top of page


When Being a Lawyer No Longer Fits feat. Casey Berman
Casey Berman is the founder of Leave Law Behind and a former in-house lawyer who helps attorneys transition into careers that better align with their skills, values, and lives. In this episode, Casey shares how he left traditional legal practice, built a remote business from Hawaii, and helps lawyers rethink identity, risk, and what fulfillment can look like after law.
Feb 43 min read


A Law Degree That Travels With You (October 2021) feat. Michelle Words
Michelle Words is a business law professor and licensed attorney who has spent the last seven years living and teaching abroad in the Middle East. In this episode, Michelle shares how her law degree became a tool for freedom, travel, and reinvention.
Jan 213 min read


Choosing a Different Kind of Legal Career feat. Akshay Verma
Kyla Denanyoh interviews Akshay Verma, Chief Operating Officer at SpotDraft and a former environmental lawyer whose career spans law firms, legal operations, and executive leadership in tech. In this episode, Akshay shares what it felt like to leave firm life, take a financial risk for his family, and build a career that better aligned with how he wanted to live and work.
Jan 13 min read


Healing Lawyer Burnout Through Boundaries and Self-Advocacy feat. Lora Cheadle
Kyla Denanyoh interviews Lora Cheadle is a former insurance defense attorney who traded burnout for a career built on wellness, boundaries, and helping high achievers navigate betrayal in both personal and professional life. In this episode, she explains why many lawyers mislabel their exhaustion as burnout when it is actually the rupture of unmet expectations, unmanaged stress, and years of self-neglect.
Dec 25, 20253 min read


Why the Hourly Billing Model Is Broken feat. Stephen Caldelmo
Stephen Candelmo is a corporate lawyer turned tech founder who has spent nearly thirty years advising emerging companies and building his own ventures. In this episode, he explains how a recession, a machine learning experiment, and a desire for fairness inspired him to create Paralex, a legal platform that delivers fixed-fee, AI-powered legal services for small businesses and startups. He also shares why he believes the legal profession is on the edge of a major transformati
Dec 11, 20253 min read


Reinventing Your Legal Career After 40 (August 2023)
Kyla Denanyoh interviews Anne Hamer is a top-rated family lawyer based in Nashville, Tennessee, whose path to success was anything but traditional. After years in corporate and plaintiff work, and even a decade as a stay-at-home mom, Anne returned to the courtroom with a new sense of purpose. In this episode, she shares how to change your legal career at any age, how her own divorce reshaped her understanding of family law, and why it’s never too late to find work you love.
Nov 20, 20253 min read


Building Confidence and Clarity as a Lawyer feat. Laura Terrell (August 2023)
Laura Terrell is an executive coach, general counsel, and former special assistant to the president who has built a career across government, private practice, and nonprofit leadership. In this episode, she shares how coaching helps lawyers advocate for themselves, embrace career pivots, and find clarity in uncertain times.
Oct 23, 20253 min read


Redefining Success and Alignment in Law feat. Arivee Vargas
Kyla Denanyoh interviews lawyer and coach Arivee Vargas shares her journey from Big Law to coaching, writing, and alignment, showing how to create a career that fits your life.
Oct 16, 20254 min read


Reinventing Your Legal Career Through Coaching feat. Elise Holtzman
Kyla Denanyoh interviews former Big Law attorney Elise Holtzman shares how she built a coaching business helping lawyers grow their leadership and business development skills.
Sep 18, 20253 min read


How to Take the Leap from Big Law to Solo Practice feat. Gary Martoccio
Kyla Denanyoh interviews Gary Martoccio, an employment lawyer and solo practitioner who left a large firm after 12 years to build his own plaintiffs-side practice. In this episode, Gary shares what it’s like to advocate for employees, run your own firm, and earn multiple state licenses through bar exams and reciprocity. If you’re curious about employment law or considering going solo, this episode gives a real-world perspective you won’t find in law school.
Aug 14, 20253 min read


