The Create Unknown

Unknown Media & Studio71•www.studio71.com

The Create Unknown interviews the most successful online creators to reveal how they got started and how they keep going. iDubbbz. Vsauce. Casey Neistat. iJustine. PsychicPebbles. We talk to the YouTubers, artists, and streamers who exemplify our mantra of “Make Something. Mean Something.” Part high-level analysis, part hopelessly stupid, Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor from Vsauce2 dissect the complex business, the unpredictable drama, and the uncertain future of creating online. We’ll see you in The Create Unknown, Space Cowboys. For advertising opportunities please email [email protected] We wanna make the podcast even better, help us learn how we can: https://bit.ly/2EcYbu4 Privacy Policy: https://www.studio71.com/us/terms-and-conditions-use/#Privacy%20Policy

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Episodes

The Collapse of Thinking

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 dig into the viral controversy around a UCLA graduate who proudly used ChatGPT for all his final projects, and made sure the whole stadium on graduation day knew it. Is this just a funny moment, or...

Jun 27, 2025•1 hr 37 min

Should Artists Get Paid?

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 retroactively celebrate the 250th episode of the Create Unknown…better late than never. Then we drive right into something even more exciting: the latest drama surrounding a friend of the podcast, Dean ...

Jun 13, 2025•1 hr 9 min

Are We Going Backwards?

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 We kick today’s episode off with a fun thought experiment: what would Kevin do if money weren’t a limiting factor? Spoiler: It’s not a life supply of hotdogs. That takes us into a discussion about one of the mos...

Jun 06, 2025•1 hr 52 min

You’re On Your Own

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 We kick things off this week with…a bag of dog poop. No, really. Matt shares his bizarre sidewalk encounter that leads to a surprisingly deep conversation about responsibility, both social and personal. Kevin br...

Jun 04, 2025•1 hr 25 min

Is Your Phone More Interesting Than You?

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 We kick things off this week with a recap of TaborCon—a real-life Vegas meetup that somehow included karaoke, heartfelt ballads, and exactly zero arrests (we think). Matt gives us the full rundown. Then Kevin dr...

May 23, 2025•1 hr 16 min

I Turned Down Creator Clash

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 Something’s shifting in the world of YouTuber live events. Kevin starts to unravel all the controversy surrounding iDubbbz’ previously acclaimed “Creator Clash” and asks a very important question: Was boxing eve...

May 16, 2025•51 min

The Easiest Way To Make $2.4 Million

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 We kick off this week’s episode with a passing joke about financing your food which naturally turns into a FULL-ON SPIRAL about spending, savings, and the absolutely insane cost of convenience. Strap in folks, t...

May 09, 2025•1 hr 25 min

Are Modern Stories Trash?

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 Kevin opens this week’s episode with a challenge – one that came straight from a listener. Stephen, the author of a manga called Handyman Quincy, sent a fantastic TWO PAGE EMAIL our way about Kevin’s perspective...

May 02, 2025•1 hr 34 min

Our Best Advice is the Dumbest

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 Matt is finally BACK, and he’s here to explain his long podcasting absence. He tells us about all the life detours that kept him away from the mic – from unexpected responsibilities to the emotional weight of fi...

Apr 25, 2025•1 hr 17 min

What is Kevin DOING?

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 Kevin kicks things off by opening up about his recent absence from Vsauce2. What started in December as a break from YouTube turned into something much bigger: a full-fledged writing project that has pushed him ...

Apr 18, 2025•55 min

Why The Church Boycotted Me

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 takes a look back at the backlash against Glengarry Glen Ross, and how it stirred up a deep memory from his college days. What does a play about shady salesmen have in common with the chaotic an...

Apr 11, 2025•55 min

Is AI Art Real or Slop?

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 AI-generated art is evolving fast—but what does that really mean for all of us? Kevin dives into the latest breakthroughs in image generation, uncovering how AI can now replicate beloved artistic styles with eer...

Apr 04, 2025•1 hr

Movies Are Lying To You

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 Kevin kicks off this episode with a challenge: Can you name five truly great movies from the last five years? It might be harder than you think. As a former film major, he’s got some strong thoughts on Hollywood...

Mar 28, 2025•53 min

Life Isn’t As Short As You Think

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 If you think that life is truly short, there’s probably a good reason why – your life is BORING. This week, Kevin explains that his 41 years on earth have actually felt pretty long, and he thinks he’s figured ou...

