In one of the most electric sessions of Press Publish NYC, Colin and Samir sat down with Casey Neistat—filmmaker, vlogger, and one of YouTube’s most influential voices. The session was equal parts retrospective, therapy, and masterclass. Neistat peeled back the layers of his creative journey, from the peak of daily vlogging fame to his deliberate retreat into fatherhood and offered a candid critique of the current state of the creator economy.
If You Read One Thing, Read This:
"Some things are too important to be taken seriously." — Casey Neistat quoting Oscar Wilde
This quote encapsulates the ethos of the session. Casey urged creators to stay loyal to the magic of creativity, not the metrics. In a world increasingly obsessed with views, followers, and monetization, he reminded everyone that the most meaningful work often comes from curiosity and passion—not performance.
Hot Take:
"If you're in it because you want to make money, you want to get the views—f*** you. I don't care about you." — Casey Neistat
Casey takes a hardline stance on the commodification of creativity and motivation for being a creator. He made it clear that creators driven solely by metrics and monetization are missing the point of creative work. He acknowledges there’s a place for creatives prioritizing views, but calls them uninteresting. He’s excited by creators who are making something they love.
Other Key Takeaways
1. The Creator vs. the Economy
“There’s been a lot of surrendering of the art of it, and a zeroing in on the business of it.”
Casey expressed deep discomfort with the term “creator economy,” arguing that it conflates art with commerce. He reminisced about the early days of YouTube, when creativity reigned supreme, and lamented the shift toward business-first content.
2. Fame, Metrics, and Mental Health
“There’s a drug to the numbers going up on the screen… and it breaks my f***ing heart.”
Casey warned creators about the addictive nature of metrics. He shared his experience of stepping away from YouTube fame to focus on family, likening it to smoking an entire carton of cigarettes—an indulgent but necessary break to gain perspective.
3. Commercialization with Integrity
“They only like me for my followers… and my feelings were so hurt.”
Casey recounted his Mercedes campaign, which showed him that the best brand deals respect the creative process in addition to the reach. He emphasized the importance of alignment between creator and brand, and the challenge of maintaining artistic integrity in sponsored content. Casey encouraged creators to take creative risks, even when working with brands.
4. Niche is Rich
“There are a million lanes. And if your lane doesn’t exist, just go ahead and start it.”
He celebrated the rise of niche creators like Mark Felton, a WWII historian with millions of subscribers, as proof that YouTube’s democratization has opened doors for all kinds of voices.
5. Collaboration and Solitude
“I love being alone, just myself sitting there staring and figuring it out.”
Casey admitted he’s not built for collaboration, preferring to work alone. He praised Max Joseph as the only person whose feedback he trusts.
Closing Thoughts
This session was a masterclass in creative conviction. Casey Neistat didn’t just reflect on his career—he challenged every creator in the room to interrogate their own motivations. Are you chasing views or chasing meaning? Are you building for the algorithm or building for yourself? His message was clear: creativity must come first. Everything else—money, fame, partnerships—should follow, not lead.
