What you will hear us chat about

In this interview we discuss:

🔹 The Creation of Survive History – How Louee turned his passion for history into a highly immersive YouTube channel, blending education with entertainment.

🔹 Taking the Leap into YouTube – How getting made redundant, expecting a child, and facing uncertainty pushed him to take a risk and start his channel.

🔹 Bringing History to Life – The power of reenactment groups, immersive storytelling, and focusing on everyday people in history rather than just famous leaders.

🔹 The Reality of War – How history often romanticizes battles, but real soldiers dealt with chaos, fear, survival, and even basic needs like food and hygiene.

🔹 Overcoming Fear as a Creator – The mental barriers that stop people from starting projects, and why most people don’t actually care if you put yourself out there.

🔹 Balancing Education & Entertainment – The challenge of staying historically accurate while making engaging and fun content that appeals to a modern audience.

🔹 Lessons from History – Why history isn’t black and white, how nuance is lost in modern culture, and how we can learn from the past to avoid repeating mistakes.

🔹 Advice for Aspiring Creators & History Fans – How to get involved in reenactment groups, explore history in a more engaging way, and take action on your own creative passions.

Here are some key points that I would advise you to concentrate on

Louee Dessent-Jackson – Making History Come Alive, YouTube Success & Following Your Passion

Louee Dessent-Jackson is the creator of Survive History, one of the most immersive and engaging historical YouTube channels out there. His videos put you right into the action—whether it’s standing in a Napoleonic battlefield, surviving in a Viking shield wall, or understanding the daily struggles of a Roman soldier. But beyond the history, Louee’s journey from a news producer to a full-time creator is a lesson in resilience, risk-taking, and turning passion into a career.

Key Takeaways from the Interview:

🔥 History isn’t just names and dates—it’s an experience. Louee doesn’t just talk about history—he lives it. His goal is to make you feel what it was like to march with Napoleon’s army or hold the line in a medieval battle. “When you click onto one of our episodes, I want you transported back in time. You’re following in the footsteps of people who lived it.”

🎥 A Leap of Faith – The Birth of Survive History. Louee was unexpectedly made redundant, about to move house, and had his first child on the way. Instead of panicking, he bet on himself and started his channel. “My wife looked at her pregnant belly and said, ‘Is now really the time?’ And I thought, yes, it has to be now.”

💡 Passion + Opportunity = Success. He spent years working in media, gaining expertise in YouTube without ever thinking he’d launch his own channel. When the chance came, he trusted his gut and went all in. “It was probably the only time I’d have a couple of months to do this. So I did.”

📜 History is full of grey areas. We love heroes and villains, but real history is more complex than that. “Things aren’t black and white. Even the people we consider heroes were complicated. That’s why I focus on the everyday soldiers—not just the leaders.”

👀 Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. One of the biggest fears people have about starting a creative project is worrying about judgment from others. But as Louee puts it: “Most people don’t actually care if you post a YouTube video. They’ve got their own stuff going on.”

⚔️ Living History Teaches You More Than a Textbook. Louee works with reenactment groups to bring authenticity to his episodes, whether it’s training with Viking warriors or handling real weapons from history. “Most history documentaries focus on strategy and leaders—but what about the guy who had to dig a latrine in the middle of a war?”

🎭 Balancing Entertainment & Education. His episodes aren’t dry history lectures—there’s humor, action, and real human moments that make learning fun. “A lot of history documentaries forget to ask: ‘Where did these guys go to the toilet?’ That’s the stuff that makes history feel real.”

🚀 The Future of Survive History. Louee’s goal is to expand beyond British and European history and explore untold stories from around the world. He also dreams of recreating major historical battles—if only there was a budget for hundreds of ships and thousands of soldiers!

🔥 Level up with these upgrades 🔥

1️⃣ Take Action on Your Passion – If there’s something you’ve wanted to do but keep putting off, commit to taking one small step today—whether it’s writing, filming, or signing up for that course.

2️⃣ Step Out of Your Comfort Zone – Do something this week that makes you a bit uncomfortable—whether it’s speaking on camera, sharing an idea publicly, or joining a new group.

3️⃣ Reframe Setbacks as Opportunities – Think about a time when life threw you an unexpected curveball. Instead of seeing it as a failure, ask yourself: What opportunity did this create?

4️⃣ Deep Dive into a Historical Period You Love – Pick an era you’ve always been interested in and learn one new fact about what life was actually like for normal people, not just the leaders.

5️⃣ Forget the Fear of Judgment – If you’ve been holding back on a creative project because you’re worried about what people will think, remind yourself: Most people aren’t paying that much attention. Just start.

Key Lesson: Don’t Let Your Passion Die

Louee had a deep love of history from childhood but assumed it would never be more than a hobby. It took a moment of uncertainty to push him to finally pursue what he loved.

🔥 Your challenge: Identify something you’re passionate about but have put on the back burner. This week, do one thing to bring it back into your life—whether it’s reading about it, practicing it, or creating something new.

“Don’t forget what your passion is. Remember it, and don’t give up on the idea that doing something you love can actually work for you.” – Louee Dessent-Jackson

🎧 How to Follow Louee & Survive History

📺 YouTube – Survive History
📢 Engage – Take quizzes, comment, and ask questions on the community tab.
📜 Stay Updated – Follow for new immersive episodes every month.