The SCV Law and Life Podcast

What changes when we try to understand a child’s behavior before trying to correct it? On this episode of The SCV Law & Life Podcast, Mason Rashtian talks with Maria Alba, a board certified behavior analyst and owner of Beyond the Spectrum in Santa Clarita.

Maria explains her “connection before correction” approach to ABA therapy: building trust, following a child’s interests, and helping families understand what may be behind a behavior. She and Mason discuss early support, everyday life skills, parent guilt, and the value of adjusting a child’s environment. Mason also shares his experience raising two children on the autism spectrum.

In this episode of The SCV Law & Life Podcast, Mason Rashtian speaks with disability attorney Sima Aghai, founder of the Law Offices of Sima Aghai. Before entering private practice, Sima spent seven years with the Social Security Administration as a Senior Attorney Advisor, giving her firsthand insight into how disability claims are evaluated and decided.Sima explains the differences between Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), who may qualify, and how the Social Security Administration’s five-step evaluation process works. She also discusses claims involving physical conditions, chronic pain, mental-health impairments, autism, ADHD, and childhood disabilities—and why every impairment must be considered as part of the claimant’s complete functional picture.The conversation also explores common mistakes applicants make, why every form and statement becomes evidence, and how early guidance from an experienced disability attorney can help prevent problems later in the appeals process. Sima also shares her perspective on travel, live music, work-life balance, and the advice she would give her 10-year-old self: put yourself out there and embrace life.To learn more about Sima Aghai, visit aghailaw.com or call 888-954-0064.

What do mortgage lending, real estate investing, entrepreneurship, community leadership, and Ironman competitions have in common? According to Fred Arnold, they all require discipline, perseverance, and a willingness to keep learning.

In this episode of The SCV Law & Life Podcast, Mason Rashtian sits down with longtime Santa Clarita business owner and mortgage professional Fred Arnold.

With nearly 35 years at American Family Funding, Fred shares practical insights on today’s housing market, building wealth through real estate, financing options for self-employed borrowers, and opportunities for entrepreneurs through 360 Executive Suites and the Santa Clarita New Home Center.

Fred also discusses completing more than 35 Ironman competitions, serving on the College of the Canyons Board of Trustees, and the importance of giving back to the community. The conversation explores healthy habits, parenting by example, overcoming fear, and learning to view failure as an opportunity to move forward.

It is an engaging conversation about business, resilience, service, and making the most of the opportunities life provides.

What happens after you’ve been injured in an accident? When does the insurance company investigate, how are settlement offers calculated, and how long can the process take?

In this episode, California personal injury attorney Mason Rashtian guides you through the typical personal injury claim, from the day of the accident through medical treatment, the insurance investigation, preparation of the demand package, and settlement negotiations.

Mason is the founder of The Mason Law Firm in Santa Clarita, California. Before representing injured individuals, he spent nearly ten years defending insurance companies and other defendants. Drawing on that experience, he explains what insurance adjusters look for, how evidence and medical documentation affect a claim, and why settling too early can be a costly mistake.

Whether you were injured in a car accident, slip and fall, dog bite, or another incident, this episode will help you understand what to expect, protect your rights, and avoid common mistakes during the claims process.

This program is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is different, and listening to this episode does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Can divorce be handled without an expensive and emotionally draining courtroom battle?

Mason Rashtian talks with Katie Padilla, founder of Bloom Family Law and a certified family law specialist in California, about collaborative divorce, mediation, co-parenting, and healthier alternatives to traditional divorce litigation.

After 12 years as a family law litigator, Katie transitioned to an entirely out-of-court practice focused on thoughtful settlements and family-centered solutions. She explains the difference between mediation and individual legal representation, when litigation may still be necessary, and why couples should understand the emotional and financial costs of going to court.

Katie also shares how her training as a coach and meditation teacher helps clients manage fear, grief, resentment, and communication breakdowns. The conversation explores how separating parents can reduce conflict, protect their children, identify their values, and make decisions with the future of their family in mind.

