Plus, research into new, potentially open-source editing software like Blender, progress on the print-on-demand shop (designs are up, sample order pending), plans for a dinner party tonight, and the strategy for contacting Meta about the ongoing Facebook account issue.

Export Success, Software Hunts & Shop Prep

Good morning! Day 23 has been bustling, largely dedicated to finally wrangling the latest Drag Race report video into submission.

The Great Export Saga - Victory (Sort Of!)

You might remember the struggles with exporting the 4K footage – my poor, aging computer and iMovie just weren't cooperating. I actually deleted the initial video I uploaded because it only rendered in SD quality, and I was determined to get something better. After many attempts, taking breaks to let the computer cool down, I managed to export a raw, uncoloured file. The breakthrough came when I imported this raw file into the Mac Photos app. While iMovie lagged terribly trying to apply colour correction, the Photos app handled the tweaks (like vibrancy) smoothly. And interestingly, Photos offered a 4K export option! While the final exported file still turned out to be HD, not true 4K, it's a definite improvement on the original SD version. So, the report video is now officially published, complete with a thumbnail I'm happy with!

Searching for New Tools

This whole export drama has spurred me to research alternative video editing software. I looked into some open-source options, similar to OBS which I use for streaming. One name that kept popping up across different lists was Blender, known for 3D and animation but apparently capable in video editing too. I've saved some links to investigate further tomorrow.

Shop Progress & Social Plans

In other news, I've made progress on the print-on-demand shop. Using Printify, the designs are uploaded, and the products are technically set up and linked to my (currently dormant) Etsy store. However, I've hidden everything for now because the crucial next step is ordering samples to check the print quality myself. I plan to order those tomorrow.

Tonight, I'm looking forward to a dinner party hosted by a couple I haven't seen in ages. It's always nice meeting new people at these gatherings. I'll need to make sure the dog is sorted before I head out, as I expect to be back late.

Other Bits & Pieces

The Facebook account issue is still on my mind. I've drafted a letter to Meta detailing the hack and plan to post it publicly on their X (Twitter) account, along with screenshots, as other contact methods seem impossible. I also need to be more meticulous when copying/pasting video descriptions across platforms to avoid errors like wrong episode numbers.

Despite waking up late (10 am!) and feeling sluggish due to the gloomy weather, getting the video published feels like a good accomplishment.

Time to get ready for dinner!

Talk tomorrow.

L

Hear about a deep and meaningful conversation with a friend about societal norms, self-comparison, judgment, and the journey to self-acceptance through mindfulness. lus, celebrate hitting the 100 subscriber milestone on the "Loic and the KwingZ" YouTube channel and the surprising instant views on the thank-you video.

Edits Done, "The Norm" Debunked & 100 Subscribers!

Hello!

It's been a productive, albeit long, day. I spent the morning and early afternoon finishing the editing for the Drag Race Episode 14 report video. It's a relief to have that main part done! However, the technical fun wasn't over. I immediately jumped into creating the thumbnail and wrestling with exporting the video. My editing software is still stubbornly refusing to export my 4K recordings in actual 4K quality, offering lower resolutions instead, which is incredibly frustrating. I spent some time exporting different versions and trying to tweak the quality in the Photos app, but it's not ideal.

Meeting a Friend & Meaningful Conversations

I had to pause the thumbnail work to meet a friend late afternoon. He was going through a tough time, feeling anxious and getting caught up comparing himself to "the norm". This led to a really deep conversation about rejecting societal pressures and expectations. I shared my view that there shouldn't be rigid rules about what belongs to boys or girls, or how people "should" behave. We talked about how harmful comparing yourself to others and being judgmental (both of yourself and others) can be, using an example of him judging a bartender's goth style.

I opened up about my own past struggles with depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and insecurity, emphasizing how meditation was key for me to understand my triggers, stop being angry, and let go of judgment. We also discussed taking responsibility for our actions rather than blaming external factors like alcohol, and the importance of focusing on things we can actually change instead of worrying pointlessly about things we can't. It was a heavy but important chat, and I really hope it helped him.

YouTube Milestone!

On a much lighter note, huge news for the "Loic and the KwingZ" YouTube channel! Yesterday I was at 94 subscribers, woke up this morning to 100, and now I'm at 102! The viewership in the last 48 hours also jumped significantly, hitting 11,000 this morning and reaching 14,000-15,000 by the evening, likely thanks to the Shorts I've been posting.

