Live from Huntington Beach, the Bourbon of Proof crew braves the unthinkable—RAIN IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA?! On this unconventional, outdoor episode, Bob and Alex’s wives finally make their podcast debut. They dive into stories of shared family vacations and Mauro’s legendary ability to always be late (while somehow still getting everyone into the best spots for dinner and drinks)! A little tequila, a lot of thunder and a whole bunch of spousal truth-telling—what could possibly go wrong?
This week, Bob and Mauro welcome Quintessa Marketing founder Lauren Von Mingee—who went from fetching coffee for personal injury lawyers to running her own PI marketing empire. Lauren breaks down how she scales law firms and intake services, why she calls herself the “world’s best problem solver,” and how she gives away a jaw-dropping 50% of her income. And speaking of charity, Mauro confesses to Lauren about scooping up as much free Quintessa swag as he can at legal conferences when no one is looking… What a rascal!!
Today on Bourbon of Proof, Bob and Mauro welcome AI wizards of plaintiff law, Jay Madheswaran and Ryan Jensen. Jay reveals the curious origin of his company’s name, Eve, warns about the risks of tossing your legal data into hungry AI models and even ponders if artificial intelligence might one day taste and smell (cheers to that?). Meanwhile, Ryan tackles the uphill battle of convincing skeptical attorneys that AI isn’t out to steal their lunch—it’s just here to cook it faster! Oh—and through all the tech talk, Mauro makes his case (again) that nobody ever gets his name right! Salut!
https://justiceteamnetwork.com This week on Bourbon of Proof, legal tech wizard Kenny Eliason joins Bob and Mauro straight from Las Vegas. He shares stories about getting the boot from law school and how it actually turned out to be the best plot twist in his career. He also drops knowledge on how AI and social media are shaking up the legal world and dives into how his company, Quilia, is turning law firms into productivity powerhouses. And if that weren't enough, Kenny has a very convincing argument for why driving from Vegas to LA is always better than flying... Buckle up!
https://justiceteamnetwork.com Today on Bourbon of Proof, Bob and Mauro are joined by attorney, podcaster, and certified Kentucky expert Mikaela Dixon — Bob’s former law clerk turned rising legal star. Mikaela hosts the Ladies in Law podcast, so she knows her way around a microphone (and a courtroom). The guys share stories from the Kentucky Derby and Mikaela proves she can hold her own when it comes to Bluegrass State trivia. She’s not just sipping bourbon, ladies and gentlemen — she’s serving facts!
https://justiceteamnetwork.com This time on Bourbon of Proof, Bob and Mauro welcome legal tech trailblazer Vivek Rao. He founded Foundation AI to solve a massive bottleneck law firms face daily: the flood of physical mail and email in legal workflows. He dives into the current capabilities of legal AI, how far automation has come, and answers the big question: how long until AI agents are doing everything for us? (it may be sooner than you think) Don't worry, it’s not all business — once the whiskey starts flowing, Bob quizzes Vivek about his “pirate days” aboard a booze cruise in Portugal... Ahoy!
https://justiceteamnetwork.com This week on Bourbon of Proof, Bob and Mauro are joined by the incomparable Micki Love of CJ Advertising and Xcelerator Consulting. They dive into why data is the real MVP behind law firm growth, how AI-driven intake is changing the game, and why making clients repeat themselves might be the silent killer of your firm’s reputation. They also tackle the hot topic of AI transparency—should firms disclose it? Should they use it as a selling point? And if all that weren’t enough, there’s Garrison Bros Whiskey Pecan Ice Cream in the mix!
https://justiceteamnetwork.com This week on Bourbon of Proof the guys welcome Joe Rodonis, a fitness coach and mental strength junkie who immediately questions how he ended up on a legal podcast. But Joe fits right in, flexing his muscles AND his mind as they dive into the psychology behind fitness, law, and the weird overlap between a bench press and a courtroom bench. Their chat gets philosophical, a little sweaty, and possibly competitive as Bob and Mauro settle things the only way that makes sense: a push-up contest. Grab your favorite bourbon-infused protein shake and join the reps, rants, and ridiculousness — LFG!!
https://justiceteamnetwork.com On this episode of Bourbon of Proof, lawyer-turned-producer Gary Raskin joins the guys to talk shop—Hollywood-style. From negotiating entertainment deals to carving out his own space in the industry, Gary knows how to hustle in a business built on dreams and contracts. He also spills the (bourbon-soaked) tea on being an early investor in Brother’s Bond Bourbon and helping the brand grow into a fan favorite. Meanwhile, Mauro takes a long winter’s nap mid-episode...
https://justiceteamnetwork.com In this episode, Darren Fancher rolls in with gifts—cocktail kits from The Mixing Glass & Market in Costa Mesa, CA. This legal tech visionary joins Bob and Mauro to stir, sip, and spill the tea on his journey from Silicon Valley burnout to eventual startup success. He opens up about selling a company mid-COVID (party canceled), and how his latest venture, Bot Mediation, is settling disputes faster than you can say “calendar continuance.” The guys also take a nostalgic detour into Bob’s illustrious telemarketing days. Yes, folks, Bob once sold dreams… one phone call at a time.
https://justiceteamnetwork.com On this effervescent episode of Bourbon of Proof, the guys sip on something stronger while guest Colleen Joyce enjoys some bubbly (she’s more Dom than Jim Beam). She shares how she built Lawyer.com from a startup to a legal tech powerhouse with a bold brand that she quite literally chased across the globe—including a wild trip to Greece to recruit none other than Lindsay Lohan to be the celebrity face of the company. Colleen discusses leading the AI charge in the legal space, what her company looked like at the beginning vs. today, and she and Bob even find time to create some hypothetical dream Euro vacations. All that while Mauro breaks down his conspiracy theories about Colombian hippos and L.A. parrots forming rogue empires... Settle in and enjoy!