Whether you are considering divorce, navigating a separation, or looking for a more cooperative approach to family law, this episode offers practical guidance for moving forward with greater clarity, confidence, and compassion.

Connect with Katie Padilla and Bloom Family Law:

Website: https://bloomlegalcoach.com
Email: [email protected]

Employment law is constantly evolving, and one mistake can expose a business to costly litigation.

In this episode of The SCV Law & Life Podcast, host Mason Rashtian sits down with Charles Krugel, a labor and employment attorney with more than 30 years of experience representing employers in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors.

Together they discuss the legal issues every business owner should understand, including:

• Hiring employees the right way
• Creating effective job descriptions
• Employee discipline and termination
• Wage and hour claims
• Harassment and discrimination lawsuits
• Workplace investigations
• AI's impact on the legal profession
• Remote work and employment law
• Federal vs. state court litigation
• Practical strategies to reduce legal risk before problems arise

Charles also shares insights from three decades of representing employers, discusses current workplace trends, and explains why proactive legal planning is almost always less expensive than defending a lawsuit.

Whether you're a business owner, HR professional, manager, attorney, or simply interested in employment law, this episode provides practical advice you can put to work immediately.

Guest: Charles Krugel
🌐 https://www.charlesakrugel.com

Hosted by: Mason Rashtian
Founder, The Mason Law Firm

🎙 The SCV Law & Life Podcast features conversations with attorneys, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts who share practical insights on law, business, and life.

If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to follow, rate, and share so you never miss an episode.

In this episode of The SCV Law & Life Podcast, host Mason Rashtian sits down with veteran attorney, certified mediator, and Judge Pro Tem Ronald Monitz to discuss the power of mediation and why it has become one of the most effective tools for resolving legal disputes without the stress, expense, and uncertainty of trial.

With more than 40 years of legal experience and over 15 years serving on mediation and arbitration panels, including the Los Angeles Superior Court, the American Arbitration Association, and the California State Bar, Ron shares practical insights into how mediation works and why it often produces better outcomes than traditional litigation.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What mediation is and how it differs from litigation and arbitration
• The three primary styles of mediation and when each is most effective
• Why confidentiality is one of mediation's greatest advantages
• How mediation can save time, money, and relationships
• What qualities to look for when selecting a mediator
• The types of disputes that are ideal for mediation, including business, real estate, probate, workplace, landlord-tenant, partnership, family, and neighbor disputes
• Why empathy, creativity, and active listening are essential skills for successful mediators
• The real costs—financial and emotional—of taking a case to trial
• Why many disputes can be resolved in just a few hours instead of years

Ron also shares stories from his decades of experience helping people find practical, win-win solutions and explains why mediation allows parties, not judges or arbitrators, to remain in control of the outcome.

Whether you're an attorney, business owner, or someone facing a legal dispute, this conversation offers valuable insight into an often-overlooked method of conflict resolution that could save significant time, money, and stress.

🎙 Guest: Ronald Monitz, Attorney, Certified Mediator & Judge Pro Tem
🌐 Learn more about Ron's mediation services at MonitzMediation.com

About the Host

Mason Rashtian is the founder of The Mason Law Firm in Santa Clarita, California. A personal injury attorney since 1997 and former insurance defense lawyer, Mason hosts The SCV Law & Life Podcast, where he interviews attorneys, business leaders, and community professionals to share practical insights on law, business, and life.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow The SCV Law & Life Podcast on Spotify and leave a rating to help others discover the show.

We Meet Our Clients By Accident!

Have you or someone you know been involved in a car accident?

The decisions you make during the first few minutes, days, and weeks after a collision can have a lasting impact on both your health and your legal rights.

In this comprehensive webinar, California personal injury attorney Mason Rashtian shares nearly 30 years of experience, including years representing insurance companies before dedicating his practice to helping injured victims, to explain what you should know after an accident.

