Shows
The Velvet Hammer™ PodcastIn Defense of Flip-Flopping: Why Adaptability Matters in LawEpisode 16: In Defense of Flip-Flopping: Why Adaptability Matters in LawKaren Koehler opens up about her so-called "flip-flopping," her tendency to change her mind, and reframes it as one of her greatest strengths. From trial tactics to law firm management, she explains how adaptability and quick pivots are crucial in high-stakes litigation. Mo Hamoudi and podcast producer Mike Todd, jump in to discuss what it’s like working with someone who never sticks to the same plan for long and why that unpredictability actually works. Stay Connected with The V...2025-05-0734 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastWhy We Suck at Celebrating WinsEpisode 15: Why We Suck at Celebrating Wins It’s been a week of big wins. Sanctions against Amazon. Settlements in multiple cases. Momentum heading into trial. And yet, instead of celebrating, Karen and Mo are back in the office...working? In this episode, Karen and Mo (and Mike) talk honestly about the emotional highs and nonstop pressure of doing plaintiff work at the highest level. From courtroom takedowns to the rush of controlling a trial, they share what actually makes this work feel good and why they rarely pause to enjoy it.They also...2025-04-3020 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastWhy Trial Lawyers Must Talk About Money (Even When It’s Uncomfortable)Episode 14: Why Trial Lawyers Must Talk About Money (Even When It’s Uncomfortable)Is money the most uncomfortable topic in the courtroom? For many trial lawyers, yes. But when it comes to representing injured clients, avoiding money talk is not an option. In this candid episode, Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi talk about what it really means to ask for money in court. They explore why trial lawyers often feel shame or awkwardness around damages, how verdicts are tied to human value, and why getting comfortable with money is non-negotiable for pla...2025-04-2346 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastKaren’s Journal Entry at 19: Crisis is PerpetualEpisode 13: Karen’s Journal Entry at 19: Crisis is PerpetualAt 19, Karen wrote a stream of consciousness that no one had ever read. Until now. In this episode, she shares that handwritten journal entry and opens up a conversation with Mo about identity, ambition, burnout, and what it means to be a lawyer who feels deeply.They talk about the pressure to conform, the toll of suppressing emotion in the legal world, and how writing has always been Karen’s way of pushing back against the mold. What starts as a reading of teenage chaos turns into...2025-04-1642 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastWhat Compels Us to Become LawyersEpisode 12: What Compels Us to Become Lawyers Content note: This episode includes discussion of domestic violence, trauma, and mental health challenges, including suicidal ideation. Please take care while watching.Karen reads a college essay she wrote at 18, predicting her future as a civil rights lawyer. Mo shares his contrasting journey through trauma, poverty, and survival. Together they explore what drives someone to pursue law, how early life shapes purpose, and why two people with such different paths ended up in the same courtroom.Subscribe for more raw conversations from t...2025-04-0938 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastThe Unlikeable ClientEpisode 11: The Unlikeable ClientTrigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of domestic violence, including descriptions of abuse. Please listen with care.What happens when your client isn’t someone a jury might naturally root for? In this episode, Karen and Mo dive into one of the hardest parts of plaintiff law: working with clients who the public might not find sympathetic. From pulling a client out of a drug house before a deposition to representing someone with a complicated criminal past, they get real about the emotional, ethical, and strategic decisions be...2025-04-0339 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastSanctions, Sanctions, Sanctions - Read All About ItEpisode 12: Sanctions, Sanctions, Sanctions – Read All About ItIn this episode of The Velvet Hammer™, Karen and Mo dive into the wild world of sanctions. What they are, why they matter, and how defense firms push the limits. Karen starts with her first sanctions victory in the 90s, then they walk through three recent cases. They also break down how power structures inside law firms impact who takes the fall and why some judges are finally doing something about it.If you’ve ever wondered how discovery violations actually play out, or what...2025-03-2646 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastResponding to Listener Feedback That Took Us by SurpriseEpisode 9: Responding to Listener Feedback That Took Us by SurpriseKaren Koehler and Mo Hamoudi planned to revisit their worst courtroom arguments, but listener feedback completely changed the conversation. Some reactions were protective, some were critical, and all were thought-provoking.Was it a power move? Was Mo being shut down? Karen and Mo unpack the unexpected responses, challenge assumptions, and dive into the deeper dynamics of presence, persuasion, and perception. From personal reflections to the realities of being a trial lawyer, this episode is an unfiltered look at power...2025-03-1935 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastThe Worst Arguments We’ve Ever Made (And What We Learned) - Part 1Episode 8: The Worst Arguments We’ve Ever Made (And What We Learned) - Part 1In this episode of The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast, Karen Koehler & Mo Hamoudi dive into some of the worst courtroom arguments they've ever made and the tough lessons that came with them. From being thrown to the wolves in court as a young attorney to completely missing a hearing due to a calendar mishap, they break down the moments that shaped them as trial lawyers. Along the way, they explore how legal practice has changed with technology, the evolv...2025-03-1225 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastThe "Prototype Lawyer" and Losing Identity in Law | Part 2Episode 7: The "Prototype Lawyer" and Losing Identity in Law | Part 2In Part 2 of The Prototype Lawyer series, Karen and Mo break down what it really means to step outside the mold of a traditional lawyer. Karen shares a candid story about her first trial, where mistakes, authenticity, and a jury connection shaped her approach to law.They explore how law school conditions lawyers to imitate rather than innovate, why breaking the "prototype lawyer" mold leads to better advocacy, and how unpredictability can be a powerful tool in the courtroom.From courtroom...2025-03-0539 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastThe "Prototype Lawyer" and Losing Identity in Law | Part 1Episode 6: The "Prototype Lawyer" and Losing Identity in Law | Part 1Does becoming a lawyer mean