FYV #14 - The 5 Building Blocks: Pace & Melody
Foster Your Voice Podcast with Kristi Foster
Release Date: 04/14/2025
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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FYV #24 - How to Handle Nerves and Reset Your System Fast
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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FYV #23 - Balancing Logic and Emotion: The Key to Memorable Advocacy
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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FYV #22 - The Body Language Fix That Builds Trust and Carries Your Voice
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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FYV #21 - Speak So They Can Hear You
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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FYV #20 - Vocal First Aid: What Actually Helps When Your Voice is Shot
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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FYV #19 - Self-care has a PR problem
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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FYV #18 - Why You Can’t Trust Your Brain (And What To Do Instead)
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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FYV #17 - Learning to Fail Forward
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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FYV #16 - The 5 Building Blocks: Tone
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...
info_outlineIn this episode of the Foster Your Voice Podcast, we continue our series on the 5 Building Blocks of Voice with a double feature: Pace and Melody. These two tools are vital for keeping jurors engaged and emotionally connected to your case.
You'll learn why your natural cadence must be paired with purposeful pausing—not just for drama, but because cognitive overload is real. And when it comes to melody, we’re not talking about singing—we’re talking about the shape of your vocal phrases and how they direct jurors' attention, signal energy shifts, and shape meaning.
If you’ve ever wondered how to slow down for impact, speed up for chaos, or break out of a robotic speaking pattern, this one's for you.
READY TO PRACTICE?
Get the FREE practice guide I've created as a supplement to this episode. It's called Pace & Pause: The Perfect Pair and it gives you step-by-step instructions and practice passages to work on your pacing. I even tell you exactly when to pause. How long you pause is up to you, but the timer is on!
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR FREE GUIDE TODAY!
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ Why pausing is essential for juror comprehension
✅ How your natural speaking cadence affects how long you need to pause
✅ How ascending, descending, and monotone melody affect listener engagement
✅ When to break vocal patterns to create contrast and emotional shifts
✅ Why strategic pacing and melodic variety can help you shape how jurors learn and feel
Key Takeaways:
🎯 Pacing is not just about speed—it's about pausing. Jurors can't process information while you're still talking.
🎯 Processing happens in the pause. If you're not pausing, you're not helping jurors “save” and understand what matters.
🎯 Melody shapes energy and focus. It’s not about punctuation—it's about intention and emotional direction.
🎯 All three melody types—ascending, descending, and monotone—have a place. But patterns create predictability, which kills engagement.
🎯 Strategic variation keeps jurors alert and emotionally attuned to your story.
Resources & Next Steps:
📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FosterYourVoice
🎧 Missed Episode 13 on Pitch? Go back and listen to build your foundation: https://www.fostervoicestudio.com/blog/podcast13
📩 Want personal coaching or have questions? DM Kristi on Instagram/Facebook or email [email protected]
🗓️ Next Episode Teaser: We’ll be tackling Volume—and revealing a secret formula you won’t want to miss.
Keep fostering your voice. Your jurors—and your client—are counting on it.