THE ORIGIN STORY
THE LORE
Every channel has a beginning. This one starts in Pebble Beach and ends up somewhere nobody expected.
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Pebble Beach Kid
Born in Portland, Oregon. Moved to Pebble Beach, California while still small enough that it just became home. Spanish Bay golf course was the backyard. Carmel-by-the-Sea was the neighborhood. It was the kind of place that sounds made up when you describe it, and it kind of was — because it didn't last. That's where YouTube found me. Or I found it. Either way, it changed everything.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was uploaded to YouTube.”
✦ ✧ ✦Highland Park
Then the family moved to Dallas. Highland Park, Texas. Twelve years old, new kid, wrong zip code energy. The other kids were rich and mean in that specific way that only rich kids in Texas can be. They said things that were designed to make you feel like you didn't belong anywhere. They were good at it. I wanted to give up on life. YouTube was the reason I didn't.
“He who deleteth his channel shall create another, and another, and another.”
✦ ✧ ✦The Deleted Channels
All through high school. All through college. Every job I got, every job I lost — and I lost a few — there was always a YouTube channel running in the background. I'd make one, someone would say something mean in the comments, and I'd delete it. Start over. New name, new concept, same Matt. This happened more times than I can count. The channels are gone. The pattern isn't.
“Are you a friend of Bill’s? No. Are you FriendsWithMatt? You already are.”
✦ ✧ ✦Friends of Bill
I’m an alcoholic. I’ve struggled with addiction. In recovery there’s a phrase — “Friends of Bill” — that people use to quietly identify each other as members of Alcoholics Anonymous. You ask someone “are you a friend of Bill’s?” and you both know what it means without saying it out loud. I took that and flipped it. FriendsWithMatt. If you’re watching this video right now, then YOU are FriendsWithMatt. I AM MATT.
“From the Pacific coast to the plains of Texas — the exile begins.”
✦ ✧ ✦Why The Channel Exists
I made FriendsWithMatt because I didn't have any friends. That's the whole story. Not a bit, not a brand strategy — just the truth. The channel is the friend group I was building in real time, one video at a time. I'm 32 now. Born October 16th, 1993. Almost 60,000 subscribers. And I'm sticking with it this time.
“And on the 32nd year, he did not delete the channel.”
✦ ✧ ✦The Name Means Something
FriendsWithMatt isn't just a channel name. It's a statement of fact. You found this page, you're reading this right now — that makes you FriendsWithMatt. You don't have to buy anything. You don't have to comment. You don't have to do anything except show up. That's the whole deal. That's always been the deal.
I AM MATT“If you're watching this video right now then YOU are FriendsWithMatt.”