The Create Unknown

Thanks to MAINGEAR for speeding up everything for us. Check out the VYBE line that’s making up the core of Matt’s new studio -- and use code CREATE for a free additional year of warranty on desktops: https://maingear.com/ref/656/

Join Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thecreateunknown

Today we tackle the increasingly unavoidable problem of “cringe”, and whether being afraid of looking stupid is making us less willing to be sincere. What used to describe genuine secondhand embarrassment has become a catch-all insult for anything earnest, unusual, or publicly visible. All of this leads us to ask, why does everything seem so afraid to take itself seriously?

Next we dissect the difference between traditional cringe comedy, like David Brent in The Office, and the broader culture of online ridicule, where ordinary people can be recorded, mocked, and judged by enormous audiences. Does constantly looking for embarrassing behavior make us less empathetic? And how much grace should we give people who spend their lives speaking, performing, or broadcasting when mistakes are inevitable?

The conversation turns toward creativity and the unavoidable “cringe phase” everyone goes through while learning something new. We discuss why awkward performances can still be joyful and meaningful, and whether embarrassment is simply the price of participating in the world. We also explore how the internet can simultaneously punish unusual interests and create communities for people who love the most specific things imaginable.

Finally, we consider the relationship between cringe, sincerity, and AI-generated content. As the internet becomes increasingly polished and optimized, could genuine weirdness and personal obsession become more valuable? Big thanks to our patrons, we’ll be back next week!

You love anime. You love tea. Get 10% off your order with code CREATE at The Dragon's Treasure: https://www.thedragonstreasure.com/

Buy our T-shirts: https://www.thecreateunknown.com/store/

Join our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: discord.gg/vnRnr3rCzt

Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple

Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify

Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts

CREDITS: 

Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor 

Executive Producer: Ben WebsterEditor: Spencer Vann

"Created in the Unknown" theme by Basswaite: https://linktr.ee/Basswaite  

Theme by Mega Drive → http://megadrivemusic.com  

Opening Animation: Kidmograph 

City Animation: Eric Langlay 

"The Create Unknown" is produced by Unknown Media. 

CONNECT WITH US: 

» Chat with us on DISCORD: https://discord.gg/qAQV3Jw  

» Follow us on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/createunknown  

» Follow us on INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/thecreateunknown  

» Follow us on FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/thecreateunknown  

» View our website: https://thecreateunknown.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thanks to MAINGEAR for speeding up everything for us. Check out the VYBE line that’s making up the core of Matt’s new studio -- and use code CREATE for a free additional year of warranty on desktops: https://maingear.com/ref/656/

Join Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thecreateunknown

Today we dive into the strange psychology of “hobby gooning”, the point where a normal interest becomes an all-consuming niche obsession. Matt breaks down his 1970s Western Electric telephone from an estate sale and how he used a borrowed “Barbie screwdriver” to get it off the wall. What starts as a fun story quickly becomes a broader conversation about why some people become deeply invested in things that almost nobody around them understands.

We discuss the isolation that can come with niche interests, from obscure books and anime to collecting telephones and historical firearms, and whether having a hobby that exists independently of social approval can actually make you more comfortable being your own person. Why do some people build their identities around massive franchises, while others become fascinated with things almost nobody else cares about?

From there, we try to audit our own hobbies by figuring out what actually draws us to them. Kevin breaks down his obsession with Souls-like games and the shared appeal of The Lord of the Rings, JRPGs, heroic fantasy, and stories about ordinary people overcoming impossible odds. Matthew explores his own collecting and the family history behind his fascination with telephones.

Finally, we discuss whether niche communities are more valuable than broad online discourse, and why talking to one genuinely knowledgeable person can be more rewarding than reading thousands of opinions online.

We close by looking at book-to-screen adaptations and the fundamental differences between storytelling in prose and film. What does your hobby actually say about you, and do you know why you love the things you love?

Big thanks to our patrons! We’ll be back next week.

You love anime. You love tea. Get 10% off your order with code CREATE at The Dragon's Treasure: https://www.thedragonstreasure.com/

Buy our T-shirts: https://www.thecreateunknown.com/store/

Join our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: discord.gg/vnRnr3rCzt

Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple

Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify

Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts

CREDITS: 

Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor 

Executive Producer: Ben WebsterEditor: Spencer Vann

"Created in the Unknown" theme by Basswaite: https://linktr.ee/Basswaite  

Theme by Mega Drive → http://megadrivemusic.com  

Opening Animation: Kidmograph 

City Animation: Eric Langlay 

"The Create Unknown" is produced by Unknown Media. 

