He opens up about growing up in a "colorful" family in the '70s connected to organized crime, stepping into the criminal courthouse for the very first time, and the unspoken "code" that governs the legal system. Discover why, in a close-knit community of prosecutors and defense attorneys, being impeccable with your word is the most valuable lesson you'll never learn in law school.

Episode Chapters / Timestamps:

1. 0:00 - Pre-Show Banter & Setup
2. 05:26 - Introducing Kenneth Weisman
3. 06:42 - Growing Up in a "Crime Family"
4. 07:49 - Stepping Into the Criminal Courthouse for the First Time
5. 08:58 - The Camaraderie of Criminal Law vs. Civil Law
6. 09:24 - Why Being Impeccable With Your Word is Priceless

In this episode, we dive into the wild, real-life world of serving lawsuits in Miami. Ivan shares how his 1980s Miami street smarts help him navigate high-stakes situations and uncooperative targets. Whether he is using a box of fake flowers to catch someone off-guard or dropping paperwork over the bow of a boat from a jet ski, Ivan always gets his guy.

In this episode, we cover:

1. The Pineapple Express Reality Check: How Ivan's actual job compares to the movies, including a hilarious story involving a fake flower delivery and a two-hour motion to quash.
2. The Secret to Staying Positive: How Ivan maintains his upbeat energy despite constantly delivering bad news to angry people.
3. Wild Celebrity Encounters: Hear the behind-the-scenes stories of serving a famous rapper for child support and catching Spanish actor William Levy right in his chair on a soap opera set.
4. The Legendary Jet Ski Service: How Ivan rented a jet ski and paid his nephew $200 to help him serve an evicted tenant living on a boat in the bay.
5. The Power of Persistence: The incredible story of tracking an evasive 18-wheeler truck driver for over a year, speaking with him for months, and ultimately praying with him to get the papers served.
6. Bypassing the Bouncers: How process servers legally navigate Miami's ultra-exclusive, high-security condo buildings for massive $50 million lawsuits.

The episode concludes with Raul’s current ventures: "Arrive and Dive," a luxury spearfishing charter in Guatemala, and the launch of "Dive Dogs," a new diving school focused on realistic safety curriculum for beginners.

Key Takeaways:

1. Redefining Confidence: True confidence is built by owning mistakes and extracting lessons from losses, not just celebrating wins.
2. The 24-Hour Rule: Allow yourself 24 hours to grieve a disappointment; then, you must create a new plan.
3. Journaling for Mental Clarity: Using writing to channel restless feelings and improve self-awareness.
4. Avoiding "Helicopter Parenting": Why shielding children from failure deprives them of essential survival tools.
5. Self-Love as a Foundation: Why inner peace must come from within rather than seeking it in others.

Resources Mentioned:

1. Book: Things to Tell Your Daughter by Dimple Bhatti
2. Clinic: Sage House Wellness, Coral Gables, FL

Chapter Markers (Timestamps)

1. 00:00 – Introduction to Dimple Bhatti
2. 01:35 – Why a guide for daughters applies to everyone
3. 03:24 – Using journaling to manage anxiety
4. 05:20 – The philosophy of self-reliance
5. 06:05 – Building confidence through mistakes
6. 10:45 – The "Next Mountain" mentality
7. 11:59 – Implementing the 24-hour rule
8. 14:05 – The importance of situational awareness
9. 17:34 – Therapeutic coaching at Sage House Wellness
10. 22:49 – The bedrock of self-love

Born and raised in Miami to a resilient Cuban family, Chris never initially dreamed of a career in medicine. He shares the story of how he eventually found his calling as a Nurse Anesthetist—and why, even with a successful career and a young family at home, he felt a profound duty to join the U.S. Army Reserves.

Deploying to Afghanistan as a Captain on a Forward Surgical Team, Chris was thrust into some of the most high-stakes, nerve-wracking environments imaginable. He opens up about what it’s really like to receive severe combat casualties in the middle of nowhere, the immense pressure of making split-second decisions that determine who lives or dies, and the deep pride he carries for serving his country.

In this episode, we cover:

1. Chris’s Miami roots and his family’s journey from Cuba
2. Why he pivoted from dreaming of the FBI to becoming a Nurse Anesthetist
3. The calling that led him to the U.S. Army Reserves
4. What a Forward Surgical Team (FST) actually does in a combat zone
5. The intense reality and pressure of treating severe combat trauma
6. How his time in Afghanistan shifted his perspective on life and service

Chris Jorge, Combat Veteran, Nurse Anesthetist, Afghanistan, Forward Surgical Team, Trauma Surgery, Army Reserves, Military Service, Miami Heroes, Cuban American, Goldberg and Rosen, Stiltsville Media, Combat Medic

In this episode, we celebrate his "transition" (don't call it retirement!) as he moves from the bench to the world of mediation with JAMS. Judge Rodriguez opens up about his humble beginnings as a Cuban immigrant who worked as a welder making garbage containers in Hialeah before applying to law school on a whim during a dinner conversation.

