From Hostage To Hero

Ever walked out of a courtroom feeling defeated and thought, "Maybe I'm not as great as I hoped?" I know you’ve been there. But I want you to remember: 🌟 GREATNESS ISN'T DEFINED BY A VERDICT. 🌟 It’s defined by what you consistently choose to do: 🤝 You show up overprepared — not because you have to, but because you care. 🤝 You don’t just fight uphill battles, you run toward them. 🤝 You turn heartbreak into fuel. Every. Damn. Time. And it's THOSE choices — day after day, trial after trial — that prove your greatness beyond doubt. In this week's episode, I'm handing you undeniable proof that you're already fucking GREAT, and that you don’t need a verdict to prove it. All that's left is for YOU to believe it. 🎧 Hit play now and shut that inner critic up for good. Love, Sari 💖   * * * * JOIN US FOR COMMAND THE COURTROOM: 2-DAY IN-PERSON OPENING MASTERCLASS WITH SARI DE LA MOTTE * * * * 🗓️ Date: June 12th – 13th, 2025 👑 Train, LIVE, with Sari 📍Location: H2H Headquarters (Portland, OR) 💰 Investment: $10K - Expense it to your case! ONLY 2 SPOTS LEFT. *spots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Register here: https://sariswears.com/courtroom-master-class-opening/   Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@saridelamotte Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/  

Yeah, I turned 50 three years ago... BUT. Everything I said back then?  Still true.  Maybe truer. This encore episode is about what I’ve learned after five decades of building a life, a business, and a body that BEAT f*cking cancer — and what I REFUSE to do anymore. If you're GRINDING your way to some imaginary finish line… If you're WAITING to enjoy the life you’ve already built… You NEED to hear this. You’re so focused on the end, you’re missing the life happening right NOW. Love, Sari    Quote:  “The point is the journey, my friends. It’s not where we’re headed. It’s not where we think happiness lies. Happiness lies in enjoying the journey.”  — Sari de la Motte   * * * * JOIN US FOR COMMAND THE COURTROOM: 2-DAY IN-PERSON OPENING MASTERCLASS WITH SARI DE LA MOTTE * * * *    🗓️ Date: June 12th – 13th, 2025 👑 Train, LIVE, with Sari 📍Location: H2H Headquarters (Portland, OR) 💰 Investment: $10K - Expense it to your case!   ONLY 12 SPOTS AVAILABLE *spots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Register here: https://sariswears.com/courtroom-master-class-opening/ Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@saridelamotte Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/  

Have you ever realized that every verdict you’ve EVER won started BEFORE you “felt” ready? That is because… ⚡ “READY” is a decision, not a feeling. ⚡ Take this 15-minute power shot and hit the ground running: 1️⃣ Myth-buster: Perfection ≈ Procrastination → Fastest path to regret. 2️⃣ Mind-hack: Swap “someday” for “right f–ing now” by reframing this belief. 3️⃣ Action trigger: A 3-word mantra that karate-chops analysis paralysis right in the throat.  Count backwards from 3, then just. fucking. go.  🏁💨 You got this. I believe in YOU. 🎧 Listen now.   Love, Sari 💖     Quote:  "You get to decide what “ready” means." — Sari de la Motte   * * * * JOIN US FOR COMMAND THE COURTROOM: 2-DAY IN-PERSON OPENING MASTERCLASS WITH SARI DE LA MOTTE * * * *  🗓️ Date: June 12th – 13th, 2025 👑 Train, LIVE, with Sari 📍Location: H2H Headquarters (Portland, OR) 💰 Investment: $10K - Expense it to your case! ONLY 12 SPOTS AVAILABLE *spots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Register here: https://sariswears.com/courtroom-master-class-opening/   Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@saridelamotte Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/  

