Simon Whistler
Simon Whistler is one of the most widely watched voices in factual storytelling, reaching millions of viewers monthly across a network of YouTube channels, including MegaProjects, Into the Shadows, and The Casual Criminalist.
About Simon
Born in south-east England and now based in the Czech Republic, Simon built his career on making complex subjects genuinely accessible without sacrificing depth. His approach to storytelling goes beyond surface-level summaries, exploring the strategic logic, historical context, and human consequences that shape how ambitious ideas become real work.
SideProjects is where that curiosity turns to the stories at the edges — the lesser-known tales, side narratives, and spin-offs from the bigger historical and contemporary subjects everyone else covers head-on.
The Whistlerverse
MEGAPROJECTS
Deep dives into mankind's largest engineering achievements and infrastructure systems.
SIDE STORIES / HISTORYSIDEPROJECTS
Lesser-known tales, side narratives, and spin-offs from major historical and contemporary subjects.
GEOPOLITICS / CONFLICTWARFRONTS
Geopolitics, conflict analysis, and the defense strategy shaping current wars.
TRUE CRIMETHE CASUAL CRIMINALIST
Wry retellings of real criminal cases, from the infamous to the utterly absurd.
HISTORYINTO THE SHADOWS
Darker historical stories and controversial episodes from modern history.
MYSTERIES / GEOGRAPHYDECODING THE UNKNOWN
Investigations into mysteries, unexplained claims, and speculative history topics.
MYSTERIES / GEOGRAPHYPLACES
Global geography and place-based storytelling across regions and cultures.
GEOPOLITICS / CONFLICTHOMEFRONTS
Geopolitics, modern conflict, military history, and the civilian and societal dimensions of global events.
SPACECELESTIUM
Accessible, visually rich explorations of space science and cosmic phenomena.
SideProjects Insider
The weekly dispatch for curious builders — what gets made, what goes wrong, and what to try next.
Builders, tinkerers, and curious minds subscribed
- Weekly dispatch
- Lesser-known tales and side narratives
- The stories behind the bigger stories
- Behind-the-scenes notes from Simon
Latest from Side Projects
People and Neanderthals Lived Together. Here's How We Know.
Discover the evidence that proves humans and Neanderthals cohabited, interbred, and influenced each other's genetic code, societies, and eventual fates for thousands of years.
10 Terrifying Zoological Discoveries
From ant wars and zombie fungi to murderous dolphins, fire-starting birds, and Komodo dragons—discover ten shocking zoological findings that reveal nature's darkest secrets.
Temporary Solutions That Never Went Away
From income tax to the Korean War armistice, discover how history's "temporary" emergency measures became permanent fixtures of law, politics, and society.