Photographer: Hunter Moreno

Kristi Cook (aka Spill Sesh) is an influential figure in the YouTube community, running the platform’s biggest anonymous “Tea” channel (over 347M total views). The creator’s platform serves as a stage where she dissects the internet’s most significant controversies and scandals involving prominent online personalities & celebrities. Through Kristi’s insightful commentary, she navigates through the complexities of online drama, offering millions of viewers a nuanced understanding of the events unfolding within the digital sphere and in pop culture news. Kristi embodies the creativity and potential for success that AAPI individuals can bring to the forefront of online content creation.

Can you share with us the inspiration behind starting your YouTube channel, and how did you come up with the concept of running an anonymous "Tea" channel?

I have always been interested in pop culture news, especially the world of influencers and when I saw that there were a few channels covering this type of thing on Youtube, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. I saw a few other channels were anonymous and loved the concept so I wanted to do the same.

What challenges did you face when first starting out on YouTube, and how did you overcome them?

I have actually had a few channels over the years, in middle school, my friends and I all had Youtube channels where we made music videos and posted them, then I had a vlog channel, a cooking channel, and now I have Spill Sesh. Spill Sesh was the channel I was most serious about, which was probably a result of all that I had learned years prior.

Your channel has grown to become the largest "Tea" channel on YouTube with millions of viewers. What strategies did you employ to achieve such remarkable success in the competitive landscape of online content creation?

I certainly believe consistency is key to being successful on social media. Consistency and being yourself, people crave authenticity and if you aren’t interested in what you’re talking about, people will see right through it. An audience loves to see someone talk about something they love and/or know a lot about.

As a prominent figure in the YouTube community, you often dissect controversies and scandals involving online personalities and celebrities. How do you navigate the delicate balance between providing insightful commentary and respecting privacy boundaries?

I try not to give opinions when I’m reporting and give all the information available to me about a certain subject. I try to make sure to include all sides of the story, all the reactions I’ve seen, and let the audience walk away from it forming their own opinions.

Could you share a particularly memorable moment or experience from your journey as a content creator that has had a significant impact on you or your channel?

A lot of special moments have come from the people I’ve been able to meet online. Some of my best friends have come from Youtube which is really special.

AAPI Heritage Month is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements and contributions of the AAPI community. How do you see your identity as an AAPI individual influencing your content creation process and the perspectives you bring to your audience?

I feel proud to represent, I think my life experiences bring a different level of understanding to the stories I’m reporting on especially when race is involved. I hope people view my content and feel heard. It’s so important, especially if you grow up somewhere that you don’t feel represented in. It can be isolating. But to find a community online can be a great resort.

In what ways do you believe diversity and inclusion are important in the online content creation space, and how do you strive to incorporate these values into your work?

“I believe it’s extremely important for people to feel represented in the content that they are consuming.”

What advice would you give to aspiring content creators, especially those from underrepresented communities, who are looking to make their mark in the digital sphere?

I would say to truly just go for it, be the representation that you want to see.

Looking ahead, what are your visions and goals for the future of your YouTube channel and your presence in the online community?

I have a lot of goals for the future, hoping to expand what I can do with my platform. I love storytelling and I’m hoping to be able to do that more in the future with interviews and expanded versions of my Youtube videos.

Finally, what message would you like to convey to your audience, particularly to fellow AAPI individuals, about the power of representation and embracing one's cultural identity in the digital age?

Representation is so important. It truly makes people feel less alone and that’s coming from personal experience. There’s something so powerful in seeing someone who looks just like you putting themselves out there.