Login | June 27, 2025
Youtubers worth a watch
PETE GLADDEN
Pete’s World
Published: April 24, 2023
We’ve become Youtube junkies.
And that’s a result of the never-ending flow of depressing news, unfunny sitcoms, long-winded mini series, dated reruns and the limitless amount of shlock that graces evening primetime cable television.
We’ve been watching so much Youtube in fact that we now have favorite channels which I’m going to offer for your “alternative TV” primetime viewing enjoyment.
Athlean-X
Jeff Cavaliere MSPT, CSCS, is the real deal. He’s fit, ripped to the gills, and he’s a veritable encyclopedia when it comes to anatomy, kinesiology and exercise science. Cavaliere was the head physical therapist and assistant strength coach for the New York Mets during the National League East Championship 2006, 2007 and 2008 seasons, and has coached some amazing baseball greats. I’ve never come away from one of Cavaliere’s how-to and how not to exercise videos without learning something new and interesting.
Magnus Midtbø
Norwegian Magnus Midtbø was a professional climber who won dozens of climbing comps. And though he’s now retired, the affable 34-year-old is still amazingly good. Now though many of Midtbø’s videos feature him climbing absolutely crazy hard indoor/outdoor bouldering routes in destinations around the world, the videos that got Judy and I hooked were his non-rock climbing fitness challenge pieces. He’s performed the FBI fitness test, the Marines physical screening test, the Norwegian Armed Forces' Long Range Reconnaissance Squadron entry test, he’s sparred with MMA champs, he’s done America’s Ninja Challenge obstacle courses, he’s grappled with Olympic wrestlers, and he’s even tried Cirque du Soleil trapeze tricks in Las Vegas. Midtbø’s so likable and he pushes himself so hard that you’re always rooting for him to succeed in every crazy challenge he takes on.
NSCA strength and conditioning
In my opinion the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is the gold standard in strength & conditioning research. It has more than 60,000 members and certified professionals around the world, many of whom are sports science researchers, educators, strength and conditioning coaches, performance experts, personal trainers, and tactical professionals. Thus, the NSCA Youtube channel’s video library is massive. Content includes: exercise technique, periodization, nutrition, discussions of cutting edge sports science topics, coaching/personal trainer conferences, and sport specific training videos.
NorCal cycling
Jeff Linder, a Category 1 road cyclist and former California State Criterium Champion, can absolutely make you a faster as well as a smarter cyclist. Linder’s unique niche entails his discussing race strategy, equipment choices, training and nutrition, while playing onboard front & rear perspective video footage of he and his team racing. Their videos are so high quality that you actually feel like you’re right there, tucked in the peleton, going wheel to wheel with the riders. What’s more you can also see a running display of the rider’s speed, watts and position along the race course as the race is unfolding.
Chris Heria
This tatted up 30-year-old guy from Miami is famous for his seemingly impossible calisthenic street workouts. Heria started out as a fitness instructor, then rocketed to Youtube celebrity when he opened his Miami, Florida gym, Calisthenics Academy. He now has more than 3.5 million Youtube subscribers who regularly view his “how to” videos that detail the requirements, progressions, and the technique necessary to master some of the calisthenic’s hardest exercises - like the hand stand, hand stand push-up, back lever, muscle-up, etc. However, he also has plenty of beginner-friendly video progressions which help newbies do simple exercises like the push-up and pull-up .
GCN
To me, Global Cycling Network is the king of cycling media. They currently host live and on-demand coverage of nearly all UCI and pro cycling events. And not only do they produce fantastic race coverage pieces, they also produce DIY, educational, motivational, humorous and first class documentary pieces. One series we love to watch is their ongoing search for the world’s toughest road climbs.
Rainbow Plant Life
I really enjoy cooking, and after discovering this simple little cooking channel I now have several go-to vegetarian Indian recipes that I cook. The channel’s host, Nisha Vora, offers up a collection of flavor-rich vegan Indian recipes that are easy to prepare yet fancy enough for special guests. She incorporates vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds into some of the tastiest Indian recipes I’ve ever made.
So if you’re getting tired of the primetime TV wasteland, give these Youtube channels a look.