Podcast
Powerhouse Lawyers
Hosted by Erin Gerner · EN
Are you an ambitious attorney who wants to build a life and career that you cannot wait to wake up for? Then you're in the right place.
Welcome to Powerhouse Lawyers, a podcast for the Powerhouse in each of us.
I am your host, Erin Gerner. A former lawyer, wife, mom, and life coach, and I am on a mission to empower women in the law to define success on their terms, by leveraging their unique superpowers to help them win in both law and life. Join me each week to hear inspiring stories, real talk, and practical tips.
You need to redefine the toxic narratives that are keeping women overwhelmed, trying to do it all. You are worthy and capable of building a life and career that you have always wanted, and I'm here to empower you along the way. So if you are ready to practice law differently, let's go.
30episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
ICU Nurse. Big Law Attorney. Now Building the Life She Actually Wants
6d ago01:19:37Tap to summarizeTatyana Norman Webler graduated nursing school in May 2020 — straight into the COVID pandemic. She spent three years as an ICU nurse watching the healthcare system fail patients in real time, asking why the left hand never talked to the right hand, and wondering if there was a way to fix it. Then she went to law school.She graduated — in labor — passed the bar with a newborn at home, and landed in big law. Eight months later, she was gone.This is the story of what happened in between. And what the blood work proved.In this episode we talk about the moment Tatyana realized big law wasn't just misaligned with her values — it was bad for her biology. We talk about high functioning depression, the Body Keeps the Score, and what it actually looks like to climb out of survival mode and build a life from scratch that actually fits who you are.In this episode we cover:How a single moment on a hospital ethics committee made Tatyana want to go to law schoolGraduating law school in active labor — and walking across that stage anywayPassing the bar with a newborn and four hours of study time a dayWhat eight months in big law actually cost her — and how her biomarkers told the whole storyThe week she didn't nurse her daughter once because of an artificial deadline — and the rage that followedWhy she left and what happened to her blood work six months laterHigh functioning depression: what it is, how it's different from burnout, and why so many lawyers are living in it without knowing"You can't outthink your way out of depression" — and what she's doing insteadHow coaching helped her stop strategizing and start actually doingThe portfolio career she's building: Lucid Edge Advising, the Ohio Brain Capital Alliance, and her podcast Lucid CommonsWhy two things can be true at the same time — and why that's the permission slip most of us needBooks mentioned:Becoming You by Suzy WelchHigh Functioning Depression by Dr. Judith JosephThe Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der KolkConnect with Tatyana Norman Webler:LinkedIn: Tatyana Norman WeblerPodcast: Lucid Commons (Spotify, Apple, YouTube)Advising: Lucid Edge AdvisingNonprofit: Ohio Brain Capital AllianceWork with Erin Gerner: Erin coaches high-achieving female attorneys who are successful on paper but struggling with burnout, identity, and what's next — helping them redefine success on their own terms.📅 Book a connection call: https://calendly.com/eringerner/connectioncallStay connected with Erin Gerner:Website: eringerner.comLinkedIn: Erin GernerInstagram: @eringernerFacebook: Erin GernerDon't forget to subscribe to Powerhouse Lawyers wherever you listen. 🎙️
Transcribe →Burnout Will Kill Your Business as Fast as Bankruptcy — with Danielle Hendon
3w ago00:35:35Tap to summarizeYou left the firm to build something on your own terms. But somewhere between getting clients, managing a team, and handling everything else that comes with running a business, the freedom you were chasing started to look a lot like another job.Danielle Hendon has seen it a hundred times. As founder of 4 Corners CFO, she works exclusively with female-founded law firms as a fractional CFO — helping them understand what their numbers are actually saying, structure their revenue for real profit, and build firms that support their lives instead of consuming them.This conversation is practical, direct, and exactly what solo and small firm owners need to hear.In this episode we coverHow Danielle went from opera singer to accountant to fractional CFO for female law firm ownersWhy hanging your own shingle often just means trading one boss for many — and what to do about itThe rule of thirds: how your P&L should actually be structured for sustainable profitWhy time tracking still matters even when you swore you'd never do it againWhat "closing the closables" means and how it can free up cash immediatelyThe case study: how one estate planning client's first quarter profit equaled her entire prior year — after making one key hireWhy the numbers aren't a judgment — they're a story and a roadmapHow to know when you're ready to hire (hint: it's 10 billable hours a week)The line of credit conversation every attorney needs to have before they need oneFree resource from Danielle: Take the revenue capacity quiz to find out how much money your firm is leaving on the table — no contact info required. 