Unscripted Direct

Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer gets older! 

The Break (0:04:05). Results from Davis's MLK tournament.

Premiere Preview: Joe Lester (0:05:00). Nova's advocacy competitions director talks about Halloween candy, rabid raccoons, and whether coaches should "re-use" students each semester.

NCTC Preview: John Henry (0:17:45). Loyola's John Henry talks about his "hype song," how he's changed the program since taking over from Susan Poehls, why he decided not to use a sexual assault case at NCTC, ... and his plans to teach at UCLA Law (yes, that's true! but totally misleading).

Rick Levin (0:35:35). The Northwestern coach discusses his recent dental malpractice trial: his theme, his opponent's deception, what it was Iike trying a case with his son, and a verdict that was even bigger than what he asked for.

Mailbag (0:57:04). Is Justin threatened by the success of UCLA's new football coach? Does Spencer apologize for saying Buffalo didn't send him swag when in fact they had??

Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer returns from Anchorage with a heartwarming story about democracy.

The Break (0:07:02). Results from Tournament of Champions, Quinnipiac, and Syracuse.

Coaches Roundtable (0:09:14). Judge Roberts, Robert Little, and Justin break down the Tournament of Champions -- the protests, the best Jared moments, and their teams' strategies.

Interview with Annie Berry (0:52:00). Vanderbilt's head coach -- and only coach! -- talks about why she left California, learning from the Lizzes, her criminal defense murder practice, where to eat in Nashville, and when she uses her Russian accent.

Interview with Houson Lafrance (1:08:44). St. Thomas's mock trial director explains how he runs their program with "systems," defines a "Florida Man," offers advice for cooking a steak, and plays a game called "Which St. Thomas?"

Mailbag (1:32:41). What are your favorite old and new teaching techniques? Any tips for winning a Scripty?

Introduction (0:00:00). "Just Flash Trial that $#@%!"

The Break (0:04:50). Results from four competitions. 

Tournament of Champions Preview (0:07:58). The TOC board members -- Syracuse's Joanne Van Dyke and Cumberland's Judge Roberts -- talk about new teams, Susan Poehls's legacy on the board, this year's case, "Professor Little," and a proposal for an angry one-person protest committee.

Kaitlyn Flynn (0:22:10). With Hofstra hosting, their accomplished alum and longtime coach shares her favorite courtroom story, a possibly "fixed" regional tournament, her favorite Jared story, the time she directed him as a witness in court(!), and why she's probably the world's worst airplane passenger.

Mailbag (0:37:28). Four questions, including how to handle bad judge feedback and recommending the best video clips for teaching trial skills.

Intro (0:00:00). Helping students find jobs.

The Break (0:07:22). Results from the second weekend of All Star Regionals. And some other fun news.

Dominique Hinson (00:10:57). McGeorge's Associate Director of Trial Advocacy talks about her role as NALAE's president elect. She teases her own future podcast. And she addresses the question many are wondering: what's going on at McGeorge?

Gavel Update: Jared Rosenblatt (0:39:58). Hofstra's Jared Rosenblatt talks about the new voting rules, the new categories, and the first rankings from the 2026 season.

Mailbag (0:57:13). Three questions! Judge assignments, podcast integrity, and tournament food.

Introduction (0:00:00). A bar where it's always Christmas, and a birthday present for Spencer's mom. 

The Break (0:07:00). Results from All Star Regionals, Stetson's Pretrial Competition, and Summit Cup.

How much do the merits matter? (0:09:12). A deep dive into case data from All Star, including a verdict form experiment.

Main Interview: Dave Deaconson  (0:19:04). The Baylor coach talks about his successful career, meeting his wife during a capital murder case, his lifelong Cubs fandom, being "a Vegas guy," and how much he enjoyed beating Justin's teams. 

Suggested Plagiarism: Marion Reilly  (0:53:39). Fresh off a billion dollar verdict, the star trial lawyer explains how she uses appellate skills at trial.

