Punctuating the first season of The Heart of Law, Mirena invites the perfectly sanguine and finely enlightened guest, Ilya Lerma, into the show. Our riveting anchor calls Ilya the New Age Lawyer, and the title fits her well. Ilya gives us a backdrop of a picturesque childhood entrenched with philosophy and a keen awareness of others. Nurtured by accomplished and astute parents who lovingly raised her to have a sentient worldview beyond her youth, she saw life through the eyes of Kant, Jung, Hume, among other empiricists and rationalists who later influenced her adult life. Deeply transformed by CC Zane's Spiritual Alchemy, Ilya considers the "material universe [as] a manifestation of the metaphysical universe," perceiving everyday pressures as mere tools of refinement "into spirit and transcendence." She views the personal and professional pressure of the daily grind as the "alchemical furnace," effectively used by the universe to refine her intuition, her consciousness, her humanity. While she acknowledges her law practice as "a little unorthodox," we know Ilya is as endearing as they come—regularly earthing (removing shoes for one's soles to commune with the earth), faithfully meditating, and gently pursuing vivid connections with everyone. With the soul of a seeker, she understands the intrinsic value of showing trustworthiness, perceiving that authenticity makes for meaningful work, relationships, and existence. Into the deep dive, Ilya leads us through the fascinating world of Trial Structure, a scientifically systematized method of taking, streamlining, and organizing information from plaintive cases, so lawyers know how to efficiently "recognize predictable patterns of … attack [and] anticipate them." Ilya runs this company alongside her mentor and friend, Alejandro Blanco. With a prolific team of seasoned trial lawyers, they prepare inexperienced colleagues to handle the complexities of a case and more. As the conversation continues, Mirena and Ilya discuss the impact women have in the law industry. With Ilya as the current president of the Arizona Trial Lawyers Association—the first woman to hold office in 20 years—she stays at the forefront representing women who influence the "changing landscape" of their profession. They touch on organic feminine allegiances, unique client advocacy, versatile plaintiff representations, all driven by the capable female id. WIth minds in perfect sync, the two indomitable women consider a promising future for themselves and their contemporaries. Ilya bewitches us completely. She loves life. She loves others. She loves herself—inviting us all to do the same. Fearless love " … it's always there, and there's never any fear that you're going to [fall] short." That's one transcendent edict bringing The Heart of Law's first season to a sublime close. EPISODE SURVEY[00:18:54] - Taking ownership of your life[00:32:53] - Improving family life [00:41:15] - Ilya's unorthodox approach to practicing law [00:44:02] - Introducing trial structures[01:00:05] - Ilya's future career endeavors [01:12:46] - Importance of women being ambitious in law[01:24:57] - Benefits of self-discovery in the professional world

QUOTABLE QUOTES"You can blame [people] all you want, or you can figure out what it is you need to do to fix yourself to get on a path that's going to give you some meaning so that you don't keep repeating these unhealthy patterns.""Surrendering your choices to somebody else to dictate your life only means that you then have someone to blame when your life doesn't turn out the way you want it to.""If your life doesn't look like [how] you want it to, own it a hundred percent. It's your responsibility.""Talk to yourself as you would a friend.""You don't have to do it all today.""Just get up. You just got to beat it one more time.""My journey to becoming more self-aware and much more of a conscious being has shown itself more and my parenting than anything else.""Communicating is communing. And we forget that … not only do I commune with people [and] with my children, but I have a communion within myself. And it's deeply gratifying."" When you are able to love [yourself], you truly love everybody.""We're going to have to rethink the business of law ""In order to be a great lawyer, you have to be adventurous. You have to try a lot. You have to be open to everything, because the people that you're going to encounter in your practice [and represent], are people that have had… a very colorful life. And unless you understand who they are, you can't possibly represent them correctly."

ABOUT OUR GUEST

• Attorney at Law, Trial Coach, and Consultant at Ilya Law
• President-Elect of the Arizona Trial Lawyers Association
• Recently obtained a $20 million settlement in the state of California
• Speaker for the Arizona Advanced Trial Advocacy Fall 2021 Conference
• Recipient of several honors and awards, including Arizona Trial Lawyer-Volunteer Lawyer of the Year (2014), Featured Speaker Arizona Association for Justice, Trial Advocacy Conference (2014), Arizona Latina Women in Business panelist (2012), Clean Technologies, "Fresh-Faces" Presenter and Award Recipient (2010)
• Author of several published works and novels

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

• Swing by Ilya's practice in Arizona
• Here is more on Trial Structure
• Books Ilya recommends: The Immortality Key by Brian Muraresku, Mastery of Love by Miguel Ruiz, and Deeply influenced by C.C. Zain
• Check out Ilya's latest, big win
• Learn more about the Arizona Trial Lawyers Association
• Visit Mirena's Chic Website and LinkedIn
• Shownotes and podcast production by Caryl Veloso, Founder & COO of Almond Tree Writers' Ink, LLC

How, indeed, do we "turn our back from the bull?" Interestingly enough, world-renowned Mike Papantonio一also known as America's Lawyer一tells us how. In this deep-dive, Mirena and Mike (aka Pap) shoot the breeze on the many nuances of lawyering and life. Kudos to our sophic anchor for tracking down one of the most influential and versatile attorneys in our country. With her gift of gab, Mirena introduces us to the award-winning torts attorney, multi-media talk-show host, National Trial Lawyers co-owner, Mass Torts Made Perfect conference founder/co-owner, NW Florida waterways advocate (with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., no less!), athlete, musician, pilot, fiction author extraordinaire all rolled in one … What can't Pap do? Interestingly enough, the diversity and excellence of his endeavors attest to the anthem he lives by: "maintaining the quality of life in anything you're doing." When he challenges young associates in his firm to participate in their book club (expecting them to read Orwell's 1984, Hemingway's Old Man and the Sea, Lescroart's The Fall, Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men) so they can broaden their worldview and learn how to genuinely interact with a jury, it seems he has invaluable insight on the human psyche. It looks like he knows the secret to a well-balanced, well-lived life. Even at the apex of his career, he profoundly says with conviction, "You can't live singularly as a lawyer. That can't be your only identity." And live, he does. Pap shares how he first encountered the love-of-his-life while "dropping a wing," barely 50 yards from crashing into The Bonanza as he was flying his plane. Beyond saving him from a near miss and after 37 years of marriage with the "fine-looking blonde at the end of the bar," he quips about an old Chinese proverb, "You got to take care of anybody who saves you … " The lighthearted conversation continues as Pap brightens when he talks about his daughter, Sarah, who blazes her own trail in trial law. In shows like these, we enjoy the rarity of when we catch a glimpse of someone who can confidently look ahead一secure in his "ability and foresight"一one who disarmingly refuses to grasp life too tightly, too insecurely, too fearfully. He has fame that envelops him, a career that supports him, contemporaries who respect him, friends who enjoy him, a family who loves him. And then we elegantly discover the secret to how we can completely "turn our back from the bull."