👉 fourcornercfo.com/powerhouselaywersConnect with Danielle Hendon:Website: https://4cornerscfo.com/LinkedIn: Danielle HendonWork with Erin Gerner: Erin coaches high-achieving female attorneys who are successful on paper but struggling with burnout, identity, and what's next — helping them redefine success on their own terms.📅 Book a connection call: https://calendly.com/eringerner/connectioncallStay connected with Erin Gerner:Website: eringerner.comLinkedIn: Erin GernerInstagram: @eringernerFacebook: Erin GernerDon't forget to subscribe to Powerhouse Lawyers wherever you listen. 🎙️
Transcribe →From Big Law to In-House to All In on Herself
Jun 1800:46:29Tap to summarizeMisty Leon has spent nearly 25 years at the intersection of law, business, and strategy — as a partner at a boutique firm, Senior Counsel at a Fortune 500 company, and now founder of Practical Counsel Advisors, where she helps small to midsize law firms modernize their operations and navigate AI responsibly.In this episode, Misty shares the winding, intentional journey that led her to finally go out on her own — and why the bravest thing she ever did was stop asking "can I do this?" and start asking "do I even want to?"In this episode, we cover:How Misty accidentally stumbled into ERISA law via a newspaper job listing in Charlotte — and why it opened doors in Big LawWhat five years in-house taught her that she never could have learned at a firmThe moment she realized she was heading toward burnout — and how she caught it before it caught herWhat Practical Counsel Advisors does and why AI readiness is a reputational risk firms can't afford to ignoreWhy "change management" is more than corporate speak — and why it's the piece most firms skipThe mindset shift from powering through to asking whether the path still fitsWhy women don't need more resilience pep talks — and what we actually need insteadThe concept of seasons, and why it's one of the most powerful tools for ambitious women juggling everythingHer legendary legally blonde moment involving a law school interview and a closetConnect with Misty:LinkedIn: Misty LeonWebsite: practicalcounseladvisors.com Resources & Links:Book a connection call with Erin: https://calendly.com/eringerner/connectioncallFollow Erin Gerner on Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn
Transcribe →From Fox News to Fighting for Women: The Evolution of Tamara Holder
May 2800:34:53Tap to summarizeTamara Holder has never done anything the traditional way — and it has made her one of the most powerful women's rights attorneys in the country. She's the principal of Tamara Holder Law, a Chicago-based boutique firm she founded in 2005 focusing on women's rights globally — including sex trafficking, sexual assault, workplace harassment, and institutional sexual abuse. She spearheaded the largest doctor-patient sexual abuse case in Illinois history, testified before Congress, and for nearly a decade, was the only progressive female legal analyst on Fox News.In this episode, we get into all of it — the evolution, the personal pivot, the work, and how she keeps showing up even when the weight is heavy.In this episode we cover:Why she never went to big law — and how she built everything on her own termsHer years as the lone female progressive voice on Fox News and what it really cost herThe personal experience 10 years ago that changed the entire direction of her careerThe landmark Twin Peaks case and what a 54-plaintiff win actually looks likeThe Dr. Mark Mulholland case in Washington — representing 170+ women against a doctor and the institutions that protected himHer advice for women leveling up: "lie to yourself until you believe it"Why The Body Keeps the Score is the book she buys for strangers at restaurantsPhish, Pucci, her Italian husband, and finding joy in the middle of heavy workConnect with Tamara Holder:Website: tamaraholderlaw.comInstagram (professional): @womensrightsattorneyInstagram (personal): @tamara_holderWork with Erin Gerner: Erin coaches high-achieving female attorneys who are successful on paper but struggling with burnout, identity, and what's next — helping them redefine success on their own terms.📅 Book a connection call: https://calendly.com/eringerner/connectioncallStay connected with Erin Gerner:Website: eringerner.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-gerner/Instagram: @eringernerFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/erin.w.gerner/aboutDon't forget to subscribe to Powerhouse Lawyers wherever you listen. 🎙️
