1.) Tell us a little bit about your journey into gaming. How did you get into gaming and what is your earliest gaming memory?
Gaming has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember and it’s something that has felt natural to me. My dad and brother were the ones who sparked that love and I’ll always be grateful to them for introducing me to something that became such a big part of who I am. One of my earliest memories is from visiting my grandma’s house. The moment we got there, my brother and I would beeline directly to the living room and dive into the Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, or our Gameboys. Some games that I remember us frequenting were: Paperboy, Super Mario World, Battletoads, Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, Bomberman and tons more! Whether we were racing against each other or fighting side by side, those moments felt extraordinary and were filled with nostalgia. From there, each console and genre I’ve experienced became a new adventure and gaming just stuck with me as a lifelong passion… and I’m so happy that it did!
2.) What has been the most difficult thing about creating and maintaining the community you’ve built?
The Koalition came about in such a natural way; I didn’t set out to create a community, but as I started and continued to stream, people started showing up, connecting, interacting, supporting, and sticking around. That’s honestly the most beautiful part of it, but with that organic growth comes its own set of challenges. Since The Koalition wasn’t a vision I carefully planned out from the beginning, I’ve had to learn how to nurture it while also keeping up with the rhythm of streaming itself.
The hardest part now is keeping the spark alive and assuring this space continues to feel fun, welcoming, and worth coming back to. People’s interests shift, new games come out, and online spaces are always evolving which is something I’m still learning to adapt to. Sometimes it feels like I’m juggling a dozen ideas at once and that can get overwhelming. Although, the heart of The Koalition has always been tethered to immaculate vibes and supporting one another. Every time I see people pop into the chat or discord just to hang out or I watch friendships form and blossom within the community, it reminds me why I keep putting in the effort. I care deeply about what has been built, so making sure the energy stays vibrant in a space that formed so naturally is a priority.
3.) Your community is writing a book about you – How would they describe your streams?
If The Koalition wrote a book about me and my streams, I think the words on the back cover would read: chaotic, hilarious, welcoming, and full of good vibes. I always want my streams to feel like a cozy space where you can drop in, laugh until your cheeks hurt, and just escape for a while. I want people to feel like they’re hanging out with friends and we all know that can either be very chill and calm or chaotic and crazy (or all at once)! At the end of the day, it’s always supportive and a great time you’d want to keep reliving. For me, streaming is far from trying to be perfect, whether that’s pertaining to the games I play or even what I say. It’s about being authentically me and creating a space that feels like a retreat from “the mundane everyday.” It’s okay to just exist in the moment and that’s encouraged in my streams.
4.) How do you choose the games you stream and are there any types of games you will never stream?
I’m a “go with the spark” type of streamer. If a game looks fun/interesting or piques my curiosity, I’ll definitely give it a try! I like to keep things fresh and unpredictable so there’s a sense of discovery my community and I can partake in together.
As for games I’ll never stream, I honestly don’t have any and will never plan to have any on that list. I try to stay open-minded because sometimes the games you least expect turn out to be the most fun.
5.) Final question – If you can go back in time and prevent one game from ever being made and one sequel to actually being completed – tell us what you’d pick.
If I could erase one game, it would have to be Outlast. That’s only because my community will not stop scheming to get me to play it. I love horror games, but I am absolutely not prepared to put myself through that level of solo terror.
On the flip side, if I could grant a sequel wish, it would 100% go to Castle Crashers. That game was pure joy wrapped in colorful chaos. It never got old and imagining a modern sequel, especially with today’s multiplayer magic and cross platform capabilities, feels like a dream waiting to come true.
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