Podcast
Verdicts and Vogue
Hosted by MedLegal Media · EN
Join Attorney Cristina Perez Hesano in Verdicts & Vogue, a podcast that brings together the world of law and lifestyle in an insightful and engaging way. Episodes feature interviews with top legal professionals as they explore pressing issues in various areas of law and precedents. This podcast goes beyond the courtroom—Cristina and her guests dive into the realities of owning a law firm, being a business owner, and navigating the challenges faced by women in business and working moms.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Deposition That Ended in Flames: Lincoln Combs
1w ago00:44:24Tap to summarizeWhat happens when a routine deposition turns into a real-life emergency?Attorney Lincoln Combs joins Cristina Perez to share one of the most unbelievable legal stories you’ll ever hear. During a Zoom deposition, Cristina suddenly heard strange noises coming from her office ceiling. Moments later, she discovered her law firm was on fire.But that’s just one of many stories in this candid conversation. Lincoln discusses his journey from commercial litigation to becoming one of Arizona’s most respected trial lawyers, the lessons he’s learned from wrongful death cases, medical malpractice litigation, jury trials, and why the quality of a client can make or break a case.Along the way, Cristina and Lincoln revisit the case that first brought them together, swap courtroom war stories, and talk about the realities of building a successful legal career.Topics include:• The deposition interrupted by a building fire• Wrongful death litigation and statutory beneficiaries• Medical malpractice and complex injury cases• Lessons from losing a jury trial• Building a law firm and mentoring young attorneys• Life as a trial lawyer in ArizonaIf you enjoy behind-the-scenes legal stories, trial strategy, and conversations with top attorneys, this episode is for you.#VerdictsAndVogue #CristinaPerez #LincolnCombs #TrialLawyer #PersonalInjuryLaw #WrongfulDeath #MedicalMalpractice #LawyerPodcast #LegalPodcast #ArizonaLawyer #CourtroomStories #Litigation #AttorneyLife
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Cristina Perez Unfiltered | Trauma, Success & The Pressure to Prove Yourself
3w ago01:26:20Tap to summarizeWhat happens when the interviewer becomes the interviewee?For the first time on Verdicts & Vogue, Cristina Perez steps into the hot seat and opens up in a way she never has before.From growing up as the daughter of immigrants to building her law firm from a Costco computer after being unexpectedly fired… Cristina shares the moments that shaped her. She talks about imposter syndrome, motherhood, leadership, trust, childhood trauma, chasing achievement, and the fear of never doing something meaningful enough.Along the way, she also weighs in on topics making headlines right now including AI and attorney-client privilege, immigration concerns, women in law, rideshare accountability, deepfake exploitation, and what integrity really means when life gets hard.This isn’t a legal episode. It’s a personal one.Topics include:• Growing up between cultures• Starting a law firm with almost nothing• Motherhood and raising a child with autism• Why achievement can become a moving target• Surviving self-doubt and imposter syndrome• Women supporting women in law• AI, privacy, and legal risks• Deepfakes, digital harm & accountability• The fear of dying before making an impactIf this episode resonates with you, subscribe and share it with someone who needs the reminder that success rarely looks the way we imagine.#VerdictsAndVogue #CristinaPerez #WomenInLaw #PersonalGrowth #Leadership #ImposterSyndrome #AttorneyLife #Podcast #WomenEmpoweringWomen #MentalHealth #Motherhood #LegalPodcast #AI #SuccessJourney #LatinaLeadership
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From Public Defender to Protecting Women & Children | Caitlin Engstrand
May 2500:44:58Tap to summarizeAfter 12 years as a public defender representing children and families, Caitlin Engstrand made a bold decision: leave the public sector and build a practice centered around protecting women, children, and helping families navigate some of life’s hardest moments.In this episode of Verdicts & Vogue, Cristina Perez sits down with Caitlin to talk about what she learned inside the juvenile justice system, why she walked away from the traditional path, and how motherhood, advocacy, and purpose changed her definition of success.This conversation explores:• What really happens inside juvenile court• Children in the justice system and how young charges can begin• Why protecting kids starts earlier than most parents realize• Parenting in a digital world• Social media, gaming, and online safety• Why Caitlin doesn’t allow sleepovers• Building a legal career around impact, not volume• Motherhood, ambition, and redefining successThis episode is thoughtful, practical, funny, and full of hard-earned perspective for parents, professionals, and anyone navigating change.Subscribe for conversations on law, identity, parenting, growth, and life beyond the courtroom.#VerdictsAndVogue#CaitlinEngstrand#Parenting#WomenInLaw#ChildSafety#PersonalGrowth#Motherhood#LegalPodcast#WomenWhoLead#JuvenileJustice#TikTokLawyer#Podcast