EPISODE SURVEY[00:02:50] Adapting to the pandemic[00:16:06] Flying on a plane and meeting the love of his life[00:20:05] The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. [00:22:02] Mass Tort Made Perfect conference[00:28:38] The effects of third-party capital [00:37:13] Improving mass torts for clients

QUOTABLE QUOTES:

• "You either shut down under adversity or you create and you expand under adversity."
• "You have to do extraordinary things to get extraordinary results. You have to take extraordinary chances."
• "It's really easy … to get into the same mode where all you're thinking about is what you're told to think … [your] daddy did it this way, [your] neighbor does it this way and, therefore, this is the only way [you] can do it一It's really dangerous.
• " Just take a minute; take a breath and look up a little bit higher … to something that is not the norm and try it .. Not only will it change the financial aspect of their practice, but it will also change their excitement in their quality of life.
• "I have a saying … called 'Turning Your Back on the Bull' … have enough confidence in who you are and in your ability, and in your foresight, and [in] your vision, [but] if you don't have confidence in there, you will never turn your back on the bull. A great bullfighter does that."
• "See, that's part of itーof who you are or [who you are] not, and you can't really put on a show. You can't lie to a jury … They'll see through it if it's not genuine."

ABOUT OUR GUEST

• Senior Partner of Levin Papantonio Rafferty, P.A.
• Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer by the Florida Bar and the National Board of Trial Advocacy
• Host of America's Lawyer, a television show on RT America, and Co-host of Ring of Fire, a popular radio program.
• Inducted into the National Trial Lawyers' Hall of Fame (2015) and Former President of The National Trial Lawyers (2012)
• Author of multiple novels, including four motivational books for lawyers and a series of legal thrillers
• Member of The International Academy of Trial Lawyers, The International Society of Barristers, The National Trial Lawyers Association, The American Board of Trial Advocates, The American Justice Association, The Southern Trial Lawyers Association, and The Florida Justice Association
• Recipient of several prestigious awards, including but not limited to, the Compassionate Gladiator Award from the Florida Justice Association (2019), Defender of Justice Award by the American Association for Justice (2015), and the Perry Nichols Award by the Florida Justice Association (2011)

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

• Peek into Mike's impressive bio and LinkedIn
• Looking for a thrill? Jump into the pages of Pap's legal thriller series: Law and Disorder, Law and Vengeance, and Law and Addiction
• Educate and Encourage! Here are some more of Papantonio's works: Resurrecting Aesop - Fables Lawyers Should Remember (2000), Clarence Darrow, The Journeyman - Lessons for the Modern Lawyer (1997), and In Search of Atticus Finch - A Motivational Book for Lawyers (1996)
• Pap's Radio Show, Ring of Fire in Youtube, Twitter, and Facebook
• Visit Mirena's Chic Website and LinkedIn
• Shownotes and podcast content management by Caryl Veloso

In the first-ever, face-to-face episode, Mirena invites business and legal mogul Keith Givens of The Cochran Firm to The Heart of Law. While he calls himself "a custodian of the brand of Johnnie Cochran," faithfully overseeing the 50-year-old Cochran dynasty, Keith is no slouch himself. With a master's degree in Psychology and another graduate degree in Business from Georgia Tech, his aptitude did not go unnoticed by a professor who corralled him into pursuing law despite his disinterest in the field. Who would have thought a gigantic, old oak tree would pave the way for his accidental success as a plaintiff lawyer? After four decades of making history with his friends Jack Smith and Johnnie Cochran, they turn the legal world upside-down and inside-out, helping hundreds of clients and winning billions of dollars in settlements. Throughout the show, we listen to Keith paying extraordinary homage to the superstar litigator, Johnnie Cochran. While Keith walks us through Johnnie's fame and courageous battle against cancer, we find ourselves shocked at the otherworldly work ethic of a genius who refused to let death overcome his mission. Keith says, " … [Johnnie is] our greatest asset and ally." During the deep dive, our astute host asks Keith to describe the delicate balance between the business of law and the practice of law. We have to agree with Mirena; Keith makes it all look effortless—even after he says, "It's very hard to run 42 law firms in a way that they're all kind of humming together." After all, who else can say they head 42 successful firms? Meanwhile, even as he talks about the joys of running the conglomeration with his sons (and a few other family members), Keith keenly gives sage advice on risk measurement and management, superior research and preparation, and not having an aversion to courtroom losses. Steadily providing credit to the brand and reputation of his progenitor, Keith gives five core values (or the 5 "C's") he fiercely upholds at The Cochran Firm: Commitment, Client-Focused, Compassion, Competence, and Community. As Keith consistently understates his role in the Cochran empire—recalling Johnnie's humility, motivation, compassion, focus, and dedication to family—we cannot help but admire our modest herald who refuses to call attention to himself. Perhaps, even if he doesn't care to admit it, he has all these splendid qualities himself. As far as we know, like the old oak tree that marked his journey into law, Keith Givens stands stalwart and steadfast "providing tremendous shade" and deeply rooted into our American way of life. EPISODE SURVEY

