In this episode, we dive into a critical—but often misunderstood—aspect of courtroom communication: why facts alone aren’t enough to make jurors care. Pairing logical information with emotional presence isn’t about performance—it’s about leadership. You’ll learn how to use tone, breath, and vocal intention to bring meaning to your case, so jurors don’t just understand the facts… they remember and act on them.

LISTEN HERE:

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Why facts without emotional context are forgettable

2. The neuroscience behind emotional memory and juror decision-making

3. How to use breath and tone to convey meaning without “being performative”

4. A simple mindset shift that makes even repeated details land with impact

5. How presence and vocal care build trust, not manipulation

Key Takeaway:

You don’t have to choose between logic and emotion. When your voice, breath, and body align with the meaning of your message, jurors feel the truth behind the facts—and that’s what moves them.

Favorite moment:

“You’re not just reporting the fact. You’re retelling the truth.”

Links & Resources:

1. The 6 Ingredients of a Perfect Vocal Warm-up — https://www.fostervoicestudio.com/warmup

2. Brene Brown "Unused Creativity is Not Benign" - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHYhHKWuoKE/?igsh=MXN2NWUxNDNyc3ZzNA==

3. Get the my weekly newsletter The Foster Files - https://www.fostervoicestudio.com/connect

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👉 Follow me online for behind-the-scenes voice tips, mindset shifts, and strategies to help you lead with your voice in and out of court:

1. IG: www.instagram.com/fostervoicestudio

2. FB: www.facebook.com/fostervoicestudio

3. LI: www.linkedin/in/fosterthought

4. Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fostervoicestudio/

💬 Share this episode with a colleague who’s ready to deepen their courtroom presence

TRANSCRIPT:

(singing) Hellloooo!! Hello, Foster Fam! Welcome back to another episode of the Foster Your Voice Podcast. I'm, of course, your host, Kristi Foster. Today we're going to explore a dichotomy of expression styles and what's really needed in order to get your audience to connect, whoever they may be.

Before we do though, let me just remind you that I'm sending out weekly vocal tips and nonverbal communication strategies designed to give you quick wins in legal advocacy all while showing up in authentic and powerful ways. I've put the link in the show notes, so just click that and then you can anticipate a burst of delivery inspiration directly to your inbox each week.

(swish sound)

As always, as an appetizer-of-sorts to each episode, I like to share something that has intrigued me, challenged my thinking, or is just something fun for us to enjoy together.

Last week I came across a clip of Brene Brown being interviewed by Oprah on the topic of creativity, and it really stirred me. I've also posted the link to the clip in the show notes. But she said, "Unused creativity is not benign. It metastasizes. It turns into grief, rage, judgement, sorrow, shame."

Someone in the comment section wrote: Creativity that isn’t expressed doesn’t just disappear—it transforms into frustration, self-doubt, and regret.

Brene goes on to say that creativity is part of our divine structure. So, my takeaway is that when we suppress our creativity, in a way, we are oppressing ourselves, and allowing the grief of being disconnected take root.

I'd love to hear your thoughts about this. It feels really deep to me, like it's really resonating in the deeper places. Is it for you too?

I don't think it's saying that we all need to sign up for local art classes and take our legal team to ceramic painting, or do crafting retreats before trial.

I think it just invites you to consider ALL THE WAYS that creativity wants to live in you. Maybe it's those things. But maybe it's in daring to think outside the box on a particular case issue, maybe it's exploring how to better use your voice and body to capture your client's story. Maybe it's...any number of things. But it IS SOMETHING.

Will you email me, [email protected], or send me a DM on any of the social platforms where we connect, and let me know how you're going to explore and express your innate creativity this week? Let me hear your ideas and let's hold each other accountable for it.

Today, we’re talking about something that might sound a little squishy at first glance—but it’s actually pretty foundational:

Why facts alone don’t stick, and what makes jurors truly care.

Let’s get something straight right out of the gate: I’m not against facts. I love facts. I love data. I love a detailed spreadsheet and a solid timeline.

