We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chris Harrell a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Chris, appreciate you joining us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?
I came up with the name of my company, Kulture Kitch’n, when I decided to become a content creator on Youtube. At first I was going to use my name but then I thought that would be too boring, and I wanted something more eye-catching. I also wanted my company name to have some sort of cultural reference, since I enjoy food from many different cultures. This was also around the same time I started my plant-based/vegan journey. Veganizing popular dishes from different cultures around the world under one brand is the inspiration behind Kulture Kitch’n.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Sure, my name is Chris, but many people on Youtube and IG know me as datplantbasedbrotha. I’m 39 and a father of 3. I’ve been vegan/plant-based since 2019. I got into content creation by accident. When I first started my plant-based/vegan journey in 2019, I was recording myself cooking, taking pictures of my food and posting them on facebook. At first it was for fun and then I noticed a lot of people started to take interest in my food post. From there, I created my Youtube channel Kulture Kitch’n. I started posting recipe videos on Youtube so people can try my vegan version of some of my favorite food. It all started off as a hobby. Once I received my first 1,000 subscribers on Youtube, I knew I was onto something great. Before instagram had reels, posting pictures is what was getting content creators noticed. I started an IG page and I would post all my vegan food. My following started to take off somewhat. Eventually I was contacted by PETA to post some of my content on their platform. From that moment, my following increased exponentially. I was also contacted other well known vegan platforms for collaborations. As I continued to post my content, more opportunities came. Recently I’ve been featured in Slutty Vegan’s new cookbook that was just recently released. Right now, I don’t have any products but I am currently working on releasing my own cookbook, merchandise, and possibly other services. It’s a humbling feeling to know that I’ve helped many people with my content. I think the biggest takeaway for most people who come across my page is that you can still enjoy some of your favorite foods eating on a plant-based/vegan protocol. A lot of people struggle with transitioning, and after people talk to me or watch my videos, they are more confident in living this lifestyle. I think this is what sets me apart from many other content creators in this vegan space. I consider myself “The Vegan People’s Champ” because I don’t let social media fame get to my head. I’m extremely approachable on social media and I speak to everyone! I think a lot of people also love my sense of humor too. Putting a smile on people’s faces and also making them drool from looking at my food pics and videos is one of my many talents LOL!
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
So it’s funny how I built my audience on social media. Honestly, I still don’t know how I grew my accounts to where they are now. I’m still in shock sometimes. The one thing I can say is stay consistent with posting. Not only posting but paying attention to the algorithm. For example, on IG, when I first started, hashtags and eye captivating pictures was how the algorithm would push your content. Then they came out with IG TV and eventually IG Reels. So the best advice I can give someone who wants to grow their channel or page is to pay close attention to the trends. Hop on the viral trends and find a way to blend your niche into whatever the viral trend is. Using trending sounds currently works as well. Regardless of your niche, you have to pay close attention to the algorithm because it’s constantly changing and evolving. If you have a budget, you can also post ads to promote your page and that will help with your reach as well.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
I think the creativity that goes into the dishes I come up with and post. Just thinking outside the box. Making the impossible possible when it comes to veganizing food. I think my authenticity plays a big role in how I built my reputation as well. Who I am on the camera and who I am off the camera is basically the same person.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datplantbasedbrotha/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KultureKitchn
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KultureKitchn
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kulturekitchn