Topics include:

• What to do immediately after a car accident
• Collecting evidence at the scene
• Taking the right photographs
• Witness information
• Dealing with insurance adjusters
• Medical authorization forms
• Recorded statements
• Why prompt medical treatment matters
• Gaps in treatment
• Social media mistakes
• When to settle your injury claim
• Common mistakes that can reduce the value of your case

Whether you've been involved in a car, motorcycle, bicycle, pedestrian, or other motor vehicle accident, this webinar provides practical information to help you make informed decisions.

This episode is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice.

Learn more:
https://mrscvlaw.com

The Mason Law Firm
"We Meet Our Clients By Accident!"

Can the color of your tie influence a jury? Can body language reveal what a witness is thinking before they ever answer a question?

In this episode of The SCV Law & Life Podcast, host and California personal injury attorney Mason Rashtian sits down with communication strategist, CLE presenter, and Chromatic Counsel founder Kerry Heaps to explore the fascinating world of color psychology, body language, and nonverbal communication in the legal profession.

Drawing from years of experience working with attorneys nationwide, Kerry explains how subtle visual cues can influence credibility, trust, persuasion, and courtroom presence.

Whether you're preparing for a deposition, mediation, trial, or client meeting, these practical insights can help attorneys become more effective communicators.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How body language can reveal stress, confidence, and hesitation
• What attorneys should—and shouldn't—look for during depositions
• How to interpret nonverbal cues during Zoom proceedings
• The psychology behind colors and their impact on juries, witnesses, and clients
• Which colors help build trust, authority, familiarity, or calm
• Why body language should be used as a guide—not proof of deception
• Practical communication strategies attorneys can immediately apply

Whether you're an attorney, law student, mediator, or simply interested in the psychology of persuasion, this episode offers valuable insights into the nonverbal factors that influence legal advocacy every day.

Guest: Kerry Heaps
Founder, Chromatic Counsel
https://chromaticcounsel.com

Hosted by Mason Rashtian, founder of The Mason Law Firm, serving injured clients throughout Santa Clarita and California.

For more information, visit https://mrscvlaw.com.

In this episode of The SCV Law & Life Podcast, host Mason Rashtian sits down with Amira Hasenbush, founding and managing partner of All Family Legal, to explore the rapidly evolving world of family formation law.

Amira's practice focuses on adoption, surrogacy, sperm and egg donation, assisted reproduction, and complex parentage matters. Throughout the conversation, she explains how intended parents navigate the legal process of building their families, from selecting donors and surrogates to drafting contracts and securing parentage judgments before a child is born.

The discussion also covers many of the questions people are often afraid to ask: How does surrogacy actually work? Can intended parents choose a donor? What happens if complications arise? How long does the process take? What legal protections are in place for everyone involved?

Beyond the legal mechanics, Amira shares touching stories from her practice, including why adult adoptions remain some of the most meaningful cases she handles, and discusses current legal developments affecting IVF, reproductive rights, and LGBTQ+ families.

Whether you're considering adoption or surrogacy, work in the legal profession, or simply want to understand how modern families are created, this episode offers an informative and engaging look into one of today's most fascinating areas of law.

In this episode, you'll learn:
• How the surrogacy process works from start to finish
• The legal role of adoption and family formation attorneys
• What intended parents should know before starting the process
• The importance of contracts in assisted reproduction
• Current legal issues impacting IVF and LGBTQ+ families
• Common misconceptions about surrogacy and adoption
• Why adult adoptions can be so meaningful

Guest: Amira Hasenbush
Host: Mason Rashtian

If you enjoy conversations that educate, inform, and introduce you to remarkable professionals making a difference, be sure to follow The SCV Law & Life Podcast on Spotify and your favorite podcast platform. New episodes are released regularly featuring attorneys, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and community experts sharing practical insights about law, business, and life.