[00:03:09] Humble beginnings and a serendipitous journey to law[00:12:52] Keith's friendship and partnership with Johnnie Cochran[00:35:37] The future of the Cochran firm[00:40:50] Navigating the balance between litigation and business[00:54:25] Working as a lawyer alongside two sons[01:12:32] The five core values of success for trial lawyers

QUOTABLE QUOTES:

• "Our core and our continued focus on what we do well and enjoy is not going to change."
• "Never risk more than you can afford to lose."
• "In our firm and in my professional life … my legacy is not nearly as important as my obligation to recognize, promote, protect the brand … and the legacy of Johnnie Cochran … I think what he stood for as a man and what he represented as a lawyer over decades of his service is something that, if I spend the rest of my professional career trying to give that honor and recognition and live up to those standards then that makes me happy."
• "In order to be successful, you have to be committed to whatever you're going to do."
• "When you make it, from a business standpoint … you never become bulletproof and invincible because there's always a project that will and can wash you up … "
• " … You can't possibly calculate all of the things that could happen over time. So you need to stay humble. You need to stay alert. You need to stay open to all … changes."
• "Capital is important to success ... you can't do a lot of good if you're not doing pretty well yourself."
• "You have to understand this is a service industry ... It's not about the lawyer … it's not really about the system. You just have to function within it and use the system [because] it's about the client."
• "Dial into the community of what you are doing … and not giving back. It's giving. I mean, there should be a level of unconditional giving. Giving back implies that somebody's giving something to you, and you've got to give back. It's more important to give than it is to think in terms of giving back."
• "Being a trial lawyer and protecting the right to trial by jury, fighting for the Constitution, everything associated with justice is extremely noble and very right and very good. But if you do not recognize the business aspect of what we do, you're not going to be well enough financially or otherwise, or even develop the infrastructure to best serve the clients."

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

• Co-founder and Managing Partner of The Cochran Firm P.C.
• Obtained over $1 Billion in case verdicts and settlements for clients, including the largest settlement of an Environmental Case in the U.S.
• Read about Keith's $700 Million Dollar Settlement
• Largest verdict for a Wrongful Death case in Alabama
• Former President of the National Trial Lawyers (2008), The Alabama Trial Lawyers Association (1999 - 2000), The Alabama Civil Justice Foundation (2001), and the Southeast Alabama Trial Lawyers Association (1994, 1997), Member of the Editorial Board for The Trial Lawyer Magazine and The RoundTable: America's 100 Most Influential Trial Lawyers (2011, 2012, 2013)

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

• Check out Keith's killer bio, Instagram, and LinkedIn
• The Cochran Firm and the legend behind the name
• The Cochran Firm's Instagram
• Visit Mirena's posh website and LinkedIn
• Quote Card and Thumbnail Design by Luisa de Macedo
• Shownotes and podcast content management by Caryl Veloso, founder of Almond Tree Writers' Ink, LLC.

Erudite, strategic, principled ... one can expect nothing less from our next guest, Martin Shellist. Known for his dexterity in both trial law and asset management, Mirena Umizaj invites the sage attorney to discuss the pedagogy of litigation funding. In this particularly didactic episode of The Heart of Law, Martin and Mirena talk shop. This time, we get a glimpse of the legal finance industry as he expounds on the differences between a traditional bank and a litigation financial firm like Virage Capital Management. Illuminating us on the many uses of capital for litigation, Martin shares invaluable insight on the fiscal discipline and fiscal intelligence that qualifies a potential client; more importantly, we hear the immense ethical responsibilities that go within its processes. As Martin articulates the inner workings of funding the business of law, we learn about fiduciary duty, case inventory, contingency interest, client aggregation, healthy attorney-client relationship, and quickly understand why "educating the marketplace lifts everyone."

Our incisive host leans in when Martin deconstructs the many challenges—even dangers—a firm may face if they choose legal financiers with mandatory debt service, prepayment penalties, or (worse) those who influence the outcome of a case. While he encourages borrowers to meticulously vett their documentation and avoid using the funds for daily operational costs (instead of the cases), he firmly reiterates the importance of having an accountant (perhaps an ethicist) involved so all transactions are fiscally sound. Throughout the conversation, we realize how Martin runs his company and the high ideals Virage operates by: equitable and upstanding.

As Martin predicts the future direction and specialized evolution of litigation finance, we can't help but feel relief hearing from someone who cares enough to help us find the right questions and gives us the courage to ask them. Because Martin functions within the cadence of forthrightness, accuracy, and conscientiousness, we intuit that we've listened to an unassuming giant whose huge footprint positively shifts the financial paradigm in the legal world.

EPISODE SURVEY[00:03:48] Transitioning into the legal finance world as a veteran attorney [00:08:35] The key utility of litigation funding[00:20:05] What Virage looks for in potential clients[00:28:17] Vital information to know before getting involved in mass torts[00:39:18] The nitty-gritty of interest and prepayment penalties [00:47:31] The foundational difference between bank loans and litigation funding[00:54:04] How to sagaciously handle post-settlement loan repayment[01:19:02] Clearing up misunderstandings about nonrecourse and recourse loans

QUOTABLE QUOTES

• "What I think lawyers need to look at when taking financing is: 'It's good that you have a thousand cases, but are you in control of your data? Are you in control of your case?' "
• "The mass tort world is a whole different landscape from any other area of law, and it is as much a business as it is the practice of law that you'd ever find."
• "The lawyers who nurture the money, the ones who invest with an eye towards a return on investment … are the ones who make the most money and are arguably the happiest with it … having fiscal intelligence is helpful."
• "At the end of the day, we want to see our borrowers succeed, and we give them all the advice we can."
• "Diversify your portfolio ... I tell lawyers that all the time; don't spend a million on one tort, put three hundred grand into three torts."
• "When I talk to borrowers, I don't talk to them about making money. I talk to them about who they are … I talk to them about what they need and where they're going."
• "You'll be far safer ... just shooting for the moon [than] spending money you haven't earned yet."

