From YouTube and Instagram to podcasts and blogs, here’s a list of UT-related or Vol-curated digital media rabbit holes for you to fall, or voluntarily go, down.
Baracksdubs
Back in 2012, student Fadi Saleh decided that he wanted to put words in President Barack Obama’s mouth, and an internet sensation was born. On his YouTube channel Baracksdubs, Saleh (’16) mashes up pieces of Obama’s speeches and makes him sing popular songs like “Hotline Bling” and “Uptown Funk.” Baracksdubs currently has close to two million subscribers, and the channel’s offerings have expanded to other public figures like Bill Clinton and Bernie Sanders.
‘Fashion Dads’
What started out as a conversation between friends Travis May (’06) and Ashley Hesseltine about their dads’ fashion choices ended up being the beginning of the tongue-in-cheek Instagram account “Fashion Dads,” otherwise known as Fathers on Fleek. May and Hesseltine, who had similar success with the account Bros Being Basic, caption photos of dads in truly unfortunate clothing choices as if they were on a fashion blog. You can even submit pics of your own dad, if you’re not too embarrassed.
Visit Fashion Dads
Camels & Chocolate
Dive into the blog Camels & Chocolate by journalist Kristin Luna (’05), whose writing has been featured in publications like Redbook, Glamour, Travel + Leisure, and Southern Living, just to name a few. For 10 years, Luna has been writing about travel (including lots of tips and tricks), the journey of renovating a Victorian house in Nashville, and the travel adventures of her dog, Ella. You can also follow Luna’s travels in real time on Instagram.
Visit Camels and Chocolate
Vol Photos
Tennessee Athletics photographers Donald Page and Craig Bisacre take some dynamite photos of all things Vols and post them to the webpage Vol Photos and the Instagram and Twitter accounts of the same name. You’ll find everything from football to swimming, Vols at home and on the road, Smokey, and behind-the-scenes shots.
Visit Vol Photos
Cinematary
Wondering if La La Land is any good? If you want another Vol’s opinion about the top 10 movies of 2016 or to read reviews for well-known, lesser-known, old, or new movies, give the Cinematary podcast and website a try. The weekly film discussion podcast and print criticism website was started in 2014 by then-students Zach Dennis (’14), Andrew Swafford (’14, ’15), and Dylan Moore (’15) in close partnership with the UT Cinema Club. Other UT students have since been added to the lineup, allowing for a wide range of opinions and ideas about the cinema. You can subscribe to the podcast on ITunes, Stitcher, Google Play, and Soundcloud.
Visit Cinematary
WWII Oral Histories Collection
Over the last 25 years, the Center for the Study of War and Society at UT has conducted hundreds of oral history interviews focusing on individual veteran’s experiences throughout the war. More than 300 hours of interviews capture the experiences of veterans, including their lives before combat, motivations to enlist, personal experiences during the war, and experiences adjusting to civilian life. The audiotapes have been digitized and are available through the UT Libraries Digital Collections.
Visit WWII Oral Histories Collection