The Create Unknown · Yesterday · 1 hr 28 min

Should You Be Hobby Gooning?

Thanks to MAINGEAR for speeding up everything for us. Check out the VYBE line that’s making up the core of Matt’s new studio -- and use code CREATE for a free additional year of warranty on desktops: https://maingear.com/ref/656/ Join Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thecreateunknown Today we dive into the strange psychology of “hobby gooning”, the point where a normal interest becomes an all-consuming niche obsession. Matt breaks down his 1970s Western Electric telephone from an estate sale and how he used a borrowed “Barbie screwdriver” to get it off the wall. What starts as a fun story quickly becomes a broader conversation about why some people become deeply invested in things that almost nobody around them understands. We discuss the isolation that can come with niche interests, from obscure books and anime to collecting telephones and historical firearms, and whether having a hobby that exists independently of social approval can actually make you more comfortable being your own person. Why do some people build their identities around massive franchises, while others become fascinated with things almost nobody else cares about? From there, we try to audit our own hobbies by figuring out what actually draws us to them. Kevin breaks down his obsession with Souls-like games and the shared appeal of The Lord of the Rings, JRPGs, heroic fantasy, and stories about ordinary people overcoming impossible odds. Matthew explores his own collecting and the family history behind his fascination with telephones. Finally, we discuss whether niche communities are more valuable than broad online discourse, and why talking to one genuinely knowledgeable person can be more rewarding than reading thousands of opinions online. We close by looking at book-to-screen adaptations and the fundamental differences between storytelling in prose and film. What does your hobby actually say about you, and do you know why you love the things you love? Big thanks to our patrons! We’ll be back next week. You love anime. You love tea. Get 10% off your order with code CREATE at The Dragon's Treasure: https://www.thedragonstreasure.com/ Buy our T-shirts: https://www.thecreateunknown.com/store/ Join our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: discord.gg/vnRnr3rCzt Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts CREDITS: Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor Executive Producer: Ben WebsterEditor: Spencer Vann "Created in the Unknown" theme by Basswaite: https://linktr.ee/Basswaite Theme by Mega Drive → http://megadrivemusic.com Opening Animation: Kidmograph City Animation: Eric Langlay "The Create Unknown" is produced by Unknown Media. CONNECT WITH US: » Chat with us on DISCORD: https://discord.gg/qAQV3Jw » Follow us on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/createunknown » Follow us on INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/thecreateunknown » Follow us on FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/thecreateunknown » View our website: https://thecreateunknown.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Join Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thecreateunknown

Today we dive into the strange psychology of “hobby gooning”, the point where a normal interest becomes an all-consuming niche obsession. Matt breaks down his 1970s Western Electric telephone from an estate sale and how he used a borrowed “Barbie screwdriver” to get it off the wall. What starts as a fun story quickly becomes a broader conversation about why some people become deeply invested in things that almost nobody around them understands.

We discuss the isolation that can come with niche interests, from obscure books and anime to collecting telephones and historical firearms, and whether having a hobby that exists independently of social approval can actually make you more comfortable being your own person. Why do some people build their identities around massive franchises, while others become fascinated with things almost nobody else cares about?

From there, we try to audit our own hobbies by figuring out what actually draws us to them. Kevin breaks down his obsession with Souls-like games and the shared appeal of The Lord of the Rings, JRPGs, heroic fantasy, and stories about ordinary people overcoming impossible odds. Matthew explores his own collecting and the family history behind his fascination with telephones.

Finally, we discuss whether niche communities are more valuable than broad online discourse, and why talking to one genuinely knowledgeable person can be more rewarding than reading thousands of opinions online.

We close by looking at book-to-screen adaptations and the fundamental differences between storytelling in prose and film. What does your hobby actually say about you, and do you know why you love the things you love?

Big thanks to our patrons! We’ll be back next week.

You love anime. You love tea. Get 10% off your order with code CREATE at The Dragon's Treasure: https://www.thedragonstreasure.com/

Buy our T-shirts: https://www.thecreateunknown.com/store/

Join our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: discord.gg/vnRnr3rCzt

Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple

Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify

Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts

CREDITS:

Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor

Executive Producer: Ben WebsterEditor: Spencer Vann

"Created in the Unknown" theme by Basswaite: https://linktr.ee/Basswaite

Theme by Mega Drive → http://megadrivemusic.com