The Think Media Podcast â Episode 477
Title: Are Vlogs Dead? The REAL Reason Vlogging Is Blowing Up Again.
Date: January 8, 2026
Host: Sean Cannell (A)
Guest: Benji Travis (B)
Episode Overview
This episode dives deep into the state of vlogging on YouTube and the sudden resurgence of the format, with practical insights for content creators at all levels. Sean sits down with Benji Travis, a longtime creator whose vlogs have survived every YouTube era since 2011. Together, they break down the ânew wayâ vlogging is blowing up, debunk myths about its irrelevance, and reveal the critical shifts, strategies, and mindsets required to thrive now â in YouTubeâs so-called âTV era.â
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Is Vlogging Really Dead?
- Summary: Vlogging is making a comeback, but not as it existed before. The vlogs that work now look very different from traditional âday in the lifeâ content.
- Benji: âVlogging's back, and itâs totally different. The timing couldnât be any better. If you do it the right way, you could see a lot of success.â [01:56]
- New Approach: Focused, topic-driven vlogsâcentered on passions and specific interestsâare thriving over personality-driven, âmy whole dayâ style vlogs.
2. YouTube Has Moved into the Living Room: The TV Era
- Major Shift: YouTube consumption is now large-screen, relaxed, and comparable to traditional TV.
- Sean: âYouTube vlogs behave like TV shows⌠âidealâ lengths are now 28, 33, even 43 minutes â like an episode of The Office.â [05:08]
- Benji: â30 minutes is the length of a show, right? Think TV, and weâre in the living room watching content. Thereâs a psychology to a 30-minute video.â [05:43]
- Implication: Creators should target longer form content that fits this âcouch viewingâ habit.
3. Short-Form Fatigue & the Long-Form Revival
- Trend & Counter-Trend: Short-form blew up, but a counter-trend has emerged: audiences are craving deeper, slower, more meaningful content.
- Sean: âShort form has fried our brains. Now we want depthâŚand thereâs a level of short form fatigue.â [11:31]
- Benji: âThe term that I learned from the young people, brain rot, just represents that fatigue that people have and just endless scrollingâŚPeople want that 30-minute tutorial.â [12:17]
- Opportunity: Now is a window where long-form content can build stronger relationships and drive meaningful growth.
4. Fame is Not Required: Welcome to Interest Media
- Old Myth: Only big creators could pull off successful vlogs.
- New Reality: Itâs about specific interests and niches, not audience size.
- Benji: âNow, it really doesnât matter about the subscribers you haveâŚif the video is really good, the algorithm will suggest it and itâs giving everybody a chance.â [16:33]
- Sean: âSocial media is dead, subscribers are dead. Itâs now interest media.â [19:28]
- Tactic: Focus on making a video for a specific community, not just for your followers.
5. Old Way vs. New Way of Vlogging
- Old Way: âWhole dayâ vlogs, fan-driven, entertainment-centric, personality at center.
- New Way: Vlogging about one specific topic or activityâthe audienceâs interest is at the center.
- Benji: âThe new way of vlogging is combining the utility of YouTube with vlogging. Now, Iâm just talking about that one topic that someoneâs interested in.â [24:25]
- Key Quote: âInstead of vlogging about my whole day and making me the star, Iâm vlogging about one part of my day about something Iâm interested in â that someone else is also interested in.â [24:25]
6. The âThree Tâsâ Framework for Vlogging
- 1. Theme: What should your channel be known for? (Ex: Food passion, travel, fitness, etc.)
- 2. Topic & Takeaway: Each vlog should be about a clear, singular topic with a clear viewer benefit.
- 3. Tell Stories: Infuse personal anecdotes, real-world experiences, and your perspective.
- Benji: âTheme, topic, and tell storiesâthatâs the new format⌠Pick something fun to you, stick to it, and use your stories to connect.â [28:20]
7. Real Beats Perfect: Authenticity Over Polish
- Realness is In: Audiences want genuine, raw, unvarnished contentânot hyper-edited performances.
- Barriers Dropped: Gear and editing donât matter as much as consistency and authenticity.
- Benji: âPeople want real versus perfect⌠Do you edit yourself when talking with a friend? No, you just rant. Thatâs the real you and thatâs whatâs going to be the most genuine.â [33:13]
8. Consistency Wins: The Window of Opportunity
- Why Now? The âTV eraâ of YouTube is the lowest-friction moment for new creators to break through. This wonât last forever.
