TrustCast Show

In this episode of the Trustcast Show, host Zane Myers talks with Carolyn Daly - partner and chair of the Family Law Group at Cohen Seglias who trademarked "Divorce Without Drama" after nearly 30 years in New Jersey family law. She ran her own firm (Daly & Associates) for 13 years before merging to build something bigger, handles everything from high conflict custody battles to dividing cryptocurrency and art collections in divorce, and holds Supreme Court certification that only 2% of New Jersey attorneys carry. After thinking she'd be a prosecutor, a judge moved her to family court one month before her clerkship started and she never left. Now she's transitioning from trial lawyer to ADR specialist (mediation and arbitration), arguing that fighting in court for years costs more money, more time, and produces worse outcomes than settling outside the courtroom where parties control the process and the outcome.

What You'll Learn:

Thought she'd be prosecutor - judge moved her to family court month before clerkship started

"Family law picked me, I didn't pick it"

First job: did family, civil litigation, criminal, all types of litigation

Thought family seemed hard, high conflict - maybe should do something else

Approached to become partner at family-only firm - decided this is where I should be

Trademarked "Divorce Without Drama" - not just marketing slogan

10 years into practicing: realized people spend too much time in high conflict

Emotion translates into drama, lengthy process, less money, children in middle

"We have to do this differently"

Colleagues view her as litigator - transitioning to ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution)

Mediation and arbitration: can have better divorce if handled outside courtroom

Mediation: you control the outcome | Arbitration: you control the process (pick your judge)

In New Jersey: takes years (not a year, years) to get divorced in court

Just finished a trial - still does some courtroom work

If you're broke: very difficult - end up pro se, waiting in line for judge

New Jersey has Early Settlement Panel (ESP): meet with 2 lawyers for settlement thoughts

Not binding, voluntary process by lawyers - she does that work

Can hire mediator: 3-4-5 sessions, get divorced

Ran Daly & Associates for 13 years

Looking in mirror one day: exhausted, working nights and weekends all the time

When you run your own: don't have sense of when you need more help

"Go west young man" - needed to make change

Had hired associate (now partner with her at Cohen Seglias)

At some point: can't work every minute of day

Not just practice of law - running a practice

Loves business of law - did it well, put her where she is personally and professionally

Needed bigger platform, team supporting her in building it

Went from herself + associate to herself + partner + 2 associates (still hiring)

Mid-size firm now, shares responsibility of business side

Lawyers and doctors often not best business people

When so busy practicing, not paying attention to business - not as successful as can be

Most draining non-legal part: tech (cloud vs. server, someone can't get into computer)

Infrastructure: billing programs, collections, follow up - tedious

Merger with Cohen Seglias: headhunters reach out at certain level in profession

Had conversations over years - wasn't ready until "looked in mirror and said go West"

Reached out to headhunter friend, another headhunter beginning her career

"Are you looking for associate?" "No, I'm looking for you to find me a home"

People floored - didn't think she'd do what she did

Introduced to couple firms by headhunters

Picked Cohen Seglias: most business oriented, growth minded

Didn't have family law department - "You come in and build it"

Don't lose autonomy - if join firm with existing department, become somebody on team

If build department from scratch: get to be autonomous

"They don't know what a family law department is, never had one"

Loves good challenge - interesting puzzle

How do you build department? Staffing, right technology

More support on back end - doing less business part, more putting

together, solving actual problems

Not sending out bills, doing marketing, hiring people, paying people anymore

Space to think: how do I want to build this department? What type?

Strategic, not acquiring bodies

Right department for family law within larger firm - interesting, good work for clients

Most people think divorce = court = fight

Wanted to focus more on ADR when built department

Been doing it for years but also trying cases, arguing motions, going to court all time

Built team around her: people who go to court, trial lawyers with that skill set

In this episode of the Trustcast Show, host Zane Myers talks with Joe Jones - co-founder and CEO of StreamSettle, a legal tech platform using triple blind encryption to settle insurance claims before either side knows what the other submitted. He went from defending Marines in military courtrooms to board certified trial lawyer (distinction held by less than 6% of Texas attorneys) to bootstrapping a startup that argues the best use of his courtroom skills is making sure clients never see one. After a shower idea while working a trucking case he couldn't ignore, Joe and his wife Krissa (former public school teacher, now co-founder) built a nationwide platform that's settling cases faster, cheaper, and with less stress - while both sides think it's better for them than their opponent.

