In this episode, we zoom out from pure vocal technique and dig into one of the most overlooked communication tools in the courtroom: your face. With 43 expressive muscles firing even when you're not speaking, your facial expressions reveal more than you think — especially to jurors who instinctively read micro-cues for safety, sincerity, and credibility.
You'll learn why your "resting face," thinking patterns, stress habits, and unintended microexpressions can either support your message or sabotage it — and how to intentionally build a neutral, open, trustworthy facial baseline that aligns with your storytelling and presence.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why jurors trust your face over your words — every single time
How genetics, aging, and habitual expressions shape your resting facial posture
What RBF really is (and why it matters in voir dire and trial)
How stress, tension, and "thinking face" create misleading microexpressions
Why your neutral expression is part of your credibility package
Simple daily exercises to train a more open, receptive, and aligned resting expression
How an "inner smile" softens your presence without faking anything
Ways your face, voice, and message can work together instead of contradicting one another
Key Takeaway
Your face communicates before your voice ever does — and jurors believe the face. When your facial expression aligns with your intention and your story, jurors stay open, receptive, and connected. When it doesn't, they disengage before you've even begun. Awareness + a little intentional practice = enormous return on credibility.
Favorite Moment
That moment where you describe walking through the grocery store practicing your neutral face and inner smile — a perfect reminder that high-stakes communication is built in low-stakes environments.
Links & Resources
Revisit Episode #4 How One Word Can Change Your Year: https://www.fostervoicestudio.com/blog/podcast4
Connect with Kristi on Instagram: @fostervoicestudio
Email questions or coaching inquiries: kristi@fostervoicestudio.com
Want more?
👉 Get weekly tips and techniques delivered to your inbox. Subscribe to "The Foster Files" Newsletter: https://www.fostervoicestudio.com/contact
👉 Follow me online for behind-the-scenes voice tips, mindset shifts, and strategies to help you lead with your voice in and out of court:
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fostervoicestudio/
If you're ready to develop vocal presence, refine your nonverbal clarity, and learn how jurors actually perceive you, join the newsletter or reach out for 1:1 coaching. Your voice and your face are telling a story — make sure it's the one you want jurors to hear.
