At a young age, we are not only taught to share, but that sharing = caring. This idea plays a crucial role in a child’s development, but fails to teach the other side of sharing. The truth is that sharing is hard; it takes a lot of self-acceptance and courage. The more difficult the story, the harder it is to share. When someone does open up about their own struggles, they become a shining light for others. One of these lights is Lauren Donlevy, better known as GhostHostLauren, who is the Assistant Head of Admissions for the Twitch charity stream team Mist Haven.
Mist Haven: The Origin Story
Mist Haven was created in October of 2020 by Donlevy’s good friend, not mention Twitch Partner, Lexicat. “When she ended up getting partnered in October, one of the big things that she wanted to do as a streamer with a chronic illness was start a team to help raise money for charities or people that might need quality of life upgrades,” Ghost Host Lauren explained. “And to continue the conversation about ending stigmatization with having a chronic illness, whether it be mental or physical.” Lexicat and Lauren have both been open about their own struggles and through the Mist Haven team they are not only able to talk about their experiences, but raise money for others in need.
One Day At A Time
“It is actually still fairly new to me; I was only formally diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety disorder, and everything after my sister passed away in 2017,” Ghost Host shared. “I do talk about how I overcame that grief, my own coping mechanisms; but you know, time does heal a lot of wounds as much as I hate to say it.” She has also been open about the fact that at first her coping mechanisms weren’t the healthiest, and how it took time. Donlevy is a firm believer in the mantra, “One Day At A Time,” for both physical and mental health.
Community is Everything
For Ghost Host Lauren, the best part about streaming is the community. She loves being able to connect with people and ultimately build friendships. “Despite being a huge goof and just doing silly things on stream, I hope that people feel comfortable being serious and talking to me because I can absolutely flip the switch,” she confessed. “I want people to feel like they can watch my stream and have that sense of comfort and laugh; but then also feel like they can reach out to me if they need anything.”
59-Hour Charity Stream
Did someone say charity stream-a-thon? Join Dreamscape Foundation as we partner with Mist Haven for their second ever charity stream-a-thon! Mist Haven is kicking off their 59-hour stream-a-thon with the amazing Ghost Host Lauren this Friday, April 16, at 1 pm EST. “It’s just a big raid train of community and charity,” Lauren described. “We have it going through the night, so really no matter what time it is you will find someone on this stream.”
Imagine a life full of travel, adventure, freedom and treasure. Sounds good, doesn’t it? As Captain Jack Sparrow put it, “always be yourself, unless you can be a pirate. Then, always be a pirate.” For the last three years, Jake Cooper, better known as Foxdle, has gotten to experience the pirate lifestyle thanks to the video game, Sea of Thieves. “People love piracy; people love the sea, sailing, that freedom,” Cooper shared. “I think that is why I really enjoy the game is the freedom.” Foxdle’s love for Sea of Thieves got him recognized by the game’s developer, Rare, and he became an official partner of the game.
The Game That Changed It All
Although Jake had been streaming off and on for the past six years, it wasn’t until he found Sea of Thieves that things changed. “When this game first came out and I saw it, I was like that is a game that I could literally stream every single day for thousands of hours,” he recalled. “And I did, and I built a community around that.” After building his community, Cooper knew he wanted his channel to be different, and different it became.
Standing Out
“I went with a different approach than most streamers that I base my characters around my appearance on stream, so I will wear my pirate outfit that I wear in game,” Foxdle explained. Not only can viewers expect cosplay on the channel, but they can expect a unique approach to playing. Jake likes to challenge himself and push the limits of what he can do in a game. “For instance, I spent probably thirteen hours trying to transport a barrel of snakes in a game for no reason once so ever, something difficult, something different,” he described. “The developers of the game noticed it and they made it an easter egg in the game because they liked it so much.”
If You Build It, They Will Come … To Your Etsy Shop
When thinking about giveaways for the channel, the streamer said he wanted his giveaways to matter. “I started with skulls from the game that you normally sell for gold,” Foxdle stated. “I would do monthly giveaways and they were really popular, but the demand was so high that people were willing to pay for them and it went from there.” The demand for his replicas pushed Jake to open up his own Esty Shop. To create the 3D models, the gamer uses a virtual reality software called Oculus Medium to mold virtual clay with his hands. After the design is created, the process continues with printing, painting and sanding before the replica is complete.
