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Uploaded and Unfiltered: Real Talk on Healing, Creativity, and Mindset for Black Creators
Creative journeys. Real struggles. Honest growth.
Hosted by Jermaine, Uploaded and Unfiltered is where Black creators talk real about what it takes to create in public—and stay sane doing it. You’ll hear from YouTubers, streamers, podcasters, musicians, and other digital creatives on how they built their platforms, overcame burnout, dealt with self-doubt, and found their voice.
This isn’t fluff or “how I got famous” talk. We dig into the messy middle—impostor syndrome, grief, perfectionism, procrastination, and the pressure to perform.
Every episode is packed with truth and tools to help you:
- Build your creative presence online (without faking it)
- Move through mental blocks that keep you stuck
- Learn from the wins and fails of other Black creators
🎧 This podcast is for you if:
- You’re a BIPOC content creator or want to be
- You’ve got ideas but keep overthinking or procrastinating
- You want honest convos, mindset shifts, and real strategies
New episodes every week. Hit subscribe and join the movement.
Uploaded and Unfiltered: Real Talk on Healing, Creativity, and Mindset for Black Creators
From Shyness to Streamer [Guest: Purple Pixxel]
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Embark on a captivating journey through the heart of streaming culture as we dive into the story of Purple Pixxel, aka Purp. Join us on Uploaded and Unfiltered as Purp shares her transformation from a reserved newcomer to a confident gaming icon, reflecting the evolving landscape of Twitch. Alongside Purple Pixxel, we explore the early days of streaming, challenges faced by minorities, and strides towards inclusivity in the content creator community. This episode delves into personal battles, the art of authenticity, and networking strategies, offering a treasure trove of insights for budding content creators. From integrating unique branding elements to addressing online harassment, we uncover the highs and lows of the streaming universe. Tune in for a candid and insightful conversation that resonates with anyone navigating the world of content creation.
Welcome. Welcome back to another episode of Uploaded and Unfiltered, the podcast in which I your host, interviews another content creator in regards to their creative journey thus far. Before I get my guests on the episode tonight, I'm going to read her bio, introduce her, so we can have an awesome conversation.
Speaker 1Super Mario Pixel is a quirky 20-something African American woman that has been playing video games since the early days of Super Nintendo, playing games like Super Mario Brothers and Paperboy. She spends her time watching anime, discovering new music and dabbling in art. From time to time, she is a streamer on Twitch that loves to have an awesome elastic time with her friends and viewers, no matter the occasion. Herb has a big heart and a curious mind that never wants to stop learning about how, when and why of different topics. In the words of Herb, I am that nigga and I will live my life the way I want and how I want. So I don't have time for that petty drama. And after that awesome ass intro, I'd like to introduce my guests for this episode, the one the only purple pixel, aka Herb. Welcome to the show.
Speaker 2Hey, let's Gucci and accouti how you doin' tonight.
Speaker 1I usually don't read the intros before I do it live and I was like let me practice. And I was like okay, awesome, awesome, elastic. I think I know that I got that one. Yeah, herb, how are you doing tonight?
Speaker 2I'm feeling great. I'm happy I'm on cloud nine right now. This is doing interviews and podcasts is always something fun to do, so I'm here for it. I love to talk about it. I don't shut up. That's why I like to hear.
Speaker 1This is going to be a great episode, then, because I love when people just talk and I just sit back and listen First up, first section of the podcast. How did you start? What was your introduction into creating content? What is your origin story?
Speaker 2Okay. So I actually got started back in 2014 in the early days of Twitch, my friend of mine, friend of me and my brothers he actually introduced us to streaming. I mean, it was just like we had never really heard about it because it wasn't really popular Back during that time, especially not among the African American community. So we was just like we could seriously give this a chance, see how it is. In my thought process I was like, okay, I'm not going to keep up with this for this for any, not that long. I'm just going to give it a try, see how it is. Once I started, I actually really, really loved it and I was really shy. A lot of people could would not even guess that I was growing up. I was like whenever my brother's friends would come over, I would hide behind the staircase.
Speaker 1I was that shy.
