In a couple of months - weeks, for some people - school starts back. Most people use the summer months to forget everything they have ever learned. But if you're not one of those people, and even if you are, you should definitely watch some of these YouTube channels this summer! There's always more to learn, and these channels make it interesting, and, more importantly, fun! I live for this stuff, and you should, too.
I have put warnings next to the channels that are not PG, but I just wanted to say that these are YouTube channels, and no YouTube channel is completely PG. Consider yourself informed.
1. MinutePhysics
MinutePhysics is awesome. As their description says, their channel is "Simply put: cool physics and other sweet science."
Watching MinutePhysics takes hardly any time at all, and you will always come away more knowledgeable than before. Plus, physics is just... cool.
2. Wisecrack
*ALERT* This channel and it's sub-channels are not appropriate for young children and teenagers. Crude jokes, language, and other offensive behaviors are often used throughout.
Despite the above warning, Wisecrack is the bomb. Wisecrack is a collection of comedians, academics, filmmakers, and artist who, as their description says, "are super curious about the world around us. Our channel explores cool topics in unusual (and hopefully entertaining) ways." If you enjoy smart stuff and comedy, this is the channel for you. There are four sub-channels to Wisecrack: Wisecrack Edition, which explores the deeper meanings of games, movies, TV shows, albums, and more; Earthling Cinema, which "explores FILM with Garyx Wormuloid. Your favorite movies get probed by an awkward alien"; 8-Bit Philosophy - where you learn about philosophy through classic video games; and my personal favorite, Thug Notes, where you explore literature with yo' boy Sparky Sweets, PhD. "It's classic literature, original ganster."
3. Khan Academy
Khan Academy is a magical place, where you learn any and everything you've ever wanted to learn. Khan Academy offers short videos on science, math, economics, healthcare, finances, grammar, American civics, etc., etc., etc. Sal Khan started Khan Academy as a free way for all the broke people everywhere to get a world-class education. If you haven't checked it out, you should.
4. Socrates in the City: Conversations on the Examined Life
"The unexamined life is not worth living." - Socrates.
Socrates in the City is a fascinating channel started by Eric Metaxas. He created it in order to have a forum that encourages talking and thinking about the bigger questions in life. These conversations are usually about an hour and a half long, talking about faith, God, science, literature, feminism, or, simply put, "the true, the good, and the beautiful." Metaxas interviews professionals from all over the world on these topics and produces edifying conversations. Whatever your stance on God and faith, you should take a look at this channel.
5. Ask a Mortician
This is weird. And weirdly fascinating. And helpful, sometimes, too. My dad likes this channel a lot. And, while I haven't watched a lot of it, I kind of like it, too. She's a mortician in Los Angeles and, if you've got questions about death, she's got the answers. It's great. Weird, but great.
6. Veritasium
MORE SCIENCE! I am not a scientist and I probably won't ever be, but I love these science channels. And Veritasium is awesome. Veritasium makes videos about science, education, and anything else, really, and they're all informative and educational. He inspires curiosity and furthers knowledge, giving us all an element of truth.
7. Ted Talks
We all know about Ted Talks, but I think that everyone should watch them more. The videos vary in length and topic, but they are certainly worth watching. You can learn about amazing and beautiful things. Take a look, you'll enjoy it.
8. VSauce
Getting tired of science, yet? Sorry, I'm not sorry. Vsauce is another channel all about science and other weird/awesome things. Well, I say it's a channel, but there are actually four Vsauce channels, Vsauce1 hosted by Michael Stevens (who created the video below), Vsauce2 hosted by Kevin Lieber, Vsauce3 hosted by Jake Roper, and Wesauce - a combination of Stevens, Lieber, and Roper. Vsauce1 is al about STEM, anthropology, and philosophy. Vsauce2 is about so many things it's hard to list - just check it out, he's nuts. Vsauce3 is dedicated to fictional worlds and video games. And Wesauce features a lot of fan work and segments from Vsauce2. It's an interesting channel, to be sure.
9. CrashCourse
Crashcourse is a YouTube channel hosted by John and Hank Green. You know, those famous brothers from YouTube. John Green is a bestselling author and YouTuber. On Crashcourse he teaches Literature and World History. Hank Green is a YouTube vlogger, as well as a musician and producer. He teaches Anatomy and Physiology. Along with the Green brothers, Phil Plait teaches Astronomy, Craig Benzine teaches U.S. Government and Politics, and Adriene Hill and Jacob Clifford teach economics. All of their videos are presented in a fun, engaging way to help us enjoy learning more.
10. The School of Life
The School of Life is a channel about, well, life. In their description they say they are all about wisdom, emotional intelligence, and self-understanding. They help viewers learn more about these things through their multiple playlists on pop culture, literature, history, comedy, philosophy, political theory, psychotherapy, sociology, and art/architecture. It's a good, helpful channel, and you should check it out. HOWEVER, it is not PG, so be careful about who you watch it with.
11. Rosana Pansino
This is for all the people who like cooking and baking and eating and want to learn how to do it more. Rosana Pansino makes several different types of videos, but her cooking videos are called Nerdy Nummies and she puts a new one up almost every week! You should definitely check her channel out - it's fun, refreshing, and you learn how to make new stuff!
I know it's a lot of channels, but you can never learn to much. Happy summer, happy learning, happy life!
