The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast

Episode 25: Amazon's Dirty Discovery Tactics Amazon dropped a steaming pile of objections to discovery responses and Karen and Mo are not having it. In this episode of The Velvet Hammer™ , they unpack Amazon’s absurd responses to basic discovery requests, like refusing to identify their experts or disclose insurance. Karen compares it to getting “pooped on from the sky,” and Mo brings out his...

Episode 24: Sean Combs on Trial: Jury Out For Deliberation As the jury deliberates in the explosive federal case against Sean “Diddy” Combs, attorneys Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi break down the charges, evidence, and legal strategies that make this trial a pivotal moment in shaping our understanding of consent, power, and accountability. Behind the glamorous facade of celebrity parties lies somet...

Episode 23: Confronting the Money Taboo in Plaintiff Work What happens when you’ve spent your whole life avoiding money, and now your entire job is to ask for it in the name of justice? In this episode, Mo Hamoudi opens up about how childhood poverty and betrayal shaped a deep discomfort with money. He was taken advantage of by people who claimed to care about him. He learned early on that money c...

Episode 22: Post-Settlement Syndrome  In this episode of The Velvet Hammer™ , Karen and Mo talk about the emotional crash that hits when you’re “all dressed up and nowhere to party.” Karen calls it post-settlement syndrome. The adrenaline is still pumping, but there’s no fight. They unpack what it feels like when justice is close enough to taste, but the public reckoning never happens. Mike compar...

Episode 21: The Archetypes That Drive Us in Life and Law Have you ever noticed how you show up differently depending on the room you're in? In this episode, Karen, Mo, and Mike explore the inner archetypes that shape our thoughts, work, and connections, particularly in the world of trial law. Karen reflects on her transformation from Disco Karen to Martha Stewart Karen to Trial Karen, each pe...

Episode 20: Karen Koehler on Leadership Challenges in Managing a Law Firm Can being too humble hold you back? Karen opens up about her leadership style, one that prioritizes team praise over personal recognition, and the unintended downside of deflecting credit. Mo and Mike delve into how humility, when taken to an extreme, can blur the lines between authority and respect. Together, they explore t...

🎙️ Episode 19: The Punk Move: When Abusers Use SLAPP suits to Silence Survivors What happens when the accused turns around and sues the person making the accusation? Karen and Mo dive into the disturbing rise of SLAPP suits — lawsuits filed by powerful defendants to intimidate, drain, and silence sexual abuse survivors. These lawsuits are calculated moves designed to scare survivors into silence b...

Episode 18: The Art of Driving Defense Lawyers Crazy In this episode of The Velvet Hammer™ podcast, Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi break down the tactics that send defense lawyers into a spiral and explain why that’s not only strategic but also necessary. Welcome to the “Flim Flam Sauce”, the unapologetic art of getting under opposing counsel’s skin without ever crossing a line. From the perfectly e...

Episode 17: Goal Setting, Dreams, and the People Who Shape Them In this episode of The Velvet Hammer™ podcast, Karen, Mo, and Mike dive into the raw, reflective, and often uncomfortable goal-setting process. What is the real difference between a dream and a goal, and what happens when your deepest values get in the way of both? Karen shares the personal letter she wrote ahead of the firm’s attorne...

Episode 16: In Defense of Flip-Flopping: Why Adaptability Matters in Law Karen Koehler opens up about her so-called "flip-flopping," her tendency to change her mind, and reframes it as one of her greatest strengths. From trial tactics to law firm management, she explains how adaptability and quick pivots are crucial in high-stakes litigation.  Mo Hamoudi and podcast producer Mike Todd, ...

Episode 15:  Why We Suck at Celebrating Wins  It’s been a week of big wins. Sanctions against Amazon. Settlements in multiple cases. Momentum heading into trial. And yet, instead of celebrating, Karen and Mo are back in the office...working?  In this episode, Karen and Mo (and Mike) talk honestly about the emotional highs and nonstop pressure of doing plaintiff work at the highest level. From cour...

Episode 14: Why Trial Lawyers Must Talk About Money (Even When It’s Uncomfortable) Is money the most uncomfortable topic in the courtroom? For many trial lawyers, yes. But when it comes to representing injured clients, avoiding money talk is not an option.  In this candid episode, Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi talk about what it really means to ask for money in court. They explore why trial lawyers...

