Episode 44: The Privilege of Sacrifice as a Trial Lawyer

In this episode of The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast, the group sits down with a simple question: Does being great at your work always require sacrifice?  

Karen Koehler opens up about a career shaped by long hours, missed moments, and the constant pressure of leading high-stakes cases. She also names what often goes unsaid: the privilege of choosing sacrifice when so many workers never get that choice. Mo Hamoudi shares how sacrifice shaped him long before he ever stepped into a courtroom, and why he still wakes up before dawn to touch every case. 

Together, they dig into burnout, identity, pace, and what happens when your drive becomes part of your wiring. They also admit a truth most people whisper about; at best, some lawyers can only function around others who work the same way.

If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend, and tell us your take. What sacrifice feels worth it to you, and which one will you never give up?

Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast

Hosted by Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi, trial lawyers at Stritmatter Law, a nationally recognized plaintiff's personal injury and civil rights law firm based in Washington State.

Featuring Mike Todd, producer, audio engineer, and the Disembodied Voice of Wisdom & Reason.

Produced by Mike Todd and Kassie Slugić.

New episodes every Wednesday.

The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast is where trial law meets real life. Trial stories, hard lessons, unexpected laughs, and honest conversations about life inside and outside the courtroom.

Podcast Hub:
https://thevelvethammer.buzzsprout.com

Karen Koehler
https://karenkoehler.com
https://www.instagram.com/k3thevelvethammer/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-koehler-thevelvethammer/

Mo Hamoudi
https://www.instagram.com/mo.hamoudi/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mo-hamoudi-77a38733/

Stritmatter Law
https://www.stritmatter.com

Episode 42: Mansplaining, Mo-Splaining, and the Space Between Talking and Listening

A heated phone call about “mansplaining” turns into a sharp, funny, and honest look at listening, ego, and the thin line between protecting and dominating.

Karen calls Mo out. Mo defends himself. Mike plays referee. Together they retrace the argument, name the habit (hello, “Mo-splaining”), and unpack why good intentions can still sound like lectures when you fill every silence with solutions. Sometimes the smartest move isn’t to fix—it’s to listen.

Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast

Hosted by Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi, trial lawyers at Stritmatter Law, a nationally recognized plaintiff's personal injury and civil rights law firm based in Washington State.

Featuring Mike Todd, producer, audio engineer, and the Disembodied Voice of Wisdom & Reason.

Produced by Mike Todd and Kassie Slugić.

New episodes every Wednesday.

The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast is where trial law meets real life. Trial stories, hard lessons, unexpected laughs, and honest conversations about life inside and outside the courtroom.

Podcast Hub:
https://thevelvethammer.buzzsprout.com

Karen Koehler
https://karenkoehler.com
https://www.instagram.com/k3thevelvethammer/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-koehler-thevelvethammer/

Mo Hamoudi
https://www.instagram.com/mo.hamoudi/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mo-hamoudi-77a38733/

Stritmatter Law
https://www.stritmatter.com

Episode 41: Anticipating the Loss - When Trial Lawyers Feel It Coming

When you’ve been in the courtroom long enough, you know the feeling. The slow, heavy dread of a case slipping away. In this episode of The Velvet Hammer™, Karen Koehler, Mo Hamoudi, and Mike Todd talk about what it’s like to sense a loss before it happens, both in trial and in life.

Karen revisits her 2022 trial against Seattle Children’s Hospital, where every ruling felt stacked against her. Mo shares lessons from his years as a death penalty defense lawyer and how shutting off emotion became a survival tactic. Karen challenges that mindset, arguing that emotion is part of what makes her human in court. Mike opens up about facing his own mortality during open-heart surgery and what it means to surrender control.

If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs steadiness under pressure, and leave a review telling us how you manage moments when the odds lean against you. Your story might help someone else keep going.

Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast

Hosted by Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi, trial lawyers at Stritmatter Law, a nationally recognized plaintiff's personal injury and civil rights law firm based in Washington State.

Featuring Mike Todd, producer, audio engineer, and the Disembodied Voice of Wisdom & Reason.

Produced by Mike Todd and Kassie Slugić.

New episodes every Wednesday.

The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast is where trial law meets real life. Trial stories, hard lessons, unexpected laughs, and honest conversations about life inside and outside the courtroom.

Podcast Hub:
https://thevelvethammer.buzzsprout.com

Karen Koehler
https://karenkoehler.com
https://www.instagram.com/k3thevelvethammer/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-koehler-thevelvethammer/

Mo Hamoudi
https://www.instagram.com/mo.hamoudi/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mo-hamoudi-77a38733/

Stritmatter Law
https://www.stritmatter.com

Episode 40: Misogyny, Patriarchy, and the Pain of “Mean Girls”

In this episode of The Velvet Hammer™, Mo asks the question most men avoid: “What is misogyny?” Karen, Mo, and Mike take it further, unpacking how patriarchy shapes the legal world and how internalized misogyny plays out between women. They talk about the quiet digs, the “sweetie” moments in court, and why women still send big cases to men they see as the “better trial lawyers.”

Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast

Hosted by Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi, trial lawyers at Stritmatter Law, a nationally recognized plaintiff's personal injury and civil rights law firm based in Washington State.

Featuring Mike Todd, producer, audio engineer, and the Disembodied Voice of Wisdom & Reason.

Produced by Mike Todd and Kassie Slugić.

New episodes every Wednesday.

The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast is where trial law meets real life. Trial stories, hard lessons, unexpected laughs, and honest conversations about life inside and outside the courtroom.

Podcast Hub:
https://thevelvethammer.buzzsprout.com

Karen Koehler
https://karenkoehler.com
https://www.instagram.com/k3thevelvethammer/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-koehler-thevelvethammer/

Mo Hamoudi
https://www.instagram.com/mo.hamoudi/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mo-hamoudi-77a38733/

Stritmatter Law
https://www.stritmatter.com

Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi debate the viral “Let Them” theory by Mel Robbins and whether it works in the real world of trial law. From self-help culture and quick-fix thinking to emotional intelligence, religion, and moral accountability, this episode breaks down what happens when “letting go” meets the practice of law. 

Mo questions if “let them” is wisdom or avoidance, while Karen tests the idea against real courtroom dynamics, including what would happen if a lawyer actually “let them” in trial. Mike Todd joins to explore the line between healthy boundaries and abandoning responsibility, leading to one conclusion: trial lawyers don’t let them.

Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast

Hosted by Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi, trial lawyers at Stritmatter Law, a nationally recognized plaintiff's personal injury and civil rights law firm based in Washington State.

Featuring Mike Todd, producer, audio engineer, and the Disembodied Voice of Wisdom & Reason.

Produced by Mike Todd and Kassie Slugić.

New episodes every Wednesday.

The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast is where trial law meets real life. Trial stories, hard lessons, unexpected laughs, and honest conversations about life inside and outside the courtroom.

Podcast Hub:
https://thevelvethammer.buzzsprout.com

Karen Koehler
https://karenkoehler.com
https://www.instagram.com/k3thevelvethammer/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-koehler-thevelvethammer/

Mo Hamoudi
https://www.instagram.com/mo.hamoudi/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mo-hamoudi-77a38733/

Stritmatter Law
https://www.stritmatter.com

Episode 38: When Zoom Replaces Rooms – Navigating the Post-Pandemic Legal Practice

Karen Koehler, Mo Hamoudi, and Mike Todd tackle one of the most significant shifts in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic: the rise of remote everything. From depositions to jury selection to everyday office life, they unpack how the legal world changed when the world shut down. 

Mo misses the energy of a bustling office, the conversations, the connection, and the shared purpose that only happen in person. Karen values the flexibility and efficiency of remote work, especially for routine legal tasks like depositions. Together, they explore how this shift reshaped trials, teams, office culture, and leadership, and what it means for the human side of law. Their verdict? The jury’s still out. 

Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast

Hosted by Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi, trial lawyers at Stritmatter Law, a nationally recognized plaintiff's personal injury and civil rights law firm based in Washington State.

Featuring Mike Todd, producer, audio engineer, and the Disembodied Voice of Wisdom & Reason.

Produced by Mike Todd and Kassie Slugić.

New episodes every Wednesday.

The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast is where trial law meets real life. Trial stories, hard lessons, unexpected laughs, and honest conversations about life inside and outside the courtroom.

Podcast Hub:
https://thevelvethammer.buzzsprout.com

Karen Koehler
https://karenkoehler.com
https://www.instagram.com/k3thevelvethammer/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-koehler-thevelvethammer/

Mo Hamoudi
https://www.instagram.com/mo.hamoudi/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mo-hamoudi-77a38733/

Stritmatter Law
https://www.stritmatter.com

How do you respond when someone insults you? In this episode, Karen Koehler, Mo Hamoudi, and Mike Todd explore how their childhood experiences with insults shape their adult mechanisms. 

Karen reflects on her mother’s “eye for an eye” parenting style, which shaped her fighter mentality. She shares how that mindset evolved into a professional strength, turning insults into strategy and sometimes using others’ underestimations to her advantage in the courtroom. 

Mike's story takes a darker turn as he recounts a traumatic childhood incident where his father encouraged him to fight older bullies but then stood by watching as he was overwhelmed and beaten. This formative experience instilled both a protective instinct and a readiness to project strength when challenged. 

As an immigrant child facing racial and cultural taunts, Mo developed yet another approach. Rather than immediate retaliation, he adopted a philosophy of patience: "Time is my vengeance." His chilling anecdote about confronting someone who had wronged a friend demonstrates how calm, measured responses can sometimes be more impactful than heated reactions.

It all raises the question: maybe “sticks and stones” got it wrong. Bones heal, but words seem to leave a mark that lasts. 

Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast

Hosted by Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi, trial lawyers at Stritmatter Law, a nationally recognized plaintiff's personal injury and civil rights law firm based in Washington State.

