Welcome to Laugh Love Law

What happens when you stop asking people what they do… and start asking who they are?

Welcome to Laugh Love Law, the podcast where laughter, meaningful conversations, and a little bit of law come together.

In this very first episode, host Heather Kaplan introduces herself—not just as a New York attorney, but as a wife, mom, Broadway fan, Diet Coke enthusiast, former theatre kid, and someone who believes everyone has a story worth telling.

Heather shares why she created Laugh Love Law, what inspired the show’s unique format, and why she wanted a podcast that goes beyond résumés and job titles to uncover the person behind the profession.

You’ll also get a sneak peek at what’s ahead this season, featuring conversations with Broadway performers, attorneys, educators, entrepreneurs, and inspiring people from all walks of life.

Whether you’re here to laugh, be inspired, or simply get to know the people behind the titles, welcome.

This is Laugh Love Law.

Because life is rarely just law.

Real conversations. Real people. Real impact.

Transcript

Why This Podcast Exists

SPEAKER_00 0:08

Welcome to Laugh Love Law. I'm Heather Kaplan and I will be your host. I'm so excited that you're here. Earlier this year, I turned 50. My husband Josh and my daughters threw me this fabulous birthday party, karaoke and diet coke themed, and I looked around the room and I realized that I was surrounded by people who had been part of every single chapter in my life. There were friends from kindergarten, friends from law school, former au pairs from around the world, friends from other states, my parents, my in-laws, my sisters, my husband, my daughters, my co-workers that had become my family. And I realized something. There were so many stories in that room. Stories I had lived alongside, stories I had witnessed from afar, and stories that I had never fully heard. And I thought, turning 50, life is short. What better time than right now to sit down and hear those stories? I named this podcast Laugh Love Law because those are the pillars of my life. Laugh. There is nothing I enjoy more than laughing with my family, being silly with my friends, and remembering not to take life too seriously. Love. Well, love is what I do best. I love my husband and my daughters, my family, and the friendships that I've built and cherished over the last 50 years. I love the life I've created. Is it perfect? Absolutely not. Are there still places I want to go, things I want to see, and dreams I want to pursue? Absolutely. But I'm grateful for where I am and excited to see where I will be going. And then there's law. Law is what I do. I've spent my career helping injured workers throughout the state of New York, and I truly love what I do. Many of my closest friends are also attorneys, different areas of practice, different paths, but a shared understanding of advocacy and showing up for people when they need it most. Now don't worry, we're not going to spend our time discussing the CPLR, but from time to time we may touch on important legal topics that affect our everyday lives. Because law isn't all of who I am, but it is an important part of what I

Dedicating The Show To Grandma

SPEAKER_00 2:31

do. Now before we get started, there's one more person I want to mention. I would like to dedicate this podcast to my late grandma Frances. When she passed away last year, a piece of my heart shattered. Now, if she were here today, she would tell you that sitting around listening to other people's stories was a complete waste of time. But she would have also been incredibly proud that I was doing it anyway. She was my fiercest critic and my biggest supporter all at the same time. And I miss her every single day. So, Grandma Frances, this one is for you. Cheers. Now over the course of the season, you'll meet people from all different walks of life. We'll talk with attorneys, educators, detectives, business owners, Broadway performers, musicians, and so many others. We will laugh, we will probably cry, and we'll hear stories that inspire us, surprise us, and remind us that we have a lot more in common than we think. Because at the end of the day, we are all more than our titles. So thank you for being here. I cannot wait for you to meet the incredible people joining us this season.

The People And Stories Ahead

SPEAKER_00 3:50

But before we bring on our next guest next week, I thought I would tell you ten things that you should absolutely know about me, your host. Number one, I do not drink coffee. I know, I know, I'm a lawyer and now a podcaster, and I'm supposed to love coffee. I hate it. But I've never been a di I've never been a coffee person. Give me a diet

Ten Things To Know About Me

SPEAKER_00 4:12

coke, and I'm happy. In fact, if you've ever seen me without one, you should probably check on me because I'm not okay. My husband Josh is my best friend. We've built a life together filled with love, laughter, and a lot of music. Some of our favorite memories are the road trips that we've taken as a family. Josh and I provide the soundtrack, usually in the form of dramatic air supply duets and impromptu concerts, while our daughters sit in the back seat pretending they don't know us. I think they say they cringe. And I have a feeling though that they'll look back on those moments someday and smile. Number three, I love Broadway. I'm a former theater kid. The music, the storytelling, the emotion, it's always spoken to me. I was a theater kid at heart, and I still am. When the lights dim and the orchestra starts to play, I still get excited. Even now. Broadway reminds me that stories have the power to connect us. Also, a lot of lawyers were theater kids. It just happens to be a connection that most don't recognize. Number four, I am a lifelong Barry Manilow fan, and I am not embarrassed by that. When I say lifelong, I mean it. I've seen Barry in concert about 20 times. I've gone with childhood friends, later with my husband, with my grandmother, and later this year I'll be attending his final concert with my good friend Melissa. Somehow Barry's music has become woven into the fabric of my life, making different seasons and different relationships seem more special. Every concert holds memories far beyond the songs themselves. Number five, I have three daughters who keep me humble. Being their mom is my favorite role. They have taught me more than anything I could ever teach them. They keep me laughing, keep me honest, and occasionally remind me that I'm not nearly as cool as I think I am. They're my greatest source of pride and one of the biggest reasons I try to make the most of every day. I love them with all of my heart. Number six, I am a workers' compensation attorney and I own my own law firm. I've dedicated my career to helping injured workers in the state of New York navigate through some very difficult periods. It's work that challenges me, but also fulfills me, and constantly reminds me that compassion matters just as much as competence, if not more. I may not practice law exactly like everyone else, but I do it with my whole heart. Number seven, I lost 60 pounds and transformed my health in my 40s. I never thought I could feel this good at 50 years old. What I'm most proud of isn't the number on the scale. It's that I finally decided that I was worth investing in. It taught me that it's never too late to take care of yourself, and that meaningful change can happen at any stage of your life. Number eight, I love to travel. Some of my favorite memories have been exploring new places with my family. Whether it's a big adventure or a spontaneous weekend getaway, travel has a way of reminding me to stay curious. Curious about life, curious about new experiences, and it also helps me appreciate the beauty and the world around us. Number nine, and maybe this should have been number one, but I am completely obsessed with dogs. I have three. They're not just my pets, they are my family. They have brought comfort through difficult times, joy during ordinary days, plenty of laughter through their antics, and a lot of dog hair like everywhere. If you come to my house, there's a very good chance you'll be greeted enthusiastically by at least one, maybe two, four-legged friends. And number ten, I believe that life should be celebrated. Not just the big moments, but the little everyday moments. They deserve our attention too. We don't need to wait for big things to celebrate. Sometimes the ordinary days become the memories that we treasure the most. Now that you know a little bit about me, I think it's time to introduce you to what will be

