Hafu Go on Storytelling for the Masses, Staying Grounded at Scale, and Building a Culture of Positive Impact

At Cutback, we’re building Selects, an AI-powered assistant editor that helps video creators turn long hours of footage into meaningful stories faster. But we know tools don’t exist in a vacuum. Behind every edit is a human creator with unique challenges, inspirations, and workflows. That’s why we launched the Time for More Podcast: to explore the real, behind-the-scenes experiences of artists, musicians, editors, and founders navigating today’s creative landscape.

In the 5th episode, we spoke with renowned 16 million YouTuber and content creator Hafu Go.

Hosted by Tom Kim, the co-founder and CEO of Cutback, the company behind Selects, this episode continues a series exploring the behind-the-scenes stories of modern creatives.

"I think that's a skill, being able to simplify things so they're understandable by millions of people."

Hafu Go

With over 15 million subscribers and 450 million monthly viewers, Hafu Go is one of the most influential edutainment creators on YouTube. But behind the viral videos and high production value is a deep commitment to storytelling, clarity, and long-term cultural impact through content creation.

Missed the other episode of the “Time for More” Podcast featuring Hafu? Check it out to stay in the loop: “Time for More” Podcast Episode 6 ft. Hafu Go

Key Topics Covered

In this episode of “Time for More”, Hafu Go reflects on:

• Making learning cool: From DIY crafts as a kid to tech explainers with brand partnerships, his creative process is fueled by curiosity and accessibility.

• Translating complexity: As Hafu puts it, he sees himself as a translator between brands and viewers, turning spec-heavy briefs into simple, story-led messages that match his creative vision.

• The growth curve of a YouTube success who makes viral content: From chasing one viral video to building a full-scale media team, he walks us through the evolution (and challenges) of wearing both creator and CEO hats.

• Mental endurance and personal development over burnout: Hafu’s competitive edge is his mindset. Instead of retiring like many large creators, he doubles down each year with reflection, recalibration, and a stronger sense of purpose.

• The future beyond digital content: His ultimate goal? To maximize impact by building products, combining a wide reach with deep personal utility.

As Hafu says, music has no rulebook, but when it comes to editing podcasts, Selects makes it easier to stay in flow and focus on what matters: telling stories that connect.

Whether you're a creator, founder, or just trying to find your own rhythm, this episode is a masterclass in resilience, systems thinking, and purpose-driven creativity.

How Selects Helped Us Edit This Episode

This episode covered everything: three mics, three cameras, and an artist who jumps between deep emotional topics and genre trends in seconds.

With Selects, we were able to:

• Auto-sync all three camera angles and audio tracks in one click

• Clean up awkward pauses, filler words, and off-topic digressions

• Pull short, shareable clips from the full-length conversation, perfect for TikTok and Reels

Watch the Full Episode of the “Time For More” Podcast

What did you think of the podcast? Leave a comment on the YouTube channel. We’d love to hear your thoughts!

For more in-depth knowledge about the ins and outs of video editing, check out our latest posts on the Cutback blog or our YouTube channel. You can also join Cutback’s Discord community of like-minded video editors.