To celebrate the 100-subscriber milestone, I quickly recorded and posted a thank-you Short. The response was wild – literally seconds after hitting publish, it already had 196 views! Later check showed 321 views. While the initial view count was amazing, I noticed the average percentage viewed was a bit lower than usual, so I need to keep an eye on retention. Still, watching the real-time analytics is fascinating, and overall, the channel trends are all positive!

Other Bits

I also spent a bit more time thinking about the print-on-demand store, working on designs. The technology seems simpler now, so hopefully, I can get that launched soon.

Okay, after getting home from drinks and editing yesterday's podcast audio, I'm truly ready for bed.

What a night!

Chat tomorrow.

L

Plus, updates on the ongoing computer performance struggles, hitting 94 YouTube subscribers on "Loïc and the KwingZ", and more thoughts on how useful AI tools are for content creators.

Editing Marathons, Tech Woes & AI Appreciation

Good morning, and welcome to Day 21! I started today's recording during my morning dog walk, enjoying the beautiful sunny weather, although it's still chilly enough for a jacket. The longer daylight hours from the recent clock change are definitely welcome – I completely forgot it happened until I started thinking about the light!

Podcast Schedule Update Clarification

First off, a quick correction. I know I said the podcast format would change from Day 21, but I got my dates mixed up. The plan to switch to weekly summary episodes released publicly on Fridays (with daily recordings potentially becoming subscriber content) will now officially begin next Monday. I'll need to update the thumbnails accordingly. Apologies for the confusion!

The Editing Grind

Most of yesterday and today have been consumed by editing the Drag Race Episode 14 report video. I recorded my commentary yesterday using the new webcam, and I'm really pleased with the quality and the freedom it gives me compared to using my phone.

The editing process itself is meticulous. I work section by section (workroom, maxi challenge, runway, etc.), editing my commentary first and then carefully syncing it with the corresponding clips from the show that I prepared beforehand. It's time-consuming – I spent about four hours yesterday evening editing just five minutes of the final video! I've finished the job interview section and need to move on to the runway. After that, I still need to tackle the thumbnails, which, despite having the photos edited and ready, always takes longer than expected in Canva.

Tech Troubles Persist

My poor old Mac (a 2016 model) is definitely showing its age and struggling with the demands of video editing. The fan noise is intense, and I had to stop editing the runway section last night because the computer seemed overwhelmed. There are also compatibility issues between the old operating system and newer apps, like iMovie on my phone and computer no longer talking to each other, and problems with iCloud syncing. It all just slows the process down.

YouTube & AI Wins

On the YouTube front for "Loïc and the KwingZ," subscriber numbers continue to climb – we're at 94 now! The overall views in the last 48 hours are hovering around 5,600, constantly fluctuating, which is fascinating to watch in the real-time analytics. I've been experimenting slightly with video titles to see if it impacts performance.

I also have to give another shout-out to AI tools. They are incredibly helpful for quickly scanning my past transcripts to check if I mentioned something specific, saving me hours of re-listening or manual searching. I even asked Gemini to help draft a structure for my company based on my ramblings! When used appropriately, AI can be a massive help for workflow.

Right, I'm feeling pretty drained and my brain needs sleep. Time to sign off for Day 21. I'll be back tomorrow!

Sunshine, Strategy, and Report Prep

Good morning and welcome to Day 20!

I'm bringing you this update while out walking the dog on a gorgeous, sunny Monday morning. Yesterday was a pretty good day, and I'm feeling positive heading into the week.

YouTube & Workflow Check-in

Quick YouTube update: the main Drag Race reaction video went live last night and has already picked up about 10 views. We're holding steady at 90 subscribers on my "Loïc and the KwingZ" Youtube channel, which is encouraging considering there's been zero promotion so far! I'm confident that once I start putting some more promotion behind it, the channel will grow even faster.

My main focus today, and likely into the evening, is preparing for my “Reports” video of Episode 14. This is quite a process, and I want to do it properly.

Here's the plan for today:

* Clip Preparation: Last night, I went through the full episode recording and started to cut out the specific segments I need – the maxi challenge, the runway, etc. This avoids having the huge, full-episode file lagging in the editing software.

For tomorrow:

* Voice and Video Recording: This will be recorded with the new 4K webcam.

* Editing & Syncing: After, I will then edit my “Ruports” video and sync it with clips I prepared today

* Polishing: Finally, I'll add the intro, music, any necessary visuals or effects to make it look polished and professional.

It's a time-consuming task, but I enjoy the process and want to deliver something good.