What You'll Learn:

Shower idea while working trucking case - kids playing in cul-de-sac, neighbors over, typing motions

Knew case would settle but going through all the motions anyway

Idea: put true numbers in (not postured numbers) to see if overlap without revealing

First thought: maybe something like this exists - nothing out there

Ran idea by wife Krissa (co-founder) - "curator of ideas" usually rejects them, but liked this one

Became their purpose/mission - make it industry standard

Saves parties time, money, stress - everything they want to avoid

Over 90% of civil cases settle eventually

Tens of billions wasted annually just because of posturing

Triple blind encryption: no one sees opponent's number, software blind to actual numbers

Computations done on user's machines, pass through server encrypted

Different from competitors where one side hires them - trust issues remain

StreamSettle maintains neutral party status

One number only: true settlement threshold (ranges still involve posturing)

Plaintiff: bottom line willing to accept | Defense: top number willing to pay

If overlap exists: split right down the middle of threshold

Example: defense pays $1M, plaintiff accepts $950K = settlement at $975K

Plaintiff gets $25K more than willing to accept, defense pays $25K less

If no overlap: parties can try again immediately (zero charge to test numbers)

Only charge fee once settlement reached on platform

Emphasize putting true threshold - shouldn't need second round until case facts change

New deposition, new facts typically bring parties closer together

Founded late 2022

Finished build end of 2023

Went live with first customer beginning 2023: Plymouth Rock Assurance (New Jersey)

Still most active customer - helped refine product through growing pains

Brought on ~50 law firms in New Jersey first year and a half

Grateful to early customers for helping refine product

Partnered with London-based development company for big enterprise development

Pay them by the hour (no equity stake) - worth every penny

Constantly improving with updated features

Nationwide - available all 50 states

Plan to go global once industry standard (maybe before)

Looking for other verticals/use cases beyond litigation

Started as Marine Corps legal assistance attorney (first billet)

Most active duty time: criminal defense lawyer

Legal assistance: Marines/sailors came with all problems (divorce,

scammer contracts, deceptive businesses, landlord evictions)

No power of courts behind them - couldn't file suit

Negotiation became huge part of success

Learned to be creative without threat of lawsuit

Criminal defense: negotiating deals when evidence overwhelming, client guilty

Focused on mitigating factors: combat record, PTSD untreated for years (Marine Corps fault)

Best job ever for new lawyer - incredible job

Board certified trial lawyer - less than 6% of Texas attorneys hold this distinction

Wife Krissa: former public school teacher, firm administrator for law firm

Already working together before StreamSettle

Scaled down firm, Krissa helped more with StreamSettle

Had to be co-founder - talk about it constantly

Call it "fourth child" (have 3 real kids: Ellie, Everett, Juliet)

Blessing to have journey together

Starting law firm vs. startup with no proven demand

Go to pitch competitions, conferences together

Posturing example: buying car listed at $60K, offer $45K claiming budget

Sticker price is posturing too

In litigation: years of very expensive delay (not minutes/weeks like car buying)

ABA model rules: lawyers can't deceive, but exception for puffering in negotiations

Ingrained behavior - can't make rule against it

Accepted form of deceit

Initial reaction from lawyers: "I get why it's good for us, but how will you get other side?"

In this episode of the Trustcast Show, host Zane Myers talks with Anthony McLaren - an LA trial attorney who collects the money other lawyers can't, climbed the highest mountain on every continent in just over two years (including Everest) with almost no support and on a $120,000 shoestring budget. After his father died of Parkinson's at age 59, Anthony summited Kilimanjaro 11 months later, then completed all Seven Summits to honor his dad's 20-year military service. Now 48 years old, he's an income partner at Ronald P. Slates law firm specializing in judgment enforcement, wrote "Seven Summits for Dad" (rewrote it from first person to third person), raised $40,000 for Parkinson's research, and gave up his social life to focus on his young son and possibly another child on the way.