On another "dry" episode of Bourbon of Proof, the guys sit down with attorney, trailblazer, and all-around badass Angel Reyes for a conversation over a delicious, alcohol-free gin alternative. Angel dives into stories about growing up in Puerto Rico, drops wisdom on navigating property tax madness in Texas vs. California, and explains why his firm lives by a “file first” mentality to fast-track justice! The crew also takes a nostalgic detour through Bob and Mauro’s glory days on the baseball field (spoiler: neither of them is making the Hall of Fame) and Angel shares how a bold move—becoming the first legal advertiser on Univision—paid off in a big way. An episode full of stories about risk and resilience, pull up a chair and jump in!
In a rare twist, the whiskey stays corked as East Coast Lawyer Joe Volta joins Bob and Mauro for an alcohol-free episode of BOP (don’t worry, the chaos remains intact). Joe gets real about his journey through addiction and recovery, “dishes” on his culinary past, and throws some shade at Bob’s beloved Steelers in favor of his Ravens. He also drops wisdom on how to land and actually KEEP clients—and discusses his personal strategy of “firing himself.” Meanwhile, Mauro admits he travels with a suspiciously thick pile of mail (bills? fan letters? expired Bed Bath & Beyond coupons?) and passionately ranks his favorite board games. This one’s a sober reminder that the proof isn’t always in the bourbon.
https://justiceteamnetwork.com Jason Hennessey is no stranger to podcasts (he hosts one of his own)—though he’s not usually sipping bourbon while recording. A legal entrepreneur who literally wrote the book on SEO, Jason joins Bob and Mauro to trace his wild journey from military life to mastering the digital marketing game. They debate when you’re officially too old for YPO, revisit the dial-up days of early SEO, and even explore the seedy side of search—yes, we’re talking porn and casino marketing. No combat training required—just pour a glass and press play!
https://justiceteamnetwork.com Bob is joined by his favorite private eyes—and his longtime friends—Carlos and John Fernandez for a wild ride through the shadowy (and sometimes funny) world of private investigation. They dive into the brothers’ early days on the PI scene staking out the counterfeit handbag market and another truly bizarre case involving a missing set of tires that somehow ended up in Mexico. Mauro shares a legendary (and highly questionable) scam for sneaking into concerts, and, because it wouldn’t be a proper episode without it, he also takes a nap. Grab a glass—this is a fun one!
https://justiceteamnetwork.com Bob and Mauro welcome Houston native, former Division One athlete, and legal eagle Evan Garcia—who once dreamed of being a sports agent before taking the courtroom by storm. Evan cracks open a bottle gifted to him by none other than Bob himself and it’s a showstopper! Perhaps one of the finest pours in BOP history?? - High West’s “The Prisoner.” Evan shares the wild ride of uprooting his family to work with Bob Simon, and things get real as the gang dives into fatherhood, family values, and raising kids who don’t turn into jerks. And just when you think it’s all heartfelt and wholesome, Mauro brings it home with the legendary (and undeniably tragic) tale of Elvis Presley’s final moments… on the toilet.
https://justiceteamnetwork.com This week on Bourbon of Proof, Bob and Mauro take on a bold challenge: can they convert tequila-loving trial lawyer Pratik Shah into a bourbon believer? Pratik brings the heat with insights on building a future-ready law firm, the evolving role of AI in legal tech, and what it’s like to run EsquireTek. They cover everything from high-level litigation strategy and state-to-state law quirks to—you guessed it—sleepovers at your parents’ house in your 40s. Oh, and did we mention Pratik is a founding member of Justice HQ AND a fellow Steelers fan? This episode blends brains, booze, and a bold look at the future of law. Enjoy!
https://justiceteamnetwork.com In this episode of Bourbon of Proof, Open Jar’s Adam Warren pulls up a chair (and a few bottles of homegrown American whiskey) to chat with the guys about transforming lawyers into digital superstars. Covering everything from Adam’s game-changing advertising agency, to his children’s book A Bear with Pants, to the best chicken taco in Austin, TX, this episode is one wild ride. AND, Adam even gifts the guys with some swag that puts Mauro’s now infamous $3 tin of cookies to shame! Pour yourself a glass and press play—this one’s got flavor!
This ori-GIN-al episode of Bourbon of Proof swaps out bourbon for gin—but the spirit of the conversation is as bold as ever. Bob and Mauro trade sips and dive deep into the backstory of Steve Mehr, a true innovator who turned down high-paying job offers at a young age to forge his own path. Steve shares how he’s scaled his firms by obsessing over data, integrations, automations, and AI—leveraging legal-tech products specifically built for lawyers to transform the way legal services are delivered. From rebranding Sweet James to “winning the space” multiple times, Steve opens up about why he still feels like there’s something to prove, even at the top.
Twice named Ventura County Trial Lawyer of the Year (because once just wasn’t enough), Trevor Quirk joins the guys for a conversation that’s equal parts legal insight and community inspiration. Trevor’s racked up some seriously impressive verdicts in court, but what really sets him apart is his big heart and even bigger drive to make the world a better place. The crew tackles the myth of the so-called “nuclear verdict” and how defendants often had every chance to settle for far less. They also reminisce about the time Bob crashed at Trevor’s place during a trial — a week fueled by great whiskey, good strategy, and entirely too much Ben & Jerry’s.