Unscripted Direct

Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer knocks on doors. Justin holds tryouts.
Main Interview: Thomas R. Kline (0:07:37). The Jim Beasley Story. The Pizza Kelly Story.  The Third Chair Story. The "Birthday Present to Myself" Story. The Beating-His-Grandson-at-Squash-and-Talking-Smack Story. Then Tom answers some pressing questions: What's the next Thomas R. Kline School of Law? What's on his Instagram? Will he ever retire? How good are his seats at Sixers games? Is he any good at Bubble Pop? And what does he keep in his pockets during trial?
NTC Witness Program (1:00:40). Texas Southern's Tim Adams and Brandon Draper recap their witness volunteer program from TYLA Nationals. Tim jeopardizes his marriage. Brandon gets mocked.

Introduction (00:00).  Spencer visits New York. Justin revisits a past mistake.
The Break (06:23). Results from STAC Nationals, NTC Nationals, and the San Fernando Valley Competition.
Recap from Both Nationals (09:36). How balanced were the AAJ and NTC nationals cases? Did the new coaches review committee make a difference?  What did we think of NTC's new fourth preliminary round? Did the new "objections" category make a difference? Will AAJ have in-person or Zoom regionals next year? 
Predictions Contest (20:02).  AJ Bellido de Luna and Brett Bayne join the show ... and hijack the show.
US News Analysis (30:13).  Justin interviews ONU's Charlie Rose about the recently announced US News rankings in trial advocacy. Then Spencer and Justin offer their thoughts: Why was there so much movement this year? Why do these rankings appear to be more affected by competition results? And what school made the biggest jump?

 

Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer and Justin answer questions from listeners.
Nationals Predictions (0:08:14). Brett Bayne and A.J. Bellido de Luna predict the winners at NTC and AAJ Finals . A.J. tries to color code. It doesn't go well.  Both guests manage to offend several schools and coaches while making their predictions.
Our Predictions (0:32:42). After Spencer survives a field trip, the hosts make some predictions of their own.
Main Interview with Illinois-Chicago's Kelly Navarro (0:42:00). Kelly talks about her career in the Chicago prosecutors' office, how she manages a program of 50 students, the story of the student who got his bar results while he was in trial, skiing during "Birkebeiner Season," and who deserves a Nobel Prize.

Introduction. (00:00:01) Spencer's newest project: The Bay Area Trial League. Justin's newest project: the burger he ate afterwards.
The Break. (00:10:54) Results from four competitions -- including some not yet announced on the listserv.
Main Interview: Mercer's Katie Powers. (00:15:33) Katie specifies the one instance when she’s called "Kathryn," explains how she was appointed to the bench at such a young age, identifies which modes of transportation she helps the government control, acknowledges some culpability for getting a colleague falsely imprisoned, and recounts the time she mistook AAJ’s competition director for an Uber driver.

Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer and Justin discuss how they conduct tryouts, and it leads to a broader conversation about how they structure their respective programs at Berkeley and UCLA. The Break (0:14:45). Oops.  Losing Graciously (0:17:08). Stetson's Liz Boals and Cumberland's Sara Williams discuss how coaches can teach their students to handle competition losses with professionalism and grace -- and how coaches can  model that behavior themselves. Main Interview: Jessica Falkenstein (0:50:45). Drexel's alumni coach clarifies the difference between North and South Jersey, wonders if her father was in the mob, lets Justin test her memory of mock trial opening statements, tells the adoooorable story of how her parents met, acknowledges the photographic evidence that she's shorter than RBG, explains her love of Disney, and repeatedly roasts her husband. 

Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer talks about bunk beds.  The Break (0:03:51).  Results from Queens DA and AAJ Regionals. Predictions Contest (0:06:03). Katie Powers and Sara Williams return to find out who won. Katie answers a mailbag question, and Sara tries to stay out of hot water.  Thoughts on AAJ Regionals (00:15:27). Case balance data,  some crazy protest stories, and three pet peeves. Main Interview: Megan Chaney (0:38:24). Megan forgets that she was on the show before, explains why the CIA rejected her mother, accepts responsibility for bringing COVID to America, describes her childhood detective work, and shares one of most poignant stories ever shared on our podcast: how she met her biological family. Words to Live By (01:25:22). Spencer offers some inspiring quotes.

The Break (0:00:00). Results from South Carolina's Trials and Tribulations and LSU's Bayou Challenge -- including a heartwarming tale of congeniality. AAJ Preview (0:03:35). AAJ's lottery system, whether this competition should still be on Zoom, the new death penalty for "reading," and the quality of this year's case.   Predictions Challenge (0:24:02).  Mercer's Katie Powers and Cumberland's Sara Williams make their picks for AAJ Regionals. Katie complains about not receiving the rules that she definitely received. Sara announces her "friend," her "girl," and her two "boos."    Main Interview: Fordham's Brittany Russell (0:54:53). Brittany talks about the words she mispronounces as a New Yorker, Adam Shlahet's bizarre post-defeat ritual, finding blood in a hotel room, her thoughts about the City of Buffalo, and her eight-figure trial results. Ad for Potential New Sponsor (1:31:51). Let us introduce you to a tech startup...

Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer returns home. Does he still qualify as a California resident? The Break (0:02:28). Results from the Shark Beach Showdown and the Online National Championship. Surprise Guest! Joe Lester. (0:14:34). Joe Lester crashes the Zoom and talks about this first year at Nova Southeastern, does an impression of someone else with a Southern accent, explains why he has so much Coke in his office, and tells us about the inaugural Shark Beach Showdown -- including his mandatory public dancing. Protest Debate (0:33:08). In response to last week's segment, Brett Bayne and Justin debate whether a protest committee should require the protesting team to attempt impeachment by omission.  Suggested Plagiarism: Felix Luna (0:58:26). Fresh off an $857,000,000 verdict, star trial lawyer Felix Luna reveals some of his secrets -- including a very cool technique for directing experts. 

Introduction (0:00:00). Mailbag questions. The Break (0:07:05). Results from the last weekend of NTC regionals, the final stats from Robert v. Phil, and the winner of Spencer and Justin's bet.  Convene the Protest Committee! (0:15:24). Loyola's Susan Poehls, Fordham's Adam Shlahet, and South Carolina's Brett Bayne discuss how they would have handled each of five protests. Can I Get A Witness? (0:50:24). Texas Southern's Tim Adams and Brandon Draper announce a new witness program for NTC Nationals. Auditions for a Potential Sponsor (1:03:28). A technological innovation that could change your life.

Introduction (0:00:00): Spencer returns from his jaunt. The Break (0:05:34): Results from Chester Bedell and Weekend Two of the National Trial Competition, and updated case balance numbers. Changes Coming to NTC (0:12:00): Justin puts some direct questions to NTC Co-Chairs Dave Hagan and Ryan Bauerle. Why was the first version of the case so at odds with the community case-writing memo? Why were major case changes released 16 days before the first competition? Will you allow coaches to vet case problems before their release? Dave and Ryan answer the questions -- and make two big announcements about NTC Nationals. Predictions Contest (0:55:49). Robert attempts a comeback against Phil, and Phil attempts an impression of Robert. Auditions for a Potential Sponsor (1:18:01). Eat fresh.