What You'll Learn:

Father died December 1, 2016 from Parkinson's disease at age 59

Summited Kilimanjaro November 24, 2017 (11 months later) - LA to LA in 9 days

53 hours car-to-car off the mountain

Primary caregiver for father last 3 years of life - cut nails, gave haircuts, shaved him

Father showed Parkinson's signs at 50, diagnosed at 52

Father served US military 20 years (grandfather too)

Seven Summits total cost: $120,000 (cashed out 401k, borrowed money, fundraising)

Kilimanjaro (Africa): $3,500 vs. $10,000 traditional services

Aconcagua (South America): $2,000 soloed vs. $10-15,000 guided

Denali/McKinley (Alaska): $1,500 vs. $10-20,000 guided

Elbrus (Russia/Europe): $3,000 soloed, climbed with Russian guys

Carstensz Pyramid (Australia/Oceania, Indonesia): helicopter to base, sourced locally

Everest (Asia): $40,000 (as cheap as it gets) - used one Sherpa, logistical support only

On Everest in 2019 when famous queue photo went viral - 15 people died

Already off mountain and safe in Kathmandu because he made the decisions

Antarctica: expensive, fly over Drake Passage

Technical climber for 14+ years before Seven Summits

Already owned all gear - cold weather equipment, tents, technical climbing gear

"Seven Summits or it didn't matter" - never reflected on individual mountains until all done

Founded Climb Above Parkinson's nonprofit - raised $40,000

Funded Keck School of Medicine at USC for Parkinson's research

Concluded nonprofit - folded into national organization

Wrote "Seven Summits for Dad" during COVID (4-6 months locked down)

Didn't like how he sounded in first person - rewrote to third person (took 1 year)

Submitted to company for punctuation/grammar check last month

Looking to publish or self-publish

Age 48, will be 50 soon

Judgment enforcement attorney at Ronald P. Slates law firm (income partner)

Joined Ron's firm about 1 year ago

Wound down own practice - business litigation and employment law (20 years)

Employment law in California: not level playing field for employers

Economic decision to pay "blood money" or fight with no remedy against plaintiff

Made career change when son was born - wanted financial security

Ron Slates: name populates in ChatGPT for judgment enforcement California

Firm doing judgment enforcement almost 50 years

Collects judgments other lawyers can't collect

Serves companies, law firms, banks

Standard process: obtain judgment, conduct asset search, reveal

accounts/property/trusts

Asset search through outside vendor (decades-long relationship, top notch)

Low cost commitment to peek at what exists

Judgments enforceable in perpetuity - can revisit in 6 months or 2 years

Tools: levy bank/brokerage accounts, abstract of judgment on real property,

sheriff seizures (boats/cars), assignment orders (redirect revenue)

Debtor exams at courthouse (not courtroom - lunchroom or common area)

Judge on attorney's side vs. private deposition

Bench warrant issued if debtor fails to show - police can arrest

Demand 50+ document requests

Can take as many debtor exams as needed (not duplicative questions)

Business litigation: file lawsuit, cross-complaints, depositions, arbitrations, trials

Usually business people compromise rather than incur legal fees

Email: [email protected]

Search: "Anthony McLaren lawyer climber"

Niche market - not saturated like employment law

Cordial community - lawyers not adverse to each other, not cutthroat

Word of mouth referrals, repeat customers, search queries

"We are reputed to be the best in the business because we are"

Assignment orders make customers aware debtor isn't paying - optics pressure

"A real man honors his debts"

Gave up social life - no restaurants, parties, socializing

Wife and him used to go out a lot when dating/newly married

Now has time for family, work, writing because social life gone

Values sleep, time with children and wife

Esther Kane spent 12 years as an occupational therapist walking through seniors' homes spotting hazards before falls happened. Then she ran a digital marketing company for 25 years helping small businesses rank on Google. At 60, instead of retiring to play pickleball, she fused these two worlds into something the aging industry desperately needed.

Falls cost $50 billion annually in medical expenses. A grab bar costs $30. The gap? Families don't know where to find the right people to install it correctly—or that they need it in the first place.

Esther created Aging in Place Directory, a nationwide platform connecting families with the specialists who keep people safe at home—CAPS-certified contractors, occupational therapists, home care agencies, tech installers, and accessibility designers. Think Angie's List, but purpose-built for aging safely.

