American independent journalist Peter Santenello has spent the past six years traveling across the United States, documenting the lives and stories of everyday citizens from diverse regions of the country. His extensive explorations, which have amassed more than 4.2 million subscribers on his YouTube channel, form the basis of his new book, "Your Fellow Americans: Dispatches from Across the Country We Call Home," scheduled for release on August 4.
Rather than engaging in broad political or ideological debates about America's identity on its 250th anniversary, Santenello focuses on the people who inhabit the nation’s varied landscapes. His approach takes viewers and readers beyond polarized online discourse, aiming instead to depict the nuanced and shared experiences of people across racial, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
In his travels, Santenello visited ten distinct regions featured in the book, including Appalachia, the Hamptons, Amish country, and areas within Alaska, Louisiana, and Maryland. His encounters ranged from riding in a horse-drawn buggy with the Amish to sampling regional fare such as raccoon meat in the Mississippi Delta and nutria in the Louisiana Bayou. He also documented unique cultural moments like hearing Elizabethan-style English spoken on Maryland’s Smith Island and engaging with a mariachi band near the Mexican border.
Santenello’s work reveals that despite the country’s diversity, many Americans share common values and humanity, countering the often divisive narratives seen in digital media. “The online is highly polarizing, engagement-driven, divisive. And then the on-the-ground reality is most people are great,” he said, describing his goal of bringing authentic, grounded stories to a wider audience.
Born in Vermont, Santenello’s fascination with seeing the world from diverse perspectives began in childhood. After traveling extensively through lesser-known countries such as Tajikistan, Syria, and Georgia, he began creating travel videos online. In 2017, while living in Ukraine, he committed fully to vlogging, eventually shifting focus back to the United States amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
His book uses a structured approach, including maps and photographs, to frame his narrative and the people he profiles — from an Amish blacksmith and an Alaskan fishing family to a New York fashion photographer. Through these stories, Santenello hopes to foster empathy and a deeper understanding among Americans divided by political and social tensions.
“Why does so much political and social discourse feel like a shouting match these days?” he asks. By highlighting shared human experiences, he aims to encourage respect and connection despite differing viewpoints. He describes "Your Fellow Americans" as a timely effort to remind readers of the country’s complexity and potential for unity amid current challenges.
Even during difficult periods in his life, Santenello says he has maintained belief in America's promise and unique character. He hopes his work will inspire others to recognize the “magic” of the United States as a place worth understanding and calling home.