The Practice Playbook Podcast with Susan Guthrie

Susan Guthrie welcomes you back to The Practice Playbook Podcast with a focus on one of the most important shifts you can make in your business: moving from chasing clients to attracting your perfect clients. When you’re chasing, you’re hustling, discounting, and saying yes to everyone. It keeps you stuck in scarcity and often leads to burnout. Attracting, on the other hand, is about clarity, alig...

Have you noticed something strange happening on LinkedIn lately? Old videos from months ago are suddenly resurfacing and getting traction? That’s not a glitch, it’s the algorithm talking to you. And if you’re not paying attention, you could be missing one of the biggest visibility opportunities available right now. In this episode, Susan shares how a nine-month-old video suddenly went viral and wh...

Susan Guthrie is back with some big news: the podcast has a new name! Welcome to The Practice Playbook Podcast, your hub for building a smart, sustainable, and fulfilling practice. And what better way to kick things off than by tackling one of the most powerful (and most avoided) topics out there: finding your niche. Niching can feel scary. Maybe you’ve worried about turning people away, missing o...

Melissa Brogdon, CEO and co-founder of Fourth Party, joins me today for a must-listen conversation on the backbone of every successful mediation practice: your backend systems. Whether you're launching your practice or trying to fix one that's stalled, chances are the issue isn’t with your logo or your website colors—it’s in your operations. Melissa and I go deep into why building a strong busines...

Susan Guthrie brings a solo episode that challenges one of the most common mindset traps among mediators, coaches, and conflict resolution professionals: waiting for the “right time.” If you’ve been circling the runway, stuck in planning mode while telling yourself you just need one more training, a better schedule, or a sign from the universe, this conversation offers the clarity and push you’ve...

Susan Guthrie brings a power-packed solo episode, sharing five quick but impactful upgrades you can implement this week to elevate your practice. From sharpening your client intake process to enhancing your digital presence, these high-leverage, low-lift shifts are designed to boost visibility, streamline your workflow, and yes, improve your bottom line. Whether you’re just getting started or refi...

If you're out there posting on social media, giving workshops, and networking like crazy, but still struggling to convert leads into paying clients - or if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by client inquiries or assumed your intake system is “good enough,” this conversation will completely shift how you think about client communication and conversion. Susan Guthrie welcomes Maddy Martin, the SVP of Gr...

Susan Guthrie welcomes Dr. Clare Fowler to discuss the many ways that dispute resolution professionals, and professionals of all kinds, can get their ideas out into the world through writing and publishing. Susan and Clare recently co-presented a popular program for the ABA Dispute Resolution Section on this topic, and they’re continuing that conversation here. Together they break down the options...

In this powerful episode, Susan Guthrie is joined by Michael Holmes, Chief Product Officer at FourthParty, for a conversation every mediator and ADR professional needs to hear. Michael, a legal mind with an entrepreneurial edge, has worked with hundreds of mediators to build thriving practices, and he’s here to share the client-first strategy that top-performing professionals never overlook. While...

Susan Guthrie shares the one negotiation skill that works every time—no matter the context—and how you can use it to build both resolution and rapport. In this solo episode, she introduces the powerful concept of framing: the art of shaping how information is presented to influence how it is received. Framing is not about manipulation—it’s about clarity. When used ethically, framing helps emphasiz...

Susan Guthrie welcomes Usher Winslett for a conversation that pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to build a thriving arbitration practice. From his early days of “dabbling” in dispute resolution to leading with service and strategy, Usher shares the pivotal moments and mindset shifts that helped him turn curiosity into a successful career.  Whether you’re just starting out in ADR or lo...

In part two of a special two-part series, Susan continues her conversation with Professor John Lande about RPS Coach, his groundbreaking AI tool designed to elevate mediation practice through better preparation, deeper reflection, and more conscious system design. This time, Susan and John explore how RPS Coach can be used before, during, and after mediation, not just as a tool for practitioners,...

Susan Guthrie welcomes Professor John Lande for an eye-opening conversation that blends innovation, insight, and the evolving role of AI in mediation. In this special two-part series, Susan is joined by legendary dispute resolution scholar John Lande, yes, the same John Lande who generally is very cautious about electronic technology – but is all-in on AI but one conversation flipped the switch, a...