Evening Wrap-up

Just popping back in quickly before bed. I had my shower and spent some time doing that video clip preparation I mentioned earlier. Having just the essential clips loaded into the editor rather than the whole hour-plus episode file should make tomorrow's voice/video recordings and editing session much smoother. Feeling ready and looking forward to getting that recording done!

Right, that's it for Day 20.

Time to rest up.

Chat tomorrow!

L

Along with the frustrations with video editing software refusing to export in high quality, and dealing with physical tension using a Theragun. Plus, hear thoughts on the latest Drag Race elimination, why the queen was perhaps "too niche", and who's being rooted for in the finale.

Aim for 100 Subs, Software Woes, and Drag Race Finals!

Hello there! It’s almost 6 PM, and the entire day has been dedicated to working on videos for the "Loïc and the KwingZ" YouTube channel. The first reaction video for Drag Race Episode 14 is already out, and I've finished editing and uploading the runway ranking video – now it just needs those crucial thumbnails before publishing.

Thumbnail Trials and Tribulations

And oh, the thumbnails! I've been deep in Canva, trying to craft something eye-catching and perfect. It's such a process – finding the right images, colours, and layout without making it too cluttered. Thumbnails are what draw people in, so they have to be appealing. I was so focused, I think I might have even forgotten to put myself in the runway reaction thumbnail, which I usually do when I appear in the video! Below is the result I have been working on.

Software Frustrations

Beyond thumbnails, I've hit some technical snags. My video editing software seems determined not to export videos in the high quality I want. Even though the source files are 4K, it defaults to SD, and the option for HD or 4K export just isn't working properly. It's incredibly frustrating when you know the capability should be there, but the software (or maybe my older hardware) isn't cooperating. Exporting also takes forever, which really slows down the workflow. On top of that, CapCut, which I used previously, now slaps a huge watermark on exports unless you pay. It feels like technology is conspiring against me sometimes!

YouTube Milestone and Future Content

On a brighter note, the "Loic and the KwingZ" channel officially crossed the 80 subscriber mark – we're at 86 now! Thank you so much to everyone who has subscribed! It's really motivating, especially seeing comments asking for the runway thoughts and reports. We're chipping away at that 500-subscriber goal for the first level of monetisation.

With the current Drag Race season ending soon, I'm already thinking about what's next for the channel to keep the momentum going. One idea is to cover "Drag Race France" or any other Drag Race show.

Feeling the Strain

Physically, I'm feeling quite stiff and dealing with tension in the back of my neck, likely from looking down at my phone so much. I've been using the Theragun before bed, which helps a bit, but I feel like I need a good chiropractor visit! I've also had a runny nose kicking in during the evenings, which is odd and reminds me of times I used to inexplicably feel unwell after 6 pm.

Drag Race Finale Thoughts

Before I forget, the latest Drag Race episode! It was the last one before the finale, and sadly, one queen went home. While she performed well throughout the season, I wasn't surprised. I think she was just too niche, very stuck in a specific 70s/80s aesthetic with references many wouldn't get (like Betty Boop), and her makeup barely changed all season. For the win? I'm rooting for Onya Nurve . She's talented, her recent African-inspired "opulent outerwear" was stunning, and she just seems so humble and kind. Jewels Sparkles is also wonderful, just radiating joy. It'll be interesting to see who takes the crown in two weeks.

Okay, that's the update! I've also been doing some housekeeping on the website descriptions, using AI to help polish things up.

Now, time for some food.

Talk soon!

L

A new 4K webcam to use it for my video recordings. I used it to record my reaction video of Episode 14 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and my shocking discovery of the massive file sizes that 4K videos creates (45GB for half an hour! ). Plus, updates on structuring the brand and the ongoing process of editing the latest reaction content.

Friends, 4K Files, and Future Plans

Hello Everyone!

This recording is coming to you much later than usual today, all thanks to a pleasant disruption. After waking up and getting some housekeeping done, I got a text from a friend nearby who popped over for a lovely catch-up. It's always great to connect, though it did push my recording schedule back quite a bit! (More on that visit for paid subscribers later ). I was so tired afterwards that I collapsed on the bed for a much-needed nap, something I haven't done during the day for ages.

Tech Upgrades & Challenges

Big news on the equipment front: I bought a new 4K webcam! The main reason was to free up my phone during recordings, as I couldn't use it for messages or anything else while filming. It was supposed to arrive late tonight but surprised me by showing up at 7 pm. I spent some time setting it up – the quality looks fantastic, but the little tripod it came with is incredibly flimsy.

