Verdicts and Vogue

David Salgado joins Cristina Perez for a conversation about career changes, family, faith, and the unexpected opportunities that can shape a life. After spending three years at the Florence Project helping immigrants navigate one of the most complex areas of law, David made a life-changing decision: leave immigration law and start over in personal injury litigation. David shares the career transit...

What happens when a routine deposition turns into a real-life emergency? Attorney Lincoln Combs joins Cristina Perez to share one of the most unbelievable legal stories you’ll ever hear. During a Zoom deposition, Cristina suddenly heard strange noises coming from her office ceiling. Moments later, she discovered her law firm was on fire. But that’s just one of many stories in this candid conversat...

What happens when the interviewer becomes the interviewee? For the first time on Verdicts & Vogue, Cristina Perez steps into the hot seat and opens up in a way she never has before. From growing up as the daughter of immigrants to building her law firm from a Costco computer after being unexpectedly fired… Cristina shares the moments that shaped her. She talks about imposter syndrome, motherho...

After 12 years as a public defender representing children and families, Caitlin Engstrand made a bold decision: leave the public sector and build a practice centered around protecting women, children, and helping families navigate some of life’s hardest moments. In this episode of Verdicts & Vogue, Cristina Perez sits down with Caitlin to talk about what she learned inside the juvenile justice...

Amy Barrie sold her belongings to buy a one-way ticket from Canada to Florida with no plan, no money, and no guarantees. Today, she’s a key leader at one of the biggest companies in the mass tort industry. In this episode of Verdicts & Vogue, Amy sits down with Cristina Perez to talk about hustle, ambition, ego, discipline, reputation, and what it really takes to succeed in high-pressure indus...

In the Season 2 premiere of Verdicts & Vogue, host Cristina Perez Hesano sits down with Melissa June for one of the most raw and inspiring conversations yet. What starts with laughter over Melissa’s famous “feelings wheel” quickly turns into a deep discussion on emotions, ambition, burnout, healing, and authenticity. Melissa, a performance and alignment coach, explains how the feelings wheel h...

In Part 2 of Verdicts & Vogue, Cristina Perez Hesano continues her conversation with Kathryn Anderson, diving deeper into what it truly means to step away from comfort and build a career with intention. This episode moves beyond the initial decision to leave Big Law and focuses on what happens next. It is about growth, discipline, and learning how to navigate the realities of high level litiga...

In this episode of Verdicts & Vogue , Cristina Perez Hesano sits down with attorney Kathryn “Katie” Anderson for a candid, unfiltered conversation that goes far beyond the courtroom. This episode explores the realities of building a legal career, navigating personal challenges, and redefining success on your own terms. Cristina and Katie open up about their decade-long journey from colleagues...

In Part 2 of Verdicts & Vogue , Cristina Perez Hesano continues her conversation with Matt Fendon of Matt Fendon Law Group, diving deeper into the personal journey behind success and what it truly takes to rebuild your life when everything changes. This episode moves beyond titles and achievements, focusing on growth, faith, and the internal work that often goes unseen. Picking up from Part 1,...

In this episode of Verdicts & Vogue, host Cristina Perez Hesano sits down with Arizona attorney Matt Fendon, founder of the Matt Fendon Law Group, for a candid and insightful conversation about leadership in law, leadership in business, and the personal resilience required to navigate both. Matt shares the story of his journey from growing up in Phoenix and studying communications to eventuall...

In this episode of Verdicts & Vogue, Cristina Perez Hesano sits down with attorney Erica Gelfand for a candid and insightful conversation about the realities of practicing law, navigating the legal industry as women, and the personal growth that comes with building a legal career. The discussion blends professional experiences with personal reflections, offering listeners an honest look into t...

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Verdicts & Vogue, Cristina Perez sits down with attorney Erica Gelfand for an unfiltered conversation about gender bias in the legal profession, the emotional toll of immigration law, motherhood, and the courage it takes to pivot your career. What began as an impromptu phone call between colleagues quickly turned into a much larger conversation a...

