I was the world's first Youtube star: Brooke Brodack

Brooke Brodack was once the most subscribed KZbinr in the world but suddenly deleted her channel and disappeared from all social media.
It was 2005 and KZbin was still a new website. Then a 19 year old girl from Holden, Massachusetts, created a channel called 'Brookers' where she uploaded videos of herself hanging around the house, doing funny sketches, and just being creative.
Her channel took off and gained over 60,000 subscribers, at one point being the most-subscribed channel on KZbin. She was offered a gig by NBC and moved to Hollywood... But then deleted her channel, and all social media, and moved to India.
Follow Brooke's new channel here:
/ aurovlog
Listen to the Colm Flynn Podcast on Itunes:
podcasts.apple.com/sb/podcast...
On Spotify:
open.spotify.com/show/69v7Hcx...
On Google Podcast:
podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0...

[@jordanuky]

She deleted a small piece of my childhood when she removed her channel, but I wish her all the best. She's responsible for so many fond memories I have back in those days when KZbin was still in its fledgling state, so I could never resent her for that decision.

[@VOLCAL]

IT SOUNDS LIKE SHE JOINED A CULT...

[@MK_1Ultra]

Lol it was a part of her childhood too

[@nikhillakhera7134]

She sacrificed her material life for the higher purpose.

[@sngs9565]

Yes...indeed you are...World 1st Celeberity KZbinr!!!😊

[@pwkn86]

i really wish she kept her old videos up. much nostalgia

[@jimmyjam209]

and funny!

[@pwkn86]

@@jimmyjam209 esp the chips video I loved that one.

[@tattooyu]

The first YoutTube video I can remember ever watching and loving was her "Paste" video.

[@Fuego09]

My mama says "don't eat paste" but I eat paste anyway...

[@FanchBreizh]

Thank you so much for this interview to you both

[@trashmammal5757]

I almost cried just seeing the clips I haven't seen in almost 17 years

[@BrookeABrodack]

Very nice great

[@trashmammal5757]

@@BrookeABrodack you're still great to us. "TURBO!"

[@pjharg66]

Numa came on the radio on my way to work and I was blasting it going down the road doing my best Brookers imitation. 😂 Other drivers seeing big 60 yo man doing this 😮 priceless. Thanks Brooke! You still inspire 🤙

[@elliesenko5173]

Me and my friends enjoyed her videos so much back in 2005, she was the funniest thing! Harry Potter, United states of whatever, The news, where you eat Mahi Mahi and DIE... And then she made the video about finding your home... It hit me hard. I would love to see it one more time. Sigh. I love to see her now, thank you! She looks so chill, I'm happy for her 💙 I think about how much I changed since 2005. Everything changes :) Oh my.

[@jacksonmich]

I watch your videos when I put KZbin's first flying chicken video up 16 years ago. Scrippy the flying chicken and ine with music called the flying wonder chicken. Time flies. Numa.

[@kudjo24]

KZbin Queen forever and always, back when it was purely about "Broadcast Yourself" and not whatever money Google wanted to make.

[@DjClarky78]

I used to watch her channel back in 2006 I think. Always wondered what happened to her. Interesting to hear her tell her story.

[@DawnViper]

I remember Brookers would always come hang out in my Stickam. She was super lovely, spoke so fondly of her sister and family.

[@chipperandbella3048]

I'm so proud to be your mom, Brooke!

[@alamdaaliartes]

I always knew what she was in the inside, I am a buddhist, also became a buddhist at the same time she was getting out of youtube.. Actually I just stopped watching her videos because I had already understood her message... It was so obvious.. people are so blind in their screens and subscriptions.. OBVIOUSLY she was mocking hollywood, she was MOCKING YOU for liking that stuff... But STILL TO THIS DAY, people want the "internet brookers" back.. so nonsensical, so BLIND... It scares me.

[@endezeichengrimm]

What?

[@Waltyworld]

@@alamdaaliartes hey I’m a buddist too 😊😊😊😊😊 nama buddah ( sorry if I didant say that right I’m a new convert

[@CaptCovfefe515]

Colm, this is a great interview. I wasn’t a fan of Brookers back in the day but I was on KZbin and remember her. I’m glad she’s doing well and has such a good retrospective look on her time making her old videos.

[@mrinvader]

i miss the old videos....

[@kenzieham]

God when I was 7 or 8 in 2007 I remember some of the earliest videos I watched were from Brooks. Specifically the paste one I would watch a lot. Thank you Brooks, I’m glad that I grew up with early KZbin where people were still just doing it for fun, not for fame or money.

[@laurathomas6416]

This video will be historical for You Tube. Thank you!!

