How Nicole Rafiee creates content material for the chronically on-line

Nicole Rafiee has been across the block on YouTube. The 25 year-old creator made her first channel in center faculty, and after deleting her channel a couple of occasions (she wasn’t thrilled when her highschool’s soccer staff discovered it), she began critically posting to YouTube her sophomore 12 months of school.

As of late, she’d have much more problem if she felt like deleting her channel when somebody in her actual life discovered it. She’s garnered an viewers of 1.07 million subscribers on YouTube, thanks partially to her “Chronically On-line Woman explains” sequence, which covers every thing from Ariana Grande to the Frenemies lore.

We caught up along with her at VidCon 2025 to get the inside track on what she makes use of nowadays to streamline her content material creation course of — and to find out how precisely she manages to report her and Jake Thatcher’s Speak Nasty to Me podcast in her bathtub.

A conveyable SSD

When Rafiee first began out with movies, she bumped into some tech points proper off the bat.

“I used to be like, why is my laptop operating at just like the pace of nothing? And why is my laptop as sizzling as an oven proper now? Like, I might truly make a pancake on it as a result of it is so sizzling and I’ve, like, third diploma burns on my lap due to this.”

The answer? A strong state drive (SSD) to retailer her many hours of footage. She says she’s collected six through the years — at about $99 a bit, it is positively cheaper than shopping for a wholly new laptop computer (and allows you to keep away from some tech waste).

“ Everyone ought to get an SSD in the event that they need to (create content material) — not every thing must dwell off of your laptop or telephone,” she mentioned. “I say that as I’ve actually 85,000 pictures on my telephone. I ought to take my very own recommendation.”

A Sony digital camera made for creators

Rafiee is not precisely a fan of all merchandise catered towards creators: “Typically when manufacturers are like, ‘this product is made for creators,’ it is like, okay, this sucks,” she mentioned. “And it simply is available in, like, pink or one thing and so they’re like, ‘That is it!’ and I am like, ‘alright I do not want all that.'”

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The Sony ZV-1 does not fall into that class, fortunately. Rafiee instructed us it is the digital camera she’s used the longest, largely as a result of it is so user-friendly and versatile: she makes use of it for every thing from filming her podcast to vlogging in her automotive.

An excellent video gentle (actually)

“ I do care so much about lighting in my movies as a result of I really feel like I’ve to set a vibe. I do not like a harsh lighting; I need it to appear to be I am actually in my home,” Rafiee mentioned.

This key gentle from GVM helps her do exactly that. She likes it as a result of it is simple to regulate the heat, it is moveable, and it will probably mimic the sunshine of the solar to set the right atmosphere.

Bose headphones

Rafiee has been utilizing the Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones for years. “ They’re my true journey or die. I simply changed the padding in them as a result of they had been simply deteriorating so dangerous from my very own sweat,” she instructed us.

Sadly, Bose phased out that actual mannequin, however the almost equivalent Bose QuietComfort headphones are nonetheless out there for buy.

Acoustic foam for soundproofing

Rafiee did not say precisely which acoustic foam she makes use of, however she did cite it as an important a part of her podcast setup. It is sensible, contemplating she and her co-host Jake Thatcher sit in an empty tub to report it.

It might be a problem for even probably the most seasoned audio engineer, and Rafiee does not count on the episodes to sound like they’re in a studio: “It’s going to by no means get there as a result of on the finish of the day we’re in a ceramic room. However [the foam] does make it so much higher.” Positioned simply out of digital camera line, the froth works alongside some pillows within the tub and rugs on the ground.

Honorable point out: A wellness routine

Rafiee’s final important is a strict wellness routine. “I must be (in) 10 out of 10 well being as a way to make a video,” she mentioned. She got here to the conclusion after she discovered herself throwing up and coping with migraines persistently whereas filming her “Chronically On-line” sequence, after hours of standing beneath the lights and never getting sufficient sleep.

Whereas not a bodily product, it is a good reminder that getting loads of relaxation and caring for your self are simply as essential as any recording gear or modifying software program.

Mashable was dwell at Anaheim Conference Middle overlaying VidCon 2025. Test again at Mashable.com, the place we’ll be speaking to your favourite creators, overlaying the newest tendencies, and sharing how creators are rising their followings, their affect, and making a residing on-line.