Beyond the Bar Podcast

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...

What does it take to stay kind in a cutthroat legal system?In this powerful episode of Beyond the Bar, Denisa Tova sits down with family and criminal law powerhouse Shari Gordon. With 35+ years of experience, Shari opens up about the lessons her father taught her, becoming a public defender in the Bronx, writing with legendary attorney Tim Tippins, and why civility is her platform as the incoming president of the Westchester Women&...

What does it really take to hold it all together—career, motherhood, grief, and everything in between?In this powerful episode, Alison Leigh Epilone, partner at Mantel McDonough Riso, LLP, reveals the full story behind her legal success. From competitive horseback rider to trusted attorney in high-net-worth divorces, Alison shares how she found purpose after personal loss and strength in unexpected places.💼 Her transition from pri...

Get to know Mudita Chawla, a top family law attorney in New York, in this powerful episode of Beyond the Bar Podcast. Mudita shares her unexpected law school journey, from nearly quitting to becoming a nationally recognized divorce lawyer and passionate advocate for survivors of domestic violence. We dive into her career in matrimonial law, how she maintains work-life balance, and her love for art and global travel—all while naviga...

This week on Beyond the Bar Podcast, host Denisa Tova sits down with the powerhouse attorney Brittany Mangan — partner at Tarter Krinsky & Drogin, super mom of three, and a woman who proves that strength comes from both resilience and heart.Brittany opens up about growing up in a family law dynasty, balancing a demanding career with motherhood, coping with personal loss, and why staying grounded is her secret weapon.We dive int...

Denisa Tova-Liebman sits down with Patricia Fersch, founding partner of Fersch LLC, fearless advocate, and contributor to Forbes. Patricia shares her unconventional journey from the fashion world to family court and opens up about the emotional highs and lows of fighting for families in crisis.She talks candidly about launching a second career, building the Matrimonial Lawyers Pro Bono Project, writing with purpose, and why showing...

Ever wonder what happens when musical talent meets legal expertise? In this fun episode of Beyond the Bar podcast, Anissa sits down with Melissa Glassman, a family law rockstar who's killing it at Advocate LLP in NYC.Melissa's story is anything but ordinary! She takes us from her childhood dream of becoming a lawyer to her surprising years at the famous LaGuardia High School for Performing Arts (yes, the "Fame" sc...

Buckle up for an extraordinary conversation that peels back the layers of family law and human resilience. Jill Spielberg isn't just another attorney - she's a warrior who transforms personal pain into professional purpose. Hear the untold stories behind divorce, discover the shocking truth about how children really experience family breakdowns, and learn how one woman turns life's most challenging moments into a powerf...

What happens when life's challenges reshape not just your personal journey, but your entire professional path? In this powerful episode of Beyond the Bar Podcast, host Denisa Tova sits down with distinguished family law attorney Dolores Gebhardt, who shares her remarkable journey from labor law to becoming a renowned family law expert. After experiencing divorce firsthand, Dolores shifted her entire career to help others naviga...

In this special episode of Beyond the Bar Podcast, host Denisa Tova reunites with attorney Jacqueline Newman, who returns with her daughter Alexandra to share how a baking mishap during COVID led to their innovative dessert brand "That's the Way the Muffin Crumbles." Discover how this creative mother-daughter team balances family dynamics with entrepreneurship, learn about their unique approach to dessert presentation...

Join host Denisa Tova as she sits down with rising country star Karissa Ella on the latest episode of Beyond the Bar Podcast! This Ohio native shares her incredible journey from being a shy singer who refused to perform at family gatherings to making her CMA Fest debut and performing for Randy Travis himself.Karissa opens up about conquering stage fright, finding her voice in Nashville's competitive music scene, and the emotion...

What if everything you've been taught about practicing law is holding you back?A small-town girl becomes one of New York's elite divorce attorneys. But after 30 years of court battles, she discovered something that changed everything. Ellen Jancko-Baken reveals how she went from struggling to belong in affluent Scarsdale to leading a revolution in family law. She shares the unconventional advice that saved her 41-year marri...

From playing Mississippi juke joints at 12 to commanding a million-strong crowd at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, blues virtuoso Vasti Jackson electrifies this episode with raw authenticity and soul-stirring stories. Experience his magnetic transition from B.B. King's collaborator to embodying Ike Turner on stage, while discovering how this guitar prodigy became a force for global change through music. Jackson strips away the g...

Meet the attorney who's flipping the script on family law. In this raw conversation, Asia Scarlett-Jones reveals why she launched her firm during COVID with one radical mission: prove that divorce doesn't have to destroy families.

Now an Amazon bestselling author and FamilyKind's Rising Star, Asia exposes why traditional litigation is failing families and shares the unconventional methods that are helping her clients fi...

Imagine growing up in Egypt, Norway, and England, then becoming a military prosecutor, and finally landing as a top family law attorney in Colorado Springs. This isn't a Hollywood script—this is Carl Graham's real life. In this raw and unfiltered podcast episode, Carl pulls back the curtain on a legal career that defies expectations. From navigating international schools as a teenager to handling complex military divorce cases, Ca...