Cross Lab – Details, episodes & analysis

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

Hosts Steve Hohman and Olivia Espinosa are joined by criminal defense and civil rights attorney Bruce Ringstrom, and plaintiff’s personal injury attorney Fred Bryant.

Watch as they put Officer Brown (played by Steve) on the stand and challenge his version of events to prove their client did not knowingly help her son evade arrest.

This episode is based on a real case from a listener looking for new perspectives on their upcoming trial. To submit your case for an upcoming episode click HERE!

What’s covered in this episode: 

• How to turn minimal evidence into explosive revelations 
• Creating real-time surplus reality
• Why breaking the #1 “baby lawyer” rule can can pay off
• What to do when a witness doesn’t give you what you want
•  The “who’s the jerk now?” method—this is gold!

Time Stamps

00:00 What’s Cross Lab?

9:24 The blurred line advantages of working with family in your law firm 

15:26 Mock Case Overview: State of Idaho vs. Darla Roberts

17:08 How to cross a witness with minimal evidence—and uncover explosive surprises (the good kind)

20:00 Bruce’s cross: Building surplus reality

38:53 Why it’s worth breaking a “baby lawyer” rule

40:25 The top fall back when a witness doesn’t give you what you want

49:52 An easy technique to reset and rattle a witness at the same time

53:44 Fred’s cross: The “who’s the jerk now?” approach 

1:08:25 Why tagging your questions with a “isn’t that correct?” can show a lack of confidence

1:13:24 Top takeaways if you had to cross a witness like this

To get free resources for your next trial go to HausImprov.com

Hosts Steve Hohman and Olivia Espinosa are joined by personal injury and family law attorney Shane Henry, as well as noted TV, film and theater actor, producer and director Jean Bruce Scott.

Watch as Shane cross-examines Jean, who plays this episode’s mock witness—a devoted grandma testifying on behalf of her son who’s seeking primary custody of his 2 children. 

Shane challenges Jean’s claims in this masterclass of constructive cross-examination.

What’s covered in this episode: 

• The funnel that traps the witness and triggers the jury’s ‘aha!’ moment
• What Bryan Cranston and Tom Hanks share—and why it’s essential for trial lawyers
• How a fact-focused cross can open doors you didn’t expect
• The low-key cue that signals you’ve got the opposing witness under your control
• A simple way to collect testimony gold—ready for closing, ASAP

Time Stamps

00:00 What’s Cross Lab?

2:55 The real power of constructive cross—for your witness, judge, and jury

10:15 Structuring your questions to box in the witness and create an ‘aha!’ moment for the jury

17:45 The “secret” to performing that hooks your audience and keeps you credible

21:25 What successful big-money verdict attorneys have in common

29:30 Mock Case Overview: Stills vs. Stills

34:34 Shane’s Cross: Building a clear picture—one fact at a time

57:14 A subtle cue that proves you're steering the witness

59:56 How to collect key testimony—so your closing organizes itself

1:09:17 Tips for managing performance anxiety

1:13:41 Top takeaways if you had to cross a witness like this

To get free resources for your next trial go to HausImprov.com

We’re calling this special episode of Cross Lab…Cross Pollination!

Hosts Steve Hohman and Olivia Espinosa are bringing together their community of theater makers and professional storytellers for a powerful conversation.

Our guests—Cecelia Kouma, Mabelle Reynoso, and Arturo Medina from Playwrights Project—are producers, actors, playwrights, and educators who teach playwriting in prisons.

Tune in as they share their work, their wisdom, and storytelling techniques that can transform how you build narratives in the courtroom.

Instagram @playwrightsproject

What’s covered in this episode: 

• How to turn facts into a story—even if you don’t think you're a storyteller
• 4 story kickstarters for a compelling narrative
• The essential hook that makes your listener root for your client
• Why “falling in love” with your client is non-negotiable
• The no-brainer step to make your opening statement click with your fact-finders

Time Stamps

00:00 What’s this special episode of Cross Lab all about?

5:23 About Playwrights Project and their work in carceral spaces

11:29 The power of storytelling for healing and transformation

17:32 Where to start—4 storytelling lifelines when you’re buried under a mountain of facts

25:30 How to unlock your client’s real story—and why they’re giving you the “safe” version

32:40 What the best attorneys we’ve seen have in common

39:23 The #1 thing your listener needs for a story to land and feel real

49:00 How to make sure your story is fleshed out and accessible for anyone (perfect for an opening statement!)

1:06:03 Don’t think you're a storyteller? Here’s the cure.

To get free resources for your next trial go to HausImprov.com

In this episode of Cross Lab, hosts Steve Hohman and Olivia Espinosa are joined by plaintiff’s attorney Federico Lathrop and estate and trust attorney Mike Hackard. 

Watch as they cross-examine Steve, who plays an occupational consultant and defense expert witness. They’ll challenge his opinion on the employability of the plaintiff, whose medical assessments reveal severe limitations that impact his ability to work.

Instagram: 

@hackard_law

@fedelawyer

What’s covered in this episode: 

• How to balance expectations and earn trust with emotionally charged clients
• The double edge sword of multi-fact questions
• Questions that expose biases—no matter what the witness answers
• What successful lawyers you love have in common
• Why the word “AND” is the invitation you want to give to your jury

Time Stamps

00:00 What’s Cross Lab?

