Episodios
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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 sit down to talk about the new He-Man movie, and we quickly discover that our feelings on it are all over the place. Seeing this property on the big screen is undeniably cool…so why does it feel like something about this movie is nagging at us? Today we see if we can figure out exactly why that is.
The deeper we dig, the more we keep coming back to one simple question: does this movie actually like He-Man? We talk about the strange trend modern franchises have been making toward making fun of themselves, even while asking audiences to take them seriously. Why are so many movies afraid of sincerity? And what happens when a story starts treating its own premise like an embarrassment?
Along the way we compare the film to the infamous 1987 version, pick apart Martin Scorsese's "theme park versus cinema" argument, and examine several moments that left us completely baffled as viewers.
We also find ourselves talking about romance in storytelling, why so many modern movies avoid committing to relationships, and whether or not horror has quietly become one of the last genres willing to play things straight.
As we round things out, we find ourselves giving less of a review and more of a conversation about contemporary blockbuster writing. Can a franchise survive if it seems uncomfortable with the very thing that made people love it in the first place?
Big thanks to our patrons for supporting the show. 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 starts with a discussion about a few recent losses, including the death of Gene Shalit, and the tragic passing of Oliver Tree. We reflect on the kind of creativity and criticism both represented, and why genuinely original voices seem harder and harder to find.
From there, we revisit an old idea: if technology keeps making life easier, shouldn't people be happier? Years ago, we believed automation would free us up for art, relationships, learning, and meaningful pursuits. Today, we're not so sure.
Then we explore the strange gap between opportunity and action. Information is everywhere. Books are cheaper than ever. New skills can be learned in minutes. Powerful AI tools can help with almost anything. So why do so many people still feel directionless?
Along the way we talk about reading, retirement, motivation, and the uncomfortable reality that having more free time doesn't automatically lead to a better life. If anything, it may reveal a deeper question: do people actually want free time, or do they need structure more than they realize?
It's a conversation about creativity, purpose, and what happens when the barriers disappear...but the drive to do something meaningful doesn't magically appear with them.
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 -
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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 with a shockingly sad discussion about Ray Liotta and the bizarre internet phenomenon of seemingly widespread celebrity death Mandela effects. That morphs into a conversation about fading news cycles, Scorsese movies, and Kevin's extremely unpopular opinion on The Wolf of Wall Street.
After that, we dive into the REAL focus of the episode – a writing technique with a ridiculous name that might actually save your creative projects: Elfing.
We trace the origins of the concept back through filmmaker Zach Krieger all the way to legendary Simpsons writer John Swartzwelder, whose seemingly crude writing philosophy could actually be the key to getting things DONE.
From there, we zoom out to tackle a much bigger challenge in creative work: learning how to separate your identity from what you make. Why do so many people instinctively defend every sentence of an early draft? Why is accepting feedback so difficult? And why do so many promising writers stall out before they ever finish anything?
Along the way, we discuss the realities of editing, the balance between writing for yourself versus writing for an audience, and the constant tension between artistic honesty and commercial appeal.
Big thanks to our patrons, and 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’re launching off of our discussion from last episode by asking a strange question: is YouTube actually REAL? After nearly twenty years of dominance, why does the platform still feel completely disconnected from traditional media recognition, legitimacy, and the broader “culture” in general?
We start by reminiscing on the “good old days” of 2015, when it seemed inevitable that YouTubers would fully cross over into television and film. Agents were interested, studios were experimenting, YouTube Red was launching, and everybody assumed internet creators would naturally become mainstream celebrities. But… that didn’t really happen. Why not?
To understand that, we break down the failed crossover era. We’re talking celebrity YouTube channels, creator-backed streaming shows, and the awkward attempts by Hollywood to recreate YouTube success. As we all know, that didn’t really work out. We dive deep into why.
After that, we get critical as we shift toward what is arguably the biggest problem surrounding online media: LEGITIMACY. How is it possible for someone to have billions of views and millions of subscribers while simultaneously remaining nearly anonymous outside the platform itself? Why do traditional systems like journalism, awards shows, and even Wikipedia still struggle to treat YouTube creators as “real” media figures?
We also discuss the strange economics of it all. When successful YouTubers often have more freedom and better income than they would in traditional entertainment… does “moving up” to Hollywood make any sense at all?.
We round things out with some discussion on the legendary James Rolfe, the collapse of centralized culture, YouTube’s failed attempts at prestige, and Kevin’s growing theory on YouTube as a closed ecosystem.
Big thanks to our patrons, and 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 begin with the passing of sociologist and author Leah Greenfeld, whose work on identity, alienation, and modern society ended up feeling eerily ahead of its time.
That retrospective leads us to a discussion on the importance of talking to older people while they’re still here, especially the rare ones who’ve experienced worlds and perspectives that are quickly disappearing.
After that we pivot to a recent viral tweet with nearly half a million likes claiming there’s “nothing to watch on YouTube anymore,” and honestly…it might not be entirely wrong.
We break down the strange feeling that many of us seem to be having – that modern YouTube recommendations have become both hyper-specific AND strangely unwatchable. Did you watch a single repair video one time to fix a single issue? Well, enjoy the parade of that exact type of content on your home page from now on!
As we dig deeper and deeper, the conversation turns toward what we think was the real turning point for YouTube itself over the past decade – the death of YouTube Rewind. Was THAT the moment YouTube stopped understanding its own audience? Has YouTube become a “solved platform,” where creators optimize around formulas instead of originality?
We also talk about a big shift in how creators today get INSPIRED. In the past, a lot of creators seemed to get their ideas from all kinds of outside experiences. But now, YouTubers are seemingly being influenced by… YouTube itself. Is that actually making good content? Or are we truly spiraling into a cycle of derivation and optimization?
To close things out we get into some of YouTube’s bizarre moderation inconsistencies. Why are educational Vsauce videos, for instance, being age-restricted while more explicit content remains untouched? That takes us into a larger discussion about platform leadership, creator disconnect, and why modern YouTube culture feels so much different than the “good old days.”
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’re diving deep into Stephen King’s iconic novel Carrie which, as it turns out, ended up being Matt’s FIRST real horror novel EVER. We talk about why King’s writing is so easily digestible, and how Carrie feels strangely modern despite being written over 50 years ago. We pick apart the book’s uniquely fragmented structure, and how it actually kind of resembles… modern scroll-based apps?
Next we dissect the iconic prom scene and figure out why it might be one of the most perfect “killer app” images ever created in fiction. But what exactly is it that makes this scene so iconic, and more importantly, how did it shape Stephen King into the horror icon he is today?
From there we get into Carrie’s horrifying home life, her mother’s religious fanaticism, and why the book’s version of Margaret White is much more interesting (and far more frightening) than most adaptations. We also pick apart the various Carrie movies, including the bizarre TV adaptation, and some truly catastrophic CGI choices.
We round things out with a thorough examination of the story’s astonishing moral complexity. Is Carrie’s revenge satisfying…or deeply tragic? We talk about proportional justice, why some readers celebrate the destruction at the end, and the uncomfortable trend of treating mass revenge fantasies as empowering.
Big thanks to our patrons, and 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’re diving deep into a pop cultural figurehead, and the strange evolution of the medium that propelled him to stardom from a niche sideshow into one of the biggest entertainment machines on Earth. Of course, we’re talking Hulk Hogan, and the incomparable spectacle of WrestleMania. This one gets pretty wild, so buckle up.
We start with a trip down memory lane as we reflect on our own introductions to the world of wrestling. We wonder, how did something so openly “fake” become more culturally powerful than many “real” sports? And what exactly was wrestling tapping into that made its stars so recognizable to almost everybody?
From there, we break down how WrestleMania completely changed the business, and how Vince McMahon’s impossible gamble paid off so spectacularly. With wrestling turning into such a mainstream event, we wonder how much of modern entertainment owes something to it? Was it really the blueprint?
We also explore why Hulk Hogan’s “Real American” persona was expertly crafted and perfectly molded to fit the landscape of the 1980s. Hogan was much more than just a wrestler…he was THE Cold War superhero.
From there, we take a turn into Hogan’s bizarre Hollywood career, the infamous Richard Belzer incident, and the surreal energy of celebrity culture in the 80s and 90s. We talk about “Hollywood Hogan” and the overwhelming cultural shift toward cynicism in the 1990s.
Naturally, as we wrap things up, we zoom out and take a look at the culture of America itself. What made figures like Hulk Hogan feel so real to people despite being overtly performative? And are larger-than-life personalities even possible anymore in an era obsessed with optimization, irony, and image management?
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 dive into Brian Jacques’ fantastical explorations into the world of rodentia through his hit series “Redwall.” But what starts as a dissection of literature quickly leads us to a much bigger question – why did this series resonate so deeply with millions of readers…and does it still hold up?
We begin with a biographical examination of Jacques himself, his unlikely path into writing, the strange origins of Redwall, and why a man with no literary pedigree ended up creating one of the biggest fantasy series of its kind.
From there, we wrestle with one of the big critiques of the books: morality. Is Redwall’s clear divide between heroes and villains overly simplistic, or strangely refreshing in the current landscape? After decades of morally gray antiheroes, is there something powerful about stories that know exactly where they stand?
That leaves us wondering, are the animal archetypes lazy stereotyping, or a literary keystone? Do choices like that rob a story of its complexity or deepen its mythic feel?
After that, we hold a magnifying glass up to the act of writing itself. What matters more in a novel: elegant prose, or pure storytelling momentum? Can a book still feel magical if the actual words on the page are cumbersome? And why does there seem to be such a discrepancy in what viewers and critics value?
To finish out the episode, we talk about all things ADAPTATION. With the recent collapse of planned Redwall projects, we wonder why translating this absurdly successful world to screen has proven so difficult? Is it the violence? The tone? Or is some of what makes Redwall special just hard to adapt in the first place?
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’re sitting down with artist Phillip Summers to take a close-up look at his expertly handcrafted game guides. So join us as we strap on our hiking boots to climb the towering mountain of work it actually takes to make something like this from scratch.
We do a proper retrospective on all of Phil’s work, from early projects to more refined guides, and we’re left wondering… where’s the line between fan art and original creation, and when does something like this become entirely new?
From there, we dig deep into the nuts and bolts of what it takes to run an operation like Phil’s – things like printing, shipping, damaged copies, replacements, and the many other hurdles Summers had to figure out in real time. What happens when a passion project suddenly scales? And how much of being a creator is actually just logistics?
We also talk through hisMetroid Kickstarter that blew up seemingly instantaneously, and shut down just as fast. Hearing it directly from Summers, we ask: what do you do when something clearly resonates with people but legally can’t exist?
That takes us straight into a discussion on how Phillip’s canceled kickstarter project led to a direct collaboration with Capcom. We close out with a bird’s eye view on balancing creative work with real life, and what it actually costs to keep making things consistently. If you want to create something like this, what are you willing to sacrifice?
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
We’re kicking this week’s episode off with about as simple a premise as it gets: it’s time to SLOW DOWN.: We’re diving into what it actually means to “slow-max” your life, and why it feels like everything around us is pushing in the opposite direction.
We start by giving a shoutout to our Canadian friends from Archspire who have gone fully independent with the band’s newest album. As great as it is, it leaves us wondering, what really happens when creators take on everything themselves? On paper it sounds liberating, but what is there a deeper level of complexity we’re actually signing up for?
After that we take a big swing and stake our claim on the term “slowmaxxing,” the idea of deliberately choosing slower, more involved activities. We pick apart the benefits of doing things that were once commonplace: cooking from scratch, reading, building something, even just putting your phone in another room. But, if those things were so normal before, why do they feel harder now than they used to? And what did we lose when convenience removed all the friction?
We dig into small, almost forgotten rituals like sharpening pencils, making popcorn by hand, listening to full albums, etc., and we dissect how those tiny processes used to anchor attention in a way that’s disappearing. Is that just nostalgia, or were those steps actually doing something important for how we think?
To round things out, we zoom out for a real “big picture” perspective. If everything is faster, easier, and more optimized, why does it sometimes feel worse? Why does scrolling for hours leave you with nothing, while slower activities actually stick? And if the “fast” version of everything is becoming more common, is it actually… better? Or are we slowly forgetting how to engage with anything at all?
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
What actually makes something funny? And why do so many modern comedies feel… off?
This week we’re finding the answers with comedy film legend David Zucker. It all starts with a deceptively simple idea: what if the secret to comedy is actually doing LESS?
From there, we get a peak inside David’s brain and find out his entire philosophy for comedy. If comedy can be broken down into principles, why does so much of it still miss? And are creators overcomplicating something that used to feel effortless?
We also explore the shockingly harsh reality of making comedy films in the modern media landscape. Why is it so hard to get the right movies made? Why do financiers push for big stars, even to the detriment of the project? And what happens when studios try to reboot something like The Naked Gun without fully understanding what made the original work in the first place?
After that, we branch out into the creative process at large, and the myth that great comedy comes from chaos or being “out of your mind.” What if it’s actually the opposite? Structured, disciplined, and kind of… boring? Well, if you’re as curious as we are, you can find out all that and more in David’s newest course “Master Crash.”
By the end, we’re left with a single question… if everyone can be funny now, what separates the wheat from the chaff?
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
We open up this week’s episode with a bang by examining the earth shattering, barrier breaking collision of worlds between American and Japanese Twitter. With such an explosive cultural exchange happening before our very eyes, it makes us reflect on our own experiences in Japan, and leads us into some careful consideration of the culture shock and stressful social situations that ensued.
After that, we dive into a much bigger topic that’s been brewing in our minds: the idea of a “Real World Summer Camp.” What would it look like to teach kids the kinds of skills that used to just…happen naturally? Even simple skills like navigation, talking to strangers, or figuring things out without a screen seem to be falling behind across the board, which raises a bigger question: are these skills actually disappearing?
We also dig deep into the “free range kids” philosophy, and the recent shift away from independence. If kids aren’t being exposed to the real world in the same way, what kind of long-term effects does that have, if any? And is this overcorrection, or just the natural result of a changing world?
From there, we get into the multitude of experiences that actually build confidence. Grocery shopping, cooking, talking to older generations – there are a massive number of these small interactions that seem insignificant, but they probably matter more than you think.
We also explore the important, yet ever-blurring line between “internet life” and real life. If so much of growing up now happens through screens, are we missing something fundamental? What do you lose when everything becomes messages instead of experiences?
By the end, we’re left wondering… is this something that needs to be “fixed”? Or are we just watching a new version of reality take shape in real time?
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
We’re divining into this episode on MLB Opening Day, and Kevin kicks off the 2026 season by reflecting on his long-standing connection to baseball, recounting a quiet summer in 2004 when watching the Red Sox became much more than just entertainment. He also drops some knowledge on what makes baseball fans so unique.
That takes us into a tribute to legendary broadcaster Vin Scully, whose unique emphasis on storytelling blurred the line between commentary and narrative. But we find out that Scully may have just tapped into something that had always been there from the start as we pick apart the ways that baseball lends itself particularly well to storytelling.
From there, we pivot briefly to the legacy of Paul Ehrlich before landing on a broader frustration with creative advice. Kevin questions the usefulness of half-baked questions like “where do you get your ideas?” That leads us to an actually valuable question: if everyone’s workflow is different, does any advice even matter?
We also wonder… why do so many people seem drawn to the idea of being creative more than the act itself? Are routines helpful tools or just aesthetic rituals? And when does a hobby quietly shift into something more serious?
Kevin also explores the tension between making things for yourself versus making things that actually reach people. We reflect on his character “Jerry Bloop” and how Fred Seibert’s blunt yet accurate advice changed the way Kevin viewed creating forever.
That advice leaves us with some larger questions: are most creatives building businesses or just jobs that depend entirely on them? What happens when the work stops the moment they do?
We close things out by putting our foot down and challenging two pieces of common creative advice. That leaves us asking ourselves – is ignoring feedback actually protective or just avoidance? And if turning something you love into work risks draining it of meaning… what are you supposed to follow instead?
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 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 Kevin kicks things off by revealing to us his recent feelings of UTTER DEFEAT, and that leads us to a pretty important question…what happens when people stop engaging with reality altogether? He describes for us a recent incident that transcended simply arguing opinions into debating the very fabric of reality itself. When basic relevance becomes the debate, where do you even start?
We take that tension and channel it into a dissection of some recent studies into early education that suggest a sharp decline in basic childhood skills, specifically highlighting kids who… can’t use the bathroom on their own. If children are struggling with things that used to be automatic, what changed? Is it technology? Is it shoddy parenting? Or is it something deeper?
From there, the conversation turns to Timothée Chalamet’s recent analysis of Hollywood, opera, and ballet. People are up in arms, but… what did he ACTUALLY say? And why did it spark such a strong reaction?
After that, we dive back into our conversation on the idea of “zombie art forms”—creative mediums that persist, but only through institutional support. Is that preservation, or is it just a slow decay? And when people reacted to Chalamet, were they responding to his point of view, or was it a knee-jerk reaction to something else entirely?
We round things out by taking a bird’s eye view on culture at large. If certain cultural institutions are shrinking, is that a failure of the medium, or just a natural tendency for change? We’re also left wondering… if people claim to want more accessibility for the arts… would they actually like what that looks like? Or does mass appeal destroy the very thing they value?
Big thanks to our patrons, we’ll be back soon!
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
We kick off today’s episode with a recap of Matt’s most recent trip abroad, and the strong opinions he brought back with him about…McDonalds’ newest burger.
After our extensive Big Arch review, we get a little somber as we discuss the passing of author Dan Simmons. Kevin reflects on how Simmons reignited his love of reading, and how Simmons’ legacy is a sobering reminder that we all still have plenty of time to create.
Then we turn our attention to some shocking news: Smiling Friends is ending its historic run after just three seasons. That makes us ask ourselves… why end a beloved show with such widespread acclaim, seemingly at its peak? Is it better to walk away early and on top rather than roll the dice on a slow decline?
As we mull that over, we broaden our horizons a little bit. Is there a reason why some shows fade into self-parody while others end on their own terms? Is the typical American model of running successful shows indefinitely actually WORSE for quality than the shorter British approach? And what happens when creators remain deeply involved instead of handing a series off to a larger machine?
This takes us straight into a near-surgical examination of fandoms and the pressures they can provide. When every popular show becomes a battleground for online takes, speculation, and moral panic, how do creators stay focused on the work itself?
Even as Smiling Friends comes to a close, we discuss how this is probably just the beginning for everyone who was involved. If the team behind it brought this level of craft and perspective to animation, what could they do next? Comedy? Horror? Something completely unexpected?
Thanks so much to our patrons, we’ll be back soon!
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
As Matt recovers from an illness he likely picked up at some auction for 19th century farm equipment, Kevin flies solo to give us some new insights on his ongoing novel “Sleep Warrior.” To be more specific, he’s cracking down on why most writing advice doesn’t survive contact with a complicated book, and why tips from fellow authors often fall flat.
We take some time for a deep dive into the plethora of writing structures and methods out there, which leads us to a bigger question: why do so many authors struggle to finish their books? Well, Kevin thinks he has a solution. He introduces us to his “sandbox theory” that just might reveal the root cause of what’s bogging all these writers down.
On a more candid note, Kevin talks about how the pace of his writing has changed over the last few months, and how a recent discovery completely changed his perspective on his entire workflow.
After that, we confirm a hotly contested issue as a universal truth: LENGTH MATTERS…in writing books, that is. That takes us into an analysis of Brandon Sanderson’s advice, and how it completely flipped the way Kevin views the relationship between the reader and every chapter of a story.
We round things off with a sobering question: Who cares? Is writing fiction in 2026 completely irrational? But, perhaps more importantly and in spite of all that…why doesn’t Kevin care?
Thanks so much to our patrons, we’ll be back soon!
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
We kick off this week’s episode with news of a celebrity death, which serves as a morbidly important reminder for everyone to create while you still can. That leads us right into our main topic of the day: why does it feel like so many people don’t “like” anything anymore? Are things really that bad, or have we entered a sort of… cultural depression?
Kevin enlightens us with all the telltale signs of modern media burnout – and though the odds may seem stacked against you, we’re here to equip you with some powerful tools to help fight it. But this makes us wonder… why is it that so many of us are feeling that burnout in the first place? Is it a reflection of the slop-o-sphere, or is there a larger issue at play?
To round things out, we turn inward for some much needed self-reflection. What happens when you stop consuming almost entirely and just… make things? Can repetitive physical work interrupt mental spirals better than entertainment can? Is “hating everything” really about the content itself, or is it more of a personal issue?
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 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’re exploring how small shifts in media consumption over time may have quietly fractured our once “shared culture.” We kick off that discussion with a deep dive into what was once the most ubiquitous medium, one that many of us knew and loved growing up – cable TV. We talk about how such limited options can create such strong cultural reference points, and how that stacks up to the fragmented nature of today’s algorithm-driven feed. As it turns out, we might all be living in separated media universes
Then we call upon an old topic from a Vsauce2 video, one that explains how people can only meaningfully track a limited number of relationships or, in this case, shows: Dunbar’s Number.When everyone once pulled from the same pool, cultural overlap was inevitable. With streaming abundance, two people can consume constantly and still share almost nothing. That has some seeerious implications on cultural memory.
After that, we set our sights on an area where this shift is becoming increasingly impossible to ignore: film education.. How can we teach film students with an ever-dwindling attention span the true value of “Unc Slop?” From there, Kevin talks about “slopflation,” how declining overall quality can make once mocked content, like the Star Wars prequels, feel better in hindsight.
To round things out, we tackle the scourge of “millennial writing,” a style marked by snarky, self-aware dialogue that flattens characters into interchangeable voices. That leads us to a single, broader thesis, one that continues to ring true as time marches on: as authenticity increases in online content, it may be disappearing from scripted entertainment. That leaves us wondering… if people aren’t looking for authentic stories in TV and film, where are they trying to find it?
Big thanks to our patrons! We’ll be back soon.
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 take the next step on our ever-expanding “unc-slop” journey, starting with the Mayor of Kingstown and what it reveals about attention-heavy TV in an age of half-watching. Why do some shows demand your full focus, and why does that feel increasingly rare? Along the way, we talk about Taylor Sheridan’s ever-expanding TV empire, Jeremy Renner’s strange app-era detour, and the uncomfortable future of AI celebrity companions that feel just a little too real.
That spirals into a bigger question: what happens when creators stop engaging with the foundations of their medium? From film students who don’t watch movies, to algorithmic taste replacing human curation, we explore the growing need for what we’re calling “Unc-slop Sherpas.” We dig into why classics still hit harder, why modern storytelling often over-explains itself, and how second-screen habits are reshaping what gets made.
We also wrestle with blockbuster economics, franchise fatigue, and whether roller-coaster cinema can coexist with art that actually sticks. Is culture becoming a comfort noise? Are movies headed toward “zombie art” status? And in a world optimized for scrolling, what does it mean to truly pay attention?
By the end, we boil everything down to one simple but uncomfortable question: in a world full of easy content, why is it important to try and make things a little harder for ourselves?
Big thanks to our patrons, we’ll be back soon!
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 kick things off with a truly cursed recommendation: a RoboCop TV show so strange, sanitized, and unintentionally hilarious it leaves us asking… how did this come from one of the most violent sci-fi films ever made? Along the way, we tease some big changes coming to the podcast, so STAY TUNED.
Then we take it all the way back to 1994 – A time when everyone seemed to be watching, referencing, and understanding the same things? We ask what happened between then and now, and how we went from shared touchstones to a cultural free-for-all where nothing feels foundational, which makes us wonder – was that really the cultural high water mark?
From there, we introduce the idea of “Unc-slop,” a freshly coined term describing content that looks informed on the surface but lacks any real grounding. What does it mean to be a fan of something if you’ve skipped the basics? And how much depth can you really have if your taste is built entirely by algorithms instead of by the people who actually lived with the medium?
We dig into why foundations matter, why classics still hit harder, why modern audiences are often shocked by competent storytelling, and why refusing to engage with the past is not the mold-breaking move you might think it is.
From there, we dive into the enormous loss that occurs when human curation disappears, when recommendations come from machines instead of mentors, and when students of a craft feel no obligation to study its history.
By the end, we’re left with some nagging questions: can culture even exist at all without these shared experiences? Can it function when building real connections requires more homework than some people might be ready for? The good news? Us two Uncs just might be ready to assign some.
Big thanks to our Patrons, we’ll be back soon!
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 - Mostrar más
