Nat's What I Reckon: How a Metalhead YouTube Star Does Christmas
Comedian, mental health advocate and home cook Nat shares his plans for Christmas and thoughts on this crazy year
The pandemic turned the single-moniker Sydney comedian Nat into a household name, with his YouTube cooking videos – Nat’s What I Reckon – amassing tens of millions of views around the world. As he celebrates the launch of his second cookbook, Death to Jar Sauce, he sat down with us to talk Christmas, mental health and why he’s on a personal crusade to rid pantries across the globe of ready-made sauces.
PS: Major swearing warning for this story – if you’re easily offended, let us redirect you to our regular stories. Nat is who he is…
PS: Major swearing warning for this story – if you’re easily offended, let us redirect you to our regular stories. Nat is who he is…
Nat’s ceviche dish.
What’s on the menu?
Ceviche if it’s hot, probably roast chicken if it’s not.
Ready to give your home a fresh look in the new year? Find a local interior designer on Houzz
What’s on the menu?
Ceviche if it’s hot, probably roast chicken if it’s not.
Ready to give your home a fresh look in the new year? Find a local interior designer on Houzz
Image: nats_what_i_reckon/ instagram
And what won’t be?
F*****G TURKEY, ’cause I don’t need to try and cook eight to 10 kilograms of hard-to-manage bird.
Most people’s efforts at cooking turkeys end up like dry old s**t too. They are a lot to manage, let alone having 30 people in your house that are all half-cut yelling at you. There are so many better things to eat on a stressful day.
And what won’t be?
F*****G TURKEY, ’cause I don’t need to try and cook eight to 10 kilograms of hard-to-manage bird.
Most people’s efforts at cooking turkeys end up like dry old s**t too. They are a lot to manage, let alone having 30 people in your house that are all half-cut yelling at you. There are so many better things to eat on a stressful day.
Image: Julia Gee
What’s your kitchen like?
The stove is a bit f****d, but I make it work. I live in a rental so I can’t really get too creative with the set-up or I might lose my bond. What I do love about it is the huge bench – great for waving my arms around on camera.
What’s your kitchen like?
The stove is a bit f****d, but I make it work. I live in a rental so I can’t really get too creative with the set-up or I might lose my bond. What I do love about it is the huge bench – great for waving my arms around on camera.
Image: Julia Gee
Is there anything you’d change if you could?
Most of it.
When I get my own place one day I’m gonna go all out, get a massive wide oven, hang all my pots and pans and other hangable nonsense above my head, maybe off a trendy ladder or some trite s**t like that, and create the biggest wooden bench that I can cook on and also sit around to eat from.
I love the kitchen hang out. Really I just wanna have more space to feed more people more stuff.
What are your cooking essentials?
A sharp AF knife, a big, heavy wooden chopping board, and a gas stove.
Is there anything you’d change if you could?
Most of it.
When I get my own place one day I’m gonna go all out, get a massive wide oven, hang all my pots and pans and other hangable nonsense above my head, maybe off a trendy ladder or some trite s**t like that, and create the biggest wooden bench that I can cook on and also sit around to eat from.
I love the kitchen hang out. Really I just wanna have more space to feed more people more stuff.
What are your cooking essentials?
A sharp AF knife, a big, heavy wooden chopping board, and a gas stove.
Image: nats_what_i_reckon/ instagram
How will you dress your home for the festive season?
Not usually a great deal of decoration going on for me. Though, since being with Jules I have come around to the fake pine tree in the lounge room set-up.
I am a little bit lighting-obsessed so I now pump the tree with a hydroponic level of lights to the point where it could almost give you a tan.
When it comes to carols… well, they are – at best – pretty rough on the ears. So unless they are being sung by someone from the ’50s over some jazz, I’m likely to dodge that as much as possible.
How will you dress your home for the festive season?
Not usually a great deal of decoration going on for me. Though, since being with Jules I have come around to the fake pine tree in the lounge room set-up.
I am a little bit lighting-obsessed so I now pump the tree with a hydroponic level of lights to the point where it could almost give you a tan.