[@fortunaastral]

I LOVED Bookers. So many hilarious videos, but I really loved her for showing that you don't have to be a victoria secret model type for people to love you. You can just be yourself. And during your teenage yrs that is a powerful message to receive. 💜

[@kironmoylahiri6092]

such a fun interview to watch. also knowing Brooke on a personal note is a very humble experience.

[@Elestucheperdido]

I love the way you document stories! All the broll and music is so good. I watched the boy your family wanted to adopt video and that was amazing. The way you explain things and rationalize.

[@Levienna]

He had it comming, he had it comming. He only had him self to blame🎶 Cell block tango. I loved it😁

[@alamdaaliartes]

blind.

[@bandmaidfanATL]

I remember some her videos vividly, Brooke and her sister at a restaurant, Harry Potter, and the one where she is making prank calls to gaming companies complaining about getting her owned by nubes. And Community Channel and TheHill88 as well. Ahhhh....those were the days.

[@Early-Vlogger-Archive]

I'm currently in the process of uploading my own archive to my channel--including the one with "her sister at a restaurant"! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zl7Cfn6QaN2grNE

[@Ultradude604]

I remember watching her "Everything Changes" video. Not sure if it's still around anymore. It was basically an announcement of her signing her deal with NBC. She was crying. And I got emotional too from watching it. Everything Carson Daly touches turns to dust. I didn't know what happen after that, or didn't even know about NBC's website. Yeah, take the girl off of the most visited and successful streaming site. And put her in a website that no one even knows about. Great idea!

[@Early-Vlogger-Archive]

I just uploaded a copy of "Everything Changes" to my channel!

[@BrookeABrodack]

@@Early-Vlogger-Archivewhoa

[@filmester]

Brooke was the best!

[@LynnRPerry]

Was she? You speak like she is gone. I enjoyed this grown up Brooke who is trying to figure out the real world and what that means to her as a woman, as a mom. A mom with a kid. That is real life. The kid jumping up and down on a “sugar high” was just a silly joke most of the time. All of us eventually grow up. “Was””.” Well, at least most of us do.

[@Ultradude604]

@@LynnRPerry Yeah, youtubers can grow up and evolved their content and became even more relevant. Pewdiepie is who i'm talking about. IJustine is another one.

[@LostboyUk]

I miss those early youtube days, she was great, glad she’s happy in life now. I think Brookers and maybe Daxflame were my favourites back in 2006/7.

[@greptheloot]

thanks for this interview, this brings back some great memories

[@suzannaj3834]

She’s so calm .. now

[@alamdaaliartes]

She is normal now. Sugar is a drug. Rethink your habits.

[@PopescuSorin]

amazing interview! thanks

[@djskype020202]

Thank you for this interview

[@AllenHanPR]

Man I havent logged onto this account in a long time, But I remember in 2005 I uploaded something and Brookers messaged me to do more videos, I wish I followed up with her advice lol.

[@jonnybegood9272]

Brookers Cell block tango , the most recommended KZbin video ever by KZbin

[@mickmichaels4245]

I so miss her Channel! I was watching her videos back in 2008. Mind the gap! People try to start a bunch of s*** with her about donations and stuff and it really pissed me off because I loved her channel so much. She got me into a lot of the music I was listening to back then like Steal My Sunshine.

[@KENKENNIFF]

I think Brooker is right, she touched on something deeper, her video's were not clowning around.

[@alamdaaliartes]

I always knew what she was in the inside, I am a buddhist, also became a buddhist at the same time she was getting out of youtube.. Actually I just stopped watching her videos because I had already understood her message... It was so obvious.. people are so blind in their screens and subscriptions.. OBVIOUSLY she was mocking hollywood, she was MOCKING YOU for liking that stuff... But STILL TO THIS DAY, people want the "internet brookers" back.. so nonsensical, so BLIND... It scares me.

[@swiMClub7]

You summed up the brand that made Brookers famous: Nonsensical & Fun. WHat Brooke is confronting since is the seriousness and scale of life, which zaps the youthful passions, and portrays them negatively as folly, or even waste. For a conscientious person who experiences such an epiphone, life will never again be the same. Authenticity is a demanding, all-consuming philosophy which sets us apart from our past pleasures and the almost insulting naivete they represent.

[@noonward]

i remember messaging her a couple times and she responded

[@Ultradude604]

Me too! She wrote back a long one! Like a long time ago

[@BrookeABrodack]

Responding to this too thanks for you comments!

[@ExclusiveLM]

FUN FACT: Brookers inspired Miranda Sings to do her character. Bet you did not know that !

[@LittleFakeGinger]

Colleen has said many many times she made Miranda as a satirical character making fun of people who thought they could sing, and made them for family and friends to watch. Nothing to do with brookers.

