Shows
The Velvet Hammer™ PodcastWhen Defense Surveillance Crosses The LineIn this episode of The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast, Karen Koehler, Mo Hamoudi, and Mike Todd unpack a real case in which a Somali client and a paralegal were followed after a defense medical exam on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. What initially looked like routine surveillance quickly escalated into fear, confusion, and a confrontation that exposed deeper issues around power, racial profiling, and defense strategy.Karen shares trial stories where surveillance backfired spectacularly in front of juries. Mo explains why the situation immediately raised red flags, especially given the timing and the people involved. Together, they break do...
2026-02-1126 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastThe ACLU Lawsuit Challenging ICE’s Operation Metro SurgeSeason 6, Episode 5: The ACLU Lawsuit Challenging ICE’s Operation Metro SurgeA young Somali American U.S. citizen is tackled and detained by ICE in Minnesota, then later pepper-sprayed while filming a protest. That moment becomes the flashpoint for a federal class action brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, challenging ICE’s Operation Metro Surge.Karen Koehler, Mo Hamoudi, and Mike Todd unpack how visual cues, surnames, and assumptions turn into a pretext for stops, and how fast “show me your papers” spirals when most citizens don’t carry proof of citizen...
2026-02-0430 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastThe Reality of Work-Life Balance for Trial LawyersSeason 6, Episode 4: The Reality of Work-Life Balance for Trial Lawyers What does “work-life balance” actually look like for trial lawyers? In this episode, Karen Koehler, Mo Hamoudi, and Mike Todd get honest about what life looks like in the weeks leading up to trial and in the middle of it.Karen walks through how she keeps relationships, movement, and creativity in her life even during trial, and why she deliberately cuts out everything else. Mo talks about being a grinder, integrating work into life instead of trying to escape it, and why phy...
2026-01-2819 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastPower: Who Holds It And Who Doesn’tSeason 6, Episode 3: Power: Who Holds It And Who Doesn’tIn this episode, Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi go head-to-head on whether power is real or an illusion, and why that question matters when your client has none. From courtroom dynamics and judicial authority to insurance companies, employers, and institutions that quietly run the show, this conversation pulls apart how power actually works when the stakes are real.Karen brings decades of trial experience and zero patience for theoretical thinking that ignores reality. Mo pushes back with a survivor’s mindset shaped by resi...
2026-01-2133 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastLegal Breakdown of the ICE Minnesota ShootingSeason 6, Episode 2: Legal Breakdown of the ICE Minnesota ShootingIn this episode, Karen Koehler, Mo Hamoudi, and Mike Todd examine the January 7, 2026, fatal ICE shooting in Minnesota that resulted in the death of Renee Nicole Good. They discuss what is visible on video, the sequence of events, and the legal standards that apply when deadly force is used.The conversation focuses on Fourth Amendment law, qualified immunity, and the divide between criminal prosecution and civil accountability. They also address why criminal charges are often unlikely...
2026-01-1447 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastPreparing for TrialEpisode 1: Preparing for Trial Season six opens with Karen Koehler, Mo Hamoudi, and Mike Todd discussing the emotional and physical shift that happens when a trial is coming. The sleep changes. The aggression sharpens. The energy spikes. Karen talks candidly about how her body knows a trial is coming before her brain catches up, why she sleeps less, gets spicier, and becomes laser-focused weeks in advance. Mo breaks down how he prepares without overpreparing, why living inside the story matters more than scripts, and how artistic instincts shape trial work. Mike brings the ju...
2026-01-0735 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastDecoding Voir Dire Part 4 | The Jury Selection SeriesEpisode 48: Decoding Voir Dire Part 4 | The Jury Selection SeriesPeremptory strikes look simple on paper. In practice, they are among the most strategic and controversial aspects of jury selection.In Part 4 of the Decoding Voir Dire series, Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi break down how peremptories actually work, why Batson challenges matter, and how bias, intuition, math, and psychology collide in real time. They talk through when peremptories protect access to fair juries, when they cross the line, and why stereotypes are both unavoidable and dangerous if you rely...
2025-12-3122 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastDecoding Voir Dire Part 5 | The Jury Selection SeriesEpisode 49: Decoding Voir Dire Part 5 | The Jury Selection SeriesThe final installment of our five-part Voir Dire series. Karen Koehler explains how to respectfully invite jurors to excuse themselves by honoring their moral convictions rather than attacking them. Mo Hamoudi explains why judges focus on what jurors say, not what lawyers argue, and how letting jurors talk themselves into a cause challenge is often the winning move. Mike Todd offers insight into what actually happens in deliberations and why silence, leadership, and thinking style matter more than most lawyers expect.They also address...
