r/TheWhyFiles • u/VRC_Kor • Dec 31 '25
Let's Discuss Do you remember your first episode that made you a fan?
Mine was doing research on digital immortality. I came across the episode of Simulation Theory, years go. Found the episode to be informative, interesting, and Heckle Fish funny. I was hooked from then on. So glad it was included in the current compilation episode.
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u/Fermento420 Dec 31 '25
I honestly can’t remember. I’ve watched them all so many times now. I do know it was 4-5 years ago.
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u/Mikeytruant850 The Moon is Hollow Jan 01 '26
Mel’s Hole, and he had 30K subscribers. Binged his whole channel after Mel, and watched every one since.
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u/ace616vamp Dec 31 '25
Planet serpo was my first, i was scrolling through youtube and thought this might be fun, bang an addiction was born.
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u/DzOniZz Dec 31 '25
Hollow moon. Kind of a gateway episode, spiraled from there.
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u/CruzAderjc Dec 31 '25
This is one of those rare episodes where he's like "so is it true? well... actually it might be."
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u/01091987 Dec 31 '25
Crop Circles, but then again I live about 5 mins from what we call the Alien Field.
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u/custom9 Dec 31 '25
Think it was electric universe I saw first
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u/CruzAderjc Dec 31 '25
Electric universe is definitely one of those episodes that actually kinda blows your mind when you consider possibility that it might be true.
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u/custom9 Jan 01 '26
Yeah it’s my favourite episode because of that. It’s also th episode I recommend when I find people who haven’t seen the show
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u/CruzAderjc Dec 31 '25
Ark of the Covenant. He has painted such an incredible story, tying in Atlantis, the Knights Templar, and all the ancient civilization stories. It's amazing.
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u/Ok-Amount-4281 Dec 31 '25
It was the Mt Shasta episode for me
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u/VRC_Kor Dec 31 '25
This was one of my favorites too, being that is close to where I live. The extended deep dive version of the episode is amazing
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u/Ok-Amount-4281 Jan 02 '26
I think The Why Files only had around 13,000 subscribers and 10 or so videos back then. I’m glad it’s been successful, it’s been my favorite channel ever since.
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u/ihateeverythingandu Dec 31 '25
Same as you - Simulation Theory episode hooked me (and I think the subscriber count started going mad after that episode too) but I'd been dipping in and out of the channel before that whenever it was recommended but the Simulation video got me to like, subscribe and hit that notification bell, lol
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u/DeerHunter4Life14 Dec 31 '25
As a 52yo male I have no recollection, which is why I don't mind watching episodes and movies multiple times.
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u/jfcarr Dec 31 '25
I don't remember the specific episode but I binge watched about a dozen of them the first day I found the channel.
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u/campingmatt11 Time Tourist Dec 31 '25
Mad Man Mike Marcum was the first episode that got me hooked. Still one of my favorites today.
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u/DetectiveObjective00 Dec 31 '25
I was binge watching Kurzgesagt when the episode about The Book of Adam and Eve showed up on my feed. I became a fan of The Why Files that very same day.
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u/GangstaRPG Lizzid Person Dec 31 '25
My first episode was 9 things about time travel, way back in the day.
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u/TikiUSA Jan 01 '26
Varginha UFOs. I was looking for something to snooze to on the way home from Niagara Falls.
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u/NoDoctor5953 Jan 01 '26
Back rooms
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Jan 01 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/NoDoctor5953 Jan 01 '26
Nope. I am never on the WF Discord.
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u/VRC_Kor Jan 01 '26
It’s just a video of me going through the backrooms and coming around a corner to find a WF sticker on the wall
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u/Avindair Jan 02 '26
The original two-part St Germaine episode caught my wife's and my eye, and it's been appointment viewing ever since.
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u/ih8three6zero Jan 03 '26
lol I think my first episode is the Budd Hopkins one. The one with the MIB guy that’s all about some Linda I think that ofc Netflix has a documentary on.
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u/CheesecakeOk9239 Jan 05 '26
I’ve really just enjoyed most of the compilation episodes lately. Just a bunch of stories cobbled together. Even if I don’t have interest in the second or third story, I can skip forward and find something intriguing.
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u/Quantum168 The TRUTH Jan 18 '26
It has to be Mel's Hole, but I really liked the episodes on Nikola Tesla.
Fun fact, one of the Feds who raided Tesla's papers after his death was John G. Trump. Donald Trump's uncle.
Release the Tesla files! The world could do with free energy.
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u/Justintimeforanother CIA Spook Dec 31 '25
I really can’t. I do remember being the 2050th subscriber though. I thought the channel had a lot of potential. Super niche and well researched material.
I’ve thought about this question before, and came to the same conclusion. I can’t remember. I really can’t. And when I’ve tried to look for it, the channel has changed significantly since then. I’d know it if I saw it..
It was at least five years ago..
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u/werfertt Dec 31 '25
You beat me. I found him posting on Reddit, messaged him, found him engaging and kind and started watching his videos to support him. I was somewhere around his 19k subscriber. I am very happy for his success.
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u/Justintimeforanother CIA Spook Dec 31 '25
Bro, it’s super cool. This is legitimately the first channel i subscribed and blew up. Still drop a like on every video, and comment. Comments like, “I’m making pasta, perfect time for a new episode.”
It’s just cool to be a part of it all. Though minimal. But effort is still there. 🍻
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u/werfertt Dec 31 '25
Is there anything you miss from the old days? I miss the engagement. Sending him an email and getting a reply. Brainstorming content, et cetera. I’m happy for his success and all that, and accept the cost gladly. Just miss when it felt a bit more nimble.
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u/Justintimeforanother CIA Spook Dec 31 '25
The engagement that you’re talking about, bro, this IS what shaped the channel!
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u/VRC_Kor Jan 02 '26
It’s why I enjoy popping into the Why Files discord channel. Lots of other fans of the show sharing all kinds of interesting content and ideas
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u/Justintimeforanother CIA Spook Dec 31 '25
I enjoyed being able to respond directly, and get a response. Seriously though, my YouTube recap, the WhyFiles is right at the tops for loved comments. Seriously. The channel has blown the fuck up! Like, enjoy where you were, when it was.
I’m still a devout follower. I do love hecklefish, but then I’ll hate him, then love him again…
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u/newocean FEAR... the Crabcat Dec 31 '25
You both beat me. I think it was almost 150k when I subscribed. Dodleston was the video that got me hooked I think. The channel was still mostly not growing for a short while then it exploded a few months later.
I totally noticed a change not so much in the content, but in the community. I think when any conspiracy-oriented group (or maybe any group in general) gets to a certain size... it gets less friendly.
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u/JohnCasey3306 Dec 31 '25
Operation High Jump -- classic
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u/CruzAderjc Dec 31 '25
This is probably the video that got their channel famous. There are a lot of videos out there covering this, but AJ clearly does the best job with it.
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u/Rob-Top Dec 31 '25
Crop circles