For one thing, he is one of the most prolific music video producers we know of. The goal of his Waste of Time Production company is to produce one video a week. He mostly keeps to this schedule. And, he produces all his videos using his iPhone. This includes any editing and effects he has in each video. Here at TikiKiti we have become so familiar with the quality of his videos, that they are usually rated high enough to make our weekly Top-10.
2024 was a very political year (putting it mildly), everyone is aware of the division among the America people; politicians stoke the flames of this division and disrespecting your neighbor is a daily occurrence. Because of this, Jason and his videos are a breath of fresh air. He shows us our country in all its beauty and grit. The end result is we all see something we have in common — the land that makes up our country.
Immediately, we here at TikiKiti recognized something we do not get to see very often. We knew we had just met a significant talent and wanted to know more about him and find out what makes him tick. This path brought us to an understanding of the nature of the myth that surrounds the long-haul professional truck driver. In Jason I found a very stoic man, but also, when the moment is right, an emotional one as well. I discovered the best way to understand him and his life would be with his music videos he has been producing for over three years.
In the About section of the Waste of Time Productions YouTube channel he describes what he wants to do with this channel. Many will see this as a mission statement — him telling his audience about his life as a professional truck driver:
Waste Of Time Productions is dedicated to wasting your time with videos we’ve pieced together. Whether it’s adventures, traveling road trips, or just general day-to-day life experiences we will waste your time showing you our point of view. Our videos are for entertainment only and we make no money with them and never intend to. It’s just for fun.
This is where he says these videos are about him and his life. What we found was a way of life we all knew existed — but soon discovered, we knew next to nothing about the life of a truck driver on the American highways.
We found Jason much as we do all music video producers; our YouTube search engine scours the platform for independent video producers who make the unofficial music video. We became fascinated with his videos. Here we saw someone who detail his life with his YouTube music videos — his life story in short film segments and a music soundtrack. Indeed, the music and the video are inseparable. With these videos, Jason has created a playlist of his life; one that resonates with his audience.
The themes he builds upon are numerous, just as they are in anyone’s life. But, Jason is a professional long-haul truck driver and has driven his rig through nearly all of the US states. Being from Alberta, and working out of British Columbia, has given him a unique perspective on these United States, one that is easy to recognize. And, also being from Canada, Jason is not part of the crazy political scene we all witness in the US today. What he has managed to do is show us the country we all share — a place we all have in common.
With long stretches of empty vistas contrasted with crowded cities, he shows us this is no easy job. It is work — with us right in the passenger sear. I don’t know anyone else who can do what he does. He has created a view of the country and reminds us of how truckers are its backbone. Without the professional truck driver, our economy would come to a standstill. Much as the traffic does in some of his videos. (Who remembers when COVID first struck our world?)
One of Jason’s friends, upon seeing his YouTube channel, told him his videos are excellent B-roll. (Note: For those not involved with film and video production, B-roll is supplemental footage that intercuts with the main footage, or A-roll, in a film or video.) What his friend missed was that you cannot watch just one video and think you know Jason. As with any relationship, you need to take the time to get to know him and his life. With 130 videos (as of this writing), to get a more complete picture of trucking and the trucker, you need to watch more than just one video. This is also what is needed to understand the country he is driving through. There is always more going on beneath the surface.
I approached Jesse Locke, TikiKiti’s partner in the production of our podcasts, to interview Jason for one of our podcasts. At first Jesse was not convinced Jason and his videos would fit into our format. He had not see any of Jason’s videos and could not understand why I wanted to interview this trucker. It didn’t take much for him to be convinced of the talent we had in front of us.
What stood out to me right away as I began to prepare for the interview, was that Jason is truly a modest and humble man. He had never been interviewed before and was unsure of himself and nervous. I suggested we do a dry run so he could get used to the idea of being the center of attention. When the day came for the actual interview we were amazed at how easygoing he was. And funny! You can watch our podcast interview with Jason here:
A point he brought up in our interview, and one he stresses on his social media channels is that, his life is not for everyone. The glamor of the truckers life is part of the myth that has been traveling around for decades. What he does try to capture in his videos is the beauty right in front of his, and our eyes. Many in this country have forgotten about the beauty of our land. What makes Jason’s work special is his music videos are personal reminders of this beauty.
