The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast

Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi
  • 4.5 (28)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Biweekly

Trial lawyers can be real people, too—and this podcast proves it. The Velvet Hammer™ is back, and this time, Karen Koehler isn’t going it alone. Known for her fearless advocacy, bold storytelling, and, yes, even the occasional backwards dress moment, Karen is teaming up with Mo Hamoudi, a lawyer, poet, and storyteller whose empathy and resilience add a whole new dynamic to the show. Together, they’re pulling back the curtain on trial law, diving into bold topics, heartfelt stories, and the messy, hilarious moments that make trial lawyers human. This is an unscripted, raw, and fun take on life inside—and outside—the courtroom.

  1. 5d ago

    The Seven-Hour Deposition

    A door plug blows out mid-flight, passengers think they’re going to die, and suddenly the legal system asks them to relive it all again, for hours, on the record. We get into what plaintiff depositions look like when the defendant is a giant like Boeing, and why “just tell your story” can turn into seven hours of scripted preamble, invasive questions, and page after page of transcripts that nobody will ever use at trial. We also talk candidly about the economics behind civil discovery. When defense counsel is billing at institutional rates, staffing multiple lawyers per deposition, and building a budget meant to satisfy a corporate general counsel and an insurance carrier, the incentives can reward length over clarity. We break down why defendants still chase medical records, work history, and private communications in emotional distress claims, and how deposition tactics can quietly push plaintiffs toward “make this end” settlements. Along the way, we touch on the rules of the road for speaking publicly about ongoing litigation, including protective orders, ethics, and the fair trial balance, plus why we still choose to sit through depositions ourselves. If you’ve ever wondered whether litigation is really an even playing field before you hit the courtroom, this conversation puts the power dynamics in plain English. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves legal strategy, and leave a review if it helped you see depositions differently. Do you think courts should impose tighter time limits on depositions? Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast Hosted by Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi, trial lawyers at Stritmatter Law, a nationally recognized plaintiff's personal injury and civil rights law firm based in Washington State. Featuring Mike Todd, producer, audio engineer, and the Disembodied Voice of Wisdom & Reason. Produced by Mike Todd and Kassie Slugić. New episodes every Wednesday. The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast is where trial law meets real life. Trial stories, hard lessons, unexpected laughs, and honest conversations about life inside and outside the courtroom. Podcast Hub: https://thevelvethammer.buzzsprout.com Karen Koehler https://karenkoehler.com https://www.instagram.com/k3thevelvethammer/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-koehler-thevelvethammer/ Mo Hamoudi https://www.instagram.com/mo.hamoudi/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mo-hamoudi-77a38733/ Stritmatter Law https://www.stritmatter.com

  2. Sep 23

    Why Plastic Surgery Can Hurt Jury Trust

    A face that does not move can cost you a verdict. We get candid about plastic surgery, Botox, and why looking “younger” is not always an upgrade when your job is to persuade a jury that you’re real, present, and trustworthy. Karen tells two close-to-home stories: the nose job she seriously considered and then quickly rejected, and the moment her own child asked if she’d had Botox. From there, we zoom out to the culture of affluence and peer pressure where cosmetic work becomes normal, even expected, and why that can turn into a slippery slope. One tweak makes the next one feel necessary, and before you know it you’re chasing a version of your face that no longer matches your life. Then we bring it back to the courtroom. Trial lawyers live and die on credibility, and jurors read micro expressions constantly: the crinkle at the eyes, the lift of the brow, the shape of a real smile. When procedures freeze or flatten those signals, you may look polished in a photo but strangely unreadable in real time. We talk “uncanny valley,” why obvious work can become a distraction, and why even subtle changes can backfire if they interfere with connection. We also draw a sharp contrast between entertainers, whose appearance is part of the product, and lawyers, whose product is trust. If you care about trial advocacy, persuasion, and courtroom communication, this one will make you rethink what “looking good” actually means. Subscribe, share with a lawyer friend, and leave a review, then tell us: what makes someone’s face feel trustworthy to you? Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast Hosted by Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi, trial lawyers at Stritmatter Law, a nationally recognized plaintiff's personal injury and civil rights law firm based in Washington State. Featuring Mike Todd, producer, audio engineer, and the Disembodied Voice of Wisdom & Reason. Produced by Mike Todd and Kassie Slugić. New episodes every Wednesday. The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast is where trial law meets real life. Trial stories, hard lessons, unexpected laughs, and honest conversations about life inside and outside the courtroom. Podcast Hub: https://thevelvethammer.buzzsprout.com Karen Koehler https://karenkoehler.com https://www.instagram.com/k3thevelvethammer/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-koehler-thevelvethammer/ Mo Hamoudi https://www.instagram.com/mo.hamoudi/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mo-hamoudi-77a38733/ Stritmatter Law https://www.stritmatter.com