2025-12-3120 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastDecoding Voir Dire Part 3 | The Jury Selection SeriesEpisode 47: Decoding Voir Dire Part 3 | The Jury Selection SeriesIn Part 3 of our voir dire series, Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi break down what happens when a politically charged case collides with real human bias, and why jury selection can quietly decide the outcome before opening statements ever begin.Karen walks through her damage model and the Starbucks bike scenario that exposes how jurors really think about pain, loss, and responsibility. Mo reflects on trial partner chemistry, Zoom voir dire, and the moment you realize your best juror is now an alternate.
2025-12-2426 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastDecoding Voir Dire Part 2 | The Jury Selection SeriesEpisode 46: Decoding Voir Dire Part 2 | The Jury Selection SeriesIn Part 2 of our five-part jury selection series, Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi break down what really happens when you get 20 minutes to talk to 50 to 60 jurors (and somehow remember who said what). Karen walks through the struck method, why “deselection” used to be the whole game, and how she color-codes jurors fast without a consultant. Mo shares why he learned about voir dire through bartending and why vulnerability is the fastest way to elicit honesty from a room full of strangers. They also get into the...
2025-12-1724 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastDecoding Voir Dire Part 1 | The Jury Selection SeriesEpisode 45: Decoding Voir Dire Part 1 | The Jury Selection SeriesKaren Koehler and Mo Hamoudi kick off a five-part deep dive into voir dire with the question everyone secretly has. What are trial lawyers actually doing when they stand in front of a room full of strangers and start asking personal questions? From calling out bias to reading body language to deciding who stays and who goes, they break down the strategy and the chaos that shape a jury long before opening statements. 🎧 Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcas...
2025-12-1023 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastThe Velvet Hammers’ Journey through Bias, Marginalization, and Systemic InequitiesEpisode: Live Podcast - The Velvet Hammers’ Journey through Bias, Marginalization, and Systemic InequitiesRecorded Live on December 2, 2025 1 Ethics Equity Credit - Please visit stritmatter.com/cle for Activity ID. Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi bring their Velvet Hammer Podcast style to an important CLE. This program examines how bias, marginalization, and systemic inequities affect trial lawyers who are BIPOC in Washington State courts. Drawing on first-hand accounts, qualitative data, and professional experiences, Karen and Mo will explore how their lived experiences reflect broader structural and cultural barriers in legal communities and systems....
2025-12-031h 04The Velvet Hammer™ PodcastThe Privilege of Sacrifice as a Trial LawyerEpisode 44: The Privilege of Sacrifice as a Trial LawyerIn this episode of The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast, the group sits down with a simple question: Does being great at your work always require sacrifice? Karen Koehler opens up about a career shaped by long hours, missed moments, and the constant pressure of leading high-stakes cases. She also names what often goes unsaid: the privilege of choosing sacrifice when so many workers never get that choice. Mo Hamoudi shares how sacrifice shaped him long before he ever stepped into a courtroom, and why...
2025-11-1947 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastAnticipating the Loss - When Trial Lawyers Feel It ComingEpisode 41: Anticipating the Loss - When Trial Lawyers Feel It ComingWhen you’ve been in the courtroom long enough, you know the feeling. The slow, heavy dread of a case slipping away. In this episode of The Velvet Hammer™, Karen Koehler, Mo Hamoudi, and Mike Todd talk about what it’s like to sense a loss before it happens, both in trial and in life.Karen revisits her 2022 trial against Seattle Children’s Hospital, where every ruling felt stacked against her. Mo shares lessons from his years as a death penalty defense lawyer a...
2025-11-0541 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastConfronting the "Let Them" Philosophy: Trial Lawyers Debate Self-Help CultureKaren Koehler and Mo Hamoudi debate the viral “Let Them” theory by Mel Robbins and whether it works in the real world of trial law. From self-help culture and quick-fix thinking to emotional intelligence, religion, and moral accountability, this episode breaks down what happens when “letting go” meets the practice of law. Mo questions if “let them” is wisdom or avoidance, while Karen tests the idea against real courtroom dynamics, including what would happen if a lawyer actually “let them” in trial. Mike Todd joins to explore the line between healthy boundaries and abandoning responsibility, leading to one conclusion:
2025-10-2228 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastWhen Zoom Replaces Rooms – Navigating the Post-Pandemic Legal PracticeEpisode 38: When Zoom Replaces Rooms – Navigating the Post-Pandemic Legal PracticeKaren Koehler, Mo Hamoudi, and Mike Todd tackle one of the most significant shifts in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic: the rise of remote everything. From depositions to jury selection to everyday office life, they unpack how the legal world changed when the world shut down. Mo misses the energy of a bustling office, the conversations, the connection, and the shared purpose that only happen in person. Karen values the flexibility and efficiency of remote work, especially for routine legal tasks like dep...
