Change the Reel

S4 E7 The Shield Comes Off

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Why does our studio exist? Because who's in the room decides who gets to tell the story, and who has to wear a shield to get through the day. Monique and Piper share the real origin story behind Velasquez Media: a Spanish-language video the state wouldn't fund, sets where Piper was the only queer person or the only woman, and the client shoots that showed them exactly who they're here to serve.

Then they take on 2026: companies walking back DEI, what new research from UC Berkeley and As You Sow says about that choice, and why the Callaway ad and Target's Halloween costume both trace back to the same missing voices.

For mission-driven founders, women-identified, LGBTQ, and BIPOC leaders who want to show up fully themselves on camera.

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CHANGE THE REEL with Piper and Monique

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Executive Producers: Monique Velasquez and Piper Kessler

Producer: Arielle Morten

Director/Editor: Simon Beery/Meredith Sause

Copyright 2026 Monique & Piper

0:00 Counting the Brown faces

1:41 Representation behind the camera

2:37 The Spanish video the state wouldn't fund

4:26 The shield: being the only one on set

6:00 "You can almost feel the exhale"

8:01 Choosing who we say yes to

10:38 Hello Seven and the client we asked for

12:22 Chef Carla Hall and Taste of Tennis

15:22 This isn't just our story anymore

17:02 Why companies are walking back DEI

19:05 What the numbers actually say

21:45 CFO brain: boards, risk, and political comfort

22:41 Avoiding controversy vs. avoiding accountability

24:49 The cost that won't show up in a stat

26:24 Fair-weather support vs. real support

28:09 Who's in the room: the Callaway ad

32:51 Who's in the room: the Target costume

34:25 Missing perspective, not missing process

36:22 Back to the shield: why we exist

37:17 R.E.E.L. Accountability and VIP Day

S4 E6 Choosing Power Over Force

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You can't have a happy ending to an unhappy journey. Coach Christine Meyer has worked with CEOs, founders, VCs and athletes for more than two decades, and she joins Monique and Piper to talk about trading force for power. Why your emotions are indicators, not truths. Why burnout isn't always about doing too much. And the three simple principles behind her book, Keep It Simple, Smarty Pants.

1. 00:01:18 Monique introduces Christine Meyer
2. 00:03:05 The flowers question: her father's entrepreneurial influence
3. 00:04:49 The heart of her business: alignment, and coaching the whole being
4. 00:08:17 "My work is not about force, it's about power"
5. 00:14:28 Why the soul matters, and emotions as indicators, not truths
6. 00:16:12 Freedom is found in choosing the perspective that makes you feel better
7. 00:20:58 Reframing burnout as energetic, not just overextension
8. 00:22:50 Picking platforms she can sustain
9. 00:25:43 The North Carolina to Pennsylvania road trip: what doubt does to momentum
10. 00:32:01 The three principles behind Keep It Simple, Smarty Pants
11. 00:33:22 Who should be working with Christine

CHANGE THE REEL with Piper and Monique

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Executive Producers: Monique Velasquez and Piper Kessler

Producer: Arielle Morten

Director/Editor: Simon Beery/Meredith Sause

Copyright 2026 Monique & Piper

Mentioned in this episode:

Velasquez Media

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S4 E5 Humanizing the Algorithm

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Executive Producers: Monique Velasquez and Piper Kessler

Producer: Arielle Morten

Director/Editor: Simon Beery/Meredith Sause

Copyright 2026 Monique & Piper

S4 E4 Money as a Tool, Not an Emotion

• Cash Kiki
• Bookkeeping Bistro

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Money doesn't have feelings. You do. This week, Monique and Piper sit down with Cathy Mallers, a fractional CFO and founder of Bookkeeping Bistro, to talk about what she calls a "money story," the beliefs about money that quietly run your pricing, your saving, and your growth long after you've built a real business. They cover the 2026 tax changes worth knowing about, why AI still needs a human who understands nuance, and why charging your full value without apologizing changes who shows up as a client. Representation starts here.