Transcribe →She Got Laid Off Twice and Started Her Firm the Next Day
May 1400:49:11Tap to summarizeRuby Powers has been doing what the rest of the legal world just figured out — for over a decade. Board-certified immigration attorney, founder of Powers Law Group, law professor, author of Power Up Your Practice, and one of the earliest adopters of remote law practice and AI-driven legal tools, Ruby built her firm from scratch — including from Dubai — on her terms, on her timeline.In this episode, we talk about how she went from laid off to law firm founder overnight, the three roles every firm owner has to navigate, and what actually happens when you stop being the only manager in the room.In this episode we cover:Why she registered her law firm the day after being laid off — for the second timeRunning a remote law firm from Dubai in 2011 before anyone thought it was possibleThe Technician → Manager → Entrepreneur framework and why most firm owners get stuckThe management mistakes she made (and how she fixed them)AI tools she's using right now to save time and stay sharpWhy she's teaching law practice management in law school — because nobody else isBalancing a high-volume career with two kids and actually enjoying your lifeConnect with Ruby Powers:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rubypowers/Website: https://rubypowers.com/Book: Power Up Your Practice (available on Amazon)Podcast: Power Up Your PracticeWork with Erin Gerner: Erin coaches high-achieving female attorneys who are successful on paper but struggling with burnout, identity crisis, and knowing what's next — helping them redefine success on their terms without sacrificing family or wellbeing.Stay connected with Erin Gerner:Website: eringerner.comLinkedIn: Erin GernerInstagram: @eringernerFacebook: Erin GernerDon't forget to subscribe to Powerhouse Lawyers wherever you listen. ⭐ Leave a review and share it with a fellow sister in law — that's how we grow this thing. 📅 Ready to stop doing all three roles alone? Book a free connection call and let's figure out what's next together.
Transcribe →You're Not Lazy. You're Just Giving Your Energy to Everyone Who Isn't You.
May 700:22:54Tap to summarizeIn this episode I'm talking about the energy leak problem that is keeping high-achieving women from showing up when it actually counts — at work, at home, and for themselves. This isn't a time management conversation. It's an energy management one.We cover:Why hurry-up-and-wait is costing you more than you thinkThe real reason you feel stuck and can't get momentumHow to do a simple energy auditWhat a pre-performance routine actually looks like in real lifeWork with Erin Gerner:Erin coaches high-achieving female attorneys who are successful on paper but struggling with burnout, identity crisis, and knowing what's next—helping them redefine success on their terms without sacrificing family or wellbeing.Stay connected with Erin Gerner:Website: eringerner.comLinkedIn: Erin GernerInstagram: @eringernerFacebook: Erin GernerDon't forget to Subscribe to Powerhouse Lawyers wherever you listen ⭐ Leave a review and share it with a fellow sister in law — that's how we grow this thing 📅 Ready to figure out where your energy is actually going? Book a free connection call and let's figure it out together.
Transcribe →Cortisol, Burnout, and Why Your Pants Don't Fit Anymore
Apr 2300:44:18Tap to summarizeIf you've been carrying migraines, brain fog, weight you can't explain, or sleep that just won't come — this episode is going to make a lot of things click.Marcy Luna is a high performance coach, exercise physiologist, and founder of Reenergize Coaching, and she has spent 30 years studying exactly what chronic stress does to the body and what you can actually do about it. In this conversation, she breaks down the science behind why lawyers are especially wired to stay stuck in stress mode — and gives us the simplest, most practical tools to start feeling better today.No hour-long meditation required.In this episode we cover:Why stress shows up as physical symptoms — weight gain, brain fog, insomnia, and moreWhat cortisol actually does in your body and why yours is probably dysregulatedWhy high achievers confuse the buzz of stress with successThe simple breathing technique that calms your nervous system in secondsWhy looking at the sky is genuinely one of the best things you can do for your brainHow dehydration is quietly amplifying your stress response every single dayWhy you don't have to leave law to feel joy — and what expanding your capacity actually looks likeConnect with Marcy:reenergizecoaching.com — grab your free 30-minute sessionInstagram: @MLunaFitnessLinkedIn: Marcy LunaWork with Erin Gerner:Erin coaches high-achieving female attorneys who are successful on paper but struggling with burnout, identity crisis, and knowing what's next—helping them redefine success on their terms without sacrificing family or wellbeing.Stay connected with Erin Gerner:Website: eringerner.comLinkedIn: Erin GernerInstagram: @eringernerFacebook: Erin Gerner
