The Game Changing Attorney Podcast with Michael Mogill

Hosted by Michael Mogill

BusinessInterviews guestsExplicit

Website RSS feed Facebook YouTube

Episodes

470

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

About the show

How can you become a game changer? Michael Mogill, Founder and CEO of Crisp, has used his mastery of marketing for lawyers to grow his company to an 8-figure powerhouse. In just a few years, Crisp has helped thousands of attorneys adapt to the new legal landscape, differentiate themselves from the competition, and earn millions in new revenue. In every episode, you’ll hear from law firm entrepreneurs and market leaders — people who flourish in the face of adversity, challenge the status quo, and define what it means to be a game changer. We investigate success stories and business growth and scalability strategies that can help you attract your ideal clients. Plus, discover hidden insights and actionable advice on how company culture and employee engagement, marketing and advertising, and management and hiring fit into the big picture. What do all our guests have in common? These successful attorneys and business owners prove that the key to innovation is a game-changing mindset. If you want to run your law firm like an entrepreneur, achieve a greater ROI, and build a world-class organization that stands the test of time, then you’re in good company. Subscribe to the Game Changing Attorney Podcast and get ready to take your business to the next level. For more information, visit https://www.crisp.co/podcast/

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 16, 202646 min

471. How Core Values Affect Leadership, Culture, and Fulfillment with Robert Glazer

Most people spend twenty years climbing a mountain, reach the top, and realize they never wanted the view. In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael Mogill sits down with Robert Glazer to break down why core values are the most underused tool in leadership. They get into where your values actually come from, why you can't coach them into the people you hire, and why most leaders are measuring their teams with the wrong scorecard entirely. If you've ever hit a milestone and felt nothing, this conversation explains why, and what to do about it. Here's what you'll learn: Why your core values were set early in life, and what it costs you to lead without knowing them How to hire for the values people actually live instead of the ones they perform in interviews What separates a real company core value from a poster on the wall nobody believes in The view from the top is only worth it if you picked the right mountain to climb. (00:00:00) Introduction (00:06:07) Where core values come from (00:07:11) Can your values change? (00:09:00) The car-in-a-tunnel analogy (00:11:35) Personal vs. company values (00:16:59) The big three life decisions (00:19:17) Why knowing isn't doing (00:21:25) The four capacities (00:27:36) Money, happiness, and “enough” (00:32:12) Biggest leadership mistakes (00:34:01) Spotting leadership potential (00:38:53) Rethinking the two-week notice (00:43:16) How success gets redefined (00:44:09) What it means to be a game changer ---- Links & Resources: The Compass Within by Robert Glazer Elevate by Robert Glazer The Go-Giver by Bob Burg Arthur Brooks Morgan Housel Traction by Gino Wickman ---- Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 417 - The Secret to Building a Brand People Love with Steve Carse 338. Will Ahmed - From Stress to Success: Optimizing the Entrepreneurial Journey 251. Alex Hormozi - The Power of Humility in Achieving Entrepreneurial Success

June 11, 202625 min

470. AMMA — Owner Dependency Is Quietly Killing Your Firm

The most valuable thing you can build into your firm is its ability to run without you. In this AMMA episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael and Jessica Mogill answer the questions most firm owners put off until it's too late. When should you really start succession planning? How do you pick a successor without letting loyalty override the right call? And how do you build something worth more than the income it generates while you're in it? Michael makes the case that a firm dependent on its owner is a firm that's quietly losing value, and he lays out what it takes to change that. Plus, he kicks things off with his favorite recent movies, shows, and books. Here’s what you’ll learn: Why succession planning should start at least five years out, and what happens when you wait until your back's against the wall How to separate the discomfort of a hard conversation from the decision that's actually right for the business What it takes to turn your firm into an asset that grows whether or not you show up If something happened to you tomorrow, would your firm survive without you? Build like the answer needs to be yes. (00:00:00) Introduction (00:01:48) Michael's Favorite Things (00:05:36) Books Worth Reading (00:10:07) How Early to Plan Succession (00:14:25) Loyalty vs. The Right Successor (00:18:38) Building a Firm Beyond Income (00:23:42) Outro ---- Links & Resources: Togo Altered Carbon Spider-Man Noir The Penguin Godzilla Minus One King Kong (2005) Fallout Not Just a Goof Thinking in Bets by Annie Duke Everything You Want Is on the Other Side of Hard by Ken Rideout Smile, or You're Doing It Wrong by Andy Glaze The Power of the Dog by Don Winslow The Cartel by Don Winslow The Border by Don Winslow We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir Life Is Luck by John Morgan You Can't Teach Hungry by John Morgan You Can't Teach Vision by John Morgan ---- Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 469. How to Turn Your Darkest Failures into Unstoppable Drive with Ken Rideout 455. From Addict to UltraRunner: The Ultimate Redemption Arc with Andy Glaze 320. John Morgan - Dream Big, Act Bold: Turning Visions into Reality

