list make it this one. It’s long but worth it.
Podcasts
The Future of YouTube: The Sunday Social - my gal pal Lucy has started a podcast from her series “The Sunday Social”. In the first episode she sits down with Nathan Zed, Eman Kellam and Callux to talk about YouTube and where things are headed with things like the boxing matches gaining so much attention and money.
Videos
My Complex Relationship with My Disability - I met a lot of cool creative people at Ruckus Retreat at Espen was one of them. This is a comedy sketch/vlog about his relationship with his disability, Morquio. If you like Harry Potter references, you’ll like this.
The Death of the YouTuber - Connie’s incredible video essay about how the platform and culture has changed on YouTube. Why personality channels are dying and people are caring less and less about “YouTubers”. Very interesting stuff.
I’m the “BLIND GIRL” in every YouTuber’s video titles - you may have watched some videos with Molly Burke in them. You may be subscribed to her. In this she addresses the fact that she’s referred to as “Blind Girl” in video titles instead of her name and says it’s because we’re all playing the YouTube game. I don’t deny that she’s okay with it but I became aware of this video because of some backlash from the disabled community online.
Fat people don’t belong in magazines - my other gal pal, Leena, did a great video in response to the response to Tess Holliday being on the cover of Cosmopolitan. She asked a question I hadn’t really seen being asked which was ‘how important is Cosmo to us now?’ Like, I haven’t bought a copy of Cosmo in about 10 years. Is it really that influential?
YouTube: Manufacturing Authenticity (For Fun and Profit!) - Lindsay Ellis is incredible. She takes a look at the cake baking corner of YouTube to analyse authenticity, something that people come to the platform for. But can you be authentic if you’re the channel of a brand? What are you selling?
The Wheel of Consent - in some of the sex ed circles I run in I kept hearing about “the wheel of consent”, a concept from Betty Martin. I tried reading up about it but just got confused, it’s pretty complicated. But then I found this 40 minute video by Betty breaking it down. It’s a bit like watching a lecture but I get it now! If you have the time it’s a good model to get your head around and think how it applies to your sexual encounters.