Rising Stars: Meet Jamie Brausen

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Brausen.

Hi Jamie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
So for starters, I am a variety of Twitch streamers, and it’s my full-time job! Essentially, I play video games for a living, but there’s so much more to it than that! Outside of video editing (as I hired an amazing editor) I handle everything from marketing, social media, production, networking, content, community management, business, finances, all of it. It’s a hectic one-man show, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!

I started creating content in 2017 when I was living alone for the first time in my life. I found myself in a rhythm of waking up, going to work, coming home, playing games with pals, going to sleep, repeat. I felt kind of lonely on my own and didn’t really know how to make friends, but I had been watching streamers on Twitch (formerly known as JustinTV) for a while, and thought I would give it a try, with absolutely no idea what it would become.

After 3 years of streaming on the platform, I hit a streak of bad luck. I had a long-term relationship end, moved to a new townhome, lost my job when our company shut down and ended up in the ICU for a few days – all of this in the span of a few months. It was a rough period of time, and in those months, I decided that I was going to give up streaming.

In my weeks-long recovery period post-hospital, I did not think I would be capable of continuing the growth or success I had up to that point, and I knew between healing and needing to find a job, I wouldn’t be able to be consistent. So I decided to do one last stream, on November 2nd, 2019.

I opened up, for the first time, about my personal life and what had been going on, about losing my job, about the thousands of dollars in hospital bills, about my mental health, about everything. During the course of what was meant to be my last stream, the community came together and helped pay off my hospital bills. I was completely overwhelmed and did not expect such an immensely kind response to everything I’d talked about.

I thought it would have the opposite effect, to be completely honest. But they said they did not want me to leave. So I didn’t. Over the course of that November, our community went from 76 subscribers (at $5/month each) to 3,700. By the following January, after months of job searching, they convinced me to try full-time streaming, so I did, and now here I am.

In the 4 years that I have been full-time as a content creator, our channel has hit 10,000 subs (and unlocked every emote slot), I was featured in the Wall Street Journal, and I became an Ambassador for the platform. In 2020, I launched a team within the greater Twitch community called Sidequest, which is a group of fellow creators who aim to make a difference in the world through charity streaming. Our team has now raised close to $800,000 for various charitable organizations since its inception.

Where I am now, I sustain myself on not only support from the community but from sponsorships. I’ve worked with companies such as Logitech, Bethesda, Microsoft, and more. It’s been a wild journey, but I would trade it for anything, and I owe it all to the community who wouldn’t let me give up.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Within our industry, it can feel very difficult to find your “thing.” What sets you apart from others? I’m not naive to the fact that there are many who do what I do, and while I’m not always good at talking about myself in this light, I would say that one of the things that set me apart is the amount of time and effort we put into helping the world around us with regard to charity.

Our community is heavily focused on doing as much good as we can, and run multiple charity campaigns a year. For example, each May, we fundraise for St Jude Children’s Hospital (as a part of their PLAY Live initiative on Twitch). In total in the last three years, we have raised almost $400,000 for St Jude. This is something I’m incredibly proud of and I’m thankful for a community and space that understand and are motivated by the importance of giving back.

What makes you happy?
I know this might sound cheesy, but just… doing what I do. I love my job. I love my community. I love playing video games and sharing those experiences and stories. I feel so grateful, and I’m absolutely overwhelmed by how much it’s grown and changed not just in itself, but also in me.

Growing up bullied in middle school and high school, I had such a hard time feeling as though I was accepted or understood. It wasn’t “cool” to play video games or read comics then. I had a small group of friends I spent time with but never left that circle, and if I could tell young Jamie that she was going to find herself in the position I’m in now, young me would not believe it.

I have never felt more confident in who I am, or where I’m going. And while every day is new, and there are obstacles along the way, I couldn’t be happier or more grateful for the space I have to simply just be myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: twitch.tv/Jambo
• Instagram: instagram.com/playwithjambo
• Twitter: twitter.com/playwithjambo
• Youtube: youtube.com/@playwithjambo
• TikTok: tiktok.com/@playwithjambo