From Hostage To Hero

Let’s talk about mindset shifts that ACTUALLY WIN TRIALS. Anna Martinez ditched the fear-driven playbook and leaned into the POWER of juror connection. The result? 🎯 A CAREER-BOOSTING WIN. In this week’s episode, Anna breaks down the H2H strategies that led her to a confident, concise, and powerful case presentation: ✨ Step 1: Make voir dire count. Anna turned the awkward Q&A into a real conversation, making jurors feel respected, heard, and ready to stand behind her client. 🧠 Step 2: Simplify, simplify, simplify. Even with a case about drainage systems (not exactly Netflix material), Anna broke it down into a compelling narrative jurors could relate to and follow with ease. 🏠 Step 3: Show, don’t just tell. Using the “Damages House” framework from the brilliant Christy Crowe Childers (or TRIPLE C 💪 as I like to call her), Anna made every loss feel tangible, real, and impossible to overlook. If you’re TIRED of overwhelm, fear, and overcomplicating your trial strategies, THIS is the episode that will change your game.   Xo, Sari   Mentions: 12 Heroes, 1 Voice Anatomy of Lies The articles Quote:  “One of the things that I said is, well—what would Sari say?—‘What do you want to know from the jurors, Anna?’ I thought, ‘Oh, I know what I want to know. I want to know how many jurors here help people. Why is it important to help people? Why would you want to help people? That’s just out of the goodness of your heart. Basically, do you want to protect people and help them? Is that your spirit? Is that your heart?’ I want to find those people and put them on my jury.” — Anna Martinez   * * * * FREE H2H TRAINING * * * *  THREE POWERFUL STRATEGIES TO HELP READ A JUROR’S MIND Understand what the jury is thinking, so you can gain the confidence to trust them - and yourself - in the courtroom. Get the training here:  sariswears.com/jury    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/@saridelamotte Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

Join Frank Fratello, a Florida and Georgia trial attorney who recently snagged a stunning $2.1 million verdict after Sari de la Motte's training. He shares his rapid journey from learning the H2H Method to executing it flawlessly in court. Frank reveals how he skillfully engaged a skeptical jury facing daunting challenges, including no visible injuries and rejecting a million-dollar offer. His insights on trusting jurors and navigating high-stakes decisions offer an inspiring masterclass in courtroom confidence and strategy.

Let’s be real — holidays aren’t all twinkling lights and cozy vibes. In this week’s episode, we’re diving into 7 strategies to protect your energy during the holiday chaos. Here’s a sneak peek: 🎯 How to Say No: Without guilt. Without drama. Without over-explaining. 🎯 How to create boundaries that keep you sane and stress-free. 🎯 Why the “Grey Rock” technique is a lifesaver for dealing with toxic relatives. 🎯 How to find joy without bending over backward to meet everyone else’s expectations. Protect your energy, ditch the guilt, and learn how to actually enjoy the season. 🎄✨ 🎧 Ready to protect your peace? Listen now 👇🏽 Xo, Sari   Mentions: Grey Rock Technique Quote:  "Joy isn’t a to-do list item. Joy is something you need to notice. It’s something that’s in the ether that just bypasses us unless we’re looking for it. I have a personal mantra right now: 'I create space for joy.' We tend to think we don’t have time for joy, but once you create that space, you have more opportunities to find it. Look for it in those messy, funny moments, like when the flour spills on the floor and the dogs get powdery noses. Find the moments. They’re there if you look." — Sari de la Motte   * * * FREE H2H TRAINING * * * *  THREE POWERFUL STRATEGIES TO HELP READ A JUROR’S MIND Understand what the jury is thinking, so you can gain the confidence to trust them - and yourself - in the courtroom. Get the training here:  sariswears.com/jury  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/@saridelamotte Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/  

Christy Crowe Childers, a leading expert in trucking law and soon-to-be-published author, shares her innovative 'Damages House' strategy to help jurors analyze non-economic damages. She reveals how this visual framework simplifies the complex task of assigning value to emotional pain in trials. The discussion also emphasizes storytelling and understanding juror psychology, focusing on how metaphorical language can create impactful connections. With expert insights on trial techniques, Childers is ready to change the game in legal presentations!

I sat down with Coach Jody and Coach Marlo to discuss a smarter and more intentional way to tackle depositions. MOST attorneys are doing them on autopilot, and we’re here to show you HOW to approach them with purpose and creativity. Here’s what we cover: ➡ WHY fact-finding depos alone are holding you back and how to flip the narrative. ➡ THE DIFFERENCE between being reactive and proactive in depo prep. (Spoiler: one gets you better results.) ➡ HOW to bring the same clarity and confidence from voir dire into depos. ➡ WHY collaboration will always beat going it alone — EVERY TIME. Hit play NOW and start rethinking your depositions. Xo, Sari Quote:  "If I’m the director at trial, I’m also the director in the deposition. I want to direct where we’re going, not just follow where the witness leads me. Strategic depo work is how cases shift." -Coach Jody * * * * FREE H2H TRAINING * * * *  THREE POWERFUL STRATEGIES TO HELP READ A JUROR’S MIND Understand what the jury is thinking, so you can gain the confidence to trust them - and yourself - in the courtroom. Get the training here:  sariswears.com/jury  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/@saridelamotte Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/  