Speaker 2I wouldn't talk to them nothing. Streaming helped me build my confidence and I definitely felt a lot of love during that time on getting started on Twitch, and it was a pretty different ball game that we're dealing with right now.
Speaker 1I agree, yes, what is the biggest thing?
Speaker 2that from when you first started to now, there's definitely a lot more, I guess, civilized viewers.
Speaker 1Oh, yes, okay yeah.
Speaker 2A lot more and because, like back in back I don't have to say back in the day I'm not even that old, but back in the day when I first got started, there was no affiliate system, there weren't any mods and stuff like that it was like I had to kind of keep track of everything and banning people, timing them out, because during that time there was not a lot of African-Americans, let alone a lot of African-American females. So I would get like the racist comments, I would get the misogynistic comments very, very sexualized and a lot of stuff like it was able to fly back then. It was like a battleground pretty much.
Speaker 1Exactly.
Speaker 2You had to stand your ground. So that's definitely changed and I can definitely see that there's a lot more systems put in place. So you won't see that come across, that you can just ban or time people out easily.
Speaker 1Mm-hmm, that's wild to think that it took years for them to implement those tools. So we can ban people, so we can have mods, so we can filter out words right, I didn't? I forgot about that. It's been Five, ten, I don't know too long. That's crazy. So when you first started, did you? Were you solo, like you're, like I was gonna start to stream. I'm doing it by myself and went with it.
Speaker 2What does?
Speaker 1that look like.
Speaker 2Yeah, I didn't know anybody that was in this space, you know, during this, during that time. So I was just, like you know, like we bought a whole bunch of equipment. You know, we bought game capture devices, we bought a camera, we bought headsets, yeah my stuff. So we just like plugged in and we just started, you know, doing it. You know, and I First started off on my own and and then I eventually met some okay, I don't care, they probably not gonna see this, but look, I don't mess with y'all no more, because y'all call me on my name.
Speaker 2All right, I give you my love and appreciation and this is what I get. This is, this is a result of that. No, you know twice it happened. Get into it? We ain't gonna get into it.
Speaker 1Oh my good.
Speaker 2Yeah, that's where another show, because I definitely gonna have one of those episodes like yeah, but I met, I messed with that game and grew for like, for like, like when I, when I got started, a little bit after I got started, and and it was cool, we would, we would like run together and stuff like that. We played a lot of games, even offline. You know never, whenever I got home, I guess from like work or whatever, I would just like hop like, instantly, hop on my PlayStation 4 and, you know like getting a party. You know everybody else in there, or a lit, let's get up in there and let's play some games. You know, do you see? It was a thing.
Speaker 1Yeah, exactly, that's awesome. Did you just started? You're like you know what? This is the equipment you need to start streaming. I'm just gonna do it. I've talked to a lot of people that are scared to do that. They're like I don't know anybody. I need to be. I was like you don't really need it helps, but you don't need it to start.
Speaker 2Like I said I was, I was really shy and I didn't think I was gonna keep this up for like more than a week or something.
Speaker 1Wow, that's surprising, because here you are now Like I would have never guessed that you were shy. That's awesome.
Speaker 2It has definitely helped and I feel like, even like, because I've, you know, done twitch, you know, for a minute, I I kind of like like all those skills from like the learned, the skills that I've learned from interacting with viewers, has definitely Translated into real life for me too. So, you know, I used to let like conversations just die. Now I'm just like, okay, let me, let me put on my streamer mode. Okay, yeah, oh, yes, I'm just like you know, like you know, I'm on my channel. I just I ask a lot of questions. I'm not trying to be nosy, but I'm just trying to like I know how to keep the conversation going.
Speaker 2Right, so you know, I'll ask people, you know like okay, you know, such and such happened, all right, well then what happened next? You know how do you feel about it, you know so you know that's how I like, that's kind of how I like talk to people now, you know just, you know just letting things be, you know be like, okay, it's fine, you know yeah whatever Nah you said something super dope there.