CHANGE THE REEL with Piper and Monique

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Executive Producers: Monique Velasquez and Piper Kessler

Producer: Arielle Morten

Director/Editor: Simon Beery/Meredith Sause

Copyright 2026 Monique & Piper

S4 E3 How to Look Confident on Camera When You Don't Feel Confident

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You've told yourself for a year, maybe longer, that you're not camera-ready. Monique and Piper are calling that what it actually is: not a confidence problem, an information problem. This episode walks through the five things that happen on a Velasquez Media set, from direction to the final edit, so you know exactly what's coming before you ever sit down. Plus, the quick assessment that reveals your natural on-camera communication style. No confidence required.

CHANGE THE REEL with Piper and Monique

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Executive Producers: Monique Velasquez and Piper Kessler

Producer: Arielle Morten

Director/Editor: Simon Beery/Meredith Sause

Copyright 2026 Monique & Piper

S4 E2 Measuring Video ROI Beyond the Like Count

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3,000 likes, 40 comments, and your best friend called it "obsessed." Did it make you a single dollar? Monique and Piper set aside whether a video was good and get into whether it worked, breaking down the three numbers, source, movement, and dollars, that actually prove a video's ROI, and why almost nobody in the industry is tracking the one number that matters most.

• 00:54 — The hook: did your last video make you a dollar?
• 01:45 — What leaders actually want when they say "ROI"
• 02:50 — The industry data on what marketers track, and where sales lands
• 04:04 — The roller-skate video: a fun, viral, untraceable win
• 05:20 — A million views, an Amazon Prime pickup, and no budget behind it
• 06:50 — Breaking down the three numbers: source, movement, dollars
• 08:41 — "You have a guess dressed up as data"
• 09:16 — The measurement gap: 82% confident, 32% proven
• 12:28 — The framework: every content day maps to a plan and a milestone

CHANGE THE REEL with Piper and Monique

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Executive Producers: Monique Velasquez and Piper Kessler

Producer: Arielle Morten

Director/Editor: Simon Beery/Meredith Sause

Copyright 2026 Monique & Piper

Mentioned in this episode:

REEL Accountability VIP Day

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S4 E1 Why Advocacy-Centered Brands Actually Build Trust

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CHANGE THE REEL with Piper and Monique

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Executive Producers: Monique Velasquez and Piper Kessler

Producer: Arielle Morten

Director/Editor: Simon Beery/Meredith Sause

Copyright 2026 Monique & Piper

S3 E10 Curiosity Over Certainty: Leading Through Divided Times Danielle Marshall S3E10

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Episode 10: Danielle Marshall on Why Curiosity Matters More Than Ever

Danielle Marshall, equity strategist, executive coach, and host of Unpacked Culture Chronicles, joins Monique Velasquez and Piper Kessler to discuss the hardest conversation happening in workplaces right now: how to stay curious when everything feels polarized. With 25+ years in the nonprofit sector and deep expertise in culture change, Danielle breaks down why certainty is the enemy of progress, when NOT to bridge divides, and how authentic media can help leaders tell humane stories.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

• Why curiosity has become a radical act in divided times • The power of the pause and why leaders say "I don't have time" for it • How to distinguish between transactional and transformational relationships • Why "certainty" is the biggest obstacle to understanding across differences • When bridging divides is actually harmful (and what to do instead) • How to tell stories of struggle without exploiting communities ("trauma porn") • Why her podcast evolved from audio-only to video as a culture work tool • Real examples of culture divides in organizations (upstairs/downstairs, political ideologies) • The aha moment that changed how she thinks about polarization

00:00:04 - Cold open: "This work has never been more difficult"

00:03:00 - Full guest intro: Danielle Marshall's 25-year equity and nonprofit background

00:05:51 - Foundation philosophy: "Stay curious" (the sign on her wall)

00:08:39 - Two threads: curiosity + the power of pause; why leaders resist pausing

00:11:50 - Business model: equity/organizational development + executive coaching

00:22:07 - Podcast genesis: clients wanted conversations but didn't know how to start

00:23:48 - Core insight: "The biggest enemy of curiosity is certainty"

00:26:37 - Aha moment: transactional vs. transformational relationships

00:31:02 - Podcast evolution: moving from audio-only to video to capture authenticity

00:37:56 - The polarization conversation: when bridging divides crosses into harm

Danielle articulates the central challenge of 2026: we're living in a time when curiosity feels impossible, yet it's more necessary than ever.

