The Practice Playbook Podcast with Susan Guthrie

Melissa Brogdon, CEO and co-founder of Fourth Party, joins me today for a must-listen conversation on the backbone of every successful mediation practice: your backend systems. Whether you're launching your practice or trying to fix one that's stalled, chances are the issue isn’t with your logo or your website colors—it’s in your operations.

Melissa and I go deep into why building a strong business structure is make-or-break, what ...

Susan Guthrie brings a solo episode that challenges one of the most common mindset traps among mediators, coaches, and conflict resolution professionals: waiting for the “right time.” If you’ve been circling the runway, stuck in planning mode while telling yourself you just need one more training, a better schedule, or a sign from the universe, this conversation offers the clarity and push you’ve been needing.

Waiting feels respons...

Susan Guthrie brings a power-packed solo episode, sharing five quick but impactful upgrades you can implement this week to elevate your practice. From sharpening your client intake process to enhancing your digital presence, these high-leverage, low-lift shifts are designed to boost visibility, streamline your workflow, and yes, improve your bottom line.

Whether you’re just getting started or refining a well-established practice, y...

If you're out there posting on social media, giving workshops, and networking like crazy, but still struggling to convert leads into paying clients - or if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by client inquiries or assumed your intake system is “good enough,” this conversation will completely shift how you think about client communication and conversion.

Susan Guthrie welcomes Maddy Martin, the SVP of Growth at Smith.ai to this week’s epi...

Susan Guthrie welcomes Dr. Clare Fowler to discuss the many ways that dispute resolution professionals, and professionals of all kinds, can get their ideas out into the world through writing and publishing.

Susan and Clare recently co-presented a popular program for the ABA Dispute Resolution Section on this topic, and they’re continuing that conversation here. Together they break down the options for getting published: from tradit...

In this powerful episode, Susan Guthrie is joined by Michael Holmes, Chief Product Officer at FourthParty, for a conversation every mediator and ADR professional needs to hear. Michael, a legal mind with an entrepreneurial edge, has worked with hundreds of mediators to build thriving practices, and he’s here to share the client-first strategy that top-performing professionals never overlook.

While many mediators focus on honing the...

Susan Guthrie shares the one negotiation skill that works every time—no matter the context—and how you can use it to build both resolution and rapport. In this solo episode, she introduces the powerful concept of framing: the art of shaping how information is presented to influence how it is received.

Framing is not about manipulation—it’s about clarity. When used ethically, framing helps emphasize what matters most, creating a pat...

Susan Guthrie welcomes Usher Winslett for a conversation that pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to build a thriving arbitration practice. From his early days of “dabbling” in dispute resolution to leading with service and strategy, Usher shares the pivotal moments and mindset shifts that helped him turn curiosity into a successful career. 

Whether you’re just starting out in ADR or looking to take your practice to the ...

In part two of a special two-part series, Susan continues her conversation with Professor John Lande about RPS Coach, his groundbreaking AI tool designed to elevate mediation practice through better preparation, deeper reflection, and more conscious system design. This time, Susan and John explore how RPS Coach can be used before, during, and after mediation, not just as a tool for practitioners, but as a conversation partner. The...

Susan Guthrie welcomes Professor John Lande for an eye-opening conversation that blends innovation, insight, and the evolving role of AI in mediation.

In this special two-part series, Susan is joined by legendary dispute resolution scholar John Lande, yes, the same John Lande who generally is very cautious about electronic technology – but is all-in on AI but one conversation flipped the switch, and now he’s the mind behind the RPS...

You could be the most qualified person in the room, and still not get hired. That stings, right? But if you’ve ever heard someone say, “Oh wow, I didn’t know you do that now!” then you’ve met the curse of the Invisible Expert.

The truth is, being amazing at your work is just half the battle. The other half? Making sure the right people know you’re out there. In this episode, Susan Guthrie calls out the disconnect between being skil...

There’s a lot of fear and misunderstanding around AI in the legal and mediation world. Will it replace professionals? Will clients trust AI-generated content? Is it even ethical to use these tools in practice? These questions are valid, but they’re also keeping too many solo and small firm professionals from tapping into tools that can actually help their businesses grow.

In this episode, Susan Guthrie breaks down how the Big Four ...

Susan Guthrie welcomes you to a game-changing episode, where she explores how legal professionals can monetize their expertise through courses, webinars, corporate trainings, and more.

So, are you maximizing the value of your expertise? If you’re a mediator, attorney, or dispute resolution professional, you’ve spent years refining your skills and guiding clients through complex situations. But too many professionals rely solely on ...

Can you really make six figures as a mediator? The answer is YES—but only if you run your practice like a business. So, what sets those who are making six figures apart from those who are not?  In this week’s episode, Susan shares  four key principles from her 6-Figure Mediation Practice Blueprint to help you shift your mindset, increase revenue, and charge what you are worth! Tune in to hear what high-earning mediators do differ...

You asked—no, you demanded—and we delivered! Back by overwhelming popular demand is the one, the only… LinkedIn Legend, Donna Serdula. Donna joins Susan Guthrie for a conversation that will help you turn your Linkedin Profile from “meh” to magnetic!

Donna is the LinkedIn legend, the queen of personal branding, and the author of LinkedIn Profile Optimization for Dummies. Her last appearance on this podcast remains the number one epi...

Susan Guthrie is diving into a timely and crucial topic today: how the early days of the Trump administration are reshaping the legal landscape and what it means for mediators, arbitrators, and other dispute resolution professionals.

In just the first week, the administration’s actions have already set the tone for what promises to be a divisive policy agenda. These changes are driving new legal disputes and creating opportunities ...

In this groundbreaking episode of Make Money Mediating, we’re diving deep into the transformative power of AI and how it can revolutionize the way you approach your business and practice.  This episode will showcase the next level of AI Tools to help you visualize the possibilities for the future with this fast-moving and improving technology.  From enhancing your marketing strategies to streamlining your operations and even suppor...

Ready to rethink how you approach your business? Susan Guthrie welcomes Trina Nudson, a trailblazing entrepreneur and family advocate, to the Make Money Mediating podcast. Trina’s journey from foster care social work to owning multiple thriving businesses is packed with lessons in resilience, adaptability, and growth. If you've ever struggled with running the business side of your mediation practice, this episode is a must-listen.

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Discover how AI can level up your practice, reduce burnout, and make legal work more fulfilling with insights from Kara Peterson, co-founder of Descrybe.ai. Susan Guthrie welcomes Kara Peterson, a trailblazer in legal tech and one of the ABA’s 2024 Women of Legal Tech, to share how AI tools are transforming the future of law for solo practitioners, mediators, and small firms. 

Whether you’re looking to streamline your work, improve...