Unscripted Direct

Introduction (0:00:00). Jeff Brooks joins us to discuss the year's least controversial controversy.

The Break (0:10:06). Results from Denver's Summit Cup.

Interview: Kansas's Adam Sokoloff (0:11:45). Before he coached the mock trial team and oversaw the school's Innocence Project, Adam managed bands, went back to school for a philosophy degree, ran marijuana dispensaries, made a living playing poker, and made "a lot of decisions that you wouldn't necessarily make again, but I'm not gonna say I regret."

Tournament Spotlight: All Star (0:39:49). The largest Fall invitational returns with Zoom regionals and in-person Nationals. 

Interview: Maryland's Ben Garmoe (0:45:16). The Geico Gecko. His podcasting career. A.J stories. Dining solo. How he built a winning mock trial team. Why he's working to build a NALAE national competition. And whether he was bullied into growing a beard.

Mailbag (1:23:07). Has ABC News finally reached the journalistic level of Unscripted Direct? And if there's a Best in Texas, why is there no Best in California?

Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer keeps his job. Justin extols a new approach to scrimmaging.

The Break (0:08:33). Results from four competitions -- and a wagering correction.

America's Next Top Trial Lawyer (0:15:39). Sacramento County DA Thien Ho announces a new competition, with cash prizes.

Main Interview: Emily Stover (0:29:48). The longtime coach -- and national champion alum -- from UC Law SF talks about teaching English in prisons, beertending, and the school's mock trial program. She also faces ChatGPT to see who can better identify words that rhyme with Stover.

Tournament Spotlight: Denver's Summit Cup (0:53:31). Dave Schott and Kevin Keyes discuss what makes this tournament different, including the video exhibit featuring Dave's attempt at a Pittsburgh accent.

Mailbag (1:06:47). Should tournaments measure success first by trials won or ballots won? Follow up: is this the nerdiest question in show history?

Introduction (0:00:00). With Spencer abandoning his co-host, Justin interviews potential replacements.

Suggested Plagiarism with Brett Schreiber (0:32:48). The lawyer who won a $243,000,000 verdict against Tesla reveals some secrets, including his approach to cases with third party liability issues.

Tournament Spotlight: Battle of the Experts (1:08:57). Drexel's Phil Pasquarello talks about fatherhood, going full-time at the law school, and whether he knows how to write cases that aren't about sports.

Mailbag (1:17:10). Spencer hears footsteps...

Introduction (0:00:00). Where is Spencer taking Justin for their 10th anniversary season?

The Break (0:02:33). Results from the National Flash Trial Competition.

Main Interview: Stephanie Sullivan (0:07:27). South Texas's director of trial advocacy talks about her famous father, her published poetry, and her addiction to replying-all. She also opens up about the role faith has played in her life, and how she has dealt with losing two children.

Tournament Spotlight: First Chair (0:47:24). USD's Frankie DiGiacco and Hofstra's Jared Rosenblatt discuss their recent trial victories, Jerry Maguire, and a stalker case where the victim is way too into Jared. 

Preparing a Few Lines for Next Week (1:05:41). Since Spencer will be traveling next week, he pre-records some news announcements from First Chair.

Mailbag (1:08:57). What do you say to a student who says, "I want a different competition"?

Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer prepares for his ten-year anniversary. Justin gets publicly insulted.

The Break (0:07:45). Your first competition results from the new season.

Main Interview: John Henry (0:08:57). Loyola's new trial advocacy director talks about his favorite war stories from 80 jury trials, how trial competitions have changed in the last 25 years, whether he was Mirandized by his own mother, how many boilermakers caused him to spin on his head in Syracuse, and why he blames his wife for the Mets losing.  

Tournament Spotlight: Flash Trials (0:51:40). Berkeley's Jenna Forster and Chris Brown discuss how they made artificial intelligence part of this year's competition -- and how Spencer fared in a scrimmage. 

Mailbag (1:21:18). A.J. Bellido de Luna asks for an apology.