  3. Sep 16

    How People Actually Change

    The fastest way to test your identity is to remove the crutch you didn’t know you were using. We sit down for a messy, honest “psychology session” about change: who we’ve become over the past couple of years, why Mo can flip big switches like going vegan and quitting alcohol, and why Karen still thinks the story people tell about willpower leaves out the real work.  We break down behavior change as habits, motivation, and repetition, then zoom in on the uncomfortable parts nobody puts on a vision board. What happens when your friends are still ordering steak and bourbon? Why do social events feel weirder when you’re holding a club soda? And why does sobriety sometimes reveal a truth that has nothing to do with drinks at all: you might not even want to be there. Mike brings in the long view, including what it’s like to quit, relapse years later, and quit again, plus how alcohol quietly shapes friendship, belonging, and confidence.  We also widen the lens to addiction vs habit, the role of dopamine and pleasure-seeking, and how tools like GLP-1 drugs complicate the usual “just change your diet” advice. Then we get blunt about drinking culture, including how common alcohol use disorder is, why “gift alcohol to everyone” can be irresponsible, and how concerns about brain health and impaired driving change the conversation around both alcohol and marijuana.  If you care about personal growth, habit change, sobriety, or just understanding what really drives your choices, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s trying to change something big, and leave a review with the habit you’re working on right now. Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast Hosted by Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi, trial lawyers at Stritmatter Law, a nationally recognized plaintiff's personal injury and civil rights law firm based in Washington State. Featuring Mike Todd, producer, audio engineer, and the Disembodied Voice of Wisdom & Reason. Produced by Mike Todd and Kassie Slugić. New episodes every Wednesday. The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast is where trial law meets real life. Trial stories, hard lessons, unexpected laughs, and honest conversations about life inside and outside the courtroom. Podcast Hub: https://thevelvethammer.buzzsprout.com Karen Koehler https://karenkoehler.com https://www.instagram.com/k3thevelvethammer/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-koehler-thevelvethammer/ Mo Hamoudi https://www.instagram.com/mo.hamoudi/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mo-hamoudi-77a38733/ Stritmatter Law https://www.stritmatter.com

  4. Sep 9

    What Happens When A Law Firm Adds Another Powerhouse

    A new partner walks in and you can feel the room change. That’s what it’s like when Elizabeth Hanley joins us, and we’re not going to pretend we can introduce her without telling the Maui story first: a big convention crowd, a poolside setup spiraling, a missing bartender, and Liz showing up injured and still asking one simple question, “What can I do to help?” That’s the kind of attitude you can’t train, and it’s exactly what we want in a trial team.  From there, we get into the craft. We talk about what we’ve seen from Liz in the courtroom and why “command” matters as much as intelligence. We break down presence, emotional control, and knowing the rules of evidence cold, plus the subtle skills that separate good litigators from lawyers who truly occupy the space. If you care about trial advocacy, personal injury litigation, and what makes a modern law firm culture work, this one is packed with real, unfiltered detail.  We also zoom out to leadership and the bigger shift happening inside our firm: three strong women trial attorneys at the top, each with a different style, and what that means for the future. And we don’t dodge the hard part, either the guilt, the missed moments, and the real tradeoffs of parenting while trying big cases.  Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next, share this with a lawyer who cares about craft and culture, and leave a review with your take: what matters more in a great trial lawyer, presence or preparation? Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast Hosted by Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi, trial lawyers at Stritmatter Law, a nationally recognized plaintiff's personal injury and civil rights law firm based in Washington State. Featuring Mike Todd, producer, audio engineer, and the Disembodied Voice of Wisdom & Reason. Produced by Mike Todd and Kassie Slugić. New episodes every Wednesday. The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast is where trial law meets real life. Trial stories, hard lessons, unexpected laughs, and honest conversations about life inside and outside the courtroom. Podcast Hub: https://thevelvethammer.buzzsprout.com Karen Koehler https://karenkoehler.com https://www.instagram.com/k3thevelvethammer/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-koehler-thevelvethammer/ Mo Hamoudi https://www.instagram.com/mo.hamoudi/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mo-hamoudi-77a38733/ Stritmatter Law https://www.stritmatter.com