ABOUT OUR GUEST

• Currently the Managing Director at Virage Capital Management & Founding Partner at Shellist Lazarz Slobin, LLP
• An attorney for 28 years and currently practices law in Texas
• Tenured memberships Houston Young Lawyers Foundation and American Board of Trial Advocates
• Earned the Nation's Top One Percent award from the National Association of Distinguished Counsel in 2017
• Selected for Texas Super Lawyers from 2008-2021 and Texas Lawyers Rising Stars in 2006

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

• Check out Martin's super chill bio and LinkedIn
• Visit Mirena's Chic Website and LinkedIn
• Shownotes and podcast production by Caryl Veloso, Founder & COO of Almond Tree Writers' Ink, LLC's

Faithful to the beating rhythm of her show, Mirena Umizaj invites prime among primes, Chris Searcy, to mark the seventh episode of The Heart of Law. As our keen anchor draws us into their heart-rending conversation, we discover an exponent defender true to his legendary name.

Plunging into the deep dive, Chris shares two monumental (yin and yang-like) events, paradoxically defining him and his purpose: " 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,' just like A Tale of Two Cities, " he says. First, Chris reminisces childhood aspirations of becoming a cowboy, a baseball player, and later a gladiator; he takes us back to an idyllic oeuvre of family memories living by the beach and watching ball games, all rivaling a Norman Rockwell painting—that is, until the day his mother's old Fleetwood Cadillac spun out of control on June 1, 1961. His sister, Angie, suffered a traumatizing brain injury and his brother, Henry, lost his life. Almost mysteriously, the day after the tragedy, he met Priscilla, his future bride. Horrifying pain one day and exhilarating bliss the next … Second, Chris takes us years later to Priscilla suffering during the birth of their firstborn son, Henry, and recounts the unnerving details of the roughly mishandled delivery. Unknown to the couple then, the medical negligence eventually caused the mental handicap of their son. Overwhelming elation one moment and crippling helplessness the next.

Shrouded in the mystery of sorrow and joy, these two pivotal events planted seeds of a valiant, purpose-driven career in catastrophic injury law. Sometime during his practice, he encounters two cases mirroring the loss his loved ones faced, lending him the rare opportunity to give the victims unrivaled defense. All for the sake of yielding justice to injured victims—and over four decades of indomitably winning millions in verdicts—Chris breaks record victories year after year and becomes a consummate legend. Alongside legal champions like Bill Colson, J. B. Spence, Murray Sams Jr., Robert J. Beckham, and Ted Babbitt, they become fissures of light calibrating the American justice system, one case at a time.

Chris may not realize it, but he extends beyond his childhood heroes. Better than a cowboy, he becomes the perfect marksman avenging the weak in blazing glory. Better than a baseball player, he epitomizes the slugging outfielder, making perfect home runs out of every case he represents. Better than a gladiator, he salutes the crowd in the arena of justice, facing every courtroom battle with stalwart fearlessness and chanting deeply into our souls: "Morituri te Salutamus." … So with Mirena, we proudly cheer him on. EPISODE SURVEY

[00:09:41] Two defining moments of Chris' life that sets his trajectory[00:10:13] One tragic accident with death echoing through Chris' life to this day[00:15:51] The hard birth of Chris' eldest son causing a traumatic brain injury[00:23:18] When Chris decided to turn to God and the amazing hope he finds[00:32:00] Navigating the beginnings of a career in law while nurturing a young family[00:59:23] Deja vu case, part 1[01:14:06] Deja vu case, part 2[01:37:12] A law firm refusing the ⅓ cut

QUOTABLE QUOTES:

• "My disgust [of] my fear is greater than my fear."
• "Intellectually, I knew there was not anything I could do … emotionally, it feels terrible to me that I failed to protect my loved ones ...That's why I do what I do."
• "It's not God's fault … If He didn't let accidents happen in the world, we would all be in test tubes. Life would not be fun; [it] would not be exciting no matter what we did. It would make no difference. That would be a horrible way to live."
• "The most important thing in running any business is to compensate everybody fairly ... If you can get that right, doesn't matter how much you screw up."
• "I love helping people that have been wronged or hurt. Why am I still doing this? I really love it."
• "It's not God's fault. He's even sadder than I am because he's so much more capable of pain than I am."
• "I can't let fear into the equation unless there's something that makes sense that I need to stay away from."
• "I'll be scared to death every time I have some type of challenge or crisis … I can overcome it … with the help of God."
• "Was I scared to death of every one of those cases that I was trying? You bet! Just as scared as I could be. But I was convinced that I was never going to let that fear affect me."
• "I don't care what happens going forward; I'm going to give it all I got!"
• "Before we can teach anybody anything, we first need to understand that ourselves."
• "I think that as far as being great trial lawyers for our clients, I think the professional detachment is way overrated. I think we need to get as attached as we can. We need to try to know what it feels like being in their shoes because we can teach it best when we do."
• "I got to try three cases with my dad and he was so proud of me that he was the best PR guy anybody ever had. He'd go around telling people, 'I've been practicing [law] for 40 years and my son was already better than I was.' He was a great dad."

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Chris Searcy

• President and CEO of Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A.
• Vice President of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers Foundation
• Graduated with a Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law in the top ten percent of his class
• The youngest lawyer in the nation to get a million-dollar verdict in 1977
• Member of the elite, invitation-only Inner Circle of Advocates
• Recipient of the 2006 War Horse Award
• Honored with the Florida Justice Association's Perry Nichols Award
• Named in Harvard's The Best Lawyers in America
• Member of the world-renowned, exclusive International Society of Barristers
• Holds the title of "Lawdragon Legend"
• Senior Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America
• Serves on the Florida Justice Association's Constitutional Revision Committee

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

• Visit Mirena's Chic Website and LinkedIn
• Stop by Mirena & Co.'s LinkedIn
• Listen to The Heart of Law Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
• Learn more about Chris Searcy's company, Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A.
• Check out Chris's prestigious awards and affiliations: The War Horse Award, The Perry Nichols Award, Lawdragon Legends' Hall of Fame, Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame
• Shownotes and podcast content management by Caryl Veloso, Founder & COO of Almond Tree Writers' Ink, LLC

