Is TV dead? Not yet, but it will be soon, if you’re asking me. YouTube and Netflix have long taken its place, at least for the majority of the younger demographic. I haven’t owned a TV in years, and I’m not missing it at all.

So what do I like watching? On YouTube, mostly travel and lifestyle content. Below are some of my favourite channels which best represent my taste, and whose videos I watch and re-watch regularly. I kept it down to a concise seven, but may follow it up with a part 2, or with my favourite non-English channels. Enjoy!

 

by Kaja

I found this channel binge-watching random Paris vlogs. I must say that it had to grow on me before I felt like I want to hit that “subscribe” button. But when I eventually did, Kaja’s globetrotting lifestyle fascinated me. Raised in Poland and Denmark, Kaja spent several years living between China, Thailand and France, with outings to the Philippines and India. Though sometimes uploaded with lengthy delays, her vlogs consistently document her life as an international MA student turning into a young professional. You follow her around as she explores new cities she lives in, often accompanied by her friend Nina Catharina (the self-proclaimed “true star of this channel” 😀).

Kaja is very bubbly and charismatic. You’ll love her vlogs for their honest and laidback feel. Although she wasn’t, like I said before, an instant hit with someone as calm and introverted as me, over time I started to find her more and more relatable. Perhaps because of our background? Both Kaja and I were born in Poland, but spent our formative years abroad (Denmark and the UK). And we both are enchanted by an Asian country (China and India). We also share distaste for meat and passion for running.

Although she currently seems to be living a happy life in Warsaw, I hope that one day she can relocate back to her dream city, Shanghai. She even wrote a book about it!

Recommended video: Kaja running in Bangkok’s Lumphini Park (braving the 35 °C heat!) and brooding over her future.

 

Andrea Heckler

I discovered Andrea’s channel thanks to Cheryl NonStopParis (who would also make this list had she not given up vlogging – but I respect her decision). Both of them would often feature in each other’s videos. Originally from the States, Andrea talks about languages, creative writing, travelling, and her everyday life in Paris. (Update: She relocated to New York in 2021.) Language learning videos alternate with musings on French culture, punctuated with travel vlogs from Europe and North America. She’s also a young adult fantasy writer, readying the release of her first novel, and has even dedicated a separate channel to that. She generously shares tips, so aspiring authors will find her content particularly valuable.

You’ll love her warm personality and subtle humour. Clearly well-read, Andrea speaks eloquently and is particularly pleasant to listen to. I like her to-the-point, no-nonsense style, and how organized she seems to be. All this makes for very informative yet digestible videos. You’re a coffee lover? Great, a warm cup of your favourite drink is often seen in the frame. And so are her super-adorable cats, Hamlet and Bingley!

Recommended video: Language nerds will love this one.

 

Geography Now

This channel will intimidate most geography teachers! 😉 Since 2014, Barbs and his team have been dedicating an episode to every UN-recognized country in the world, in alphabetical order. Their well researched videos, packed with a lot of information in a fast-paced format, and a touch of humour, make knowledge easily accessible to all.

Recommended video: Maybe the one that brought me to this channel?

 

Travel Vlog IV

Ivana is a Dutch vlogger with Serbian origin, currently living in India. I stumbled upon her channel when browsing videos about Mumbai – one of my three favourite cities in the world. It happens to be Ivana’s happy place too, and we both particularly adore Marine Drive. Her videos revolve around different aspects of life in India as a foreigner. She explores the country and its culture with curiosity and respect. You’ll love her warm, humble personality and honest opinions. Previously based in Amsterdam (guess what, another one of my three favourite cities!), Ivana has a lot of content about it too. What’s not to love?

Recommended video: Ivana showing all the must-see spots in Mumbai!

 

Easy German

I have to admit, with sadness and embarrassment, that my German isn’t as good as when I was studying linguistics. After years of not using it regularly, well… wenn du die Sprache nicht benutzt, vergisst du es! An offshoot of Easy Languages, this channel is a great resource for brushing up on your German, particularly listening skills. Hosted by a very friendly couple, Cari and Janusz, the videos largely follow a very simple, yet effective format of a street survey. In each episode, passers-by answer a different question. These range from trivialities (“what’s your favourite food?”) to philosophical topics, such as the meaning of life. The team often ventures out from their usual spot in North Berlin, and explores Germany and beyond.

Spontaneous and non-scripted, the conversations accurately represent the way “real people” talk, a far cry from dire pre-recorded RP dialogues that usually come with language courses. You’ll hear colloquialisms, slang and a wide variety of accents. Everything is transcribed in the captions and followed by an English translation. If you’re also into German culture and lifestyle, you’ll find Easy German particularly addictive.

Recommended video: Things that you absolutely do NOT want to do in Germany. This video has gone viral and was soon followed by an equally good part 2!

 

Backpacking Bananas

A fairly recent addition to my list of favourite YouTubers, and my travel vlogger of preference. I started watching Christianne’s videos in the midst of the first lockdown, and they went on to feed my wanderlust during the pandemic. After visiting well over 40 countries, and nearly a decade of continuous travelling, Christianne is the definition of a globetrotter. How to get the most of your trip without overspending? What to consider when choosing your accommodation? How to stay safe and make friends during travelling? Her channel is a cornucopia of priceless advice, especially if backpacking is your preferred way of discovering the world.

Though she has visited every continent (apart from Antarctica, but who knows, maybe one day?), her focus seems to be on Australia, New Zealand, and South-East Asia. She’s also really into South America at the moment. If any of those places are on your travel bucket list, I can’t recommend Backpacking Bananas enough.

Recommended video: Christianne breaking down her extensive travel history. If this doesn’t make you want to leave everything and explore the world, then I don’t know what can!

 

Infinite Waters (Diving Deep)

I stumbled upon this spirituality/self-improvement channel at just the right time, when I was going through the lowest point in my life and questioning the world around me. Ralph Smart aided my spiritual awakening and opened my eyes to a lot of things. A trained psychologist, he talks about interpersonal relations and shares advice on growing as an individual. He was teaching how to become “the best version of yourself” long before that phrase started gracing countless cringey social media posts.

On his channel, simple life tips alternate with more privy subjects. You’re as likely to find out how to improve your public speaking skills as how to raise the vibration of your spirit, or decalcify the pineal gland. A staunch vegan, he’ll not only inspire you to stop eating meat, but also to start paying more attention to the food you supply your body with. His content occasionally borders on conspiracy theories, which I understand some of you may find off-putting, but I would still recommend “diving deep” selectively with an open mind. Though recent years saw me move away slightly from this channel in favour of other spirituality vloggers, I’m still grateful to Ralph for being a guidance during my Saturn return.

Recommended video: One of his most accessible.