The obstacle? Certainty. When we assume we already know what someone thinks, believes, or wants, there's no room for dialogue. No space for growth.

But here's the nuance: Danielle doesn't advocate for curiosity in all situations. Some divides—around fundamental human rights, safety, identity—aren't meant to be "bridged." Instead, she reframes the work: pick the divides where curiosity is safe, start there, and build the muscle for harder conversations later.

Making It Work: Three Takeaways

1. Pause Before You Act

Leaders are drowning in "doing." The pause isn't a luxury—it's a business strategy. Ask yourself: Where are we coming from? Where are we today? What do we want next?

2. Check Your Agenda

Danielle's coaching doesn't tell people what to think. It gets them to think. That distinction matters. Your job isn't to convince—it's to create space for reflection.

3. Tell Humane Stories, Not "Trauma Porn."

When communicating about communities, organizations, or struggles, don't exploit pain to justify need. Tell the full picture. People dealing with hardship often have dignity, strategies, and strength. Represent that.

Why This Matters Now

Leadership burnout is real. Cultural divides are widening. But Danielle's evidence is clear: organizations with leaders who stay curious, who pause to reflect, and who build transformational (not transactional) relationships outperform those that don't.

This isn't soft skills talk. This is business infrastructure.

Danielle's Media Journey

Danielle started Unpacked Culture Chronicles as audio-only because she was camera-shy. Her face gives away what she's thinking—and she worried that wouldn't work on camera.

Then she realized that authenticity IS the work. Viewers need to see her reactions, her "aha" moments, her humanity. So she moved to video. Now her team pushes her to capture more content—workshops, stages, conversations—because modeling curiosity in real time is part of her teaching.

It's representation. It's proof that culture work happens in the messy, human moments.

Website: www.culture-principals.com

LinkedIn: Danielle Marshall (active)

Danielle works with organizations on culture change and equity, and coaches leaders navigating polarization, organizational divides, and the hard work of staying human in difficult times.

velasquezmedia.com | [email protected]

#CultureWork #Curiosity #EquityWork #LeadershipDevelopment #InclusiveLeadership #OrganizationalChange #Polarization #DEI #AuthenticLeadership #Coaching #NonprofitLeadership #ChangeTheReel #RepresentationMatters

CHANGE THE REEL with Piper and Monique

LinkedIn:

Apple Podcast:

Spotify

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Executive Producers: Monique Velasquez and Piper Kessler

Producer: Arielle Morten

Director/Editor: Simon Beery/Meredith Sause

Copyright 2026 Monique & Piper

S3 E9 Video-Based Onboarding: Stop Losing New Hires in 45 Days

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CHANGE THE REEL with Piper and Monique

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Executive Producers: Monique Velasquez and Piper Kessler

Producer: Arielle Morten

Director/Editor: Simon Beery/Meredith Sause

Copyright 2026 Monique & Piper

S3 E8 Beyond Pronouns: Creating Truly LGBTQIA+ Celebratory Spaces

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Episode 8: Dr. Brittany Bate on Creating LGBTQIA+ Celebratory Spaces

Dr. Brittany Bate, licensed psychologist and founder of Be Bold Psychology and Consulting, joins Monique Velasquez and Piper Kessler to talk about what it means to go beyond "affirming" to truly LGBTQIA+ celebratory mental health spaces—and why unconscious bias training matters more than memorizing pronouns.