While summer fills Hollywood screens with powerful, spandex-clad caped crusaders and invincible femme-dynamos, a real-life superwoman, Susan Ramsey sweeps in the studio of The Heart of Law. True to her steadfast form, our compelling anchor, Mirena Umizaj, invites another superlative guest who takes our breath away ... We meet an unassuming soul in Susan as the ladies begin their easygoing conversation about the surprising benefits of Covid-19, saving "on gas, on driving, and on the environment, and just stay[ing] above the fray." Their warmth and casual exchange fill the scene even as they discuss the nations' strained political climate. However, they touch an austere note when the opioid epidemic comes up. We grasp how Susan champions the cause of substance abuse victims by advocating their individualized medical care in lieu of incarceration. Without warning, her inconceivable courage stares us straight in the eye as Susan candidly shares intimate details about rising from the depths of assault and subsequent whiplash of alcoholism and drug addiction. We encounter the despondent darkness she hardly had the strength to battle. With detox, Alcoholics Anonymous, and the deep humility of daily speaking to herself: "I am only sober today … I have to take one day at a time seriously," she sparsely survives and we grasp her spirit—indomitable and resolute. Starting her career as a nurse and mentored by Barbara Moynihan (Ph.D., APRN-BC), we hear about Susan's tenure in a rape crisis program in the '80s at Yale New Haven Hospital, Connecticut. After a turn of events, she relates how an unusually thick-witted dynamic in the courtroom became a catalyst that gave her the confidence to attain a law degree at the City University of New York. Even after she became a lawyer, Susan felt drawn to the weak and destitute and began devoting herself to harrowing cases like sexual assault, medical malpractice, sober home, substance disorder, catastrophic injury suits, and the like. After decades of giving her time away, pro bono cases, and working alongside Dena Sisk Foman, they began building a reputation of championing causes for victims of abuse and negligence. It's no wonder she is a proud member of the National Crime Victims Bar Association and a recipient of the Arnold Markle award, among many other community service distinctions. When Mirena asks Susan what the future holds for her career, without batting an eye, Susan unflinchingly remarks on continuing to make a compounding difference in as many lives as she can—represent victims of negligence as well as survivors of sexual assault and substance abuse. So when Susan suggests for us to make a difference and find work in something we truly love doing, we can't help but acknowledge the discernment behind her words. Listening to her, we now have the inspiration to take flight, run with the weary, and carry their burdens with grace. In Susan Ramsey, we witness a guardian with grit and mettle in her deepest heart. Incredible. EPISODE SURVEY:

• [00:06:45] On the most pressing issues in our nation today
• [00:17:06] Battling with substance use disorder
• [00:25:05] A renewed mindset empowering Susan's to maintain her sobriety
• [00:31:16] Susan's journey of becoming a nurse and later pursuing law
• [00:31:41] The personal significance behind Susan's law practice specialties
• [00:44:18] The need for individualized attention in the substance use disorder treatment industry
• [00:47:14] Substance abuse and sexual assault cases through the eyes of a hero
• [01:03:30] Spiritual wellness and making peace with internal demons

QUOTABLE QUOTES:

• "Not everything I think is true...I don't have control over the thoughts that sometimes invade and attack my brain. What I do I have control over is my response or reaction to it."
• "part of the foundation of [sobriety] is I have to take one day at a time seriously. I can't do tomorrow yet.
• "There's a lot of prejudice against alcoholics and drug addicts...none of those things are going to change until people like me who may not look like a drug addict and an alcoholic start talking about it and saying, 'I am one.' "
• "My experience is to give hopefully some inkling that there's hope and that there is recovery.'
• "in terms of my own recovery, in order to keep it, I have to give it away."
• "I used to think that 'fearless' meant the absence of fear. It doesn't mean that. It means you fearless than you did before"
• "My ability to share my experience and hope with others is one way I stay sober"

LINKS FROM THE SHOW:

• Visit Mirena's chic Website and LinkedIn
• Susan is a proud member of the National Crime Victim Bar Association
• Check out the book Susan mentioned on different sex-offender profiles: Men Who Rape
• As Susan discussed, the American Society of Addiction Medicine makes efforts to provide individualized care.
• An important part of Susan's journey to recovery: Alcoholics Anonymous

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Susan Ramsey

• Began as a Registered Nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at Yale New Haven Hospital
• Graduated from City University of New Law School at Queens College
• Delivered seminars to local police departments, universities, and high schools
• Active member of the American Association of Nurse Attorneys, National Crime Victims Bar Association, and American Justice Association
• Affiliated with several Floridian organizations: Palm Beach County Bar Association, Palm Beach County Justice Association, and Florida Justice Association
• Litigates cases on behalf of survivors involving sexual assault and other catastrophic injuries
• Champion of justice for victims of medical negligence and poor substance abuse treatment
• Received the Arnold Markle Award in recognition for work with survivors of sexual assault
• Pro Bono Counsel member of the Florida Association of Recovery Residences Compliance Committee
• Engaged member of the Palm Beach County State Attorney Sober Home Task Force