11:11 Balancing trust and expectations with clients experiencing trauma and grief

19:42 Mock Case Overview: Grayson vs. NextGen and Samuel Dent

21:55 Federico’s Cross: Exposing biases—no matter what the witness answers

40:14 What looping aka repeating your witness’s words does to an expert

45:09 The power (and danger) of stacking multiple facts into one question

49:28 The common traits successful lawyers have

53:12 Mike Cross: Word selection that paints a picture

1:11:48 The magic of "AND" for your jury

1:13:12 Top takeaways if you had to cross a witness like this

To get free resources for your next trial go to HausImprov.com

In this episode of Cross Lab, hosts Steve Hohman and Olivia Espinosa are joined by barrister and advocacy coach Bibi Badejo.

Watch Bibi cross-examine both Steve and Olivia, who portray a divorced couple where neither party has clean hands. Bibi skillfully challenges each of their stories and their roles in a complex, multi-suit case involving large sums of money, kids and old wounds.

What’s covered in this episode: 

• The foundation you can lay that boxes any witness in—and pays off big time
• A go-to framework for defending your client (even when their actions make zero sense)
• What your listener is really thinking when you’re sticking a witness to the question
• The sneaky way to trap a witness in their own admissions
• How to slice away a witness's opinion from the real evidence

Time Stamps

00:00 What’s Cross Lab?

2:20 The question to ask yourself that steers the judge and jury where you want them

3:14 How to adjust your language for judges and juries—and what juries don't want from you

6:18 A genius ‘common sense’ strategy to defend your client’s actions (even when they don’t make sense)

17:00  Mock Case Overview: Butler vs. Butler

19:38 Bibi’s Cross on Dane Butler: One fact questions that lay the foundation for a big payoff!

38:18 Painting a picture with facts that corner the witness and let their discomfort tell your story.

43:01 How starting with general questions can trap a witness with their own admissions

48:28 What your listener is thinking when you hold a witness to the question

55:26 Cross of Lily: Expertly separating a witness's opinion from the real evidence

1:20:02 Repetition that works for you—no matter what the witness says

Bibi’s website: https://www.theadvocacycoach.com/

The Advocacy Podcast https://www.theadvocacypodcast.com/

To get free resources for your next trial go to HausImprov.com

In this episode of Cross Lab, hosts Steve Hohman and Olivia Espinosa are joined by plaintiff’s attorney Mark Choate and criminal defense/DUI attorneys Chuck Rathburn and Bruce Ringstrom. 

Watch them cross-examine Olivia, who portrays a toxicologist and expert witness on behalf of the state. They’ll challenge the expert’s opinion on the validity of the BAC and blood draw procedures.

What’s covered in this episode:

• How crossing an expert witness can change your word selection
• The hidden role gender can play in your cross-examination
• An easy demonstrative to illustrate percentage points for your jury
• Using the expert to expose mishandlings in the case and create reasonable doubt
• What taking a moment to pause can do to a witness
• The trap you can fall into when you know their case well—and how to fix it

Time Stamps

00:00 What’s Cross Lab?

04:05 How an expert witness can change your approach to word selection

12:06 Mock Case Overview: State of Washington vs. Oscar Phillips

13:28 Chuck Rathburn’s Cross: Painting a clear picture of contamination

27:05 Approaching gender with an expert?

33:03 Simple demonstratives to illustrate the difference a few percentage points can make in BAC levels

35:17 Mark Choate’s Cross: Determining the level of intoxication

45:51 Leveraging the expert to expose other mishandlings in the case and create reasonable doubt

53:06 Bruce Ringstrom’s Cross: Exposing the expert’s lack of hands-on involvement

1:06:46 The impact your reset has on a witness

1:10:14 Top takeaways if you had to cross a witness like this

1:12:37 The trap of knowing too much—and how to fix it

To get free resources for your next trial go to HausImprov.com 

In this episode of Cross Lab, hosts Steve Hohman and Olivia Espinosa welcome personal injury trial attorneys Susie Injijian and Jon Choate, along with personal injury and criminal defense attorney Russell Goodrow.

Watch as these 3 attorneys cross-examine Steve, who portrays an expert radiologist on behalf of the defense.  They’ll challenge his opinion that only soft tissue injuries and pre-existing conditions—not lingering effects from MTBI—are present in the plaintiff. 

What’s covered in this episode:

• Techniques for a 'yes, and' cross-examination that questions expert conclusions
• How to score points against an expert who protests too much
• The power of improvised loops to solidify words and concepts for the jury
• How to leverage the power of what an expert doesn’t know
• The offensive word that will make an expert witness bristle (even if it’s the truth)

Time Stamps

00:00 What’s Cross Lab?

3:18 How to start formulating a cross

6:22 Case Description: Sandra Little v. Grant School District & Gary Carpenter

9:20 Jon Choate’s cross: Word choice that paints a clear picture for the jury 

19:35 How to stay out of an argument with the witness

29:40 Russell Goodrow’s cross: Loops to control a witness and an easy physical demonstrative

40:55 What to do when a witness that won’t answer the question

49:50 Susie Injijan’s cross: Techniques for being an effective teacher/guide for the jury

1:00:47 The word that no expert will want to hear (because it’s sooo good for you)

1:04:48 Your biggest weapon in the courtroom 

1:09:44 Top takeaways of you had to cross a witness like this

Would you like to be a guest or have an idea for a future episode, reach out to us here!

Cross Lab is powered by LawPods.

Get FREE narrative building resources for the courtroom here!