Speaker 1I want to point out people, myself included, when they are asking questions, they themselves feel like they're nosy. Not everybody thinks that, but I'm glad you said that because, like, sometimes, yeah, I feel like I'm nosy, even though you came to my channel and I, like you, know what it is, so I'm asking you questions, but sometimes I do feel nosy and I'm like, but I'm not hoping the conversation, I'm trying to push it forward, so I need to let that go.
Speaker 2Yeah, no, definitely, and I'm just trying to just trying to figure out who you are as a person like I'll hop, Especially if it's like a new streamer that I'm introduced to. You know, I'll go through the whole spill. How'd you get into streaming? I know that's weird to ask why. You know why they trying to do big thing in game. It is what it is. But you know I gotta see if I like you, if I want to.
Speaker 1You know, follow and subscribe, you know right exactly, and if you look at it like that, anybody's gonna answer that question, unless they don't want to, and then you know, hey, this is not for me.
Speaker 2There you go. So I'm not, I'm not losing nothing.
Speaker 1Speaking, okay, speaking of origin story, since we're here at the beginning. How did your name, your screen name, come about? Purple pixel.
Speaker 2All right, so my favorite color is actually orchid, and it's my baby, I love orchid and I love the color. So you know, orchid is similar to purple and I love purple. So you know, let me do something with that. And then I was like oh hey, video games are made up of pixel, so let me just combine the two, you know, and just make it purple pixel.
Speaker 1Listen, sometimes it's a crazy story that comes out of no where. It's like that had nothing to do with your name. This one lines up perfectly. You know, favorite color is orchid pixels video games. What more do you want?
Speaker 2And there's so many people that I love the color purple, so yeah me.
Speaker 1I have it all over this part of my part of my brand purple. I love it. It's the greatest purple, greatest color ever.
Speaker 2It's so loyalty Fun, fact fun fact though, yes. In order to make purple, the color purple back in the day, they had to use snails to make it. So yeah, bet you didn't know that I know Fucking you bitch.
Speaker 1I hate snails. The way you know what? Hold on, I had Escargo on a cruise with my wife, like years ago, and I do like Escargo, so you know what it all. It all lines up. It's cool. That's a gross fact. Thank you for that Damn, I didn't know.
Speaker 2The point I was trying to make is that it's not easy to make the color purple.
Speaker 1Yeah, I hear you.
Speaker 2As royal.
Speaker 1That makes I like that flip better.
Speaker 2I like it.
Speaker 1See, my head was somebody smashing snails. I'm just like you know what. I'll take a blue shirt. I'll just take the blue one. I don't need to purple anymore. All right, let me stop. I'm getting off course here. Let's roll into our next section. One of my favorite section is the current mindset. This is where I ask my guests what is their current mindset in regards to your content right now, and do you have any inkling of what you want to do like three to six months from now?
Speaker 1But, let's, let's take what current mindset. What's that look like for you right now?
Speaker 2Oh, I'm not going to front. I have just kind of well, it wasn't until what? Sometime last year I went through a lot of personal things and I was actually depressed for like a good minute or a good couple of months. So by like July I finally started coming like getting myself back into streaming, and it was. It was harder than I thought it was going to be. So I originally had plans and then all of that kind of happened, and then I'm just been like trying to get back to a sense of normalcy. But the current mindset is just that right now, I just want to. I just want to, I want to be able to build my community, I want to, you know, grow and I definitely want to connect with a lot more, a lot more content creators. And I feel like I've kind of like reverted a little bit, going back into my shell and just kind of like being like the lone wolf.
Speaker 2You know, but so I'm trying to, like, you know, got to make, got to put myself in uncomfortable situations, you know. So I'm going to, I want to venture out, definitely want to expand, definitely expand my brand, you know, and just reach out. You know, like I love to like, just make, just like I said, just make new memories with people, and that's definitely something that I want to do and you know, I have different plans that in motion for my streams and just kind of, I don't know, I'd be getting some weird ideas for stuff like channel games, you know.
Speaker 1Good, I got a full ass Milan hype.
Speaker 2You know, and I want, I sure do have a Pokemon one too.
Speaker 1Hold on, wait, it exists already. All right, I'm sleeping, I need to check that out.
