Beyond the Bar Podcast

When emotions run high and the stakes could not be higher, calm is not weakness. It is mastery.In this episode, NYC powerhouse Danielle R. Petitti, founding attorney of Petitti PLLC, sits down with Denisa Tova for a raw and honest conversation about what it really takes to navigate divorce litigation without losing control or yourself.Danielle has built her reputation on grit, emotional intelligence, and fierce advocacy for familie...

When litigator Deepti Shenoy faced her own divorce with a five-month-old baby, everything changed. What began as heartbreak became her purpose — reshaping her legal career and inspiring her to create Split Second, a New York City community helping single moms navigate separation and custody.In this episode of Beyond the Bar Podcast, host Denisa Tova dives into Deepti’s story — how she went from corporate law at JPMorgan to hands-on...

Divorce doesn’t have to be a five-year war. Family law partner Alan “Al” Feigenbaum (Blank Rome) explains why protecting emotional capital—your time, headspace, and peace—often beats “winning” one more term on paper. We talk about leaving commercial litigation to work with people, the post-pandemic return of courtroom theatrics, how to set boundaries so your phone doesn’t run your life, and why stepping away for thirty minutes can ...

Dina Kaplan is a force — in life and in the courtroom. In this raw and unfiltered conversation, she shares how a trauma at 14 set her on a path to change the system from the inside, why she chooses survivorship over victimhood, and how movement, mantras, and mindset fuel her both personally and professionally.🛑 Content note: This episode includes discussion of sexual assault and trauma (starting ~11:06).You’ll hear how Dina’s orig...

Most career paths are linear. Byron Chou’s is anything but.He started out valuing businesses in high-stakes divorces, grinding through full-time work while going to law school at night. Today he’s a rising force in family law, but what makes him stand out isn’t just the cases he handles, it’s the way he blends intellect with creativity, and discipline with community.We dive into how AI is reshaping the practice of law, why protecti...

What does it take to turn adversity into leadership?On this episode of Beyond the Bar Podcast, Denisa Tova sits down with The Hon. Leela Sharon Aheer—a woman who went from Alberta farm fields to shaping Canadian policy, proclaiming the country’s first Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, and fighting for laws that protect women and girls.Leela’s story isn’t just about politics—it’s about resilience, community, motherhood, reinvention, and...

What do offshore yacht racing, courtroom battles, and co-parenting have in common?

They’re all part of the extraordinary story of Michael Stutman—one of New York’s most respected matrimonial lawyers.

In this Beyond the Bar Podcast episode, Michael goes way beyond legal strategy and opens up about:
⚖️ Falling into law by accident—and staying for 40+ years📚 How “writing the book” on divorce changed his career👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The hardest...

What does it take to guide someone through one of the hardest chapters of their life?

Sandra Radna, founding attorney of the Law Offices of Sandra M. Radna, P.C. and author of You’re Getting Divorced… Now What?, has been practicing family law since 1993. Known by her clients as a “pit bull with a heart,” she fights fiercely in the courtroom while showing deep compassion for the people she represents.

In this episode of Beyond the Bar...

How do you win an argument when emotions run high—and keep your integrity intact?In this episode of Beyond the Bar Podcast, Denisa Tova sits down with Adam Schneid, partner at Most & Schneid, P.C., and graduate of Cornell & Cardozo School of Law. Adam shares:- Why crafting the right narrative is just as important as knowing the law- How personal experience with divorce shapes his client advocacy- The surprising parallels be...

What if AI could handle your inbox, prep your presentations, and build your SOPs - while you sleep?In this episode of Beyond the Bar, Denisa Tova sits down with Mark Kashef - AI educator, founder of Prompt Advisors, and automation mastermind - to explore real, practical ways attorneys can integrate AI into their workflows. From secure document handling to automating lead qualification, Mark explains it all without the tech jargon.✅...

What do hurricanes, blizzards, and high-conflict custody battles have in common? Bryce Levine knows. In this episode of Beyond the Bar, we sit down with the partner at Jeffrey Schecter & Associates to explore how a lifelong fascination with extreme weather shaped his perspective as a family law attorney.From dream job at the National Hurricane Center to 27 years of courtroom advocacy, Bryce shares:☁️ His surprising path from me...

He sent over 1,500 emails just to get a foot in the door. Today, he’s coaching in the NFL.Host Denisa Tova sits down with Jordan Salkin, the Cincinnati Bengals’ new offensive assistant, whose journey from unpaid college gigs to high-powered offenses at Oregon and now the NFL is nothing short of inspiring.But this episode goes beyond the X’s and O’s — Jordan opens up about his mindset, leadership style, how he handles pressure in a ...

What if the hardest season of your life turned out to be your biggest breakthrough?In this soul-stirring episode of Beyond the Bar Podcast, singer-songwriter and The Voice finalist Thunderstorm Artis shares the raw truth behind his journey - from growing up in a family of 11 kids on the North Shore of Oahu to overcoming homelessness, grief, and self-doubt.He opens up about losing his father at 13, finding his voice through pain, an...

This week on Beyond the Bar Podcast, Denisa Tova sits down with Andrew Schriever—a legal mind unlike any other. Co-founder of Holland Schriever LLP, Andrew is not only an attorney and mediator, but also a cannabis policy advocate, lifelong musician, and passionate skier. This is not your average legal chat.In this layered conversation, we explore:- How high school mock trials lit the spark for his legal career 🔥- Why he compares m...

Legends. Storytellers. Survivors.In this unforgettable episode of Beyond the Bar Podcast, Denisa Tova sits down with David and Howard Bellamy—aka the Bellamy Brothers—to uncover the real story behind five decades of music, mayhem, and momentum.🎸 From dirt-farming in Florida to jamming with Neil Diamond’s band…🌍 From cattle ranches to chart-topping tours in 72+ countries…📺 From fighting industry payola to launching their own real...

Strap in for a rollercoaster of football, fandom, and the human stories behind the headlines. In this Beyond the Bar episode, Denisa Tova brings back acclaimed sports journalist and Purple Insider host Matthew Coller — with special guest co-host and lifelong Vikings fan (and husband!) Glenn Liebman.🏈 From the heartbreak of Gary Anderson’s missed field goal to Justin Jefferson’s jaw-dropping catch, Matthew breaks down the highs, lo...

Mia Poppe is the definition of resilience and realness. In this unforgettable episode, she opens up about her journey from rural South Carolina to becoming a powerhouse NYC family law attorney and the experiences that shaped her voice in and out of the courtroom.Inside this episode:• Her shift from corporate exec to courtroom advocate• The powerful inspiration behind "Unbreaking Wonder Woman"• How being raised in a Southern Baptist...

You've seen him as George Washington in Hamilton and Marvin Gaye in Motown the Musical—but you've never heard Bryan Terrell Clark like this.In this raw and inspiring episode of Beyond the Bar, Bryan opens up about:✨ Growing up in a household shaped by both faith and addiction🎭 How the arts gave him his voice—and saved his life🏳️‍🌈 The politics of identity and the power of living authentically🧠 The deeper purpose behind ...

What keeps a family lawyer going when the cases are heartbreaking, the stakes are high, and the courtroom is chaos?In this powerful episode of Beyond the Bar, I sit down with Melissa Student-Young—a fierce attorney, devoted mom of three, and relentless advocate for children.She shares:- How one moment in family court changed everything- What "conscious uncoupling" really means- The emotional weight of fighting for justice...