How To Blend Legal Teaching With Theater and Parenting
Keith Shannon is a former lawyer, legal educator, and lifelong theater fan. Kara Shannon is his daughter and creative collaborator. In this episode, Kyla speaks with the father-daughter duo about their journey from legal careers and musical soundtracks to launching Fourth Row Center, a podcast celebrating Broadway and family bonds. Their story is a heartfelt reminder that success can look like connection, creativity, and choosing joy on your own terms.
Jul 24, 20253 min read


How To Reflect, Reinvent, and Keep Talking feat. Kyla Denanyoh
What do type A lawyers, podcast editing, sweet delusion, and four different recording cities have in common? Kyla Denanyoh. In this solo episode, Kyla celebrates her 10-year law school graduation anniversary and the 5-year milestone of the You Are A Lawyer podcast by sharing 10 things you (probably) didn’t know about her. From launching a podcast with no experience to accidentally becoming a manager again, this is a personal, honest, and very Kyla conversation about risk, cre
Apr 24, 20253 min read


How To Pivot With Purpose and Confidence
Danielle Lyn is a practicing attorney, coach, speaker, and podcast host who is boldly redefining what career success looks like. In this honest and energizing episode, Danielle shares her transition from corporate law to a more aligned life of coaching and creating content that empowers others. Whether you’re a law student feeling boxed in or a mid-career professional exploring a pivot, this episode is a must-listen.
Apr 3, 20253 min read


How to Embrace Career Evolution and Follow Your Curiosity
Juliet Peters has never been afraid to reinvent herself. She started in journalism, moved into litigation, transitioned to in-house counsel, and now runs Framework Legal, a business law firm helping entrepreneurs navigate transactions and growth. Throughout her career, curiosity has been her greatest asset—leading her to explore new industries, embrace change, and design a career that fits her strengths. In this episode, Juliet shares why lawyers should lean into career evolu
Mar 27, 20253 min read


How to Turn Your Experiences Into a Powerful Story
Mark C. Fava has had a career unlike most lawyers. A former naval flight officer, aviation lawyer, and now a vice president at the world’s largest aerospace manufacturing company, Mark has spent decades leading in high-pressure environments. His new book, Lessons from the Admiral, Naval Wisdom and Sea Stories for Leaders, shares leadership insights from his time working with an admiral and how those lessons apply to law, business, and life.
Mar 13, 20254 min read


How to Find Financial Freedom and Purpose Outside of Traditional Law
Tashira Halyard, a former litigator turned solopreneur, content creator, and activist, joins Kyla to share how she built a career that aligns with her values and creative passions. From navigating law school transfers to launching a blog that became a thriving business, Tashira breaks down what it means to truly own your career choices.
Feb 6, 20254 min read


How To Navigate Your Legal Career Without Losing Yourself
Meagan Smith joins us in this episode to share her unique journey as a lawyer navigating the complexities of the legal profession while embracing her identity and personal growth. From her experiences with the bar exam to her current role as counsel for multiple firms, Meagan emphasizes the importance of finding joy in one's work and the value of community support among women in law.
Sep 26, 20244 min read


How to Embrace Authenticity in Corporate Culture
Ashley Menzies Babatunde shares her journey from white-collar investigations to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work within big law firms. In this episode, she discusses the importance of authenticity in the workplace, the evolution of corporate culture towards acceptance, and the significance of following one's curiosity to find purpose and success in the legal field.
Aug 22, 20244 min read


How to Balance Law School and Work
John Teakell shares his journey from being a prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office to transitioning into private practice as a federal criminal defense attorney. Throughout the episode, John discusses his experiences in the legal field, the challenges of balancing work and law school, and the importance of staying open to new opportunities and career transitions.
Aug 1, 20244 min read


How to Take Risks and Change Careers with Confidence
Whitney Harvey, a serial entrepreneur and founder of The Self-Coached Lawyer, shares her journey of entrepreneurship and career pivots in this episode. From expanding her business to being recognized as one of the top 40 under 40 by the Phoenix Business Journal, Whitney discusses the importance of authenticity, self-promotion, and taking risks in crafting your ideal profession.
Jun 27, 20244 min read
bottom of page