Mailbag (1:06:57). What would surprise Iisteners about the show? And how guilty does Spencer feel about his solar panels?

Introduction (0:00:00). Scandal in the Feedspot podcast rankings! We have three (or four) simple solutions.

The Break (0:06:13). Results from Drexel Kline’s Battle of the Experts and Tex-ABOTA’s Best in Texas voir dire competition. 

All Star Preview (0:08:02). We preview the largest fall invitational.

Interview: Megan Daic (0:11:17). St. Mary's new assistant director talks about her new job -- and the competitions she plans to develop.

Interview: Jo Perini-Abbott (0:27:15). Lewis & Clark's director discusses her election to the Oregon bench, how far Lewis & Clark has come in just a few years since a major program expansion, and what's next for the school as she moves to her new position. 

Interview: HT Smith (0:44:01). The Florida International trial ad director -- and renowned trial lawyer -- discusses his stand against corruption in his school's dean selection.

Mailbag (1:09:16). Should schools allow their alums to judge when their own team is competing?

Introduction (0:00:00). Coffee shops that charge for wifi?!

The Break (0:03:40). Results from Flash.

Battle of the Experts Preview .... Without Phil (0:04:59). Baylor's Robert Little, Stetson's Kate Donoghue, and South Carolina's Brett Bayne join us to make fun of the tournament host (and also talk about what makes the tournament so good). 

Main Interview: Donnie Anderson (0:36:40). Ohio Northern's trial ad director tells the story of getting cut from the Stetson trial team; explains how he worked for two law firms without either finding out about the other; plays Stetson-ONU trivia; addressed whether he’s going to Barry; and reveals that Ohio Northern uses Justin's book! 

Mailbag (1:15:32). Four questions for the price of one: arm wrestling, mocking, fighting, and flashing.

Introduction (0:00:00). Trial prep, dinner, sabotage, mystery outfits, and a preview of the National Flash Trial Competition.

The Break (0:09:00). Results from all three First Chair sites.

Interview with Mark Mandell (0:11:17). The star trial lawyer talks about this 51 years in the courtroom, his famous Case Framing Method, and the new Mandell Trial Program at Roger Williams Law.

Mock Trial the Movie (0:41:25). Jess McKenna and Zack Reino talk about their own experience with mock trial, why they decided to bring mock trial to the big screen, and where you can see it! (Check our their website for dates and locations: https://mocktrialthemovie.com.)

Mailbag (1:13:26). What's your most painful mock trial loss?

Introduction (0:00:00). Justin puts his foot in his mouth. Spencer fibs to a photographer.

First Chair Preview (00:16:52). We discuss the expansion to three sites -- and catch up with the three hosts: Georgia State's Paige Boorman, Drexel's Phil Pasquarello, and Chapman's John Bishop.

The Expert Who Got Caught (0:43:01). We interview Will Moye, the lawyer who deposed and cross-examined the witness who got caught using ChatGPT to write his expert report.

Mailbag (1:09:21). Which community members would be the best roadtrip buddies?

Season 11 starts now!

Summer Recap (0:00:00). EATS, a bizarre tournament application, losing the license to kill, and being polite to robots: we remember the community's biggest and silliest events from the summer.

Chatting with the Champs (0:16:52). Berkeley's Top Gun winner Becca Goren -- along with coach Aaron Laycook and second chair Dylan Hughes -- talks about how her high school coach didn't recruit her, vents about how her Top Gun teammates ditched her during the tournament, showcases her hidden elbow talent, and shares what she did with the $10,000.

Season Preview (0:45:16). Spencer and Justin forecast the four major storylines for the new season.

Interview: Syracuse's Tyler Jeffries (0:55:47). The season's first competition is the National Trial League, and we talk to its director -- about cheerleading, adult kickball, being coached by Joanne Van Dyke, and trying to keep up with all of Todd Berger's tournament ideas.

Mailbag (1:25:31). What is your number one piece of coaching advice?