My Life Story 

Your “non-science” videos are just as wonderful as the rest. Thanks for the peek into the personal.

7:16 "Sometimes its a blessing not to know how bad you are, if you knew, you would have quit"

Watching this video in 2024, my eyes got teary especially the part you propose and then show us your kids and wife. Its such a beautiful thing to know that it all worked out in the end. This video makes a solid case for my intended transition from law to tech! We love you, Derek!

Loved it, Derek. I'm 64, and I know what it is to go for it and to fail. But there's a deeper truth than survivor bias; those of us who have fallen flat on our face time after time experience life in a way that those who play it safe will never understand. Sure, we might not be rich and we might not be famous. But I got something better instead. I got the journey. I wouldn’t trade the life I’ve lived for all the dreams I had when I was young.

this guy talks about getting a phd like it’s nothing

I think it's wise to focus on family. Love you bro, great video.

Getting to this video 5 years late - but this channel has awoken a sincere interesting not necessarily in the subjects you talk about, but about learning. And I really appreciate that. Thanks, Derek (and team).

I can’t express how much this video touches me. I am a 19 year old who struggles whether to do art or science, as i love both, and seeing your life, your path really made me think of my own future. You truly are incredible, thank you for your kindness, thank you for your passionate teaching, thank you for the hope and wonders you make shine

Nobody starts at the end. You're supposed to be bad on camera in the beginning! It's been fun watching your journey.

Came here expecting to learn a little more about Derek. Left questioning my whole life.

Thank you so much! This video has been truly inspiring.

"You can't be anything you want, but you can be everything you are." I can't remember who said this, but the phrase still reverberates with me. And now, it's 2022 and you're at 12 million subscribers. Congratulations and keep up the great work.

Well this was really sweet, you're the coolest Derek

First time I've ever heard a youtuber say "Thank you guys" and actually felt that it was genuine

Veritassiums videos always leave me with the warm feeling that I have genuinely leaned something, rather than thinking I’m learning when I’m not. One of my favorite channels on RU-vid right now.

Thank you so much for your channel. I really do learn from you and enjoy your videos. I am 64 years old, female, BA in Accounting, love cooking, gardening, sewing and being creative. I live in Los Alamos New Mexico with so many really smart people and at times I don't feel smart. My husband is pastor of a small church, he doesn't have a formal education, which has been a challenge in a town with so many PHDs. I just finished your IQ video and LOVED it; I really, really need to hear that TODAY. I talked to an old roommate from college yesterday, we haven't talked in over 43 years. It is amazing how we haven't changed. She is a very neat person and hates messes. I am way to busy doing so many different things to worry about cleaning up! I am still a MESSY person and over my life I have been JUDEGED based on the neatness of my house. So many times for people we don't talk about IQ we look at each other a base worth on outward things. Education (PHD); where you work (LANL); where you live (old mobile home); cars you drive etc. After watching both videos I really feel blessed to know that I have worth, even though my house is a mess, even if I don't meet the standards other people set. I enjoy learning about things that don't effect my life - fireworks! That was an awesome video. Thank you for what you do! I really do enjoy your presentation and you enrich my life. Again thanks, even though you will most likely never read this...

7:20 "It's a blessing not to know how bad you are. Because if i had known, i probably would have quit." Veritasium has unconciously tell us the ultimate secret to success.

You’ve always been a gigantic inspiration to me. I owe a lot to you and the other Edutubers who paved a little bit of the way for us. I’m glad for your growing family too, though, because Aunt Dianna needs some test subjects...

Been watching Veritasium for a very long time, and only now the algorithm offered this; your life story - which I find inspired & inspirational. As for Veritasium - being an engineer of both chemistry and nuclear science, I was never in doubt and I parsed the word right away and understood your passion for the truth, a passion we share. Thank you for your candour and your very good work.

Derek, thank you for all your efforts. You are a true blessing and inspiration. Your story reminded me of a great saying: Whoever seeks something might not find it, but whoever finds what they were looking for is among those who were seeking it.