Episode 13: Karen’s Journal Entry at 19: Crisis is Perpetual At 19, Karen wrote a stream of consciousness that no one had ever read. Until now. In this episode, she shares that handwritten journal entry and opens up a conversation with Mo about identity, ambition, burnout, and what it means to be a lawyer who feels deeply. They talk about the pressure to conform, the toll of suppressing emotion in...

Episode 12: What Compels Us to Become Lawyers  Content note: This episode includes discussion of domestic violence, trauma, and mental health challenges, including suicidal ideation. Please take care while watching. Karen reads a college essay she wrote at 18, predicting her future as a civil rights lawyer. Mo shares his contrasting journey through trauma, poverty, and survival. Together they expl...

Episode 11: The Unlikeable Client Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of domestic violence, including descriptions of abuse. Please listen with care. What happens when your client isn’t someone a jury might naturally root for? In this episode, Karen and Mo dive into one of the hardest parts of plaintiff law: working with clients who the public might not find sympathetic. From pulling...

Episode 12: Sanctions, Sanctions, Sanctions – Read All About It In this episode of The Velvet Hammer™ , Karen and Mo dive into the wild world of sanctions. What they are, why they matter, and how defense firms push the limits. Karen starts with her first sanctions victory in the 90s, then they walk through three recent cases.  They also break down how power structures inside law firms impact who t...

Episode 9: Responding to Listener Feedback That Took Us by Surprise Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi planned to revisit their worst courtroom arguments, but listener feedback completely changed the conversation. Some reactions were protective, some were critical, and all were thought-provoking. Was it a power move ? Was Mo being shut down? Karen and Mo unpack the unexpected responses, challenge assump...

Episode 8: The Worst Arguments We’ve Ever Made (And What We Learned) - Part 1 In this episode of The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast, Karen Koehler & Mo Hamoudi dive into some of the worst courtroom arguments they've ever made and the tough lessons that came with them.  From being thrown to the wolves in court as a young attorney to completely missing a hearing due to a calendar mishap, they break...

Episode 7: The "Prototype Lawyer" and Losing Identity in Law | Part 2 In Part 2 of The Prototype Lawyer series, Karen and Mo break down what it really means to step outside the mold of a traditional lawyer. Karen shares a candid story about her first trial, where mistakes, authenticity, and a jury connection shaped her approach to law. They explore how law school conditions lawyers to im...

Episode 6: The "Prototype Lawyer" and Losing Identity in Law | Part 1 Does becoming a lawyer mean losing yourself? Karen and Mo explore how individuality gets replaced by the expectations of being a “ prototype lawyer. ” From youthful idealism to fitting the corporate mold, they share how they changed to be taken seriously in the legal world. Why do lawyers feel pressured to conform? Is...

Episode 5: When Defense Lawyers Weaponize Discovery Requests How far will defense lawyers go to harass and intimidate plaintiffs? In this episode of The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast, Karen Koehler, Mo Hamoudi, and special guest behind the microphone, Mike Todd, expose the most absurd, offensive, and downright unethical discovery requests they've ever seen. From Amazon’s lawyers demanding irrelevant...

Episode 4: Sexism In the Legal Field Have you ever walked into a room and been completely dismissed based on how you look? Karen has— too many times to count. In this episode, Karen and Mo get real about sexism in the legal field, the constant battle for credibility, and the emotional toll of being underestimated. From being mistaken for a court reporter well into her 50s to a judge mid-trial aski...

Episode 1: Introducing Mo – From Public Defender to Stritmatter Lawyer Welcome to Season 5 of The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast , where Karen Koehler teams up with attorney Mo Hamoudi for honest conversations on law, life, and everything in between. In our first episode, we dive into Mo’s remarkable journey from being a federal public defender to joining The Stritmatter Firm, taking on powerful adversari...

Episode 2: Finding Humor in the Hardest Cases How do you carry the weight of the world without letting it crush you? In this episode of The Velvet Hammer™ , Karen and Mo explore the essential role of humor in a profession filled with tragedy. From life-or-death cases to life-altering civil battles, trial law can be overwhelming, so why is laughter so important? Karen shares how she compartmentaliz...

Episode 3: Misconceptions, Control, and Breaking the Mold In this episode, Karen and Mo dive into misconceptions about trial lawyers , the myth of control, and the challenges of breaking from the legal establishment. They discuss: 🔹 Why Karen became a lawyer—and the early lessons in standing up to bullies 🔹 The biggest misconceptions about Karen, including whether she’s a control freak (spoiler:...