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The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast
Trial lawyers can be real people, too—and this podcast proves it. The Velvet Hammer™ is back, and this time, Karen Koehler isn’t going it alone. Known for her fearless advocacy, bold storytelling, and, yes, even the occasional backwards dress moment, Karen is teaming up with Mo Hamoudi, a lawyer, poet, and storyteller whose empathy and resilience add a whole new dynamic to the show.
Together, they’re pulling back the curtain on trial law, diving into bold topics, heartfelt stories, and the messy, hilarious moments that make trial lawyers human. This is an unscripted, raw, and fun take on life inside—and outside—the courtroom.
Episodes
143 episodes
Sean Combs on Trial: Jury Out For Deliberation
Episode 24: Sean Combs on Trial: Jury Out For DeliberationAs the jury deliberates in the explosive federal case against Sean “Diddy” Combs, attorneys Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi break down the charges, evidence, and legal strateg...
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Season 5
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Episode 24
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26:43
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Confronting the Money Taboo in Plaintiff Work
Episode 23: Confronting the Money Taboo in Plaintiff WorkWhat happens when you’ve spent your whole life avoiding money, and now your entire job is to ask for it in the name of justice?In this episode, Mo Hamoudi opens up ab...
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Season 5
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Episode 23
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38:33
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Post-Settlement Syndrome
Episode 22: Post-Settlement Syndrome In this episode of The Velvet Hammer™, Karen and Mo talk about the emotional crash that hits when you’re “all dressed up and nowhere to party.” Karen calls it post-settlement synd...
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Season 5
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Episode 22
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25:29
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The Archetypes That Drive Us in Life and Law
Episode 21: The Archetypes That Drive Us in Life and LawHave you ever noticed how you show up differently depending on the room you're in? In this episode, Karen, Mo, and Mike explore the inner archetypes that shape our thoughts, ...
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Season 5
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Episode 21
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38:20
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Karen Koehler on Leadership Challenges in Managing a Law Firm
Episode 20: Karen Koehler on Leadership Challenges in Managing a Law FirmCan being too humble hold you back?Karen opens up about her leadership style, one that p...
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Season 5
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Episode 20
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21:29
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The Punk Move: When Abusers Use SLAPP Suits to Silence Survivors
🎙️ Episode 19: The Punk Move: When Abusers Use SLAPP suits to Silence SurvivorsWhat happens when the accused turns around and sues the person making the accusation? Karen and Mo dive into the disturbing rise of SLAPP suits — laws...
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Season 5
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Episode 19
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26:57
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The Art of Driving Defense Lawyers Crazy
Episode 18: The Art of Driving Defense Lawyers CrazyIn this episode of The Velvet Hammer™ podcast, Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi break down the tactics that send defense lawyers into a spiral and explain why that’s not onl...
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Season 5
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Episode 18
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32:26
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Goal Setting, Dreams, and the People Who Shape Them
Episode 17: Goal Setting, Dreams, and the People Who Shape ThemIn this episode of The Velvet Hammer™ podcast, Karen, Mo, and Mike dive into the raw, reflective, and often uncomfortable goal-setting process. What is the re...
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Season 5
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Episode 17
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42:58
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In Defense of Flip-Flopping: Why Adaptability Matters in Law
Episode 16: In Defense of Flip-Flopping: Why Adaptability Matters in LawKaren Koehler opens up about her so-called "flip-flopping," her tendency to change her mind, and reframes it as one of her greatest strengths. From trial tact...
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Season 5
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Episode 16
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34:09
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Why We Suck at Celebrating Wins
Episode 15: Why We Suck at Celebrating Wins It’s been a week of big wins. Sanctions against Amazon. Settlements in multiple cases. Momentum heading into trial. And yet, instead of celebrating, Karen and Mo are back in the offi...
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Season 5
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Episode 15
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20:08
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Why Trial Lawyers Must Talk About Money (Even When It’s Uncomfortable)
Episode 14: Why Trial Lawyers Must Talk About Money (Even When It’s Uncomfortable)Is money the most uncomfortable topic in the courtroom? For many trial lawyers, yes. But when it comes to representing injured clients, avoid...
