Cross Lab
Cross Lab
Podcast Description
Cross Lab is where trial attorneys get hands-on with the art of constructive cross-examination.
Hosted by career actors and expert storytellers Steve Hohman and Olivia Espinosa—who’ve played mock witnesses in over 1,500 cross-examinations—this podcast is packed with the POV you’re missing and won’t find anywhere else.
Join us as we bring together your attorney peers for realistic cross simulations, where they’ll share their trials (and errors), personal insights, and real-world experiences. You’ll also discover how different approaches to the same witness can impact both their testimony and your jury’s perception.
BONUS: No matter where you are in your career, you’ll bank TONS of fresh storytelling strategies, reusable cross chapters, and imagination-sparking word choices for your next depo or trial!
Don’t miss our special Cross-Pollination episodes, where we explore the layers of effective storytelling for audiences, alongside industry collaborators.
Tune in and subscribe to Cross Lab!
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast centers around the art of cross-examination, storytelling techniques, and trial strategies, with episodes covering topics like effective questioning of expert witnesses, improvised courtroom techniques, and specific case analyses like the Sandra Little v. Grant School District case. With a strong focus on enhancing courtroom performance, it provides actionable insights for attorneys to improve their skills in real-time scenarios.
Cross Lab is where trial attorneys get hands-on with the art of constructive cross-examination.
Hosted by career actors and expert storytellers Steve Hohman and Olivia Espinosa—who’ve played mock witnesses in over 1,500 cross-examinations—this podcast is packed with the POV you’re missing and won’t find anywhere else.
Join us as we bring together your attorney peers for realistic cross simulations, where they’ll share their trials (and errors), personal insights, and real-world experiences. You’ll also discover how different approaches to the same witness can impact both their testimony and your jury’s perception.
BONUS: No matter where you are in your career, you’ll bank TONS of fresh storytelling strategies, reusable cross chapters, and imagination-sparking word choices for your next depo or trial!
Don’t miss our special Cross-Pollination episodes, where we explore the layers of effective storytelling for audiences, alongside industry collaborators.
Tune in and subscribe to Cross Lab!
Hosts Steve Hohman and Olivia Espinosa are joined by personal injury attorney Susie Injijian, as well as actor and writer Sara Taylor.
Watch as Susie cross-examines Sara, portraying a sympathetic kindergarten teacher whose vehicle struck a Guatemalan-born pedestrian.
Listen in as Susie challenges Sara, and we break down how to confront bias in the courtroom.
What’s covered in this episode:
- Talking ‘money grab’ and other biases in voir dire
- Who to call to the stand when the damages aren’t visible
- How to keep a crying witness from derailing your cross
- The tech savvy way to make sure your word choice sticks
- What you need to know to blow your witness’ testimony out of the water
Time Stamps
00:00 What’s Cross Lab?
4:38 The importance of being in a plaintiff friendly county—and how to figure that out
8:13 Broaching the “b-word” in voir dire
16:35 What to do when your client’s damages aren’t visible
24:15 Mock Case Overview: Lopez vs Maddison
30:29 Susie’s Cross: Crossing an “angelic” defendant
49:02 How to handle (and stay in control of) when the water works start
1:19:52 The key touchstones that will help you flip your witness
1:27:18 Top takeaways if you had to cross a witness like this
To get free resources for your next trial go to HausImprov.com
Disclaimer
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