Hosted by Tamica Carty, Marketing Executive at VSI, this heartfelt conversation brings together two of our employees, based in London and Los Angeles, for a thought-provoking discussion. 

• Ben Gardner, Client Development for Europe (London) 
• Liam Coballes, Dubbing Producer (Los Angeles) 

Every June, we celebrate Pride, and this year, we wanted to go deeper in sharing our employee's voices to reflect, listen and learn from those whose lived experiences shape the celebration. Through honest dialogue and personal storytelling, Ben and Liam share what Pride means to them, how their journeys have evolved and why representation continues to matter in 2025 and beyond.

In addition to being a talented dubbing producer, Liam Coballes is an accomplished comic artist and writer whose creative work uplifts and explores trans and nonbinary identity. 

Liam contributed a 6-page bio-comic titled “Pierced” to the Eisner-nominated anthology The Out Side - a collection of works by 30 trans and nonbinary artists reflecting on gender identity. Liam’s comic explores personal themes of jewellery and gender expression, challenging perceptions of femininity and showcasing the fluidity of identity. This powerful anthology was recognised with a nomination for Best Anthology at the 2024 Eisner Awards and was featured at San Diego Comic-Con. 

Liam’s current project, Shifter’s Protocol, is an upcoming comic series featuring a trans-masc vigilante hero taking on a repressive clan intent on reshaping the world through control disguised as equality. 

 
Created in collaboration with Diwata Komiks, this series blends superhero storytelling with cultural and personal themes rooted in Filipino heritage. Preview pages will debut at SDCC, alongside a mission to amplify underrepresented voices in comics. 

Follow Liam’s creative journey and upcoming releases: 
Instagram: @shifterkomiks 
Bluesky: @shifter-komiks.bsky.social