5 Hours with Peter Santenello

A few days ago, I spent five hours showing Peter Santenello around Mexico City.

Who is Peter Santenello?

Peter Santenello is a YouTube content creator dedicated to uncovering some of the most intriguing and overlooked stories from around the world. His mission, as he puts it, is to "show you a world that the media fails to capture." Peter doesn't consider himself a vlogger or a journalist, but rather a storyteller.

A personal hero of mine, Peter creates insightful and thought-provoking videos that captivate his audience. He is a master storyteller and every bit as kind and curious in person as he appears on screen.

With only a GoPro in hand, his weekly videos reach millions of viewers globally. Peter's remarkable work is made possible by the power of the internet, advances in camera technology, and the platform provided by YouTube—a combination that would have been unimaginable a decade ago. His work is truly inspiring.

Peter's Videos

Peter began his video-making journey while living in Ukraine several years ago. His videos captured the essence of life in Kyiv, rural villages around the country, and even abandoned Soviet-era buildings.

Following this, he produced a series on Iran, which provided an authentic glimpse of life on the ground—a stark contrast to the portrayal of oppression and chaos often seen in American media.

Peter then ventured through Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Pakistan, and India, documenting his experiences along the way.

When the COVID pandemic forced him to return to his home country, the United States, he reluctantly started making videos there. To his surprise, he discovered some of the most fascinating stories were right in his own backyard.

I highly recommend his playlist on the US-Mexico border, which sheds light on the complex situation unfolding there.

Here’s some of his other notable stories from the US:

His most popular video to date, which has been seen just shy of 10 million times, features a unique town in Alaska where the entire population resides in a single building:

With a collection of around 200 videos, Peter has consistently broadened the horizons of his viewers by offering insights into the diverse lifestyles of people across the globe.

His work serves as a reminder that there is always more to learn and discover about the world. All of his stories have the potential to challenge our preconceptions and deepen our understanding of different cultures.

Peter's Visit to Mexico City

During his recent visit to Mexico City, I had the opportunity to meet Peter and show him around our neighborhood. He was interested in exploring the lives of Americans who have made Mexico their home and thought it would make for an interesting story.

I first met Peter at Parque Urugay in the Polanco neighborhood. After a friendly chat, we headed to my house, where Peter was given a tour and introduced to my wife. On camera, he engaged my wife in a conversation about her decision to attend a Mexican veterinary school and capturing her perspective on being a foreigner living in Mexico.

Afterward, we guided Peter through Masaryk Street, where he filmed the high-end shops and restaurants that characterize the area. Our tour also included a visit to the picturesque Parque Lincoln and stops at a few charming cafes nearby, showcasing the vibrant atmosphere of this beautiful neighborhood.

Next, we made our way to the iconic Chapultepec Castle. Due to Easter celebrations, the park was teeming with people. More than I had ever seen before. Mexican families had gathered for picnics and leisurely strolls, making the most of their time off from work. The queue to enter the castle was extraordinarily long, so we decided to skip it.

Our next stop was my favorite taco joint, Taqueria Orinoco. There, we ordered tacos al pastor and chicharron, which he thoroughly enjoyed.

We continued our tour with a visit to Art/Works, a coworking space and art gallery owned by a friend of mine in the trendy Roma Norte neighborhood. This unique space exemplifies the fusion of creativity and entrepreneurship that is thriving in Mexico City.

Finally, we made our way to Parque Mexico to film a closing scene and bid each other farewell.

A New Era of Storytelling

Peter represents a growing movement of individuals who are challenging the traditional media landscape and emerging as reliable sources of information.

Through authenticity, curiosity, and empathy, storytellers like Peter are forging their own paths and capturing the hearts and minds of viewers worldwide.

As the relevance of traditional media declines, independent content creators like Peter are redefining the way we consume news, ultimately fostering a more empathetic global community.

Conclusion

I don’t know whether Peter will use all, some, or none of the footage we captured during our time together. Nevertheless, Peter is truly a legend and I am grateful to have spent such a memorable afternoon with him.