- Mindset: Treat consistency as the price of entry. Uploading regularly trains the algorithm and builds momentum.
- Benji: âWhenever something starts blowing up, other people want to be that person⌠Itâs almost always easiest in the beginning. And this new era of YouTube, I call it the TV era, is right now.â [40:29]
- Advice: âIf youâre not consistent now, youâre gonna regret it later because then youâre gonna have to be even more consistent.â [41:53]
Memorable Quotes & Timestamps
- âVloggingâs back, first off. So excitedâŚIt really opens up the window of opportunity.â â Benji [01:56]
- âYouTube vlogs behave like TV shows ⌠30 minutes is the length of a show ⌠thereâs a psychology to a 30-minute video.â â Benji [05:43]
- âShort-form has fried our brains. Now we want depthâŚThereâs a level of short-form fatigue.â â Sean [11:31]
- âNow, it really doesnât matter about the subscribers you have. If the video is really good, the algorithm will suggest it.â â Benji [16:33]
- âSocial media is dead, subscribers are dead. Itâs now interest media.â â Sean [19:28]
- âInstead of vlogging about my whole day and making me the star, Iâm vlogging about one part of my day about something Iâm interested in that someone else is also interested in.â â Benji [24:25]
- âTheme, topic, and tell storiesâthatâs the new format.â â Benji [28:20]
- âPeople want real versus perfectâŚDo you edit yourself when talking with a friend? No, you just rant.â â Benji [33:13]
- âItâs almost always easiest in the beginning. And this new era of YouTube that weâre in, I call it the TV era, is right now.â â Benji [41:24]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:48 â Why vlogging isnât deadâitâs evolved
- 03:12 â YouTube in the living room: The rise of long-form, TV-style content
- 05:43 â The 30-minute âshowâ mindset and optimal video length
- 08:38 â What the new method of vlogging looks like: topical, focused, expanded commentary
- 11:31 â Short-form fatigue and the drift toward depth
- 16:33 â Algorithm, subscribers, and why fame no longer matters
- 24:25 â Old vlogging vs. new: Utility, specificity, and how the algorithm rewards it
- 28:20 â The Three Tâs of modern vlogging: theme, topic, tell stories
- 33:13 â Real over perfect: why unfiltered content wins
- 39:58 â Consistency: the most underrated secret to winning the current âTV eraâ of YouTube
Notable Moments
- Anecdotes: Benjiâs âCostco dealsâ video expanded from 10 to 30 minutes not from filler, but letting his thoughts, opinions, and real-time experiences deepen the content [08:38].
- âInterest Mediaâ: Sean calls out the end of subscriber-driven algorithms, ushering in a new era of niche, passion-based recommendations [19:28].
- Vlogging Formula: Benji presents the Three Tâsâa practical, replicable system to start modern vlogging [28:20].
- Hands-On Advice: Both urge creators to run rapid challenges (5, 10, 30 days in a row) to âlearn so muchâ and break inertia [45:50].
Action Steps & Takeaways
1. Commit to the New Format:
- Target one interest or topic per video.
- Make it longer (20â40 minutes), if possible.
- Embrace your real personalityâdonât over-edit.
2. Use the Three Tâs:
- Theme: Define your channelâs purpose.
- Topic & Takeaway: Make each video about one specific thing with value for the viewer.
- Tell Stories: Infuse all content with your unique experience and voice.
3. Be Consistent:
- Upload regularly; challenge yourself with multi-day upload streaks.
- Momentum compoundsâwhether youâre brand new or established.
4. Donât Fear Starting Small:
- Everyone, even big names, must adapt and put in reps.
- The YouTube algorithm rewards focused, interest-based content, even from channels with zero subscribers.
How to Learn More
- Benjiâs Free Deep Dive: Visit vloggeracademy.com for a comprehensive masterclass on the new format.
- Connect with Benji: Instagram @BenjiManTV
- Subscribe to Think Media for upcoming tactical episodes and follow on your preferred podcast app.
Final Words:
The new golden age of vlogging is now. Focus, authenticity, and consistent output are the name of the game. âDonât sleep on whatâs happening in 2026.â [44:55]