[@iVenge]

See, I got that deeper meaning immediately the first time I saw “Who’s in that Box”

[@captainslam]

Her, lonelygirl15 and thehil88 we’re a big part of a beautiful era of KZbin for me.

[@klementinajaklovic2468]

omg I used to watch her so much.. And then I forgot about her.. And now I finally found her again because of the movie coming out! :)

[@kevindibb6534]

wait what movie?

[@LordSesshaku]

Good interview. I remember her and always wondered what happened.

[@RltchieI]

Back in the day I was one of the admins on her online chat room & on a forum, I even found an old video from her youth that she couldn’t find & sent it to her on good old AIM. Because of Brooke I met some very nice people who I am still friends with to this day. Funny to think at that time KZbin was more about people creating & now it’s all about corporate crap & reaction videos. Back when MySpace was king & Facebook was in its infancy with limit numbers being able to sign up, I had to be given a US college email address to sign up back then. If I recall I had to be invited to be able to join Gmail too. I still have videos about from that time and get comments about why it’s not longer by people who didn’t know there was once a limit on the length of videos. This is also why they are 320p quality, that was good back then ;) It was also a time when twitter was at its peak for me, no celebrities, no brands & no politicians, ah bliss. I wish Brooke well for the future & thank her for all the wonderful people that came into my life because of her, thank you.

[@aaronmichaels807]

Interesting Colm, the second hald that is, she sought something deeper in life, meaning instead of fame...

[@JohnGalt916]

She had my heart

[@ckradio]

Who's in that box was my favorite, remember when someone stole your bike and everyone sent you money to get a new one! Paypal got flooded!

[@linkwizard1]

Thank you for the video

[@LynnRPerry]

Colm, keep plugging, you are getting a good rhythm. More content so people build a habit.

[@WeTheNorth514]

Brookers is one of the OG’s!

[@Ultradude604]

It wasn't a few years of absence from KZbin. She disappeared for like 13 years. She was the best, the funniest back in 2005 to 2007. And then she disappeared and got really weird when she came back. Just my opinion. I would love to see the complete library of "Brookers" videos. Sadly, I don't think it exists anymore. We can talk about how good and how funny was, but it's really best to experience it through watching her videos.

[@herrbukanero]

Im happy to saw her back, she inspírate me yeiiiiiiii

[@yuumetal2363]

if she didnt stop, she was billionaire by now.

[@zacharypisut764]

So, she said Dragostea Din Tei was the band…it was actually the name of the song. The band was called O-Zone, from The Republic Of Moldova. Furthermore, she used a cover version by Haiducii in the video.

[@HARVEYFERGIE]

many thanx zach, I've spent the a long, long time trying to find the exact song the she used,... thats me straight on to ebay for a cd single.

[@zacharypisut764]

@@HARVEYFERGIE discogs has it, the specific version is the gabry ponte vs haiducii remix

[@adourr]

Brooke created the internet

[@itubeutubewealltube1]

nice she brought up boheim and thehill88..

[@saintsaens21]

For the old timers, the legendary Winekone still randomly uploads some hot weirdness.

[@BrookeABrodack]

Ya

[@Stefanogam]

My dear, dear friend Brooke, 🖖🙂I loved you yesterday. I love you still. I always have, always will ❤ All good wishes from Italy💚🤍❤

[@rockydale]

Christmas has never been the same

[@harukrentz435]

Well i didnt get much internet connection in my country at that time (internet cafe was the only way to connect to the internet) so i didnt really know her. Sad that she erased her channel as it was not only her history but the history of YT aswell.

[@BrookeABrodack]

This is true and such a good point. If you would have told me this I would have reconsidered deleting the channel. Thank you for your perspective 👍

[@ryancampbell8645]

"drinking tea with tons of sugar in it..." Thats one way to describe it i guess 😭

[@BrookeABrodack]

Love me a good Indian chai. ☕️ all the time namaste 🙏

[@rafblim]

MY BLOOdy SCAH!

[@Gaelron]

"Does that thing have a Hemi? No, Turbo"

[@annunakkk1]

KZbin and Google video were one and the same back then. Remember "girl punch" where the mom punches a lady in the face? And "Chris, you knocked him out dude". I remember watching a DefCon video that had Brookers in it. I wondered who in the fuck this girl was at DefCon. She doesn't fit in there. So I asked, and was directed to a youtube channel.

[@BrookeABrodack]

Wooo!

