About Youtini

Who we are, why we're here, and what we believe.

About Youtini

Youtini was founded in 2017 with the goal of connecting Star Wars fans with the vast Star Wars literature universe. We aim to share our passion for the books, comics, shows, and other media beyond the films. Today, Youtini has grown into a vibrant community that values positivity, accessibility, and a shared love for Star Wars. We strive to set the standard for a positive and inclusive fan culture.

On youtini.com, you will find a wealth of resources, including the latest release schedules, comprehensive timelines for books and comics, detailed book profiles, reading guides, publishing news, and recommendations for the top must-read books in the Star Wars universe.

As we move into 2023, Youtini is taking a bold step forward. We are expanding our focus beyond just literature and delving deeper into all aspects of the Star Wars universe. Our goal is to provide educational resources and guidance on a wide range of topics related to Star Wars.

We would be thrilled to have you join our community and explore the Star Wars universe alongside other positive, passionate fans. Welcome to the Youtini family!

The Youtini Mission

Youtini aims to make Star Wars accessible and fun to explore through a positive and uplifting community.

Our Core Values

Passion & Positivity - A strong feeling of excitement and positive energy.

Empathy & Connection - Being able to understand and share the feelings of others.

Reliability - Being trustworthy and able to be counted on to follow through on commitments.

Inclusion - Welcoming and valuing diversity and the contributions of individuals.

Dedication - A strong sense of purpose and a willingness to work hard to achieve goals.

Our Star Wars Opinion


We choose to love Star Wars and find value in all of its stories.

More than anything, Star Wars is a multi-generational, beloved experience that brings people together. The Star Wars Universe offers thousands of stories that enrich that experience in a way rarely seen in any other fandom.

Does this mean we don't have criticisms? Of course not! But we seek to check ourselves, ensure our thoughts and opinions aren't purposed with spreading dissatisfaction, and are not hurtful to the inspirational creators who have built this beautiful universe.

We believe the goal is to share the love of Star Wars, and guide fans both new and old into a much larger world where they can escape into the creative universe that is the galaxy far, far away

Leadership

Corey Helton

Chief Executive Officer

With a background in medicine and business management, Corey brings a wealth of experience to his role as CEO of Youtini and as its Founder. He is passionate about creating a positive and inclusive community for Star Wars fans, and is dedicated to ensuring that Youtini continues to grow and evolve in order to meet the needs of its members. He is constantly looking for ways to improve the user experience and expand the offerings of Youtini, whether it be through new content, tools, or resources. In his free time, Corey enjoys reading Star Wars books, collecting Star Wars merchandise, and spending time with his family. With his leadership and vision, Youtini has become the premier destination for Star Wars fans to stay informed and connected to the Star Wars universe.

Adam Dyson

Vice President, People Operations

Adam is an experienced professional with a passion for Star Wars and a strong commitment to Youtini. As the Vice President of People Operations, Adam brings extensive experience and knowledge to the team, having started as the Discord Community Manager. With a background in program management, he is well-versed in the needs of Star Wars fans and is dedicated to ensuring the Youtini team runs smoothly. Adam is a natural leader, with strong organizational skills and a talent for keeping the team focused and motivated. He is deeply committed to Youtini and works tirelessly to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members. His infectious enthusiasm for the Star Wars universe and hands-on approach make him a driving force behind Youtini's success.

Eric Eilersen

Vice President, Youtube Production

As the Vice President of Media Relations for Youtini, Eric is responsible for managing the organization's media relations with various publishers and promoting Youtini's content to a wider audience. He is dedicated to ensuring that Youtini's message is communicated effectively to the Star Wars community and Youtini’s professional partners and is always looking for new ways to engage with the Star Wars community. In addition to hosting The Living Force, Youtini’s flagship podcast, Eric enjoys playing video games, collecting Star Wars Funkos, LEGO, and lightsabers, and spending relaxing evenings with his loving partner and plethora of animals. He has loved being a part of the Youtini team since the beginning and is looking forward to working with the community for years to come.