Speaker 2I know, I think I had a few channel points I can burn. That's cool Anyway you slip it.
Speaker 1You need to charge them up. Why no? I'm just joking.
Speaker 2Because I had a kimono redeem, because I have, like, love Japanese culture and I have, so I'm about eight different kimonos and I had that and people were taking advantage of it. So I'm like you know I need to boost it up.
Speaker 1Exactly Like I got to go change the kimono now.
Speaker 2Really, I just I just started to understand. It's really hot.
Speaker 1Wait, can you like? It takes a while to put one of those things on, don't you?
Speaker 2Yes, it does.
Speaker 1OK, that's why I did yeah, but I don't.
Speaker 2I don't, I don't tie like the OB sash, I just I'd have like there's different chords that you have to use it like kind of stable. So that's what I use now. Don't leave a bother putting the OB Sasha because I'm gonna be a freaking furnace up in there. Okay, and you can't. It's already hot when you stream in and, yes, people don't talk about is like Be coming out of there funky as hell when you've done doing like four to six hour streams.
Speaker 1I, you write. Nobody talks about the heat that you have to go through.
Speaker 2Yeah.
Speaker 1This is a perfect segue into a lessons learned. What type of lessons have you learned during your your content creation career that did you utilize?
Speaker 2definitely Network. You have to network, okay, like you will not be successful as a streamer. You cannot stay in your little box. You know you have to Step out, get uncomfortable, meet new people, slide into a few DMs. I've done it.
Networking and Advice for New Streamers
Speaker 2You know, but you have to, like you said, in order to grow, you do have to get uncomfortable. Yeah, you have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. You know, and I've been living by that, because a lot of, a lot of the things that I do on my channel it's, it's, it's pretty out there, so it's yeah. But in my mind I'm like, okay, I know people are gonna love this, you know. So.
Speaker 2I don't mind making myself look stupid or whatever, because I have like a fancy purple Glasses by Focals bonnet on. You know a little roll.
Speaker 1Yeah, that is dope.
Speaker 2And so people, people are there for the experience, you know, and you can't just Think you're just gonna fly by, I don't know doing whatever, just doing the bare minimum, you know. Right, and that's the one thing I do love about streaming is that you know, more often than not, you know you're gonna have days where it's not really that poppin Other days so it's so dope, and those are the streams that are really memorable that I love. So definitely take a chance, you know, don't overthink too much. You know, and, like I said, don't be afraid to step out, meet new people and connect, have a conversation with, with. You know the streamer that you like. You know if they're playing a game, I think. I think one time I was um, there's actually someone new that I met at a streaming event, consecration event called dream hack Atlanta.
Speaker 2Okay but he, um, he ended playing an old game called rock band and you know, um, he's he's Just starting out, you know, so not too too entertaining, but it was like that. You know, like that was a game that I liked, um, and I love, I love, you know, I like, I like that I was able to connect with somebody with the same music interest as me. You know, I was. A lot of people don't think that black people are into rock music and alternative. Yeah, you know, it was it. I was able to make a connection with that streamer.
Speaker 1So, you know, make those connections, yes yes, I think that's one of the themes of the show, that we didn't realize when we first started how much networking would help. I wouldn't say I'm a. I saved us all the time. I'm an introvert, but I'm an extrovert what I need to be. But I much rather just stay in the house and I say should anybody? But I know that you cannot do that, especially with streaming. Like you got to get social and Over the last couple years I've been trying to push myself on that show as well and like reach out to people, and this podcast has made me like I gotta, I gotta ask people to be on the podcast, otherwise there's no guests, and so, yeah, I've been pushing myself out that that uh comfort zone and it there's nothing scary on the other side either. They say no and you're like okay.
Speaker 2That's it Exactly. It's the same. But like trying to get with somebody, you know the person gonna say is no, you know yeah no, and you're like oh, I'm still alive, I'm not dead.
Speaker 1All right, I guess I'll add to the next one like wow, don't like wallow in that. Anyways, it's not that scary.
Speaker 2It's not.