  5. Sep 2

    The Dark Side of Child Stardom: Hayden Panettiere and the Price of Fame

    A four-year-old can’t cross the street alone, can’t understand contracts, and can’t grasp what fame costs, yet our culture keeps placing kids into adult rooms with adult incentives. We sit with a recent tragedy as a starting point and then zoom out to the bigger pattern: child actors, child musicians, and now child influencers being turned into products long before they can choose a life. We talk honestly about responsibility and we don’t let the industry off the hook. Parents make the initial decision, but producers, studios, advertisers, and platforms create the demand, set the pace, and collect the profits. That leads to hard questions about child labor in entertainment, financial control of a minor’s earnings, the real role of unions, and why “they had tutors” doesn’t fix the loss of routine, friendships, and safety. We also dig into what makes acting especially complicated for a developing brain. Performing intense emotions on command, living inside realistic storylines, and spending formative years around rotating adults can blur boundaries and increase vulnerability to exploitation, addiction, and long-term mental health struggles. We discuss why independent child advocates and meaningful on-set protections matter, why mandatory reporting is necessary but not sufficient, and how the sexualization of minors becomes “acceptable” when it sells. If you care about Hollywood, pop culture, and child welfare, this conversation will stick with you. Subscribe for more, share this with someone who needs to hear it, and leave a review with your take: what protections should be non-negotiable for child performers? Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast Hosted by Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi, trial lawyers at Stritmatter Law, a nationally recognized plaintiff's personal injury and civil rights law firm based in Washington State. Featuring Mike Todd, producer, audio engineer, and the Disembodied Voice of Wisdom & Reason. Produced by Mike Todd and Kassie Slugić. New episodes every Wednesday. The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast is where trial law meets real life. Trial stories, hard lessons, unexpected laughs, and honest conversations about life inside and outside the courtroom. Podcast Hub: https://thevelvethammer.buzzsprout.com Karen Koehler https://karenkoehler.com https://www.instagram.com/k3thevelvethammer/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-koehler-thevelvethammer/ Mo Hamoudi https://www.instagram.com/mo.hamoudi/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mo-hamoudi-77a38733/ Stritmatter Law https://www.stritmatter.com

  6. Aug 26

    Why Mean Lawyers Lose: Trial Tactics That Backfire

    A trial can turn ugly fast when the other side decides “mean” is a strategy. We talk through what it feels like to face a hostile, snide defense team, how that negativity shows up in depositions and at counsel table, and why we refuse to let it control our courtroom presence. The surprising part is how often that kind of lawyering backfires, not because jurors are naïve, but because they’re looking for something simpler than legal combat: a clear story they can trust. We dig into practical trial lawyer tactics for staying steady under pressure, including how we use optimism as a real plaintiff attorney skill, not a personality quirk. We also unpack the difference between performative energy and authentic credibility, and why internal team humor can be a healthy way to manage the grind of objections, motions in limine, and constant friction. Along the way, we reflect on how gender expectations still shape what juries “allow” from a lawyer, and how that reality changes smart courtroom strategy. Then we switch perspectives and talk defense trial strategy. If you’re defending a case, being defensive is often the fastest way to lose the room. We explain why juries don’t think like lawyers, why attacking experts can read as insecurity, and how a defense team can miss its best chance by failing to humanize the client and frame responsibility with honesty. The big takeaway for trial practice and jury persuasion is simple: storytelling beats nastiness, and the velvet hammer is more dangerous than the blunt one. If this helped you think differently about litigation tactics, courtroom storytelling, and closing argument choices, subscribe, share this with a trial lawyer friend, and leave a review with the most “mean lawyer” moment you’ve ever seen. Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast Hosted by Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi, trial lawyers at Stritmatter Law, a nationally recognized plaintiff's personal injury and civil rights law firm based in Washington State. Featuring Mike Todd, producer, audio engineer, and the Disembodied Voice of Wisdom & Reason. Produced by Mike Todd and Kassie Slugić. New episodes every Wednesday. The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast is where trial law meets real life. Trial stories, hard lessons, unexpected laughs, and honest conversations about life inside and outside the courtroom. Podcast Hub: https://thevelvethammer.buzzsprout.com Karen Koehler https://karenkoehler.com https://www.instagram.com/k3thevelvethammer/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-koehler-thevelvethammer/ Mo Hamoudi https://www.instagram.com/mo.hamoudi/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mo-hamoudi-77a38733/ Stritmatter Law https://www.stritmatter.com

