Creative Culture

John Malecki is a woodworker and epoxier who started his YouTube channel in January, 2016 and had a big breakthrough just two years later when he posted a pair of live edge epoxy table videos within 5 days of each other. The second of these, Live Edge River Table Woodworking How To is still his most viewed video with 5.1 million views.

Ever since then, the channel is about going big! Big epoxy, big slabs, and most recently a huge workshop. Before getting into YouTube, John was a football player who actually got to play a game in the NFL.

But I think viewers are mostly hooked on John's show because of his hijinks and fast paced presentation. You never know what to expect when watching a John Malecki video.

Check out John's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JohnMaleckiBuilds

On March 24 2017, Katelyn and Evan posted their first video to a YouTube channel that they decided to call Evan and Katelyn. In the first 20 seconds of their first video, they established their high energy lifestyle format and instantly became the cutest, giggliest DIY couple on the platform.

Evan and Katelyn's channel features a wide variety of fun, silly and useful DIY projects... everything from woodworking to metalworking, candle making, props, costumes, electronics, even cooking, and my personal favorites: their cat projects for Joobie, their cat and supurrvisor.

In addition to all the lifestyle content they create for their main channel, they have a litany of 5 smaller channels and they livestream on Twitch.

Visit Evan & Katelyn on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/EvanAndKatelyn

Rex Krueger a YouTuber, an author, a historian, and a woodworker. Although, we're going to discover that there is no such thing as a woodworker. He builds mostly traditional furniture in a mostly traditional manner using mostly traditional tools. He's a leading advocate for ditching power tools and returning to a simpler time of human powered construction.

Rex has made videos showing how to make workbenches, how to use and make traditional hand tools as well as restore them. He has a few furniture projects and some of my absolute favorite videos on YouTube, Furniture Forensics, where he examines an old piece of furniture to reveal telltale signs of how it was built, and why.

If you're interested in the history of woodworking and how that can help you to better understand your own woodworking, Rex Krueger is an amazing resource . No tablesaw necessary.

Visit Rex Krueger on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RexKrueger

Jon Peters started posting woodworking videos in March of 2010 with three videos showing how he made a dining table, immediately establishing the type and quality of furniture we could look forward to on his channel, Longview Woodworking.

Fast forward eleven years, and Jon is still regularly cranking out an eclectic mix of woodworking, art, tool reviews, shop projects, building construction, home renovation, farming, even beekeeping. All out of his stunningly beautiful barn workshop.

No matter what the project or what the video, Jon always delivers his videos with a calm demeanor and a straightforward approach. He's like the neighbor with all the cool stuff and a cool shop who you just want to hang out with.

Jon Peters, Longview Woodworking on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JonPetersArtHome

Vikkie Lee is a builder, a DIYer, a home remodeler, a woodworker, a carpenter, a food blogger, and author. She started her YouTube channel, The Carpenter's Daughter on February 19, 2015 and since then has posted 250 videos showing how to build all kinds of stuff, including various structures from doghouses to full sized sheds and storage units.

We talked about her YouTube career, her willingness to tackle any project, and I learned about her 57 foot narrowboat.

Visit The Carpenter's Daughter - Vikkie Lee on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu46Dpf61TAL0zVMLsJ_K1g/featured

This week I chatted with Bob Clagget, a former software engineer who started his YouTube channel back in May of 2013 and was able to ditch his day job just two years later.

I Like to Make Stuff is a variety DIY channel featuring woodworking, metalworking, leatherwork, home improvement, programming, electronics, prop making, 3D printing, a little bit of auto mechanics lately, and a large dose of Star Wars and Legos.

Check out I Like to Make Stuff on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Iliketomakestuff

I can't think of anyone who seems to have more fun with DIY projects than Danie Berger, AKA DIY Danie. Her YouTube channel is a blend of art, woodworking, renovating and home remodeling, all delivered with high-energy and enthusiasm.

All of Danie's projects offer practical DIY tips and advice, as well as ideas and inspiration that everyone can bring to their own homes. And it's more than that, every video tells a story.

Danie posted her first video to YouTube...DIY Farmhouse Dining Space Makeover for Under $200... on May 11, 2019, immediately establishing her style. Since then, in just 2 and a half years, she has racked up almost 15 million views and accumulated 221,000 subscribers.

Watch and subscribe to DIY Danie on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DIYDanie

Fix This, Build That, is a YouTube channel created by Brad Rodriguez in 2016. His channel features woodworking and shop projects as well as DIY, home improvement and remodeling projects. His furniture projects are both practical and beautiful featuring hardwoods, epoxy...and secret hidden things!

Visit Fix This, Build That on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Fixthisbuildthat

Just having a little fun this week with Ethan James of The Honest Carpenter channel. When he was on episode 4, I discovered that he's as big a fan of horror movies as I am, so I HAD to invite him back to talk spooky and scary movies, just in time for Halloween.

Don't worry, if horror movies aren't your thing, don't worry...I'll be back with regular woodworker and maker interviews next week!

Be sure to check out The Honest Carpenter channel on YouTube. It's one of my favorites. https://www.youtube.com/c/TheHonestCarpenter

Jaime Nakae and Jay Grenier are the couple behind Wicked Makers, a DIY YouTube channel largely devoted to making spooky props and decorations for Halloween.

And although all these projects are super professional looking, they are all very approachable for almost any DIYer. This, along with their on-camera chemistry explain why their videos get so many views.

Check out Wicked Makers on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/WickedMakers