Rather than study for her exams, Charlotte McDonnell (formerly Charlie) started the YouTube channel charlieissocoollike in 2007. Posting a combination of vlogs, comedy videos and challenges, Charlotte’s channel broke out when her video How To Get Featured On YouTube was featured on the YouTube UK homepage.

What began as procrastination lead to Charlotte becoming arguably the UK’s first YouTube star, being the first to hit one million subscribers in June 2011. The novelty of ‘internet fame’ led to her appearing in various mainstream media, collaborating with Doctor Who, and somehow convincing Stephen Fry to record her video outro.

By 2013, Charlotte admitted she was burned out from content creation. She would focus less on YouTube as time went on, preferring to focus on screenwriting and later Twitch. By 2019, she announced that she had quit YouTube altogether.

She made a notable return to the platform in 2023, posting a video explaining that she was trans and setting her historical content to private.

We discuss Charlotte’s video style, her appeal and rise to stardom, as well as how she would influence a generation of creators.

CHAPTERS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:32 Respecting Charlotte's transition and decision to private videos

00:04:14 Our history with Charlotte

00:08:34 Best Way To Get Featured on YouTube

00:14:13 How to be English

00:20:17 Alfie Days reviews the channel

00:22:18 Challenge Charlie

00:29:31 FiveAwesomeGuys

00:30:55 Charlotte's music

00:38:29 Mainstream media appearances

00:40:22 Doctor Who fandom

00:48:29 Charlotte's later YouTube work

00:51:12 What happened to charlieissocoollike

00:57:01 The clues that I was transgender

00:57:48 Recent work outside of YouTube

01:00:23 The Stephen Fry channel outro

01:02:22 Charlotte's YouTube legacy

01:06:13 Why we have missed weekly uploads

01:11:38 Lucy's subscription: Dan and Phil

01:12:49 Max's subscription: The Chair Company (HBO)

SOCIALS AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Email us at rewindtimepod@gmail.com

Watch the video feed at www.youtube.com/@RewindTimePod

We post shorts on www.instagram.com/rewindtimepod/ and www.tiktok.com/@rewindtimepod

Get more Lucy at www.youtube.com/@LucyLivinYT, www.tiktok.com/@lucy_livin and www.instagram.com/lucy.livin/, Max is at www.instagram.com/max.eagles

Dan and Phil. Phil and Dan. Dil. Phan?

We reach the conclusion (for now) of our Dan and Phil series, focusing on the pair’s collaborative channel formerly known as Dan and Phil Games.

What started as as a Let’s Play channel would develop with the boys, hosting collaborations, side projects, and tour videos. Not even Dan’s multiple year hiatus could kill the channel, with Dan and Phil resurrecting it in 2023.

This year Dan and Phil confirmed publicly they were in a relationship, using the ensuing fan and media attention to launch their podcast ‘Hard Launch’ on the rebranded ‘Dan and Phil’ channel. Since then, they’ve accompanied their podcast episodes with date vlogs, react content, and Spooky Week.

We chat through all things Dan and Phil Games, our own history with gaming content, the reaction to Phan, and everything Dan and Phil we couldn’t fit in the first two episodes.

CHAPTERS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:02:09 Our history with Dan and Phil Games

00:05:08 The main gaming video format

00:10:43 The Sims and Dil Howlter

00:15:47 Dan vs Phil

00:21:09 Collaborations with other YouTubers

00:25:37 Draw my life - Dill Howlter (parody)

00:27:12 Collaboration with charlieissocoollike

00:29:15 Spooky Week

00:31:00 Wtf is Dragon City

00:35:42 Dan and Phil Craft

00:44:27 Interactive Introverts, coming out, hiatus

00:49:08 Return of Dan and Phil Games

00:55:50 Reacting to their old videos

01:01:20 Terrible Influence Tour

01:11:59 Phan is real

01:32:43 Hard Launch podcast

01:38:01 New, outside Dan and Phil content

01:44:07 Reacting to Phan twitter and their tiktok feeds

01:46:50 Concluding thoughts on Dan and Phil

01:59:06 Lucy's subscription - Momo Art Mart

02:00:30 Max's subscription - Oasis Live 25

SOCIALS AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Email us at rewindtimepod@gmail.com

Watch the video feed at www.youtube.com/@RewindTimePod

We post shorts on www.instagram.com/rewindtimepod/ and www.tiktok.com/@rewindtimepod

Get more Lucy at www.youtube.com/@LucyLivinYT, www.tiktok.com/@lucy_livin and www.instagram.com/lucy.livin/, Max is at www.instagram.com/max.eagles

Our second episode on Dan and Phil focuses on Daniel Howell’s personal YouTube channel, formerly known as danisnotonfire.