In this episode of Verdicts & Vogue, Cristina Perez sits down with Lorie Valdez for an honest and inspiring conversation about faith, discipline, marriage, leadership, and what it truly takes to build long-term success in the personal injury industry. Lorie shares that her journey has never been accidental. From the very beginning, she has operated with intention. Every January, she creates a...

In this episode of Verdicts & Vogue , host Cristina Perez Hesano sits down with longtime industry leader Lorie Valdez , President of Business Development at Standup MRI, for an honest and inspiring conversation about growth, resilience, and building meaningful connections in the personal injury space. The episode opens with a candid discussion about stepping into the spotlight, as Lorie shares...

In Part 2 of Verdicts & Vogue, Cristina Perez sits down again with Jason Pritchett for a deeper, more reflective conversation on leadership, risk, and what it really means to build a legal career with long term vision. This episode moves beyond resumes and titles and into the lived experiences that shape decision making, ethics, and legacy. Jason shares his unconventional path through law scho...

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Verdicts & Vogue, host Cristina Perez Hesano sits down with longtime friend, respected trial attorney, and legal executive Jason Pritchett for a conversation that goes far beyond titles, accolades, and the courtroom. This episode explores adversity, discipline, identity, and what it truly means to earn your place when nothing is handed to you. Ja...

In Part 2 of this powerful Verdicts & Vogue conversation, Amy Gunn and Erica Slater pull back the curtain on what it really looks like to bet on yourself—and win. From launching their own law firm to taking high-stakes cases to verdict almost immediately, this episode is a masterclass in preparation, courage, and trusting your instincts when it matters most. Amy and Erica walk through the inte...

In this episode of Verdicts & Vogue , host Cristina Perez Hesano sits down with powerhouse trial attorneys Amy Gunn and Erica Slater , co-founders of Gunn | Slater , for a candid, thoughtful conversation about law, leadership, mentorship, and the realities women face in building long-term careers in a still male-dominated profession. Amy Gunn reflects on nearly three decades of practice, shari...

In this episode of Verdicts & Vogue , Cristina Perez continues her conversation with personal injury attorney Sophia Augeri, diving deeper into the mindset, emotional intelligence, and authenticity that shape powerful trial lawyers. What begins as a discussion about being a woman in law quickly unfolds into a thoughtful exploration of how empathy, self-awareness, and personal growth can become...

In this episode of Verdicts & Vogue , Cristina Perez sits down with personal injury attorney Sophia Augeri for a candid and relatable conversation about career evolution, confidence in the courtroom, and the personal experiences that shape strong women in law. What begins as a light, friendly exchange quickly unfolds into a meaningful discussion about growth, mentorship, and learning to trust...

In Part Two of this Community Highlight conversation, Cristina Perez continues her discussion with Genein Letford by diving deeper into brain capital, workplace wellness, and the role brain health plays in leadership, culture, and long term success. This episode expands beyond creativity alone and explores how the brain itself has become one of the most valuable assets in today’s rapidly evolving...

In Part One of this Community Highlight episode, Cristina Perez welcomes Genein Letford for a thoughtful and wide ranging conversation that connects creativity, brain science, culture, and leadership to the legal and professional world. This episode marks a departure from traditional attorney focused discussions and instead opens the door to learning from voices outside the legal field whose work...

In this episode of Verdicts and Vogue, Cristina Perez sits down with Wes Ball for an unfiltered conversation about what it truly means to build a trial career when everything is on the line. From moments of financial uncertainty to the pressure of funding major cases, Wes shares how close he came to the edge before strategic mentorship, trust, and timing helped change the trajectory of his practic...

In this episode of Verdicts & Vogue , host Cristina Perez Hesano sits down with powerhouse trial lawyer Wes Ball for a candid, unfiltered conversation about ambition, risk, and what it really takes to build a plaintiff-side trial practice from the ground up. Wes shares his journey from growing up in Tennessee to attending Baylor Law School, where early exposure to trial advocacy and the legacy...

In Part 2 of Cristina Perez’s powerful conversation with Attorney Erika Contreras , we dive deeper into the journey, resilience, and heart behind one of California’s most respected trial lawyers. Erika opens up about her path from receptionist to partner at one of the nation’s leading personal injury firms, reflecting on how determination, humility, and an unshakeable work ethic shaped every stage...