As in, channels where the presenter is laid back, calming, and the content is slower paced and chill. My go two examples are LGR for retro computer stuff, and Hainbach for experimental tape music.
Ishitani Furniture (no talking, plus an occasional pet): https://m.youtube.com/channel/UC7FkqjV8SU5I8FCHXQSQe9Q
He does great work!
Paul Harrell (RIP) for guns. His presentation style was a masterclass on how to convey information in a unbiased manner. Anyone who teaches anything to anyone should take notes.
He was entertaining without trying to be entertaining. If that makes sense? The man was demonstrating and testing hypotheses without giving two shits about likes and subscribes. Loved his dry humor, sometimes caught me off guard. “Wait! Did he really just say that?!”
bigclivedotcom - I have no idea what he’s talking about 90% of the time but he’s generally a relaxing watch.
Ali Spagnola and Aging Wheels aren’t quite what you’re describing in terms of being calm and chill but I still love their stuff.
Seconding others’ recommendations for Technology Connections, TheCrafsMan, Cathode Ray Dude, and Techmoan.
“Tally Ho” comes to mind, where a guy turns a famous wreck into a boat.
Baumgartner Restoration. I watch it like bedtime stories.
Attoparsec, Chronova Engineering, and polymatt all fit that description.
I mostly watch guitar luthiers on youtube nowadays as a background for when I do stuff like washing dishes and such, so I don’t want to listen to people yelling.
My favourite channels are twoodfrd and Doug McCormack for this reason exactly: they’re laid back, constructive and politePask Makes - Australian wood- and metalworking guy who does the most elaborate and intricate things with absolute chill.
Dashner Design and Restoration - also woodworking, finds old and neglected mid century modern furniture at thrift stores and restores them beautifully.
Maybe tangential but FutureCanoe - meme-y cooking channel, super relatable and relaxing mostly because his voice sounds like existential dread.
Most of what I would have suggested has already been posted by others, but I can say Kruggsmash’s Dwarf Fortress stories do this for me. The Waddlesquash/Kingdom of Autumn series he did (with the pumpkin mod) is particularly laid back, but even the action-heavy series are calming to watch/listen to.
Joe Pera: https://m.youtube.com/@JoePeraComedy In theory comedy, but the most wholesome relaxing kind you can imagine.
WAY OUT WEST with Sandra and Tim, Kind of a farm / homestead in Western Ireland. https://m.youtube.com/@WayOutWestx2
Pretty much exactly Bob Ross if he were a nice Canadian lady doing nails…
Bill Hammack - TheEngineeringGuy
All manner of engineering gadgets and phenomena explained clearly and calmly.
All licenced as CC BY.
East Brutalmoose, or his VODs at Moose2. Watching him play Nancy Drew games or old Windows 98 games is the perfect backdrop to working from home.
Another one is a James Channel. Upbeat, nice guy with insane technical experience does crazy stuff like make a SNES console run on an NES console. And it works. (Mostly)