And I know a lot of you do too.

Because many of you are logic-driven processors. You build cases the way some people build bridges—strong foundation, structured arguments, no gaps in support.

That’s a strength. It builds trust.

But even the strongest structure won’t stand if no one remembers it.

Here’s what we know from neuroscience: When you deliver facts without emotional context, the brain stores them like file cabinet data.

Useful, maybe. Memorable? Not likely.

But when you pair facts with emotional resonance, you activate the amygdala—the part of the brain that deals with emotional memory. That’s what helps jurors remember your argument, not just hear it.

And I’m not talking about being dramatic or trying to get people riled up. Emotion in the courtroom doesn’t mean performance.

It means presence.

It means allowing your voice and your body to carry the full weight of what the facts actually mean.

Let’s make this real.

You can say, “My client missed six months of work.” That’s a fact.

But if you say it like you're reading a spreadsheet—or like it doesn’t affect you—it lands as neutral. Just another bullet point.

But if you pause before that sentence…

If your voice settles for just a beat…

If your tone shifts, even subtly, to acknowledge the cost…

If your eyes stay connected…

And your breath stays with you instead of racing ahead…

Now you’re not just reporting the fact.

You’re retelling the truth.

And that’s where jurors start to care.

Not because you layered in more adjectives.

Not because you gave them a visual metaphor or added drama.

But because you brought the human weight of the moment into the room with your presence.

I know some of you are thinking:

"But Kristi, I don’t want to manipulate anyone. I just want to tell the truth."

And I completely agree.

But when you filter out all emotion because you’re afraid of being “too much,” you’re actually withholding something essential.

Emotion doesn’t make you manipulative.

It makes you relatable.

It helps jurors locate the facts in something familiar, something they can feel—even if they haven’t lived it themselves.

Because jurors aren’t just processing your case intellectually.

They’re using emotion to help them sort meaning from noise.

And if you withhold that part of your delivery—your tone, your tempo, your presence—you’re asking them to do that work alone.

If this feels like a gray area—if you’re wondering, “How do I know when I’m being real and when I’m trying too hard?”—I want to give you one anchor.

Start with your breath.

When you stay connected to your breath, your voice stays grounded.

You’re not forcing emotion. You’re allowing what’s already true to come through you.

You’re showing jurors:

I’ve thought through this. I’ve felt through this. And now I’m offering it to you with care.

That’s not performance. That’s leadership.

So here’s what I want you to remember:

You don’t have to choose between logic and feeling.

You’re not being asked to perform, or to become some highly emotional version of yourself that doesn’t feel authentic.

You’re being invited to stay connected to what the facts mean—so you can communicate that meaning clearly.

That’s what creates a compelling narrative.

That’s what builds trust and memory.

That’s what helps jurors not just understand—but care enough to act.

So, let's do a quick recap.

1. Facts matter. But facts without emotion are forgettable.

2. Emotional delivery isn’t about dramatic words—it’s about presence, tone, and intention.

3. Your breath is your anchor. Stay connected to it.

4. Emotion doesn’t erase logic—it brings it to life.

5. This is about human connection, not manipulation.

And, because I'm a teacher at heart, here’s your homework:

Find one moment in your upcoming trial prep—just one—where you tend to go on autopilot, where it's just easy to skate over, disconnect, and undervalue the impact of something.

Maybe it’s a date. A number. A piece of evidence you’ve repeated 20 times.

And ask yourself:

What did this really mean for my client?

And what does this mean for my listeners?

That one shift can change how your jurors receive what you say. It invites them into the human story behind the legal one.

Thanks for being here today. If this episode sparked something for you—if you’re ready to bring more connection into your courtroom communication—I’d love to keep the conversation going.

Get on my mailing list, and I’ll send you weekly vocal and nonverbal strategies that help you feel grounded, present, and heard. The link is in the show-notes.

I’ll see you next time—keep showing up with clarity and care. Keep fostering your voice.