Today we’d like to introduce you to Branden Roane
Branden, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve always been creative, but there’s something about “the grind” that can almost rob you of the ability to showcase that creativity. Not only school or work, but busying yourself with a different activity or place to go every weekend. It wasn’t until I went through a major break up that I was able to sit and really take account of who *I* was and what I was capable of that I opened my laptop and started to write what will by my first book.
Around the same time, I was doing a podcast called “Brothers From Another” with one of my closest friends from back home in Augusta. We did it regularly over a period of three or four years. During that time I got used to being able to create a space where people could step outside of their everyday lives and learn and unpack the events going on in the world.
My buddy had began streaming video games on this platform called Twitch. He credits me with the idea, but after seeing the community he was able to create and foster there, I followed in his footsteps in 2020 — right before COVID hit. Streaming helped keep me sane during the lockdown. I had new friends to game, watch movies and chat with during the lockdown. As a matter of fact, a few of my community members and I sat and watched the insurrection on January 6th together in disbelief.
From there, a new idea was born. One of the biggest categories on Twitch is “Just Chatting.” People all over the world tune into folks just sitting in front of their set up and talking. Being a little older than many folks in spaces I was in, I wanted to open up my channel, my community, my space to more than just gaming. I began doing regular streams where we just talk about big news events around the world. We also hosted an open mic showcase where a few poets and myself shared some work with my Twitch community.
Being a lover of books, I also began doing our version of a book club where I just sit and read. Every few chapters we unpack and analyze the material. So far we’ve read Beloved by Toni Morrison (my GOAT), Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five and now Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man. I try to keep a good balance between the laughs and more serious moments.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Hell no. lol There’s the usual things in a space like streaming like technical issues – things just not working right or dealing with bots or hate raids. Online when people can hide behind these personas, some people feel empowered to spew hate. “I don’t like someone like you having fun” or “Why are you talking about this?” But you just have to keep it pushing. I’ve been online since the AOL days, so I know for a fact there’s a space for everyone out here.
In creating things for public consumption, there’s always a thought about if the things you’re making are resonating with people. Especially online. Numbers matter when you go out for opportunities. But I’ve had to align with a “If you build it, they will come” mentality. Somebody out there is going to feel it.
Writing itself is a solitary act. You have to make time for it consistently for it to pay off. That means having to skip out on certain things to keep your appointment with yourself or being driven enough to find a way to balance it all. I was a bit rough on myself when writing my first draft — I didn’t consider myself a writer until it was all done. But once I started going out and mingling with other people balancing work and writing and whole families, I had to start cutting myself some slack.
Earlier this year, I got laid off from my corporate job and that completely killed my creative motor for a while. All of my mental faculties were dedicated to keeping a roof over my head and not necessarily what made me happy. I had to pick myself up out of my rut and get back in a groove with something that fulfilled me. It’s kept me going while putting myself out there in this crazy job market.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’ve worked in Marketing for over twelve years. I’m probably the most proud of being able to establish boundaries for myself where once I leave work or shut down, I free myself of those obligations. I try not to let that overflow into my personal life or creative time. It’s hard in this era where we’re expected to always be connected whether by phone or email or chat, but burnout is a real thing. And I think it comes from not only the steady work pressure, but not being able to separate yourself from it.
You’ve got to recognize your own humanity and that includes your limits to be able to treat people that you work with like people and not just stakeholders. I’ve been on calls where you’ve got a woman who just became a mother within the last few months crying about deliverables being due and that’s just not something I want folks around me getting used to.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was a quiet kid. As an Army brat, every 3-4 years, we were off to a different place and I’d have to start over. New friendships, new schools, new hierarchies. So I fell back on things I knew that would be there: my family, my books and video games. They’ve been a constant in my life.
I lived in Augusta, GA, Massachusetts, Germany, Maryland, Hawaii and Louisiana. Vastly different places, but I got a chance to learn about different cultures, learn different languages and have an appreciation for different types of people. I’d like to think I’m a student of the world because of my childhood.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CapnTrippz
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCapnTrippz
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/CapnTrippz
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapnTrippz
- Other: https://blcklst.com/profile/branden-roane