  7. Aug 19

    Why Trial Lawyers Hate Jury Verdicts — Even When They Win

    The jury is filing in, the verdict form is in hand, and suddenly the loudest feeling is not victory. It’s relief. We talk candidly about what verdict day does to trial lawyers and why even a “good” jury verdict can feel heavy, tense, and strangely joyless. We break down the real-time experience of listening to a verdict being read: negligence, proximate cause, damages, and then the gut-punch question of comparative fault. One percentage can reshape a client’s recovery and their future, so we’re doing mental math while also watching the client absorb it all. We also get into why the verdict is the one moment we truly cannot influence, and why that lack of control hits harder than any cross-exam or closing argument. From there, the conversation widens into what closure actually means in civil litigation and personal injury cases. A verdict can close the case and lift years of pressure, but it doesn’t restore health or bring someone back. What it can do is offer validation: a public acknowledgment that the harm mattered and the person mattered. Finally, we wrestle with the emotional survival skills that make this work possible, including “empathy gates,” vicarious trauma, and the constant tension between mission-driven law and the business realities that shape career choices. If you connected with this, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review. What do you think a verdict is really worth? Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast Hosted by Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi, trial lawyers at Stritmatter Law, a nationally recognized plaintiff's personal injury and civil rights law firm based in Washington State. Featuring Mike Todd, producer, audio engineer, and the Disembodied Voice of Wisdom & Reason. Produced by Mike Todd and Kassie Slugić. New episodes every Wednesday. The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast is where trial law meets real life. Trial stories, hard lessons, unexpected laughs, and honest conversations about life inside and outside the courtroom. Podcast Hub: https://thevelvethammer.buzzsprout.com Karen Koehler https://karenkoehler.com https://www.instagram.com/k3thevelvethammer/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-koehler-thevelvethammer/ Mo Hamoudi https://www.instagram.com/mo.hamoudi/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mo-hamoudi-77a38733/ Stritmatter Law https://www.stritmatter.com

  8. Aug 12

    Crying in Court? Trial Lawyers Debate the Unwritten Rules

    Courtroom culture loves control and punishes messiness, and nothing reveals that faster than tears. We start with the joke everyone knows, “There’s no crying in baseball,” then follow it into a much sharper reality: for generations of lawyers, “no crying” has been treated like a rule of professionalism, especially for women and anyone who already feels out of place in the room. Karen Koehler shares what it was like to come up in a world where crying could cost you credibility, a case role, or respect, and why that pressure can feel tied to gender, race, and the constant sense of being watched. We get practical and psychological about what tears actually are: a physical response to emotion, not a character flaw. Then we ask the uncomfortable questions juries force on trial lawyers every day. When does crying create connection, and when does it trigger annoyance, suspicion, or that “I don’t want to be here” feeling? We talk about the kind of witness jurors often reward, stoic, composed, almost breaking, and why fully grief-stricken testimony can get judged unfairly. We also discuss what lawyers do to manage the moment, from compartmentalization and “poker face” masking to finding safer outlets outside the jury’s view. The conversation goes deeper into empathy, aging, and the way repeated exposure to horrific facts can desensitize anyone, including experienced litigators. We close on a simple challenge: stay clear enough to be heard, human enough to be trusted, and honest about the biases that shape how emotion is received. If you’ve ever swallowed tears to be taken seriously, you’ll feel this one. Subscribe, share with a friend in a high-pressure job, and leave a review with your take: when does showing emotion build credibility, and when does it cost it? Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast Hosted by Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi, trial lawyers at Stritmatter Law, a nationally recognized plaintiff's personal injury and civil rights law firm based in Washington State. Featuring Mike Todd, producer, audio engineer, and the Disembodied Voice of Wisdom & Reason. Produced by Mike Todd and Kassie Slugić. New episodes every Wednesday. The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast is where trial law meets real life. Trial stories, hard lessons, unexpected laughs, and honest conversations about life inside and outside the courtroom. Podcast Hub: https://thevelvethammer.buzzsprout.com Karen Koehler https://karenkoehler.com https://www.instagram.com/k3thevelvethammer/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-koehler-thevelvethammer/ Mo Hamoudi https://www.instagram.com/mo.hamoudi/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mo-hamoudi-77a38733/ Stritmatter Law https://www.stritmatter.com

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4.5
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About

Trial lawyers can be real people, too—and this podcast proves it. The Velvet Hammer™ is back, and this time, Karen Koehler isn’t going it alone. Known for her fearless advocacy, bold storytelling, and, yes, even the occasional backwards dress moment, Karen is teaming up with Mo Hamoudi, a lawyer, poet, and storyteller whose empathy and resilience add a whole new dynamic to the show. Together, they’re pulling back the curtain on trial law, diving into bold topics, heartfelt stories, and the messy, hilarious moments that make trial lawyers human. This is an unscripted, raw, and fun take on life inside—and outside—the courtroom.

Information

  • Creator
    Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    206
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast

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