The most dangerous things in nearly every senior's home? Rugs and clutter. Esther saw countless injuries from these "silly little accidents" that changed lives forever. Bathrooms require major reconstruction, but removing trip hazards costs nothing—except emotionally, because you're asking someone to acknowledge they're getting older.

After launching Senior Safety Advice with her seventh-grade friend Robin Schiltz in 2018, Esther saw a pattern: readers kept asking "where do I find these people?" There wasn't one directory combining contractors, assessors, and designers into a team approach. Families were reacting in emergencies instead of planning proactively.

So Esther built Aging in Place Directory in 2024. She vets providers through Zoom calls, background checks, and LinkedIn reviews. Free listings get exposure; paid members ($15/month or $120/year) receive weekly marketing webinars where Esther teaches SEO, ChatGPT, social media, and AI optimization strategies to aging-in-place professionals starting new businesses.

Her big insight: many contractors don't consult with OTs before installing grab bars. They don't know the exact height to mount the toilet or precisely where bars should go. The directory creates a Rolodex so one professional walking into a home can refer to an entire team—including resources for reverse mortgages and grants to fund modifications.

Over 80% of seniors want to age at home. Less than 10% of homes are set up for it. How do we close that gap? Esther's answer: assessors who do home safety evaluations ($125-$350) before problems occur, treating it like a house inspection—proactive maintenance for independence.

Senior Safety Advice landed #5 on FeedSpot's list of 80 Best Caregiver Blogs in 2025. The secret? Esther focuses heavily on technology content—Alexa, smart home devices, gerontechnology—that other caregiving blogs ignore. She teaches simple, actionable tech solutions that help seniors and reassure remote family members.

The emotional barriers are massive. Grab bars look like hospital equipment, screaming "you're old." But it's worth avoiding a broken hip that leaves someone unable to pick up a spoon. Money is the other barrier—families fear running out before they pass away. That's why Esther emphasizes having financial resources in that professional Rolodex.

Esther's first website was "horrific"—her rapid-fire answer proves she's learned a thing or two in 25 years. Now she's teaching aging-in-place professionals how to show up in Google's AI-generated answers using Reddit-style Q&A content. Her advice to one company making fidget boards for dementia patients: structure your content as questions with concise answers—exactly what AI pulls for featured snippets.

With 117 members so far, Esther intentionally kept 2025 free to build the directory before charging. She knows from internet marketing: don't put too much money out before money comes in. The modest pricing reflects that small businesses need affordable options while proving ROI.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 - Introduction: OT + SEO = Aging in Place Directory

1:04 - The Moment Two Careers Should Collide

3:09 - Why There Wasn't an Angie's List for Aging in Place

6:54 - Rugs: The Dangerous Thing in Almost Every Home

9:11 - Why National Brands Are a Problem

10:59 - Why a Specialized Directory Instead of Teaching SEO

12:27 - First-Time User Experience on Aging in Place Directory

14:45 - Screening Vendors: Background Checks and LinkedIn

16:58 - What Is an Assessor and What Do They Cost

20:14 - Weekly Marketing Webinars and Private Community for Members

22:38 - Pricing Model: $15/Month or $120/Year

25:11 - Teaching AI Tools to Aging in Place Professionals

27:34 - Rapid Fire: Bathrooms, Raised Toilet Seats, Alexa, and That First Horrific Website

28:44 - 50-Year Friendship Becomes Business Partnership

29:42 - Senior Safety Advice: #5 on FeedSpot's 80 Best Caregiver Blogs

30:35 - Closing the Gap: 80% Want to Age at Home, 10% of Homes Ready

33:33 - Why Families Don't Install $30 Grab Bars Before $50 Billion in Falls

The U.S. Surgeon General called loneliness as deadly as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Cheri Alvarez is doing something about it—leading an international movement built on a radical idea: that a single friend can change someone's mental health.

As CEO of Compeer Buffalo and Compeer International, Cheri oversees programs in 40 communities across four countries. Compeer matches trained volunteers with people experiencing mental health challenges—creating friendships that complement clinical treatment. From six-year-olds to isolated seniors in nursing homes, Compeer serves anyone who needs connection.

The model is deceptively simple: volunteers and clients are matched based on common interests—maybe both love basketball or dinosaurs. After an initial introduction facilitated by Compeer staff, they spend about four hours a month together, doing whatever feels natural. No therapy sessions. Just friendship.

