i vlogged the entire final year of my PhD

Subscriber: "How much suffering can you show in one vid?" Simon: "Yes."

As I sit here procrastinating the writing of my thesis, this is painfully relatable content 😂 I remember watching them all as they came out thinking 'that looks fun, maybe I could do a PhD' - thanks for nothing 😉

This is my favourite era of the channel

I got awarded my PhD last month and watching these vlogs made my PhD journey over the last 4 years so much easier!

Hey Simon! I used to binge these often. I remember sitting in my dorm as an undergrad seriously struggling with depression and remembering them--they really helped me get through the first mid-COVID academic year. I will be starting a 7 year combined MA/PhD program in Massachusetts this fall. It's in English, not science, but you were still a massive inspiration for me and I don't know if I'd be doing it without you. Thank you!

Dear Simon, I am an atmospheric scientist today largely--crucially--because of you and your vlogs. At a pivotal time when I was deciding what to do with my life after undergrad, knowing that I was fascinated by the atmosphere but not knowing any atmospheric scientists who could provide a reference point, I came upon your channel and your PhD vlogs. I was quickly inspired by your passion, your grit, and the clarity and candor with which you communicated about science, about life, and about learning to be a scientist. Much of the fuel that propelled me to go from South America to pursue a PhD at MIT came from you. I am now a researcher at a national lab in the US, hoping to help solve issues that affect many. You might not read this, but my gratitude is unconditional, and any impact that my work has on the lives of others, however small, has roots in your videos. Still a big fan. Love your content.

As a fellow British YouTuber & Physics PhD, may I congratulate you on your remarkable achievement. I am staggered that you continued to find the time to document your final year and provide all this relatable content for us to enjoy. I am delighted to see your filmmaking thrive 👏

I sometimes BINGE this playlist while working (PhD in physics)... this just streamlined that process. THANK YOU.

These vlogs are why I'm PhD student. I stumbled onto them years ago and realized that normal people could do research. I didn't have to be an ultra-confident super student to be a successful researcher. I could have doubts. I could be anxious. I could have hobbies. Now, I'm working at a top-ranked research university doing data collection for my doctoral study. Thank you, Simon. You literally changed my life with these little videos.

I started watching these vloges before doing my PhD. Now I'm in my last year and it's very painful LoL! These vlogs could't come in a better time! I really would love to re-watch them again in future when I hopfully graduate. I feel these video became a part of my PhD rituals :P

Omg! I’ve been watching your PhD vlogs since I started high school and now I’m going be graduating undergrad! This is amazing! Thank you!

hey, weird story but when i was in middle-school your channel (this series specifically) introduced me to what a scientist/physicist actually was and did and is and it was really inspiring for me. anyways now I'm in my second year of engineering physics at university! I'm the first in my family to graduate highschool much less attend uni. this work is now my life's passion, I'm very happy and I might not have found my way to it if it wasn't for you so I just wanted to say I'm really grateful...thank you !

It's so comforting to see a fellow PhD sharing the trials and tribulations of research. I had exactly the same process of "trying everything" when the code wouldn't run. Can fully relate to the pain of not knowing if we're comparing our work with the right answers! Love this video.

oh, i looove these! I come back to them whenever I need motivation to study. Thanks for the supercut, gonna watch these all over again😊

It really is oddly pleasant to see clips of you wandering around bits of campus that are so deeply rooted in my brain from my time at Exeter. I did my Nat Sci Masters in Modelling Exoplanetary Atmospheres from 2015 to 2019, and retrospectively i'm almost surprised I never ran into you because it feels like i lived my entire life for those 4 years between Harrison, Laver and the Physics Building. Feels strange to look back on that time that now feels SO distant and strange, but was the most impactful and important stage of my life up to that point.

I am starting my PhD in Translational Pharmacology in one month, 7 years after finishing undergrad. I wathced all your PhD vlogs, in real time, with the dream that I will soon be doing my own PhD. Here's to the next several years of struggle, dispair, and the realization of a long time dream. Thanks for all the inspiration, Simon!

I have been following you and you were an inspiration to me. You are posting this video when I am graduating for my PhD. What a coincidence!!

oh my god i first discovered your channel and watched your phd vlogs during the pandemic and the videos really mean a lot to me both as entertainment and inspiration. i was planning to rewatch them at some point so thank you <3

loved this series

wow amazing to see all these together. takes me back... both to this era of your channel and the mountainous stress of my own atmospheric physics PhD! nice to be taken back to the former, not sure sure about the latter!