Remember when YouTube was just cat videos and viral memes? We do. This week, I’m joined by Kim Escobar to look back at YouTube’s wild rise, from its scrappy beginnings to the internet giant it is today. We share our first YouTube memories, talk about how it shaped our generation, and wonder what the platform’s future might hold.

Timestamps

0:00 - Intro

0:55 - The Wayback Machine, Dial-Up

2:32 - YouTube’s Origin as a Dating Site, 2004 Super Bowl Incident 

5:53 - Shift to Focus on a Video Sharing Platform, The Impact it Had on the Internet 

9:06 - First YouTube Video 

10:39 - Google Buys YouTube, iPhone app

13:38 - Vintage Channels, Smosh, Pewdiepie

14:53 - Shoes, Chocolate Rain

15:38 - LonelyGirl15

17:20 - Geriatric1927

18:58 - Viral Videos, Charlie Bit My Finger, Evolution of Dance

20:00 - Fred, Annoying Orange

21:35 - Michelle Phan

22:54 - How YouTube Content Has Changed 

23:47 - Ryan Higa

24:14 - How Our YouTube Tastes Have Changed 

27:10 - Nic Cage Superman Tangent, Matt Damon

29:21 - Actors Trying to Become YouTubers

30:46 - TikTok Hospital Show, Awesomeness TV

33:14 - Shane Dawson, The Chair

37:51 - Vlogging, 8 Passengers, Smosh

40:08 - Adpocalypse

42:18 - Social Experiment/Pranks, YouTuber Breakups 

44:56 - YouTube Prank Gone Wrong, Hawk Tuah

47:11 - Opinions on the Future of YouTube 

48:46 - Outro