2025-10-1549 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastSticks, Stones, and Strategic Responses: How We Handle Being InsultedHow do you respond when someone insults you? In this episode, Karen Koehler, Mo Hamoudi, and Mike Todd explore how their childhood experiences with insults shape their adult mechanisms. Karen reflects on her mother’s “eye for an eye” parenting style, which shaped her fighter mentality. She shares how that mindset evolved into a professional strength, turning insults into strategy and sometimes using others’ underestimations to her advantage in the courtroom. Mike's story takes a darker turn as he recounts a traumatic childhood incident where his father encouraged him to fight older bullies but then stood by w...
2025-10-1032 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastCrossing the Moat - Building Trust Between Attorneys and ClientsIn this episode, Karen Koehler starts with a client who was permanently disfigured and how fast the defense tried to dig through every corner of her life. From medical records to private history, nothing feels off-limits in discovery. Karen and Mo Hamoudi talk about how invasive that process can be, why lawyers need to know everything (even the parts that hurt to say out loud), and how to build trust with a total stranger when the stakes are personal.They get into what it means to “cross the moat,” how lawyers can earn their way inside a clie...
2025-10-0922 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastUnbound: A Woman’s Guide to Power Book ReviewEpisode 35: Unbound: A Woman’s Guide to Power Book ReviewKaren Koehler, Mo Hamoudi, and Mike Todd review Unbound: A Woman’s Guide to Power by Kasia Urbaniak. They delve into the meanings of dominance, submission, and influence. Karen Koehler shares her “I’m the boss” fridge purge, Mo Hamoudi explains how walking away from incongruence gave him agency, and Mike Todd reframes power as influence instead of control. Together, they demonstrate that power is about presence, effective communication, and recognizing your desires in work, life, and the courtroom. This book may be writt...
2025-09-1736 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastKeeping Up with KarenEpisode 34: Keeping Up with Karen Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi debate the power of thinking on your feet versus slowing down to choose your words. Karen owns her “borderline manic” speed and explains how fast processing helps her pivot in court and keep juries engaged. Mo pushes back with the benefits of pausing for clarity. Mike Todd weighs in on how different brains process input during live questioning and why both styles can win with a jury.This one is fast, short, and sweet. 🎧 Stay Connected with The Velvet Ha...
2025-09-1018 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastHow to Interview Clients and Win JuriesEpisode 32: How to Interview Clients and Win JuriesIn this episode of The Velvet Hammer™, Karen Koehler, Mo Hamoudi, and Mike Todd dig into one of the most overlooked skills as a trial lawyer: the client interview. This is not just about filling out intake forms. Karen shares why she spends hours with clients before even asking about the incident and how those conversations create the foundation for damages storytelling.They explore how to go beyond surface-level questions and reach a place where clients feel seen and understood. Karen explains why juries distrust “perf...
2025-08-2722 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastPlacing a Monetary Value on the Loss of a Good LifeEpisode 30: Placing a Monetary Value on the Loss of a "Good Life"What constitutes a “good life,” and what happens when catastrophic events forever change its course? Karen Koehler reads an essay she wrote at 17 about what makes a good life and reflects on how her definition has evolved.Mo Hamoudi shares a deeply personal story from his senior year of high school about basketball, a mother battling cancer, and an abusive stepfather. His account shows how early life experiences shape our understanding of others' suffering and the meaning of resilience.Join...
2025-08-1342 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastThe Penis Restraining OrderEpisode 29 - The Penis Restraining Order - This episode includes discussion of sexual assault and explicit anatomical references. It contains mature content that may not be appropriate for all listeners. Listener discretion is advised. Karen Koehler walks us through one of the most outrageous, unforgettable, and legally strategic motions she has ever filed: a request to restrain rapper Nelly’s penis. Yes, you read that right.This episode is a wild ride, from the Kent courthouse to the press frenzy that followed, as Karen breaks down why she believed the request was legitimate, how...
2025-08-0617 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastDEI, WAMs, and Legal Power PlaysEpisode 28: DEI, WAMs, and Legal Power Plays | Karen Koehler shares the 2008 letter that shook up the American Association for Justice (AAJ), calling out its failure to address diversity in any meaningful way. The fallout was instant. She lost friends, made enemies, and set off a chain reaction that eventually pushed the organization to adopt a formal diversity plan. Joined by Mo Hamoudi and Mike Todd, the trio breaks down what it takes to call out power from within. Karen confronts the reality of being a woman in a white male-dominated legal association, while Mo...
2025-07-3039 minThe Velvet Hammer™ PodcastMastering the Art of Direct ExaminationEpisode 26: Mastering the Art of Direct ExaminationWhat separates a good trial lawyer from a great one? Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi unpack what makes a direct examination persuasive, from reading the jury’s body language to deciding when to provoke or disarm a hostile witness. They share real trial stories, including moments where everything went off-script and the only way to save the case was by adapting on the fly.Forget rigid outlines and rehearsed testimony. Karen explains why she now preps plaintiffs like an Oprah interview instead of a legal exam, an...
2025-07-1636 min