Cheri's path to this role started in foster care and adoption services, where she referred countless clients to Compeer and witnessed the transformation firsthand. When she stepped in as interim CEO during a turbulent transition, she brought 25 years of experience in Western New York nonprofits and a master's degree in Counseling Education from Canisius College.

The organization was founded over 50 years ago in Rochester by Bernice "Bunny" Skirboll after a near-fatal car crash taught her the healing power of friendship during recovery. What started with 12 volunteers now engages thousands worldwide, earning recognition from the American Psychological Association and inclusion in SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs.

Cheri serves on the steering committee of the Global Initiative on Loneliness and Connection (GILC), working alongside the World Health Organization to address what's become a global epidemic. She reached out on LinkedIn, asked to be more involved, and now collaborates with leaders from 23 countries tackling loneliness through different lenses—poverty, social media, the workforce, mental health.

In 2021, Compeer received a $1.2 million federal grant from OJJDP to expand youth mentoring into 15 new communities. But growth comes with challenges: How do you scale friendship without losing what makes it authentic? Cheri's answer: rigorous standard operating procedures, peer learning between affiliates, and new programs embedded within existing nonprofits that can handle the infrastructure.

During COVID, something unexpected happened—volunteer applications surged to their highest levels ever. People working remotely, isolated at home, wanted to give back and feel connected themselves. The virtual model proved that location doesn't have to be a barrier. A college student can maintain a friendship after going home for summer. Someone in Texas can be a phone buddy to an isolated senior in New York.

Cheri's rapid-fire answers reveal someone comfortable with introversion leading an extroverted mission. Her favorite Buffalo wings spot: Elmo's. The nonprofit leader everyone should follow: Eddie Garcia from GILC. And if she could match any two people in the world? A Republican and a Democrat—to get to the human side of things.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 - Introduction: Fighting Loneliness Through Friendship

0:56 - How Compeer Works: From Referral to Friendship Match

3:25 - Matching Process: Basketball, Dinosaurs, and Compatibility

7:06 - Volunteer Requirements: Background Checks and Training

8:32 - Who Needs Compeer: All Ages, All Backgrounds

10:16 - Serving Older Adults: The Loneliness of Nursing Homes

10:58 - Becoming CEO During Turbulent Times

12:27 - Compeer's Global Reach: 40 Locations, 4 Countries

13:34 - Funding Challenge: Running a Free Service

16:08 - Surgeon General's Report: Loneliness as Deadly as Smoking

17:58 - Youth and Loneliness: Social Media's Double-Edged Sword

20:45 - Rapid Fire: Buffalo Wings, Introvert or Extrovert, Republican Meets Democrat

22:42 - Joining the Global Initiative on Loneliness and Connection (GILC)

24:41 - How Loneliness Looks Different Across 23 Countries

26:11 - $1.2 Million Federal Grant: Expanding to 15 New Communities

28:20 - Where Compeer Operates: New York, Pennsylvania, and Beyond

30:20 - Getting Involved: Volunteers, Partners, and Virtual Phone Buddies

CONNECT WITH CHERI ALVAREZ:

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (716) 883-3331 ext. 313

Website (Buffalo): https://compeerbuffalo.org

Website (International): https://compeer.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherialvarez

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CompeerBuffalo

Instagram: @compeerbuffalo

YouTube: Compeer Buffalo

OFFICE LOCATION:

Compeer Buffalo / Compeer International Headquarters

1179 Kenmore Avenue

Buffalo, NY 14217

What does it take to represent families after murder, child sexual abuse, catastrophic injury, and life changing negligence?

In this episode of the Trustcast Show, Zane Myers speaks with Connecticut trial lawyer Paul Slager, partner at Slager Madry in Stamford, Connecticut. Paul shares the mindset behind taking only the most serious cases and why real justice is about more than money.

They discuss the landmark Boy Scouts abuse case that led to a $12 million jury award, the civil case involving the murder of Yale graduate student Annie Le, traumatic brain injury litigation, youth concussion awareness, wrongful death, and how lawyers carry the emotional weight of representing people on the worst day of their lives.

