The Two-Passport Problem And Some Honest Answers

Summary

In this engaging Q&A video, Evan Edinger answers fan questions about his life as a dual US-UK citizen, his YouTube journey, and personal experiences. He discusses the challenges of balancing work and personal life, his love for cycling in London, and his thoughts on topics like AI in journalism, photography, and how his relationship has shaped his interests. Evan also reflects on past YouTube conventions, the pressure of negative comments, and the excitement of future projects, including a ukulele song and collaborations with other creators. It's a fun and insightful look behind the scenes of his creative process.

Takeaways

• 😀 Evan holds both a US and UK passport, reflecting his dual citizenship status and his long journey to becoming a British citizen.
• 😀 A recent bill proposed in the US to end dual citizenship is seen by Evan as more of a political gesture, unlikely to pass in reality.
• 😀 Evan’s friends and family had mixed reactions when he moved to the UK, with his mom feeling upset, while his British friends understood his decision.
• 😀 Advice for moving to Europe: Research the country thoroughly, as each has different cultures, languages, and processes for obtaining residency.
• 😀 While Evan enjoys British TV like 'The IT Crowd,' he mostly watches YouTube these days, preferring content he can learn from rather than traditional sports.
• 😀 Making documentary-style videos is a passionate process for Evan, involving detailed research, filming in scenic locations, and working with a talented editor, Kim, for post-production.
• 😀 Evan's cat video was emotionally challenging to make, reliving tough moments, and uploading it became a stressful ordeal due to technical issues.
• 😀 Evan doesn’t currently drive in the UK but uses his ebike, combining cycling with trains for a more efficient and cost-effective travel method around London.
• 😀 Evan still enjoys playing the ukulele and is releasing a new song soon, with a music video filmed in October, showcasing his musical side.
• 😀 Although Evan has teased a collab with Matt and Tom Scott, it’s still in the works due to creative challenges and the scale of the video.
• 😀 Evan has a close relationship with fellow YouTubers, maintaining friendships with people like Dodie, Connie, and Luke, and occasionally meeting up with them.
• 😀 As his YouTube career grows, Evan now struggles to keep up with the overwhelming number of negative comments, trying to balance criticism with the desire to improve his content.
• 😀 Evan sees AI as already affecting journalism, particularly in print media, but believes human-written content will still stand out due to its unique insight and quality.
• 😀 Evan has been on two cruises, including one for a solar eclipse in the Caribbean and another world cruise from Italy to Brazil, which changed his perspective on cruises.
• 😀 Despite his height being 1.92m, Evan humorously clarifies his measurement, showing his quirky side.
• 😀 Although Evan is not actively selling prints, he shares his photography on Instagram and might collaborate with a London printing agency in the future.
• 😀 Evan finds it difficult to separate work from free time, as creating content is a hobby for him, but he tries to balance by incorporating work into leisure activities, like filming while traveling.
• 😀 He appreciates the supportive community that has followed him over the years, even though the earlier days of YouTube, with its more tight-knit atmosphere, hold a special place for him.

Q & A

What are Evan's thoughts on the proposed bill in the US to end dual citizenship?

Evan believes that the proposed bill, which would end dual citizenship for US citizens, is unlikely to pass. He sees it as a form of political posturing rather than a genuine legislative effort. He personally values his British citizenship and would not choose to give it up, as it has been an important part of his life and living situation in the UK.

How did Evan's family and friends react when he decided to stay in the UK for good?

Evan’s decision to stay in the UK was a gradual process, and his friends and family reacted differently. His mother was upset, understandably, due to the distance. His British friends were mostly supportive but questioned his choice, while his American friends understood and accepted his decision given his life in the UK and his public explanation in his videos.

What advice does Evan give to someone seeking to move to Europe?

Evan advises anyone wanting to move to Europe to conduct thorough research on the different countries, as each has unique cultures, languages, and processes. He suggests watching YouTube videos, reading books, and learning as much as possible about the country you're interested in to better understand how to navigate the immigration process.

What does Evan think about British TV and traditional UK sports like snooker or darts?

Evan has watched British TV shows like 'The IT Crowd' and enjoyed them, but he doesn't watch much traditional UK TV these days. He doesn't engage with traditional UK sports like snooker or darts, as he doesn't find them as engaging. Instead, he enjoys watching YouTube videos and streams where he can learn something new, such as gaming videos.

How does Evan plan and execute his documentary-style videos?

Evan loves diving deep into topics, researching them, and crafting scripts that make them interesting for others. He films his videos on location, looking for nice compositions and relevant settings. Afterward, he sends the footage to his friend Kim in Wales, who adds the finishing touches, including graphics and editing, to make the video polished.

What was the hardest part about making Evan's 'cat video'?

The most difficult part of making his 'cat video' was the emotional toll of reliving painful memories. Filming was hard, especially the scenes in his kitchen and bedroom. However, the real challenge came when Evan was in the Sahara Desert and lost all his footage due to a technical issue, leading to a frantic effort to recover and upload the video.

Does Evan have plans to get a UK driver's license?

Evan currently holds a US driver's license, which he uses abroad, but he doesn't see much need for a UK license. He enjoys cycling and finds it more practical and cost-effective. While he hasn't ruled out getting a UK license in the future, he’s happy with his current transportation method using his ebike and the train.

What is Evan’s upcoming music project?

Evan has a new ukulele song coming out soon. He recorded the music video in October, which has an autumnal feel. Although he hasn’t sorted out the album art or distribution yet, he’s excited to share it with his audience and has plans for a full release on streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.

Why hasn’t Evan followed through on the collab video with Matt Gray and Tom Scott?

Evan’s collaboration video with Matt Gray and Tom Scott has been delayed due to the complex nature of the project. It involves multiple cameras, microphones, and creative decisions, which have caused some burnout. However, the video is almost done and promises to be a great project once it’s finished.

What is Evan's perspective on the role of AI in journalism?

Evan acknowledges that AI is already taking over many aspects of journalism, especially in print media and advertising. He feels that AI-written articles can often be easy to spot, and he prefers content written by humans that offers genuine insights, rather than regurgitated or automated content.