Sari Swears

The year is winding down. Trials are slowing. Your brain is STILL going a mile a minute. This week on Sari Swears, I'm joined by guest speaker Coach K for a conversation that feels like hitting the reset button before the new year. We talk through the mindset traps that quietly wear trial lawyers down and what to do about them. We Break Down: 👉🏽 Why chasing "100% prepared" keeps you stuck 👉🏽 How fear bloats your opening and blurs your story 👉🏽 Why isolation lies to you about everyone else having it together 👉🏽 How your saboteur plays its favorite holiday reruns 👉🏽 What it really takes to trust yourself again If you've been carrying too much into this season, consider this your permission to put some of it down. Tune in NOW! 🎧 Love, Sari Quote: "Your saboteur is going to try to throw all these things at you that you're never going to be able to achieve. You have to notice it showing up and say, 'I know you're here, but I don't need that right now.' It all starts with awareness—it starts with changing the way you think." Coach K Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SariDLM Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

Have you ever felt COMPLETELY drained by this work… even when everything is technically "going fine"? Not just tired, but heavy? That's exactly what we're talking about this week on Sari Swears and Coach K is back with me for this episode. We're diving into secondary trauma — the kind you absorb from: 👉🏽 The cases 👉🏽 The injuries 👉🏽 The families 👉🏽 The devastation It doesn't just affect your health… it can quietly limit your damages in the courtroom. If you've been feeling exhausted, disconnected, overwhelmed, or like you're always just pushing through — this episode WILL hit home. Tune in NOW! 🎧 Love, Sari Quote: "Secondary trauma is when you take on trauma that didn't happen to you directly. You absorb what your clients have gone through — the cases, the deaths, the injuries — and that weight really sits on you. Even though it didn't happen to you, your body still carries it." Coach K Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SariDLM Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

Let's talk about money. Specifically: what money can buy... and what it can't. That distinction? It's everything in trial. And it's everything when it comes to damages. Economic damages? You've got bills, life care plans, receipts… Non-economic? You're asking the jury to put a number on grief. On lost joy. On the inability to hold your child again. In this podcast episode, I'll show you EXACTLY how to: ✅ Separate price from value in voir dire, opening, and closing ✅ Use stand-in language and metaphor to anchor your ask ✅ Reframe the jury's role so they stop thinking they're buying something and start seeing what their number really represents If you've ever struggled to confidently ask for a big number… This one is for YOU. Tune in NOW! 🎧 Love, Sari 💖 P.S. I threw in the 3 questions I use in closing to reframe damages every time. You can thank me later. Quote: "You're not pricing the pain. You're pricing the value of relieving that pain. You're pricing the value of reclaiming your life. What would you pay to get that back? That's what you're asking the jury to consider." Sari Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SariDLM Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

If you're anything like I was a few years ago… You're doing everything. You're hustling. You're building. And you're running a successful business. BUT, you STILL feel trapped. That's because you're operating like a solopreneur, not an entrepreneur. (Spoiler: one burns out, the other builds a team.) In this week's podcast, I'm sharing something outside of the trial world, but essential to your success inside the courtroom: 👉🏽 HOW to get the right people in the right seats 👉🏽 WHY the traditional org chart is completely ass-backwards 👉🏽 WHAT I've learned from implementing the EOS system (and why I wish I'd done it sooner) I'm pulling back the curtain on my own journey — where I was the bottleneck — and how structure created more creativity, more impact, and yes… MORE freedom. If you're tired of building alone, and ready to lead differently… This one's for you. Tune in NOW! 🎧 Love, Sari 💖 Quote: "You can't grow if you're the one doing everything. The more I let go, the more the business grew — and the more I grew. That's the magic of getting the right people in the right seats." -Sari Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SariDLM Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

Do you ever catch yourself repeating things in trial and worry it's too much? Let me stop you right there: it's NOT too much. In fact, you probably need to repeat yourself MORE. This week's podcast episode is all about how intentional repetition helps your jurors: ✔️ Understand your case ✔️ Remember your core messages ✔️ Trust YOU Too many attorneys are afraid of sounding redundant. But repetition, when done right, is one of the most powerful teaching tools you have. In the episode, I break down: 🗣️Why repetition builds neural pathways and increases recall 🗣️How to use repetition throughout voir dire, opening, and closing 🗣️The difference between GOOD repetition (strategic) and BAD repetition (nervous rambling) And I walk you through exactly where in trial you should be repeating key phrases, hooks, gestures, and more. Because when jurors hear it again and again it STICKS. And if it sticks, they carry it into the verdict room. Tune in NOW! 🎧 Love, Sari Quote: "If you want the jury to remember something, you have to be willing to say it over and over and over again. Not just in voir dire, not just in opening, not just in closing—but throughout the entire trial. Because repetition creates neural pathways. That's how the brain works. Repetition is how we learn, how we connect, how we remember. And if you're not repeating your most important points? You're leaving the jury with nothing to hold onto." -- Sari Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SariDLM Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