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Season 5
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Episode 14
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46:42
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Karen’s Journal Entry at 19: Crisis is Perpetual
Episode 13: Karen’s Journal Entry at 19: Crisis is PerpetualAt 19, Karen wrote a stream of consciousness that no one had ever read. Until now. In this episode, she shares that handwritten journal entry and opens up a conversation with Mo...
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Season 5
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Episode 13
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42:53
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What Compels Us to Become Lawyers
Episode 12: What Compels Us to Become Lawyers Content note: This episode includes discussion of domestic violence, trauma, and mental health challenges, including suicidal ideation. Please take care while watching....
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Season 5
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Episode 12
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38:41
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The Unlikeable Client
Episode 11: The Unlikeable ClientTrigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of domestic violence, including descriptions of abuse. Please listen with care.What happens when your client isn’t someone a jury mig...
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Season 5
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Episode 11
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39:48
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Sanctions, Sanctions, Sanctions - Read All About It
Episode 12: Sanctions, Sanctions, Sanctions – Read All About ItIn this episode of The Velvet Hammer™, Karen and Mo dive into the wild world of sanctions. What they are, why they matter, and how defense firms push the limi...
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Season 5
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Episode 10
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46:14
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Responding to Listener Feedback That Took Us by Surprise
Episode 9: Responding to Listener Feedback That Took Us by SurpriseKaren Koehler and Mo Hamoudi planned to revisit their worst courtroom arguments, but listener feedback completely changed the conversation. Some reactions w...
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Season 5
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Episode 9
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35:07
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The Worst Arguments We’ve Ever Made (And What We Learned) - Part 1
Episode 8: The Worst Arguments We’ve Ever Made (And What We Learned) - Part 1In this episode of The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast, Karen Koehler & Mo Hamoudi dive into some of the worst courtroom arguments they've ever made an...
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Season 5
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Episode 8
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25:56
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The "Prototype Lawyer" and Losing Identity in Law | Part 2
Episode 7: The "Prototype Lawyer" and Losing Identity in Law | Part 2In Part 2 of The Prototype Lawyer series, Karen and Mo break down what it really means to step outside the mold of a traditional lawyer. Karen shares a ...
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Season 5
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Episode 7
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39:54
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The "Prototype Lawyer" and Losing Identity in Law | Part 1
Episode 6: The "Prototype Lawyer" and Losing Identity in Law | Part 1Does becoming a lawyer mean losing yourself? Karen and Mo explore how individuality gets replaced by the expectations of being a “prototype lawyer.” From ...
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Season 5
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Episode 6
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15:06
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When Defense Lawyers Weaponize Discovery Requests
Episode 5: When Defense Lawyers Weaponize Discovery RequestsHow far will defense lawyers go to harass and intimidate plaintiffs? In this episode of The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast, Karen Koehler, Mo Hamoudi, and special guest behind th...
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Season 5
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Episode 5
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29:40
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Sexism In the Legal Field
Episode 4: Sexism In the Legal FieldHave you ever walked into a room and been completely dismissed based on how you look? Karen has—too many times to count.In this episode, Karen and Mo get real about sexism in the...
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Season 5
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Episode 4
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39:59
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Misconceptions, Control, and Breaking the Mold
Episode 3: Misconceptions, Control, and Breaking the MoldIn this episode, Karen and Mo dive into misconceptions about trial lawyers, the myth of control, and the challenges of breaking from the legal establishment. They dis...
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Season 5
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Episode 3
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20:17
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Finding Humor in the Hardest Cases
Episode 2: Finding Humor in the Hardest CasesHow do you carry the weight of the world without letting it crush you?In this episode of The Velvet Hammer™, Karen and Mo explore the essential role of humor in...
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Season 5
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Episode 2
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12:12
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Introducing Mo – From Public Defender to Stritmatter Lawyer
Episode 1: Introducing Mo – From Public Defender to Stritmatter LawyerWelcome to Season 5 of The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast, where Karen Koehler teams up with attorney Mo Hamoudi for honest conversations on law, life, and every...
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Season 5
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Episode 1
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9:52
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Finding Free Time: The Unfamiliar Territory of a Trial Lawyer
#112 - In this episode, The Velvet Hammer, Karen Koehler, takes us inside the rarest of occurrences—having free time. As someone who thrives on the chaos of running a law firm and being a trial lawyer, Karen shares the weird feeling of clearing...
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Season 4
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Episode 7
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18:51
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