S3 E1 Why Video Quality Actually Matters

Change the Reel website

Over 50% of YouTube watch time now happens on TV screens—which means that selfie video you shot in your car is being displayed on a 55-inch monitor in someone's living room. And the algorithm knows it.

In this episode of Change the Reel, Monique Velasquez and Piper Kessler break down why video quality has become a barrier to entry in 2025, what "high quality" actually means (hint: it's not about expensive cameras), and what you can do about it—even if you're DIYing on a budget.

What You'll Learn:

1. Why the algorithm is actively burying low-quality content
2. How 62% of customers lose interest in brands after watching poor-quality videos
3. The 4 pillars of high-quality video (resolution, audio, lighting, editing)
4. Why "I can fix it in post" is the biggest lie in video production
5. Practical upgrades you can make for under $300
6. When it's time to bring in professionals vs. DIY

Key Stats Covered: • 50%+ of YouTube watch time happens on TV screens • 62% of customers write off brands after watching low-quality videos (HubSpot) • 73% say video quality impacts brand perception (Brightcove) • 62% higher engagement for professional-quality videos (Wistia) • Viewers drop off 60% faster on low-quality content (YouTube)

[00:00] Cold Open: The algorithm is burying your car videos

[00:36] Introduction to Change the Reel podcast

[01:27] The audio frustration that drives viewers away

[03:12] Why video quality actually matters

[04:03] Defining "high quality video" (not Mr. Beast budgets)

[05:18] Video resolution & compression explained

[06:33] Why audio matters more than video quality

[07:12] USC study: Bad audio exhausts your brain

[08:00] Consistent volume levels & proximity explained

[09:03] Lighting: Kitchen vs. professional look

[09:48] Editing: Where DIY content falls apart

[11:21] The bar for "good quality" video

[11:51] Why this matters NOW more than before

[12:00] 50%+ of YouTube watch time is on TV screens

[13:12] Your car video on a 55-inch screen

[14:09] YouTube prioritizing high-resolution content

[15:33] Wistia stat: 62% higher engagement

[16:42] THE CLIP: "The algorithm is burying your car videos"

[18:06] What low-quality video costs your business

[18:09] HubSpot: 62% of customers write you off

[18:33] Brightcove: 73% judge brands on video quality

[19:00] Multi-million dollar companies with bad audio

[19:36] Why Spanish versions deserve quality too

[20:57] YouTube data: 60% faster drop-off rate

[21:45] Myth #1: People only care about content, not quality

[22:51] Myth #2: My phone is good enough

[24:09] Myth #3: I can fix it in post (biggest lie)

[25:00] Myth #4: Professional video is too expensive

[26:15]...

S2E 11 We are going on Hiatus but before we do

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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

E2 E10 Live Streaming Costs Explained: What You Actually Need to Budget

Join hosts Monique Velasquez and Piper Kessler as they break down exactly what it costs to run professional live streams for your business—from bandwidth to tech support, and everything in between.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

1. What live streaming actually is (and why it's different from posting a selfie video)
2. The business scenarios that benefit most from live streaming events
3. Why 80% of people prefer watching a brand's live stream over reading their blog
4. The four budget categories you MUST plan for (most people forget #4)
5. How to calculate if live streaming makes sense for YOUR business goals
6. DIY approaches that work (and the shortcuts that backfire)
7. The technical glitches that make you look unprofessional—and how to avoid them
8. Why 50% of viewers leave in 90 seconds if your stream quality is low

Key Timestamps:

1. 00:00 - What is live streaming and why it matters for business
2. 01:42 - Business scenarios that benefit from live events
3. 04:22 - Platforms explained: YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, Zoom
4. 06:36 - YouTube is now competing with Netflix on big screens
5. 07:20 - Types of live stream events: meetings, conferences, Q&As, webinars, demos
6. 11:10 - The stats: 82% prefer live streams over social media posts
7. 12:11 - Compelling live streaming statistics for businesses
8. 14:00 - Twitch personalities are making REAL money (not just YouTubers)
9. 14:38 - The live streaming market will hit $223.98 BILLION by 2028
10. 19:11 - The four budget categories you need to plan for
11. 22:21 - Why 43% of live stream viewers buy premium products
12. 22:50 - Budget Breakdown #1: Bandwidth & internet costs ($30+/month)
13. 23:25 - Budget Breakdown #2: Streaming platform fees (Free - $30/month)
14. 24:29 - Budget Breakdown #3: Equipment & production costs (The wild card)
15. 26:23 - Budget Breakdown #4: Tech support during the event (Most people forget this!)
16. 27:30 - The 90-second rule: Why...