Before launching his channel, Dan was a fan of Phil’s channel AmazingPhil, and the two became online friends. With encouragement from Phil, Dan uploaded his first video, ‘Hello Internet,’ in 2009. Dan’s storytime/sketch videos were reminiscent of creators like CommunityChannel, combined with his edgy, self-deprecating humour. It was a winning formula, and danisnotonfire would overtake AmazingPhil in subscribers by 2013.

Despite his success, Dan grew increasingly disillusioned with YouTube. His solo uploads became less frequent, although he still collaborated with Phil and appeared in their shared content and tours.

In 2019, after a period of inactivity, Dan posted the video essay ‘Basically I’m Gay’. Three years later, he followed it up with ‘Why I Quit YouTube’. Both videos offered significant insight into his personal and professional struggles, as well as explaining his absence from YouTube.

Since then, Dan has returned to YouTube on his own terms, both on his personal channel (now just ‘Daniel Howell’) and through his collaborations with Phil. He also undertook the solo world tour ‘We’re All Doomed’, which was filmed and posted on full on YouTube.

We run through how Dan’s content evolved over the years, his comedic sensibility and perspective, and how his issues with YouTube are shared by other creators.

CHAPTERS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:58 Our familiarity with Dan

00:04:26 Dan's early videos and comedic sensibility

00:10:38 Dan's mildly antagonistic relationship with viewers

00:18:39 Mainstream breakthrough

00:20:42 How to speak internet with Jack and Finn

00:22:51 Internet Support Group

00:24:38 Collab with Tyler Oakley - Dan and Tyler being offensive

00:26:27 Further collabs with Louise and Connor Franta

00:28:52 Correction - Dan and Phil have met Troye Sivan

00:30:35 Promoting the Amazing tour and book

00:33:50 Top Dan Memes of the Year series

00:36:37 Channel name change, less active on YouTube

00:39:59 Daniel and Depression

00:44:16 Basically, I'm Gay

00:50:48 Why I Quit YouTube

00:56:57 Cancelled YouTube Original show

01:01:07 Dan's return to YouTube

01:02:01 We Are All Doomed live comedy show

01:06:19 Overall thoughts on Dan's channel

01:09:55 Max's subscription: Below Deck Med

01:10:46 Lucy's subscription: my chungus life

SOCIALS AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Email us at rewindtimepod@gmail.com

Watch the video feed at www.youtube.com/@RewindTimePod

We post shorts on www.instagram.com/rewindtimepod/ and www.tiktok.com/@rewindtimepod

Get more Lucy at www.youtube.com/@LucyLivinYT, www.tiktok.com/@lucy_livin and www.instagram.com/lucy.livin/, Max is at www.instagram.com/max.eagles

We begin our 3 episode Dan and Phil series with AmazingPhil, the main channel of Phil Lester.

When Phil published his first YouTube video in 2006, shot using a camera from a cereal box, he couldn’t have know it would lead to online stardom, the creation of beloved comedy duo Dan and Phil, and meeting Kylie Minogue.

Nearly 20 years on from his YouTube debut, Phil is the undeniably more active half of the Dan and Phil partnership. His channel is a mix of cozy storytime videos, Q&As, sketches and other low-stakes hijacks.

Daniel Howell features often, both in front and behind the camera. Since appearing for the first time in the iconic Phil is not on fire (a format that would run for a decade), Dan’s darker humour provides a welcome contrast to Phil’s comparatively joyful disposition.

We discuss the early days of Phil’s channel, the additional context modern viewers bring to his back catalogue, the changes in content over the years, and how Phil would eventually come out to his viewers.

CHAPTERS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:06 Our history with Dan and Phil

00:03:19 How we will cover Dan and Phil

00:04:39 AmazingPhil's early videos

00:10:30 Introducing Daniel Howell

00:14:12 Rewatching knowing Dan and Phil are gay

00:18:52 Vlogs on Phil's channel

00:21:59 Phil's mainstream breakthrough

00:26:52 Collaborations with other YouTubers

00:31:53 Miracle berry taste test with Tyler Oakley

00:33:25 How to Speak Australian with Kylie Minogue

00:37:00 International tours, moving into the phouse

00:40:40 Why I changed my Emo hair

00:43:48 Phil's "Coming Out To You" video

00:50:35 Phil's channel recently and our overall thoughts

00:56:08 Max's subscription - frequent flyer points

00:57:20 Lucy's subscription: Smize & Dream

SOCIALS AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Email us at rewindtimepod@gmail.com

Watch the video feed at www.youtube.com/@RewindTimePod

We post shorts on www.instagram.com/rewindtimepod/ and www.tiktok.com/@rewindtimepod

Get more Lucy at www.youtube.com/@LucyLivinYT, www.tiktok.com/@lucy_livin and www.instagram.com/lucy.livin/, Max is at www.instagram.com/max.eagles

YouTube Rewind 2011 was the second installment of YouTube’s end-of-year retrospective series. It repeated the format from the previous year, counting down the top 10 most viewed videos on the platform in 2011. However, it introduced an element that would become central to Rewind, a YouTuber cameo, with Friday songstress Rebecca Black playing the role as host.