In our interview Jason spoke of the isolation and loneliness of the commercial truck driver. He said how he has missed so much of life with his family because he was thousands of miles away. One of his Facebook posts he dedicated to his niece and admits to this absence as his biggest regret — his missing so much of family and this part of his life. This is an emotional account on his life on the road. (Note: when he and I spoke recently, I read this back to him and both of us started to tear up.) Referring to those who see his life is all big trucks and glamor he says:
It is this sacrifice that he shows in his videos. But he also recounts some special moments that are too perfect to be discounted. Such as this story:
Jason Popow has found the reason for his being — telling his story to his chosen life — and showing us a part of the world few rarely get a chance to see. Oh, we’ve all heard stories of truckers and their lives; we’ve all see videos on social media of the professional truck driver in one capacity or another (usually accidents or being cut off by rude drivers).
But Jason has taken a different approach. He has turned his YouTube channel into a story of his life — a memoir or an autobiography. This is a very purposeful goal. Let’s start with his truck — the most important part of his life on the road.
Consider his video “Good Bye Prison Peterbilt,” here is a love song to his Peterbilt truck. Then follow this video with the excitement when he gets his “KountryClub Kenworth.” He continues his love affair with his Kenworth in the video “Just Another Waste Of Time” where he shows off his considerable talent with the camera. Here we see him experimenting with angles, scenery and some tricks-of-the-eye shots. This is all new and the video shows his excitement and fascination with his new companion. These trucks are his home, and he asks all visitors to remove their shoes. In fact, he drives with slippers and socks. This is where he spends most of his days. This is his home.
When it comes to his truck, it’s best to let Jason speak for himself.
On his many journeys across this continent he shows us a side of America many believe no longer exists. With his choice of music he creates a story of his life and the country he has come to love. He also has made the mythology behind the professional truck driver plain for all to understand. His philosophy is straight forward. However, there is nothing common about his common sense approach in showing the world his lifestyle. He uses his videos to explain his life on the road, and by extension, of those who are also commercial truck drivers.
In his video to Josh Meloy’s “The Man I Am” he makes no apologies for his choices by showing us a very personal video highlighting his friends and family, and showing off the Barclay Award TikiKiti gave him for his anthology of videos. Although many producers have videos about one subject, Jason has taken it a step further by making music videos about his life. He continues the story of his life with the video to Josh Meloy’s “1000 Miles” —
Another dark night on the Interstate
Another hundred miles in the pouring rain
Is it worth all the time I've spent away?
Another dark night on the Interstate
And a lifestyle it is — one he maintains, but few outside of his trade understand. Thinking back to what Jason wrote to his niece, the Josh Meloy song continues —
I'm driving through the years
I'm trying to make it right
My baby's at home, hope she's doing alright
Miss my dogs and I miss my girls
I'm a thousand miles away from my whole world
Jason makes it easy for his audience to understand how he feels. It is what he said during our podcast interview — it is the life he has chosen. His mission is to help us all see how our continent is bound together by trade. And that trade happens because of what truckers do. Those pineapples you eat don’t magically appear right off the boat from Costa Rica. They get to your market because of the long-haul trucker driver.
There are aspects of old time religion and the country revival to the music and the images. One video that is an example of how Jason sees his past is from Blackberry Smoke and their song “One Horse Town.” This song tells of the responsibility many feel when they go off to explore a life away from home and family. It is about exploring the world and growing up to create your own world, from your own choices. This could be an answer to those that have criticized his choice of lifestyle.
One of his strongest held beliefs is how life is about taking responsibility for your actions and not blaming others. Although many will disagree with him, this is one reason why he has come to love America — is that this personal responsibility is paramount (Note: Okay, we all have stories about how the opposite of this being true. But remember, Jason is from Canada and doesn’t see US politics in the same way — and this is the beauty of his videos.). When Jason thinks of how easy it is to blame others for the world’s problems, he reflects on how little is done to make the world a better place. When he starts thinking this we veer off into politics and he quickly changes the subject. (Again, how many of us just hate to talk politics.)
Jason Popow has hauled just about everything. From food to furniture, and many things he wasn’t able to name, only describe — usually big mechanical looking things. (See his recent video to the song “Devils Eyez” from Crucifix.)
Being an outlaw is a common theme with truck drivers. Trying to understand this is not so easy. It doesn’t mean blatant criminal activity. In Jason’s case it means using his sharp wit and unflinching sense of humor to push boundaries. This is usually represented by the many logs necessary to maintain. The outlaw hates bureaucracy and all the paperwork (or computer work) that comes with it.
Much of his sense of the outlaw comes from when he road with some Canadian Hell’s Angels. When I asked him to explain what that meant, he only said he was part of a local group that was similar to a middle school group working to get into the high school group. When he speaks of this period he does so with a great deal of affection. I spoke to him just before Christmas holiday and asked him, if he had one wish, what would it be. He didn’t hesitate when he said he wished Wingnut was still alive. Wingnut, his nickname, was his mentor and close friend. When I asked Jason if he had a nickname he said was it was Preacher — a name he came by when he jokingly suggested everyone stop and say their prayers to encourage something to go their way.