So basically what he is trying to convey is :failure is better than the regret of not trying

The world is a better place with your science videos in it. Keep amazing us Derek - Kyle

"Better to try than the alternative, where you face certain failure." This reminds me of a Hindi Poem by the name "अंतिम ऊँचाई ". It has the lines: जब तुम अपने मस्तक पर बर्फ़ का पहला तूफ़ान झेलोगे और काँपोगे नहीं तब तुम पाओगे कि कोई फ़र्क़ नहीं सब कुछ जीत लेने में और अंत तक हिम्मत न हारने में। which translates to: "When you happen to achieve what you wanted, you would realize that there is no difference between Achieving everything, and trying constantly."

You have made such a great positive impact in so many people's life... We feel really grateful for all the knowledge that you have shared and all inspiration that has emerged from watching these videos... Thank you Derek and the whole team for making this wonderful channels happen.

*Mostly Canadian™*

Wow what a wholesome video. You can see how passionate he is with everything he does, and most importantly he always had a pattern: shift to something else when deemed necessary. And now he's shifting his time to spend it with his family, which I think is the most important thing shown in the video...Seriously loved this video so much, thank you

I'm a doctor from Ethiopia. I've always had so many ideas to work on but not a lot of courage to act on them. Your video actually made me cry and was a wake up call to me. Just an idea, why not start a new trend of videos where you blend medical breakthroughs with the physics behind it. I know there is something there. And FYI wish/hope I can work with you in the future.

I am now retired ... I spent my career as a computer programmer, which did not exist when I was a kid. Many of my friends also worked in fields that did not exist when they were kids. We live in an amazing world. Thanks for your youtubes.

This is the first ever "thank you" video that makes me tear up :') I've been following you for a long time, and seeing what you achieved and what your life has become genuinely makes me HAPPY for you. So, thank YOU Derek, for everything you've done for us. You deserve your beautiful life.

Your path to RU-vid was very unique, but I still thought that it was eerily similar to mine. I was also stuck in that mode of following a fixed path through academia, but I always felt like it was missing the creative part that I needed. I ended up quitting my chem masters and I intended to apply to film school. However, before I was able to do that, the RU-vid channel had taken off and I was able to shift my focus to it. The first couple of years were shaky with a lot of doubts, but now I don't see how I could do anything else.

This is so relatable, Derek! I am a masters student in Mechanical Engineering. I love physics and engineering, but the arts too! I write, draw, and act in my free time, not because I'm good but because I feel compelled to. It's just where the mind wanders. I appreciate you sharing your story!

I know this is 5 years old now, but wow I needed to watch this more than ever today!

absolutely looooved this video!!

Had this guy as my Physics tutor during my High School period. Great attitude towards life and oozes charisma, made me look forward to my weekly 2 hour physics lessons. :)

You are a brilliant communicator of science and I learn a great deal from you. Please do not stop making science real and exciting - and relevant to the world we live in. Thank you for making it worthwhile to open RU-vid and get something meaty yet also entertaining to watch every time one visits Veritasium

We are in 2024, five years of this video...for me best RU-vid channel, in content (science and history) you are the best...thank you for your work...

Your persona is so genuine in front of the camera it feels like listening to a close friend, keep motivating us and keeping us informed. All The best

My opinion is that your videos have extremely high quality and educational value. I think you could be producing documentaries for Netflix, BBC, PBS more often

You're a story of someone who has refined his skill over the years. A testament to finding the common space between passion and opportunity.

You're awesome Derek, im happy you have made all these decisions that got you here. You enrich your viewers lives by teaching us all these amazing things you have, just as your viewers had helped you succeed, you have helped all your viewers to learn and think deeply about things that matter. We owe you more than you owe us.

"i feel like I've been stifled by 4 years of engineering" -every engineering graduate ever

If everyone realized how bad they are on camera when they first start, youtube wouldn't exist. I'm glad you stuck with it. (I'm also equally glad you got a lot better. ;) )

I've been watching your vids for four years, never came across this one. Really good to learn more about your life and appreciate your particular style of content delivery.

Wow! I'm 28 and I'm exactly at a point in my life where you were at the same age. Currently, I'm thoroughly confused about what to do next. More so than I have ever been in my entire life. This video addresses the key problem of whether to choose stats or just go behind what you want. I guess I just needed a lil reminder about trying. Thanks for this. It made my day!

I've been living under a rock and only now discovered your channel, to which I subscribed today. All the best!