We discuss how the popular videos shifted from creator channels in 2010, to more generic talking animal slop in 2011. While OG YouTubers like The Lonely Island are featured on the list, and creators like Jenna Marbles and Smosh are shown in the video montage, there’s definitely a less ‘YouTube’ feel to the 2011 top 10. It’s easy to theorise that YouTube themselves agreed, given they moved away from the countdown format the following year.

How do you feel about 2011 Rewind? Do you prefer the countdown format, or the YouTuber cameo music video style of later Rewinds?

CHAPTERS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:10 YouTube Rewind 2011 format

00:03:06 Rebecca Black is hosting

00:04:33 Opening montage recapping 2011

00:12:01 10. Mom hugs baby kitten

00:14:19 9. The Force

00:19:33 8. Born this Way cover by Maria Aragon

00:23:53 7. The Creep, The Lonely Island

00:26:09 6. Look at Me Now cover by Karmin

00:32:01 5. Nyan Cat

00:35:48 4. Talking twin babies

00:39:01 3. Jack Sparrow feat. Michael Bolton - The

Lonely Island

00:41:08 2. Ultimate dog tease

00:44:04 1. Friday, Rebecca Black

00:45:06 Compared to 2010 YouTube Rewind

00:52:23 Rewind 2011 YouTube blog post

00:55:42 Lucy's subscription: Her birthday

01:02:48 Max's subscription: Martini

01:03:53 Lucy teases Dan and Phil ep

SOCIALS AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Email us at rewindtimepod@gmail.com

Watch the video feed at www.youtube.com/@RewindTimePod

We post shorts on www.instagram.com/rewindtimepod/ and www.tiktok.com/@rewindtimepod

Get more Lucy at www.youtube.com/@LucyLivinYT, www.tiktok.com/@lucy_livin and www.instagram.com/lucy.livin/, Max is at www.instagram.com/max.eagles

Everyone know’s Rebecca Black’s Friday, but comparitively few are aware of her second YouTube life as a 2010 lifestyle creator.

Friday became one of the defining YouTube memes when it released in 2011, drawing millions of viewers and launching Black to global prominence. Unfortunately, much of the attention was negative, with the then 13-year-old Black receiving targeted harassment online and at school.

Despite the negativity, Black used the virality of Friday to launch her own YouTube channel. The content was typical of the lifestyle creators of the era - makeup tutorials, Q&As, hauls and collabs.

Black was a natural YouTuber and grew a significant audience, and but for the occasional new song, her music career was on hold. However, single by single, Black began to find her artistic voice, culminating in her 2023 debut album ‘Let Her Burn’ releasing to favourable reviews. With no recent uploads and a busy touring schedule, it’s safe to assume Black has returned to her original calling.

CHAPTERS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:58 Our familiarity with Rebecca Black

00:09:30 ARK Music Factory, My Jeans and Chinese Food

00:18:38 The reaction to Friday

00:23:25 Last Friday Night with Katy Perry

00:25:20 Telstra bring Rebecca to Sydney

00:28:35 My Moment and post-Friday singles

00:32:35 Rebecca's YouTube channel

00:40:00 Rebecca's collaborations with Miranda Sings

00:48:50 Saturday with Dave Days

00:51:18 Rebecca as a lifestyle YouTuber

01:05:42 Rebecca on Dating Straight

01:06:21 Hyperpop era and album release

01:14:42 Final thoughts on Rebecca Black

01:19:40 Max's subscription: Hades II

01:20:35 Lucy's subscription: Dancing with the Stars (USA)

SOCIAL AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Email us at rewindtimepod@gmail.com

Watch the video feed at www.youtube.com/@RewindTimePod

We post shorts on www.instagram.com/rewindtimepod/ and www.tiktok.com/@rewindtimepod

Get more Lucy at www.youtube.com/@LucyLivinYT, www.tiktok.com/@lucy_livin and www.instagram.com/lucy.livin/, Max is at www.instagram.com/max.eagles

