How do you stay grounded when everything feels like too much? Whether it’s a stressful deadline, a difficult conversation, or the dinner-hour chaos at home, it’s easy to get swept up in anxiety and react in a way you didn’t intend. I’ve been there myself. And over time, I’ve developed a set of tools that help me navigate these moments more intentionally and lead myself with calm, even when I don’t feel it inside.

In this episode, I walk you through the internal and external factors that tend to trigger a stress response, and how to shift into a more centered, responsive state. From understanding your baseline wiring and physiological cues to reconnecting with your values and priorities, I share a framework that helps me move from reactivity into choice. These aren’t one-size-fits-all solutions—they’re practical approaches you can adapt and practice, in both personal and professional settings.

Do you feel like you’ve fallen off track or out of alignment? The mid-year point offers a perfect opportunity to evaluate where you are and recalibrate your course for the remainder of the year. In this insightful episode, I explore what it means to get “off track” and provide practical strategies for realigning with your authentic goals and values.

Many lawyers find themselves pursuing “should” goals – objectives driven by external expectations rather than genuine desires. Through examining the common causes of misalignment, including time constraints, emotional resistance, and societal pressures, we uncover how to recognize when you’ve veered off your intended path.

Have you considered alternative options in your legal career? In this episode, I’m joined by three accomplished lawyers—Betta Wishart, Catalina Rodriguez, and Cherisse Friesen—who share their candid experiences navigating non-linear career paths across private practice, in-house roles, and public service.

Through their combined journeys spanning multiple cities, practice areas, and life transitions, they reveal how stepping off the traditional law firm track opened doors to fulfilling opportunities they hadn’t initially imagined. From moving between sectors to managing young families, their stories offer a real-world look at the personal and professional growth that can come from choosing a different path.

Do you struggle with public speaking? This is a fundamental skill that shapes every lawyer’s professional reputation and success, whether presenting in a courtroom or speaking up during client meetings. In this episode, professional speaker and communication coach Stephanie C. Mitchell shares essential strategies for delivering clear, confident presentations that connect with any audience.

With a background in both law and journalism, Stephanie brings unique insights into the challenges lawyers face when communicating in important situations. She breaks down how to structure presentations effectively, manage speaking anxiety, and create meaningful connections with listeners – even in virtual settings. Through practical examples and proven techniques, she demonstrates how lawyers can move beyond perfectionism to develop an authentic and engaging speaking style.

Why is building an internal market for your work the most important skill for a lawyer to develop in order to thrive in a law firm environment? When lawyers struggle to advance in their careers or face sudden transitions, it’s often because they haven’t cultivated this essential internal market. As your career progresses, your ability to attract work from colleagues becomes essential to your practice.

Many lawyers graduate from law school well-trained in legal analysis but completely unprepared for the entrepreneurial aspects of practice. We’re taught how to craft arguments and interpret cases, but rarely how to market ourselves within our own firms. This gap presents a real challenge, especially for those who excel at producing high-quality work but feel uncomfortable promoting themselves or actively seeking assignments.

What sets effective legal writing apart when you move from law school to a law firm? The transition from academic to professional legal writing can be challenging, but it’s a critical skill that will serve you throughout your career. In today’s episode, I’m joined by Amanda Haverstick, a legal writing coach who shares valuable insights on how to excel in this essential area.

Amanda brings her experience as both a big law attorney in New York City and an in-house counsel at a Fortune 500 company to our conversation. Her expertise in legal writing is evident as she outlines a three-pillar approach to writing that meets the demands of law firm practice.

Are you about to start your first summer at a law firm? The transition from law school to legal practice can feel like crossing a suspension bridge—exciting, but potentially wobbly and uncertain. As someone who’s made this journey myself and coached others through it, I understand the unique challenges you’re facing.

In this episode, I’m addressing the common hurdles that summer students and new lawyers encounter when stepping into a law firm environment for the first time. The skills that made you successful in law school won’t necessarily translate directly to success in practice. The structured environment you’re used to—with clear deadlines, grading rubrics, and defined expectations—suddenly gives way to a more fluid landscape where the rules aren’t always clear.

Have you ever found yourself replaying an imaginary conversation in your head, anticipating criticism that hasn’t even happened yet? I recently caught myself doing exactly this—mentally preparing for criticism from someone in my personal life. It made me realize just how powerful criticism can be, affecting our actions and decisions even when it’s merely anticipated rather than actually received.

Criticism is an unavoidable part of professional and personal life, especially for lawyers. Whether it comes from colleagues, bosses, clients, opposing counsel, family members, or friends, criticism can feel like an assault on our senses. Many of us respond by criticizing back, becoming defensive, complaining to others, or worst of all, avoiding situations where we might be criticized—effectively playing small to protect ourselves.

Are you constantly searching for the perfect productivity app to manage your overwhelming to-do list? As lawyers, we often find ourselves drowning in tasks, with our to-do lists spawning their own to-do lists. The quest for the ultimate productivity solution seems never-ending, but what if the answer isn’t another app or system?

In this episode, I reveal what a renowned productivity expert considers the ultimate productivity app—and it might surprise you. The solution isn’t about cramming more tasks into less time or finding magical efficiency hacks. Instead, it’s about fundamentally reframing how we approach productivity itself and making conscious choices about what truly deserves our attention.

Is the grass actually greener on the other side of the fence? This question plagues many lawyers who find themselves stuck in a professional rut, unsure whether to stay in their current position or venture into new territory. The uncertainty can be paralyzing – you’ve invested years building relationships, mastering your practice area, and establishing yourself, yet something doesn’t feel quite right about your future there.

In this episode, I draw surprising parallels between relationship dynamics on reality TV and the career dilemmas lawyers face. By examining the patterns from the show “Temptation Island,” I uncover ten valuable lessons that apply directly to professional stuckness. Whether you’re one foot in and one foot out at your current firm, or simply curious about what drives career satisfaction, these insights will help you gain clarity.