Not Just A One Game Man
As a streamer, not to mention a life-long gamer, Cooper’s ultimate goal is to become a variety streamer. “I think as you grow as a streamer and you aren’t locked down to a single game that people naturally will go to something else,” he admitted. “Everybody will want to be a variety streamer at some point, you cannot play the same game for five years straight and not get bored.” For Jake, he plays whatever appeals to him, and currently that is Valheim. Valheim is a survival game, and in true Foxdle fashion he puts his own twist on how he plays the game. “Right now I am playing it where I have done pretty much everything before with no risk, and now I am playing it on hardcore,” he explained. “I like the challenge, so what that means is if my character dies then I will delete my character and restart from fresh.”
Playing Valheim for Charity
Get ready to risk it all during this two-day charity stream with Dreamscape Foundation as we team up with Foxdle this Friday and Saturday, March 19 and 20, starting at 10 am EST. We will be raising money to provide the assistance that is necessary to meet today’s numerous disability needs through technology for those living with disabilities. Join us for some guaranteed entertainment, celebrated wins and unfortunate losses during this hardcore run Valheim server base. “The idea is to be hardcore where the viewers jump in, but when their character dies they have to leave and then invite someone else in,” Jake shared. “It should be really good.”
Everyone loves a good transformation story; rags to riches, weak to strong, tears to cheers. In the case of Ethan Robson, better known as Thanovic, he went from timid to talking. “Before I went to uni I was incredibly shy,” Robson recalled. “Even in my first year of uni, I remember I didn’t speak to anyone for the first six days of class and it was 9-5.” Thanovic went from being a shy introvert to having a large online following. Today he has 125,800 followers on Tiktok, 242,000 subscribers on YouTube, and 82,100 followers on Twitch (March 11, 2021). Not too bad for the quiet kid.
Overnight YouTube Sensation
Before Robson became the well-known streamer he is today, he was just a regular college student enrolled in courses, working a part-time job, and playing video games. “I was in university for stage and screen acting, and I was working a job as a waiter, as all unemployed actors do,” he laughed. “I was playing [Rocket League] in my spare time.” Ethan started uploading videos to YouTube as something to do on the side while looking for acting jobs, and then his YouTube channel took off. Soon after his YouTube success, New Zealand went into lockdown. Thanovic decided to use this time to try and grow his following on two other very popular social medias, Twitch and Tiktok.
“Tick tock on the clock, but the party don’t stop, no.” – Ke$ha
As the most downloaded app of 2020, TikTok is not a social media platform to underestimate. “I decided to get on TikTok because all the content creators I had spoken to said this is the best way for growth,” Thanovic told. “I was sitting on 200,000 subs on YouTube at that time, so I was like I think people will recognize the name on TikTok and people will follow because this is Thanovic I know from YouTube.” Ethan definitely had the right idea, and his followers on TikTok jumped from 4,000 to 100,000 in one month. Due to his success on TikTok, the content creator used the platform to promote his Twitch channel.
The Perfect Balance
“There’s a very different thing between my YouTube and my Twitch,” Robson explained. “On YouTube it’s all about education and kind of helping, and on Twitch I don’t really want to be doing the same stuff.” While each platform serves a different purpose for the streamer, they both focus on his love for Rocket League (RL). Ironically enough, Thanovic was not always a fan of the game that he ultimately built his career around. “I didn’t originally like it, but then I got addicted because I was bad at it,” he admitted. “I really liked the high-skill ceiling and knowing I have a long way to go.”
Creating Your Own Path
Ethan’s dedication to improving his game has come full circle and made an additional lap. On YouTube, Thanovic’s channel is filled with informative gameplay, tips and tricks for improvement, and an opportunity for fellow RL players to ask questions. His channel caught the attention of one of the owners of GamersRdy, who asked if he was interested in building a RL course for the website. “He said you can do whatever you want on the course, but you are known as the tutorial guy, so I think it would be good to have you on board,” Robson recalled. “I ended up making a course from beginners to what was the top rank of the game; essentially furthering up on the stuff that I do on YouTube to help players of all ranks get to that next step.”
