As (if feel) one of Keith's most ardent and avid subscribers, channel members, and financial sustainers, I wanted to touch on some things about Keith from my perspective.
I found one of Keith's videos around this time last year (late January 2025). I was immediately hooked. Around the time that he had started his channel prior to the election, I was starting to drift away from my usual daily diet (or gorge fest) on MSNBC in which I had dwelled for the past 20-25 years. I had ditched CNN by that time. I started relying more on YT and Substack independent media, as I saw the tide shifting there. I got memberships to Mockler, MTN, BTC, The Bulwark (mostly because I loved Tim Miller and met him briefly in San Francisco on his book tour), and subscribed to about 25 more I found along the way. Then Keith popped up in my algorithm (I wish it had been sooner!)
Keith was different. Although he is 19 years younger than I, he presented a wealth of knowledge, style, humor, kindness, and heart that spoke directly to me and I believe many in my generation. I FINALLY found someone who was speaking my mind. Often times he will say something and I mouth the exact same phrase or thought. I think I also gravitated toward him because we were both Midwestern, gay, from modest beginnings, and both of us spent a great deal of our lives in New York City.
His headlines, thumbs, and titles, though most would call 'click-bait', never bothered me. I went to his videos for HIM and what he had to say. I understand the need for them, but I knew he was doing everything right in this space. If it gets more eyes to him, so be it. And compared to some others out there, his were mild.
As April and May rolled around, I was even more engaged. I sent him an email (I don't know if he read it) to tell him how much I loved his work, and that I saw his success coming. It was the little things, like his ask "to like and subscribe" was short, non-rehearsed, often in different places in the video. I loved his through line story-telling in his videos. He didn't spend a lot of time showing endless clips of MSM. He sometimes found really stupid things to highlight amidst our troubling daily news cycle. And most of all, it was usually soft-spoken, conversational, and never lecturing. All with a dash of humor, some snark, compassion, and tons of LOVE. He clearly showed he loved what he was doing.
I made it my mission to do anything to help get him to 500k subs by July. I think he reached it mid-July. Then on to 1 M by the end of September. He hit a million just a couple of weeks later. During those milestones, I constantly reposted his vids to FB, started using IG a little more, and trying to spread his message anywhere I could. Also, I would contribute healthy SuperChats, making sure I commented, and followed his work on Substack. I even had an ad for his channel on my posters at No Kings March. I think rewarding good work is important.
I would like there are many of his new subscribers/members who felt as I did. I don't know if any were as fervent as I was, but he built it and we all came. He has truly motivated and inspired me to do more, think more, and be more active in a digital space. He does most of his work alone with just a couple of editors. That is undeniably mind-boggling! Especially when he is active on X, Threads, BlueSky, and IG. I literally can't keep up with him.
I am also one who enjoys his interviews. His interview with Marianne Williamson was especially good. And his back and forth with Tim Miller was hilarious. So I want to encourage him to continue them, albeit maybe fewer politicians and more change makers and democracy-loving advocates.
So, as he moves into the next chapter after an explosive year (for him AND the country), I hope more will find and support his work. I want him to find some good editors and producers so that he can enjoy the benefits of what he has created and not burn out.
He said the other day "I'm tired of defending the truth." That's what the other side wants. But I know Keith won't rest, and neither will we, until we get this ship on course and away from the iceberg.
Thank you for this insightful behind-the-scenes article. It's truly interesting & inspiring. I'm beyond grateful for independent media during this unprecedented & daunting time. Watching these videos keeps our hope & fight alive. I do enjoy Keith's lowkey, charismatic, authentic & humorous approach. I didn't know Keith lived in NYC. I grew up there - greatest city ever.
This is the part everyone pretending to be a digital “genius” hates hearing: yelling isn’t a strategy, thumbnails aren’t a personality, and audiences can smell bullshit through a 4K monitor.