June 9, 202650 min

469. How to Turn Your Darkest Failures into Unstoppable Drive with Ken Rideout

What if the same thing that nearly destroyed you is the reason you become unstoppable? In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael Mogill sits down with Ken Rideout, world champion marathoner, former Wall Street trader, and recovering addict whose life reads like a story most people wouldn't believe. From a rough, blue-collar upbringing in Massachusetts to winning an ultramarathon across the Gobi Desert, Ken's path has been anything but linear. This conversation digs into how grit actually gets built, why money never filled the void he expected it to, and what it takes to bet on yourself when everyone around you says you can't. Here's what you'll learn: Why toughness isn't something you're born with, and how you can teach it to yourself Why money won't make you happier, even after going from broke to wealthy What it takes to turn a failure into the fire that drives everything after Ken built his comeback one decision at a time, and this episode shows you how to do the same. (00:00:00) Introduction (00:02:19) Why Ken wrote the memoir (00:04:33) A rough upbringing (00:07:49) Is hustle born or built? (00:09:23) The road to Wall Street (00:14:47) Money, watches, and insecurity (00:16:10) How addiction took hold (00:17:24) The constant struggle to stay sober (00:19:37) Why high achievers are wired differently (00:22:03) Finding endurance sports (00:24:24) Quitting the Ironman World Championships (00:32:10) The race across the Gobi Desert (00:39:15) How he defines success now (00:47:33) What it means to be a game changer ---- Links & Resources: Ken Rideout Everything You Want Is on the Other Side of Hard by Ken Rideout David Goggins Mitchell Hooper Darren Waller Mat Fraser Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer Elon Musk Jeff Bezos Mark Zuckerberg ---- Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 412. Why Doing Hard Things Is the Ultimate Advantage with Joe De Sena 170. Mat Fraser - The Fittest Man on Earth 141. David Goggins - Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within

June 4, 202629 min

468. AMMA — Why Dark Energy Becomes Dead Weight Over Time

The anger that fuels growth can become the thing that slows it down. In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael and Jessica Mogill answer three listener questions that reveal a pattern hiding beneath the surface of almost every high-achieving firm owner: the chip on the shoulder that fueled the climb is still there, long after the summit. From dark energy and manufactured adversity to betrayal, forgiveness, and the stories we carry from past partnerships, this episode unpacks how to evolve your fuel source without losing your edge. Here’s what you’ll learn: Why the dark energy that drives early success has a shelf life, and how to shift to a fuel source that doesn’t cost you the people around you How to stop carrying past betrayal into your current relationships and reset your default to trust before it’s broken Why rewriting the story of a painful falling out, through forgiveness and gratitude, is the move that actually sets you free You’ve already proven you can build something. This episode is about deciding who you’re going to be while you keep going. (00:00:00) Introduction (00:06:46) Why No Friction Equals Unhappiness (00:08:37) Q1: When Anger Stops Fueling You (00:10:52) Letting Go of Proving Others Wrong (00:13:15) Q2: Carrying Past Betrayal Forward (00:19:25) Forgiveness Is for You, Not Them (00:20:10) Q3: When the Past Still Lingers (00:26:51) Choosing Friction Over Comfort ---- Links & Resources: The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek John Morgan Mike Tyson ---- Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 407. AMMA - Why Playing It Safe Is the Most Dangerous Strategy 381. AMMA - The Hardest Mindset Shift for Law Firm Owners to Make 229. David Goggins - Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within