Rocket League Charity Stream
Join Dreamscape Foundation as we team up with Thanovic for his first ever charity stream this Sunday, March 14, at 2 am EST. This charity stream will provide people with disabilities the tools and resources they need to achieve independence, and improve their accessible access in their everyday life. “If all I have to do is stream to help out a charity, it feels wrong not to,” Ethan admitted. “I am looking forward to this one a lot.” Get ready for some fun, entertaining and competitive one-on-one games with the RL educator himself. It’s time to get your head in the game.
We have all heard the saying the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach. Although the anatomy is wrong, the intended meaning is usually agreed upon. Simon Perry, better known as SporeRose on Twitch, has fully embraced the phrase. “If you catch me during my day streams, you’re able to send me food,” they (Pronouns: they/them) stated. “Yum.” SporeRose has made the food ordering process as seamless as possible by including an Amazon Wishlist to serve as a menu. When it comes to this twitch affiliate, there is never a shortage of creative ideas.
“Marco. Polo.”
On Twitch, users can search by a game or category in order to find their desired content. In addition to categories, viewers can also search using a specific tag. Being a “Twitch affiliate who is actually autistic,” SporeRose tried to use tags to connect with other streamers who have disabilities. “I believe I have found a few different people with disabilities on Twitch, but it is very difficult to find anyone with disabilities due to their being no disabled tag for when it comes to finding streamers,” they confessed.
And The Winner Is…
Perry has a creative way of taking something and elevating it to the next level. If you take a look at the streamer’s schedule, you will see two weekly events on Sundays and Wednesdays. “Sundays are called Game Pass Sunday, where on Sundays I play any of the two hundred plus games that are available on the Xbox Game Pass Library,” they described. “Nearly a year ago I started doing the same thing, but with PlayStation Now Catalog on Wednesdays.” They have not only created special stream days, but they let the community vote on what game to play.
Love One Another
“There is something I do want to say, and it’s that I want to be one of those people who will go up to anyone and say you belong here no matter who you are,” Perry said. “I have a timer on the channel that goes off every so often that has a message that says, ‘black lives, trans lives, disabled lives, they all matter.” SporeRose describes the channel’s community as a bunch of very loving people, who enjoy playing tricks on each other. Everyone is welcome and everyone is encouraged to be themselves.
Costumes Are Not Just For Halloween
Cosplay is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as the practice of dressing up as a character from a movie, book, or video game. “I have currently done three different cosplays on stream and those were Spider Gwen, D.Va from Overwatch and Sailor Mercury from Sailor Moon,” Perry recalled. Just as they have an Amazon Wishlist with food and other desired items, they have an entire separate Amazon Wishlist strictly for cosplay costumes.
A Cause Close To Home
“I want to be someone who speaks loudly for people with disabilities,” the streamer proclaimed. SporeRose is teaming up Dreamscape Foundation this Friday, February 26, from 5 – 11 pm EST in order to raise money to achieve accessibility for individuals with disabilities. “As it is thematically appropriate with the idea of being a hero by streaming for a cause close to me, I’ll be playing Marvel’s Avengers ,and as a treat to the community, if $500 is raised, I’ll be cosplaying as Overwatch’s Mei in her Honeydew outfit,” Perry announced.
Sometimes we could all use a little escape. Whether that means getting on an airplane, binge watching Netflix or opening up a book is up to you. Since he was a child, Stephan Pistorius’ escape has come in the form of the fantasy world Azeroth. “There was something so magical about this world that you are in. It’s not our world, but a world of a magic that’s different,” he described. “And to a child’s imagination it was just unreal.” Pistorius’ fascination with the World of Warcraft (WoW) Universe has only grown stronger throughout the years. WoW has made living in fantasy a reality for Stephan, and we are all invited.
Creative Freedom
For Pistorius, better known as Accolonn, his dream of being an entertainer proved to be a lot easier said than done. When he first discovered YouTube and his own desire to create content, South Africa didn’t have the internet capability to support it. “I waited almost ten years, up to the age of thirty-one, to finally get internet that would allow me upload videos to YouTube,” Pistorius shared. “As soon as I could do it, I finally started making YouTube videos.” Accolonn finally had the creative freedom to entertain how he wanted. Although being a YouTuber was always the goal, being a streamer was not. Stephan enjoyed sharing his videos with his community, but the concept of being able to talk and hang out with others who had the same interests was more than appealing.