If you are interested in personal injury law, civil justice, brain injury advocacy, wrongful death litigation, or high stakes courtroom strategy, this conversation gives a rare look inside the work.

Contact Paul Slager:

Slager Madry LLC

750 East Main Street, Suite 810

Stamford, CT 06902

Phone: (203) 604-2446

Alt Phone: (860) 955-3633

Email: [email protected]

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Paul Slager

00:43 Why he takes the cases others avoid

01:51 From big law defense to plaintiff trial work

03:58 Working closely with clients after tragedy

06:17 Why his firm says no to many cases

07:41 The Slager Madry team in Stamford

08:58 The Boy Scouts abuse case and legal theory

13:34 Hidden files and decades of institutional knowledge

16:25 Jury verdict, appeal, and settlement

19:11 The Yale Annie Le case

21:12 Discovery, medical records, and e discovery

22:45 The pool drain drowning case

26:32 How he handles emotional trauma from cases

28:15 Making invisible brain injuries visible in court

29:39 Youth sports concussions and legislative work

31:05 Rapid fire questions

34:29 How he gets new clients

35:53 How to contact Paul Slager

#PaulSlager #TrialLawyer #PersonalInjuryLaw #BrainInjuryLaw #WrongfulDeath #MedicalMalpractice #SexualAbuseCases #ConnecticutLawyer #TrustcastShow

Ari Sliffman made history as the first student in Marquette Law School history to graduate with dual certificates in dispute resolution and sports law. His 2011 paper arguing that NFL Super Bowl clean zones violate the First Amendment was published in the Marquette Sports Law Review—and in 2023, an Arizona Superior Court cited his argument when ruling against Phoenix's clean zone ordinance for Super Bowl LVIII.

Now he's bringing that same creative thinking to mediation, achieving a 95% settlement rate in Philadelphia as founder of AJS Resolutions. His approach: emotional intelligence meets artificial intelligence. He uses AI to rapidly analyze thousands of pages of documents, freeing up time to focus on the human side—understanding personality types, building trust, and reframing emotionally charged messages.

His path to mediation was intentional. He worked both sides of the aisle—plaintiff's attorney representing injury victims, defense attorney representing major auto manufacturers—building well-rounded experience because "attorneys want mediators who understand not only their side, but the other side." He volunteers as Judge Pro Tem in Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, using it as a testing ground for new mediation techniques.

His most memorable case: his first private mediation. Parties were $300,000+ apart. He started by talking sports and pain treatment—building trust with a 62-year-old union worker who'd been injured and wanted to wait five years for back surgery to protect his pension. They broke down the numbers together, figured out what he actually needed, and settled within $25,000 of that number. "If I hadn't sat down and related to him and talked about things that frankly have nothing to do with this mediation, but really did because I needed to get him to trust me, I don't think we'd get there."

He writes a Times of Israel blog applying weekly Torah portions to mediation principles. He went full-time with AJS Resolutions on November 20, 2024—his father's birthday. He's currently completing Harvard's Program on Negotiation mediation course. And he does three networking events per week (coffees, lunches, happy hours) while maintaining an active LinkedIn presence because "the mediation is the easy part—everything else is the stressful part."

Modern mediation for modern litigation.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 - Introduction

1:01 - Super Bowl Clean Zones Paper Cited by Arizona Court

2:36 - The Grade on That Paper

3:05 - Building Career on Both Sides Before Becoming Mediator

4:47 - When Neither Party Is Happy: The Reality of Resolution

7:52 - Part Social Worker, Part Psychologist, Part Attorney

9:21 - Judge Pro Tem as Testing Ground

11:49 - How Mediators Get Paid

13:08 - Marketing to Attorneys: 3 Events Per Week

15:34 - Solo Shop: CEO, CMO, CTO, CFO

16:24 - The 95% Settlement Rate

21:21 - First Private Mediation: $300K Apart, Talked Sports & Pain

26:22 - Why Not Continue as Traditional Attorney?

29:23 - Israel Trip, Conflict Resolution Class

31:10 - AJS Resolutions Founded November 20, 2024

31:28 - Rapid Fire: Baltimore Orioles or Philadelphia Eagles?