June 2, 202651 min

467. The Physiological Science Behind Resilience with Dr. Andy Galpin

Elite performance does not come from chasing more hacks. It comes from knowing what matters, cutting what does not, and executing when conditions are not perfect. In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael Mogill sits down with Dr. Andy Galpin to break down what separates truly high performers from everyone else. From toughness and self-talk to sleep, strength training, and resilience, Dr. Galpin explains why better performance starts with fewer distractions and better constraints. Here's what you'll learn: Why toughness means producing even when the conditions are working against you How to identify the real constraints holding back your energy, focus, and performance What it takes to build resilience through sleep, strength training, and smarter recovery Stop chasing every new protocol. The people who perform at the highest level focus on what actually moves the needle. (00:00:00) Introduction (00:02:22) What elite performers do differently (00:06:09) Mental toughness and self-talk (00:15:38) Why adaptability beats optimization (00:21:59) What resilience actually means (00:29:19) Why most people fail to improve (00:32:27) Strength training and longevity (00:44:16) Health trends and wasted effort ---- Links & Resources: Dr. Andy Galpin Perform with Dr. Andy Galpin Rick Rubin Methylene blue VO2 max Zone 2 training Hyperbaric oxygen therapy Red light therapy ---- Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 461. Mastering Biological Fundamentals for Elite Performance with Dr. Kristen Holmes 452. AMMA - The Unexpected Truth About Happiness, Work Ethic, and Priorities 435. The 15-Minute Habit That Prevents Attorney Burnout with Leah Lagos

May 28, 202630 min

466. AMMA — How To Get More Energy as a Business Owner

Your edge is not how hard you push. It is how fast you recover, reset, and get back on track. In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael and Jessica Mogill break down the difference between discipline and rigidity, burnout and misallocated energy, and rest and weakness. From missed workouts and cheat meals to draining team members and recovery as a competitive advantage, this AMMA is a blunt reminder that high performance is not about being perfect. It is about knowing what costs you energy, what restores it, and what you refuse to tolerate. Here’s what you’ll learn: Why getting off track only matters if you cannot get back on track How to identify the work, people, and habits that drain your energy What it takes to make recovery a competitive advantage instead of a guilty pleasure You do not need to be perfect to stay disciplined. You just need the discipline to come back stronger the next day. (00:00:00) Introduction (00:01:42) Discipline vs. Enjoying Life (00:05:05) Why One Bad Day Changes Nothing (00:05:32) Getting Back on Track Matters (00:10:05) Q1: Burnout Without Overwork (00:16:18) Q2: Is Recovery an Advantage? (00:22:02) Q3: High Performers Who Drain You ---- Links & Resources: Atlas Restaurant The Garden Room Michelin Guide ---- Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 461. Mastering Biological Fundamentals for Elite Performance with Dr. Kristen Holmes 430. AMMA - What Separates The Pros From The Rest 420. The Sleep Science That Separates Elite Performers with Dr. Michael Breus

May 26, 202645 min

465. Business Lessons From 20 Years in the Gaming Industry with David Vonderhaar

The only way to build the next big thing is to stop trying to copy the last one. In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael Mogill sits down with David Vonderhaar, studio lead at BulletFarm and former studio design director for the Call of Duty franchise, to unpack what it really takes to innovate in a world obsessed with replication. From navigating harsh feedback from passionate audiences to building a studio from the ground up after two decades inside a billion-dollar franchise, David shares the mindset, courage, and conviction required to do things on your own terms. This is a conversation about originality, resilience, and the cost of choosing the harder path. Here's what you'll learn: Why true breakthroughs come from being original, not from copying what's already working How to keep teams engaged under pressure without burning them out What it takes to bet on yourself when walking away from a sure thing If you want to build something that lasts, you have to be willing to build it before anyone else believes in it. (00:00:00) Introduction (00:02:28) Two Decades at Treyarch (00:03:56) Why He Didn't Retire (00:05:49) Origins in the Arcade (00:10:16) Joining the Call of Duty Machine (00:12:07) The Yearly Release Pressure (00:18:43) Navigating a Toxic Community (00:21:12) The End of the Public-Facing Dev (00:26:57) What Made Call of Duty Iconic (00:28:54) When a Game Loses Its Soul (00:30:27) The Business Broke the Industry (00:36:59) Redefining What AAA Means (00:38:45) What Success Looks Like Now (00:41:59) Building the Right Team ---- Links & Resources: BulletFarm NetEase Games Activision Treyarch Infinity Ward Sledgehammer Games Raven Software Call of Duty X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse Dungeons & Dragons ---- Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 332. Cliff Bleszinski - What the Legal Industry Can Learn From the Gaming Industry 113. Kevin O’Leary - The Entrepreneurial Journey: Inside the Mind of Mr. Wonderful 48. Eric Siu - Leveling Up: How to Master the Game of Life