[@SirZar]

you could try a twitch account, you were always fun in video chat

[@rahulorratube]

Thanks

[@annunakkk1]

8:06 that's how it was. You were your own editor then. Now, there's all kinds of people wanting to edit other peoples content. Back then, you did it all on your own, most likely because you taught yourself how. That's why it was organic. Today, it feels like the ghost of what once was. Late 90's-early 2000's, it was just you. There weren't these huge channels being promoted by Alphabet algorithms. Look at your screen right now. You see 1 real person on one side, and a totally groomed studio personality on the other side. You see the difference even in the resolution of the 2 video feeds. KZbin used to have a motto, which was "Broadcast yourself" That's how it was meant to be, that was its purpose. It's just another mainstream platform now. You can't even speak freely anymore. It's been completely absorbed by the establishment media. It's just another ad medium now. It's so sad!~

[@rafblim]

Brookers is the epitome of amazingness

[@testprofile1840]

i think its safe to say she went through a hippy phase

[@BrookeABrodack]

Kind of I was definitely inspired by the community dynamics of auroville india. Hippies are dirty and really aimless. I studied a lot of building techniques and architecture while in @auroville India I love goa psytrance but that’s about as hippie as I get and I own one tie dyed shirt ✌️🙏💃

[@testprofile1840]

@@BrookeABrodack great ! I hope you acheive bliss

[@remysmith8743]

I Shared so many of her videos… I’m sorry. I always feel nervous about doing that to this day.

[@michaelocc-wx8nw]

any updates on banni

[@nw5256]

I had the biggest crush on her as a kid lol

[@rusty7104]

cool

[@MurderMostFowl]

She could get way way more subscribers if she promoted herself a little more

[@chaibudesh]

Is Brooke's current channel just "Brooke Brodack"? :)

[@BrookeABrodack]

Yes

[@endezeichengrimm]

She could have just left the videos up....

[@BrookeABrodack]

I said I needed to know how many subscribers I actually had to create a more organic following. This was before when KZbin was having a serious bug with bot account and deleted accounts misrepresenting the actual amount of subscribers that my account had. Artistically I was tired of relating to that phase of my career.

[@endezeichengrimm]

@@BrookeABrodackI see. If you re-uploaded some of the classic videos, I would watch them, for sure.

[@BrookeABrodack]

@@endezeichengrimm thank you 🇵🇸

[@verbmanager]

No. Caitlin from Australia was the first. Broilers fizzled out.

[@alamdaaliartes]

I always knew what she was in the inside, I am a buddhist, also became a buddhist at the same time she was getting out of youtube.. Actually I just stopped watching her videos because I had already understood her message... It was so obvious.. people are so blind in their screens and subscriptions.. OBVIOUSLY she was mocking hollywood, she was MOCKING YOU for liking that stuff... But STILL TO THIS DAY, people want the "internet brookers" back.. so nonsensical, so BLIND... It scares me.

[@Aimeeevps]

Never heard of her

[@lPHOENIXZEROl]

Shame about the cult.

[@wolfgar45]

When you have to destroy/ delete something beautiful that you made, you have had to be in a bad state, or under some evil influence. Don't hide it under the disguise of "spirituality" or "spiritual awakening". it was a bad idea and she did realize that. such a shame but I'm happy she's happy. Also a white celebrity moving to india and preaching spirituality is so played out imo.

[@breakinghands10]

Oh is it really, name some other celebrities who moved to India. Not just visited like the Beatles but actually moved there 🙄

[@BrookeABrodack]

Very few. Some people go and get lost in the himalaya they become yogis and they just live in the bare elements they are super humans.

[@BrookeABrodack]

Are you an artist? It was an artist choice to recycle my content.

[@uhavemooface]

Never heard of her.

[@OnurT]

She has a Wikipedia page, you should check it.

[@FreedomEternal]

Anyone who was active on KZbin in those early years knows who Brookers is. If you've never heard of her, then it means you weren't on KZbin in 2005-06.

[@Ultradude604]

and that's okay. Imagine a famous hollywood actress in the 1950s. Most people wouldn't be able to name more than one, Betty White.

[@ihatemyjob9502]

@@FreedomEternal honestly i was but i still did not know her i was watching a lot of nigha higa after school

[@FreedomEternal]

@@ihatemyjob9502 Niga Higa didn't get on KZbin until 2007 and by then, KZbin started becoming more popular. Brookers predates him by about two years. I'm talking 2005-06. This was when there was hardly anyone on KZbin, so Brookers' videos were always featured.

[@tonymalice]

So sad, she has a homeless person tan.

[@MurderMostFowl]

She’s just not wearing any makeup and in poor lighting … it’s all good

[@alamdaaliartes]

You are sad.

[@rachelstyxnhades2601]

What a weird fucking thing to say.. could have kept that in the drafts bud.

[@tonymalice]

@@rachelstyxnhades2601 Sorry pal I moved on long ago from that comment. Very late to the party.

[@okaminess]

I love it! She’s got a natural look. 😊