Hannah J. Meislahn

Vice President, Brand Marketing

Hannah has been a Star Wars fan since she first saw The Phantom Menace at 9 years old and still holds a deep attachment to Padmé Amidala. She lives in the PNW with her spouse and dog and is excited to help grow a positive community with Youtini.

Karl Sander

Vice President, Content

Karl joined Youtini in 2018 as a writer, has been a Content Manager since 2020 and the Editor-in-Chief since 2023, where he brings his passion for Star Wars literature and storytelling to the team. He enjoys both Legends and Canon, and is always on the lookout for hidden gems in the Expanded Universe. Karl’s goal is to help fellow Star Wars fans discover new and exciting stories within the galaxy far, far away, and to share his own perspectives on the beloved franchise. Whether it’s through written reviews or podcast appearances, Karl is dedicated to helping the Youtini community explore and appreciate the vast world of Star Wars literature.

Nathan Emery

Vice President, Marketing

Nathan is a marketing professional with a passion for all things Star Wars. As Vice President of Marketing for Youtini, Nathan brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the team, helping to promote and expand the reach of the brand. With an in-depth understanding of the Star Wars universe, Nathan is able to create engaging and informative marketing campaigns that resonate with fans of all ages. In their free time, Nathan can often be found reading the latest Star Wars novels and comics, or engaging with the Star Wars community on social media. They are excited to be a part of the Youtini team and to help share the magic of Star Wars with the world.

Timothy Guthrie

Vice President, Community

Timothy, also known as Taco T or Moth, is the Vice President of Community at Youtini. He has been a Star Wars fan since a young age, with his love for the franchise cemented after watching Episode I in 1999. He discovered the Star Wars books and found his way into the Youtini community, where the shared positivity and hope for the franchise brought new life to him. Now, he works to ensure that the shared spaces within the community remain as positive and enjoyable as possible. In his free time, he enjoys reading, podcasting, and spending time with his wife and their cat (who is considered a Dark Lord of the Sith).

Wes Jenkins

Vice President, Production

Wes is a versatile individual who is deeply passionate about both his outdoor pursuits and his love for Star Wars. As the Vice President of Production at Youtini, he brings a unique blend of skills and experience to the team. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Wes spends a significant portion of his free time hunting and fishing, indulging in his love for the great outdoors. However, when he's not out in nature, he fully immerses himself in the world of Star Wars, devouring all forms of media related to the beloved franchise. He is an avid gamer, EU reader, Canon watcher, and podcast listener, and is unashamed of his deep-seated passion for the force. With his diverse interests and extensive knowledge of Star Wars, Wes is a valuable asset to the Youtini team and works tirelessly to ensure that the content produced is of the highest quality.

Anthony Schullo

Advisor

An avid baseball enthusiast, Anthony is the host of The Youtini Baseball Show and Youtini’s Major League Baseball (MLB) writer. He also serves as an organizational strategy advisor for the Youtini team. Residing in Chicago, Illinois, and a diehard White Sox fan, you can find Anthony exploring ballparks, reading a history book, enjoying all the Star Wars content he can find, or spending quality time with his two daughters.

Caitlin Helton

Advisor

Cait brings a wealth of experience in organization and management to the Youtini team as a Council Advisor. Her background in band and her love of John Williams' music led her to the Star Wars franchise, and she has been a dedicated fan ever since. She has been a part of the Youtini team since its inception, helping with book packing and inventory scanning. As a Council Advisor, Cait hopes to improve communication within the company and focus on human resources tasks to ensure a smooth and positive experience for all team members.