May 21, 202622 min

464. AMMA — Why “Potential” Is The Biggest Trap For Growing Firms

At what point does believing in someone's potential stop being leadership and start being a liability? In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael and Jessica Mogill answer three listener questions about one of the hardest tensions in leadership: the gap between what you see in your people and what they actually deliver. They walk through how to handle a high-talent, low-output team member, how to recognize when a long-tenured leader has plateaued, and whether the popular idea of "unlimited potential" actually holds up. Believing in your team is valuable, but does it replace standards and results? Here’s what you’ll learn: Why potential without performance becomes a liability, and how to set objective criteria before emotion drives the decision How to know when a team member has hit their ceiling and what to do about it without losing empathy Why "unlimited potential" is a myth, and what a leader can actually be responsible for You can want it for them all day long. If they don't want it for themselves, nothing you do will matter. (00:00:00) Introduction (00:04:12) Earning the Right to Live a Little (00:05:37) Q1: Talent vs. Output (00:08:32) Potential Is Secondary to Performance (00:09:47) The Outside-In Perspective Test (00:10:50) Q2: Has He Hit His Ceiling? (00:11:35) What Got You Here Won't Get You There (00:14:24) Ceilings Aren't Failures (00:15:23) Q3: Does Everyone Have Unlimited Potential? (00:17:03) A Leader Removes Barriers (00:20:48) Closing ---- Links & Resources: No Rules Rules by Reed Hastings and Erin Meyer DreamHack Atlanta LeBron James Michael Jordan Kobe Bryant Gordon Ramsay ---- Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 359. The Ultimate Guide to Retaining Top Talent 313. A-Player Attractors - Winning With Who: Cultivating a Winning Team 207. Patty McCord - How to Build a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility

May 19, 202652 min

463. The Mindsets Needed To Dominate Your Market with Sam Pond

The fastest way to destroy a great firm is to let standards slip while you scale. In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael Mogill sits down with Sam Pond, founder and managing partner of Pond Lehocky Giordano, to break down what it really takes to build a high-performing law firm without losing what made it great in the first place. From leadership under pressure to culture enforcement, delegation, data, and the real ROI of team retreats, this conversation is a masterclass in scaling without becoming bureaucratic. Here's what you'll learn: Why “take care of the client and everything else will take care of itself” is the only scalable North Star How to build a culture that holds under pressure (and what to do the moment you see slippage) What it takes to run a real executive structure, delegate at scale, and still deliver exceptional service The firms that win next are the ones that scale without surrendering what made them great. (00:00:00) Introduction (00:02:10) Welcome and origin story (00:04:33) Early hustle and entrepreneurship (00:05:59) From adversaries to partners (00:09:18) Mission first, money second (00:11:34) Scaling quality with teams (00:16:13) Retreats, culture, and ROI (00:20:15) Growth metrics and reinvestment (00:24:04) C-suite structure and ops scale (00:28:07) Marketing channels that convert (00:33:20) Adversity, COVID, leadership (00:41:45) Worry, mindset, and perspective (00:44:58) Marriage and shared values (00:46:41) What Sam is most proud of (00:49:42) Closing ---- Links & Resources: Pond Lehocky Giordano John Morgan Jamie Dimon Eagles Autism Foundation Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World ---- Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 247. John Morgan - Fortune Favors the Bold: How to Build a Legal Empire 204. Alexander Shunnarah - The Thin Line Between Success and Failure 182. Randi McGinn - Authenticity is the Advantage

May 14, 202630 min

462. AMMA — The Voices That Actually Matter for Business Growth

Your firm does not change when you learn more. It changes when you actually execute. In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael and Jessica Mogill call out the pattern behind "staying motivated" while making zero real change, then lay out how to turn insights into traction. From a simple hourly discipline habit to a blunt breakdown of filtering advice and finding the right seat, this episode reinforces a core truth about performance: standards are built through action, not consumption. If you have been collecting frameworks while avoiding implementation, this will reset your focus. Here's what you'll learn: Why collecting information can feel productive while actually keeping you stuck, and how to break the pattern. How to filter contradictory advice so you stop second-guessing and start making clean decisions. What it takes to choose the right seat in business so you stop forcing a role that creates constant friction. Want the results? Then start moving like the person who earns them. (00:00:00) Introduction (00:01:56) A habit that builds discipline (00:05:27) The hidden cost of sitting (00:09:00) Q1: When learning is avoidance (00:09:42) Motivation can be procrastination (00:10:27) Knowledge needs execution (00:13:54) Q2: When smart advice conflicts (00:16:49) Choose mentors by outcomes (00:20:32) Q3: The truth about entrepreneurship (00:23:44) The power of the #2 seat (00:28:10) The right seat should feel obvious (00:28:48) Wrap Up Links & Resources: Bryan Johnson Mark Manson Nike "Just Do It" Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O'Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 251. Alex Hormozi - The Power of Humility in Achieving Entrepreneurial Success 203. AMMA - How to Know If You Are NOT Cut Out for Entrepreneurship 10. Gino Wickman - Entrepreneurship. Is it in your DNA?