Although @saiphe has aspirations of being a “cozy” streamer, horror games are what call this bisexual BroadcastHER Grant recipient’s name. She’s based in the Pacific Northwest and is a full-time healthcare worker, but that doesn’t stop her from her part-time variety streaming — all while her two cats, dog, and bearded dragon look on!

What is your dream as a digital broadcaster?

My dream is to be able to eventually work full-time as a streamer and a content creator while growing a supportive and kind community. I want broadcasting to be a career that I can channel my creativity into — without feeling burnt out.

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

It will help me in SO many ways. The most obvious part is that I will be able to make necessary upgrades to my physical streaming setup. But, it will also help my mental and emotional health! Money is always something that I worry about as a single adult, supporting myself. The grant will remove some of that stress and allow me to focus all of my energy on having fun while I stream!

What does being a recipient mean to you?

It is a reminder that I CAN do this. Being a woman in gaming can be stressful and daunting, but being chosen as a grant recipient is a reminder that I can be proud of who I am and what I do. BroadcastHER shows me that there are so many wonderful people who want women and non-men creators to be themselves — and that I can be a part of creating a safer environment in gaming for my fellow gamers!

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

We need to continue holding space for women in all aspects of the gaming industry. Every woman I know in gaming has experienced some sort of discrimination because of gender — and we must continue reminding men that this is not okay!

Not only do I want to see more women working on games, in gaming advertisements, and as broadcasters, but I want them to not have a single worry about harassment or that they’re not being given the same opportunities as their male co-workers.

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

The challenges of being a girl interested in video games started when I was super-young! When I was little, my brother had opportunities to play games that weren’t available to me. He had all the games and consoles that I wasn’t allowed to access. Eventually, I was able to get into playing WoW on my mom’s laptop when I was 12, and I fell in love with games!

The lack of exposure to games from a young age does make it much harder for me to be “good” at games, which leads to harassment from male teammates when playing. When I first started gaming, I even named myself “Sausage,” because I was SO AFRAID that men would see a feminine name and bully me.

I’ve even had my own brother make misogynistic remarks about my character and my content creating — not to mention many other trolls.

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

My advice would be to have a no-BS policy! Recruit your friends to moderate your chat for you and don’t allow trolls to ruin your fun, even if they’re giving you a view. Creating a comfortable and safe space for yourself and your community is more important than any number!

How do you stay motivated and focused on your goals?

My friends and community keep me focused and motivated! My best friends, Kirakira, Meowmiks, and MaryLovesMew, inspire me to keep pushing and creating! And, the joy I get from hanging out with my community and meeting new friends is also what keeps me going strong.