As USA TODAY's reporter covering YouTube, I not only look for news stories but also try to find videos I actually like. I spend hours watching video essays on pop culture, vlogs from my favorite creators, cooking videos, fun interviews with influencers and celebrities and showstopping performances from my favorite artists. I go down obscure rabbit holes, but I do come across videos that I think anyone would appreciate.
Here are seven YouTube videos from this month I think you should watch.
An unexpectedly touching look at a firehouse kitchen
"On the Job" is one of my favorite video series on YouTube. I've admired Priya Krishna's cooking since her days as a guest on Bon Appétit's channel during the Golden Age before it all fell apart. Thankfully, she found a perfect gig at The New York Times as a food
reporter and created an incredibly heartwarming series in which she talks to the often overlooked people who work in the kitchens at places like hospitals, hotels, middle schools and more. This video focuses on the firefighter who cooks at a firehouse in Jersey City, New Jersey, and his bond with his coworkers, revealing that they never know which meal will be their last together. It was yet another pleasant watch that made me tear up.
Ziwe meets her match in celebrity stylist Law Roach
Ziwe's interview show has seen many a perfect guest: Tiffany "New York" Pollard, Kevin Hart and even the former mayor of New York City, Eric Adams. But recently, she had the image architect himself, Law Roach, on her show to talk about why he loves to style the elite (even those less favored by the general public), what it's like to create some of the most memorable red carpet looks, and how his coming on the show was actually his client Zendaya's idea.
Unpacking a heartless internet drama
Matt Bernstein, better known on Instagram as @Mattxiv, invited internet culture journalist Kat Tenbarge along with actress, comedian and content creator Franchesca Ramsey on his podcast, "A Bit Fruity," to talk about the incessant dogpiling onto Jools Lebron, the creator known for popularizing the phrase "very demure, very mindful," who recently caught flack for asking for help from her followers to pay for dental surgery. The experts rake through the discourse with a fine-tooth comb and illuminate how being outraged online can be a way for people to capitalize on a viral moment, how unsympathetic people can be to financial struggles, and how some fans misunderstand how little some TikTok creators make.
Breaking down the song of the summer debate
Music reviewers on social media are, more often than not, pretentious snobs who take themselves too seriously, but Mic The Snare is a welcome change of pace. He discusses contemporary music in an engaging and playful way, slipping in perfectly timed jokes, while also giving his honest thoughts on popular songs. I agreed with most of his picks on this ranked list of potential "Song of the Summer" songs, but it's enjoyable even if you don't agree with him.
Someone else's solo vacation that's actually fun to watch
As content creation on platforms becomes a lucrative career path, we are slowly losing the people who make videos just for fun. I love Vanilla Mace because she just goes on random adventures and side quests, like thrifting, a cat cafe or a simple nature walk, and manages to have a good time all by herself – and she's not afraid to look like a fool. There are no frills; it's just her sharing her jokes and stream-of-consciousness thoughts. This month she decided to go on a little weekend trip alone, and it's effortlessly enjoyable to watch her plunging down a waterslide at a resort or pretending she's on "Love Island" with video game characters.
Brittany Broski once again shows why we love her
Brittany Broski is one of the most charming influencers working today. On her YouTube show "Royal Court," she can make all kinds of celebrities laugh and feel comfortable, leading them to let loose and feel less polished. She recently appeared on the "Blind Date" series with Willah Bennet, the editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan and Seventeen, and delivers zinger after zinger, sometimes accidentally revealing a little too much about herself – but that's why we love her.
Behind the scenes of Haute Couture Paris Fashion Week
Quenlin Blackwell has been an internet staple since Vine, but she's turned that online fame into a modeling career. She regularly appears in music videos by artists like Charli xcx and Sombr, and has also appeared in Cardi B's recent Old Navy ad. In this new vlog, she takes her followers across Paris for the chaotic Haute Couture Fashion Week. It's so exciting to watch her gallivant around the city with her best friend and fellow influencer Larray, causing a ruckus everywhere they go, and still show up to serve a look at the Balenciaga and Chanel shows.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 7 new YouTube videos that you'll actually like
