I’ve spent 15 years making videos for brands, newsrooms, and clients who needed content that “popped.” Now I’m making something for me—and maybe for you, too.

The Matt Project is a channel for creators who care about storytelling—not just trends, thumbnails, or chasing views.

Here, I’m building a channel from scratch, documenting the process in public, and sharing everything I know (and don’t know) about:

The craft of storytelling: scripting, visuals, structure, and interviews

The process of making: editing, experimenting, screwing up, trying again

The life of a creator: burnout, self-doubt, and figuring out what the hell you're doing with your time

Whether you're a new creator looking for real guidance or a burned-out pro trying to reconnect with why you started, this is your space, too.

New videos every Tuesday.
Full transparency. No fluff.


Unable to parse item

Invidious encountered an error while trying to parse this item. For more information see below:

Show technical details
Title: `Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)`
Date: `2026-05-31T17:15:24Z`
Route: `/channel/UCPQ-xJJo568vAwpsuFSNhog`
Version: `2026.02.07-118d635 @ (HEAD detached at v2.20260207.0)`

<details>
<summary>Backtrace</summary>
<p>
   
```
Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/hash.cr:1198:9 in '??'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/json/any.cr:149:5 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:524:17 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1035:17 in 'parse_item'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1082:14 in 'extract_items'
  from src/invidious/channels/videos.cr:29:22 in 'get_60_videos:continuation:sort_by'
  from src/invidious/routes/channels.cr:56:36 in 'videos'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/route.cr:13:9 in '->'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:31:37 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/filter_handler.cr:22:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:80:12 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/ext/kemal_static_file_handler.cr:127:14 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/request_processor.cr:51:11 in 'handle_client'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/fiber.cr:170:11 in 'run'
  from ???
```
</p>
</details>

Unable to parse item

Invidious encountered an error while trying to parse this item. For more information see below:

Show technical details
Title: `Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)`
Date: `2026-05-31T17:15:24Z`
Route: `/channel/UCPQ-xJJo568vAwpsuFSNhog`
Version: `2026.02.07-118d635 @ (HEAD detached at v2.20260207.0)`

<details>
<summary>Backtrace</summary>
<p>
   
```
Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/hash.cr:1198:9 in '??'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/json/any.cr:149:5 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:524:17 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1035:17 in 'parse_item'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1082:14 in 'extract_items'
  from src/invidious/channels/videos.cr:29:22 in 'get_60_videos:continuation:sort_by'
  from src/invidious/routes/channels.cr:56:36 in 'videos'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/route.cr:13:9 in '->'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:31:37 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/filter_handler.cr:22:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:80:12 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/ext/kemal_static_file_handler.cr:127:14 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/request_processor.cr:51:11 in 'handle_client'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/fiber.cr:170:11 in 'run'
  from ???
```
</p>
</details>

Unable to parse item

Invidious encountered an error while trying to parse this item. For more information see below:

Show technical details
Title: `Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)`
Date: `2026-05-31T17:15:24Z`
Route: `/channel/UCPQ-xJJo568vAwpsuFSNhog`
Version: `2026.02.07-118d635 @ (HEAD detached at v2.20260207.0)`

<details>
<summary>Backtrace</summary>
<p>
   
```
Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/hash.cr:1198:9 in '??'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/json/any.cr:149:5 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:524:17 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1035:17 in 'parse_item'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1082:14 in 'extract_items'
  from src/invidious/channels/videos.cr:29:22 in 'get_60_videos:continuation:sort_by'
  from src/invidious/routes/channels.cr:56:36 in 'videos'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/route.cr:13:9 in '->'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:31:37 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/filter_handler.cr:22:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:80:12 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/ext/kemal_static_file_handler.cr:127:14 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/request_processor.cr:51:11 in 'handle_client'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/fiber.cr:170:11 in 'run'
  from ???
```
</p>
</details>

Unable to parse item

Invidious encountered an error while trying to parse this item. For more information see below:

Show technical details
Title: `Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)`
Date: `2026-05-31T17:15:24Z`
Route: `/channel/UCPQ-xJJo568vAwpsuFSNhog`
Version: `2026.02.07-118d635 @ (HEAD detached at v2.20260207.0)`

<details>
<summary>Backtrace</summary>
<p>
   
```
Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/hash.cr:1198:9 in '??'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/json/any.cr:149:5 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:524:17 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1035:17 in 'parse_item'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1082:14 in 'extract_items'
  from src/invidious/channels/videos.cr:29:22 in 'get_60_videos:continuation:sort_by'
  from src/invidious/routes/channels.cr:56:36 in 'videos'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/route.cr:13:9 in '->'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:31:37 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/filter_handler.cr:22:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:80:12 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/ext/kemal_static_file_handler.cr:127:14 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/request_processor.cr:51:11 in 'handle_client'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/fiber.cr:170:11 in 'run'
  from ???
```
</p>
</details>

Unable to parse item

Invidious encountered an error while trying to parse this item. For more information see below:

Show technical details
Title: `Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)`
Date: `2026-05-31T17:15:24Z`
Route: `/channel/UCPQ-xJJo568vAwpsuFSNhog`
Version: `2026.02.07-118d635 @ (HEAD detached at v2.20260207.0)`

<details>
<summary>Backtrace</summary>
<p>
   
```
Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/hash.cr:1198:9 in '??'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/json/any.cr:149:5 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:524:17 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1035:17 in 'parse_item'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1082:14 in 'extract_items'
  from src/invidious/channels/videos.cr:29:22 in 'get_60_videos:continuation:sort_by'
  from src/invidious/routes/channels.cr:56:36 in 'videos'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/route.cr:13:9 in '->'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:31:37 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/filter_handler.cr:22:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:80:12 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/ext/kemal_static_file_handler.cr:127:14 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/request_processor.cr:51:11 in 'handle_client'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/fiber.cr:170:11 in 'run'
  from ???
```
</p>
</details>

Unable to parse item

Invidious encountered an error while trying to parse this item. For more information see below:

Show technical details
Title: `Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)`
Date: `2026-05-31T17:15:24Z`
Route: `/channel/UCPQ-xJJo568vAwpsuFSNhog`
Version: `2026.02.07-118d635 @ (HEAD detached at v2.20260207.0)`

<details>
<summary>Backtrace</summary>
<p>
   
```
Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/hash.cr:1198:9 in '??'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/json/any.cr:149:5 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:524:17 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1035:17 in 'parse_item'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1082:14 in 'extract_items'
  from src/invidious/channels/videos.cr:29:22 in 'get_60_videos:continuation:sort_by'
  from src/invidious/routes/channels.cr:56:36 in 'videos'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/route.cr:13:9 in '->'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:31:37 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/filter_handler.cr:22:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:80:12 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/ext/kemal_static_file_handler.cr:127:14 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/request_processor.cr:51:11 in 'handle_client'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/fiber.cr:170:11 in 'run'
  from ???
```
</p>
</details>