Speaker 1Perfect, perfect again, perfect segue. I need to find a better bridge. Words of advice, herb. What type of advice would you give to someone who is starting out and streaming and they're like hey, I watch your content and I I'm expired, how do I? What type of advice would you give me?
Speaker 2Perfect example, like I actually just recently took a trip in January and while I was on a flight, I've Met someone that was sitting right next to me that was interested in the content creation. Normal me back in the day Okay, I would not want to talk to nobody or no plane, but you know, I'm trying to put myself out there more and he was like interested and I told him I was into live streaming, what I do on the side, and so I told him he was like you know, asking me all these questions or games he played, you know stuff like that. And I told him you know, like, okay, you don't have to spend a whole lot of money to get into streaming. You know you got to start from somewhere. Okay, and I tell people all the time this mic pay $30 for it gets the job. It's not the best, but it gets the job done.
Speaker 2People still come to my channel because they love the content and the vibe. Yes, camera, you know I spent $100 on that, it's easy to get into, but ring light as well. You know. Just, people think it's it's really expensive. Like, yes, you do need to have something to. You know, stream from Desktop or whatever.
Speaker 2But you know, other than that not okay yeah and uh, just another thing I would say is that join the community, jeff, definitely get into joining a community.
Navigating Streaming and Online Harassment
Speaker 2Um, just starting out, it will help with with getting you getting a streamer, a new streamer, into like, into that affiliate status. And it's just, you know, like, once you are in that community, if they, if that community is right, then they, they will show love back to you and Definitely, if you are getting into streaming and you are safer as you have reached affiliate, definitely like, return that favor, rate them, you know, talk to them, bring your community to their community and they will do this, they will do the same. But don't come up in there thinking that you're gonna make all this money Streaming, you know, and I. And another thing is just like I feel it's. It's really different Coming from a woman's perspective when it comes to streaming versus a guys, because I see all the time, like you know, I'm not gonna sit up in here in front, like there is no advantage, you know. You know that I have, okay, apparently, I'm attractive.
Speaker 1Wow, we need to work in someone's self-esteem play.
Speaker 2Like if, like for guys. I know it's a lot harder, but I've seen plenty of guys. I'll do me. Okay, I'll do a whole lot of these females. Yeah, there's no excuse. The thing is that you just need to stay consistent.
Speaker 1Yeah, you know what? Yes, let's Busted this boomer down like you could be super hot, but if you're not funny or you're not consistent, All them holes on that front page got the personality of a piece of bread.
Speaker 2Let me tell you Okay.
Speaker 1I hope we get to a point where we just let them do they think they over there, like they're not a threat to most people, like yes, their numbers are bigger but there's no entertainment there and you know why people are there.
Speaker 2So yeah, they only want to see. Oh, they come over to my channel and think that you think that shit is sweet.
Speaker 1Yes, that's it. I've seen that a lot with some of my friends in the street, like doodle come through, used to People on the front page and they started talking about the mouth instaban like gone, we don't play that around here.
Speaker 2So no, absolutely night. You know, there's a reason why they have those channels and that's reason why I have my channels and that's definitely struggles I've like dealt with.
Speaker 2Coming up as a streamer. It's just like you know, I'll have like Guys and stuff like that come up in here and then they'll be expecting you know me to act a certain way or like show you know cleavage and stuff like that. I'm like, look, I don't, I'm man, I don't know. It's so weird because, like I got, I don't got asked to be like a sugar baby.
Speaker 1Like why are you streaming?
Speaker 2They whispered it to me.
Speaker 1Oh, but that's still wild.
Speaker 2Yeah, and then and then I was one instance where God was like I'll pay, like I'll pay for you to like you know, Just sit on video chat with me and I'll pick your house and it's like a full day and stuff like that, and I'm just virtual, virtual listen.
Speaker 1I mean, no, that's just some. I feel like that's mad. I'm saying but and so when they come through the DM's, oh, they only line of defense at that point is to block. Yes, yes block or anything.
Speaker 2You can report them, I mean but no, that does right now right.
