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FYV #12 - Neurodiversity in the Jury Box: Are You Helping or Hurting?

Foster Your Voice Podcast with Kristi Foster

Release Date: 03/31/2025

FYV #25 - What Jurors Really Need from You: Time show art FYV #25 - What Jurors Really Need from You: Time

Foster Your Voice Podcast with Kristi Foster

In today’s episode, we’re diving into one of the most overlooked yet powerful courtroom tools: pacing and pausing. It may sound simple, but neuroscience shows us it’s anything but.   When trial attorneys speak too fast or gloss over key ideas without space, jurors fall behind—not because they’re not listening, but because the brain physically can’t process and store that much information all at once.   In this episode, you’ll learn how slowing down isn’t just kind—it’s critical to juror comprehension, memory, and informs how they add meaning to your message....

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Foster Your Voice Podcast with Kristi Foster

In this episode of Foster Your Voice, we’re diving into something every trial attorney faces—nerves. Not just the feeling, but the full-body cascade that comes with it: shaky hands, dry mouth, racing thoughts, tight throat.   Instead of trying to “power through,” what if you could lead your body back to calm—so your voice could follow?   You’ll learn how nervous system responses affect your courtroom presence, why nervousness is actually a sign your brain’s working correctly, and the simple breathing tool that can help you reset in real time. If you’ve ever wondered...

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Foster Your Voice Podcast with Kristi Foster

In this episode, we dive into a critical—but often misunderstood—aspect of courtroom communication: why facts alone aren’t enough to make jurors care. Pairing logical information with emotional presence isn’t about performance—it’s about leadership. You’ll learn how to use tone, breath, and vocal intention to bring meaning to your case, so jurors don’t just understand the facts… they remember and act on them.   In this episode, you’ll learn: Why facts without emotional context are forgettable The neuroscience behind emotional memory and juror decision-making How...

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Foster Your Voice Podcast with Kristi Foster

In today’s episode, we’re exploring a courtroom tool that’s easy to overlook—but once you get it, you’ll never go back: forward-balanced energy. This subtle shift in how you carry your body changes your stamina, presence, vocal ease, and ability to connect. We’ll talk about what forward-balanced posture is (and isn’t), how it helps you stay mentally present, and a simple practice you can try today to activate your natural speaking position—whether you’re at trial, in depo, or gearing up for a tough mediation.   In this episode, you’ll learn: What forward-balanced...

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Foster Your Voice Podcast with Kristi Foster

In this episode of Foster Your Voice, we're tackling one of the most common and costly habits smart attorneys fall into: speaking from expertise instead of to understanding. When you forget where your jurors are starting from, you risk losing them before your best material even lands. This episode breaks down how to translate legalese into language that sticks—so your words reach real people, not just legal minds. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why “knowing too much” is a communication trap How to speak to jurors using their own words—not yours The difference between showcasing...

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Foster Your Voice Podcast with Kristi Foster

Ever lost your voice right before a big moment? Whether you're in the courtroom or on stage, vocal health is not something you can just “fix” when it breaks—it’s something you build before the crisis hits. In this episode, we’re breaking down the do’s, don’ts, myths, and remedies around vocal fatigue, scratchy throats, and how to actually care for your voice. From salt & vinegar chips to nebulizers to the real role of rest, you’ll walk away with practical tools—and maybe a little tough love—to keep your voice courtroom-ready.   In this episode, you'll learn: Why...

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Foster Your Voice Podcast with Kristi Foster

When most people think of self-care, they imagine candles, baths, or maybe a vacation. But sometimes the most powerful version of self-care is the quiet, resolute no — especially when that no means honoring who you’ve become, not who you were. In this episode, Kristi shares a personal story that reshaped her view of self-care, and explores how trial attorneys (and high-achievers in general) can redefine care not as indulgence, but as essential fuel for growth and performance.   💡 Key Takeaway: Self-care isn’t always soft — sometimes it’s about saying no, letting go, and...

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Foster Your Voice Podcast with Kristi Foster

Trial attorneys, ever catch yourself spiraling right before opening? Feeling off but blaming it on lack of preparation—even though you know your case inside and out? In this episode, Kristi reveals a powerful truth that could shift everything: you don’t have to believe every thought you think. 🤯   Learn how your brain’s job of survival—not accuracy—can derail courtroom performance, and discover how the CLEAR Framework helps you pause, reframe, and show up as the advocate and leader your jury needs.   Plus: a real-world example of what makes someone feel heard—and how...

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Foster Your Voice Podcast with Kristi Foster

Let’s be honest—failure sucks. But avoiding it altogether? That might be even worse.   In this episode, I reflect on my newfound fascination with sports—yes, sports!—and the surprising thing I’m learning from athletes that has nothing to do with winning... and everything to do with how they handle losing.   🧠 Inside this episode: How my non-athlete, choir-kid roots made me risk-averse for years What sports like cycling, March Madness, and the NFL Combine taught me about mindset Why athletes seem shockingly good at failing—and how they bounce back mid-game A...

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Foster Your Voice Podcast with Kristi Foster

It’s not what you said. It’s how you said it. Your tone delivers emotion before your jurors even process the words. And if you’re not intentional with your tone, you may be sending the wrong emotional cues—and shutting jurors down without even realizing it. In today’s episode, we wrap up our 5 Building Blocks of Voice series by focusing on TONE—the often-overlooked element that carries the emotional weight of your message.   🔍 In this episode, you’ll learn: How tone can create momentum, authority, compassion, or conflict What happens when...

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Jurors come from all walks of life, and their ability to process and engage with courtroom information varies widely. In this episode, we explore the importance of recognizing neurodiversity in the jury pool and discuss practical ways trial attorneys can create a more inclusive, engaging courtroom experience. From avoiding legal jargon to adjusting your pacing and body language, these small but powerful shifts can make a major difference in how jurors absorb and retain crucial case information.

 

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

  1. Why my role as a “practice juror” in coaching trial attorneys is so valuable
  2. The evolving conversation around neurodiversity and why language matters
  3. How standardized jury instructions and note-taking policies can create barriers
  4. Simple ways to make voir dire, openings, and trial presentations more accessible
  5. The power of pacing, pausing, and intentional body language for better juror engagement

 

Resources & Next Steps:

IG Reel about goals - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DF3odyCSsAx/?igsh=MXM2a3FydzNxbzRpbg==

Science on Tap website - https://www.scienceontaporwa.org/

Nat'l Institute of Health - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6513874/

Kara Jorgensen Blog - https://karajorgensen.com/2023/07/30/neurodivergence-and-jury-duty/

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