The Practice Playbook Podcast with Susan Guthrie

Susan E. Guthrie LLC

The Practice Playbook Podcast with Susan Guthrie

Welcome to The Practice Playbook Podcast, the go-to show for legal and dispute resolution professionals who want more than just survival in their practices; they want strategy, sustainability, and success.

Hosted by best-selling author, attorney, mediator, and practice development expert Susan E. Guthrie, this podcast brings you straight-talking insights, actionable tips, and real-world advice on what it takes to thrive in today’s evolving professional landscape. Whether you're a lawyer, mediator, coach, or consultant, you'll learn how to build a business that reflects your values, supports your lifestyle, and positions you as a trusted expert.

Each episode pulls from the strategies in The Practice Playbook book series, featuring topics like:

Ditching the billable hour and implementing flat fees with confidence

Building a thought leadership brand that attracts ideal clients

Using AI and technology to streamline your workflow and boost productivity

Mastering client experience, referrals, and pricing strategy

Real-world case studies, expert interviews, and practice-building stories

From the creator of The Flat Fee Playbook, The Thought Leadership Playbook, and The Practice Accelerator membership community - this is your weekly shot of clarity, confidence, and momentum.

Your practice doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It just needs a better playbook.

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19 March 2026

From Litigator to Mediator: How to Build a Successful Neutral Practice with Scott Zucker on the Practice Playbook Podcast #557

Most people think you can simply stop practicing law one day and become a mediator the next. But as this episode makes clear, building a successful neutral practice takes years of credibility, relationships, and intentional effort. For anyone who has thought about making the transition from litigator to mediator, or who is already building a neutral practice and wondering what it really takes to...

05 March 2026

Clarity Is Credibility: How DR and Legal Professionals Win Trust Faster by Simplifying Communication with Lee Shainis on the Practice Playbook Podcast #556

What if credibility does not come from sounding like an expert? What if it comes from being understood? That is the question at the heart of this week's conversation and for legal professionals trained to believe that complexity signals expertise, it may be the most important question to sit with.Susan Guthrie is joined by Lee Shainis, founder of Simplify Language, who has trained hundreds of...

19 February 2026

Are You Building a Firm or Just a High-Paying Job? | The Founder Dependency Trap with Andrea Steinbrenner on the Practice Playbook Podcast #555

Are you building a firm, or have you really built yourself a very high-paying job? That is a question every entrepreneurial professional needs to confront at some point, whether you are five years into practice or thirty-five. This week, Susan Guthrie welcomes Andrea Steinbrenner for a thoughtful and eye-opening conversation about what it truly means to build something that can sustain itself...

05 February 2026

Revenue Isn’t the Goal. Profit Is. Darren Wurz on What Really Matters on the Practice Playbook Podcast #554

This is not your typical episode on profitability. Susan Guthrie welcomes guest Darren Wurz,CFP®, who brings a fresh and innovative approach to what profit really means for legal professionals. He explains why chasing higher revenue alone can actually leave firm owners feeling more stressed, stretched thin, and disconnected from the life they want their practice to support.Darren is the founder...

22 January 2026

Why LinkedIn Likes Aren't Growing Your Practice (And What Actually Does) with Susan Guthrie on the Practice Playbook Podcast #553

You’re posting on LinkedIn. People are liking and commenting on your posts. And yet, when you look at your practice, nothing has really changed.In this episode, Susan Guthrie unpacks a pattern she sees repeatedly in workshops, retreats, and strategy sessions with experienced professionals using LinkedIn. The effort is there. The consistency is there. But the results do not match the...

15 January 2026

The Future of Dispute Resolution Is Already Here: 3 Trends for 2026 with Susan Guthrie on the Practice Playbook Podcast #552

What trends will shape dispute resolution in 2026?How should mediators and arbitrators adapt right now?And what does this mean for your business plan going forward?In this episode of The Practice Playbook Podcast, Susan Guthrie breaks down the three most important trends shaping dispute resolution in 2026 and explains how dispute resolution professionals can use these shifts to future-proof their...

08 January 2026

The Mediator’s Edge: Experience, Intuition, and the Skills That Endure with Lawrence Kolin on the Practice Playbook Podcast #551

In a profession increasingly shaped by AI, virtual platforms, and rapid technological change, it is easy to believe that success depends on mastering the newest tools. In this episode, we take a different approach.Susan Guthrie is joined by veteran mediator and arbitrator Lawrence Kolin for a grounded, insightful conversation about what actually gets cases settled and why the core skills of...

18 December 2025

Tech That Works for Neutrals: Smarter Pricing Models and the Tools Transforming ADR with Gary Doernhoefer of ADR Notable on the Practice Playbook Podcast #550

Technology now sits at the center of modern ADR practice, and the decisions we make about tools, pricing, and security have real consequences for our efficiency, profitability, and client experience. In this episode of the Practice Playbook Podcast, I’m joined by legal tech pioneer Gary Doernhoefer to unpack what actually works for mediators, arbitrators, and dispute resolution firms today.Gary...

04 December 2025

What Worked, What Didn’t, and What to Leave Behind: A Candid Practice Debrief for 2025 with Susan Guthrie on the Practice Playbook Podcast #549

If you want a clearer, steadier, and more grounded start to 2026, this episode offers the essential year-end reflection every legal and dispute resolution professional should be doing. As the year winds down, Susan Guthrie, nationally recognized mediator, legal entrepreneur, and bestselling author, guides you through a candid, deeply clarifying debrief of your practice.Instead of waiting for the...

20 November 2025

The Profit Checkup: Your Year-End Guide to Smarter Pricing in 2026 on the Practice Playbook Podcast #548

If you want more clarity, higher revenue, and a smoother path into 2026, this episode is your essential year-end roadmap. November is the strategic moment for legal and dispute resolution professionals to review their pricing, refine their services, and set the stage for a more profitable year ahead. In this solo episode, Susan E. Guthrie, nationally recognized mediator, legal entrepreneur, and...