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How a One-Way Ticket Led to a $150 Million Empire | Amy Barrie
May 1100:38:00Tap to summarizeAmy Barrie sold her belongings to buy a one-way ticket from Canada to Florida with no plan, no money, and no guarantees. Today, she’s a key leader at one of the biggest companies in the mass tort industry.In this episode of Verdicts & Vogue, Amy sits down with Cristina Perez to talk about hustle, ambition, ego, discipline, reputation, and what it really takes to succeed in high-pressure industries.From sleeping on an air mattress and cold-calling law firms… to helping build a $150 million company, Amy shares the lessons she learned navigating business, leadership, confidence, and life as a young woman in a male-dominated industry.This conversation dives into:• Building success from nothing• Why reputation matters more than attention• The “ego death” that changed her career• Confidence, discernment, and boundaries in business• Women navigating power and professionalism• Why hustle alone isn’t enoughThis is a conversation about ambition, growth, humility, and becoming the kind of person success can trust.Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, identity, confidence, and personal growth through the lens of law, business, and life.#VerdictsAndVogue #AmyBarrie #WomenInBusiness #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #SuccessMindset #ProfessionalDevelopment #Confidence #Podcast
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Cristina Perez & Melissa June: Leading with Purpose, Living with Alignment
Apr 2700:45:11Tap to summarizeIn the Season 2 premiere of Verdicts & Vogue, host Cristina Perez Hesano sits down with Melissa June for one of the most raw and inspiring conversations yet. What starts with laughter over Melissa’s famous “feelings wheel” quickly turns into a deep discussion on emotions, ambition, burnout, healing, and authenticity.Melissa, a performance and alignment coach, explains how the feelings wheel helps people identify emotions beyond the basics like happy, sad, or angry. She believes vulnerability creates true connection, especially among women. Cristina admits that while she understands emotions in her work as a trial attorney, expressing her own feelings has always been difficult.Melissa shares her journey from legal and marketing professional to coach. She spent years constantly “on,” attending conferences, building relationships, and chasing success. As a wife, mother of three, and high performer, she became consumed by the need to achieve and be needed. She openly discusses how hustle culture affected her marriage, family, and mental health.Her life changed in 2021 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Even after a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction, she kept working, planning events, and attending conferences. She scheduled chemo around work obligations until her body forced her to stop. After suffering a blood clot and an emergency hospitalization while battling cancer and COVID alone, Melissa was finally forced into stillness. In the hospital, she discovered guided meditation, which she credits with saving her life.Meditation helped Melissa unravel the identity she built around achievement and validation. She realized her life, marriage, and career were not what she truly wanted. After chemotherapy, she divorced her husband, left her job, and started over. She also reveals the darkest point of her life, battling severe depression and suicidal thoughts after chemo.Cristina deeply relates to Melissa’s story. The two bond over the pressure women face to excel professionally while also meeting expectations of being perfect wives, mothers, and leaders. Cristina reflects on how much of her life was spent performing perfection and constantly chasing “more.”Melissa’s advice for women at a crossroads is simple but powerful: stop and sit in the discomfort. Instead of distracting ourselves with work or obligations, she encourages people to listen to the sensations in their body and get curious about what those feelings are trying to say. She discusses the power of silent meditation retreats, including her own 10 day Vipassana experience.The conversation also touches on leadership and emotional intelligence in high pressure industries like law. Melissa explains the importance of communication, active listening, and understanding emotional triggers. She encourages leaders to know their team’s goals, strengths, and aspirations to create healthy, aligned workplaces.Cristina shares a story about confronting sexism in the legal field and reflects on how far she has come in owning her confidence and authenticity. Together, they discuss liberation and what it means to stop performing for others and start living in alignment.Melissa closes by sharing her work as a performance and alignment coach, helping individuals and businesses clarify their mission, values, and partnerships to create meaningful impact.This powerful season opener reminds listeners that success without alignment can feel empty, and life’s biggest breakdowns can lead to the greatest breakthroughs. Through laughter, tears, and honesty, Cristina and Melissa encourage listeners to confront their feelings, redefine success, and embrace healing and purpose.