Catching Up (0:00:00). Travel, verdicts, paying off wagers, two words that unreasonably bother Spencer, alumni events, Spanish accents, and one host trying to cause an IP lawsuit for the other.

Summer Recap (0:15:13). What were the five funniest moments in our community this summer?

Top Gun: Chatting with the Champions (0:22:23).  Ohio State's Sarah Paul joins with her second chair Clay Owens and her coach Kendall Beard. It's pretty heartwarming.

New Season Storylines (0:46:23). Artificial Intelligence, the New Normal, and the Next Champions.

Tournament Spotlight: National Trial League (0:54:05). Syracuse's Todd Berger on war stories, how many cats is too many cats, JALAE (yes, JALAE!), and whether he wants to ruin everyone's summer.

Mailbag (1:22:49). How do you respond when someone sends you an email written entirely by ChatGPT?

Introduction. (0:00:00). We're back (for a bit!) to interrupt your summer 

Mailbag. (0:1:21:21). Thanks to Robert L., other personally identifying information unavailable, for the excellent "question."

Applying the Rules. (0:02:31). In our first episode recorded in a real, live, professional studio, Gabe Rivin is back to apply what he taught us in the last episode. To make sure we're all on the same page, we ask him to show us how we would tell the story of Wooden v. Saban as if he were doing it in podcast form, using the rules of dramatic storytelling. Also, Sam shows off with some next-level sound design. 

Transparent Flattery. (0:51:47). Justin is back. He brings not only questions for Gabe, but also a stunning revelation about how he feels about (at least one) USC Trojan, all in an effort to curry favor with our guest. Surprise, it works! 

Introduction (0:00:00). Where are we? What are we doing here? We answer existential questions, and podcast.

Story Fundamentals. (0:05:28). We're joined by Gabe Rivin, former showrunner for the Wondery's American Scandal and writer for publications including The Atlantic and The Paris Review. Spencer talks with Gabe about the raw materials that make a good story, they offend basically every fan of Star Wars, and we gain a new appreciation for Erin Brockovich.

Debrief! (1:11:16). Justin somehow edges his way back on the show (who gave him his security card back?!), and brings questions. 

Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer cuts down a tree, and Justin gets sentimental (for three reasons).

The Break (0:11:38). The EATS awards! And one errata.

All Star is Back! (0:12:44). St. Mary's A.J. Bellido de Luna is back and briefer than ever. He announces the return of the All Star Bracket Challenge, reveals his poker secrets, and explains how his face ended up on t-shirts.

Top Gun Preview (0:24:03). Baylor's Robert Little expresses how much a Scripty would mean to him, answers "anonymous" Top Gun questions, and shares the 16 schools invited to Top Gun XVI.

Trial Competition Performance Rankings (0:44:01). Adam Shlahet talks about his excellent beard, names Crayola colors, explains why Jared Rosenblatt is like his "little brother," and announces the TCPR 2024-25 winners.

The Scripties! (0:59:43). Come for the traditional awards -- Best Trophy, Best Swag, Best Banquet, Team of the Year, Coach of the Year -- and stay for the even bigger awards: Best Use of Email, Worst Results Predictor, Best Virtual Trial Link, and the inaugural Listener of the Year.

Mailbag Question (1:12:13). Who would win a fight between 100 humans and 1 silverback gorilla? And -- more importantly -- what is the mock trial equivalent of this question?

Introduction (00:00). Apply for competitions and vote in the Scripties!

The Break (06:11). Serious results from Amicus, ridiculous results from Amicus, and a new podcast achievement.

Gavel Rankings (12:40). With the semester coming to a close, Gavel founder and head mathematician Jared Rosenblatt shares his calculations and major storylines from the 2024-25 season. He also lodges allegations of snoring and cheating.

Shanin Specter: Defending the Rule of Law (25:04). The famed trial lawyer talks about how his firm and other plaintiffs' firms are standing up for the rule of law. (Students who want to sign the amicus brief can click here.)

Mailbag (50:26). How do you conduct tryouts?