CONNECT WITH US: 

» Chat with us on DISCORD: https://discord.gg/qAQV3Jw  

» Follow us on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/createunknown  

» Follow us on INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/thecreateunknown  

» Follow us on FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/thecreateunknown  

» View our website: https://thecreateunknown.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thanks to MAINGEAR for speeding up everything for us. Check out the VYBE line that’s making up the core of Matt’s new studio -- and use code CREATE for a free additional year of warranty on desktops: https://maingear.com/ref/656/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thanks to MAINGEAR for speeding up everything for us. Check out the VYBE line that’s making up the core of Matt’s new studio -- and use code CREATE for a free additional year of warranty on desktops: https://maingear.com/ref/656/

Join Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thecreateunknown

Today we tackle one of the more uncomfortable topics of the modern day: what happens when AI can do the work you built your identity around? The conversation begins with Fern’s video “The Death of Educational Content on YouTube,” exploring how AI-generated scripts, visuals, and research are making it easier to produce convincing educational videos at an unprecedented pace. But when the information is wrong, who catches it, and what happens when viewers can’t tell the difference?

Next we discuss Matt’s “Tabor Obituary Test,” a simple experiment designed to reveal what AI actually knows about a person, and how easily AI-generated content can blur the line between research and plagiarism.

From there, we examine the growing phenomenon of real human work being dismissed as “AI slop,” including a 3D artist whose work was accused of being AI-generated. Has documenting the creative process become part of the job?

The discussion expands into YouTube’s responsibility for maintaining quality, the difficulty of correcting misinformation in video, and why educational content may be particularly vulnerable to AI. What can humans still offer that AI still can’t? Is it personal experience, mistakes, perspective, and the strange little details that make something feel genuinely human?

Finally we wrestle with the bigger existential question: if AI eventually becomes capable of replicating even those uniquely human qualities, what happens to the value of creativity itself?

Big thanks to our patrons, we’ll see you next week!

You love anime. You love tea. Get 10% off your order with code CREATE at The Dragon's Treasure: https://www.thedragonstreasure.com/

Buy our T-shirts: https://www.thecreateunknown.com/store/

Join our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: discord.gg/vnRnr3rCzt

Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple

Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify

Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts

CREDITS: 

Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor 

Executive Producer: Ben WebsterEditor: Spencer Vann

"Created in the Unknown" theme by Basswaite: https://linktr.ee/Basswaite  

Theme by Mega Drive → http://megadrivemusic.com  

Opening Animation: Kidmograph 

City Animation: Eric Langlay 

"The Create Unknown" is produced by Unknown Media. 

CONNECT WITH US: 

» Chat with us on DISCORD: https://discord.gg/qAQV3Jw  

» Follow us on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/createunknown  

» Follow us on INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/thecreateunknown  

» Follow us on FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/thecreateunknown  

» View our website: https://thecreateunknown.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we dive into the decline of the Western, starting with Seven Samurai and its influence on The Magnificent Seven. We compare the 1960 original with the 2016 remake, praising the remake's casting while arguing that it leaves out some of the original's most meaningful scenes. Are modern stories losing the lessons of heroism that people like Bernardo O'Reilly's worked so hard to craft?

From there, we explore how Westerns evolved from simple good-vs.-evil morality tales into the morally ambiguous films of the Clint Eastwood era, and why Unforgiven may have marked the end of the genre's cultural dominance.

Along the way, we also discuss what classic Westerns reveal about courage, masculinity, self-defense, and changing cultural values. Could the Western's irrelevance actually make it more interesting to watch today? We close by recommending several classics, including The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Yojimbo, A Fistful of Dollars, and Once Upon a Time in the West.

We’ll be back next week, thanks to our patrons!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thanks to MAINGEAR for speeding up everything for us. Check out the VYBE line that’s making up the core of Matt’s new studio -- and use code CREATE for a free additional year of warranty on desktops: https://maingear.com/ref/656/

Join Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thecreateunknown

Today we tackle one of the more uncomfortable questions in modern entertainment: what happened to masculinity in storytelling? The conversation begins with a YouTube essay arguing that anime like Frieren: Beyond Journey's End is "rewriting" masculinity. We go on to question that premise, pointing out that traits like chivalry, courage, self-sacrifice, and respect are hardly new inventions. This leads us to ultimately ask, why can genuinely positive masculine characters feel so unusual in modern Western media?

Next we discuss Frieren and its portrayal of Himmel the Hero, contrasting its emphasis on kindness, relationships, and small human moments with the battle-focused storytelling common in anime. From there, Kevin talks about the idea of "millennial writing" and the tendency for modern stories to constantly joke about themselves, undercut serious moments, and make sure the audience knows the creators understand how ridiculous everything is.

The discussion expands into why contemporary entertainment seems so afraid of sincerity, the differences between Western and Japanese storytelling, and the unusual success of characters like Reacher.