Speaker 1I'm not saying level. I do have a question. Do you think the tools that they have put in place have made that type of behavior? Has that shrunk, or is it still pretty much the same?
Speaker 2I can say definitely from like the early days it's gotten so so much better. You know we're able to block certain certain words from being used, and definitely since the hate raids. Yeah.
Speaker 1Yeah, you know, to think about that, to think that you as a person of color is live and there's just a barrage of the most worst racial hate shit just coming at you. You're supposed to smile and grin at that shit Like that, like it still shocks me that that Right.
Speaker 2And then I can remember, like before I became affiliate I was. I remember I remember the exact stream. I was playing Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm and there was like there were, there were people in my chest and they linked, saying like this is like a monkey or something like that, videos and stuff. It was just. It was heartbreaking, you know. It's just like why do I have to go through this? You know right.
Speaker 1And then all of a sudden Twitch is like, hey, we got some tools. Sorry, yeah, took this so long. Right? Happy Black History, anyways, yeah.
Speaker 2You wouldn't want to talk about Black History.
Speaker 1Oh, you give this one time, my God yeah the one time that we were put on the first page.
Speaker 2Yeah, just, we are going to talk about it, but yeah, they got.
Speaker 1I mean, they still got some work to do, but they doing better, so I'm not too too up to it with them.
Speaker 2Right.
Speaker 1All right, we're looking at. People find your content. Where would you like to point their masses at?
Speaker 2All right, my, my name is the same across the board. It is purple pixel and on Instagram and it's purple pixel with two X's. Okay, not three, two.
Speaker 1I'm even. Yes, I get that a lot.
Speaker 2I get that a lot.
Speaker 1That makes sense.
Speaker 2Like, so on the same purple pixel to X's on Instagram, on Twitch, on Twitter as well. That's where I am at. I'm trying to get more involved on Twitter.
Speaker 1Are you doing stuff on Instagram?
Speaker 2Honestly, I do it the lazy way. I just take clips from my Twitch channel and I just put it on there. That's the smart way.
Speaker 1That's not the lazy way, Like you. You say it's lazy, but you don't even do that.
Speaker 2They're just like nah, I'll just.
Speaker 1I'll just have my luck on Twitch. I'm like, all right, nobody's gonna find your ass.
Speaker 2No, no, no, no, I'm shooting it's. It's helped, because I posted like scary, scary rules, like for me playing a scary game and then for me playing like Hargoy's legacy, because I really say someone else shit on my channel and I'd be like, look, I need to chill.
Speaker 1And those are the type of clips that are the best ones, opposed to social, because they get to see your personality. They're like what the fuck is this? Oh, she streams and then that's a follow Easy.
Speaker 2Great.
Speaker 1Well, purp, thank you again for doing this show. I appreciate it. Everybody. Go check out Purp's content. I will have links in the description below, but other than that, appreciate you all for listening. Thank you, as always, protect your mental, keep creating content and I will talk to you on the next one. Have a good night. Thank you for listening this deep into the podcast. I truly do appreciate it.
Speaker 1If you enjoy what you heard and you want to get this podcast to a state work and actually make even more changes and creators lies, please share the podcast with those that you know. They probably can get some enjoyment or some information from the podcast. Head over to uponbuzzbrowcom, that is, upnbuzzbrowcom, to check out where the podcast is hosted. On that website There'll be a variety of different places where you can actually subscribe to the podcast. If you do subscribe, I would appreciate a rating and a review, whatever platform you listen to this on. Those ratings and those reviews help the podcast elevate into a higher level so I could become more discoverable in searches and things of that nature.
Speaker 1Also, check out the website uploaded and unfilteredcom If you want to check out every guest that's been on the podcast, as well as links to their content as well. Last but not least, if you want to financially support the podcast, you can do so at buymeacoffeecom. Slash uploaded and unfiltered. Set up a donation site there. All money that goes there will be directly poured back into the podcast to help for hosting and things of that nature. Again, thank you for listening. This has been a project that I have dreamed about building, and it is here and we're doing it and I am nothing but excited for its future.
Speaker 1Until then, I'll see you all in the next one.