Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
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We talk with architecture professor and YouTube creator @stewarthicks about how he earns nearly 100 million views with fewer than 160 videos by treating packaging, pacing, and audience framing as part of the craft. We unpack the unhealthy side of analytics, how to use comments without taking them personally, and the simple tests Stuart uses to make niche topics feel irresistible.
• translating teaching skills into clear educational YouTube videos
• avoiding lecture habits that hurt retention and watch time
• using YouTube analytics without confusing data for self-worth
• reading the comment section for assumed knowledge and tone
• setting a sustainable upload cadence for high-effort production
• choosing topics with a cause and effect gap
• improving click-through rate with better titles and thumbnails
• running substitution tests to beat niche apathy
• evolving a distinctive 3D thumbnail style with more control
• deciding whether to stay part time or go full time as a creator
0:00 – Cold open: "I changed just the title and it hit 3 million views"
0:36 – Intro: meet Stuart Hicks (100M views, 700K subs, under 160 videos)
1:22 – From architecture professor to YouTuber: how the channel started in 2020
3:27 – Teaching as a "cheat code": what skills carried over (and what didn't)
7:02 – The first uploads: no expectations, just wanting to get better
8:19 – Getting hooked on the data (and why it can feel unhealthy)
11:20 – The metrics he actually watches + reading the comment section
14:12 – Comments as a double-edged sword: signal vs. vocal minority
16:06 – High-effort, low-frequency: the pressure of one video every 3 weeks
19:18 – His topic criteria: the "cause and effect gap"
21:44 – Fixing a video after launch: how the right title changed everything
23:03 – The title games: swapping "architect" for "real estate agent"
25:33 – Building a signature look: the evolution of his thumbnails
28:23 – The rules of his 3D thumbnails (black background, yellow font, model vs. real)
29:50 – Why he's doing so well: pick what you care about, set a pace, set criteria
32:20 – The chip on his shoulder + the safety net of tenure
34:29 – Could YouTube replace the day job? The honest answer
35:43 – Full-time creator or not? Why he won't turn it into a business
38:53 – Does he even watch YouTube? Parasocial favorites (Cletus, Baseball Bat Bros)
42:53 – Dream collabs (and why he avoids his own niche)
44:13 – Travis's advice: do the "everyday object" videos for a viral breakout
47:30 – Wrap-up
Get vidIQ Boost for an exclusive price! vidiq.com/podcast
Check out our audio podcast! https://vidiq.ink/podcast
Auto-clip your long form into viral shorts- link.vidiq.com/podcast-to-shorts
Want a 1 on 1 coach? https://vidiq.ink/theboost1on1
Join our Discord! vidiq.com/discord
We talk with architecture professor and YouTube creator @stewarthicks about how he earns nearly 100 million views with fewer than 160 videos by treating packaging, pacing, and audience framing as part of the craft. We unpack the unhealthy side of analytics, how to use comments without taking them personally, and the simple tests Stuart uses to make niche topics feel irresistible.
• translating teaching skills into clear educational YouTube videos
• avoiding lecture habits that hurt retention and watch time
• using YouTube analytics without confusing data for self-worth
• reading the comment section for assumed knowledge and tone
• setting a sustainable upload cadence for high-effort production
• choosing topics with a cause and effect gap
• improving click-through rate with better titles and thumbnails
• running substitution tests to beat niche apathy
• evolving a distinctive 3D thumbnail style with more control
• deciding whether to stay part time or go full time as a creator
0:00 – Cold open: "I changed just the title and it hit 3 million views"
0:36 – Intro: meet Stuart Hicks (100M views, 700K subs, under 160 videos)
1:22 – From architecture professor to YouTuber: how the channel started in 2020
3:27 – Teaching as a "cheat code": what skills carried over (and what didn't)
7:02 – The first uploads: no expectations, just wanting to get better
8:19 – Getting hooked on the data (and why it can feel unhealthy)
11:20 – The metrics he actually watches + reading the comment section
14:12 – Comments as a double-edged sword: signal vs. vocal minority
16:06 – High-effort, low-frequency: the pressure of one video every 3 weeks
19:18 – His topic criteria: the "cause and effect gap"
21:44 – Fixing a video after launch: how the right title changed everything
23:03 – The title games: swapping "architect" for "real estate agent"
25:33 – Building a signature look: the evolution of his thumbnails
28:23 – The rules of his 3D thumbnails (black background, yellow font, model vs. real)
29:50 – Why he's doing so well: pick what you care about, set a pace, set criteria
32:20 – The chip on his shoulder + the safety net of tenure
34:29 – Could YouTube replace the day job? The honest answer
35:43 – Full-time creator or not? Why he won't turn it into a business
38:53 – Does he even watch YouTube? Parasocial favorites (Cletus, Baseball Bat Bros)
42:53 – Dream collabs (and why he avoids his own niche)
44:13 – Travis's advice: do the "everyday object" videos for a viral breakout
47:30 – Wrap-up