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have the consummate balance of an entrepreneurially sharp yet resolutely calm mind? Well … mystery solved! Our intrepid host, Mirena Umizaj, invites mindfulness paladin, Attorney Joe DiNardo, an incredible source of inspiration and pillar of strength to many in the field of law. Revisiting his humble beginnings, Joe reminisces about the 1100 square feet home of his childhood. Not expecting to attend college, he almost serendipitously finds himself at Brockport State College and surprises himself as he turns into a mainstay in the dean's list. Enjoying his undergrad success, he transfers to the University of Buffalo, subsequently attending law school. With so much altruism in his cadence, he starts his career in a "lower economic and African-American part of the city," teaching part-time at a GED and adult education center—all the while offering his services to an impoverished community who have no means of affording an attorney. Because of all the false arrests and destitute offenses he had to represent, his reputation as a defense attorney flourished. From one mountain to the next Everest, his 26-year career burgeons from personal injury work into the litigation funding company he founded in 2000, Counsel Financial. Meanwhile, sharing the same interests, Mirena and Joe deep-dives into the zen of mindfulness and spirituality. He impresses us with his stalwart, 4 am meditation habit, and five decades of transcendentally centering oneself to bravely face the many pitfalls life throw his way. As a mindfulness expert, Joe expounds on the foundation, nuances, methods, and health benefits of "sitting" and intentionally drawing strength from a quiet mind. It's no wonder Joe knows how to find peace even from the tragedy of his wife's passing. We hit a hard note as he shares Marcia DiNardo's bittersweet journey and her brave battle with cancer. Her undue demise in 2015 rocks his world in so many ways. As Joe engulfs us with their beautiful story—the tremendous love and family they shared and the best things he derived from knowing her—we see a successfully prolific yet humble man, seeing our dreary, cimmerian world through cloudless eyes of unabashed hope. EPISODE SURVEY

[00:13:41] From humble beginnings to major asbestos case building[00:19:37] On pioneering a new model of lending loans to law firms, known today as Counsel Financial[00:44:54] An acid trip, ultrasonic hearing, and expanding consciousness[00:55:55] Joe speaks of his meditation retreat with Baba Ram Dass during his journey to pursue Buddhism and Mindfulness.

[01:20:57] The life-changing practice of non-judgemental mindfulness[01:31:46] Practicing meditation as a lifeline amid crumbling corporations during the 2009 financial meltdown[01:38:47] Joe relays his experience of looking death straight in the eye[01:52:17] On his wife's battle with pancreatic cancer and being confronted with a sense of mortality once again [02:08:21] Mindfulness for people in the legal profession

QUOTABLE QUOTES:

• [00:29:28] "Money problems make good people do bad things"
• [00:53:23] "In the beginner's mind there are many opportunities; in the expert's there are few...have the beginner's mind because the beginner's mind opens you up with all sorts of opportunities"
• [01:15:32] "We have to have that same equanimity for both [pleasant and unpleasant experiences] because it will allow those stronger, more pleasant experiences to arise versus you creating them- by not having an expectation of what it'll look like or feel like or be like."
• [01:15:32] "Don't judge yourself … by doing that part of the practice- learning non-judgment of yourself- you become less judgmental everywhere in your life.
• [01:27:28] "And that's what the Buddha said in the very first discourse he ever gave...the illness for all of mankind is craving. It's just wanting ... either to hang on to things or wanting to push away the uncomfortable things, it's all just one little thing- craving"
• [02:02:18] "As a caretaker, it's not our job to do what we think a sick person needs, it's our job to listen to what they think they need, and to comfort them as best we can."

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Joe DiNardo

• Founder of Counsel Financial, a commercial lender offering loans and credit lines to law firms.
• Practiced mass tort and personal injury law for 26 years
• Represented thousands of injured plaintiffs, securing multi-million dollar, high-profile settlements.
• Participant in the inaugural retreat at the Insight Meditation Center in Barre, Massachusetts
• Studied with renowned meditation teachers such as Ram Dass, Joseph Goldstein, Sharon Salzberg, Jack Kornfield, and Anagarika Munindra, a highly regarded Bengali meditation teacher.
• Author of Mindfulness Matters: for everyone, a volume containing practical advice on how to embody mindfulness in everyday life.
• Wrote A Letter to My Wife, a dedication to his late wife, Marcia, telling a narrative from her cancer diagnosis to death as well as offering ways to support individuals enduring disease and their loved ones.

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

• Visit Mirena's Chic Website and LinkedIn
• Purchase Joe's Books: Mindfulness Matters: For Everyone and A Letter to My Wife
• Another influential book Joe recommends: Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
• Check out the company Joe founded, Counsel Financial
• Visit the Insight Meditation Center
• Shownotes and podcast content management by Almond Tree Writers' Ink, LLC's Founder, Caryl Veloso

In an emotionally resonant episode, our gracious host, Mirena Umizaj allows us to tune into a heartfelt conversation with topliner, Attorney Danielle Mason, acclaimed for her work in the talcum powder litigation suit. They engulf us in the intimate, modal mixture of Danielle's rich heritage and family life, business insights and mass tort rhapsodies, harmonious relationships with clients and surprising accolades, and even the bittersweet decrescendo of tragic loss. Rooted in Montgomery, Alabama, Danielle nostalgically shares her beautiful legacy. As she intones of her brave progenitors, we cannot help but feel a sense of wonder at the family history bequeathed to her. We learn about her extraordinary grandmother, Thelma Smiley, and the remarkable impact she had on our present educational system—how Ms. Smiley played an integral part in the National Colored PTA and Civil Rights movement—spearheading the evolution of diversity, equity, and inclusion we experience in American schools today. With her family as active members of the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church when Martin Luther King Jr. was the pastor, Danielle concordantly gives us a clear, balanced, and humble perspective, much needed for our times. Danielle and Mirena set a mellow vibe when they talk about family life and the surprising effects of the Covid-19 pandemic in their every day. Throughout their reflection, we hear what matters most as they put a healthy spin on working from home. Danielle gives us a glimpse of a vibrant family life, sharing how she serendipitously found herself in the legal field after overcoming many personal challenges along the way. Picking up the cadence, Mirena asks Danielle to enlighten us about the distinguished Harry M. Philo award she received, as well as the inner workings of the mass tort industry. We learn the distinct difference of mass torts from class-action lawsuits, and the controversial Johnson & Johnson talcum powder litigation suit Danielle successfully participated in. As we grasp how personal this case was for our guest, we find ourselves grieved at the sad death of a dear client she befriended (among other illnesses and deaths she handled) and realize how each tragedy modulated any success she received from the case. At the center of the deep-dive, we hit a sad chord when Danielle shares—for the first time in public—the tragic passing of her father. Regrets, questions, confusion, trauma … How can one even recover from losing a parent in such an unexpected, jarring way? Despite how displaced she feels, we find how she continuously rises from the depths of despondency, paving the way for the awareness of depression and suicide surrounding our current (pandemic-driven) culture. She inspires and encourages us to intentionally reach out to those who suffer from any form of psychological illness. Through it all, we find nothing flat about our encounter with Danielle. Instead, we see a strong, beautiful woman—a persevering soul singing a hope-filled, angelic aria. With every discordant note life brings her way, her humility and courage turns it around. Danielle's life is a mesmeric symphony, perfectly sustained by an indomitable spirit and love for those she holds dear. EPISODE SURVEY [00:17:13] Thelma Smiley's accolades in education and invitation to the White House for three sitting presidents, advising them on issues about educational equality and integration. [00:42:35] This is something that affects thousands and thousands of people across the country.[00:44:31] Talcum cases and how it personally resonated and affected Danielle in a way no other case has been able to. [00:59:48] On women, inclusion, and groups meeting better diversity thresholds in the industry.[01:11:28] About the Harry M. Philo award bestowed to Danielle.[01:27:47] Danielle talks about her father's tragic death.