That finally leads us to debate whether online criticism actually represents what audiences want, and whether people are increasingly hungry for stories that simply take themselves seriously.

Big thanks to our patrons, we’ll be back next week!

You love anime. You love tea. Get 10% off your order with code CREATE at The Dragon's Treasure: https://www.thedragonstreasure.com/

Buy our T-shirts: https://www.thecreateunknown.com/store/

Join our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: discord.gg/vnRnr3rCzt

Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple

Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify

Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts

CREDITS: 

Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor 

Executive Producer: Ben WebsterEditor: Spencer Vann

"Created in the Unknown" theme by Basswaite: https://linktr.ee/Basswaite  

Theme by Mega Drive → http://megadrivemusic.com  

Opening Animation: Kidmograph 

City Animation: Eric Langlay 

"The Create Unknown" is produced by Unknown Media. 

CONNECT WITH US: 

» Chat with us on DISCORD: https://discord.gg/qAQV3Jw  

» Follow us on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/createunknown  

» Follow us on INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/thecreateunknown  

» Follow us on FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/thecreateunknown  

» View our website: https://thecreateunknown.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thanks to MAINGEAR for speeding up everything for us. Check out the VYBE line that’s making up the core of Matt’s new studio -- and use code CREATE for a free additional year of warranty on desktops: https://maingear.com/ref/656/

Join Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thecreateunknown

This week Kevin goes solo for a gaming-heavy episode, revisiting his early YouTube history as Jerry Bloop before diving into three recent games and what makes them succeed or completely fall apart.

He starts with Beast of Reincarnation, the new action RPG from Pokémon developer Game Freak. Kevin explains why pre-ordering the game for $60 became a mistake, criticizing its tiny enemy roster, endlessly recycled bosses and so much more. Can you actually consider a game to have a 20 hour runtime when you’ve seen all the content by hour 10?

In contrast, Kevin also dives into Mortal Shell 2. Is it one of the best gaming sequels ever made? Kevin might think so. That begs the question, what does a sequel need to do to take a flawed original and turn it into something genuinely great?

Afterwards Kevin revisits Wuchang: Fallen Feathers and The First Berserker: Khazan, two of his favorite recent Soulslike games, before moving on to Metroid Prime 4...the good, the bad and the tedious. Why do developers keep adding mechanics to established franchises that don't actually make the experience better?

Along the way, Kevin reflects on his lifelong relationship with video games, the origins of Jerry Bloop and Vsauce, and the difference between games that are packed with meaningful systems and games that simply stretch a small amount of content into a longer experience.

Big thanks to our patrons, we’ll be back next week!

You love anime. You love tea. Get 10% off your order with code CREATE at The Dragon's Treasure: https://www.thedragonstreasure.com/

Buy our T-shirts: https://www.thecreateunknown.com/store/

Join our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: discord.gg/vnRnr3rCzt

Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple

Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify

Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts

CREDITS: 

Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor 

Executive Producer: Ben WebsterEditor: Spencer Vann

"Created in the Unknown" theme by Basswaite: https://linktr.ee/Basswaite  

Theme by Mega Drive → http://megadrivemusic.com  

Opening Animation: Kidmograph 

City Animation: Eric Langlay 

"The Create Unknown" is produced by Unknown Media. 

CONNECT WITH US: 

» Chat with us on DISCORD: https://discord.gg/qAQV3Jw  

» Follow us on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/createunknown  

» Follow us on INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/thecreateunknown  

» Follow us on FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/thecreateunknown  

» View our website: https://thecreateunknown.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thanks to MAINGEAR for speeding up everything for us. Check out the VYBE line that’s making up the core of Matt’s new studio -- and use code CREATE for a free additional year of warranty on desktops: https://maingear.com/ref/656/

Join Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thecreateunknown

This week we dive into the difference between having a great idea and actually knowing how to execute it. Kevin talks about his decision to step away from directly writing Sleep Warrior and instead use short stories to practice the craft of writing itself. Can separating yourself from something you care about be the hidden key to actually get better at it?

That leads into a broader discussion about AI, creativity, and why execution still matters when anyone can generate an idea in seconds. We also break down Project Hail Mary and why its relentless escalation makes it such an effective story, comparing its structure to The Godfather and the classic Lester Dent formula.

Along the way, we talk about the importance of mundane details, character development, Brandon Sanderson, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and the surprising value of writing about characters who barely exist in a story.

Big thanks to our patrons, we'll see you next time!

