Being a YouTuber: One Creator's Bumpy Road to 1M Subscribers

The Not Old Better Show, Interview Series

Today on The Not Old – Better Show, Art of Living series, we're joined by someone who didn't just teach English to the world—she streamed it, posted it, subtitled it, and somehow made grammar go viral.

Jennifer Lebedev—known to millions as JenniferESL—has spent over 15 years turning dry textbook rules into relatable, real-life lessons on YouTube. But this isn't a story about going viral overnight. This is the real story: about showing up, hitting "record" even when no one's watching, and finding purpose through persistence.

Jennifer didn't set out to be a YouTuber. In fact, she started making videos when YouTube still felt like a quirky side project, not a career path. And yet, somewhere between irregular verbs and idioms, she connected with millions—young learners, adult professionals, retirees brushing up before a long-awaited trip abroad. Maybe even you.

In this episode, Jennifer opens up about the early flops, the unexpected fan mail, the long road to 1 million subscribers, and why age has nothing to do with creativity online. She shares what she's learned—and unlearned—about teaching, patience, and what it means to be truly seen by a digital audience.

Plus, that familiar music you hear under me? That's Just for a While — Magnus Ringblom Quarten—timeless, inventive, and quietly rebellious. Just like our guest.

So stay tuned—this one's for the creators, the late bloomers, and anyone wondering, "Could I really do that, too?"