losing yourself? Karen and Mo explore how individuality gets replaced by the expectations of being a “prototype lawyer.” From youthful idealism to fitting the corporate mold, they share how they changed to be taken seriously in the legal world.Why do lawyers feel pressured to conform? Is success possible without losing your identity? How does the profession reinforce this culture?They discuss the emotional toll of adapting to a system built on rigid norms, from...2025-02-2615 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastWhen Defense Lawyers Weaponize Discovery RequestsEpisode 5: When Defense Lawyers Weaponize Discovery RequestsHow far will defense lawyers go to harass and intimidate plaintiffs? In this episode of The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast, Karen Koehler, Mo Hamoudi, and special guest behind the microphone, Mike Todd, expose the most absurd, offensive, and downright unethical discovery requests they've ever seen.From Amazon’s lawyers demanding irrelevant personal details to Ride the Ducks attorneys asking grieving families about their sex lives, this episode exposes the legal bullying tactics defense teams use to break plaintiffs down. Stay Connected with The...2025-02-1929 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastSexism In the Legal FieldEpisode 4: Sexism In the Legal FieldHave you ever walked into a room and been completely dismissed based on how you look? Karen has—too many times to count.In this episode, Karen and Mo get real about sexism in the legal field, the constant battle for credibility, and the emotional toll of being underestimated. From being mistaken for a court reporter well into her 50s to a judge mid-trial asking if she was actually a lawyer, Karen shares her firsthand experiences of sexism in law. Mo brings his perspective as an immigrant na...2025-02-1239 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastIntroducing Mo – From Public Defender to Stritmatter LawyerEpisode 1: Introducing Mo – From Public Defender to Stritmatter LawyerWelcome to Season 5 of The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast, where Karen Koehler teams up with attorney Mo Hamoudi for honest conversations on law, life, and everything in between.In our first episode, we dive into Mo’s remarkable journey from being a federal public defender to joining The Stritmatter Firm, taking on powerful adversaries and fighting for justice. Along the way, we explore:🔹 Mo’s fascinating past—from owning a clothing store in NYC to making pizzas and bartending🔹 His unexpected cameo...2025-02-0509 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastFinding Humor in the Hardest CasesEpisode 2: Finding Humor in the Hardest CasesHow do you carry the weight of the world without letting it crush you?In this episode of The Velvet Hammer™, Karen and Mo explore the essential role of humor in a profession filled with tragedy. From life-or-death cases to life-altering civil battles, trial law can be overwhelming, so why is laughter so important?Karen shares how she compartmentalizes high-stakes cases, while Mo admits he absorbs everything like a sponge. They explore the different ways lawyers cope with the emotional toll of th...2025-02-0512 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastMisconceptions, Control, and Breaking the MoldEpisode 3: Misconceptions, Control, and Breaking the MoldIn this episode, Karen and Mo dive into misconceptions about trial lawyers, the myth of control, and the challenges of breaking from the legal establishment. They discuss:🔹 Why Karen became a lawyer—and the early lessons in standing up to bullies🔹 The biggest misconceptions about Karen, including whether she’s a control freak (spoiler: it’s complicated)🔹 Mo’s doubts before joining The Stritmatter Firm—and what he heard from the legal community🔹 Why being unconventional in law matters—and how they challenge tradition...2025-02-0520 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastFinding Free Time: The Unfamiliar Territory of a Trial Lawyer#112 - In this episode, The Velvet Hammer, Karen Koehler, takes us inside the rarest of occurrences—having free time. As someone who thrives on the chaos of running a law firm and being a trial lawyer, Karen shares the weird feeling of clearing her inbox and having no immediate fires to put out. But instead of relaxing, she wrestles with how to slow down when her instinct is always to keep going. Listen in as Karen humorously reflects on trying to unwind and figuring out what to do with all that extra time. Stay Connected with 2024-10-2118 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastWaiting for a verdict.In this episode of The Velvet Hammer, Karen Koehler opens up about the emotional weight that follows the end of a trial. From the anxiety of waiting for a jury verdict to the personal sacrifices made during trial, Karen shares the challenges of balancing her role as a trial attorney and a mother. Tune in for an intimate look at what it’s like to wait for justice. Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube📲 Follow us on Instagram & 2024-09-2018 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastTalking about me behind my back.Join us as Karen Koehler explores the power of defying expectations, the courage to disrupt, and the journey of being unapologetically yourself. Discover how she handles being talked about behind her back and the strength it takes to stay true to her convictions.Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube📲 Follow us on Instagram & Facebook → @TheVelvetHammerPodcast✉️ Got a question or topic request? Email us! → thevelvethammerpodcast@stritmatter.com 🔥 New episodes drop Wednesdays – d2024-06-1718 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastMeandering thoughts on the joy of starting trial againIn this episode of The Velvet Hammer, Karen Koehler sits down to record before she begins another trial in Seattle. She discusses her love for the courtroom, leading an all-female legal team, and why retirement isn't on her radar. Kohler addresses the unique questions and challenges female trial lawyers face, offering insights into gender dynamics within the legal profession. Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube📲 Follow u...2024-03-2916 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastFraming the media message to honor and protect your clientsJoin Karen Koehler in this episode of The Velvet Hammer as she shares how her team's adept maneuvering around the City of Seattle's media embargo was crucial in honoring and protecting their clients during the George Floyd BLM peaceful protesters lawsuit. By skillfully getting their message out despite the media embargo, they ensured their clients' stories were heard, playing a key role in ensuring comprehensive justice along with the $10 million settlement.To learn more about the lawsuit, please visit: Black Lives Matter Injured Protesters Lawsuit - Stritmatter Kessler Koehler MooreStay Connected with 2024-01-2618 min