Charles Hanckel

Advisor

Charles is a family medicine doctor based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and a passionate Star Wars fan. One of his earliest childhood memories is watching Empire Strikes Back on VHS, and since then, he has been hooked on the Star Wars universe. Charles discovered the world of Star Wars books and has become a fan of various titles such as A.C. Crispin's Han Solo Trilogy, Drew Karpyshyn's Darth Bane trilogy, and James Luceno's Labyrinth of Evil. In his free time, Charles enjoys reading, writing, playing with his dog, Koda, and hosting The Living Force Podcast. As a Council Advisor for Youtini, Charles brings his extensive knowledge of Star Wars literature and his passion for the franchise to the team, providing valuable insights and helping to shape the direction of the community.

Emily Dabeck

Advisor

Emily is a passionate Star Wars fan and a dedicated member of the Youtini team. As a Council Advisor, she brings a unique perspective to the team, having discovered her love for Star Wars through the Star Wars Universe. As an Army wife and a stay-at-home mother, Emily understands the importance of community and support, and is excited to contribute her skills and knowledge to the Youtini community. With her teaching background and her love for reading, she is well-suited to help guide new readers and listeners through the vast world of Star Wars. Emily is excited to be part of the Youtini team and can't wait to see what projects she will be working on. She is thrilled to be able to share her passion for Star Wars with others and help others discover the joys of the Star Wars Universe.

The Team

Amir Saran

Marketing Manager

Amir is a Data Risk Analytics Manager at Charles Schwab who is dedicated to his work and interests. When not working, he enjoys reading Star Wars comics and books and watching sports. He is also the Marketing Manager for Youtini, where he promotes the platform and engages with other fans. He is passionate about Star Wars and hopes to introduce new fans to the universe and Youtini community.

JG Carse

Newsletter Manager

JG has been a fan of Star Wars since childhood, and his passion for the franchise has only grown over the years. He has always been drawn to the complex and intricate world-building in the Star Wars universe, and is excited to share his knowledge and insights as a Content Manager with the Youtini team. He is particularly interested in the animation side of Star Wars, and is always on the lookout for new and exciting content to analyze and share with others. With his background in customer service and his skills in filmmaking and journalism, JG is well-equipped to bring a unique and valuable perspective to the Youtini team. He is excited to be a part of the community and help create and curate content that will entertain and engage Star Wars fans everywhere.

Parker Kirk

Content Creator

Parker Kirk is a Video Creator and Content Manager at Youtini, a lifelong Star Wars fan who grew up wearing out his VHS boxset of the Original Trilogy, finally getting to see A New Hope on the big screen with the Special Editions. He started reading all the Star Wars books and comics he could get his hands on at the time and since then his love for Star Wars has only grown. Originally from Southern Virginia, he currently resides in Southern California with his wife Angela and two children Theodore and Emerson. He is excited for his growing role within Youtini and to bring outstanding content about the galaxy far, far away to the community.

Trevor Davey

Database Manager

Trevor is excited to bring his love and knowledge of the Star Wars universe to the Youtini team as the Database Manager, where he will work to ensure that all of the content on the website is accurate and up-to-date. He looks forward to engaging with the Youtini community and sharing his passion for Star Wars with others.

Alex Harling

Funnel Strategist

Despite being a lifelong Star Wars fan, Alex, Youtini's Affiliate Marketing Manager's love for the universe exploded in 2019 when he found the world of books, comics, and Youtini. He's thankful to be a part of the team to progress the mission and spread the joy of Star Wars. Alex is passionate about marketing and operations, and loves his day job of working for a community of entrepreneurs. When not consuming Star Wars books, he can be found climbing or hiking with his wife.

Andrew Bell

Content Creator

Andrew is a resident of Central Alabama who is a dedicated police officer in his small town. In his free time, he indulges in his passion for Star Wars by reading and listening to hundreds of books that exists within the Star Wars universe. Andrew's initial interest in Star Wars began as a child when he traveled with his father to job sites and watched Return of the Jedi on home theater systems that his father was installing. From that moment on, his fascination with the EU grew. Andrew's love for Star Wars and desire to write about the things he loves led him to join Youtini, where he hopes to share his passion and insights on Star Wars books with other fans. He is excited to be a part of the Youtini team and contribute to the Star Wars community.

