Defining the channels - Talk Channels Overview

 I have many different channels for just talking about stuff..

• mell.splains -> explain some recent knowledge I learned (Feynman technique)
  
• mell.lifes -> life lessons I recently learned (?) (meditation, spirituality, tripping?)
  
• mell.thinks -> thoughts I have about how I think things are or how I'd like them to be
  
• mell.loves -> thoughts and experiences surrounding being poly, trans, pansexual
  
• mell.works -> productivity and corporate stuff?

Just another random thought I had: I also want to create a master-channel that kind of maybe is like a best off or makes small references?

Another random thought I had: I should definitely also look into posting and interacting with Reddit communities that are relevant to my topics.

I guess what I'd like to do is start out making very short videos for TikTok, YouTube shorts etc. I'm very certain that creating long videos will deteriorate my motivation in no time if I have to work too long on something I'm not sure about and that might not reach anyone. So let's start with very short. I love short. It will force me to distill what is important and it will also lower the barrier. 

Then I need to figure out some other stuff too:

• I don't want to be wearing make-up all day everyday, but I do want to make most videos wearing make-up and lookin' snatched.  So I will need to kinda batch the creation of these videos I guess.
• I need to figure out how to transform my voice in a non real time, satisfactory manner, documenting the process.
• Figure out which platforms I will be using for which channels and how to route all my videos etc
• Decide on backgrounds
• For now I don't want to try and use my fancy mic to record everything. The acoustics in my apartment are messed up and it will be very hard to get consistent in different locations. Also I would need to recombine the audio and the video increasing the friction in creating new stuff. Let's say for now I'll go with my phone mic + AI enhancer pipeline.

O yea, one more thing: I figured out why I don't want to start with my existing Insta, TikTok, YouTube etc. I feel very comfortable speaking and writing to strangers, especially if they found my content because it's of interest to them. But the thought of my friends feeling obliged to like my stuff just so they can feel like they're being a good friend to me is horrifying and makes me cringe a little. I really disliked that feeling back when I was in a band: not knowing who actually came out because they enjoyed what you made and who just came out because they felt obligated.

About my voice..

I came out of the closet as a transgender woman in August 2022. I've started my medical transition 5 days before turning 30 in March 2023. I've been having difficulty with modulating my voice to sound more feminine. I feel quite insecure about my voice and it is one of the main drivers of my gender dysphoria. I've felt reluctant about creating new content with me and my voice in it because of my it. I've fantasized quite a bit about being able to change my voice with AI back in the day and nowadays we live in that reality. ElevenLabs has an AI voice changer that's pretty nice, but looking at the costs and the amount of hours I'm able to transform each month I guess this won't do. I guess I should go on a hunt to do it myself haha. Don't worry I'll bring you along with me :)

Defining the channels - mell.listens

So I have this list of possible channels based on my interests etc. Let's try and flesh out some of those ideas.

I love listening to, sharing, and talking about music that inspires or moves me. My appreciation spans across so many different styles and genres, each for its own unique reasons. I’m excited to dive deeper into genres I’m less familiar with, which is why building a community that embraces all sorts of music is so appealing to me.

Recently, I participated in a 30-day music challenge with two friends, and I absolutely loved it. It was such a joy to be a mini DJ in people's lives each day. This experience reinforced my desire to create a space where I can share music and discover new tunes with others.

To kick off this channel, creating an X account seems like a no-brainer. Alongside that, I'm considering using YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Instagram Reels to reach a broader audience. I'm still figuring out the specifics, but I know I want to create a Spotify playlist that compiles all the music I share.

This channel is perfect for a bit of prep work. I can easily create 50+ posts in a few hours and schedule them as a ‘playlist,’ ensuring I always have content as a backup. If inspiration strikes during the day, I can easily slot in new content for that specific day.

In the spirit of "now, not how" (thanks @NoahKagan), I’m diving right in. I'll start by creating an X account and making my first post.

Well.. there we go :) having a bias towards action will really help me I think. It has been helping me in life so far.

And there we go with the Spotify playlist. I'm missing a few songs, but I'll figure that out later!

This is a stupid idea... probably

The Problem:

For years, I've wanted to create content and share my interests, ideas, and experiences with others. However, I've never gotten far beyond a few YouTube videos with tips and tricks for metal music, aimed at promoting my now-defunct home studio business for metal bands.

One major obstacle has been the pressure to pick a single topic and stick with it. Conventional wisdom says to pick a niche and stay focused, right? Well, that's my problem. I find a wide range of things interesting, and Shiny Object Syndrome (thanks, ADHD) is always pulling me in different directions. The idea of dedicating a single channel to one subject and trying to stay motivated for years? No thanks. 

The Idea:

So, I thought, "What if I could create and maintain channels for all my different interests?" Of course, my inner critic was quick to respond: "That's a stupid idea. It won't work. You'll just dilute your efforts and confuse the social media algorithms."

But you know what? I'm a rebel, and I think my inner critic should just stfu. I'm starting this project anyway. I'm going to document it on this blog for fun and to keep myself accountable. With my background in programming and my ability to think systematically, I believe I can make this work without it consuming my entire life.

 

Topics:

So, what channels am I going to create? I don't have everything figured out yet, but here are some of my interests and the qualities people often point out about me:

• I absolutely LOVE music (mell.listens)
• I work as a programmer and love to code (mell.codes)
• Sometimes I can explain complicated things pretty well (mell.splains)
• I have a compassionate outlook on life and like to talk about it (mell.lives)
• I love to automate things, usually through coding (mell.automates)
• I enjoy thinking deeply and sharing my thoughts (mell.thinks)
• I'm trans, pansexual, and poly (mell.loves – yes, my life is alphabet soup)
• I like playing and creating music (mell.plays, mell.makes)
• I like to climb (mell.climbs)
• I have ADHD and have learned effective ways to manage it (mell.diverges)
• I maintain my sanity in a corporate environment while being productive (mell.works)
• I want to share the life lessons I'm learning (mell.talks)
• AI fascinates me, and I use it a lot in my life (mell.ais – if that's even a word)

 

The Motivation:

What's driving me to set up these channels? I want to build, contribute to, and engage with communities of people who share my interests. I hope to offer something valuable, whether it's teaching someone something new, providing a fresh perspective, or introducing people to new artists. For a long time, I felt like I had nothing relevant to share, or that I needed to be the best in a field to be of any value. I've realized that's just bullshit.

I also want to influence how we consume each other's content. For example, by offering both short and long forms of the same posts, people can choose based on their available time and interest level. I admire how the Huberman Lab Podcast timestamps its episodes and has an accompanying website that helps you find exactly what you're looking for. That's a glimpse of the future of content consumption, and I want to be part of it.