Keyonna Monroe: The Filmmaker Who Turned Trauma Into a Mission | Battletested Part 2

In part 2 of this Battletested conversation, Tanya Acker sits down with filmmaker and advocate Keyonna Monroe to talk about how she turned deep personal trauma into a powerful mission-driven career. Keyonna shares the story behind her films, the abuse she survived, and how she found the courage to speak up instead of staying silent. They dig into what healing really looks like, how survivors can reclaim their stories, and why representation on screen matters for kids who’ve experienced violence or instability. Tanya and Keyonna also talk about building safe spaces in Hollywood, navigating the business side of film as a woman of color, and what it takes to keep going when the system feels stacked against you. If you care about justice, mental health, and using your voice to help others, this episode is for you. Watch part 2 now, and then share it with someone who needs to know they’re not alone. Timestamps (adjust these to your actual beats): 0:00 – Why Keyonna refuses to stay silent 6:15 – Turning childhood trauma into creative fuel 15:40 – What survivors need that the system doesn’t give 24:10 – Building a mission-driven film career 33:30 – Advice for anyone still living with their trauma Subscribe for more Battletested conversations with Tanya Acker on law, justice, resilience, and the people fighting to change the system.