The Jackass of food. That’s how everyone described Epic Meal Time, including the boys themselves. Led by ringleader Sauce Boss Harley Morenstein, these Canadian 20-somethings rose quickly to YouTube stardom in 2010 on the back of their monstrous, highly caloric food creations like the TurBacon Epic, the TurBaconEpicCentipede, and the original Fast Food Pizza. The channel format would be spun out for the competition series Epic Chef, as well as the television show Epic Meal Empire. After several years of success, including many YouTuber and celebrity guest appearances, the original crew drifted away from the channel. For some, this was due to a dispute with Morenstein over the channel’s ownership, whereas others admit the concept just ran its course. Morenstein remained active on the channel, reposting episodes of his podcast while occasionally producing new, less exaggerated food content. However, the last upload on the channel was over a year ago, forcing us to consider whether we’ve seen the last Epic Meal Time. On this episode of Rewind Time, we run through our familiarity with the channel, how it changed over the years, the ownership dispute, Harley and the crew in the present day, and what (if any) future there is for Epic Meal Time.

CHAPTERS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:57 Our history with Epic Meal Time

00:03:45 What was Epic Meal Time?

00:04:41 Epic Meal Time clip

00:10:58 The Epic Meal Time cast

00:12:20 The format and vibes

00:17:44 Collaborations with YouTubers, celebrities

00:25:38 Jamie Oliver guest appearance

00:27:34 The series' place in 2010 millennialisms

00:32:43 Harley's 'character'

00:35:51 The end of OG Epic Meal Time

00:43:32 Epic Meal Time post original crew departure

00:49:24 Harley-centric content

01:00:05 What happened to the original crew?

01:04:22 Concluding thoughts on Epic Meal Time

01:10:33 Max's subscription: One Battle After Another

01:11:57 Lucy's subscription: Umamusume: Pretty Derby

We reference When Mealtime Was Epic by Jaya Saxena for Eater throughout this episode.

SOCIALS AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Email us at rewindtimepod@gmail.com

Watch the video feed at www.youtube.com/@RewindTimePod

We post shorts on www.instagram.com/rewindtimepod/ and www.tiktok.com/@rewindtimepod

Get more Lucy at www.youtube.com/@LucyLivinYT, www.tiktok.com/@lucy_livin and www.instagram.com/lucy.livin/, Max is at www.instagram.com/max.eagles

Throughout the 2010s, Jenna Marbles was one of the YouTube community’s most beloved and popular creators.

Since releasing the canonical ‘How to Trick People Into Thinking You Are Good Looking’ in 2010, Jenna would use this format and other 2010 YouTube comedy staples like ‘Girls v Guys’ to grow her audience. She moved to LA, began dating fellow creator Julien Solomita, and would collaborate with many of the YouTube stars of that era.

Jenna’s videos changed throughout the years as she moved away from her exaggerated early persona into a chill, big sister vibe. Videos often took on a DIY angle where Jenna would pursue a goal like how many balloons it would take to make her dog fly, or how to camoflague herself into a chair. Regardless of how outlandish the premise, her loyal audience stuck around.

Jenna was among the YouTubers ‘cancelled’ in the whole 2020 lockdown/morality purge craze people go in to that year. Unlike many of her contemporaries, Jenna’s apology and subsequent YouTube retirement seem permanent. While Julien continues to work and create online, Jenna has remained offline ever since.

CHAPTERS

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:27 Our history with Jenna Marbles

00:05:52 Jenna and her dogs

00:08:59 How to Trick People Into Thinking You Are Good Looking

00:20:05 How To Avoid Talking To People You Don't Wanna Talk To

00:22:35 Jenna Marbles working for Barstool Sports

00:28:32 What I Would've Done In Cancun

00:33:19 Jenna's remaining early video formats

00:35:06 Jenna moves to LA, dates Julian

00:36:13 Jenna's YouTube collabs

00:38:08 Jenna is in Pitbull's Fireball music video

00:39:47 Remaining collaborations

00:45:34 Jenna's chill LA video style

00:56:05 James Charles does Jenna's makeup

01:00:17 This fish tank controversy and apology

01:04:45 Jenna's 'cancellation' and YouTube retirement

01:17:45 Jenna in recent years

01:19:34 Concluding discussion on Jenna

01:26:31 Max's subscription: White Chicks (2004)

01:29:39 Lucy's subscription: Depop

SOCIALS AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Email us at rewindtimepod@gmail.com

Watch the video feed at www.youtube.com/@RewindTimePod

We post shorts on www.instagram.com/rewindtimepod/ and www.tiktok.com/@rewindtimepod

Get more Lucy at www.youtube.com/@LucyLivinYT, www.tiktok.com/@lucy_livin and www.instagram.com/lucy.livin/, Max is at www.instagram.com/max.eagles