Great Company with Jamie Laing

Episode: VIKKSTAR: The Sidemen Almost Ended Because Of Me
Date: November 12, 2025
Host: Jamie Laing
Guest: Vikkstar (Vikram Barn)

Episode Overview

This episode features YouTube megastar and Sidemen co-founder Vikkstar (Vikram Barn), who joins Jamie Laing for an open, inspiring, and at times raw conversation about building an online career, resilience, teamwork, and the reality behind internet success. Vikkstar reveals the sacrifices, obsessive work ethic, and team dynamics that have allowed the Sidemen to endure as one of the world’s most successful creator groups. He also touches on health challenges, burnout, massive video productions, and transitioning into music.

Key Topics & Discussion Highlights

1. Starting Out on YouTube (05:33 – 08:36)

• Vikkstar began making YouTube gaming videos at 14 as a hobby in his bedroom in Sheffield. Monetization wasn’t even possible then.
• Early feelings of being an outcast—vlogging looked “almost like psychosis” to outsiders.
  • "Why are you sat in front of a screen and talking to yourself? Because no one did it." (07:40, Vikkstar)
• Early payments: £50–£60/month, which felt “mad” as a kid. By age 18, he earned “tens of thousands” yearly but worked 16–18 hour days.

2. Perseverance and Outsider Status (11:00 – 14:54)

• Vikkstar discusses the conflict of being introverted but doing something so outward-facing.
• Early on, he was part of a group of friends making videos, but he was the only one to keep going.
• Why didn’t he quit? He persevered out of passion and fascination, not because of initial success.
  • "I was fascinated by it ... I think maybe I didn't have as much else going on." (14:56, Vikkstar)
• Consistency rewarded him; uploaded daily for 6–7 years straight, sacrificing social life and health.

3. Addiction to Numbers and Burnout (16:11 – 20:04)

• Adrenaline from real-time feedback made YouTube “so, so addictive.”
• Developed self-worth tied to view counts; stopping constant uploads was scary and identity-shaking.
  • "After so long, you've tied your self-worth as a person to those numbers." (22:10, Vikkstar)
• Burnout cycles were common; shifting focus required re-learning how to have hobbies, build health, “even just learning how to actually not be doing stuff.”

4. Formation and Growth of the Sidemen (10:00 – 13:15, 21:48+)

• Sidemen began when Vikkstar and fellow YouTubers moved in together, combining audiences and efforts.
• Early spirit: collaboration over competition, supported by “UK culture” of friendly banter and self-deprecation.
  • "Collaboration... it doesn't work in the long run to guard what you have. It's better just to collaborate with people, share your audiences, share your ideas." (37:09, Vikkstar)
• Working as a group is forgiving—members can have quiet periods and be supported.

5. Production, Scale, and Financials (28:13 – 31:39)

• Sidemen Sunday videos now cost an average of £50–60k to produce; the wildest topped £500k collaborating with MrBeast.
  • "Some [videos] cost £5000–10,000 if it's just us, but the most expensive was £500,000." (28:29, Vikkstar)
  • Sometimes these big projects lose money but are pursued for creative or collaborative reasons.
• Early big hits cost nearly nothing—now investment in quality/staff is essential.

6. The YouTube Algorithm & Creator Pressure (44:42 – 47:14)

• Discussed the evolution from subscriber feeds (everyone saw your videos) to today's algorithmic, hyper-edited, psychologically optimized content.
  • "Now—there's probably more, you know, I think they say being an influencer or a creator is the most desirable job ... but then you're competing with all of them." (46:18, Vikkstar)
• 720,000 hours of new content are uploaded daily (47:30); standing out requires both quality and strategic thinking.

7. Analytics, Business Mindset, and Diversity of Sidemen Roles (32:45 – 34:33)

• Sidemen’s strength: diverse skillsets—some members are entertainers (JJ, Harry), others (Vikkstar, Josh) are logical “nerds” obsessed with analytics and planning.
  • Jamie: "So you were constantly... you're an analyst. You're basically... you're the analyst." (34:11)
  • Vikkstar: "I think that's what works so well in sidemen, is with seven very unique people." (34:19)

8. Health Struggles and Sharing Vulnerability (61:28 – 64:41)

• Vikkstar revealed having Crohn's disease; he hid it for years but ultimately went public to help others.
  • "It's one of these things people call an invisible illness... it's hard to say, 'I'm really not feeling well' because it's kind of like inside you." (62:55)
• Talks candidly about the toll on his energy and needing time to find the right medication.

9. Expanding Beyond YouTube: Music, VC, Netflix (42:24 – 43:08; 66:36 – 70:08)

• Sidemen now pursue business ventures (e.g., VC arm) and TV (Netflix show “Inside”).
• Vikkstar's DJ career: from hobby to booking Tomorrowland, with real-world connection to fans now as important as digital.
• Suffers from imposter syndrome (“I'm the guy who plays video games, what's going on here?” (70:10)), but embraces challenge.

10. Advice for Aspiring Creators (73:14 – 74:07)

• "Work hard consistently ... use everything as experience and a learning. ... The more things you do, the more people you meet ... you increase the surface area of your luck." (73:14, Vikkstar)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Early YouTube Days:
  "Why are you sat in front of a screen and talking to yourself? Because no one did it. ... Influencers, YouTubers, there was none of this stuff." (07:40, Vikkstar)

• On Success:
  "People say, sometimes it's better to be imperfect lots of times than perfect just a few times. So I think again, the 10,000 hour rule, I think I've uploaded over 10,000 videos." (16:11, Vikkstar)

• On Teamwork:
  "We're more powerful as a collective than as individuals." (38:25, Vikkstar)

• On Money and Risk:
  "Sometimes you just need to do stuff ... spending £500,000 on a video, knowing you might not make that back." (30:32, Vikkstar)

• On Imposter Syndrome:
  "Going to a festival and ... I'm the guy who plays video games. Like, what's going on here?" (70:10, Vikkstar)

• On Advice:
  "You increase the surface area of your luck. And the more you increase that, the more good things that will come to you in time." (73:14, Vikkstar)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [05:33] Vikkstar describes starting YouTube at age 14
• [07:40] Early feelings of being an outsider
• [08:52] First earnings from YouTube
• [10:00] Sidemen beginnings and moving in together
• [16:11] Obsessive work ethic and daily uploads for years
• [22:10] Tying self-worth to numbers, being scared to post less
• [28:29] Production costs for Sidemen videos, biggest-ever project
• [31:39] The consistency and risk-taking behind YouTube’s biggest creators
• [37:09] Collaboration versus competition in YouTube groups
• [44:42] Evolution of the YouTube algorithm and psychological demands
• [61:28] Living with Crohn’s disease and why Vikkstar went public
• [66:43] DJing at Tomorrowland, stepping beyond digital into music
• [70:10] Struggling with imposter syndrome in new creative fields
• [73:14] Final advice for those starting out—work, learn, increase your “surface area of luck”
• [75:51] Quickfire round: humor, fears, guilty pleasures, work ethic, and more

Tone & Language

Throughout, the tone is candid, energetic, and self-reflective, with Vikkstar’s humility and analytical nature shining through. Jamie’s style is enthusiastic and supportive, asking probing questions that encourage vulnerability as well as humor.

Further Listening

Jamie suggests also checking out the Italian Batch episode for more about nontraditional creator journeys and study of the craft (84:14).

Summary by: [Great Company with Jamie Laing — "VIKKSTAR: The Sidemen Almost Ended Because Of Me," Nov 12, 2025]