We also dive deep into the cases that defined his career, including the agonizing decision behind a life sentence in a tragic domestic murder trial and the marathon 8-month trial that resulted in a historic $521 million auditing malpractice verdict.

In this episode, we cover:

1. The "Transition": Why Judge Rodriguez refuses to "fade away" and his move to JAMS.
2. The Hialeah Years: His early life working as a welder and learning to work with aluminum.
3. Judicial Philosophy: Why he believes you must "know your judge" and why credibility is the one thing a lawyer can never lose.
4. The Big Cases: Inside the $521 million verdict and the emotional toll of high-stakes criminal sentencing.
5. Life Advice: Why opposing counsel should become your best friends.

Quotes from the Episode

1. "It's not retiring. It's transitioning."
2. "One thing you never lose when you become a lawyer is your credibility with the court. Do not ever do that... Clients come and go, you stay."
3. "I've been on a 32-year vacation... It wasn't work to me."

Guest Information

The Honorable Jose Rodriguez (Retired) Former Circuit Court Judge (11th Judicial Circuit of Florida) Mediator/Arbitrator at JAMS

Judge Jose Rodriguez, Miami Law, Goldberg & Rosen, JAMS, Mediation, Legal Career, Hialeah, Civil Litigation, Criminal Defense, Florida Bar, Legal Legends, $521 Million Verdict.

We dive deep into the dangers and thrills of hunting in the remote South Pacific, from the "pinnacle" challenge of landing a Dogtooth Tuna to surviving the chaotic feeding frenzies known as "Sharknados." Jaga also opens up about the devastating impact of commercial overfishing on local waters and shares lighter moments guiding celebrities like Zac Brown, Christian Bale, and Snoop Dogg.

In this episode, we cover:

1. The Viral Catch: The full story behind the 120+ lb Wahoo that went viral online.
2. Surviving the "Sharknado": What it’s really like to be in the water with 50–500 feeding sharks—and how to stay safe.
3. The Dogtooth Tuna: Why this "badass" fish is considered the ultimate trophy in the spearfishing world.
4. Conservation: The stark reality of commercial longlining vs. sustainable spearfishing in Fiji.
5. Celebrity Encounters: Stories from the boat with Zac Brown, Christian Bale, and Snoop Dogg.
6. The Thrill of the Hunt: The mental and physical discipline required to hold your breath and hunt monsters at 90 feet.

Guest:

1. Jaga: Professional Spearfishing Guide & Waterman, based in Fiji.

Spearfishing, Fiji, Wahoo, Dogtooth Tuna, Sharknado, Ocean Conservation, Free Diving, Adventure, South Pacific, Goldberg and Rosen, Jaga, Fishing Stories, Zac Brown, Christian Bale

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Key Discussion Points:

1. The Origins of a Career: Meeting Judd in a "deathtrap limo" in 2006 and Fred’s uncanny memory for case law citations.
2. The Vegas Gamble: Why Fred tells adjusters that if they want to gamble at mediation, they have to pay off when they lose—just like a casino.
3. The Landmark Harvey Case: The 12-year journey of Geico v. Harvey, from a $100k policy to a $12 million Supreme Court victory.
4. The Human Side of Law: Why treating adjusters and defense lawyers like human beings is Fred’s secret weapon for success.
5. Navigating Tort Reform: Fred’s take on the 2023 Florida law changes and why the "best lawyers" will always find a way to protect their clients.

Notable Quote: "I don't represent trees, bro." — Fred Cunningham on a memorable deposition involving a claimant who allegedly hit a tree.

Peter recounts his arrival in the U.S. during the Mariel Boatlift and his time being processed at a refugee camp in the middle of the Arkansas woods. One night, the KKK arrived in white robes and hoods to intimidate the refugees. But instead of fear, the Cubans reacted with confusion and amusement.

As Peter tells it: "The Cubans got excited... hey, they brought us clowns!".

Peter shares the incredible true story of how that night ended not with violence against the refugees, but with the Klan abandoning their golf carts and running into the woods to escape a crowd of Cubans armed with sticks.

Beyond this legendary story, we dive deep into Peter’s legal career and his philosophy on justice, including:

1. The "Sun and Moon" Strategy: How he blindsides the defense with arguments they can't predict.
2. The Unwinnable Cases: Why he bet it all on the Engle tobacco cases and complex maritime injuries.
3. The "Chicken Wire" Surgery: The medical malpractice case that defined his commitment to his clients.
4. Caring for the Client: The story of Mr. Tirtayasa and the fight for an injured crew member’s dignity.