I immediately put the webcam to use recording my reaction to the latest Drag Race episode (Episode 14, "Hows Your Headliner"), which I was really looking forward to, especially seeing Latrice Royale on the thumbnail. I initially planned to do a live broadcast reaction tonight, but since it's Saturday, I figured more people would be out. So, I've decided to schedule the live stream for tomorrow (Sunday) to give people a heads-up and hopefully build some anticipation.

However, the 4K quality comes at a cost – storage space! I recorded the first half-hour segment and was shocked to see the file size: 45 Gigabytes! My computer can handle editing it, but the editing software also creates backup files and metadata, potentially doubling that size. Uploading an hour-long video (the full reaction is about 1hr 9mins ) at that size will be a challenge; I'll likely have to export it at a reduced quality. It's a learning curve, but the jump in quality from my previous SD reaction videos is definitely worth exploring.

YouTube & Workflow

On the YouTube front, some of the Shorts I thought weren't doing well have surprisingly crossed the 5,000-view mark! The runway review video has over 30 views, which feels like a solid start for building an audience. It reinforces the need for catchy thumbnails and great content to keep people clicking and watching.

My workflow for the reaction video involves editing the runway review section first to release separately. I'm currently exporting that in SD quality just to run it through YouTube's copyright check before uploading the final version. While that processes, I'll be working on thumbnails. The episode itself was fantastic, by the way – pure opulence on the runway!

Other Updates

I've also started mapping out the company structure I mentioned previously, putting ideas down in writing to get a clearer vision for Deviliciously Me and its different branches like Loic and the Queens. It feels good to be organizing things. And don't worry, Episode 17's audio is uploaded.

Okay, time to dive back into editing.

Chat soon!

L

Spring Vibes, Subscriber Milestones, and AI Experiments

Good morning! What a stunning day it is – the sun is shining, it feels warm (14 degrees!), and the birds are singing. Waking up to this is just lovely, although admittedly, I'm still feeling the need for more sleep. I actually woke up early, had some tea, and promptly went back to bed for a bit longer! Nature calls, but sometimes so does the duvet.

YouTube Update: Nearing 100!

Some exciting news on the YouTube front: the "Loic and the Queens" channel has reached 90 subscribers! It's fantastic to see the community growing steadily. We're getting closer to that first monetization threshold of 500 subscribers. The RuPaul outfit Short that exploded seems to have plateaued around 17,000 views, as expected, but the overall channel views continue to climb, which is the main goal. It seems the YouTube algorithm gives Shorts a boost when new content is uploaded, so the key is consistency.

Podcast Schedule Change Confirmed!

Yesterday, I talked about potentially changing the podcast release schedule. Well, I've thought it over, and I'm confirming the plan: Starting April 21st, the podcast release format will change.

Here's how it will work:

* I will continue to record daily thoughts and updates.

* These daily, raw recordings might become available exclusively for subscribers (I'm still finalising the details about free vs. paid tiers for this).

* Every Friday, a free weekly briefing episode will be released publicly. This episode will compile the key moments and topics from the daily recordings of that week.

The idea is to provide a more substantial weekly listen for everyone, avoid flooding subscriber inboxes with daily notifications, and potentially offer the more immediate daily check-ins as a subscriber perk.

Streamlining with AI

In line with managing workload, I've started experimenting with using AI tools, specifically ChatGPT, and Gemini, to help process these podcast transcripts. The goal is to quickly generate summaries, highlight key points, and draft the descriptions (like the one you're reading about!) and website articles. It's a learning process – figuring out the best prompts to give the AI to get the most useful and accurate output. It definitely speeds things up compared to manually re-listening and typing everything out!

For today, though, my brain is signalling it needs rest more than productivity. So, after getting Episode 16 ready and sorting these notes, I'm planning to take it easy.

Remember the date: April 21st marks the switch to the weekly podcast briefing format!

Until then, enjoy the daily episodes.

Talk soon!

There's a detailed breakdown of YouTube monetization requirements (the 500 subscriber/3k watch hour vs. 1k subscriber/4k watch hour levels) and exciting updates on the "Loic and the Queens" channel's rapid subscriber growth

Also discussed: ideas for adding visuals to the podcast, reflections on podcast download numbers, plans for future promotion, a potential new weekly podcast release strategy, and thoughts on structuring the different creative projects under the "Deviliciously Me" umbrella.

In Day Sixteen,

YouTube Numbers, RuPaul's Wig, and Future Plans

After a quick, windy attempt to record outside didn't quite pan out, I settled back inside to chat about some exciting developments and ongoing thoughts.

YouTube Numbers are Numbering!

