Beginning of 2025

Maybe you figured this out, but around the start of Q3 2024, I burnt the hell out. Between creating 57 videos this year and releasing what I believe is my best Very Important Documentary yet—Horseshoe Theory is Right (But Not How You Think)—the pace was relentless in a way I didn’t really think it was. I thought I was making one video a week, and in some months, I was doing two. In March, I made 9 videos, and then in April and May I made 7 a piece. Why did I do that?

But Horseshoe.

The documentary was a massive undertaking, both creatively and intellectually, and the response has been humbling. While I certainly don’t have the reach I had 8 years ago with the built-in Breadtube fandom that now hates me, the people who watch now engage with the ideas a lot more.

Horseshoe’s exploration of how “directional” ideologies serve similar ruling class interests sparked incredible conversations across platforms. The well-received booklet adaptation, which is currently rated 5 stars on both Amazon and Goodreads, reinforced to me the importance of presenting these ideas in accessible ways. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s one of the projects I’m most proud of, and I’d love for you to check it out.

And then there’s my latest video, "Scared of Scams? Watch This for the TRUTH."

After burning out, I slowed way down. Only 9 of the 57 videos this year were after July. Part of it has just been needing a recharge, but a lot has been about needing a reason to make videos. I basically spent the whole year telling people why Trump was going to win and what people associating themselves with “the left” could be accomplishing if they would break with the left/right paradigm.

While this is important, I kind of think it would be better suited to a podcast and doing that depends on outside factors. So I slowly kind of figured out what I want to do with these videos: they each need to center on something with real utility. This will help limit scope as well as provide something useful besides attempting to cram a point that would require a longer discussion to make (at least to the point I would be satisfied with it) into a 15-20 minute video.

This scam video is the first to attempt to shift to this paradigm by providing a resource: Peter Coffin’s Miracle Scam Test™️ (which can be downloaded as a PDF here).

The idea is to establish a tangible way to give “scam” a more concrete meaning and to help evaluate whether something is a scam or just scummy. It’s something I hope will spark better conversations about scams in general, moving beyond the surface-level outrage and into deeper analysis. After all, the goal isn’t just to critique; it’s to empower.

The additional point, though, is that a ton of behaviors people label as “scams” are just normal market behavior. Maybe that should lead to some conclusions.

I also revamped my online presence this year. My redesigned website, petercoffin.com, brings everything under one roof—videos, articles, books, and now a new store featuring shirts and other merch. It’s part of my effort to connect everything in a way that is at least not a mess.

I haven't really had a decent merch store... ever. I have always understood it is kind of "part of being a YouTuber" but have also kind of resented it. I think my merch has always had cool designs, but the stores themselves have always kind of been shit. I've always let them get cluttered with designs that maybe should be limited-time runs and I never promote them. So I want to mention the new merch store that I have set up with Forthwall which actually doesn't suck, and I realized I need to actually care about it if I want people to buy anything (and I do!). To be frank, if I had a merch store that is actually making some sales, that money would just go right back into my work.

I also recorded an album as my new band, That Darn Racket. This is going to be a really fun project that truly “starts” in 2025. But if you’re interested in a little preview, check out TDR’s cover of the ‘90s horndawg classic Pony:

Burnout forced me to reflect on what I’m doing and why I’m doing it. While I wouldn’t recommend hitting a wall like I did, I can say that it’s pushed me toward a better understanding of what matters most to me: creating work that doesn’t just entertain or critique but actually helps. That’s the direction I’m heading in 2025.

Thank you to everyone who’s been here through all of it—whether you’ve been around since the Breadtube days, earlier, or just found me through Horseshoe. Your support, feedback, and engagement are the reason I keep doing this.

Here’s to a smarter, more intentional 2025. Happy New Year!