Capsule Confessions Explained And Tested

SPEAKER_00 8:33

what I expect one of my favorite parts of the podcast. I'm calling it capsule confessions. Let me tell you a little bit about capsule confessions. So I have filled this fun gumble machine with capsules, and in each capsule is a different question. The questions are color-coded by category. Some are for love and family, some are for adventure, wellness, all different kinds of questions stuffed into these little capsules. And each of our guests will get three tokens. They will place the tokens in the machine, they will turn the dial, and they will get their capsules. Now, as they open them, they will have a choice. As follows. They can either answer the question, they can say, I'm not answering that, and ask me the question, or they can actually leave the question for the next guest. Very interesting, but we'll see how that turns out. So I just pulled three capsules from the machine and I proved to myself that I did not mix them up very well because they are all in fact orange. But that's okay. We'll have fun with this anyway. The first question. What is something that you can do that sounds made up but is actually true?

unknown 10:03

Hmm.

SPEAKER_00 10:05

Well, I am really, really good at making anything out of cauliflower. Not just pizza. I make like little croquettes. My family even likes them, so I'll say I'm the cauliflower whiz. Number two. Also orange. If I can get it open.

unknown 10:26

There we go.

SPEAKER_00 10:27

Okay. Second question. What is the weirdest compliment you've ever received? This one is easy. People tell me all of the time that I look like their neighbor, friend, cousin. And as it as it's supposed to be a compliment, I have no idea what your neighbor or friend looks like, but I say thank you when maybe I should say okay. And number three? What is something that you thought you'd be amazing at, but were terrible at? When I was a child, my mom enrolled me in dancing school, and I was the worst ballet dancer that ever lived. And that is exactly why I love this segment, because you never know what kind of question you're going to get. I would like to point out that I did answer all three questions, and I did not leave any for our next guest. I really hope you'll stick around for the ride because trust me, we've got some really incredible people coming your way who may really give you some interesting answers to these questions.

The Law Side Of Laugh Love Law

SPEAKER_00 11:35

And before we wrap up today, I want to tell you a little bit about of the law side of Laugh Love Law. Many people know me as an attorney, and I've been practicing law since 2003. For the last 10 years, I've had the privilege of running my own law firm helping injured workers throughout the state of New York. It is a very, very difficult time when you're out of work due to an injury, and I really try to be compassionate and thoughtful during the process, which can sometimes seem rather cold and unforgiving. Workers' compensation law is constantly evolving, and no two cases are ever the same. But at its core, it's really about people. And my job is to help those people. And for me, helping them through the journey from injury to healing, helping them find their footing again is the most rewarding thing in the world. I genuinely love what I do. And I love building relationships with clients, advocating for them, and making what can be a very complicated and overwhelming process seem a little bit easier. I'd like to say I'm one of the good guys. Do I have all the answers? Absolutely not. But I promise my clients that they'll never have to go through it alone. And while being an attorney is only one part of who I am, I'm incredibly proud of it. And before we wrap up, I want to say thank you.

Wrap Up And Next Guest Teaser

SPEAKER_00 13:02

Thank you for spending time with me. Thank you for listening to my stories today. Thank you for allowing me to share just a little bit about who I am. My hope for this podcast is simple that we laugh together, learn from one another, celebrate the people we love, and remember that every single person we meet has a story worth telling. I hope you'll see pieces of yourself in these conversations. And I hope you'll stick around because we're just getting started, and this is just the beginning of the journey. Next time on Laugh Love Law, I'll be sitting down with somebody very special. You may know her from the Broadway stage or her own incredible podcast, but together we're going to discover who she is beyond the spotlight. We'll talk about her journey, how she and I met, the stories that shaped her, and of course we'll put her through a few rounds of capsule confessions. I cannot wait for you to meet the incredible Linady Hanao. Until then, hug the people you love, celebrate the little moments, and remember that we're all so much more than just our titles. I'm Heather Kaplan, and this is Laugh Love Law. See you next time.