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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 #36 - How Your Breathing Shapes Jury Decision-Making show art FYV #36 - How Your Breathing Shapes Jury Decision-Making

Foster Your Voice Podcast with Kristi Foster

Breathing is something we do all day without thinking—but in the courtroom, how you breathe can make or break your presence. In this episode, I unpack why breath is the most underutilized tool trial attorneys have for grounding themselves, projecting confidence, and even regulating the jury’s emotional state. You’ll discover how the mechanics of breath affect your voice, how the nervous system responds to shallow vs. deep breathing, and why your breath is contagious in the courtroom.   In this episode, you’ll learn: Why shallow breathing leads to vocal strain, fatigue, and...

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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...

info_outline FYV #28 - Sigh Loud, Yawn Big: Nervous System Tools Hiding in Plain Sight show art 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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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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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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