In this episode:

1. 00:00 - Introduction: The Legend of Peter Sotolongo
2. 05:30 - The Mariel Boatlift & Arriving in America
3. 12:15 - Fort Chaffee, Arkansas: "Bored to death" in the woods
4. 15:00 - The KKK Arrives: "They're dressed in white outfits with the hood"
5. 18:45 - "Nos trajeron los payasos": Mistaking the Klan for a circus
6. 22:00 - The Counter-Attack: Chasing the KKK into the woods
7. 30:00 - Becoming a Lawyer: From picking oranges to law school
8. 45:00 - Trial Strategy & The "Ambush"

Quotes from the Episode:

"The clown showed up in the circus, riding around in circus... doing stupid stuff."

"Kill us? We want to kill them."

"They literally left the golf carts behind and ran into the woods and disappeared."

About the Guest: Peter Sotolongo is the founder of Sotolongo Law, specializing in Admiralty and Maritime Law, Personal Injury, and Medical Malpractice. He is known for his relentless trial advocacy and his ability to win complex cases against major corporations.

Connect with Goldberg & Rosen:

1. Website: goldbergandrosen.com
2. Instagram: @GoldbergandRosen
3. Facebook: Goldberg & Rosen, P.A.

In this episode, we are joined by a special member of the Goldberg & Rosen family: former Miami Hurricanes and NFL running back, Mike James. Before he was rushing for 150+ yards against the Seahawks, Mike was actually a summer intern at our law firm—battling us in 6:00 AM spin classes and learning the corporate ropes.

Mike takes us inside the intense world of college football practice (including a hilarious story about a teammate getting "jumped" by one person), breaks down the physical toll of the NFL, and opens up about the injury that changed his life forever.

We also dive deep into the serious side of sports law and medicine. Mike shares his journey from opioid dependency to becoming the first NFL player to file for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for cannabis. We discuss the current state of NFL drug policies, his work with the Lion Order movement, and the research being done right here at the University of Miami on psychedelics and holistic pain management.

In this episode, we cover:

1. [00:00] Intro: From the G&R mailroom to the NFL backfield.
2. [05:30] "Inside Run" & War Stories: Why practice at The U was harder than the games.
3. [12:15] The Injury: Breaking an ankle and the "dark side" of painkillers.
4. [22:40] The Lawsuit: Challenging the NFL's drug policy and filing for a TUE.
5. [35:00] Opioids vs. Cannabis: The science, the stigma, and the future of athlete recovery.
6. [48:00] Life after the League: Entrepreneurship and advocacy.

Links & Resources:

1. Follow Mike James on Instagram: @mikejames | @lionorder
2. Goldberg & Rosen: goldbergandrosen.com
3. Follow us on Instagram: @goldbergandrosen

Key Topics Covered:

Legacy and Mentorship: Tyson reflects on the "tutelage" he received from the Rosen family and the enduring footprint his father, Maurice Kutner, left on the family law courts.

The "Gladiator" of Family Law: Stories of Maurice Kutner’s unique courtroom presence, his high-profile clients like Shaquille O'Neal, and his philosophy of "killing with kindness".

From Banking to Law: Tyson shares his non-traditional path to becoming a lawyer at age 33 and his passion for helping people.

The Sea-Doo Switch Litigation: A detailed look at a tragic accident in Jacksonville involving a 14-month-old girl and the alleged design defects that led to a massive product recall.

Winning the Battle of Public Opinion: How a strategic press conference in Jacksonville helped force a manufacturer recall.

About Our Guest: Tyson Kutner is the founder of Kutner Personal Injury Law. After beginning his career at Goldberg and Rosen, Tyson launched his own practice where he continues to advocate for victims of catastrophic injuries and product defects.

Key Topics Covered:

1. The O.J. Simpson Trial: Judge Dresnik shares behind-the-scenes insights into his partnership with F. Lee Bailey and the cross-examination of Mark Fuhrman.
2. Life on the Bench: Why he never used a gavel and how he learned to identify when someone was lying in his courtroom.
3. Transitioning Careers: From the "modern-day pirates" of the early Miami marijuana practice to becoming a mediator and arbitrator.
4. The Power of Credibility: Why a lawyer's word is everything in the legal profession.

About Our Guest: Ronald Dresnick is a former judge and renowned trial lawyer who has worked alongside legal legends like Roy Black and Richard Gerstein. He currently focuses on high-level civil trial practice and mediation.