Welcome to our first installment of Streamer Spotlights, where we interview a hunger hero so you can get to know them better!
Look forward to learning what to expect when you check out their streams, why they do what they do, what got them into streaming for No Kid Hungry and where to find out more about the streamers with each installment.
TheTeeMonster, a.k.a. Tee Morris, a.k.a. Twitch Dad
Total raised for No Kid Hungry: $12,381.66
This week, we talked with Twitch streamer TheTeeMonster, a.k.a. Tee Morris, a.k.a. Twitch Dad. Truly a jack of all trades, Tee is not only a streamer, but also an award-winning writer of Steampunk and non-fiction, author of Twitch for Dummies, and hosts two podcasts: The Shared Desk and Happy Hour from the Tower.
We recently sat down with Tee to get his perspective on streaming and fundraising, and here’s what he had to say.
What kind of content can viewers find on your streams?
Tee: When people come to my stream or listen to my podcasts, I set a stage where people can relax and have fun. My first love is Destiny 2, and many of my streams are centered around that game; but recently I launched Mass Effect Monday as I’m running through this trilogy for the very first time. Then you have my Fridays which is either the Friday Fun Run or Philippa’s Phreaky Phriday (where my wife takes over the stream), just to keep it varied.
I also host a Double Play Thursday where I join my buddy Steve Saylor and sherpa him through Destiny. Then I switch gears and switch games, and join another buddy of mine, Phil Rossi, for Phasmophobia. In the middle of all this, I host cooking streams, writing streams, fireside chats, and podcast recordings. So while I mix it up when I can, I offer content that is fun, passionate, and sometimes ridiculous.
How do you choose what to do for the day on your streams?
Tee: I’m all about alliteration and rhymes. You see that in my schedule posts. Mass Effect Monday. Titan Taco Tuesday. Philippa’s Phreaky Phriday. I know what I am doing every week as I’ve built a core schedule, but with my schedule postings I always make it clear that the core schedule is subject to change. That offers me the ability to call audibles, or announce any special streams during the week.
When did you start streaming for No Kid Hungry, and why?
Tee: At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was looking for a charity cause that would really make a difference. I wanted to find a charity that I’d not heard much about on Twitch. I was going to look around on Tiltify when I caught at the end of an episode of The Daily Show a callout for No Kid Hungry.
I went to their site, educated myself and started streaming for them. What impressed me the most was how responsive and interactive the No Kid Hungry staff were. Twitter and Instagram shout-outs were nice, but when they showed up in my chat and just hung out, that meant the world to me.
Perhaps my favorite interaction with No Kid Hungry was when STREAM for No Kid Hungry staff hopped into Destiny 2 with me on the last day of a charity stream.
That was a blast.
What got you into streaming?
Tee: Pure curiosity. I was already watching streamers — Destiny streamers, of course — and many of them talked about how “easy” it was to begin streaming. A few of them mentioned the “Broadcast Gameplay” feature on the PS4 which I had seen before, so one night I went on to Destiny, plugged in a headset, plugged in my Twitch account, and took my first steps.
As I started out with a headset and 12% of a plan, I added on to my stream. A camera. Incorporating Streamlabs. Establishing a schedule. As I developed my stream, I took notes. On incorporating a PC, I started working on Twitch for Dummies with the folks at Wiley Publishing. That book became my love letter to Twitch, and I’m hoping to update it. Just waiting on the green light from the publisher to make it happen.
What’s your favorite thing about streaming?
Tee: It’s been a joy sharing the process of discovery in video games. In the Tomb Raider trilogy, it was the revelations of Trinity, the deciphering of puzzle-locks, and surviving wave on wave of bad guys. In Sole, it was the reveal of a world trapped in darkness. With The Last of Us, it was the emotional roller coaster. And then there’s Destiny where I share the joy I nurture for this game.
Don’t get me wrong — I would still be gaming (solo or with friends) without streaming, but this adds a whole new dimension to it, and I love it. This has been an experience about people, and the other streamers I’ve been fortunate to meet and interview, and the viewers I’ve been fortunate enough to call friends have made this an incredible journey.
And I still have a lot more of road ahead of me.
Anything to close?
Tee: Another thing I’ve been enjoying about streaming is its potentially limitless opportunity as a platform.
I’ve done cooking streams. I’ve done writing streams, something I never thought would work. I’ve done morning walks on the beach. Is any of this ground-breaking? Eh, maybe not, but for me, it’s been me asking “Okay, what can I try next?” And next month, September 18, I’ll be hosting a paranormal investigation with Phil Rossi.
Just don’t be afraid to try something new, whether you are streaming it or not. Limitless possibilities. That’s something to keep in mind when creating content, or just waking up in the morning.
If you’d like to know more about everyone’s favorite Twitch Dad, you can catch him on Twitch Mondays, Tuesdays, & Thursdays at 7pm, Fridays at 7:30pm, and Saturdays at 12pm EST and follow him on Twitter and Instagram.
