Ned Fulmer explains how he pursued a chemistry degree not just out of passion for science, but as a practical safety net while pursuing comedy on the side. He valued having a stable fallback career in case his entertainment ambitions didn’t work out.

He majored in chemistry because it combined his love for science and math with real-world applications.
Having a degree provided security while doing unpaid comedy gigs.
He believed a chemistry degree offered more job prospects than a theater degree.
This backup plan proved valuable when he later transitioned into media.

“I figured that I could do comedy with a chemistry degree but I couldn't necessarily do chemistry with a comedy or a theater degree.”
Ned Fulmer · 04:15

#career-advice#comedy#chemistry#backup-plan

Explainer33:30

How to Succeed by Failing Over and Over

Ned believes fear of failure paralyzes people. True success comes from embracing mistakes, learning from them, and continuing to try new things.

Fear of failure often leads to inaction.
Everyone makes mistakes—failure is part of life.
Trying and failing builds experience and skill.
Success is rarely a straight path; it’s a zigzag.

“Being afraid of messing up is going to severely limit the experiences that you have.”
Ned Fulmer · 35:15

#failure#growth-mindset#risk-taking#success

Explainer49:30

How to Make Click-Worthy YouTube Thumbnails

Ned emphasizes that thumbnails should create visual intrigue and suspense. Faces with expressive reactions perform better because viewers connect emotionally.

Use expressive 'YouTube faces' to grab attention.
Create a sense of unfulfilled potential or suspense.
A strong thumbnail can be more important than the video itself.
Example: a mid-air paper towel roll creates tension.

“If you can really give a visceral sense of an unfulfilled potential, that's a much better thumbnail.”
Ned Fulmer · 51:15

#youtube#thumbnails#content-creation#audience-engagement

Explainer53:30

Why YouTube Intros Must Deliver Fast

Ned explains that intros must immediately fulfill the promise of the title and thumbnail. Delaying the core content risks losing viewers to distractions.

New viewers need to understand the video’s value quickly.
MrBeast excels by restating the premise in the first seconds.
Visually compelling shots should appear in the first three seconds.
Every second counts due to competing attention sources.

“You really want to be delivering on the value proposition of the title and thumbnail immediately.”
Ned Fulmer · 53:50

#youtube#video-intro#audience-retention#content-structure

Story· 3

Story06:30

How Ned Landed His BuzzFeed Job Without Experience

Ned shares how he got hired at BuzzFeed in 2013 despite lacking formal film training. He was honest about learning on the job and had relevant experience from independent YouTube projects and live comedy shows in Chicago.

He applied because BuzzFeed was nearby and offered a collaborative environment.
His interview lasted only 13 minutes, and he thought he bombed it.
He claimed camera and sound skills he hadn’t formally learned but had practiced independently.
He had years of unpaid creative experience in Chicago before the role.

“They just sort of asked me if I knew how to use a camera and to run sound equipment and I said yes even though…”
Ned Fulmer · 06:50

#buzzfeed#career-transition#film-production#internship

Story10:00

How the Try Guys Started by Accident

The Try Guys began as an experimental Facebook video series at BuzzFeed when the team noticed content about men trying traditionally female experiences resonated widely. It started informally among friends with no branding strategy.

The idea emerged during early Facebook video experimentation.
Zach and Keith were researching viral sharing patterns.
They noticed male-performed 'female experience' videos were highly shareable.
No formal casting or branding process—just friends willing to try anything.

“The idea of guys trying things within the female scope of an experience was something that was really relatable to a lot of women and…”
Ned Fulmer · 10:45

#try-guys#viral-content#facebook-video#origin-story

Story30:00

How a Knee Injury Changed Ned's Life

A serious knee injury forced Ned to take disability leave from his lab job, which ultimately pushed him to move to LA and pursue entertainment full-time.

He suffered a major knee injury while running in 2013.
Had to quit all comedy shows and go on disability leave.
The break forced him to reconsider staying in Chicago.
Accelerated his move to LA to pursue bigger opportunities.

“That injury led me to making that move. It certainly accelerated that timeline.”
Ned Fulmer · 32:00

#career-change#injury#risk-taking#life-decision

Takeaway· 3

Takeaway15:00

Why the Try Guys Left BuzzFeed

The group left BuzzFeed to gain full creative autonomy and ownership over their brand. They negotiated to buy the rights to 'Try Guys' and now operate independently.

They wanted full control over projects and business decisions.
Ownership of their IP was non-negotiable.
They purchased the 'Try Guys' brand outright from BuzzFeed.
This ensured continuity for fans and long-term brand value.

“It really came down to autonomy and ownership. We wanted to have the autonomy to fully do the projects we wanted to.”
Ned Fulmer · 17:30

#try-guys#independent-content#brand-ownership#creative-autonomy

Takeaway25:00

Ned's Secret to a Great Relationship

Ned attributes his strong relationship with his wife to mutual respect, admiration, and empathetic communication—even during disagreements.

Mutual admiration and respect are foundational.
Approaching conflict with empathy helps resolve issues.
Belief that any obstacle can be overcome together is key.
Shared ambitions strengthen partnership.

“Mutual admiration and respect, as well as communication, is really important. Even when you're having disagreements, approach it with empathy and respect.”
Ned Fulmer · 25:15

#relationships#communication#marriage#empathy

Takeaway51:30

Video Length Should Match Audience Expectations

Ned advises that optimal video length depends on audience habits. Retention matters more than fixed duration—videos should be as long as needed to keep viewers engaged.

Longer videos work if they maintain suspense and stakes.
Shorter videos suit audiences used to quick content.
Retention and watch time are key metrics.
Deliver value quickly in the first 10–20 seconds.

“Your videos should be the length they need to be to retain the most amount of people.”
Ned Fulmer · 52:15

#youtube#video-length#audience-retention#content-strategy

Frameworks in this episode

Brand Umbrella Diversification

Click-Through and Retention Engine

Fail-osophy: The Hidden Power of Effing Up

Foundational Formats

Show Human Error

Test and Iterate

The Try Guys Viral Formula

Insights & moments

✶Explainer· 4

Why Chemistry Was a Backup Plan for Comedy