If you’re wondering about the story behind @NinePointFive’s name, she earned her moniker after she lost the top half of her right index finger in a tragic alligator-wrestling accident in sunny South Florida at the tender age of four. With no professional gator wrestling in her future(!), she turned to fiber arts, comedy, and music! The BroadcastHER Grant winner lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their three kids — and two goofy coonhounds.

What is your dream as a digital broadcaster?

My dream is to entertain, educate, and inspire people to be creative and have fun crafting without fear of failure!

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

I am so grateful for this grant which will allow me to purchase additional broadcasting equipment so I can extend my content production into other areas.

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

The initial shock still has not worn off! I love what I do and I’m honored and humbled that 1,000 Dreams Fund felt I was worthy of this opportunity. It does way more than just help me purchase equipment… it gives me motivation to improve as a person/broadcaster as well.

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

1,000 Dreams Fund is already working toward this by offering grants, scholarships, and mentorship programs to women. Seeing people you can relate to and being offered support by them as you are learning can make a huge difference. I am excited to continue to work with 1DF in the future to help women feel more comfortable in these spaces.

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

Being female on the internet is no joke sometimes, but I have learned to walk away from the negativity of sexism and ageism and focus on the positives of having a community that sticks up for what is right. It can also be challenging to balance real life with a partner, kids, and dogs, but I am learning and growing every day.

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

Just do it! Get started and see where it takes you. You will flail sometimes, but if you surround yourself with people who are genuinely invested in your success you can’t go wrong. Boundaries are good and you should not feel afraid to set them and enforce them. Pay attention to your mood and your body and take good care of yourself so you can be the best version of yourself possible.

How do you stay motivated and focused on your goals?

Charity work has helped me to set, track, and achieve goals. I have also recently begun bullet journaling and am using that method to not only set and track goals but to have a creative outlet for expressing my feelings and thoughts.