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Cristina Perez & Katherine Anderson Part 2: Owning Your Path and Redefining Success
Apr 600:30:31Tap to summarizeIn Part 2 of Verdicts & Vogue, Cristina Perez Hesano continues her conversation with Kathryn Anderson, diving deeper into what it truly means to step away from comfort and build a career with intention. This episode moves beyond the initial decision to leave Big Law and focuses on what happens next. It is about growth, discipline, and learning how to navigate the realities of high level litigation while staying grounded in purpose.Katey reflects on her early success in personal injury law, including a powerful case involving a young client who suffered severe injuries in a shooting. What made this case stand out was not just the outcome, but the strategy behind it. Through detailed research and persistence, she identified additional theories of liability, including the use of dram shop law, which ultimately helped push the case toward resolution. The discussion highlights how preparation, creativity, and teamwork can significantly impact the outcome of a case and the life of a client. The conversation also explores the contrast between different areas of law. Katey shares her experience transitioning from the more collaborative and close knit environment of bankruptcy law into the fast paced and often adversarial world of personal injury litigation. Cristina and Katey openly discuss the challenges that come with this shift, including difficult opposing counsel, delays in resolution, and the constant need to advocate for clients who are often overlooked or misunderstood.A major theme throughout the episode is the process behind success. Katey explains that her approach is not about moving quickly, but about being thorough. She spends time identifying every possible weakness in her cases, asking herself where she could lose, and preparing for those moments before they happen. This level of preparation allows her to walk into court with confidence, knowing she has done the work necessary to support her arguments. Beyond the legal work, the episode brings a personal and relatable perspective. Cristina and Katey share their experiences balancing demanding careers with family life, as well as the pressures and expectations placed on women in the legal profession. They speak candidly about how their perspectives have evolved over time, and how their partnership works because of their differences. Cristina describes herself as more structured and reserved, while Katey brings a level of openness and authenticity that creates balance both inside and outside the courtroom.One of the most memorable moments from the episode highlights how personal and professional worlds often collide. During a deposition, a client was required to bring her newborn baby due to personal circumstances. What could have been seen as a disruption instead became a powerful example of adaptability and compassion, as the legal work continued while ensuring the client felt supported throughout the process.As the episode comes to a close, Katey shares a defining realization. For the first time in her career, she has a clear vision of where she is going. Stepping away from a structured environment allowed her to take control of her future and build something that aligns with her values. Instead of contributing to someone else’s vision, she is now creating her own path with purpose and clarity.Part 2 is a conversation about ownership, resilience, and growth. It is a reminder that success is not always immediate, but it is built through preparation, consistency, and the willingness to take risks. It is about trusting the process, embracing challenges, and understanding that the most meaningful work often comes from stepping into the unknown and building something that is truly your own.
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Cristina Perez & Katherine Anderson Part 1: From Big Law to Building Your Own Path
Mar 3000:20:58Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Verdicts & Vogue, Cristina Perez Hesano sits down with attorney Kathryn “Katie” Anderson for a candid, unfiltered conversation that goes far beyond the courtroom. This episode explores the realities of building a legal career, navigating personal challenges, and redefining success on your own terms.Cristina and Katie open up about their decade-long journey from colleagues in bankruptcy law to becoming trusted friends and business collaborators. What began as a professional connection evolved through shared life experiences, including navigating career transitions, personal hardships, and the emotional weight of practicing law. Their conversation highlights how loyalty, trust, and timing play a role not only in friendships but in leadership and business growth.Katie shares her background working in high-level federal and bankruptcy litigation, including her time in large national law firms, where she developed strong technical skills but also experienced the limitations of corporate structure. The discussion dives into the tension many attorneys face between stability and autonomy, and what ultimately pushed Katie to step away from big law to start her own firm. Her leap into entrepreneurship reflects a broader theme of trusting instincts, embracing risk, and pursuing a more meaningful way to practice law.A powerful portion of the episode focuses on Katie’s personal experience with traumatic brain injury within her own family. This life-altering event reshaped her perspective as an attorney, giving her a deeper understanding of the emotional and psychological impact clients face. It also highlights the human side of personal injury law—where cases are not just about legal strategy, but about real people navigating life-changing circumstances. Cristina and Katie also discuss their transition into working on catastrophic personal injury cases together, combining their strengths in litigation and strategy to deliver meaningful outcomes for clients. Their dynamic showcases how complementary skill sets and aligned values can create powerful results, both professionally and personally.This episode is ultimately about growth—growth as lawyers, as business owners, and as individuals. It touches on leadership, resilience, and the importance of building a team and environment that reflects your values. For anyone navigating career decisions, entrepreneurship, or the pressures of high-performance industries, this conversation offers insight, relatability, and a refreshing level of honesty.Stay tuned for Part 2, where the conversation continues into building a firm on your own terms, trusting your decision-making, and defining what true partnership really looks like.
