I had the amazing honor to interview a dear friend of mine (and role model), Ms. Erika Szabo. Erika is the definition of a multi-hyphenate. She’s a YouTuber, blogger, and writer, and she’s extremely knowledgeable in the fields of video games, film, technology, music, and anime (along with having badass hair). Read on to find out more about this intriguing woman.

Sure! I’m a Toronto-based video producer dabbling in classic/cult gaming, anime, and films. My content is heavily influenced by years of knowledge and passion that only continues to grow. My interest in video production actually started with my passion for journalism, which began back in 2007. I wrote for various online and print entertainment outlets in music, film, arts, and – later – video games and technology. My need for challenge lead me to video production, which I’ve been tackling on YouTube since 2013. It’s been a total thrill.

To be honest, it was all by chance. My parents bought my sister and I an SNES when I was about five to six years old and I’ve been an avid player in mainstream, old school and indie games. Currently I’m playing/re-playing La-Mulana EX, Soul Calibur 2 HD, and Jet Grind Radio.I started watching anime at a young age with Sailor Moon, but I didn’t really start getting into anime until I was thirteen. I’ve been a fan ever since, but I tend to gravitate towards the more obscure or old-school titles. Currently, I’m watching/re-watching Nagi no Asukara, Shin Sekai Yori, and Berserk.

A lot of it had to do with the fact that I love challenge. Skill building is very important to me, giving me more variety and confidence while also keeping me from getting bored of the things I love.

I tend to gravitate towards the classic/cult side of things when it comes to gaming and anime, but some popular picks tend to trickle in as well. For gaming, some of my favourites would be anything by SUDA 51 (Shadows of the Damned, Lollipop Chainsaw, Killer7, etc.), La-Mulana, Final Fantasy VI-IX, Shadow of the Colossus, Chrono Trigger/Chrono Cross, Cave Story, and Journey.Some of my anime favourites would be Serial Experiments Lain, Cowboy Bebop, FLCL, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Shin Sekai Yori, and anything by Satoshi Kon (Perfect Blue, Paranoia Agent, Paprika, etc.) and Bokurano.

Who are some of your favorite women YouTubers?

Plenty! I’m a big fan of PressHearttoContinue, Sachie, HappiLeeErin, Melonie Mac, and many more. Key things I’m looking for from video producers are a strong sense of business (self-sufficiency!) and genuine passion.

What advice would you give to other women looking to get into the YouTube community?

There are a lot of essentials to take into consideration before and during. Don’t be afraid to readjust your goals and priorities in the middle of things.

• Set a game plan for yourself. What is it you’re trying to accomplish, and how do you plan on doing so?

• Set reasonable expectations. Early on, you’ll have to accept the fact that things won’t always go as planned, nor will your viewers always be the most supportive. Build up a tough skin, and find the people who do matter in the midst of the mayhem. Look for a positive challenge in every experience and take note of your accomplishments, no matter how small.

• Have patience, perseverance, and grace. This can be difficult when you want success to come, but some of the best moments you’ll take away are ones you might not appreciate until later. Those moments allow you to change and mature and, most of all, help you find your own peace of mind in the project you’re tackling. With enough time and care, and lots of consistent content each week, growth does come, which then reflects into the work you do.

You can find me on YouTube at both my main channel and my newer alt-channel, SHARP OBJEX, where I cover horror, sci-fi, tokusatsu, and other indie obscurities. For my ramblings on social media, you can find me on my Facebook fan page, Twitter, and Instagram.

Thank you so much for allowing me to interview you, Erika! As always, it was an immense pleasure to speak with you and learn more about your beautiful self. I hope your interest has been piqued by this incredible woman, and I highly recommend checking out her channels.