We don’t know about you, but if our science classes at school focused more on the world’s smallest nerf guns, how to survive a grenade blast or even dropping an egg from space, we might have paid a bit more attention.
And this could explain why Mark Rober - a former NASA engineer - has become a beloved YouTuber with over 29 million subscribers and over 4 billion views on his channel.
Gone is the idea of science as an academic exercise. This isn’t about memorizing periodic tables to pass a quiz. Or regurgitating formulas. It’s about, however ironic this may seem, realizing science makes the world around us - and the galaxy beyond us - full of magic.
Learning can be fun! (but, like, really)
We’ve all felt that chilling cringe when a teacher tries too hard to be cool. But, outside of curriculums and cliches like rapping Shakespeare, education really can be fun.
And that’s because - at its core - when we learn, we’re engaged. Horizons are expanded. Discoveries are made. Passions are ignited.
Mark Rober understands this perfectly because, through his engaging, easy-to-follow, and entertaining-to-watch videos, he presents himself as both student and teacher. He knows his science, but he’s also eternally curious.
He’s not done learning, trying, and growing - and he wants to bring us all along on the ride.
The Riches are in the Niches
It’s become a bit of an awful business cliche, but we’re talking about richness of content.
What Mark Rober has proven is that the strange, the unknown, the very niche topics can be explored deeper, fuller and more richly - making them almost like a portal into another world or a reminder of the very real-life wonders all around us.
Just a sample of comments on his videos explain how he manages to continually captivate people.
“I rarely get my mind blown, but this truly was one of those times.”
“I got goosebumps this was such a cool video.”
“Congratulations Mark, for being an excellent content creator and contributing to a better world!”
And isn’t that what any content creation has always been about?
From paintings to literature, creating has always been about challenging people to think different, see different and do different.
Inspiring the next generations
Actually, it’s okay to have your head in the clouds - or even higher. That’s what we’ve learnt from Mark Rober’s videos over the years.
But when he isn’t educating and entertaining on his own channels, Mark Rober’s brand has catapulted him into people’s hearts and minds as a firm believer in, well, believing.
For those who weren’t already initiated, Mark was introduced to a whole new demo of fans when he gave a much-lauded MIT commencement speech in 2023.
His speech echoed what makes his videos so special. That it’s ok to think big, to dream, to wonder, to be curious, to be courageous and to not be afraid of the unknown. Discovery - from the outer reaches of the galaxy to personal self-discoveries - are what make us grow.
To infinity and beyond - Mark Rober’s success shows no signs of stopping
Mark Rober is the perfect example of how passion and expertise can transform a niche into a global phenomenon. And if you’re seeking to build a loyal audience while sharing what you love, here’s what you can learn from his meteoric rise:
- If you have passion for something, your fans will feel it
- It’s okay to focus on something niche and unexpected - especially if you’re an expert on the matter
- People want to learn, and they want to discover something new - and they’ll stay loyal to anyone who helps make that a reality.
