This is an article from the June 2025 Civitas Examiner (Volume 2, No. 3) and was written by one of our students, Emily N. The opinions expressed herein do not reflect those of Civitas other than respect for the value of open dialogue. To read more Civitas Examiner stories or to submit your own, click here.
One small step for entertaining education, one giant leap for Mr. Beat
Donald Trump. Bernie Sanders. Both men share virtually zero sameness besides their old age and perhaps, their respective decisions to be interviewed by comedian Theo Von within just a week of each other.
Hosting both Trump and Sanders on his podcast “This Past Weekend” (that has drawn varied interviewees including Yung Gravy, a coroner, Sexxy Red and Timothee Chalamet), Von, whether starring on the ninth season of MTV’s Road Rules or embarking on his nationwide comedy tour, is undoubtedly an entertainer. Still, Von continues to attract politicians, and unassumingly offers a dynamic edge compared to more conventional interviews, gifted with the ability to front as one with the ‘manosphere’ while conversing with Sanders on healthcare or Trump on the opioid crisis.
Media personalities like Theo Von have become part of a new type of linkage institution connecting politicians to the American people, attracting new watchers with the unorthodox nature of Von as an interviewer and focusing familiar watchers, namely young men, with the reassurance that he is one of the ‘bros’. Pitched between classrooms and now, podcasts, the way that young people engage and most importantly, learn about civics is rapidly changing, but what if there was a slightly happier medium?
Introducing Mr. Beat, a former social studies teacher, musician, and Youtube veteran, has posted mostly educational content having to do with history, economics, politics, and geography on the platform since 2009. Based in Lawrence, Kansas, Mr. Beat has garnered over 1 million subscribers on his main self-titled Youtube channel. His compelling videos have granted him press passes to the 2024 Democratic National Convention, a personal video from Senator Cory Booker, and even an interview with Ro Khanna, who recently starred on This Past Weekend with Theo Von.
The key to his success? Balancing education with entertainment.
“He’s very funny,” said Ethan Weihl, a recent Northwestern graduate and a Mr. Beat watcher since 2021. “He’s also very informative.”
“I’m still trying to trick people into learning history,” Mr. Beat said.
While education has always been at the forefront of his content, the topics he researches and narrates have certainly changed strategically, teetering on the edge of controversy. When looking for content on current events in the Middle East, viewers click on Mr. Beat’s video comparing Israel and Palestine, the name-recognition of the two territories a way to “trick” watchers into being educated rather than just entertained.
Along with the type of content, Mr. Beat’s goals have changed as well.
“I’m just trying to spread empathy around the world,” Mr. Beat said regarding the goal of his channel. While his early start on Youtube began as a way to purely engage students with curriculum, he now fulfills his “curiosity,” his key to a fulfilling life as an educator, by creating videos that facilitate education and “inform people,” helping the world “get along” and “understand” each other better.
Branching outside of education, Mr. Beat recognizes his unique stance as a content creator, making his living off of platforms like Youtube, Instagram, and Tiktok. With this new wave of influencers comes the changing media landscape, which people like Mr. Beat have benefitted from.
“Traditional media is not as influential as it once was.” Mr. Beat maintains that a lot of time, it is up to journalists, or now, media personalities to “open up a window” for politicians to the “real world.”
“Politicians get stuck in their little bubbles.”
In recent months, Mr. Beat has transitioned to fill this new niche in journalism, serving as a linkage between politicians and the everyday person. Interviewing members of Congress and recording their dialogue presents an exciting opportunity not only for Mr. Beat’s channel, but to further his search for truth, serving as a way to further question the institutions he devotes his videos to.
“The more you learn about stuff, the more you learn about yourself.” Mr. Beat said.
His background as an educator in Kansas classrooms has equipped Mr. Beat with an invaluable lesson that will only benefit his career on the internet. Mr. Beat is well aware that he still has room to grow.
“I have a lot to learn myself.”