QUOTABLE QUOTES

• "I finally get to be a mom for a minute and that got to be really cool."
• "What puts all of that into perspective is we are so thankfully healthy… There are some people right now who miss the noise … [but] we've got to come to where we're grateful for the noise because that means it's all right."
• "[Control] gets to be heavy sometimes because it reinforces something that I already need to let go of, which is this unrealistic expectation to be perfect all the time."
• " Don't believe me. Just watch."
• "Who's to say what the timetable is."
• "We've come a long way in seeing more of these PSC Groups meeting better diversity thresholds."
• "I also don't think it's the end-all and be-all of what our roles are as advocates. Female, male, whatever there are, there are a lot of different fronts that we can apply this pressure on these cases and there's nothing limiting that."
• "Diversity is extra important, but none of us just want to check a box."
• "We can't be afraid to talk about the suicide story because we know it's happening around us."

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

• Danielle's Outstanding Bio
• Danielle's prestigious appointment to the Elmiron Federal Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Leadership Team
• Visit Mirena's Chic Website and LinkedIn
• Shownotes and podcast content management by Almond Tree Writers' Ink, LLC's Founder, Caryl Veloso

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Danielle Mason

• Received the Harry M. Philo Award in 2020 for her work on talcum powder litigation, becoming the first black lawyer, and only the third woman, to receive the award since 1992.
• Named in the Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers
• Selected as a Super Lawyers "Rising Star" every year since 2014
• Chosen as one of the "10 Best" Attorneys for Alabama by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys
• Included in the 2020 Best Lawyers in America list.

What happens when the esteemed godfather of mass torts, Howard Nations, decides to hit the town and shoot the breeze with Mirena? Well, of course, we stutter to a stop, sit mesmerized, and hang onto every perfect doctrine he sends our way! In The Heart of Law's third episode, our incisive host, Mirena Umizaj enjoys the riveting, first-hand account of Howard's stint as a US Army intelligence officer commissioned as a Russian translator—intercepting cryptic messages from a Soviet naval base in a northern island off Hokkaido, Japan. After eavesdropping on submarines, fleets, and every bit of water traffic for months, life in the military intelligence pretty much set the tone for the disciplined and purposeful life Howard led throughout his 55+ years practicing law. Howard gives copious, razor-sharp advice on how to survive in the cutthroat mass tort business. Ironically, resisting avarice and the "absolute disregard for money," with "total expulsion" of materialism charts the course to a successful outcome of a case. Dovetailing that ideology with mental fortitude, depositional ingenuity, strategic witness management, and profound procedural patience, he gives us a basic (even banal) formula of an honorable value-system tested by time. During half of the show, their conversation turns on a sober note as Howard and Mirena immerse us into the complex acquisition of mass tort cases, hundreds of millions of dollars depleted, ethical dilemmas, hedge fund controversies, conflict of interests, lead purchasing, and contentions within the industry. They touch on austere issues like gigantic med-tech and pharma companies distributing defective products, as well as disquieting financial games negatively affecting people's lives.

Inversely, we have an awareness about the meaningful life Howard leads. We hear a deep love for his family, his plight for the weak (he is famed for representing over 300 pro bono cases), and three decades of passionately teaching law. We grasp how he fearlessly copes with a family tragedy, endearing us as he flouts every cynicism life thrusts his way. He shares his knowledge freely, exercises systematically, reads voraciously … all the while, managing to disarm us with his stalwart faith. What a testament to us all. People like Howard make living in this not-so-happy world so worthwhile.

EPISODE SURVEY

• [00:07:02] In the U.S. Army Military Intelligence as a Russian linguist
• [00:12:23] once tort reform happened in Texas, Howard adapted and reinvented himself, starting a mass tort firm and changing the entire game.
• [00:16:35] Howard officially declares himself to be a mass tort lawyer.
• [00:16:57] Adventures with Zyprexa and 78 depositions all over the country.
• [00:21:48] "And they said, 'We'll never pay you a thousand cases!' So I said, 'Okay; then pay me on 999.' "
• [00:41:58] On the Trial Lawyer's Summit and the Entrepreneurship of Law.

QUOTABLE QUOTES

• " The thing is, you have to have an absolute disregard for money because if you're worried about money, don't get in the mass tort business because [in the industry] there's a complete, total expulsion of money."
• "You have to be fearless because if you're not fearless, you'll worry yourself to death."
• "The outcomes are only as good as what you gather."
• "You have to have skillsets for a trial ... you have to have a lot of skills in depositions because depositions are a crucial part of mass torts."
• You have to be articulate with experts because choosing the right expert [and] getting them prepared … [and] keeping them under control is a major part of mass torts."
• "You have to have the world's greatest patience ... because it's a five-year proposition."
• "I give back by education and by sharing everything."

