Rising Stars: Meet Bridget Case

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bridget Case.

Hi Bridget, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
In 2019 I was still working in television as a sports anchor. I saw the industry was heading toward the digital space, and social media was taking over. Traditional sports media needed to fulfill the needs of sports fans, younger media consumers, and our community. I knew social media would allow me to connect with people nationwide and expand my reach. I wanted to share my voice and make an impact which is very hard to do as a reporter under a big corporation. There were too many constraints, and I felt trapped by what stories I could and couldn’t tell and knew I had to take a leap of faith to make a difference in the world.

So I moved home with my parents, had no job, and started my first podcast. I got back onto social media and started building my brand and reaching out to anyone I could find who would take my call. It was difficult not to be taken seriously anymore as a journalist as I was alone and didn’t have a big news station to back me. I had a hard time accepting that I was now a business owner trying to build a brand and develop myself. I was starting over, and the biggest challenge was a huge chance I would fail and be unable to monetize on my own. I struggled to monetize initially as I was making myself the face of the brand, Bridget Case, the human being, not just Bridget Case, the journalist. I began to market my podcast and social media presence like it was more successful than it was. People believed in my confidence even when, many days, I was faking it.

Nevertheless, I knew I deserved a seat at the table and could play with the big boys. I barely made any money, but my confidence and belief in myself carried me. While I was making little to no money and living off my savings, there was a little voice inside me telling me I would make it. This translated into developing multiple projects, including Turbo Talk Live, a podcast featuring some of the best athletes in the world, advising several athletes, and leading to my journey as a full-time host and creator on Twitch.

I utilized TikTok as a place to exercise my journalism and tell stories and untimely bring them to my channel to experience sports content like they never had before. As a former college cheerleader at the University of Oregon and former NFL cheerleader for the San Diego Chargers, I felt a huge part of me was missing – the dancer and entertainer in me. I had lost a huge part of my identity when I threw my life into broadcast journalism and struggled with anxiety and depression, and I knew I had to make a change. I threw caution to the wind and began dancing on TikTok as a Sloth, hoping no one would know it was me. Before I knew it, it blew up, and I had accumulated an audience of nearly 2 Million fans. I also saw that many people on social media struggled with similar mental health issues, so I focused on becoming an advocate for mental health.

Today I provide a unique experience as I host traditional shows from my home studio or on the road, like at the Super Bowl this year co-hosting the “Battle of the Paddles” a table tennis tournament featuring NFL players. I focus my content on live NFL watch parties and have a place where every kind of sports fan is welcome. I provide a safe space for people to connect on Twitch, including several behind the scene streams, and will do anything to give my audience a good laugh. It’s a treat to entertain an engaged audience as Bridget and, as my alter ego, Only Sloths.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I struggled with my identity after retiring from NFL cheerleading and transitioning from traditional broadcasting into an independent career. Most of my friends told me I couldn’t make it and thought I should return to a “safer” job at a Network, but I knew I had a voice and wanted to change the world, and that couldn’t happen unless I put myself out there. It took me much longer to make a consistent income, but I continued. People laughed at me and thought I was having an early mid-life crisis. I stopped caring what anyone thought because I saw I was helping people feel less alone. My audience wanted someone more relatable and human, not just a talking head on TV. I have failed many times along this journey while trying to build my brand, but my community has connected with me even more in sharing those failures.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might need to become more familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
Specialize in: Content creation, sports, and entertainment.
Known for: My viral TikTok @OnlySloths
Most proud of: Doing what I love, share my mental health journey, entertain millions through dance, help others, and make a difference in the world! I am most passionate about raising money for mental health charities live on my Twitch channel.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Beacons.ai/bridgetcase and http://bridgetcase.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridgetcase_/ and https://www.instagram.com/onlysloths/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/bridgetcase_
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bridgetcase and https://youtube.com/@OnlySloths
• Other: http://twitch.tv/bridgetcase