Featuring Mike Todd, producer, audio engineer, and the Disembodied Voice of Wisdom & Reason.

Produced by Mike Todd and Kassie Slugić.

New episodes every Wednesday.

The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast is where trial law meets real life. Trial stories, hard lessons, unexpected laughs, and honest conversations about life inside and outside the courtroom.

Podcast Hub:
https://thevelvethammer.buzzsprout.com

Karen Koehler
https://karenkoehler.com
https://www.instagram.com/k3thevelvethammer/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-koehler-thevelvethammer/

Mo Hamoudi
https://www.instagram.com/mo.hamoudi/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mo-hamoudi-77a38733/

Stritmatter Law
https://www.stritmatter.com

In this episode, Karen Koehler starts with a client who was permanently disfigured and how fast the defense tried to dig through every corner of her life. From medical records to private history, nothing feels off-limits in discovery. Karen and Mo Hamoudi talk about how invasive that process can be, why lawyers need to know everything (even the parts that hurt to say out loud), and how to build trust with a total stranger when the stakes are personal.

They get into what it means to “cross the moat,” how lawyers can earn their way inside a client’s world without crossing boundaries, and why most of what defense lawyers dig up never even makes it to trial. Karen brings her Spock-level “mind-meld,” Mo brings bartender-level empathy, and Mike Todd reminds everyone that giving up control is what makes trust so hard in the first place.

Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast

Hosted by Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi, trial lawyers at Stritmatter Law, a nationally recognized plaintiff's personal injury and civil rights law firm based in Washington State.

Featuring Mike Todd, producer, audio engineer, and the Disembodied Voice of Wisdom & Reason.

Produced by Mike Todd and Kassie Slugić.

New episodes every Wednesday.

The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast is where trial law meets real life. Trial stories, hard lessons, unexpected laughs, and honest conversations about life inside and outside the courtroom.

Podcast Hub:
https://thevelvethammer.buzzsprout.com

Karen Koehler
https://karenkoehler.com
https://www.instagram.com/k3thevelvethammer/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-koehler-thevelvethammer/

Mo Hamoudi
https://www.instagram.com/mo.hamoudi/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mo-hamoudi-77a38733/

Stritmatter Law
https://www.stritmatter.com

Episode 35: Unbound: A Woman’s Guide to Power Book Review

Karen Koehler, Mo Hamoudi, and Mike Todd review Unbound: A Woman’s Guide to Power by Kasia Urbaniak. They delve into the meanings of dominance, submission, and influence. 

Karen Koehler shares her “I’m the boss” fridge purge, Mo Hamoudi explains how walking away from incongruence gave him agency, and Mike Todd reframes power as influence instead of control. Together, they demonstrate that power is about presence, effective communication, and recognizing your desires in work, life, and the courtroom. 

This book may be written for women, but the insights apply to everyone. 

Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast

Hosted by Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi, trial lawyers at Stritmatter Law, a nationally recognized plaintiff's personal injury and civil rights law firm based in Washington State.

Featuring Mike Todd, producer, audio engineer, and the Disembodied Voice of Wisdom & Reason.

Produced by Mike Todd and Kassie Slugić.

New episodes every Wednesday.

The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast is where trial law meets real life. Trial stories, hard lessons, unexpected laughs, and honest conversations about life inside and outside the courtroom.

Podcast Hub:
https://thevelvethammer.buzzsprout.com

Karen Koehler
https://karenkoehler.com
https://www.instagram.com/k3thevelvethammer/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-koehler-thevelvethammer/

Mo Hamoudi
https://www.instagram.com/mo.hamoudi/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mo-hamoudi-77a38733/

Stritmatter Law
https://www.stritmatter.com

Episode 34: Keeping Up with Karen 

Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi debate the power of thinking on your feet versus slowing down to choose your words. Karen owns her “borderline manic” speed and explains how fast processing helps her pivot in court and keep juries engaged. Mo pushes back with the benefits of pausing for clarity. Mike Todd weighs in on how different brains process input during live questioning and why both styles can win with a jury.

This one is fast, short, and sweet. 

Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast

Hosted by Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi, trial lawyers at Stritmatter Law, a nationally recognized plaintiff's personal injury and civil rights law firm based in Washington State.

Featuring Mike Todd, producer, audio engineer, and the Disembodied Voice of Wisdom & Reason.

Produced by Mike Todd and Kassie Slugić.

New episodes every Wednesday.

The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast is where trial law meets real life. Trial stories, hard lessons, unexpected laughs, and honest conversations about life inside and outside the courtroom.

Podcast Hub:
https://thevelvethammer.buzzsprout.com

Karen Koehler
https://karenkoehler.com
https://www.instagram.com/k3thevelvethammer/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-koehler-thevelvethammer/

Mo Hamoudi
https://www.instagram.com/mo.hamoudi/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mo-hamoudi-77a38733/

Stritmatter Law
https://www.stritmatter.com