5 Tips on How to Build a Successful Youtube Channel: Lessons from ‘Huge If True’
In just two and a half years, former Vox journalist Cleo Abram has transformed her YouTube channel “Huge If True” into a phenomenon with 3.5 million subscribers.
Through collaborations with prominent creators like MKBHD, Simone Giertz, and Johnny Harris, along with unprecedented access to organizations like CERN, Nike, and Formula 1, Abram has carved out a unique niche creating optimistic content about technology and the future.
With only 36 videos published, her rapid rise represents one of the fastest paths to achieving the “YouTube Dream” in recent years.
The Start of ‘Huge If True’
The journey began during Abram’s time at Vox, specifically while working on a YouTube Originals show called “Glad You Asked.”
After creating an episode about the decision to have children, which covered topics ranging from fertility to economics, she noticed something concerning in the response to clips shared on TikTok:
“I remember the first one that I saw was ‘oh this is interesting but I can’t have kids because the world is getting worse’… I clicked on who it was and it was like some teenage girl account on TikTok, and more and more comments started coming in.”
This pattern of responses sparked a revelation:
“I remember feeling like I had contributed to that somehow… I began to feel like I was participating in something that was contributing to this idea that the world is getting worse and there’s nothing we can do about it.”
This realization led Abram to envision a different kind of show—one that would:
- Showcase humanity’s incredible achievements
- Acknowledge current challenges we face
- Highlight people actively working on solutions
- Present an optimistic view of technology and progress
- Inspire action and hope rather than despair
Show vs. Channel: A Strategic Approach
Abram’s approach to YouTube was distinctly different from most creators. Rather than launching a general channel, she deliberately created a specific show with a clear vision and purpose:
“I really wanted to make this specific show… I loved my job, I loved working at Vox, I loved the kinds of work that we were doing, and I began to have this idea and this feeling that I wanted to start this specific show.”
Aesthetic Considerations
The show’s visual identity was carefully crafted to differentiate it from typical tech content:
Traditional Sci-Fi Aesthetics:
- Black and silver color schemes
- Neon purple or green accents
- “Tron-like” futuristic appearance
Huge If True Aesthetic:
- Dark greens and browns
- Earth-toned palette
- “Solar punk” influences
- Grounded in reality rather than fantasy
“The message is not ‘oh the world has ended and we live in a spaceship.’ The message is ‘oh the world has gotten a lot better and we’re incorporating science and technology in an interesting way.'”
The Three-Point Checklist for Content
Abram reveals her sophisticated approach to content creation through a detailed three-point checklist for greenlighting stories:
1. Visual Storytelling Requirements
- Must necessitate video explanation rather than text
- Requires clear visual demonstrations
- Should prompt natural visual explanations
“If you and I are having coffee and we need to pull out a pen and a napkin and draw something, that’s a good visual explanation… or I need to pull out my phone and show you a picture and zoom in on something specific and point at it.”
2. Explanation Quality
- Must deliver complete understanding by video’s end
- Should balance depth with time constraints
- Needs to satisfy both novice and expert viewers
- Must avoid leaving crucial questions unanswered
3. Optimistic Impact
- Should demonstrate human achievement
- Must show potential for positive change
- Needs to inspire action or interest
- Should connect to larger themes of progress
Complex Topics Made Accessible
Abram’s approach to explaining difficult concepts follows a crucial principle from her time at Vox:
“Never underestimate your audience’s intelligence and never overestimate their prior knowledge.”
Her comprehensive strategy includes:
Initial Approach:
- Starting with fundamental questions
- Acting as an audience proxy
- Maintaining genuine curiosity
- Being unafraid to ask “basic” questions
Expert Interaction:
- Preparing informed but straightforward questions
- Not fear appearing less knowledgeable
- Building bridges between expert knowledge and general understanding
“Sometimes I end up with the world’s leading experts on a subject and I have to be the one to ask them like ‘how do you get them to hit each other’ and I know that I sound like so many levels back.”
The CERN Example
Abram’s video about CERN demonstrates her approach perfectly. Despite initial doubts about its appeal, the video has garnered nearly 4 million views. Her process included:
Preparation:
- Personal visit to CERN
- Extensive research over several months
- Development of clear visual explanations
- Collaboration with experts
Key Questions:
- How do they make protons collide?
- Why such high speeds?
- What are the safety considerations?
- What justifies the $10 billion investment?
Audience Strategy
Abram’s content successfully serves two distinct audiences:
Primary Audience (99.99%):
- Newcomers to the topic
- Those with basic awareness
- Curious learners
- General public interested in technology and science
Secondary Audience (0.01%):
- Subject matter experts
- Field professionals
- Technical specialists
- Industry insiders
“I always want to make sure that it’s a video that they [experts] would be excited to send to like their family… like a good ‘here’s what I do.'”
Educational Impact and Career Influence
The show has had significant impact on career choices and educational interests:
“My favorite emails that I get about the show are from young people who are studying engineering… they’re saying like oh I watch your show as kind of a menu of options that I might like.”
Examples include:
- Students discovering new career paths
- Engineers exploring alternative fields
- Young people finding optimistic career options
- Professionals considering field transitions
Business Model and Monetization
Despite the challenges of going independent, Abram maintained confidence in the business potential:
“I was pretty sure that if it worked from an audience perspective it would also work as a business… if I could build it they would come.”
Her business strategy included:
- Initial focus on audience building
- Natural integration of advertising after 6 months
- Alignment with optimistic tech companies
- Maintaining editorial independence
Final Thoughts
Cleo Abram’s success with “Huge If True” demonstrates that educational content on YouTube can be both intellectually rigorous and widely accessible.
Her approach proves that:
- Complex topics don’t need oversimplification to reach mass audiences
- Technical accuracy can coexist with engaging storytelling
- Optimistic perspectives on technology have significant audience appeal
- Quality content can attract both general viewers and expert audiences
- YouTube remains a viable platform for launching focused, mission-driven shows
The remarkable success of “Huge If True” suggests that there’s a significant appetite for optimistic, future-focused content that doesn’t shy away from complexity but makes it accessible through thoughtful presentation and genuine curiosity.
As technology continues to shape our future, voices like Abram’s play a crucial role in helping audiences understand and engage with complex topics while maintaining hope and optimism about what’s possible.
(Source: “The Colin and Samir Show” podcast featuring Cleo Abram)