Transcribe →The Reason You're Invisible Online (And Exactly How to Fix It)
Apr 1600:44:03Tap to summarizeMelanie Borden is the founder of The Borden Group, a personal brand strategist, and the author of Theater of the Mind — and she is here to tell you that AI is already searching for you, and what it finds (or doesn't find) is either opening doors or quietly closing them.In this episode, Melanie breaks down what she calls "searchable leadership" — why your digital footprint is now your most powerful career asset, what lawyers are getting completely wrong on LinkedIn, and the simple steps you can take right now to start showing up in a way that actually moves the needle.In this episode we cover:Why AI has completely changed how potential clients and employers find and evaluate youWhat searchable leadership is and why it matters more than ever in 2026The biggest mistakes lawyers make on LinkedIn (hint: it's not what you think)Why less than 3% of LinkedIn's billion users are actively posting — and what that means for youHow to start building your digital presence without feeling overwhelmedWhat imposter syndrome is actually doing to your career and how Melanie's book tackles it head onResources mentioned:Theater of the Mind by Melanie Borden — available on AmazonFind Melanie at humantobrand.comWork with Erin Gerner:Erin coaches high-achieving female attorneys who are successful on paper but struggling with burnout, identity crisis, and knowing what's next—helping them redefine success on their terms without sacrificing family or wellbeing.Stay connected with Erin Gerner:Website: eringerner.comLinkedIn: Erin GernerInstagram: @eringernerFacebook: Erin Gerner
Transcribe →The Non-Linear Path to Partner Nobody Talks About
Apr 200:35:46Tap to summarizeDanielle Kays is a partner at Fisher Phillips, a nationally recognized litigator focused on privacy, biometric, AI, and employment law — and she did it her way, on her timeline, working remotely since 2013. In this episode, she gets real about the windy road to partner, what it looked like to balance Big Law with two little kids, and why taking 20 years to make partner is something to be proud of — not apologize for.In this episode we cover:Why she joined Big Law when her kids were babies — in search of flexibilityWhat it was really like to work from home in 2012 before anyone else was doing itThe patronizing moments and upstream swimming that came with a non-linear pathHow she and her husband built a true partnership to make two demanding careers workThe power of finding community — especially women who are a few steps ahead of youWhy your career is a marathon, not a sprint (and what that actually means in practice)Connect with Danielle: LinkedInWork with Erin Gerner:Erin coaches high-achieving female attorneys who are successful on paper but struggling with burnout, identity crisis, and knowing what's next—helping them redefine success on their terms without sacrificing family or wellbeing.Stay connected with Erin Gerner:Website: eringerner.comLinkedIn: Erin GernerInstagram: @eringernerFacebook: Erin Gerner
Transcribe →The $1.7 Million LinkedIn Post: How Lawyers Are Landing Clients Through Storytelling
Feb 2600:41:47Tap to summarizeIn this conversation, Erin Gerner interviews Jacob Molina, founder of storyleads.io, who specializes in helping lawyers build their personal brand through storytelling on LinkedIn. Jacob shares his journey from working in tech to discovering the power of storytelling for lawyers. He discusses the importance of sharing unique perspectives, overcoming fears of vulnerability, and how effective storytelling can lead to client referrals. The conversation emphasizes the significance of personal branding and human connection in the legal profession, encouraging lawyers to embrace their stories and share them authentically.Jacob works with lawyers across virtually every practice area to build their personal brand and attract clients and referrals through LinkedIn storytelling — in just one hour a month. Reach out to Jacob directly on LinkedIn to connect or get started with a free post. CONNECT WITH JACOBWork with Erin Gerner:Erin coaches high-achieving female attorneys who are successful on paper but struggling with burnout, identity crisis, and knowing what's next—helping them redefine success on their terms without sacrificing family or wellbeing.Stay connected with Erin Gerner:Website: eringerner.comLinkedIn: Erin GernerInstagram: @eringernerFacebook: Erin Gerner
Transcribe →