"Fiji water was reccomended to me by a friend. For example, The mass of The Sun..." That cut was so perfectly timed that it sounded like a completely irrelevant transition in the same clip

Man! I admire the way you present to the world. And seeing you with your family, make me think there’s still hope in every human. Blessings!

I love this so much! I geek out in my classes with Veritasium. As a teacher who pursued dance, music, theatre, and film most of my life (with teaching as my back up plan), yet studied in the sciences too (another passion) and love to teach STEAM more than anything, I can relate 100%. Weirdly, your life story came through in all the videos I've watched of you Derek - not directly, but in that recognizable manner between two sympatico minds. Thanks for this lovely memoir!

Congratulations, Derek! I've been with you for such a long time! Since 2013 actually, which is when I started learning English, and you also contributed to that by the way. I'm very glad to know that you've found love, and I hope that your wife and kids will bring you a lot of happiness! Thank you for making Veritasium exist. I hope you'll keep the videos coming, at least every now and then. All the best, David

I never thought a veritasium video would make me cry! Congrats on everything Derek, you deserve it all

You continuously illustrate the difference between knowledge and teaching. Only the ones worth remembering can master both. You’re a gift to us all man

No, thank you. You have made educational videos and have helped so many people learn for years now. You are an inspiration and I love watching you. Good luck with your family and I will always watch your videos.

As a 33 year old who doesnt feel he has reached his lifes purpose or dreams, a guy who lives alone without a family.... your story fills me with hope and inspiration for my future. Your reflection is so deep and your content now is better than its ever been. THanks for sharing :)

He's smart, he loves physics but it's only after this video I realised that he's so frikin handsome

Discovering the Science side of RU-vid has truly sparked my curiosity in a lot of things. Like coming up with questions that are very specific, yet fascinating to think about, which I don't usually do. Thanks to the Veritasium RU-vid channel, my curiosity and will to learn has grown. I cannot express how enthralled I am for every video I've watched from this channel. The only future I am looking forward to for Veritasium, is that it stays in the sense of truth. Walking by its name. I also hope that further generations will find your videos just as good as I see it! I only wish the best for this channel and that's all. Thank you Derek, and everyone along side you that brought you to where you are now!

there isnt anything absolute in the world but watching ur video in series made me realize u really are an ABSOLUTE element of truth..from indeterminism of quantum mechanism to the unbreakable classical notion of physics you derive a 50/50 balanced equation of life ...a combination of phylosophy and science is what id say a true education is ..your videos are perfectly that... i really love ur videos ...

So you are Canadian, South African and Australian. *Perfectly balanced as all things should be.*

...and here I am, 33 years old. questioning myself why did I choose to start my engineering degree at age 30. I guess I really needed to see this video right now. I get so depressed, like what the hell am I doing, some things are so much harder than others and these other students are so much younger than me. Guess I'll never know whats at the end if I don't keep trying. Thank you! ----- update, I graduated. I'm 35 now lol but thats not holding me back. I'm an environmental engineer for an awesome firm in San antonio. I regret nothing and am so proud of myself!

As a person who loves films and is starting his physics bachelors this fall, this resonated with me to a whole new level. I wish that I’d seen this video before, but am glad that I’m following a similar path as you. Thanks for making these videos and inspiring me, I hope to do some good like you someday!!

It's not us. It is you that make us be here watching and having fun.

This is a real person. Not all those RU-vidrs who are full of my "privacy life is your entertainment" and things. THIS kind of guy is what I EXPECT from RU-vidrs.

When you talked about survivor bias and about succesfull ones are the ones have actually tried. İ remember the sentence when one of my colleague said to me when i was feeling hopeless. "You can fight or you can quit. When you decide to fight never forget you can lose." That negative feedback gave me hope to go on with what i'm doing. Knowing i can lose anyway was a relief and a reason to fight back. To Just fight the odds.

We love you brother Derek! You help us stay with the things that we love. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

It may seem ridiculous, but in the age of teenage RU-vid megastars I've struggled with feeling like I'm already over the hill with this RU-vid thing and ought to "settle down"/"get a real job". it's really encouraging to realize that you were as old as I am now when you STARTED this venture. It makes me realize that these cut-offs I have in my head about the proper timelines and phases of life really are arbitrary.

