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FYV #21 - Speak So They Can Hear You

Foster Your Voice Podcast with Kristi Foster

Release Date: 06/02/2025

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...

info_outline FYV #35 - The Trial Attorney’s Guide to Clear Communication show art 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...

info_outline FYV #34 - How Gestures Shape Juror Perception show art 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...

info_outline FYV #33 - Sound Louder Without Straining: The Mistake Most Attorneys Make show art 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...

info_outline FYV #32 - Active Silence: How Confident Attorneys Say Less—and Win More show art 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...

info_outline FYV #31 - The Courtroom Code Switch: Mastering Dual Audiences show art 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...

info_outline FYV #30 - Why It Gets Harder Right Before It Gets Easier show art 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...

info_outline FYV #29 - The Easiest Vocal Warm-Up You’re (Probably) Not Doing show art 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...

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...

info_outline FYV #27 - The Primacy & Recency Effect: How First and Last Impressions Impact Your Case show art 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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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:

  1. Why “knowing too much” is a communication trap

  2. How to speak to jurors using their own words—not yours

  3. The difference between showcasing and inviting

  4. How to reframe opening statements as acts of hospitality

  5. Simple ways to use AI (and your team) to uncover juror-friendly phrasing

  6. Why silence in court may be the most powerful move you make

Key Takeaway:

If you want jurors to adopt your case theory, you first have to meet them in their language. You’re not dumbing it down—you’re welcoming them in.

Favorite moment:

“Your opening statement is not a showcase. You’re not just explaining. You’re inviting. It’s a hospitality moment.”

Links & Resources:

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