Foster Your Voice Podcast Trailer
Foster Your Voice Podcast with Kristi Foster
Release Date: 12/24/2024
FYV #35 - The Trial Attorney’s Guide to Clear Communication
Foster Your Voice Podcast with Kristi Foster
Clarity in the courtroom isn’t about dumbing things down—it’s about making your ideas stick. In this episode, we explore why clarity is often confused with oversimplification, how the brain processes language, and what trial attorneys can do to ensure jurors not only hear their message but remember it when it matters most. From word choice to pacing to structure, we’ll break down the science of clear communication and how it becomes a powerful tool of persuasion. In this episode, you'll learn: Why clarity is different from simplification (and why that matters in trial). How...
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FYV #34 - How Gestures Shape Juror Perception
Foster Your Voice Podcast with Kristi Foster
“What do I do with my hands?” If you’ve ever wondered this, you’re not alone. In this episode, Kristi breaks down why gestures aren’t just decoration—they’re part of how jurors learn from you. From the science of dual coding theory to the common gesture mistakes that undercut credibility, you’ll learn how to use your hands intentionally to reinforce your message, build trust, and increase juror retention. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why jurors don’t just listen with their ears—they “listen” with their eyes The difference between gestures that support your...
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FYV #33 - Sound Louder Without Straining: The Mistake Most Attorneys Make
Foster Your Voice Podcast with Kristi Foster
If you’ve ever been told, “I can’t hear you,” or you end the day with a sore throat after trial, this episode is for you. Kristi breaks down why vocal power is not about shouting—it’s about breath, resonance, and presence. You’ll learn how to project your voice so it carries clearly across the courtroom, without effort, without strain, and without sacrificing authority. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why “not being loud enough” is often a breath or resonance problem—not a personality trait How to use your diaphragm to fuel your voice efficiently The difference...
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FYV #32 - Active Silence: How Confident Attorneys Say Less—and Win More
Foster Your Voice Podcast with Kristi Foster
Most trial attorneys work for years to master the art of persuasion, but there’s one skill that rarely gets the spotlight—and yet can shift the entire dynamic of a courtroom: active silence. In this episode, Kristi unpacks how strategic pauses and stillness can give your message space to land, build trust with jurors, and amplify your presence without saying a word. In this episode, you’ll learn: The difference between awkward silence and active silence Why jurors process information more slowly than you—and how to match their pace How stillness communicates...
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FYV #31 - The Courtroom Code Switch: Mastering Dual Audiences
Foster Your Voice Podcast with Kristi Foster
Today, we're diving into a trial skill that's always tested but rarely taught: how to speak both fluent legalese and fluent human. In this episode, we talk about why mastering both languages—and knowing when to switch between them—is one of the most overlooked courtroom leadership tools. If you want to connect with jurors, clarify your message for witnesses, and lead the room with clarity and credibility, this conversation is a must. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why being too good at legal language can actually backfire in front of a jury The difference between speaking to the...
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FYV #30 - Why It Gets Harder Right Before It Gets Easier
Foster Your Voice Podcast with Kristi Foster
Ever made a bold move—only to feel doubt, tension, or total emotional whiplash after the fact? You’re not alone, and you’re not doing it wrong. In this episode, Kristi breaks down two powerful concepts from psychology—lagging indicators and extinction bursts—that explain why growth feels so uncomfortable right before it clicks. Whether you’re stepping into greater courtroom presence or shifting long-held habits, this conversation will help you make sense of the chaos and stay the course when it counts. In this episode, you’ll learn: What “lagging indicators” and...
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FYV #29 - The Easiest Vocal Warm-Up You’re (Probably) Not Doing
Foster Your Voice Podcast with Kristi Foster
Warming up your voice doesn’t have to be a big production—and it definitely doesn’t require an hour, a piano, or a mirror. In this episode, Kristi shares how to weave professional-grade vocal warmups into your real life using one of the simplest (and most effective) tools around: humming. Learn how to habit-stack vocal prep into your daily routine so your voice stays healthy, responsive, and strong—even on the busiest days in trial. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why vocal warmups are more important now than ever (especially as you get older) What humming does for your...