You love anime. You love tea. Get 10% off your order with code CREATE at The Dragon's Treasure: https://www.thedragonstreasure.com/

Buy our T-shirts: https://www.thecreateunknown.com/store/

Join our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: discord.gg/vnRnr3rCzt

Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple

Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify

Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts

CREDITS: 

Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor 

Executive Producer: Ben WebsterEditor: Spencer Vann

"Created in the Unknown" theme by Basswaite: https://linktr.ee/Basswaite  

Theme by Mega Drive → http://megadrivemusic.com  

Opening Animation: Kidmograph 

City Animation: Eric Langlay 

"The Create Unknown" is produced by Unknown Media. 

CONNECT WITH US: 

» Chat with us on DISCORD: https://discord.gg/qAQV3Jw  

» Follow us on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/createunknown  

» Follow us on INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/thecreateunknown  

» Follow us on FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/thecreateunknown  

» View our website: https://thecreateunknown.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thanks to MAINGEAR for speeding up everything for us. Check out the VYBE line that’s making up the core of Matt’s new studio -- and use code CREATE for a free additional year of warranty on desktops: https://maingear.com/ref/656/

Join Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thecreateunknown

This week we kick things off by correcting a mistake from last week's episode. We talk about why getting the facts right matters, even when nobody notices. That leads us into a surprising discussion about people watching movies at 1.5x or even 2x speed. Can art survive if we consume it as quickly as possible? Or are we sacrificing the very thing that makes it meaningful?

From there, we revisit the new Masters of the Universe film, discussing its incredible visuals, frustrating reliance on constant quips, and why so many modern movies seem afraid to take themselves seriously.

The conversation then shifts to The Godfather and, in turn, to a much bigger question: why do classic stories about families resonate so deeply? We explore how films built around parents, siblings, and generational conflict create emotional stakes that surrogate families often can't match, and whether changing family structures and modern social life have fundamentally altered the kinds of stories audiences connect with today.

Along the way, we discuss everything from speeding through books and music to the decline of civic life, the rise of chosen families in entertainment, and a handful of modern films that still manage to capture what makes great storytelling timeless.

Big thanks to our patrons, we'll see you next week!

You love anime. You love tea. Get 10% off your order with code CREATE at The Dragon's Treasure: https://www.thedragonstreasure.com/

Buy our T-shirts: https://www.thecreateunknown.com/store/

Join our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: discord.gg/vnRnr3rCzt

Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple

Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify

Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts

CREDITS:

Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor

Executive Producer: Ben Webster

Editor: Spencer Vann

"Created in the Unknown" theme by Basswaite: https://linktr.ee/Basswaite

Theme by Mega Drive → http://megadrivemusic.com

Opening Animation: Kidmograph

City Animation: Eric Langlay

"The Create Unknown" is produced by Unknown Media.

CONNECT WITH US:

» Chat with us on DISCORD: https://discord.gg/qAQV3Jw

» Follow us on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/createunknown

» Follow us on INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/thecreateunknown

» Follow us on FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/thecreateunknown

» View our website: https://thecreateunknown.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thanks to MAINGEAR for speeding up everything for us. Check out the VYBE line that’s making up the core of Matt’s new studio -- and use code CREATE for a free additional year of warranty on desktops: https://maingear.com/ref/656/

Join Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thecreateunknown

This week we tackle a question that feels impossible to ignore: why does the internet seem to hate everything? Is online negativity just more visible than ever, or have our expectations fundamentally changed?

We explore how sports fandom has become more hostile in the age of fantasy leagues and social media, why algorithms may be training us to expect perfectly curated experiences, and what happens when real life inevitably falls short. Are we becoming less tolerant of disappointment...or just louder about it?

Along the way, we discuss the Boston Red Sox's dramatic season, the surprisingly low rate of positive engagement online, and why criticism often comes so much easier than praise. We also examine whether it's become "uncool" to genuinely enjoy things, and what that means for creators trying to make work people love.

Big thanks to our patrons, we'll see you next week!

You love anime. You love tea. Get 10% off your order with code CREATE at The Dragon's Treasure: https://www.thedragonstreasure.com/

Buy our T-shirts: https://www.thecreateunknown.com/store/

Join our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: discord.gg/vnRnr3rCzt

Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple

Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify

Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts

CREDITS:

Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor

Executive Producer: Ben Webster

Editor: Spencer Vann

"Created in the Unknown" theme by Basswaite: https://linktr.ee/Basswaite

Theme by Mega Drive → http://megadrivemusic.com

Opening Animation: Kidmograph

City Animation: Eric Langlay

"The Create Unknown" is produced by Unknown Media.

CONNECT WITH US:

» Chat with us on DISCORD: https://discord.gg/qAQV3Jw

» Follow us on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/createunknown

» Follow us on INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/thecreateunknown

» Follow us on FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/thecreateunknown

» View our website: https://thecreateunknown.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices