It’s a content creator smorgasbord!
Pretty much anyone involved publicly on social media can consider themselves a content creator. Mostly, it’s for fun, to share what you love with the world. Sometimes it takes off, but mostly…it’s still just for fun.
Today I’m going to share some of my favorite online content creators. Some of them are obvious. Others might be surprising. Take a look and see who’s on my radar.
Feel Good Fun
The creators in this category are just that – fun, entertaining content. Some of it is over-the-top, some of it is in-your-face.
In the Gen-X sub-category, we have The Dadbod Veteran and The Real Slim Sherri. They’re relatable on a personal level for me as fellow members of the forgotten generation. Tales of the “times before,” and general f*ck-around-and-find-out shenanigans give me a much-needed daily serotonin boost. Find them on TikTok at http://www.tiktok.com/thedadbodveteran and http://www.tiktok.com/therealslimsherri. Links to their other sites are also available.
The next pair in this group are genuine entertainers. Jack the Whipper is a trained circus performer, delivering humor and hijinx from the Renaissance Festival circuit. You can find him at http://www.tiktok.com/jacquezewhipper. Also, if you enjoy cat videos, comedian Drennon Davis has them in spades. From 1der Doug to CatTV, find his feline family at http://www.tiktok.com/drennondavis.
Is nerdy inspiration more your style? Grab your war-hammer for a balance of pep talks and workouts with Tank Nerd Gym Trainer at http://www.tiktok.com/tanktolman_. Alternately, sit down for a drink and a chat at Quincy’s Tavern. I found him at http://www.tiktok.com/quincylk, but he’s wherever you need him to be if you just follow the links.
Current Events
If you’re anything like me, you’re not a fan of mainstream media. Fortunately there are a few places online to keep up to date with what’s going on in the world. Fair warning: I lean towards the more liberal end as an independent/unaffiliated voter. These folks that I follow don’t appeal to everyone, and are not kind to trolls.
When you get tired of the same stories on your feed, hop over to Under the Desk News. V is a professional reporter, sharing national and global news that affects the daily lives of their viewers in some way. And not all hope is lost, even when the mainstream says otherwise. Good News Only on Thursday nights is the feel good vibe we all need going into the weekends. Find the awesomeness at http://www.tiktok.com/underthedesknews.
Need some snark with your current events? A history lesson? Maybe a Sunday Funday or real life Midwest US shenanigans? Visit Off JaWaggon to hear it like it is. Or was. Or how it should be. http://www.tiktok.com/offjawaggon
The last, but probably the most important current events content on this list is Gen Z for Change. Why, you may ask, am I following and promoting a group of reporters and advocates half my age? Well, I have two Gen-Z kids. I need to know what their generation wants, and is actively fighting for, so that I can support the world they have to live in when I’m gone. I found these awesome kids on TikTok. You an learn more about them at http://www.genzforchange.org.
Video Games
Is this the content you’ve been waiting for? Probably. Will this be who you’re expecting to see? Probably not.
Did you know that the branches of the U.S. Armed Forces have their own e-sports teams? They do, and you can often find them streaming online when not competing. My branch of choice? Well, I’m a proud Navy mom, so I follow Goats & Glory. http://www.twitch.tv/americasnavy is where you can watch and support these amazing young sailors.
What do talented actors do when they’re not lending a voice to the world’s most famous high elf vampire? Why, they play with themselves, of course! Or, play themselves. Maybe I was right the first time? But you can catch Neil Newbon, actor, gamer, and D&D enthusiast, playing Baldur’s Gate 3 at http://www.twitch.tv/neilnewbon.
Do you love The Sims? I mean, really love The Sims? Then Lil Simsie is the creator for you. She streams. She builds. She reviews. If you need the best Sims content, Lil Simsie is definitely the one to follow. While I do occasionally catch her Twitch stream gameplay, her best content is on YouTube. Give her a follow at http://www.youtube.com/lilsimsie. Happy Simming!
Tabletop Streams
Okay. This is the content you’ve been waiting for. But hold your horses, Critters. Let’s give some love to a few other crews first.
Some of you may have already been following High Rollers from their first two campaigns. Some of us (myself included found out about them during the Baldur’s Gate one-shot with the BG3 actors themselves. And now – right now! – is the best time to start following them. this amazing and talented team of UK tabletop gamers just started their third campaign! Go now to http://www.twitch.tv/highrollrsdnd to catch up!
Need a crew to follow without having to watch literal years of content just to catch up? Don’t worry. Dimension 20 has you covered. Each mini-campaign has a fun, fresh theme, with new content premiering every few months. The only drawback? Live content requires a subscription at http://www.dimension20.dropout.tv. Absolutely worth it.
Is it Thursday Yet?
Bidet, Critters! (Translation: Greetings, Critical Role fans!) How do you get 12,000+ D&D nerds in a single arena? You put a bunch of nerdy-ass voice actors on stage to tell a story and roll some dice. It’s the same recipe used to get an audience of more than 50k live viewers every Thursday night. That doesn’t count the live replay views. Or the on-demand subscriber views. Or YouTube…you get the idea.
Let’s face it. Critical Role is a tabletop rpg empire. Long-running campaigns. One-shots. Guest players and GMs. Recaps and wikis. Merch and non-profit work. Even their own games, published through their subsidiary Darrington Press. And it all started with a group of friends sitting around a table, telling stories and rolling dice. Enter the worlds of Exandria and more at http://www.critrole.com.
Are you still with me, Adventurers? I know, it was a long journey today. Hopefully you found some fascinating treasure along the way. Feel free to share your own favorite creators in the comments, and come back soon for another journey.