Remember the YouTube Short about RuPaul's gold, Wonder Woman-esque outfit? Well, I woke up this morning to find it had hit 17,000 views! It's incredible! While I'm thrilled, I'm also realistic – that initial huge spike might be the "honeymoon period," and numbers might level off. YouTube analytics can be tricky like that; sometimes videos take days to gain traction before suddenly spiking.

What is steadily climbing is the subscriber count on the "Loic and the KwingZ" channel. Yesterday I mentioned hitting 65, and this morning it was 75. Checking again just now, it's already at 77! It's happening so quickly, which is amazing. The goal now is to keep creating content that keeps people entertained and coming back for more.

This dive into numbers led me to re-examine the YouTube monetization requirements. There are two main levels:

* First Threshold: 500 subscribers and 3,000 public watch hours in the past year. Reaching this unlocks features like channel memberships, 'Supers' (like tips), and connecting an online shop.

* Full Monetization: 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 public watch hours in the past year. This level allows ads to be shown on your videos. It's important to remember that the watch hours reset each calendar year.

While the "Loic and the Queens" channel seems on a good track, the podcast view numbers on YouTube are more modest, totalling 230 views across all episodes so far. Interestingly, YouTube seems to automatically convert the podcast audio (uploaded via RSS) into a video format now. I also discovered the 'end screen' feature, which could be useful for promoting other content.

Podcast Strategy & Brand Structure

Speaking of the podcast, the website dashboard shows 128 downloads so far. All these numbers, both YouTube views and podcast downloads, are currently organic – achieved without any specific promotion on platforms like Instagram or Facebook. My plan is to build up a bit more content, perhaps reaching Episode 20, before starting active promotion.

I've also been brainstorming a different release strategy. Instead of releasing a short episode every day (and potentially overwhelming subscriber inboxes with daily emails ), maybe I should record daily as usual, but then compile the week's recordings into one longer episode released every Friday. This could offer a more substantial listen and allow the daily snippets to potentially become exclusive content for paid subscribers down the line. It's just an idea for now, "food for thought".

Finally, I've been thinking about structuring my different projects. "Deviliciously Me" is the main hub, the 'mother company'. Underneath that sit "Loic and the KwingZ" and "The Captured Frames" (my photo, video, and design work). I need to define this structure more clearly, perhaps creating a plan to ensure each branch has a distinct focus.

That's it for now!

Lots of progress and lots to think about.

I'll be back soon!

L

Editing, Accidents, and Entertainment

Good morning!

It's a beautiful sunny day here, perfect for tackling the main task: editing the video recap for Episode 13. The 4K files transferred overnight, so everything's ready to go. First things first, though – breakfast for me, and then for the dog, who firmly believes every walk must immediately be followed by food. It's become quite the ingrained habit for him!

Speaking of food, I had a bit of a painful incident last night while eating steak – I bit my tongue, and quite fiercely at that. It bled a lot, and now I'm super cautious about chewing, which is tricky when you're hungry! It reminds me of when I somehow bit my lip in the same spot three times a few weeks back. Eating seems to be a hazardous activity sometimes.

It's a fun murder mystery set in the residential part of the White House – think "Murder on the Orient Express" but with White House staff.

While I chip away at the video editing, I've been getting sucked into a new Netflix show called "The Residence". It's a fun murder mystery set in the residential part of the White House – think "Murder on the Orient Express" but with White House staff. Uzo Aduba plays the quirky detective, and her performance is fantastic; it's great seeing her in such a different role. I'm already on episode 7 out of 8 and highly recommend it if you're looking for something engaging.

Of course, multitasking means the editing might be going a little slower than planned, and I'm feeling a bit behind schedule. I'm also feeling the effects of not quite enough sleep lately, going to bed late and getting up early. But I'm determined to get the video finished and hopefully posted tomorrow.

On the tech front, I'm still dealing with my red headphones randomly connecting and disconnecting, which occasionally interrupts recordings. The microphone quality isn't great for calls either, often cutting out words, so I usually have to disconnect them to talk properly. I love the colour, but I might have to switch if Apple ever releases AirPods in red!

During our walk earlier, I encountered one of my favourite smells – freshly cut grass. It’s apparently one of the most universally liked scents, and walking past it felt heavenly. The walk also involved the usual vigilance trying to stop the dog from eating random, potentially stomach-upsetting things off the pavement. Why must they do that?!.

In other news, Episode 14 recording is done and uploaded, and the "Runway video" on the Loic and the KwingZ channel hit 500 views, which is exciting!

Okay, time to focus back on editing and maybe grab some dinner (carefully!).

Speak soon!