Andrew Marpa

Video Editor

Andrew is a talented graphic designer and video editor based in the Philippines. He has a fond memory of watching Attack of the Clones as the first Star Wars film he watched as a child. He then proceeded to devour every episode of the Clone Wars series when it started airing and considers the Battle of Umbara involving the 501st legion to be the most dramatic part of the show. He also has a collection of Star Wars Lego sets, mostly the ones with a lot of clone troopers. He found Youtini while searching for a less stressful form of work online. Despite being new to the community, he is enthusiastic about being able to work with people who have a deep passion for what they're doing and share his love for the Star Wars universe. As the video editor and administrative assistant for Youtini, he is excited to use his skills to create engaging and informative content for the community and help the organization run smoothly. Andrew's passion for Star Wars and his expertise in graphic design and video editing makes him a valuable addition to the Youtini team.

Caleb Laminack

Content Creator

Caleb is excited to share his love and knowledge of the Star Wars universe as a Youtini Content Creator. He is passionate about exploring the expanded universe through role-playing books and is always on the lookout for new and exciting stories to discover. As a content creator, he hopes to provide an immersive experience for readers and help them to explore the Star Wars universe in new and exciting ways. With his background in technical support, Caleb brings a unique perspective to the Youtini team and is dedicated to creating high-quality content that is both informative and engaging. So, he will be sharing his thoughts and insights on the Star Wars books and comics and engage with the community on the platform.

Caroline Vincent

Content Creator

Caroline's passion for Star Wars has led her to join the Youtini team as a Content Creator, where she hopes to share her thoughts and insights on Star Wars books, comics, and shows with the community. She is excited to be a part of the team and is ready to help in any way she can, whether it's writing, podcasting, editing, or producing. With her background in digital news production and her love for Star Wars, Caroline is a valuable addition to the Youtini team.

Christian Pfeiffer

Discord Coordinator

With a background in information systems and a passion for organization and efficiency, Christian joined the Youtini team as the Database Coordinator. He is responsible for maintaining and updating the website's database, ensuring that all information is accurate and accessible to readers. He is excited to be a part of a team that shares his love for Star Wars and is dedicated to providing the best possible experience for fans of the franchise. Christian is also looking forward to learning more about the Expanded Universe and sharing his knowledge and insights with the community. He hopes to help bridge the gap between new readers and long-time fans, and to help make the Youtini experience as enjoyable and informative as possible.

Emmi Conner

Content Creator

Emmi has been a Star Wars fan since she watched Attack of the Clones at nine years old, and she hasn't looked back since. She is a Youth Services Librarian living in Wilmington, NC and a published writer of fiction and nonfiction. When she's not reading or writing, she's usually watching cartoons with her girlfriend or enjoying a beer on her porch with the local street cats.

Frank O'Sullivan

Database Coordinator

As a Youtini Database Coordinator, Frank is responsible for maintaining and organizing the company's vast amount of data, ensuring that it is easily accessible and accurate for the rest of the team. With his background in database administration and his passion for Star Wars literature, Frank is the perfect fit for this role. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team, and his love for Star Wars literature allows him to understand the importance of organizing data in a way that makes it easy for fans to find what they are looking for. He is excited to be a part of the Youtini team, and is looking forward to helping the company continue to grow and thrive in the world of Star Wars.

Freddy Contreras

Content Creator

Freddy is excited to join the Youtini team as a content creator, using his skills and passion for the Star Wars universe to help enhance the fan experience. With a background in electrical engineering and a love for reading, gaming, droid building, judo, and podcasting, Freddy brings a diverse set of skills to the team. He has been a Star Wars fan since childhood and has a particular interest in the Expanded Universe, having been introduced to it through the book "Star Wars: The Truce at Bakura." With his passion for connecting with the Star Wars community and providing a platform for fans to come together, Freddy is a valuable addition to the Youtini team.