You ever meet someone and think, "Oh, they're about to break wide open." That was PI attorney Shaun Lieser. When he first joined our H2H world, he was smart (still is), capable (still is), and honestly? A little stuck. Then he FLIPPED the switch. Inside the episode, we talk about: 👉🏽 Why wanting to be liked is killing your presence in court 👉🏽 The moment Shaun realized voir dire isn't all about being smart — it's about connection 👉🏽 How the H2H Method™ helped him step FULLY into his voice and style There's SO much gold in this one, and Shaun brings the kind of honesty that I know will land deeply with you. Tune in NOW! 🎧 Love, Sari 💖 Quote: "What I appreciated most about the H2H work was the freedom it gave me to fully express myself in court. Before, I was always trying to fit into this 'trial lawyer' mold I thought I needed to be in. But when I started working with you, Sari, and the H2H method, I realized—my presence, my instincts, my style… it's all enough. In fact, it's more than enough. And that gave me a whole new level of confidence in front of a jury." Shaun Lieser Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SariDLM Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

Ever been in a conversation that went sideways fast? 🫣 You had good intentions… but suddenly it felt like you were speaking different languages? Yeah. Been there. That's WHY I'm dropping this week's episode: How to Master Difficult Conversations: The Tool I Swear By. It's based on a life-changing framework I got from my very first coach and I still use it TO. THIS. DAY (yeah it's that good). Learn how to STAY grounded, clear, and powerful when sh*t hits the fan. Inside this episode, I'm sharing: ✨ What most people get wrong when trying to "tend to the relationship" ✨ Why not knowing your outcome can derail the entire conversation ✨ The surprising reason you might be avoiding hard convos (it's not what you think) And that's JUST the beginning. I walk you through the full 4-step Focus Tool that'll help you prepare and show up with presence — whether it's your co-counsel, your kid, or your partner. (Or save it for when you're about to text "we need to talk…") Tune in NOW! 🎧 Love, Sari 💖 Focus Tool Sheet - sariswears.com/focus-tool Quote: "Just because you're having a hard conversation doesn't mean it has to be a hard experience. When you're grounded in clarity, when you know what you're asking for, what your emotions are trying to tell you, and how you're contributing to the dynamic—you can show up with compassion and confidence." — Sari de la Motte Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SariDLM Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

If instinct is your only strategy in the courtroom, you've already lost ground. This week's episode might ruffle a few feathers. Because I'm calling BS on the myth of "natural trial talent." You know the one. 😉 The idea that great trial lawyers are just BORN that way. That some people just have it. Instincts are a starting point. BUT they'll only take you so far. If you're not practicing, really practicing, you're playing small. In this episode, I talk about: 👉🏽 Why you confuse instinct with what it really is: trained responsiveness 👉🏽 How trial lawyers need to practice like musicians or athletes 👉🏽 Why making mistakes in practice is exactly what you need 👉🏽 How mindset always wins over technical skill It's honest. It's direct. And it MIGHT just change how you prep for your next trial. Tune in NOW! 🎧 Love, Sari 💖 Quote: "It's not that you're born a natural. It's that you've done the reps. You've trained your brain and your body to respond a certain way in the courtroom. That's not magic—it's muscle. And every lawyer has the ability to build it." Sari Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SariDLM Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

If you've ever found yourself spiraling mid-trial, wondering "am I doing this right?" — this episode is for you. Because here's the truth: ⚡️ There is no "right." ⚡️ You can't perform your way to presence. ⚡️ You can't think your way into connection. You have to practice being present. In this episode, I share 7 ways to step out of your head and into the courtroom with power and presence. Here are 3 to get you started: 👉🏽 STOP trying to "get it right." That's just fear with lipstick. 👉🏽 FOCUS on being, not performing. Connection > content. 👉🏽 DITCH judgment. Curiosity kills the critic. Ask: "What's going on here?" The rest? You'll have to tune in to hear them. 😉 If you're craving MORE support, I'll be LIVE in our Portland courtroom teaching the Opening Masterclass on Nov 13–14. Only a FEW spots left. Come practice presence in the room with ME. Tune in NOW! 🎧 Love, Sari 💖 Quote: "If you're going to ask a jury for millions of dollars, you've got to be right with it. Not ashamed. Not shrinking. Not 'I hope they like me.' You have to believe it's the right thing to do. That kind of certainty is contagious and that's what jurors follow." -Sari Download resource sheet HERE Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SariDLM Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

We've all done it. Sat at our desk, typing out an opening statement word-for-word, hoping it'll somehow click once we're standing in court. But here's the thing: The way you practice is the way you'll perform. And if you're only rehearsing in your head, hunched over a keyboard, your brain's gonna BAIL on you the moment you stand up. In this week's podcast episode, I'm breaking down how to FINALLY get off your notes and deliver an opening that's confident, conversational, and compelling. I'm giving you: 🗒️ A better way to practice (yes, it's awkward…at first) 🗒️ My 5-step process to ditch the script 🗒️ And a whole lot of tough love (you know I can't help myself 😉) You DO NOT need to memorize your opening. You NEED to internalize it. Tune in NOW! 🎧 Love, Sari 💖 P.S. Spots for the Opening Masterclass (Nov 13–14) are filling up FAST. Lock in your spot NOW. Quote: "The thing you must understand is that you're not just delivering words. You're delivering you. If you haven't practiced your opening out loud—if you haven't stood in your body, heard your own voice, felt your own fear, worked through it—you won't connect. The jury will sense the dissonance. And that's why typing your opening and calling it done is a mistake. The practice is the performance. You've got to embody it before you ever walk into court." Sari Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SariDLM Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/