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Cristina Perez & Matt Fendon Part 2: Rebuilding Through Faith, Finding Purpose, and Leading with Humility
Mar 2300:19:18Tap to summarizeIn Part 2 of Verdicts & Vogue, Cristina Perez Hesano continues her conversation with Matt Fendon of Matt Fendon Law Group, diving deeper into the personal journey behind success and what it truly takes to rebuild your life when everything changes. This episode moves beyond titles and achievements, focusing on growth, faith, and the internal work that often goes unseen.Picking up from Part 1, Matt reflects on a time when his firm was growing and everything looked successful on the outside, yet internally, he felt empty and disconnected. Following the breakdown of his marriage, he experienced a period of loneliness that quickly replaced the initial sense of freedom. What once felt like independence turned into isolation, forcing him to confront deeper questions about purpose, identity, and direction. That turning point led him to seek something greater, which he ultimately found through faith. Matt shares how being introduced to Trinity Church created a new path for him, one centered on learning, structure, and connection. For the first time, he began reading the Bible with intention, taking notes, studying verses, and building a daily routine around it. This practice became a foundation that brought him peace, balance, and clarity, replacing the uncertainty he once carried. Cristina and Matt connect through their shared experiences with faith, discussing how spirituality can provide grounding during life’s most difficult transitions. One of the most impactful lessons Matt emphasizes is forgiveness. Learning to let go of resentment and extend grace, regardless of the situation, allowed him to move forward without carrying the weight of the past. This shift not only impacted his personal life, but also how he approaches leadership and relationships today.As the conversation evolves, Matt opens up about how his lifestyle has changed. The distractions, late nights, and social habits that once filled his schedule have been replaced with intentional living. He now prioritizes time at home, personal growth, and meaningful relationships, including his current partner who shares his values and attends church with him. This alignment has brought a new level of stability and fulfillment into his life.A major theme throughout the episode is humility. Matt candidly reflects on how success once led him to become overly confident and lose sight of who he was. Through this period of rebuilding, he rediscovered the importance of staying grounded and self-aware. Cristina reinforces this perspective, highlighting that true leadership is not just about growth in business, but growth as a person.The conversation also transitions into practical advice for those navigating similar challenges. Matt encourages individuals to do everything they can to preserve relationships when possible, but to also move forward with intention and grace when necessary. He stresses the importance of avoiding destructive habits and instead finding healthier ways to heal and grow.On the business side, Matt shares valuable insight into building and scaling a law firm. He emphasizes the importance of strategic planning, mentorship, and consistency. Success, he explains, is not built overnight. It requires discipline, strong client service, and a clear brand that sets you apart. Cristina adds to this by discussing goal setting and the importance of being intentional in both networking and professional growth.The episode closes with a rapid-fire segment that reveals Matt’s current mindset. From trusting his instincts to defining success as an ongoing journey, his perspective reflects continuous growth. He describes success as building something from nothing and consistently pushing it to the next level, never becoming complacent.