When it comes to carols… well, they are – at best – pretty rough on the ears. So unless they are being sung by someone from the ’50s over some jazz, I’m likely to dodge that as much as possible.
Image: Julia Gee
How do you feel about this time of year?
Most of it I can’t f****n stand if I’m to be perfectly honest.
I hate being told by a bunch of f**kwits trying to sell me superfluous s**t that I’m supposed to be all ‘excited’ about a time where I’m likely navigating extra mental health challenges. Everyone is freaking the f**k out because Coca Cola’s made-up Santa is coming to town and they are being pressured to buy everyone stuff that they sometimes can’t afford.
For fear of being a total wet blanket, I do love moments where you’re enjoying someone’s company you care about… that’s where I love it.
What’s the one thing that gets you through it?
Jules.
How do you feel about this time of year?
Most of it I can’t f****n stand if I’m to be perfectly honest.
I hate being told by a bunch of f**kwits trying to sell me superfluous s**t that I’m supposed to be all ‘excited’ about a time where I’m likely navigating extra mental health challenges. Everyone is freaking the f**k out because Coca Cola’s made-up Santa is coming to town and they are being pressured to buy everyone stuff that they sometimes can’t afford.
For fear of being a total wet blanket, I do love moments where you’re enjoying someone’s company you care about… that’s where I love it.
What’s the one thing that gets you through it?
Jules.
Image: Julia Gee
So what are your thoughts on this rollercoaster year we’ve just had?
What a punisher, eh? The best parts have easily been sharing some lockdown laughs with the champions out there. I’ve been very lucky to have something I can do creatively and for work in my house during this time, a lot of people have suffered a huge blow and haven’t been so lucky.
The worst parts have been losing a lot of my usual supports that I have in place to manage my already tricky head.
It’s been tough on more or less everyone, but I’m looking forward to spending thousands more dollars on therapy to decompress over the next few decades.
So what are your thoughts on this rollercoaster year we’ve just had?
What a punisher, eh? The best parts have easily been sharing some lockdown laughs with the champions out there. I’ve been very lucky to have something I can do creatively and for work in my house during this time, a lot of people have suffered a huge blow and haven’t been so lucky.
The worst parts have been losing a lot of my usual supports that I have in place to manage my already tricky head.
It’s been tough on more or less everyone, but I’m looking forward to spending thousands more dollars on therapy to decompress over the next few decades.
Image: nats_what_i_reckon/ instagram
How has life changed for you since your YouTube first blew up?
I have a lot of people yell “Oi, f**k jar sauce” at me out their car windows.
I can’t go many places without people knowing who I am, which is a little bit of a spin out and a touch daunting at times. As someone who is quite anxious, it’s been both challenging and awesome all at once.
It’s wild how many people have approached me just to say something nice though. I even sometimes see young people with their parents wearing merch or waving hello, it’s pretty cool.
Have you always cooked?
Definitely haven’t always cooked heaps. The vast majority has been self-taught, studying cookbooks or learning from my old man and mates who know their way around good food.
Browse kitchens on Houzz to inspire your cooking space
How has life changed for you since your YouTube first blew up?
I have a lot of people yell “Oi, f**k jar sauce” at me out their car windows.
I can’t go many places without people knowing who I am, which is a little bit of a spin out and a touch daunting at times. As someone who is quite anxious, it’s been both challenging and awesome all at once.
It’s wild how many people have approached me just to say something nice though. I even sometimes see young people with their parents wearing merch or waving hello, it’s pretty cool.
Have you always cooked?
Definitely haven’t always cooked heaps. The vast majority has been self-taught, studying cookbooks or learning from my old man and mates who know their way around good food.
Browse kitchens on Houzz to inspire your cooking space
Image: Julia Gee
Why do you think people have connected so strongly with you?
Maybe because I swear heaps? Hahaha. But, truthfully, it’s hard to say. I think I represent someone who a lot of people would assume is a bit of a dead s**t, but then maybe changed their way of seeing a tattooed, metalhead, masc-presenting dude?