Dr. Bate is a queer cisgender woman, ADHD'er, and founder of two mission-driven businesses: Be Bold Psychology (LGBTQIA+ celebratory, neuro-affirming mental health practice offering therapy across 43 states) and Bold Practice Builders (supporting LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent wellness entrepreneurs).

In This Episode You'll Learn:

• Why "affirming" should be the default—and what it means to be truly celebratory • The moment a trans teen client taught Dr. Bate why "you guys" can cause unintentional harm • How unconscious bias and socialization shape language without us realizing it • Why Dr. Bate built a practice with no dress code (dress codes are rooted in white supremacy culture) • The power of showing up authentically on video—why clients choose therapists based on accents, body language, and how fast they talk • How being the "token queer person" led Dr. Bate to create her own affirming space • Why representation matters: hiring trans and gender-diverse clinicians for trans clients • The small language choices that lead to staff turnover because people don't feel seen • What's coming in 2026: "Not Your Mom's LGBTQIA+ Training" on unconscious bias

00:05 - Training philosophy: Beyond pronouns to unconscious bias

05:24 - From forensic psychology to creating queer-celebratory mental health

08:46 - Being the "token queer person" and building her own space

13:00 - Training that goes beyond pronouns: Unconscious bias and unintentional harm

14:27 - The "you guys" moment: Trans teen teaches about language and safety

16:32 - Breaking habits: Why language matters for inclusivity

22:19 - No dress code policy: Authenticity over white supremacy culture

26:12 - Power of video: Clients choose based on accents, body language, speech speed

30:34 - 2026: "Not Your Mom's LGBTQIA+ Training" keynote and wellness summit

The "You Guys" Moment:

Six years ago, Dr. Bate was leading a group for teens exploring gender identity. She said, "What do you guys think?"—a Midwestern colloquialism.

A trans female teen responded: "Hey, Dr. Bate, I noticed my reaction to you saying 'you guys.' I know you didn't mean it this way, but I want to tell you how it landed for me."

Dr. Bate realized: "I didn't know what I didn't know. I realized that I was unintentionally harming. This was just the first person who shared it with me."

"The smallest pieces of language matter for safety and inclusivity. There are changes we can make to make it feel better for others."

Beyond Affirming to Celebratory:

"Affirming should be the default. Everyone should be affirming. But I think it's another step to truly be celebratory."

Dr. Bate built Be Bold Psychology to be LGBTQIA+ celebratory from the website through intake, paperwork, the administrative team, and every clinician.

Training Philosophy:

"My trainings very intentionally go beyond pronouns and terms, which are super important. But I'm very into unconscious bias and the way we are socialized. I believe deeply that a lot of people make mistakes and might hurt someone completely unintentionally. They don't know what they don't know, including myself."

Why Video Matters:

Clients who reached out after seeing Dr. Bate's Psychology Today video mentioned:

"I could tell from your body language you're someone I feel comfortable talking to."

"You have an accent and aren't from around here. It resonated with me because neither am I."

"You talk kind of fast. Me too. I think we'd work well together."

"These are things they wouldn't have gleaned from reading my bio. They felt a connection from seeing the video."

Key Takeaway:

"Authenticity matters and people resonate with authenticity. I don't want to show up as someone I'm not and attract a client attracted to that not version of me. It's not going to be good work."

Work with Dr. Brittany Bate:

Be Bold Psychology: BeBoldPsychNC.com

Bold Practice Builders: BoldPracticeBuilders.com

Work with Velasquez Media:

velasquezmedia.com

[email protected]

#LGBTQIAMentalHealth #UnconsciousBias #InclusiveLeadership #QueerAffirming #MentalHealthMatters #AuthenticityInBusiness #DEITraining #RepresentationMatters #ChangeTheReel #NeurodivergentSupport

CHANGE THE REEL with Piper and Monique

LinkedIn:

Apple Podcast:

Spotify

Youtube

Executive Producers: Monique Velasquez and Piper Kessler

Producer: Arielle Morten

Director/Editor: Simon Beery/Meredith Sause

Copyright 2026 Monique & Piper