3 – 2 – 1 ACTION
Just as it had taken years for South Africa to support YouTube, it was the same painful process for Twitch. This live streaming platform would allow Pistorius to take himself to the next level. “As soon as I knew it was possible, I thought let’s try our hand at this Twitch thing,” Accolonn recalled. “The more I started doing it, the more I started enjoying it and the more I started to realize my community enjoyed it.” Live streaming not only gave Stephan the power to transport himself and his viewers to Azeroth in real time, but to have open dialogue during the experience as well. The writers of WoW leave room in their world for players to speculate and expand upon, which I’m sure you can image leaves a lot up for discussion. “You are telling the story further than what the writers are at the time,” the streamer explained. “That’s why I love WoW.”
“When You Are Kind To Others, It Not Only Changes You, It Changes The World.” – Harold Kushner
Discussing the speculation and theories of WoW may be the main content of Pistorius’ channel, but that is not all it consists of. He also uses his platform to remind everyone of their humanity. “I think people are so serious these days and also people don’t really cut each other slack at all,” he stated. “We expect everyone to be perfect at all times, and if you make one mistake you get cancelled, the mob comes after you.” Accolonn has made sure that when someone comes to watch his stream that they know they can relax and kick their feet up. “You come there and you hang out with a friend,” Pistorius said. “You talk about the thing that you love, this world, and whatever theory is on the table for that day.” The focus of the stream is to do what you enjoy with people that you enjoy.
Life is Better When You’re Laughing
Before streaming, Accolonn doubted whether or not he would be able to entertain his viewers. Funny enough, in the end, his viewers entertain him as much as he does them. “I have never laughed as hard as I do at my chat. The things they say, the things they come up with,” he laughed. “It is just ridiculously funny to me. They are my favorite part of it.” The Twitch Partner enjoys interacting with his community so much so that he worries about what would happen if his numbers get too high. “The higher the numbers, the harder it is to read chat because the chat starts going really fast and that would take all my enjoyment out of streaming,” he confessed.
BlizzCon Breakdown
Dreamscape Foundation is honored to team up with Accolonn for his first ever Charity Stream this Friday, February 18, starting at 4 pm EST to raise money to provide resources for individuals living with disabilities. “Based on everything we’ve seen, everything we’ve looked at, not only myself, but my community as well, believe in what you guys are doing,” he affirmed. Get ready to experience BlizzCon with the one, the only, Accolonn. Prepare for new cinematics, a grown man freaking out like a little kid, hanging out with friends and watching something you love.
Can playing video games really rot your brain? For gamers who grew up in the 80s or 90s this question dominated the minds of parents and teachers alike. In the case of Connor Cunningham, better known as RabbitHouse, playing video games, more specifically Pokémon Silver, gave him the desire to learn how to read at a young age. “I guess that most kids would just sort of mess through all the text and get past it, but I was so into it that I was like I have to know everything, I have to be able to do everything,” Cunningham recalled. “Every word, ‘dad, what does this word mean? Mom, what does this word mean?’ Eventually it got to the point where I was able to play it on my own.” Not only did video games positively affect Connor’s life intellectually, but spiritually as well.
“Do you always need a reason to help somebody?” –Ash, Pokémon
RabbitHouse’s love for video games led him to watch gaming streams. “When I was a kid there was this group called the Speed Gamers, and they were trying to complete all the Pokémon games that were out at that point,” he shared. “I thought it was the coolest thing ever to go through all of that and raise money for St. Jude while they do it.” Eventually, Connor’s passion and interest in charity streams was too strong to ignore. “It got to a point where I was thinking, I could do this,” he recalled. “I’m confident in my ability to put together something like this, and really do something special.” As a charity streamer, Cunningham hopes that each stream he does is a little bit bigger than the last one to the point where he can eventually really make a big difference.
