Velasquez Media Podcast
Change the Reel
Proven Video Production Advice
Hosted by Monique Velasquez & Piper Kessler
What’s This Podcast About?
Real talk about video production, without the industry gatekeeping
Change the Reel is a video production podcast that pulls back the curtain twice a month on what it really takes to create powerful video content. No jargon, no gatekeeping, just honest conversations from a video production podcast built for people who need real answers.
Whether you’re a nonprofit suddenly tasked with video marketing, a founder who needs to understand video content strategy, or a communications director figuring out virtual event video production — we’ve got you.
What You’ll Learn
Practical video production tips for nonprofits and mission-driven brands
Demystifying the Process
- How to hire video production teams (and red flags to avoid)
- Real budgets and timeline expectations
- Why preparation is sexy (seriously)
- Technical concepts explained in human terms
Industry Insider Knowledge
- What actually happens on a video production set
- How to work with video professionals effectively
- Common mistakes that blow budgets and timelines
- Why representation behind the camera matters
Strategic Video Campaigns for Advocacy
- Creating video content for social change
- Maximizing impact with limited budgets
- Building community through video
- Measuring what actually matters
Meet the Hosts
Monique Velasquez
Co-Founder & Executive Producer
Brings 20+ years of hands-on production experience and a talent for explaining complex technical concepts without the condescension.
Piper Kessler
Co-Founder & Business Strategist
Offers the business perspective, asking the questions you’re thinking but might be afraid to ask.
Together, we’re creating the resource we wish existed when we started: honest, practical, and actually helpful.
Subscribe & Never Miss an Episode
New episodes drop twice monthly
Get notified when new episodes release, plus exclusive behind-the-scenes content and practical resources for your next video project.
Representation Starts Here- LGBTQ Minority and women identified business owners talk about how they have changed the real circumstance of life by Changing the REEL.
S4 E2 Measuring Video ROI Beyond the Like Count
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
Executive Producers: Monique Velasquez and Piper Kessler
Producer: Arielle Morten
Director/Editor: Simon Beery/Meredith Sause/Alyssa D’Avanzo
Copyright 2026 Monique & Piper
Mentioned in this episode:
REEL Accountability VIP Day
Special Rate until Sept 15.
Have a question?
We answer listener questions on-air. Wondering about video marketing for nonprofits? Confused about equipment? Need advice on your next production? Send us your questions and we might answer them on the show.
About Velasquez Media
We are storytellers, visionaries, and advocates for change. At Velasquez Media, we craft content that not only looks good but feels true, designed to help you show up with authenticity and confidence across every platform.
Let’s make something that matters and truly impacts your audience.