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

• Check out Howard's Fully Loaded Bio
• Swing by Howard's Practice
• Catch Howard's NTL Interview of Top 100 Lawyers
• Visit Mirena's Chic Website and LinkedIn
• Resources Howard recommends: Trial Lawyers College, Trial School
• Show Notes and content management by Almond Tree Writers' Ink, LLC's Founder, Caryl Veloso

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Howard Nations

• A trailblazer in personal injury and civil litigation, as well as mass tort for over 55 years.
• Leader of the trial bar
• President of The National Trial Lawyers, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, the Southern Trial Lawyers Association, the Belli Society, and the Aletheia Institute
• Five years on AAJ's Executive Committee
• A pioneer in courtroom technology and the first attorney to have computer-generated liability and medical animations admitted into evidence at trial.
• Co-founded AAJ's National College of Advocacy
• One of the most sought-after educators in the law profession.
• Howard's Published Papers, Articles, & Editorials
• Howard's Awards
• Howard's Acceptance Speech for Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame Award 2012
• Howard's Superlative Resume'

Palpable wisdom fills hyperspace as soon as we meet John Romano—a treasured monarch and esteemed advocate in civil and criminal law. In The Heart of Law's second episode, our insightful host, Mirena Umizaj, astutely deconstructs the many ways John juggles life, lawyer-hood, and love. Throughout the deep dive, she interacts with the sage trial attorney and strategically positions us to appreciate John's richly unassuming paradigmatic worldview.

Less than five minutes into the show, John disarms us with his dynamic admission of never angling to retire, hoping to live well over 115 years old! Interestingly, despite a robust practice consuming his professional life, he juxtaposes it by giving us a glimpse into a vibrantly remarkable homelife. He shares priceless delight in attending PTA meetings, coaching sports teams, sitting through award ceremonies, enjoying numerous kids' events and snow-capped vacations. John invites us into an idyllic family—proudly talking about his grandchildren and four successful sons, Erik, Todd, Chad, & Ryan, and consistently glowing about Nancy, his bride and "angel" of 51 years. Curiously, how has he managed it all? One secret to his humble success stems from this axiom: "To me, life ... comes down to one word: Relationships." His non-condescending, approachable posture in dealing and caring for people (from jurors to judges, witnesses to police officers, doctors to nurses, priests/rabbis to nuns, hotel staff to his associate staff) shatters every ruthless stereotype lawyers tend to snag. On mellow reverb, he emphasizes respect and kindness, continually dovetailing it to real success in life and the legal profession. Almost accidentally, he endears us. With John, our inspiration slowly dawns on us as we realize we have somehow taken our seat in the midst of a contemplative servant-leader.

As Mirena pushes deeper into the conversation with John, we discover hard lessons he learned because of poor investments. He vulnerably describes (for the first time in public) the detrimental financial decision he made in constructing an environmentally state-of-the-art corporate building. He shares his deep regret at how the economic loss negatively impacted his family and practice, contrasting it with the relief he felt at the unconditional support his firm received from people who cared. When she asks how (and where) else he directs his "energy and compassion," he resolutely responds: "You just go at it with everything you've got!" And sure enough, he does.

If John did rule a kingdom, he lends us a picture of a magnanimous monarchy—rich with opportunities, goodwill, conscience, humility, and service. What a privilege to hear someone like him talk about the richness of life. To say John is a rare soul is an understatement indeed . . . and in deed. WE DISCUSS

• [00:32:15] Energy, compassion, and a better work ethic.
• [00:42:01] Wisdom and the dire consequences of bad decisions.
• [01:13:36] On hosting a seminar that doesn't focus on being a big cocktail party.
• [01:15:33] John revisits this February's 36th Annual John Romano's Workhorse Seminar, a seminal convention sponsored by the FJA Research and Education Foundation, which he and Nancy co-produced.
• [01:17:50] A sneak-peak on the 37th Workhorse Seminar
• [01:21:19] Young lawyers and four-speed race cars
• [01:24:39] Mentoring joyfully and in a heartbeat and just a phone call away.
• [01:24:57] About the upcoming 37th Annual Workhorse Seminar and planned mentorship initiative.

QUOTABLE QUOTES

• "To me, life ... comes down to one word: Relationships."
• "No, the practice of law doesn't consume me. The relationships and the practice of law do. And I love it. And that's why I will never, ever, ever, ever retire. I want to do this forever."
• " You have till midnight to sulk when you win a case. You have till midnight to celebrate ... I say to the lawyers: Get it out of your system! "
• "[Some of] the greatest lawyers that I've known...have been … Kinder, gentler … their goodness just spills out, and to me, that's what makes them good; they're not trying to show everybody [they're the] smartest or the biggest or the strongest or the fastest . . . [they] take care of people."
• "It was poor judgments and decisions made by John Romano that made that happen!"
• "It is unnecessary to go off and build an experimental building when I haven't thought through the what-ifs."
• "I believe extraordinary things are going to happen every day and every week and every month. And they do."
• "You can be a realist and be an optimist."
• "When it comes to people, make decisions with your heart."
• "The most important thing that comes out of a crisis is what you learn about … the way you behaved during the crisis."
• "Some of the best lawyering I have ever done has been in cases where the verdict came back against our side. And when you've given it everything, you can feel good saying we gave it everything."

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

• Check-out John's Fully Loaded Kudos
• Swing by John's Practice
• Visit Mirena's Interweb Crib and LinkedIn
• Causes John champions: Florida Justice Association, National Trial Lawyers, Mass Torts Made Perfect, Taos Injury Lawyers, AAJ State Trial Lawyers Association, Trojan Horse Method
• Resources John recommends: Trial Lawyers College, Trial School
• Book a free call with FIRESIDE to talk about your marketing needs.
• Show Notes by Almond Tree Writers' Ink, LLC's Founder, Caryl Veloso

ABOUT OUR GUEST: John Romano's Books & Publications

• John Romano, Opening Statement: Winning the Jury, PESI Law Publications, 2004
• John Romano, The Deposition Field Manual, PESI Law Publications, 2002
• John Romano, Strategic Use of Circumstantial Evidence, Kluwer Law Book Publishers, Inc., September 1986
• John Romano, Co-Author/State Editor, Depositions, (Fla. Edition), Knowles Law Book Publishing Company, 1984