32:12 - Best Negotiation Tactic from Watching Sports

33:37 - Torah Position Teaching Mediation: Joseph & His Brothers

34:42 - Modern Mediation for Modern Litigation

36:40 - Using AI for Document Analysis

CONNECT WITH ARI SLIFFMAN:

Website: https://ajsresolutions.com (book directly online)

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arisliffman/

Office: 1515 Market Street, Suite 1200, Philadelphia, PA 19102

Phone: Available via website

Times of Israel Blog: Search "Ari Sliffman Times of Israel"

#AriSliffman #Mediation #AlternativeDisputeResolution #ADR #LegalPodcast #PhiladelphiaMediator #ConflictResolution #DisputeResolution #PersonalInjuryMediation #BusinessMediation #AIInLaw #EmotionalIntelligence #Negotiation #LegalInnovation #TrustcastShow

What happens when an Emmy nominated investigative reporter becomes a catastrophic injury trial lawyer?

In this episode of the Trustcast Show, Zane Myers speaks with Amy Bradley, a principal at Blankingship and Keith, about her journey from newsroom storytelling to high stakes personal injury litigation. Amy shares how her background as a TV investigative reporter shaped the way she tells client stories in court, why trucking cases are different, how insurance companies undervalue serious claims, and what really helps juries connect with a case.

They also discuss wrongful death litigation, traumatic brain injury cases, day in the life storytelling, pro bono representation for domestic violence survivors, and the courtroom moment that led to Amy receiving a shelf full of rubber ducks from a client.

Amy Bradley is a Principal at Blankingship & Keith in Fairfax, Virginia. Her practice includes personal injury, automobile and trucking accidents, brain injury, product liability, sex abuse victims, and wrongful death. She previously worked as in house counsel for a major insurance company and is licensed in Virginia, Maryland, and DC.

Connect with Amy Bradley:

Blankingship & Keith, P.C.

4020 University Drive, Suite 300

Fairfax, Virginia 22030

Office: 703 691 1235

Direct line mentioned in episode: 703 293 7222

Email: [email protected]

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Amy Bradley

00:45 Covering the Hugo Selenski case and choosing law

02:39 From Wyoming to journalism to the courtroom

03:39 What Amy learned working for insurance companies

07:50 How claims get undervalued without a lawyer

09:55 The 5.4 million wrongful death case

12:42 Why trucking cases are different

15:09 Storytelling and day in the life style evidence

17:16 Why journalism helps in trial work

19:00 Rapid fire questions

21:00 The rubber ducks courtroom story

23:21 Jury relationships and trial results

27:13 Pro bono work for domestic violence victims

31:19 Why she joined Blankingship and Keith

33:32 What to do before hiring an injury lawyer

35:01 How to contact Amy Bradley

#AmyBradley #PersonalInjuryLaw #TrialLawyer #WrongfulDeath #TruckAccidentLawyer #BrainInjuryLaw #VirginiaLawyer #FairfaxLawyer #InsuranceClaims #TrustcastShow

What happens when a special education teacher follows her instincts all the way through school counseling, higher education leadership, custody evaluation, and finally a thriving private practice that has been serving people for 25 years?

In this episode of the Trustcast Show, Zane Myers speaks with Ellen Zimmerman, licensed clinical professional counselor and founder of Comprehensive Counseling in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, about her extraordinary career arc and what it really means to sit with people in their hardest moments. Ellen shares what drew her from teaching kids with special needs toward understanding the inner lives of all people, what it felt like to make custody recommendations that judges sometimes ignored, and why she believes family court is broken.

They also discuss the college textbook she co-wrote to transform first year experience courses, why anxiety is the number one presenting issue she sees across every age group from 13 to 85, how cognitive behavioral therapy and polyvagal theory work together in the room, and why the one tip she gives every client is simply to breathe.

Ellen Zimmerman is a licensed clinical professional counselor and founder of Comprehensive Counseling in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. She is also a clinical supervisor for the Masters in Counseling program at the University of Illinois and a former certified custody evaluator in the Cook County Family Court system. She can be found on Psychology Today and Headway, or by searching Ellen Zimmerman LCPC.

