Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast

How We Filmed Our Work Lives for 1 Year!

February 10, 2026

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The 'Year in the Life' video concept evolved from smaller ideas like a 'Day in the Life' or 'Week in the Life' because the team realized the unique vibe of their workplace was the most compelling subject matter. 
  • The initial filming phase of the 'Year in the Life' project lacked clear narrative direction, making the edit difficult until Mariah introduced the concept of using existing channel content (like podcast clips) as 'payoffs' to structure the raw footage as 'setups'. 
  • The production of the 'Year in the Life' video was an extremely ambitious undertaking, involving approximately 37.57 terabytes of footage and requiring a highly specialized, cinema-style audio post-production workflow, including dual-computer mixing sessions. 
  • The behind-the-scenes look at the sound design for the iPhone intro was a favorite moment for one speaker, highlighting the complexity of the audio tracks used. 
  • The interview segment with James Cameron was considered both the most profound and the silliest part of the video, particularly due to Cameron's comments about the filmmaker becoming the narrative star, which directly applied to Marques's role. 
  • The conversation reflected on the significant evolution of the creator economy, noting how the team's collective success has led to individual members being recognized and invited to exclusive industry events, marking a transition where new media is becoming the standard. 

Segments

Year in the Life Concept Origin
Copied to clipboard!
(00:01:22)
  • Key Takeaway: The ‘Year in the Life’ video was conceived to capture the unique workplace vibe, moving beyond specific project vlogs that might alienate viewers.
  • Summary: The initial idea for the video was pitched at the end of 2024 but pivoted to cover 2025 after initial resistance. The team realized their workplace vibe was more unique than any single project they could document. The concept evolved from a ‘Day in the Life’ to a ‘Year in the Life’ because smaller timeframes felt too restrictive or irrelevant.
Early Filming Challenges and Editing Fix
Copied to clipboard!
(00:06:21)
  • Key Takeaway: Early filming in January was difficult due to shooting everything without a defined story, which was resolved when Mariah structured the edit using existing channel content as payoffs for the raw footage setups.
  • Summary: The team shot extensively in January but lacked purpose, making the initial edit difficult. Mariah’s pass on the edit established a micro-format using existing clips as chapter markers and payoffs. This structure provided a rhythm, turning the raw coverage into setups for established content.
Portugal Trip Footage Loss
Copied to clipboard!
(00:10:04)
  • Key Takeaway: A February trip to Portugal for a Ferrari feature resulted in the loss of crucial action camera footage after the camera fell off the car, highlighting early struggles with capturing necessary coverage.
  • Summary: Rich and Miles filmed the Portugal trip, including action camera footage suction-cupped to the car, but lost the camera after hitting a bump. This incident, along with another cut travel shoot, demonstrated the team’s initial uncertainty about what kind of coverage was needed for the ‘Year in the Life’ narrative.
South by Southwest Turning Point
Copied to clipboard!
(00:13:34)
  • Key Takeaway: The March trip to South by Southwest marked a turning point where the team committed to capturing everything, despite experiencing poor hotel conditions.
  • Summary: The South by Southwest trip involved Rich and Andrew shooting extensively, despite staying in a cheap hotel with no hot water, which they humorously leveraged for content. This trip, combined with subsequent travel footage and internal interviews, provided the necessary structure for the first successful cut released in April.
Post-Production Workflow and Notes Chaos
Copied to clipboard!
(00:16:24)
  • Key Takeaway: The final review process for the video generated hundreds of notes, often contradicting the specific instructions given to reviewers, particularly regarding audio notes.
  • Summary: The team restricted feedback to color grading and audio mixing, but received numerous notes on story and content, leading to frustration. The final cut was heavily revised, with Rich discovering a company credit card visible in a late cut just before upload. The audio post-production required a three-week sprint, utilizing a cinema-style workflow with dual, synced Pro Tools sessions.
Future Structure and Sequel Planning
Copied to clipboard!
(00:39:32)
  • Key Takeaway: The team plans to structure the sequel, ‘Year in the Life 2,’ more like episodic television, focusing more on individual character arcs rather than just the ensemble’s overall plot.
  • Summary: The first ‘Year in the Life’ focused on introducing characters and the general flow of the year, similar to a first season. For the sequel, they are drawing inspiration from shows like ‘The Bear’ season two to delve deeper into individual team members’ lives. They have already begun interviews for 2026, asking about the greatest sequels of all time to inform the next structure.
Favorite Moments Review
Copied to clipboard!
(00:55:22)
  • Key Takeaway: The sound design comparison between the before and after of the iPhone intro gave one speaker chills.
  • Summary: Adam intentionally avoided viewing the final edit until the upload day to experience it fresh as a viewer. During the final review, the sound design comparison for the iPhone intro was highlighted as exceptionally beautiful. Seeing the detailed audio tracks next to the OnePlus 13S intro demonstrated the extreme level of effort put into the production.
Airport Chase Content Gold
Copied to clipboard!
(00:56:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Eric and Ellis successfully filmed high-stakes airport security and boarding footage using a DJI Osmo.
  • Summary: Marques’s favorite moment involved Eric and Ellis rushing to catch a flight while still filming the process. The speaker noted that most people would stop filming in such a high-pressure situation, but they continued, capturing excellent content. The DJI Osmo proved to be a fun and effective tool for capturing this dynamic sequence.
James Cameron Interview Analysis
Copied to clipboard!
(00:58:04)
  • Key Takeaway: James Cameron’s advice about the filmmaker becoming the narrative star resonated deeply with Marques’s established role.
  • Summary: The James Cameron interview was debated as both profound and silly because Cameron advised Marques on the cinematographer becoming the star, which is Marques’s entire premise, despite Cameron seemingly not knowing his work. This created a philosophical convergence between Cameron’s vision and the reality of YouTube content creation. The segment concluded with the selection of Philip Glass minimalist music for this scene.
Eric’s Origin Story Connection
Copied to clipboard!
(01:01:20)
  • Key Takeaway: Eric’s presence on the team is directly linked to Miles Somerville, who was inspired by an early Eric video.
  • Summary: Eric detailed how he initially assisted Miles Somerville with gimbal operation for YouTube videos in Chicago. Miles was later recruited by Marques, and Eric was brought in after an interview where Miles discussed comparisons to Marques. Eric finds profound irony in how much of Miles’s brand curation stems from his relationship to Marques’s identity.
Creator Economy Transition Reflection
Copied to clipboard!
(01:03:46)
  • Key Takeaway: The video serves as a historical snapshot of the media transition where new media upstarts are becoming the next elite.
  • Summary: The segment discussed Miles’s conflict between his humor-driven digital identity and traditional journalism standards, which can bar him from elite classes. The hope is that this ‘Year in the Life’ piece documents the changing of the guard in media for future reference. The team is positioned to become the responsible standard-bearers for this new media era.
Team Growth and Industry Recognition
Copied to clipboard!
(01:05:12)
  • Key Takeaway: The MKBHD ecosystem has expanded beyond Marques, with individual team members now receiving direct industry invitations.
  • Summary: The speaker expressed pride in how the surrounding channels, like Waveform and Studio, have become influential entities on their own. PR personnel at events now specifically request team members like Ellis for sound expertise, indicating specialized recognition. This growth shows the surrounding cast has built an ethos that is now large enough to attract attention independently of Marques.