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11 Educational YouTube Channels Every Autodidact Should Subscribe To ASAP

So, you're subscribed to SciShow and CrashCourse? Now what?

Alisan Keesee

Dec 30, 2018

Western Washington University

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Sabrina Cruz / YouTube

If you've spent any amount of time on YouTube, you've probably come across an educational video or two. Many of us watched Hank or John Green, teach us about science or history in high school. But, beyond the Green brothers, there are many other YouTube channels out there (both affiliated with the Green brothers and otherwise) that are producing great educational content.

1. Geography Now

As a self-professed geography lover, when I stumbled across Geography Now, I binged all the episodes over the weekend. Geography Now is working to profile every single country in the world (alphabetically, of course). Host, Paul Barbato (aka Barby or Barbs), keeps things entertaining with light-hearted jokes and nearly every episode has a guest host (sometimes from the country in question)! This channel is perfect for a crash course in geography and world cultures. As of writing, the Morocco episode

2. Sabrina Cruz

Formerly known as NerdyandQuirky, Sabrina Cruz, hosts Crash Course Kids and Snarled. Cruz, however, also posts educational content on her own channel, often about history and economics. From the origins of idioms to the history of Nintendo to using Rick and Morty to teach economics, Cruz uses creativity and comedy to make her educational content nerdy and quirky.

3. Sexplanations

While there's a slew of great sex educators on Youtube nowadays, Sexplanations, hosted by clinical sexologist Dr. Lindsey Doe, was one of the first. Covering everything your high school sex ed teacher decided to gloss over (or straight up lie about), Dr. Doe covers everything from sexualities to sex toys to laws that pertain to sex and sex education. Sexplanations is everything you ever wanted to know about sex in an inclusive and positive environment.

4. CGP Grey

CGP Grey uses animation, his sardonic wit, and his perfect-for-radio voice to educate on various subjects. Most videos pertain to science, technology, or history and even when discussing grim topics such as death, the videos remain interesting and funny. It's not all just science and tech though, CGP Grey has videos such as What are Continents? and Daylight Saving Time Explained. If you're a generally curious person and share a sarcastic sense of humor, you'll probably get lost in CGP Grey's videos.

5. thebrainscoop

thebrainscoop certainly isn't a channel for the faint of heart, but if you have a love for anatomy or fossils thebrainscoop offers an interesting look into the collection at The Field Museum in Chicago. It's hosted by Emily Graslie and many of the videos show her (or others) performing dissections or telling the story of an interesting specimen. It's not all animals and dissections though, there are videos on rare books in the museum collection, gems, and even Graslie's recommended reading. So, even if animal anatomy isn't your thing, there are many other videos on the channel to learn from.

6. The Art Assignment

The Art Assignment is a bi-weekly art and art history show hosted by art museum curator Sarah Urist Green. The show has featured guests including other famous YouTubers like Hannah Hart and Jon Cozart and works to discuss all mediums of art. You'll come out of The Art Assignment feeling more informed on a subject many outside the field are unaware of.

7. Buzzfeed Unsolved

Okay, this one is a stretch, I know. Buzzfeed Unsolved is a show hosted by Ryan Bergara and Shane Madej. The show covers unsolved crimes and supernatural happenings throughout history and today. The show will often tell stories from history and show the two hosts investigating onsite. While some aspects of the show are not educational, the show is perfect for anyone with an interest in true crime, psychology, or conspiracy theories. An off-shoot of Buzzfeed Unsolved is Ruining History, where Unsolved Host, Shane Madej, takes a well-known story or figure from history and tells the real story. Not only is this show hilarious, but it shows a more realistic and unforgiving picture of history.

8. It's Okay To Be Smart

It's Okay To Be Smart is a science education show hosted by Joe Hanson. The channel doesn't focus on just one branch of science but has covered topics such as why humans eat (and enjoy) spicy food, a salamander that can regrow limbs, and why blue is rare in nature. It's possible to spend hours watching videos on It's Okay To Be Smart, simply because the videos are geared towards a normal person's curiosity about the world.

9. Mental Floss

Mental Floss is one of my favorite educational YouTube channels. It takes the format of a listicle article (like this one) to provide a variable amount of facts on a chosen subject. The videos will sometimes even feature the host (usually John Green) trying out different life hacks to see if they work, or will tackle misconceptions about a chosen subject such as misconceptions about the wild west. The formatting of the show makes it easy to digest and learn and fun to watch.

10. AsapScience

AsapScience is a weekly science education show hosted by Mitchell Moffit and Gregory Brown. Again, this is another science channel that doesn't purely focus on one field of science, but rather posts videos about various topics within science. Animation is often used and all of their videos have an upbeat feel. The duo are an openly gay couple hoping to provide representation for LGBT people interested/ wanting to go into science, providing a wonderful heart to the channel that makes it easy to personally connect.

11. Khan Academy

Khan Academy has been known to save many student's math grades over the years and they use their YouTube channel(s) to help do so. While Khan Academy isn't a purely YouTube endeavor, the YouTube channel supplements the non-profit's mission of providing free education and educational materials. The videos often show equations and how to solve them and occasionally feature stories of teachers and students.

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11 Educational YouTube Channels Every Autodidact Should Subscribe To ASAP

So, you're subscribed to SciShow and CrashCourse? Now what?

1. Geography Now

2. Sabrina Cruz

3. Sexplanations

4. CGP Grey

5. thebrainscoop

6. The Art Assignment

7. Buzzfeed Unsolved

8. It's Okay To Be Smart

9. Mental Floss

10. AsapScience

11. Khan Academy

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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