What does it take to turn a tough case into a $262.5 MILLION VERDICT? This week, we’re breaking down the career-changing H2H strategies behind one of the biggest dram shop cases in history. Here’s what’s in store for you: 💡 How to simplify your opening statement without losing the jury’s attention. 🧠 How juror-centric voir dire builds trust and turns jurors into allies. 🎯 The mindset shifts that let the team to let go and to trust jurors to do the right thing. 🔥 The “truth torch” method that brings authenticity and impact into every argument. Want to know how this team pulled it off and what YOU can learn to dominate your next trial? Listen now and level up your game. 🎧⚡ Xo, Sari   Quote:  "Trial work isn’t about tricks or manipulation — it’s about love. Love for your client, your team, the jury, and even opposing counsel. It’s about stepping into your client’s shoes, truly feeling what they’ve endured, and translating that for the jury. When you focus on love and truth, you strip away fear. You don’t need to win every trial, but when you stand in that space of truth, it’s not a fair fight—and it shouldn’t be."  — Jon Bailey   * * * * FREE H2H TRAINING * * * *  THREE POWERFUL STRATEGIES TO HELP READ A JUROR’S MIND Understand what the jury is thinking, so you can gain the confidence to trust them - and yourself - in the courtroom. Get the training here:  sariswears.com/jury    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/@saridelamotte Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/  

🚨REALITY CHECK: Many lawyers live in what they think is fear, but let’s be honest — most of it is just manufactured worry. That’s where Gavin de Becker’s book, The Gift of Fear, comes in. He discusses the difference between real fear and everyday worries.  🗨️ “Worry is a way to avoid admitting powerlessness... it is a protection against future disappointment.”  But REAL fear is different — it’s intuitive, it’s a useful signal to get yourself to safety. AND (despite what y’all seem to think), winning your case is NOT a life-or-death situation. 🙃 When you spend hours obsessing over every possible terrifying outcome of your case, you’re wasting your precious energy.  Not to mention, you are desensitizing yourself against the real fear signals that your body is evolutionarily hardwired to send.  When you learn to separate the do-or-die moments from the not-so-serious ones, you gain the power to control your fear response, instead of letting it control you. Tune in to fine-tune your fear radar. 🎯   Xo, Sari PS. I want to give you a trigger warning — in this podcast, I’ll read excerpts from the book that include violent situations that can be triggering for some. If that’s not your cup of tea, I’ll see you in the next episode! ❤️   Mentions: The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker Quote:  “Y’all talk about fear being a motivator, and I'm going to suggest that that is bollocks. Fear is the worst motivator in terms of the type of work that you're doing. And the author, Gavin de Becker, says that if we're scared all the time, we don't leave room for real fear to do its job when needed.” * * * * FREE H2H TRAINING * * * *  THREE POWERFUL STRATEGIES TO HELP READ A JUROR’S MIND Understand what the jury is thinking, so you can gain the confidence to trust them - and yourself - in the courtroom. Get the training here:  sariswears.com/jury  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/@saridelamotte Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/  

I’ve got two INCREDIBLE voices joining me: Coach Jody (a.k.a Jody F’ing Moore 😄) and our newest chief collaborator, Coach Marlo Arnold!  Together, we’re tackling a topic so many attorneys struggle with: prepping expert witnesses for trial.  Some key points we hit: 🔑 Finding the Balance: Jody and Marlo dig into what happens when we underprepare OR overprepare our experts — and why a middle ground is where the magic happens. 🔑 Forget the Script: We’re all about genuine conversations. Scripting your expert to the point they sound robotic? It’s not helping anyone. 🔑 Mindset Matters: We break down why mindset is key, and how SCARF principles can help experts keep calm, stay confident, and connect with the jury. Whether you’re preparing for a major trial or just want to brush up on best practices, this episode’s got you covered. Xo, Sari   Quote:  "Your expert isn’t there to be a robot on the stand. They need to be human, for fuck’s sake—calm, connected, and ready to throw down if they have to. That’s how you get the jury to actually trust them."  — Coach Jody * * * * FREE H2H TRAINING * * * *  THREE POWERFUL STRATEGIES TO HELP READ A JUROR’S MIND Understand what the jury is thinking, so you can gain the confidence to trust them - and yourself - in the courtroom. Get the training here:  sariswears.com/jury  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/@saridelamotte Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

Learn how to captivate a jury right from your opening statement. Discover why focusing on what not to do sets you up for failure. Instead, frame the defense's actions as deliberate choices, highlighting their shortcomings. This approach not only grabs attention but also guides jurors toward understanding the facts clearly. Plus, get insights into structuring an effective teaching section that resonates with jurors. Ready to transform your courtroom game? Tune in for these invaluable strategies!

Discover how to build rapport with judges to transform them into your strongest allies in the courtroom. Learn strategies to approach them transparently and respectfully, reducing side-eye moments and objections. Dive into the art of structured conversations, enhancing communication with jurors and clients alike. Explore the significance of collaboration in jury selection, reimagining traditional methods for a more inclusive approach. This lively discussion unpacks the dynamics between judges and attorneys, empowering you to navigate the courtroom effectively.