“Sometimes I think it's a blessing not to know how bad you are because if I had known I probably would have quit” Wow, amazing

I know that I’m a few years late, but I have been an avid viewer for years, and I remember your special “Tickling the Dragon’s Tail” in chemistry class 3 years ago, and it amazed me how well you manage to capture and hold the rooms attention (including my own) for 2 classes straight. I remember how much it, and your videos afterwards, showed me how to incorporate a love of learning into a career and life path, and I mean it when I say it influenced the place I am today, and for that, I cannot thank you enough. The element of truth will always be an element of me.

In a world and media full of content creators which do nothing for the sake of advancement and just take advantage of the human predisposition for stupidity, your channel, along with a few other amazing educational channels, has been the place where I recovered myself and got remembered how beautiful the science is!!! One of the few channels that make up RU-vid's positive side and RU-vid should be proud to host!!!

Damn I teared up when he said his greatest adventure in life was to marry his wife 🥺🥺🥺

WHY AM I CRYING ON A SCIENCE CHANNEL???

I've never had an interest in what you teach until I started watching your channel with my husband...you make all this stuff interesting and easy to understand.

That was gorgeous. Thank you for sharing your story with us 🙏 Been watching your channel for years and have learnt so much from doing so. Continue making these great videos and, through them, educating the world at large.

I’ve been watching Veritasium videos since I was in middle school, and I’m now on my way to graduating with a Bachelors in Aerospace Engineering and moving to pursue my Master’s. This channel has helped fuel my love of learning, so thank you for all that you’ve done!!

Love your work man. Inspiring stuff.

I really needed to see this tonight. I grew up learning that academia was the only path to a "good" life. I am still interested in STEM and environmental science, but halfway through my Junior year of high school, several chronic health issues onset and my body has and still is declining. I mostly lay in bed on electronics, go to appointments, and sleep, since that's what I can do. I don't know who I am if I'm not a student. I was top of my class and come from a family of scholars. My school was a college-prep school. The only value I had was my intelligence, and now I'm not in any position to follow the path I had lined up for me. I'm 19 now, and not a single one of my peers invited me to graduation. I got my GED, so I'm legally done with high school, but it was a huge letdown. I vanished and no one noticed, and to rub salt in the wound, my little sister got an invite to the ceremony. I tried a college course but wound up too sick and had to withdraw. I can't hold a job or do school, and I'm afraid to put any energy into things I can do on occasion, such as junk art, working on my novels, singing/songwriting, and getting involved in activism projects locally. I know I have a slim chance of succeeding anywhere, and my health issues are already costly, so making enough money to support myself would be virtually impossible. I still live with my parents and they thankfully help as my body fails. I don't know how long I have, and I can't do much on my own since "good" days are few and far between, meaning consistency is impossible. Also, whenever I do something that requires energy, it takes days or even weeks to recover to my baseline pain and energy, meaning I need help with absolutely everything while I'm in excruciating pain and too weak to move much. This video is a reminder that I should still give it a shot, follow my passions and hobbies, and stop wasting what time I have left in cowardice since success is still possible, even if only marginally. I still want to pursue a sense of meaning. I have projects I want to finish before it's over.

Those early videos were amazing at the time. In fact, they are still amazing. This channel has evolved perfectly with my career as an educator. Transitioning from Physics to Biology; it has been an amazing resource all these years.

a slightly awkward confession and gratefulness. but full of honesty. such a great guy.

Derek this is such a lovely video! I would love to see Raquel and your kids on your channel more - experiments you try at home filmed in a really cool way, like everyday physics phenomena with drones and slow mo cameras and so on.

Sir, you are just wonder of the nature, whatever happens my request is to believe in yourself. Honors and Salutes to you and your family.

Let me elaborate: You are a great writer--very effective for translational science. But you are also kind and connected to life. You see nuance and highlight ambiguity at the same time that you nail our encounters with truth. You are very good-looking and charismatic, and you would be the stuff of dreams for at least half the population, if not more. And you seem to want me to understand things I couldn't possibly understand on my own. You are a teacher, and you work hard to help me. I adore you.

