A talk with Trisha Hershberger

Trisha Hershberger is an accomplished actress, host, writer, and producer who has made a name for herself in the gaming and entertainment industry. With her charming personality and infectious energy, Trisha has become a fan favorite among audiences worldwide.

One of Trisha’s most notable achievements is her work on the popular YouTube channel, SourceFed. As a host and writer for the channel, Trisha was able to showcase her talent for delivering engaging and informative content to millions of viewers. Her work on the channel earned her a loyal following and helped establish her as a rising star in the entertainment world.

In addition to her work on SourceFed, Trisha has also been a part of other popular shows and channels such as The Philip DeFranco Show, Nerdist Smosh, Geek & Sundry, and hosting for IGN, MTV, and DisneyXD!. Her versatility as a performer has allowed her to take on various roles, from hosting to acting, and she has excelled in each one.

The 2x Streamy Award Winner is also an avid gamer and has a YouTube channel where she shares her love for video games. Her passion for gaming has made her a respected figure in the gaming community, and she has been invited to participate in various gaming events and conventions.

You’ve been right there with loads of successful content creators for a while, and as a successful one yourself, what would you say are some key habits or practices that most seem to share?  

Pretty much every creator I know that has been successful long-term thinks about their content creation as a business. It’s about finding monetization methods, content strategy and a production schedule that works for you. You need to stay on top of the various platform changes, production hardware and software changes and employment practices if you support employees. The mindset is more of someone who runs a company – yes one that’s creative by nature – but a company nonetheless. Those are the creators I see become and stay successful in the long term.

Where do you get your energy from when working on content day in and day out? How do you replenish? 

When you love what you do, which is why most people get into this industry in the first place, it’s hard to turn it off and you can easily end up working 70+ hours per week or more. Not to mention, the various content creation platforms increasingly demand more and more from you. Especially before you have a team, the need to feed every platform’s algorithm and post multiple times a day on each platform is all-consuming. It’s a very competitive industry and the mindset is often, if I don’t work do it, someone else will. This mindset, especially when operating as a one person team, can quickly lead to burnout. I try to set realistic goals for myself in terms of deliverables, knowing that I’ll burnout or become rundown to the point where I get sick if I don’t. I know that if I don’t take time to replenish, which for me is spending unplugged time with my family and friends and practicing self-care, it will be more detrimental to my career in the long run. Work/life balance as a creator is something I have personally always struggled with and I know many other full-time creators who feel the same way. The list of work is never ending. There’s always more you could be doing to stay competitive, but realistically should you?

What does the gaming industry look like to you right now as opposed to the film industry? 

To me, video games are more immersive and altogether a different form of storytelling than films. While we may relate to a protagonist in a film, we quite literally ARE the protagonist in many games. I am a huge movie-lover and I enjoy both forms of entertainment very much for what they are. I’m glad that the video game industry has grown so much over the years. What used to be a niche/nerdy hobby, is now much more mainstream and appreciated. It’s interesting to me that the film industry is still held in higher regard artistically by most, despite the video game industry greatly outperforming it in terms of revenue, and therefore, arguably popularity. I’m looking forward to seeing where both go from here.

Speaking of gaming, what’s the one game you always return to when all else fails? 

I have many games I appreciate for different reasons. When I need to feel accomplished, I’ll turn to a management/simulation game like Frostpunk, The Sims or even something simple like Mini-Motorways. When I want to go on an adventure, I’ll pick up an epic RPG like The Legend of Zelda, Witcher 3, Nier: Automata or Baldur’s Gate. When I want to hang with friends, I’ll turn to an MMO, or a puzzle game like The Witness when I need to be challenged mentally, etc. It’s hard to pick just one game because games do vary so widely in terms of the itch they scratch, if that makes sense.

Do you have any ideas regarding the future of online streaming content? 

I love how accessible online streaming content now is to both watch and create. It’s truly opened up gaming as a hobby to many more diverse types of games and gamers than what media and marketing originally showcased, and I think that’s fantastic for the industry as a whole. The downside of streaming is that it’s incredibly competitive and sometimes that urges people into extremist or “click-bait” behavior and content to stay relevant, which can end up being harmful. It’s a double edged sword. I enjoy the interactivity of streaming because it feels more honest to me than some other content platforms which are edited, filtered and curated to the point they no longer feel real. 

What are some Intellectual properties out there you wish were getting more attention?

 There are so many fantastic games out right now that fly under the radar of what most people see. Control, Nier Automata, Divinity Original Sin 1 & 2, Stray – to name a few. The indie scene is always producing new gems as well. Games like Celeste, Undertale, Stardew Valley, Hades and others are stunningly beautiful adventures that I’d personally love if more people gave them a chance.

We know you’re into cosplay. What’s your favorite cosplay you’ve done so far? Got any exciting ones you want to debut sometime? 

Cosplay is such an incredible way to celebrate the fandoms you love. My favorite cosplay so far? That’s really tough. I love how my second attempt at Wonder Woman turned out and I’m just dying to do another newer version of Peggy Carter as Captain Carter. I also would love to do the DC Bombshells version of Catwoman or a newer more updated Tifa Lockhart. I haven’t had as much time for costume creation since I became a mom, but as my little guy gets older, it’ll be safer for me to have a needle and scissors strewn about the house again haha.

Got any upcoming projects on the horizon you wish to share or tease us with? 

The best thing about my career is the breadth of types of content I get to make, whether it’s in an on-camera, scriptwriting or producing role. I write and host the show DIY tech series “DIYin5” for Kingston Technology, which is headed into its 200th plus episode. I livestream (produce/host) a weekly indie game showcase on my Twitch channel called the Twitch Gong Show each Tuesday showing off early builds of upcoming indie games. I regularly do live reviews of consumer electronics and toys/collectibles for Amazon. If you are shopping and see a video pop up, that might be me. And I do have another big exciting project on the horizon that I am not permitted to talk about in detail just yet, but what I will say is that DIY PC builders and esports fans should keep their eyes peeled this fall. 

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