Rob Kenney, the creator of the YouTube channel Dad, How Do I?, has become a figure of comfort and guidance for millions worldwide. Recently, he shared his story at BBC World Service’s The Happy Pod.

His journey began during the pandemic, when he started making videos to help people learn basic life skills, inspired by his own experiences growing up.

With over 5 million subscribers, his content appealed to viewers seeking practical advice.

Rob’s motivation for creating the channel stems from his personal history.

“My dad left when I was 14,” he said and detailed, “And there’s just a lot of things that I had to learn the hard way.”

This experience shaped his goal to raise “good adults” and eventually led him to create content that could benefit others in similar situations.

Kenney’s family life was as wholesome as his content.

“I married well and I had two children,” he said, “One of my big goals was to raise good adults—not good kids—but good adults, so that they could function in their own lives.”

In regards to his children’s reaction to his YouTube endeavors, Rob emphasized his daughter’s role in encouraging him to start the channel despite his initial reservations as an introvert.

“Well, my daughter was a big part of it. She was the one encouraging me to do it. We still talk pretty much daily,” he said.

The channel’s success is not just about teaching practical skills, it also diverts traditional gender roles by empowering viewers to be self-sufficient.

His videos cover a wide range of tasks from DIY projects to cooking and financial advice, aiming to provide practical guidance for all viewers.

Kenney emphasizes, “One of the big things I try to do on my channel is encourage anybody and everybody to learn how to do everything. I think, you know, why limit yourself?”

For aspiring creators, Rob offers an advice:

“I think you got to temper your expectations… not everybody’s going to go viral,” he said.

He emphasized authenticity in intent, saying, “If you really sincerely just want to help people, there’s going to be people you can reach that I can’t reach.”

Rob Kenney’s YouTube channel, Dad, How Do I?, provides practical “dadvice” by teaching essential life skills like tying a tie, fixing a leaky faucet, and changing a tire, aimed at those who may not have a father figure to guide them. His warm, supportive approach has made the channel a comforting and educational resource for millions.

Sources: (1)

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