We’re looking forward to introducing you to Mitch Bergsma. Check out our conversation below.
Mitch , it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I usually head straight outside to work on scooters and film tutorial videos for my Mitch’s Scooter Stuff YouTube channel. Mornings on Maui are calm and quiet — before the trade winds pick up or neighbors start making noise — which makes it the perfect time to capture clean sound. My videos feature the natural ASMR sounds of me working and the environment around me, so filming early helps keep that real, peaceful vibe my viewers love.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Mitch Bergsma — creator of the MicBergsma, Mitch’s Scooter Stuff, and Great Escapes YouTube channels. My YouTube career began around 2011 with GoPro tips, teaching people how to film their own adventures and get creative with their cameras. My passion for filming and documenting every part of my life led to one of my biggest projects — a full VW Bus restoration series with 84 episodes that connected with viewers around the world.
In 2013, I launched Mitch’s Scooter Stuff, where I share another passion of mine — helping people learn scooter maintenance and mods through step-by-step videos. After moving to Maui almost seven years ago, my wife Lori — who’s also my business partner — and I created Great Escapes, featuring peaceful 4K nature and ambient videos from around Hawaii — ocean waves, star trails, underwater scenes with sea turtles and dolphins, and scenic views — all designed to help people relax and unwind.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I was born deaf, and when I was in elementary school, I attended a program for deaf students in another town. At the end of 4th grade, I told my parents I didn’t want to go there anymore — I wanted to attend a normal public school near home where my cousins and friends went, and be able to ride my bike to school like everyone else.
On my first day of 5th grade at the new school, a lady who worked with special-ed kids came to try and take me to that program again. My interpreter and teacher encouraged me to stand up for myself, so I did. I walked to the front door, signed and said, “I’m not going.” Then I went back to my desk. That’s the first time I remember feeling powerful — realizing I could make my own choices and have control over my life.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The biggest fear that held me back was using my voice. Growing up deaf, it was hard to speak clearly like hearing people, and I never felt confident using my voice. My best friend in middle school through high school was the only person I felt comfortable talking with out loud. I had hearing aids and could hear myself, but I still didn’t feel comfortable speaking.
After high school, I moved around — Colorado, Florida, Texas — and over the years, I slowly started to feel more confident using my voice. When I started YouTube in 2009, I rarely talked in my videos, but by around 2011 or 2012, I finally started speaking openly on camera. Posting videos and sharing my voice publicly with the world was a huge step — it helped me overcome that fear and feel proud of who I am.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
I’m just being me. What you see on YouTube and Instagram — that’s the real me. I don’t put on an act or try to be someone else. What I share is my everyday life, my projects, and my personality — simple as that. No two faces, no fake version — just me being myself.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people remember me as someone who loved creating and sharing what I loved through my videos — that I was real, positive, and always doing something hands-on, whether it was fixing scooters, restoring my VW bus, or showing how beautiful life can be. My YouTube videos tell my story, and I hope they keep inspiring others to learn something new, create their own projects, and see that being deaf doesn’t hold you back from doing anything you set your mind to.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: micbergsma
- Facebook: micbergsma
- Youtube: https://YouTube.com/micbergsma
- Other: YouTube.com/mitchsscooterstuff
YouTube.com/GreatEscapes
Image Credits
wakeboarding photo credit : Nathan Adams
