Stay ConnectedThe Trial Lawyers College Podcast talks to leading attorneys, TLC board members, and faculty about the ideas and the issues that are affecting trial lawyers today.
The TLC podcast covers courtroom strategy, communicating with jurors, connecting with clients, methods that drive success, balancing healthy relationships with a busy practice and more.
Arizona trial lawyer Brian Snyder joins Ron Estefan to talk about what brought him to Trial Lawyers College and how programs like Courage to Ask and Trial Skills Foundation changed the way he prepares cases, connects with clients, and tells their stories in the courtroom. Brian shares how learning to become more vulnerable helped him move beyond simply presenting facts and begin communicating the emotional truth of a case through opening statement, direct examination, and voir dire. He also reflects on why even experienced trial lawyers still have more to learn and why he keeps coming back to TLC because, in his words, "the work's not done."
Trial Lawyers College graduate Mart Harris joins Amanda Harber and Andy Delaney to explore how mastering procedure can level the playing field when lawyers take on governments, corporations, and other powerful opponents. From turning guilty verdicts into a mistrial through a careful jury poll to discovering the overlooked story that changed the course of a federal gun case, Mart shares how TLC tools like role reversal, silence, and discovering the story have transformed the way he practices and teaches law. Along the way, Mart and his law clerks Robert Gratzmiller and Jaidyn Spath offer a candid look at mentorship, learning through experience, and building a trial team that speaks the same language.
Civil rights attorney Dave Rankin joins Maren Chaloupka to discuss a career spent fighting for people whose stories are too often hidden behind prison walls. Through the case of Terry Cooper, a man whose death at Clinton Correctional Facility ultimately led to a $9.25 million verdict, Dave explores the challenge of uncovering the truth, confronting institutional indifference, and helping jurors see the humanity of people society has chosen to forget. As he prepares for the upcoming Trial Lawyers College event, Dave shares what continues to drive his work and why learning to tell these complicated human stories with greater intention can be another powerful tool in the fight for justice.
Medical malpractice attorney and Trial Lawyers College graduate Geoff Pope joins Maren Chaloupka to explore how his journey from defending doctors to representing injured patients transformed his approach to trial law. Geoff shares how TLC taught him to move beyond simply mastering the medicine and instead connect with clients, trust jurors, and uncover the emotional truth at the heart of a case. Through stories from his practice, he explains why authenticity, humility, and genuine human connection can be some of a trial lawyer's most powerful tools.
Maren Chaloupka sits down with Trial Lawyers College alum Chris Madeksho to discuss his work representing people diagnosed with mesothelioma after asbestos exposure that often occurred decades earlier. Chris shares how TLC methods like role reversal, scene setting, and deep listening help him uncover the story behind the exposure, connect with clients and witnesses, and present complex cases to juries in a more human and meaningful way.
Maren Chaloupka sits down with longtime Trial Lawyers College faculty member and past president John Sloan to discuss the unique challenges of representing clients who have suffered catastrophic injuries. John shares lessons from decades of trial experience, including the importance of before-and-after witnesses, listening, role reversal, and understanding how an injury has changed not only a client's abilities, but their entire life. They also discuss how TLC methods help lawyers connect more deeply with their clients and communicate those losses authentically to a jury. The conversation concludes with a preview of TLC's 2027 catastrophic injury seminar, which will focus on developing powerful opening statements in these difficult cases.
Monica Hartsock joins Andrew Delaney and Amanda Harbour for a candid conversation about consumer protection litigation, building a successful solo practice, and the unexpected value of finding a community of trial lawyers. From fighting financial institutions and corporate misconduct to preparing witnesses through psychodrama and storytelling, Monica shares how Trial Lawyers College reshaped not only her trial skills but also the way she collaborates with other lawyers.
In this episode of the Trial Lawyers College Podcast, Brady Skinner III sits down with legendary trial lawyer and longtime TLC faculty member Eric Davis for an honest conversation about race, justice, and the realities of practicing law in America. Together, they examine how racial bias can shape the criminal legal system, the unique experiences of Black trial lawyers, and the responsibility of advocates to confront prejudice while remaining steadfast in the defense of every client's constitutional rights. Eric shares powerful stories from his decades in the courtroom, discusses navigating difficult judges and juries, and explains how the Trial Lawyers College transformed his approach to storytelling, voir dire, cross-examination, and authentic advocacy.
In this episode of the Trial Lawyers College Podcast, Amanda Harber and Andy Delaney welcome Harris County Public Defender and 2025 TLC graduate Reshae Ridley to share her experience at the College's Three-Week program at Camp Dawson. Shay reflects on her path from military service and public service to criminal defense, why she believes psychodrama is the foundation for authentic advocacy, and how vulnerability transformed both her approach to clients and her courtroom skills. She also discusses the lifelong friendships formed through TLC, the value of continued learning, and why she believes the College is one of the best investments an attorney, or a supervisor, can make. Whether you're considering attending the Three-Week program or simply want to hear how human connection can elevate trial advocacy, this conversation offers an inspiring look at the heart of the Trial Lawyers College experience.
In this deeply reflective episode of the Trial Lawyers College Podcast, Maren Chaloupka sits down with longtime TLC graduate, trial lawyer, author, and teacher Robin Zephier. Robin shares the family stories, Indigenous traditions, and spiritual teachings that shaped his life, from the oral histories passed down by his grandmother to the legacy of his great-grandfather, Mato Niampi ("Saved by Bear"). Together, they explore how those lessons have influenced Robin's work as a trial lawyer, his commitment to serving others, and the profound impact of Trial Lawyers College on his understanding of storytelling, psychodrama, and human connection. The conversation also introduces Robin's moving new poem, Riding the Silent Pony, written for the College's Walk in Silence tradition: a meditation on self-discovery, listening, and reconnecting with the person waiting within. This episode is an invitation to slow down, honor the stories that came before us, and remember that the most important journey is often the one inward.
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