Strength in Numbers
“The decision to start streaming as my way to make a difference comes from my thought process of what can I do that is the most immediate that can make the most impact right now?” RabbitHouse explained. “I have this moment that I am in right now and I won’t get this moment back, so what can I do to do the most with this moment?” Connor admits that the experience of COVID-19 last year left him frustrated in wanting to make a positive change, but feeling like he couldn’t make a difference. “The way you are going to do it is by coming together with other people, and coming together makes you all much stronger than you could be individually,” he stated. “I want people to know that they can be a part of something like this.”
Sky’s the Limit
Cunningham has been defying the odds since day one. “I was born with a congenital heart defect called transposition of the great vessels, so basically when I was a baby all the tubes in my heart were kind of tied up in the wrong way” he described. “If I had been born 20 years earlier the surgery that fixed me wasn’t around at that point, so I wouldn’t have even made it.” Being born with this defect caused Connor to perceive himself as delicate or fragile, but as he got older his perception changed. “I made it through being a kid and I’m still here. I have a shot here,” RabbitHouse shared. “I’m at a point now where I am playing with house money, and everything from day one has just been icing on the cake.”
Battle Royale for Accessibility
For his third official Charity Stream, RabbitHouse will be teaming up with Dreamscape Foundation this Sunday, February 21, from 7 pm – 10 pm EST to raise money for accessibility for individuals living with disabilities. “Unfortunately, a lot of people in that type of situation are brushed aside in today’s world,” Connor shared. “It’s an opportunity to step up and help out in a way that I haven’t done yet, so I am really excited to work with Dreamscape Foundation on this.” Cunningham will be playing the Battle Royale game Eternal Return. Time to put your strength, ability and wit to the test.
According to motivational speaker Ken Blanchard, “Feedback is the breakfast of champions.” I believe if this was true that many of us would be skipping breakfast. Receiving feedback is not typically something that is welcomed with open arms, unless you are Cory Campion that is. “Feedback is absolutely always appreciated,” he shared. “I have no problem talking about it and trying to work towards bettering the channel and bettering myself as an entertainer.” Campion, better known as Don’t Watch Me Play, is a YouTuber and Twitch Streamer who believes people are always growing and can always change for the better, himself included. “Being myself and being genuine to everyone who comes by is just always something that I have wanted to be,” Don’t Watch Me Play stated.
Welcome to the Kingdom
Cory was inspired to start his own YouTube Channel playing video games after participating in the web series, The Gauntlet. On YouTube, Cory was originally known for playing a lot of rage games and his unwavering devotion to play until he won earned him the nickname the Stubborn King and his community the Stubborn Kingdom. “Two years later I just really wanted to branch out more, and my main mission was to try and get the channel to grow,” he recalled.
Time For Some Ice Breakers
The goal of joining Twitch was not only to grow in numbers, but to become more personable. “Twitch was more of an opening to just play video games and look at the camera because the chat is lined up perfectly behind it,” Cory described. “I can actually look at you and speak to you at the same time, so it was more of a mutual conversation between me and you while we are all in the chat.” The streaming website allowed the Stubborn King to talk and be interactive with his kingdom. “There is nothing cooler than almost feeling like you are actually hanging out with all these people,” he described. “When you are playing a horror game together you can actually interact and enjoy that jump scare together and talk about it”
“If You’re Not Having Fun, You’re Doing Something Wrong.” – Groucho Marx
From YouTube to Twitch, Don’t Watch Me Play’s mission to bring joy and entertainment to viewers has remained the same. The goal is for everyone to have a great time and to feel included. “As long as the viewer is having an amazing time, whether they are there for five minutes or if they are there for seven to eight hours that’s what it really comes down to,” Cory confessed. “As long as you can really have fun that’s all that matters to me and that’s all I ever want.” For the Stubborn King, there is nothing he enjoys more than hanging out with his community. “I just want to be amongst my friends and newcomers, and that’s a heck of a driving point of the streaming is the community,” he shared.
Valentine’s Day Charity Stream
Dreamscape Foundation in honored to partner with Don’t Watch Me Play for a Valentine’s Day Charity Stream this Sunday, February 14, from 1 pm – 8 pm EST. Join the Stubborn King and the Stubborn Kingdom to raise money to improve the lives of individuals living with physical disabilities. Get ready to expect the unexpected with this variety streamer. In his own words, “Grab the crown, celebrate, do some muscle kisses, just have a great time. You know what I mean? You just got to have fun with it.”
