Looking Back: 10 Years of Vlogging on YouTube

My YouTube Channel History

For the longest time I did almost nothing on YouTube. I remember saying to someone in 2008 – “It’s just a fad, it won’t last.” How wrong was I!

Mostly I liked and categorized videos, probably like a lot of people did. I had a U2 collection, plus some series of cartoons that intrigued me. But YouTube kept changing the privacy on stuff, and then deleted channels that somehow violated their terms – yet nobody could see why.

In early 2012, whilst working on a Government ITC Help Desk, I worked with a young guy who said “Instead of playing PS/Xbox/Wii games, I just watch their YouTube channels – it’s cheaper!” Within a month I was hooked on a few youtube gamer channels whose style was consistent, crazy-funny, and catching worldwide attention. You may know who I mean.

Late 2015, thanks to a friend on Facebook, I was advised to check out Casey Neistat Apple batteries vlog . Then Casey began vlogging daily. Vlogging became a word.

Early 2016 I revamped my YouTube channel, removing all the Liked videos and vlogs, and uploaded a dozen videos shot by my wife – using them to show off her honey business on Kangaroo Island. Then I started vlogging our weekly visits to Cleland Wildlife Park … so all our Australian-Zoo visits also got uploaded!

In mid 2016, after a very long hiatus being the Dead Reds Wine Group photographer, I decided to vlog the night’s drinking – and everyone who went appreciated it. Actually, vlogging made it all the more fun – people spoke to their camera!

I found finances to buy a very decent movie editor program: Movavi. Windows Movie Maker was insufficient! Movavi has been great for creating eclectic music to go over wind-filled footage, converting and compressing, then uploading to YouTube without any problems.

Then in July 2016, I twisted my right knee so much that my vlogging took a backseat until I recovered sufficiently to get around without pain. I still photographed and video’d a lot of B-Roll, but I was getting tired easily from the exercise needed – so much so that tonnes of footage sat incomplete.
[26 July 2026. Much of it was deleted between June & December 2025.]

In early 2017 we moved to Kangaroo Island. Within a month I uploaded a short vlog that received 200 views in a few days – which blew my mind and reminded me of my journey. I was back on track!

Out of all the YouTube channels I’m subscribed to, Casey Neistat’s channel is the only one that I consistently revisit.

When Casey added his “DO WHAT YOU CAN’T” vlog, It was like a smack in the face for me.

It brings me back to Casey’s channel to remind myself of what I am aiming to achieve.
Yet I say it is probably not the best mantra. I prefer to say “GO BEYOND YOUR LIMITS”.