He Just Wanted To Talk About Geology, Now He’s A YouTube Star

Myron Cook hiked up T Hill in Thermopolis with ease. Tripod and backpack in tow, he scanned the landscape for the best filming spot. 

Cook had come to Hot Springs State Park to make a video about the area’s travertine deposits, a special type of limestone that occurs near hot springs. 

“My particular focus is bringing the history of the Earth into focus, and the geological processes that occur to create the beauty around us,” Cook said. 

Thanks to his calm delivery and in-depth geologic stories, Cook has built a growing audience with more than 20 million views on his videos so far. That makes him one of the most prominent YouTubers in Wyoming.

The short documentary “He Just Wanted To Talk About Geology… Now He’s A YouTube Star” follows 63-year-old Myron Cook as he films a new YouTube video in Hot Springs State Park.

What begins as a behind-the-scenes look at his filming process turns into a profile of a retired geologist whose calm, curious approach has earned him a loyal and growing audience. 

Myron Cook: Read The Rocks

It all began three years ago when Cook retired after decades working all over the world as an exploration geologist in the oil and gas industry.

“I just wanted to communicate geology, and I knew it had to be through video, and it had to be through YouTube.” Cook said. “I didn't know video, and I certainly didn't know YouTube and how to do all that. I had to learn all the video editing and all that. I do everything myself.”

Now, he films and edits videos anywhere from 14 to 90 minutes long. They’ve earned him overwhelmingly positive praise for his teaching style and calm, friendly demeanor, which many viewers compare to Bob Ross.  

“The Bob Ross of geology thing came about, I think on my very first video. I drew a small tree, and people picked up on that, and it reminded them of Bob Ross and then my style, I guess, and all that. I definitely view it as a compliment,” Cook said. 

His main goal is to get people interested in the world around them, and tell Earth’s story. His videos cover topics like dramatic canyons, obscure geology, petrified trees and more. Some of Cook’s videos take place in other states, but Cook particularly loves Wyoming geology. He grew up in the state. 

“Wyoming geology, oh, man, it is at the top. I've been very fortunate to see geology all across our planet, many places, and Wyoming is right there,” Cook said. “...I feel it's almost like I was predestined to be a geologist and grow up in the Big Horn Basin, where all this geology is to see and experience in such a variety.”

One of his favorite comments is “you've changed the way I see the world around me, and boy, that is a great compliment to me,” Cook said.

Adventure In Thermopolis 

Cook moved through Hot Springs State Park, crafting a story around travertine. Up on top of T Hill, then at ancient and modern-day travertine terraces. All were shaped by the hot springs.

“The process of these travertine terraces developing is very close to the river. Always,” Cook said at the top of T Hill. “How do we make sense of this? Really, you have to say the river was here at one time. That's a rather bold statement, isn't it?” 

He frames all of his videos around a question, then he tells an in depth story about the landscape that helps people answer it. He said 95% of the time he works alone. 

With two microphones, a camera, a tripod and a drone, he meticulously documents the best outcrops and landscapes to tell his story. He references a notepad along the way. 

“I would never hire a camera guy. Just couldn't. It's too personal. You know, the way you set it up, the story that I'm trying to portray to people. To me, it reminds me a lot of painting. I do oil paintings as a hobby, and you have to think through carefully how you compose the painting,” Cook said. “This is the same process, and I really enjoy doing that.” 

In the end, he has to be the one choosing the exact shot, he said. 

Cook references notes, but he doesn’t write a script. He steps in front of the camera and does a few takes. Sometimes, just one. He reviews each before he moves on to the next step. 

He’s in no rush. He often takes his time explaining things, which a handful of people point out. 

“I always assume they're from younger people. That may not be true, but I get comments like, ‘Hey, can you hurry it up?’” Cook said. “...We need to enjoy the process of learning and give people time to think about what they're observing. And that takes time and also to appreciate the landscape around them.” 

However, most people express their love for his delivery and in-depth context. For example, people note the videos are calming and informative, even helping a few people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Cook plans to keep publishing about a video per month. He makes them for fun and doesn’t want to turn the process into work.

“It's just gratifying to see more and more people come and become more and more interested in geology,” Cook said. “So, I like that. The more the better.”