As (if feel) one of Keith's most ardent and avid subscribers, channel members, and financial sustainers, I wanted to touch on some things about Keith from my perspective.
I found one of Keith's videos around this time last year (late January 2025). I was immediately hooked. Around the time that he had started his channel prior to the election, I was starting to drift away from my usual daily diet (or gorge fest) on MSNBC in which I had dwelled for the past 20-25 years. I had ditched CNN by that time. I started relying more on YT and Substack independent media, as I saw the tide shifting there. I got memberships to Mockler, MTN, BTC, The Bulwark (mostly because I loved Tim Miller and met him briefly in San Francisco on his book tour), and subscribed to about 25 more I found along the way. Then Keith popped up in my algorithm (I wish it had been sooner!)
Keith was different. Although he is 19 years younger than I, he presented a wealth of knowledge, style, humor, kindness, and heart that spoke directly to me and I believe many in my generation. I FINALLY found someone who was speaking my mind. Often times he will say something and I mouth the exact same phrase or thought. I think I also gravitated toward him because we were both Midwestern, gay, from modest beginnings, and both of us spent a great deal of our lives in New York City.
His headlines, thumbs, and titles, though most would call 'click-bait', never bothered me. I went to his videos for HIM and what he had to say. I understand the need for them, but I knew he was doing everything right in this space. If it gets more eyes to him, so be it. And compared to some others out there, his were mild.
As April and May rolled around, I was even more engaged. I sent him an email (I don't know if he read it) to tell him how much I loved his work, and that I saw his success coming. It was the little things, like his ask "to like and subscribe" was short, non-rehearsed, often in different places in the video. I loved his through line story-telling in his videos. He didn't spend a lot of time showing endless clips of MSM. He sometimes found really stupid things to highlight amidst our troubling daily news cycle. And most of all, it was usually soft-spoken, conversational, and never lecturing. All with a dash of humor, some snark, compassion, and tons of LOVE. He clearly showed he loved what he was doing.
I made it my mission to do anything to help get him to 500k subs by July. I think he reached it mid-July. Then on to 1 M by the end of September. He hit a million just a couple of weeks later. During those milestones, I constantly reposted his vids to FB, started using IG a little more, and trying to spread his message anywhere I could. Also, I would contribute healthy SuperChats, making sure I commented, and followed his work on Substack. I even had an ad for his channel on my posters at No Kings March. I think rewarding good work is important.
I would like there are many of his new subscribers/members who felt as I did. I don't know if any were as fervent as I was, but he built it and we all came. He has truly motivated and inspired me to do more, think more, and be more active in a digital space. He does most of his work alone with just a couple of editors. That is undeniably mind-boggling! Especially when he is active on X, Threads, BlueSky, and IG. I literally can't keep up with him.
I am also one who enjoys his interviews. His interview with Marianne Williamson was especially good. And his back and forth with Tim Miller was hilarious. So I want to encourage him to continue them, albeit maybe fewer politicians and more change makers and democracy-loving advocates.
So, as he moves into the next chapter after an explosive year (for him AND the country), I hope more will find and support his work. I want him to find some good editors and producers so that he can enjoy the benefits of what he has created and not burn out.
He said the other day "I'm tired of defending the truth." That's what the other side wants. But I know Keith won't rest, and neither will we, until we get this ship on course and away from the iceberg.
Nevertheless, he persists.
Thank you so much, Keith.
Scott Denny
Thank you for this insightful behind-the-scenes article. It's truly interesting & inspiring. I'm beyond grateful for independent media during this unprecedented & daunting time. Watching these videos keeps our hope & fight alive. I do enjoy Keith's lowkey, charismatic, authentic & humorous approach. I didn't know Keith lived in NYC. I grew up there - greatest city ever.
This is the part everyone pretending to be a digital “genius” hates hearing: yelling isn’t a strategy, thumbnails aren’t a personality, and audiences can smell bullshit through a 4K monitor.
Hooray, a new post. Can’t wait to read this later tonight.