Hosted by the one and only Kevin de la Motte — my husband, our lead mindset coach, and beloved “Coach K” to the H2H crew. In this powerful episode, Kevin takes on a habit so MANY trial attorneys cling to: over-preparing.  And he shows you how it’s NOT helping your case — in fact, it might be hurting it. Inside, Kevin breaks down: ⚡️ 3 damaging myths about preparation ⚡️ Why you’ll never feel “100% ready” — and why that’s okay ⚡️ What actually wins cases (hint: it’s not your color-coded outline) ⚡️ The mindset practice that can shift everything in the courtroom You’ve got nothing to prove. But you DO have a powerful message to deliver. Let Kevin show you how to show up as the badass you already are. Tune in NOW! 🎙️ Xo, Sari   Quote:    “You think preparation wins cases. It doesn’t win cases—you do. Preparation is important, sure. But what wins cases is YOU. You, fully present. You, connected to your jury. You, believing in your case. That’s more powerful than 14 attorneys and unlimited resources on the other side.”    — Kevin de la Motte   * * * * FREE H2H TRAINING * * * *  THREE POWERFUL STRATEGIES TO HELP READ A JUROR’S MIND Understand what the jury is thinking, so you can gain the confidence to trust them - and yourself - in the courtroom. Get the training here:  sariswears.com/jury  Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@saridelamotte Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/   * * * * JOIN US FOR COMMAND THE COURTROOM: 2-DAY IN-PERSON OPENING MASTERCLASS WITH SARI DE LA MOTTE * * * *  🗓️ Date: June 2nd - 3rd, 2025 👑 Train, LIVE, with Sari 📍Location: H2H Headquarters (Portland, OR) 💰 Investment: $10K - Expense it to your case! ONLY 12 SPOTS AVAILABLE *spots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Register here: https://sariswears.com/courtroom-master-class-opening/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Website: https://sariswears.com/ Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/  

In this special episode, Natalie Woodward shares the story of how she landed a 💥 $77.7 MILLION 💥 MED-MAL VERDICT for a mentally ill, drug-addicted plaintiff — one that became the LARGEST in Georgia’s state history. READ THAT AGAIN. If you’re ready to shatter old stereotypes and deliver results that surpass even your wildest asks, THIS is the game plan you need. 🎧 Listen now and discover how to turn what they call “impossible” into your next big win. 🏆 Xo, Sari   Quote:  "That's what we talk about in H2H: you've got to own your number. This is exactly how we teach our clients to deal with the money issue in wrongful death cases, by talking about what it means—what does that verdict mean? Here, it meant that your verdict is a statement about mental health and addiction issues. When you communicate that clearly, it resonates with the jury and builds trust. It transforms a trial into a message that can change the way we view mental health care and substance abuse treatment." — Sari de la Motte   * * * * JOIN US FOR COMMAND THE COURTROOM: 2-DAY IN-PERSON OPENING MASTERCLASS WITH SARI DE LA MOTTE * * * *  🗓️ Date: June 2nd - 3rd, 2025 👑 Train, LIVE, with Sari 📍Location: H2H Headquarters (Portland, OR) 💰 Investment: $10K - Expense it to your case! ONLY 12 SPOTS AVAILABLE *spots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Register here: https://sariswears.com/courtroom-master-class-opening/   Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@saridelamotte Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

So, you think you nailed your voir dire… Jurors are bonding with you, they’re engaged, and it feels like a REAL conversation instead of a STALE Q&A.  Then, OUT OF NOWHERE, one juror starts “helpfully” suggesting random facts they believe you need. If you’ve ever seen a NEAR-PERFECT VOIR DIRE get blindsided by off-topic tangents, this episode is for YOU.   We’re diving into H2H strategies like: 🎯 Stop, Start, String – The ULTIMATE TRIFECTA to smoothly steer jurors back on track. 🎯 Devil’s Advocate Tone – How to raise the defense’s argument without confusing your jury. 🎯 Embracing Objections – Because a lively group discussion often riles up the defense, and that’s a GOOD SIGN. Jurors mean well, but if you’re not CAREFUL, their “help” can blow up your ENTIRE opening strategy.  WANT TO KEEP YOUR MASTERPIECE VOIR DIRE FROM BACKFIRING? Tune in NOW and learn how to nudge jurors back on track WITHOUT KILLING the connection you’ve built. Xo, Sari   Mentions: FHTH Episode #30 – How to Use the Devil’s Advocate Question Quote:  “There are three things I always teach when I talk about how to facilitate, especially when the conversation starts going the wrong way: Stop, Start, or String. ‘Stop’ means you tell the juror, ‘I’m going to stop you right there,’ and clarify it’s irrelevant or not part of the case. ‘Start’ means you shift the focus with a new question or direction. ‘String’ means you connect a piece of what they said to what actually matters. With these three techniques, you keep the discussion productive and aligned with your case.” — Sari de la Motte   * * * * FREE H2H TRAINING * * * *  THREE POWERFUL STRATEGIES TO HELP READ A JUROR’S MIND Understand what the jury is thinking, so you can gain the confidence to trust them - and yourself - in the courtroom. Get the training here:  sariswears.com/jury    Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@saridelamotte Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/  