Connect with Ellen Zimmerman:

Search: Ellen Zimmerman LCPC

Psychology Today, Therapist Finder, or Headway

Champaign-Urbana, Illinois

Chapters00:00 Introduction to Ellen Zimmerman

00:38 What it means to be a wise soul

01:07 From special education teacher to school counselor

02:01 Getting a master's degree when she never saw herself as academic

02:49 How teenagers carry pain differently than adults

04:05 Building mental health services as Dean of Counseling

05:10 Co-writing a college textbook that actually worked

06:59 Seeing the impact of the first year experience curriculum

08:10 The weight of being a certified custody evaluator

09:18 Working in the Cook County family court system

10:21 What kids hear that parents think they don't

11:26 Making recommendations in court and testifying

12:01 When the judge goes the other way

13:08 The subpoena she tried to avoid and what she found

14:01 Why 50% of custody recommendations get ignored

15:39 Why she stepped away from custody evaluation work

17:12 What the first session at Comprehensive Counseling looks like

19:28 Who her clients are and what they're dealing with

20:58 The one tip for anxiety that everyone can use right now

23:26 How CBT and polyvagal theory work together in practice

26:11 The client success that means the most to her

27:29 Positive thinking, affirmations, and changing mindset

28:52 Why college and grad students are her favorite population

30:30 Are Gen Z really that different or just human?

32:09 Rapid fire questions

33:40 Running a private practice and staying booked

35:49 How shoe leather marketing keeps her practice full

36:34 How to find and contact Ellen Zimmerman

#EllenZimmerman #Counseling #MentalHealth #Anxiety #CBT #CustodyEvaluation #FamilyCourt #TherapyWorks #TrustcastShow #LicensedCounselor

What happens when a Navy veteran who flew combat missions in the Persian Gulf, served at Guantanamo, and led Marines in Iraq decides his next mission is protecting growth-stage companies from legal disaster?

In this episode of the Trustcast Show, Zane Myers speaks with Aaron Pease, founding principal of Highbridge Law and partner at Renegade Capital Partners, about his extraordinary journey from enlisted sailor at 18 to outside general counsel for companies that don't yet know they need one. Aaron shares what it was like to fly more combat hours during the tanker wars than any other unit — a record that still stands — and how that small-team mentality shaped the way he practices law today.

They also discuss how Aaron helped guide a company from $5 million to $130 million in revenue in under three years, why most lawyers are on the sales prevention team, how to manage risk without just saying no, and why 60% of businesses fail because they ignore governance until it's too late. Aaron also introduces Bridge OS, an AI-powered operating system for small and mid-sized businesses built through Renegade Capital Partners.

Aaron Pease is the founding principal of Highbridge Law, serving as outside general counsel to growth-stage companies across the country. He is also a partner at Renegade Capital Partners and the author of LLC and the Corporate Legal Survival Guide. He is a veteran of the United States Navy with 14 years of active duty service.

Connect with Aaron Pease:

Highbridge Law

hybridglaw.com

LinkedIn: Aaron Pease

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Aaron Pease

00:50 Flying combat missions in the Persian Gulf at age 18

02:37 Becoming a door gunner instead of an avionics tech

04:43 Small unit cohesion and what naval aviation taught him about teams

06:14 What that deployment changed about how he sees the world

09:25 From Florida State to VCU to law school — the long road there

10:06 Why he got out of the Navy in 1989 and the Commodore who tried to stop him

13:10 Going back in as a commissioned officer after 9/11

14:08 Guantanamo Bay and how 9/11 changed everything

15:50 Getting assigned to the Marines at Camp Pendleton and deploying to Iraq

17:12 Why he left the Navy after 14 years and chose law school

20:27 Founding Highbridge Law and crossing to the other side of the street

21:26 Why growth-stage companies need outside general counsel

22:10 How to say yes to risk instead of just saying no

24:22 The journey from $5 million to $130 million in three years

27:11 Managing a cap table buyback across dozens of scattered investors

29:22 Why he limits himself to 12 to 15 clients at a time

30:01 The family practice doctor model for outside general counsel

32:21 Renegade Capital Partners and Bridge OS explained

34:57 What kinds of companies Bridge OS is built for

36:21 How Bridge OS differs from other AI business tools

37:42 How to reach Aaron Pease and find out more

#AaronPease #HighbridgeLaw #OutsideGeneralCounsel #BusinessLaw #StartupLaw #NavyVeteran #TrustcastShow #BridgeOS #RenegadeCapital #CorporateGovernance