I hope it’s because I made them laugh, even just for a second, maybe when s**t was real heavy for them. Either way I’m stoked so many people are digging it… kinda can’t believe it, hey.
Is what we see in your videos the real you?
Hahahaha nah that’s pretty much me. I do try and put on a bit of a choreographed show for the gang but that’s how I am to a tee – an outspoken ratbag who won’t shut up about what I reckon.
Why do you think people have connected so strongly with you?
Maybe because I swear heaps? Hahaha. But, truthfully, it’s hard to say. I think I represent someone who a lot of people would assume is a bit of a dead s**t, but then maybe changed their way of seeing a tattooed, metalhead, masc-presenting dude?
I hope it’s because I made them laugh, even just for a second, maybe when s**t was real heavy for them. Either way I’m stoked so many people are digging it… kinda can’t believe it, hey.
Is what we see in your videos the real you?
Hahahaha nah that’s pretty much me. I do try and put on a bit of a choreographed show for the gang but that’s how I am to a tee – an outspoken ratbag who won’t shut up about what I reckon.
Image: nats_what_i_reckon/ instagram
What have you got against jar sauce?
It’s boring as f**k. It represents the opposite of adventure and excitement to me. I certainly don’t think you’re an a******e for eating it, I just think you deserve better.
What can we expect from your new book?
A good laugh and a one-stop shop for things that you will actually want to cook, and not a pretentious swan about the manor.
I reckon there are so many no-bad-arse feeds in there that it will hopefully inspire people to give them a red-hot go. It’s spoken in my words and not like a maths lesson, and illustrated like an out-of-this-world set of episodes by some incredible artists. I think pretty much anyone who picks it up will love it sick and have a good giggle… unless ya hate swearing, then you’re f****d.
What have you got against jar sauce?
It’s boring as f**k. It represents the opposite of adventure and excitement to me. I certainly don’t think you’re an a******e for eating it, I just think you deserve better.
What can we expect from your new book?
A good laugh and a one-stop shop for things that you will actually want to cook, and not a pretentious swan about the manor.
I reckon there are so many no-bad-arse feeds in there that it will hopefully inspire people to give them a red-hot go. It’s spoken in my words and not like a maths lesson, and illustrated like an out-of-this-world set of episodes by some incredible artists. I think pretty much anyone who picks it up will love it sick and have a good giggle… unless ya hate swearing, then you’re f****d.
What are your plans for 2022?
Going for a swim, playing some rock ’n‘ roll with my band, hugging some friends without having a panic attack that we are gonna make each other crook. I want for this year to work out how to do it all better, get better at making people laugh, learn some more s**t, be a better partner, be a better listener… be a happier person hopefully.
Death to Jar Sauce by Nat’s What I Reckon, published by Penguin Random House, RRP AU$34.99, is available at Booktopia.
Your turn
Do you serve up a traditional Christmas lunch or something a little more colourful? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Keen to try recipes from Nat’s new cookbook? You’ll find just what you’re looking for here – Cooking With a Side of Cussing: 3 Recipes From Nat’s New Cookbook.
Going for a swim, playing some rock ’n‘ roll with my band, hugging some friends without having a panic attack that we are gonna make each other crook. I want for this year to work out how to do it all better, get better at making people laugh, learn some more s**t, be a better partner, be a better listener… be a happier person hopefully.
Death to Jar Sauce by Nat’s What I Reckon, published by Penguin Random House, RRP AU$34.99, is available at Booktopia.
Your turn
Do you serve up a traditional Christmas lunch or something a little more colourful? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Keen to try recipes from Nat’s new cookbook? You’ll find just what you’re looking for here – Cooking With a Side of Cussing: 3 Recipes From Nat’s New Cookbook.
So, what are your Christmas plans?
The plan so far is a bit b****y up in the air – you never know how s**t is gonna land on a calendar these days. But hopefully nothing too serious, maybe some Ella Fitzgerald and a few drinks, hopefully with my best babe, Jules.