Sometimes just a little compliment can make someone’s entire day. “There is so much going on that people just forget to take time to feel good,” Lonnie Mercado said. “I’m out here spreading the positivity.” Lonnie, better known by his twitch handle Loony2unes, practices what he refers to as “Compliment Only Time” on his channel. “What happens is I pick three people in the chat, and I do my best for like a three-minute compliment on anything I can go off to make them feel better,” he explained.
The Inspired Becomes the Inspirer
Loony2unes is a big believer in the power of self-worth and self-growth. “You don’t have to forget how great you are even if the day stunk,” he expressed. As well-known as Lonnie is for his bright and comedic personality, he admits struggling with mental depression in 2014 and credits the show, Game Grumps, for getting him out of his funk. “Just watching the show kept me laughing to the point where I would still continue growing, so I need to watch them almost in a way of keeping that sanity up,” he revealed. Game Grumps inspired Lonnie to start his own stream, so he could be the light for someone else.
“Here We Go!” – Mario, Super Mario 64
When Lonnie first began to stream he was what you could consider a Nintendo Streamer. “I was a Nintendo Streamer because Mario is my man, he is my homie,” he recalled. “The reason why I got into video gaming is because I want to work for Nintendo one day.” More specifically, he wants to be a Nintendo Animator and has recently started sharing his love for animation on his stream. “I have become one of the few Twitch 3D animators, very niche, but that’s who I am a 3D animator,” he stated.
Nothing Beats A Good Laugh
The Loony2unes Channel has so many different elements that makes it a true variety stream. When Lonnie isn’t making his viewers blush from flattery or showcasing his artistic talents, he can be found making them laugh until it hurts. “My absolute favorite part of streaming is when I know I made them laugh,” he confessed. “If I’ve done something and the chat is going bananas… I’m just like, ‘I did it! Got ‘em!’ It feels great, it feels absolutely wonderful.”
Dare To Be Different
As proud as Lonnie is of all the gimmicks, he is just as proud of the welcoming, judgement-free environment his channel provides. “The one thing that any viewer can expect when they come to the channel is a safe haven first off,” he described. “The moment you say hello in the channel you are family and you will stay that way.” Loony2unes wants to use what excess positivity he has to help out others. “I see my life as going in a linear path and it is only right that I bring people with me,” he proclaimed.
Animating For Charity
Dreamscape is loony to be teaming up with Loony2unes for his third Charity Stream to raise money for individuals with physical disabilities. Lonnie will be streaming from 2 pm to 2 am EST on Friday and Saturday, February 12 and 13, for a grand total of 24 hours! For the first time ever, Loony2unes will be creating a 12-hour 3D animation that you do not want to miss! You can play a part in choosing which three-piece Link sword attack Lonnie creates by casting your vote! To quote the famous Porky Pig, “Th-Th-The, Th-Th-The, Th-Th… That’s all, folks!”
“I will show you the best way I can possibly tell you. Squint. Squint, but to the point where your eyes are almost shut. Tell me what you see,” Taylor Muske explained. Muske, better known as TayMarie2018, is a visually impaired streamer who refuses to let her disability hold her back. “I’m blind, and I’m trying to show other people that it doesn’t matter what setback you may have. You can still do what you want,” Muske stated.
“Though she be but little, she is fierce!” – William Shakespeare
Taylor was diagnosed with Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) and bilateral congenital cataracts at birth, which resulted from being a premature baby. “I was born four months premature and I was one pound and eight ounces,” Muske said. At that point, the baby’s lungs aren’t developed, so they have to be given oxygen. “The high amount of oxygen that they are given either damages your optic nerves or it damages your hearing. It can go either way, and I know people who have both actually,” she continued.
A Smile is Contagious
Today Taylor uses her platform to raise awareness for people with disabilities, but that wasn’t why she started streaming. “I started streaming at the end of 2019 as a way for another income because I am visually impaired myself, and finding a job is horrendous,” Muske described. “It is almost impossible, so I decided to stream and I fell in love with it.” For TayMarie2018, her love for streaming comes from being able to make people laugh and spending time letting loose with friends.
