You know that voice inside your head that tells you all the reasons why it would be a bad idea to do that thing you’ve kinda always wanted to do?
Yes Theory ignores it.
In fact, the group’s whole motto is “Seek Discomfort.” Its members put themselves at the mercy of various challenges, strangers and cultures to do and see what the world and its people have to offer. Through these experiences, they make friends, see the world and grow to appreciate different customs.
“We believe that life’s greatest moments and deepest connections exist outside your comfort zone,” their channel’s “about” section reads.
Whether it’s “Eating the World’s Worst Diet for 7 Days,” “Knocking on Doors… to Fly a Stranger Around the World” or “Throwing a Dart at a Map and Flying Wherever it Lands,” Yes Theory commits to accomplishing what they set out to do, often relying on the kindness of total strangers to succeed—all while trying their hardest to never say no.
Ammar, Thomas and Matt travel to countless places. Oftentimes, places you’d never think of going, they’ve been, and they show the friendliness and hospitality people show all around the globe.
Yes Theory challenges its viewers to look past circumstances and geographical biases to discover the genuine people who live there. Though not everyone they (or we) meet are friendly or hospitable, they show that the world is filled with lots of kind people—if we only give them a chance. Whether it’s traveling to a tiny town in Kansas or the northernmost town on Earth or Istanbul, Turkey, Yes Theory connects with all sorts of people from all sorts of cultures.
And that’s sweet. Often, the news and social media can cause us to forget we’re all human beings uniquely made in the image of God. Yes Theory will often sit down with total strangers and immediately begin talking with them as if they were long-lost friends.
In a similar vein, Yes Theory also gives some people they meet experiences they’ll never forget, taking them with them to join the adventure. But it isn’t only about the journey they take. With each person they bring along or each location they visit, they typically make sure to highlight that person’s story. This makes it much easier for the viewer to connect with the stranger and understand the culture and experiences they’ve come from.
Finally, because Yes Theory travels a lot, they’ve made a free program that searches the best and cheapest flights from a wide plethora of airlines. Even if you do not feel comfortable booking through the program itself, it helps to give people an idea of which airline websites to look through.
Yes Theory shows that many people are both friendly and helpful to those who ask for it. However, it is also true that many people out there may try to hurt us as well. Children who watch Yes Theory should be reminded that it is still wise to be cautious around strangers. It also goes without saying that it is not always wise to say yes to quite so many things.
Yes Theory contains a variety of cautionary content. Swears including the s-word and f-word are often bleeped out, but a few do manage to squeak by the censor. Misuses of God’s name are also heard. In addition, men and women may be seen in swimsuits, and one video has two men survive naked in the wilderness for a night (though a long black censor bar covers everything critical).
Alcohol is consumed, and Yes Theory goes to a hookah lounge in one video. In another video, we watch a cow give birth, and in still another, they get tattoos. In addition, as Yes Theory’s exploration of other cultures includes diving into religious practices (such as mosque worship in Istanbul) or elements that could make the viewer deeply uncomfortable (such as the spray-painted art of male genitalia in Bhutan).
It’s fun to watch Yes Theory go and experience both the places you’ve always wanted to visit as well as the ones you’d never think of seeing. They bring a joy to the people they interact with, and they help us to remember that regardless of our backgrounds, we can find friendly people everywhere.
However, experiencing various cultures and customs also may expose us to certain things that parents may not want their children watching. Though we are called to treat all people with the respect we all deserve as being made in the image of God dictates, we should also always remember to guard our heart against bad influences that a culture may deem normal—and that goes for bad influences in the U.S., too, not just those around the globe!
Kennedy Unthank studied journalism at the University of Missouri. He knew he wanted to write for a living when he won a contest for “best fantasy story” while in the 4th grade. What he didn’t know at the time, however, was that he was the only person to submit a story. Regardless, the seed was planted. Kennedy collects and plays board games in his free time, and he loves to talk about biblical apologetics. He thinks the ending of Lost “wasn’t that bad.”