Derek, I think this video was one of your most beautiful videos so far. I just wanted to say I'm from Brazil and you were a great source of inspiration for me to start making science videos to the Brazilian community. I'm still an undergrad in physics, which I decided to pursue because of you and your work. RU-vid changed my life, I've always wanted to be a filmmaker. Making videos changed who I wanted to be in the future. It changed my career. It changed everything! I love your work and I want to tell you how much of an inspiration you were to me. How your videos changed who I wanted to be. Who knows how many other lives and people you have inspired? Your videos are definitely making a change in the way we teach. I love your work! Thanks for everything you've done and accomplished. RU-vid is a better place because of you. From a Brazilian fan.

This had me in tears. Such a wonderful life story, I'm so happy for you. Whatever content you make from here, I'll watch it regardless because you have captured not only my attention, but my respect too. Hell, I even acknowledged you (among other science influencers) in my thesis. You keep doing you, man.

I have tears in my eyes. Thank you so much ❤️ Thank you for following your dream (I always thought you were like me, and now I know that you too wanted a creative endeavour like filmmaking)

Thank You for this very warmhearted and inspirational story, Derek. I really envy You for Your happiness in so many aspects in life (at least You look very happy) but definitely You deserve all the success.

I'm not crying, you're crying! That supercooled water video was the first one I watched, ever since your videos have been a source of inspiration and the spark that lit my hunger for knowledge on many fields. Thank you Derek!

I did my engineering in IT, just like most students in India and went on to work with a huge corporate MNC but slowly, I realised that this corporate madness is not for me so I quit after 4 years of job. I opened my cafe a year later in my hometown and have been more than satisfied ever since because I give my heart to it, even though I would've been making more money if I had stuck to my job. I also opened another cafe/restaurant and failed terribly at it but it also taught me a lot of valuable lessons which I'll remember for the rest of my life. My first cafe is still doing good and I will keep it running for as long as I'm alive. I might venture out to other businesses but my cafe is something which made me a truly happy guy on the inside. Success does not mean which car you're driving or what suit you're wearing. Success means that you are doing what you've always wanted to do.

All your videos, always, turn out to be ten times more interesting then I anticipate. That's why I've decided to watch ALL your videos. Thanks for your hard work.

Your movies have awoken my love for physics and the many mysteries that surround us. You are a great teacher, thanks!

The reason I subscribed a while ago was because you were talking about very complex topics but you never acted like you knew it all, it felt like you were just figuring it out along with the viewer.

Man, Veritasium helped to kindle a love for science in me. Thanks Derek!!

Love your channel so much, you're a role model to me Derek, thank you for giving me hope

It was a very very very very very very very very very relateable video to me, as i myself is a science enthusiast, as well as a person who loves filming. I love your channel to the very most extent, as it shows me that science and arts(filming) are not two different coins, but the same sides of the same dice. I just love your videos, and they have cleared a lot of my confusion in physics. Thanks a lot Veritasium. P.S: Also your channel names resembles with the harry potter potion for 'veritaserum' which forces the person who drinks it to spill out all their secrets, i.e; forces them to tell the truth, which is also what you bring to us through your videos.

My brain likes your narration so much that when i was reading a book ,subconscious mind started reading in your voice. 🤯

no .... thank YOU! Thank you for sharing, lovely family, you done great Derek

Wow. Derek. I am professionally a mathematician but always a musician in my heart. This is so relatable and thank you for sharing your story.

I genuinely respect this individual for what he contributed to this ytube platform to this day , such a rare and inspiring videos streamed all for free and to be consumed. This is sth else...

You are a super storyteller.

"The job that you will have may not be invented yet", these lines just got me deep

At some point, it's not only yours and only my life. Together we become one and common for all participants. Your enthusiasm, work and our response, contribution. We form an activity that highlights the power of the beauty of nature, of the inspiring possibilities. Of everything created by someone who is mind-blowingly smart and loving. We are all small parts of it, growing to realize the value of our lives for our better future. Derek and your team, please keep up the good work! RU-vid is the best network, I presently admit that.

Your videos are brilliant, educational and fun. I don't know if this will make sense, but I find them full of life. They have made my life better. Thank you!

I had a bit of water welling in my eyes when you proposed to your wife. A great insight into your life 👍