Let’s get one thing straight: Time isn’t your problem. You don’t need another planner, color-coded calendar, or “productivity hack.” What do you NEED?  A complete rewire of how you think about time — and yourself. In this episode, I’m calling bullshit on the time management cult and sharing what actually works when you’re ready to stop living in overwhelm and start creating the life you actually want. If you’ve ever said, “I just need to get through this day/week/month,” this episode is for you. Listen now 🎧 Xo, Sari   Quote:  "You don’t have a time management problem. You have a ‘doing too much sht you don’t want to do’ problem. The moment you stop cramming your life with tasks you hate and start filling it with things that light you up—that’s when everything changes. That’s when time stops feeling like the enemy and starts working for you." - Sari * * * * FREE H2H TRAINING * * * *  THREE POWERFUL STRATEGIES TO HELP READ A JUROR’S MIND Understand what the jury is thinking, so you can gain the confidence to trust them - and yourself - in the courtroom. Get the training here:  sariswears.com/jury  Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@saridelamotte Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

Ever dread facing awkward courtroom moments or uncomfortable topics with jurors? 🥴  You're not alone. I recently sat down with Heather Mitchell — a total badass trial lawyer who won a whopping $7.5 million medical malpractice verdict.  Her secret?  Bravely tackling tough topics like HPV, sexual history, and invisible injuries head-on.  Heather shares how she moved past her fear of awkward courtroom silence (cue crickets).  She reveals exactly HOW she shut down the potential "slut-shaming" defense before it got started.  Heather proves that vulnerability and authenticity aren't weaknesses — they’re your greatest strengths in court.  Listen now 🎧  Xo, Sari   Quote:  "Fear is the saboteur. You have to get all those fears out of your head and remember there's always two cases: the one you litigated, and the one you actually try. A lot of what you're worried about won't even come out at trial. Letting go of that fear and believing in your jury—that’s everything."  — Heather Mitchell * * * * FREE H2H TRAINING * * * *  THREE POWERFUL STRATEGIES TO HELP READ A JUROR’S MIND Understand what the jury is thinking, so you can gain the confidence to trust them - and yourself - in the courtroom. Get the training here:  sariswears.com/jury  Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@saridelamotte Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

The truth is, facts ALONE won’t get you the 6-FIGURE WINNING VERDICT.  If your voice is stuck in monotone (which I know most of y’all are guilty of, because that’s one of the very first things we work on… AHEM!), you’re handing your jury an invitation to… MENTALLY. CHECK. THE. FUCK. OUT. In this episode, we break down how to harness genuine emotion by diving into the minor mindset shifts and vocal tweaks that transform bland openings into compelling, authentic, jury-winning stories. Tune in and learn exactly how to dial up the emotion (without tipping into full-blown theatrics) and MASTER the sweet spot that moves jurors from PASSIVE LISTENERS to ACTIVE BELIEVERS. Xo, Sari   Mentions: On Becoming a Trial Lawyer – Rick Friedman Quote:  “You want big verdicts? You’ve got to go there emotionally. This is why the Crew exists, by the way. A big reason. Because we know that figuring out how to put an opening statement together or which voir dire questions to ask is just the start. That alone won’t get you where you need to go. ‘Let me put some emotion in my voice’ is not going to do it. Why? Because you’re never going to put emotion in your voice until you feel you’re able to risk emotionally and be vulnerable. That’s what it takes.” — Sari de la Motte   * * * * FREE H2H TRAINING * * * *  THREE POWERFUL STRATEGIES TO HELP READ A JUROR’S MIND Understand what the jury is thinking, so you can gain the confidence to trust them - and yourself - in the courtroom. Get the training here:  sariswears.com/jury    Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@saridelamotte Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/  

This week, I’m talking with Jody Moore, a powerhouse trial lawyer who hit a breaking point and had to ask herself: 👉🏼 Is it possible to be a successful attorney without sacrificing my sanity? Here’s what we’re covering: ✅ The real reason most trial lawyers burn out (hint: it’s not the workload). ✅ How to stop feeling like you have to “do it all” and still kick ass in the courtroom. ✅ Why making small shifts internally can completely transform your career — and your life. Jody went from overwhelm and exhaustion to building a practice that ACTUALLY works for her life.  If you’re ready to do the same, you don’t want to miss this episode. Xo, Sari   Quote:  "I kept thinking the answer to burnout was external—hire more people, take fewer cases, change something out there. But what I really had to do was look inward. Why was I overworking in the first place? Why did I feel like I had to prove something by pushing myself to exhaustion? Once I figured that out, everything started to shift." Jody Moore * * * * FREE H2H TRAINING * * * *  THREE POWERFUL STRATEGIES TO HELP READ A JUROR’S MIND Understand what the jury is thinking, so you can gain the confidence to trust them - and yourself - in the courtroom. Get the training here:  sariswears.com/jury  Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@saridelamotte Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/