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Cristina Perez & Matt Fendon: Leadership in Law, Building a Firm, and Rising Through Lifes Challenges
Mar 2300:30:24Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Verdicts & Vogue, host Cristina Perez Hesano sits down with Arizona attorney Matt Fendon, founder of the Matt Fendon Law Group, for a candid and insightful conversation about leadership in law, leadership in business, and the personal resilience required to navigate both.Matt shares the story of his journey from growing up in Phoenix and studying communications to eventually entering the legal field through an unexpected path. Before becoming an attorney, he worked closely with his father—an influential workers’ compensation lawyer in Arizona—first as a paralegal and later as a partner in the family firm. Those early years provided a firsthand education in the realities of building and managing a legal practice, showing him that success in law requires more than legal knowledge alone. As Matt explains, law school teaches theory, but leadership in a firm requires business acumen, relationship building, and the ability to develop systems that allow a firm to grow.Throughout the conversation, Matt discusses how his MBA and business mindset helped him transform the firm’s infrastructure and expand its reach within the legal community. He shares practical insights into networking, relationship development, and the discipline required to build meaningful professional connections—emphasizing that leadership often begins with showing up, engaging with others, and consistently following through.But leadership is not built without adversity. Matt opens up about one of the most challenging chapters of his career: a difficult family partnership breakup that ultimately led him to leave the firm and start over. What began as a painful separation became an opportunity to build something new. In 2018, he launched the Matt Fendon Law Group, creating a practice centered on structure, teamwork, and clear operational processes that would allow the firm to grow sustainably.The episode also explores the human side of leadership. Matt reflects on the personal changes that came alongside his professional transformation, including family challenges, navigating divorce after more than two decades of marriage, and the emotional toll that major life transitions can bring. Through those experiences, he learned the importance of resilience, self-reflection, and finding purpose beyond titles or achievements.Cristina and Matt also dive into the realities of workers’ compensation law—an area often misunderstood but essential to protecting injured workers. From explaining how the system operates to discussing one of the largest workers’ compensation settlements in Arizona history, Matt offers a rare look into the strategy, advocacy, and persistence required to secure meaningful outcomes for clients.At its core, this episode is about growth. It is about what happens when lawyers evolve into leaders, when professionals transform challenges into opportunity, and when personal setbacks become the foundation for stronger businesses and stronger people.Through honesty, experience, and perspective, Matt Fendon’s story reminds listeners that leadership is not defined by titles or accolades—it is defined by perseverance, adaptability, and the courage to keep building even when the path forward is uncertain.
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Cristina Perez & Erika Gelfand Part 2: Standing Your Ground, Navigating Bias, and Growing Through The Practice of Law
Mar 2300:28:26Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Verdicts & Vogue, Cristina Perez Hesano sits down with attorney Erica Gelfand for a candid and insightful conversation about the realities of practicing law, navigating the legal industry as women, and the personal growth that comes with building a legal career. The discussion blends professional experiences with personal reflections, offering listeners an honest look into the challenges and rewards of life in the courtroom and beyond.Cristina begins by sharing a recent experience during a deposition where opposing attorneys treated her with open hostility, questioning her competence and speaking disrespectfully both during and outside of the proceeding. The situation highlighted an ongoing issue that many female attorneys still encounter: being underestimated or treated differently because of gender. The conversation explores how moments like these can be frustrating and discouraging, but also serve as reminders of the resilience required to succeed in the legal field. Erica relates with her own story of being underestimated during a wrongful death case, where opposing counsel assumed she lacked experience and openly spoke about strategy while believing she was not listening. Ultimately, the case resolved successfully, reinforcing the idea that perseverance and preparation often speak louder than assumptions.Throughout the episode, both attorneys emphasize the importance of mentorship and learning through experience. Erica discusses how she has approached her career by stepping into challenging opportunities even when she initially felt uncertain. From taking on her first wrongful death case to handling complex immigration matters she had never worked on before, she explains how pushing through discomfort allowed her to develop confidence and expand her practice. Cristina echoes this perspective, describing how working alongside experienced attorneys early in her career helped her develop courtroom skills and sharpen her litigation abilities.The conversation also touches on the emotional and mental challenges of practicing law, including imposter syndrome, stress, and the pressure of representing clients during difficult moments in their lives. Both women acknowledge that even seasoned attorneys experience doubt, but they have learned to view that doubt as motivation to prepare more thoroughly and continue improving their craft. They also discuss the importance of maintaining humility, strong client relationships, and a service-oriented mindset as key pillars for long-term success.As the episode moves into a rapid-fire segment, Erica reflects on the sacrifices made while building her firm, recalling the early days when she managed every aspect of the business herself and celebrated even small milestones like handling ten active cases. She credits her support system—particularly her family and mentors—for encouraging her to take risks and pursue opportunities for growth.The episode concludes on an uplifting note as Cristina and Erica discuss their goals for the future. Both attorneys express a desire to continue growing their practices while also taking time to appreciate their accomplishments. They emphasize the importance of recognizing wins, learning from setbacks, and continuing to support other women in the legal profession.Overall, the conversation highlights resilience, mentorship, and the evolving landscape for women in law, reminding listeners that success often comes from persistence, collaboration, and the willingness to embrace new challenges.
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