Mar 21, 2025•1 hr 24 min

Conan Accused Me of Stealing

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 After Conan O’Brien’s universally praised Oscar hosting, Kevin reflects on the magic that makes Conan one of the greats. Kevin even takes us back to a few personal stories from his time as an intern at “Late Nig...

Mar 14, 2025•1 hr 5 min

Are Algorithms Controlling Us?

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 Technology Connections’ latest video, “Algorithms Are Breaking How We Think.” Kevin breaks down the concept of algorithmic complacency—a term Alec (aka Technology Connections) coined to de...

Mar 07, 2025•49 min

No One Cares How Things Work

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 Kevin’s back again to talk about curiosity…and how nobody seems to have any these days. We jump right into the bizarre Mirror Video, a viral clip of a woman struggling to grasp the complexity of her bathroom mir...

Feb 28, 2025•1 hr 1 min

The Comfort of Sadness

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 Kevin is flying SOLO this week as he explains our brief podcast hiatus, touches on our work with Popular Science, and why Tabor isn’t “with him as always” this time around. After some general housekeeping, we di...

Feb 24, 2025•1 hr 8 min

We’re Back

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 We’re back at long last! Where have we been, you ask? Find out in today’s episode. Have you missed us? We kick off a return with the only way we know how: talking about… fruitcake. We compare America’s indulgent...

Feb 19, 2025•1 hr 48 min

Is it Cool to Care Anymore?

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’s episode kicks off with Matt sharing his recent trip to Vegas, where he had a run-in with COVID. From there, we take a trip down memory lane and touch on the fascinating evolution of slot machines. Ne...

Jul 22, 2024•1 hr 47 min

Are Movie Theaters Really Dead?

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’s episode kicks off with some news from the front in Kevin’s war on kidney stones. From there, we jump into some exciting news – Smiling Friends has been renewed for Season 3! We’re pumped to see more ...

Jul 19, 2024•1 hr 18 min

The Reality of the Gamer Economy

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 In this episode, we tackle the recent struggles of Square Enix and the disappointing numbers behind one of their most recent titles. We explore the current state of the video game industry, the surprising advers...

Jul 17, 2024•1 hr 42 min

We Don’t Know What We’re Doing

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 It’s natural to think a good story starts with a rich and vast premise or idea, but as it turns out, that might not be the case. Today we dive into the truth of the matter on how a good story can come from the m...

Jul 12, 2024•1 hr 7 min

Why Execution Matters

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 The state of comedy has drastically changed over the last decade alone. From the death of the comedy films to the failure of commercialized memes. This week we dive into exactly what happened. We also talk about...

Jul 10, 2024•1 hr 36 min

Your Goals Should Bore You

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 Oftentimes, we set goals for ourselves without ever following through. It happens. But this week, we’re bringing some wisdom to the table from Akira Kurosawa himself to try to help YOU break the cycle. We talk a...

Jul 08, 2024•2 hr 6 min

Should Tech Reviewers Lie?

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 If you’ve been on Twitter at all in the past week or so, you’ve probably seen the controversy surrounding TCU alum Marques Brownlee and his most recent tech review. Well, we’ve seen it too, and we have some thou...

Apr 26, 2024•1 hr 17 min

The True Cost Of Time (The Lieber Method)

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 For the past few episodes, Matt has been delivering some WISDOM from his reality TV findings. This week, we’re passing the baton off to Kevin to give us some insight into the coveted LIEBER METHOD, and just how ...

Apr 19, 2024•1 hr 7 min

What Is "Trying"? Seriously.

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 If you thought we were done talking about “My 600-lb. Life,” you thought WRONG. Turns out, there’s still plenty more wisdom to be found with this show, and this week we’re back again to dispense some more of it....

Apr 13, 2024•1 hr 6 min

The Wisdom of My 600-Lb. Life

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 Recently, Matt went on a little bit of a knowledge binge, but probably not where you’d expect it. This week we’re back to talk about the wisdom of reality television, and how shows like these can really help you...

Apr 05, 2024•47 min

Kevin Turns in his Gamer Card

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 After another fight with an old friend, Kevin is back with us this week, and he has some grave news… he’s turning in his gamer card. Well, not exactly. If you’ve been listening intently to the show over the past...

Mar 22, 2024•1 hr 27 min

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