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FYV #28 - Sigh Loud, Yawn Big: Nervous System Tools Hiding in Plain Sight
Foster Your Voice Podcast with Kristi Foster
Sighing and yawning might seem too simple—or too socially awkward—to be real tools for trial prep. But in this episode, we unpack why these everyday reflexes are actually powerful nervous system resets that support vocal clarity, mental focus, and courtroom presence. Learn how to use these low-stakes practices to train your voice and regulate your body for the high-stakes moments of trial. *ADDED NOTE: It goes without saying that, even though I advocate for a more lighthearted approach to public yawning, one should not negate some decorum when it comes to yawning while in conversation with...
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FYV #27 - The Primacy & Recency Effect: How First and Last Impressions Impact Your Case
Foster Your Voice Podcast with Kristi Foster
Whether onstage or in the courtroom, the way you start and the way you end deeply shapes what people remember. In this episode, we explore the neuroscience-backed principles of primacy and recency—why jurors remember your opening and closing far more than the middle—and how to use that knowledge to structure your case with clarity, impact, and emotional resonance. From voir dire to final argument, your first and last impressions aren’t just about style—they’re strategy. In this episode, you’ll learn: What the primacy effect and recency effect mean for trial attorneys How...
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FYV #26 - Let Your Hands Talk: An Attorney’s Guide to Meaningful Movement
Foster Your Voice Podcast with Kristi Foster
In this episode, we’re talking about something you’re probably already doing—but maybe not doing intentionally: using your hands while you speak. Gestures aren’t just habits or quirks—they’re powerful tools that support juror focus, retention, and engagement. When synced with your voice, gestures give your message shape, structure, and visual reinforcement. We’ll break down the neuroscience, practical gesture types, and real-world courtroom tips to help your body support your message—without overthinking or over-choreographing. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why...
info_outlineWelcome to Foster Your Voice Podcast with me, Kristi Foster! After a 30-year career in music and theater, I never imagined I’d be coaching trial attorneys—but once I entered your world, I quickly realized how critical, and underutilized, voice is in the courtroom.
Here's the truth: you don’t win trials with brute strength—you win with your voice. So why isn't vocal development your top priority?
"Well, this is the voice I was born with. I do what i can with it. But, I can't change it. If I could, I would, because I hate what I sound like when I listen back to deposition recordings. I'm so monotone, and I have so many "ums & ahs."
Does that sound like you? Are those thoughts you've had? You're not alone. But...
I've got GREAT news for you though. Sure, you were born with vocal cords, but your voice is learned. Think of it like an instrument. Anyone can plunk a few notes on a piano. But, a piano can be learned. You can grow in your understanding of the instrument, learn how to expand beyond the plunked notes to being able to play the full range that's available.
Your vocal cords are the instrument, but how you play that "instrument"...THAT'S your voice. And it can be learned. I'll give you tools to unlock your voice, to learn how to "play" it, so you can communicate not just with purpose, but on purpose.
If you want quick action tips to help you stay calm & in control, keep jurors engaged, and inspire your listeners to action—all through the power of your voice—you're in the right place.
In this podcast, I'll be teaching you about vocal building blocks, nonverbal communication techniques, breath management to hack your nervous system, and how to challenge your limiting beliefs around your courtroom communication style.
I want you to think of yourself as part of the Foster Fam. In this podcast, you'll have a safe, and fun, space to explore your voice, expand your range, and become the courtroom leader you’re meant to be.
I’m Kristi Foster, and I'm here to help YOU "foster your voice."
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By visiting fostervoicestudio.com so you can get my weekly Vocal Tip delivered every Tuesday to your inbox.
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Find me over on Instagram at @fostervoicestudio where I'm dropping little nuggets of vocal technique and leadership wisdom.
Keep "fostering your voice."