Podcasts

Steve discusses all aspects of mediation with fellow mediator, Winter Wheeler. The two discuss their transitions from experienced litigators to full-time mediators, including their mediation philosophies and building their practices. The two discuss mediation via Zoom, anti-bias standards for mediators and the importance of language and its impact on the legal system, focusing on the...Listen

A bedrock principle for mediation is its confidentiality. Arguments made at mediation are typically not admissible in court. Nationally renowned mediator, Jeff Kichaven, has been virtually touring the country presenting a provocative theme: your mediation might not be confidential. Jeff explains that whether a mediation is confidential is determined by the court hearing an attack...Listen

Steve talks with the Honorable Bryan Chapman, 18th Judicial Circuit Dupage County, Illinois. Judge Chapman is one of the few judges nationally who has rendered a decision in an insurance coverage case for COVID-19 business losses and he discusses the urgency, significance and his approach for overseeing such a nationally prominent case. Judge Chapman discusses...Listen

In order to survive the deluge of data and myriad of decisions we make every day, humans adopt short-cuts, or heuristics. Unfortunately, we often rely on flawed biases and stereotypes resulting in poor decisions. In an effort to make sense of it all Steve sits down with Shari Belitz, founder of Shari Belitz Communications. The...Listen

Mediator Steve Schulwolf and University of Connecticut School of Law professor Julia Simon-Kerr discuss the challenges and opportunities that COVID-19 presents the American legal system. As courts are preparing to reopen and conduct trials with COVID-19 protocols there is the need to balance safety and truth ascertaining considerations. Along these lines, Mr. Schulwolf asks the...Listen

Even when trying to lighten the mood and talking about baseball COVID-19 tries to ruin the fun. Steve discusses the recent negotiations between MLB and the player’s union with sportswriter, Jim Margolis. Jim outlines the points of contention between the two sides while Steve discusses how mediators attempt to create a win-win scenario and foster...Listen

With the economy grinding down to a crawl due to the COVID-19 pandemic many people have questions concerning the scope of insurance coverage for their business losses. While COVID-19 will lead to a myriad of questions concerning all lines of insurance, the first cases to be filed have involved business loss claims from entities that...Listen

Steve literally meets his guest, Caryn Carson, half-way in Waco, Texas. Ms. Carson is a lawyer by day, comedian by night and Steve and Ms. Carson discuss the use of humor in the courtroom and at mediation. The two discuss how different eras have handled and defined “inappropriate” attempts at humor and how difficult and...Listen

Steve travels to the Land of Lincoln to sit down with the Honorable Clint Hull from Kane County, Illinois.  Steve and Judge Hull discuss what mediation is, its various benefits and the differences between the role of a mediator and Judge.  In addition to noting the various benefits mediation has for litigants, Judge Hull plays – and loses...Listen

Welcome to Opening Doors to Resolution: A Mediation Podcast. Get a taste of what’s to come with clips from the first three episodes.Listen