Jason has a few music videos as about the nature of being an outlaw. One such video is from Bryan Martin and his song “Everyone’s An Outlaw.” A refrain in the song says, “Everyone’s An Outlaw — until it’s time to do outlaw shit….” And the song goes on to preach, “Don’t let me catch you fitting in.” He has captured the spirit and individuality of a not so small group of people (mostly men) who have built up the myth around their trade. And what they do is the stuff myths are built on. Sometimes requiring herculean strength and focus to accomplish their task.
And it is in his videos where Jason continues his sermon on the outlaw life. In his most popular video “My Outlaw Ways” from Creed Fisher, Jason built his video to match the pace of the song’s slow introduction. His feeling seem to come directly from the lyrics:
Can not contain it
No I will not be controlled
The pressure is building
TNT bound to explode
I try to live right
Do the best that I can
Sometimes I fall down
Get back up again
I cannot change
How I feel inside
I cannot change
My outlaw ways…
I will not be controlled
They can take everything but my soul
Lord knows I'll never change
My outlaw ways
It is this sense of control, or the fight against it, that is at the part of the outlaw spirit that most truck drivers embrace. It is this fight to be free of societal constraints that is at the heart of what makes up the spirit of the professional truck driver. It is this sense of freedom that keeps the truck driver working year after year. And Jason is no different, in fact, he’s proud of this spirit, it is such an integral part of his life, his philosophy, and his daily existence. The song ends with:
I will not be controlled
They can take everything but my soul
Lord knows I'll never change
My outlaw ways
Off in the distance
The sun sets into a grey haze
The reason why this is his most popular video is because here he has captured the fundamental spirit that has come to represent the American truck driver — and why so many have built their life around this trade.
One of the most important things in Jason’s life is when he has downtime. This is time that occurs when he returns from a trip; unloads his truck, then works on a long list of things to do. Things that pile up when on a trip. Things such as a mouse infestation, home repairs, restocking the fridge, and everything else that comes with home ownership. Then, weather permitting, he gets out his Harley Davidson Roadglide Special and leaves his everyday world behind.
When we spoke of this I mentioned that this sounds like him pushing a reset button. He agreed and the name stuck. Getting away on his bike is his first love. His favorite places are likely those with no helmet laws. While on a trip to Tucson, Arizona, he had some time waiting to load for the trip home. So he contacted a friend who lives nearby and managed to borrow his Harley. Being Jason Popow, it was a natural thing for him to make a music video of his adventure. In this video by Five Finger Death Punch and their song “Times Like These” we see him relishing every breath of fresh air as his hair is blowing back. Here we see him riding to Tombstone, the town too tough to die, and one of his favorite places in the world. We see here, finally, his speed isn’t governed — and he wants the world to know about it.
With all his music videos about the outlaw, at the heart is still the sense that the life he is leading has an expiration date. With the video to “Last Of My Kind” by Shaboozey, we wonder if Jason is ready to hang it all up.
Ain't many that are built like me
I'm the last of my kind
Grew up on a back road, baby
I know how to survive, ay
Been out with the young guns blazing
So you better not try
You won't never find another like me
I'm the last of my kind, uh
But that doesn’t seem to be happening — not when he has since posted an additional 27 videos that followed this one. Here we see him when he was finally able to pick up his Barclay Award, and a series of introspective videos, including the video from Josh Meloy to “The Man I Am,” followed by “Poets & Old Souls” from Bryan Martin & Frank Foster. I challenge anyone to watch these videos and not get choked up….
I can string some words together, make 'em pretty and make 'em rhyme
There's some hard miles on my heart, chasin' this crazy dream of mine
Left everyone I love, hurt everyone I know
It's a lonely road for poets and old souls
Jason has no plans for calling it quits. At least not yet. With Sam Donald’s song “Chasing White Lines” he admits this life is in his blood. As I said in another article about Jason, “After our podcast interview and talking to him for this article, I found a man who enjoys his life to the fullest — unapologetically. Here is a man with boundless optimism and joy. He is a rare breed.” Indeed.
As his YouTube channel increases its subscribers and his video are seen by tens of thousands, we can hardly wait for his next video.
All of this is why Jason Popow is the TikiKiti Artist of the Year for 2024.
Waste of Time Productions on YouTube
Interview — The podcast with Mark & Jesse
The Barclay Award & Jason Popow