You could be the most qualified person in the room, and still not get hired. That stings, right? But if you’ve ever heard someone say, “Oh wow, I didn’t know you do that now!” then you’ve met the curse of the Invisible Expert. The truth is, being amazing at your work is just half the battle. The other half? Making sure the right people know you’re out there. In this episode, Susan Guthrie calls ou...

There’s a lot of fear and misunderstanding around AI in the legal and mediation world. Will it replace professionals? Will clients trust AI-generated content? Is it even ethical to use these tools in practice? These questions are valid, but they’re also keeping too many solo and small firm professionals from tapping into tools that can actually help their businesses grow. In this episode, Susan Gu...

Susan Guthrie welcomes you to a game-changing episode, where she explores how legal professionals can monetize their expertise through courses, webinars, corporate trainings, and more. So, are you maximizing the value of your expertise? If you’re a mediator, attorney, or dispute resolution professional, you’ve spent years refining your skills and guiding clients through complex situations. But too...

Can you really make six figures as a mediator? The answer is YES—but only if you run your practice like a business. So, what sets those who are making six figures apart from those who are not?  In this week’s episode, Susan shares  four key principles from her 6-Figure Mediation Practice Blueprint to help you shift your mindset, increase revenue, and charge what you are worth! Tune in to hear what...

You asked—no, you demanded—and we delivered! Back by overwhelming popular demand is the one, the only… LinkedIn Legend, Donna Serdula. Donna joins Susan Guthrie for a conversation that will help you turn your Linkedin Profile from “meh” to magnetic! Donna is the LinkedIn legend, the queen of personal branding, and the author of LinkedIn Profile Optimization for Dummies. Her last appearance on this...

Susan Guthrie is diving into a timely and crucial topic today: how the early days of the Trump administration are reshaping the legal landscape and what it means for mediators, arbitrators, and other dispute resolution professionals. In just the first week, the administration’s actions have already set the tone for what promises to be a divisive policy agenda. These changes are driving new legal d...

In this groundbreaking episode of Make Money Mediating, we’re diving deep into the transformative power of AI and how it can revolutionize the way you approach your business and practice.  This episode will showcase the next level of AI Tools to help you visualize the possibilities for the future with this fast-moving and improving technology.  From enhancing your marketing strategies to streamlin...

Ready to rethink how you approach your business? Susan Guthrie welcomes Trina Nudson, a trailblazing entrepreneur and family advocate, to the Make Money Mediating podcast. Trina’s journey from foster care social work to owning multiple thriving businesses is packed with lessons in resilience, adaptability, and growth. If you've ever struggled with running the business side of your mediation practi...

Discover how AI can level up your practice, reduce burnout, and make legal work more fulfilling with insights from Kara Peterson, co-founder of Descrybe.ai . Susan Guthrie welcomes Kara Peterson, a trailblazer in legal tech and one of the ABA’s 2024 Women of Legal Tech, to share how AI tools are transforming the future of law for solo practitioners, mediators, and small firms.  Whether you’re look...

Ready to kick off 2025 with a practice that’s more efficient, organized, and set for success? Then get ready, as Susan Guthrie shares actionable tips to declutter—not just the physical space, but the mental and operational obstacles holding you back. From letting go of mental clutter to streamlining inefficient processes, you’ll learn how to create a better business that serves you and your client...

Mastering the art of follow-up is essential for turning prospects into clients. With her signature clarity and expertise, Susan Guthrie shares actionable strategies to stay top of mind with prospects without coming across as pushy or over the top. From crafting personalized messages to automating the follow-up process, you’ll gain a comprehensive toolkit for success. Susan also covers how to creat...

Susan Guthrie welcomes Amanda Nugent, Director of Talent and Diversity at Carmody, Torrance, Sandec, and Hennessey LLP, for a conversation on breaking out of the traditional litigation career mold to lead with purpose. Amanda reveals how she transformed her legal career by embracing her passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)—what was once an extracurricular passion is now her full-time...