Season 6, Episode 4: The Reality of Work-Life Balance for Trial Lawyers

What does “work-life balance” actually look like for trial lawyers? In this episode, Karen Koehler, Mo Hamoudi, and Mike Todd get honest about what life looks like in the weeks leading up to trial and in the middle of it.

Karen walks through how she keeps relationships, movement, and creativity in her life even during trial, and why she deliberately cuts out everything else.

Mo talks about being a grinder, integrating work into life instead of trying to escape it, and why physical movement and creative outlets keep him sharp.

Mike pushes the conversation toward creativity, compartmentalization, and the mental reset that makes trial work sustainable.

They talk about guilt, especially for women in the law, sacrifice, aging, creativity, and why there is no magic formula. Trial work narrows life. It doesn’t stop it. And the art of law is part of what keeps them going.

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

Produced by Mike Todd, Audio & Video Engineer, and Kassie Slugić, Executive Producer.

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📬 Questions or topic ideas? Email us at thevelvethammerpodcast@stritmatter.com

🔥 New episodes every Wednesday
Subscribe for bold takes, heartfelt moments, and the unfiltered reality of what it means to live and lead as a trial lawyer at Stritmatter Law.

Season 6, Episode 2: Power: Who Holds It And Who Doesn’t

In this episode, Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi go head-to-head on whether power is real or an illusion, and why that question matters when your client has none. From courtroom dynamics and judicial authority to insurance companies, employers, and institutions that quietly run the show, this conversation pulls apart how power actually works when the stakes are real.

Karen brings decades of trial experience and zero patience for theoretical thinking that ignores reality. Mo pushes back with a survivor’s mindset shaped by resistance, meaning, and refusal to submit. Mike Todd jumps in to ground the debate in everyday life, systems, and consequences.

If this conversation resonates, follow The Velvet Hammer™, share it with someone who fights uphill battles, and leave a review telling us how you deal with power when it shows up in your life.

🎧 Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast

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

Produced by Mike Todd, Audio & Video Engineer, and Kassie Slugić, Executive Producer.

Watch full episodes on YouTube
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok & Facebook
📬 Questions or topic ideas? Email us at thevelvethammerpodcast@stritmatter.com

🔥 New episodes every Wednesday
Subscribe for bold takes, heartfelt moments, and the unfiltered reality of what it means to live and lead as a trial lawyer at Stritmatter Law.

Season 6, Episode 2: Legal Breakdown of the ICE Minnesota Shooting

In this episode, Karen Koehler, Mo Hamoudi, and Mike Todd examine the January 7, 2026, fatal ICE shooting in Minnesota that resulted in the death of Renee Nicole Good. They discuss what is visible on video, the sequence of events, and the legal standards that apply when deadly force is used.

The conversation focuses on Fourth Amendment law, qualified immunity, and the divide between criminal prosecution and civil accountability. They also address why criminal charges are often unlikely in cases involving law enforcement shootings, and why civil litigation may be the only remaining path for a family seeking answers

🎧 Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast

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

Produced by Mike Todd, Audio & Video Engineer, and Kassie Slugić, Executive Producer.

Watch full episodes on YouTube
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok & Facebook
📬 Questions or topic ideas? Email us at thevelvethammerpodcast@stritmatter.com

🔥 New episodes every Wednesday
Subscribe for bold takes, heartfelt moments, and the unfiltered reality of what it means to live and lead as a trial lawyer at Stritmatter Law.