Watch Me
Muske is here to break the stigma that blind people can’t play video games. “I might not be good at them, but I can still play,” she laughed. “And make fun of myself for not being good in the process.” Taylor gave some insight into her tips and tricks for playing games while being visually impaired. “Most games I actually play auditorily, like I just play with my ears,” she described. “I have a 27.5-inch monitor for my main monitor, so it’s not small. For [first-person shooter] FPS games I use my ears, and I try to strictly play games that are auditorily focused.”
Overcoming Obstacles
When Taylor is not streaming, she still continues to rewrite the narrative of what someone who is visually impaired can or cannot do. “I race 420 sailboats. I started that when I was fifteen, so six years ago,” Muske shared. “I steer and someone else is my eyes.” TayMarie2018 does not let her disability dictate her life. “Transportation is always something that is in the back of my mind because I cannot drive,” Muske explained. “I feel bad about having to rely on others for transportation, and my friends know that they are not going to be there 100% of the time that I need a ride. I had to learn how to take the bus.”
Blind Streamer Hosting 1st Charity Stream
TayMarie2018 has chosen to team up with Dreamscape Foundation for her first Charity Stream this Saturday, January 30, starting at 10 am EST. Being visually impaired herself, Dreamscape Foundation’s Mission really hit home for Muske. For her 12-hour Charity Stream, Taylor will be playing some of her favorite games including Among Us, Dead by Daylight and Call of Duty. In addition to the games, Taylor said to expect “a lot of shenanigans. A lot of them.”
To quote the great Dr. Seuss, “Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” For Brian Martin standing out was not always that simple. “I have the most common legal name in the world, so much so that there are twenty-six people with my first and last name in my city,” Brian Martin explained. Martin may not stand out in his Missouri town, but in the world of streaming he is one of a kind.
Guardian Angel
Martin, better known by his call name Serreph, is not your typical gamer. To truly understand Brian Martin, you need to understand the story behind the name Serreph. “Whenever I got into executive protection there were a couple instances that happened where I put myself in between the person that we were protecting and the gunfire,” he recalled. “They were like, ‘dude you are like a guardian angel, just like a Seraphim.’” The original nickname was shortened and has stuck with Martin throughout the years.
Taking One for the Team
Living up to his name, Serreph has no problem taking a bullet for the good of the group. “Whenever I play first-person shooters, I am so bad that I am usually the bait for everyone else. I run out there and put myself out there to get shot while everyone else cleans up the mess behind,” he laughed. For Martin, the whole reason behind gaming is to relax and enjoy yourself. “That is the number one key. It is a game, you are supposed to be having fun,” he explained. “I do rage a lot, but most of the time the rage is for an act. I can’t really let something like that get under my skin. If it truly got under my skin, I would cut it out. Anything that bothers me that bad has got to go.”
Multiple Interests
Serreph’s love of video games is just one of his many interests. “I have always been into a variety of things. I would like to start doing some cooking streams. I would also like to do video editing streams, where I teach people how to video edit,” Martin shared. At 46 years old, Serreph wants to share his experiences and knowledge with others. “That is one thing that I always take away from everything. Every day is a learning situation. Everything is a swap,” he stated.
Dreamscape’s Mission Hits Home
It comes as no surprise that this jack of all trades has a passion for charities. For Serreph, Dreamscape’s Mission really struck a chord. “I know people that are quadriplegic and paraplegic. I work with people that are partially blind. One of my best friends is an international DJ and he has what is known as Retinitis Pigmentosa, so he is legally blind,” he said. “He can only see shadows in bright light. This man was an inspiration to me for many, many years because he goes out there and DJs by feel,” Martin described.
First Time Charity Streamer
Dreamscape is ecstatic to announce that we are partnering with Serreph for his first ever Charity Stream this Thursday, January 21 starting at 1pm EST – and ending around 1am EST! Prepare yourself for some lively first-person shooting games, strategic puzzles and a lot of laughs during this 12-hour event. Join Dreamscape and Serreph in raising money to help those struggling with physical disabilities.