Gea Haff

Content Creator

Gea Haff was the magical age of 9-years-old when A New Hope came to theaters and forever imprinted itself on her mind. Three years later, after seeing The Empire Strikes Back she wrote George Lucas a letter asking him to please put her in his next movie, Return of the Jedi. Alas, Mr. Lucas did not concede to her demands, but Lucasfilm did write her back and send her a free subscription to Bantha Tracks! She has been a loyal devotee ever since.

Jacob Boesch

Content Creator

As a Content Creator for Youtini, Jacob hopes to share his love and knowledge of Star Wars with the community. He is excited to dive deeper into the Star Wars universe and explore its many facets through writing, podcasting and more. With a background in both engineering and law, Jacob brings a unique perspective to the team and is eager to contribute to the growth of Youtini. Whether it's discussing the latest book release or breaking down a scene from a Star Wars movie, Jacob is passionate about sharing his love for the franchise and connecting with other fans.

Jared Mayes

Content Creator

Jared is an enthusiastic Star Wars fan, dad, Christian minister, aspiring Pokémon trainer, and one of Youtini's Legends aficionados. His favorite Star Wars story of all time is 1991's Dark Empire comic. Jared has been writing and podcasting with Youtini since 2019. You can catch him on Legends Lookback on Thursday nights for all of your wild and wacky Star Wars Legends content.

Jose Jimenez

Content Creator

Jose, a Graphic Designer and Youtini team member, is a lifelong Star Wars fan. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, he studied architecture in Upstate New York before moving to Brooklyn and eventually settling just outside of Los Angeles. Growing up with the Original Trilogy, his interest in the franchise was reignited with the announcement of The Force Awakens. He quickly dove into the expanded universe, joining podcasts and reading everything he could get his hands on. His favorite Star Wars movie is Empire Strikes Back, but he also loved The Force Awakens for its sense of mystery and unknown direction. He is excited to bring his design skills to the Youtini team and help create visually stunning content for the community.

Lexi Kingsley

Email Coordinator

Lexi is an experienced marketing strategist located in the beautiful Pacific North-West who loves everything about Star Wars. She is currently making her way through the Star Wars Canon Challenge and hopes to consume every piece of Star Wars content that exists. Dark Disciple is her favorite book, and her love of Anakin Skywalker remains true to this day. She is excited to be a part of the Youtini crew and help with all things marketing. Especially when it comes to numbers and strategy. In her free time, Lexi enjoys reading, playing video games, and spending time with her husband and two dogs.

Ozro Davis

Content Creator

In his free time, Oz enjoys playing video games, watching movies and TV shows, and spending time with his family. He is excited to join the Youtini team as a Content Creator and share his love and knowledge of the Star Wars universe with the community. His favorite book is "Bloodline" and his favorite character is Grand Admiral Thrawn. He is also a big fan of the show "The Clone Wars" and the comic series "Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith." Oz is looking forward to creating and contributing to engaging and informative content for the Youtini community.

Rick Grace

Content Creator

Rick, a Content Creator at Youtini, is a lifelong Star Wars fan and a youth minister in rural Northeast Texas. He has a degree in Electronic Media Production and enjoys dabbling in audio/video production, web/graphic design, photography, and videography. He joined Youtini because it helped him navigate the EU and he wants to help others enjoy Star Wars in a more rich and meaningful way. He is married with two children and two dalmatians and a cat.

Steven Smith

Content Creator

Steven joined Youtini as a Marketing Advisor in 2022, bringing his expertise in fashion and destination marketing to the team. He also uses his photography skills to help with e-commerce and visual content creation. As a lifelong Star Wars fan, he is excited to be a part of the Youtini team and contribute to the growth and success of the community. Steven is passionate about bringing positivity to the Star Wars community and is always looking for ways to help others discover and enjoy the vast world of Star Wars.

By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.