Full-time metalsmith and streamer, @NicolePlaysGames actually has a gaming love story. She met her husband on Left 4 Dead 2 in 2011! She’s a midwestern girl living in the Vegas desert (for now) and is obsessed with all things spooky! On her stream, this BroadcastHER Grant winner plays all sorts of games, but her go-to ones are Dead by Daylight, Stardew Valley, COD, Valorant, Gang Beasts, and Phasmophobia. As she says, “you will never really know what Nicole you’ll get, so buckle up and stick around for white girl rage, big nerd salt, and Grade A shenanigans!”

What is your dream as a digital broadcaster?

I want to create a safe environment for EVERYONE to feel welcome and like they can be themselves.

How will the BroadcastHER Grant from the 1,000 Dreams Fund help you reach your goals?

This grant helps me upgrade my computer equipment and will allow me to provide higher quality content both on Twitch and YouTube.

What does being the recipient of the BroadcastHER Grant mean to you?

It means that I can continue my biggest passion and further create content that empowers womxn in all communities. It means that I feel like I’m doing something good with my online presence; that an organization would find my efforts to be valuable in bettering the online gaming community.

Women are underrepresented in gaming, broadcasting, and e-sports. What can we do to change this?

Flood the gaming and broadcasting world with as much kindness and fierceness as possible! I think we could start at the education level. Teaching and building up our young womxn to feel like they can go into these fields with confidence and the capability of facilitating and creating more voices, more involvement, and more representation in their communities.

What are some of the challenges you have faced along the way?

Social and equipment challenges have weighed the heaviest on me. Between sexual harassment in toxic gaming lobbies, to people who I thought were my friends, to battling with my ISP to fix shoddy wiring, the last eight months of streaming full-time have been filled with ups and downs. But I feel that it has all made me stronger.

What advice do you have for women who want to start broadcasting?

You don’t need a lot of fancy equipment to get started because the best thing you can bring to your stream/content is your personality. Don’t be discouraged by low numbers or no numbers in the beginning. It takes time to build a community. Also, definitely try to mingle and make friends! Find other broadcasters with the same interests and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Be cautious about who you put stock in, and make sure to never sacrifice your energy for the sake of someone else. Your broadcast; your vibe. Period.

How do you stay motivated and focused on your goals?

I am so grateful for my community, my friends, and my family. I try not to focus on numbers because they can sometimes be disheartening. So my main motivation is simply my support system. I am so extremely lucky to have found the group of friends and streamers that I have because they constantly build me up and remind me why I do what I do.