Tara Trask is the Founder and CEO of Trask Consulting, one of the most highly respected trial consulting firms in the country. Previously, she served as Senior Consultant at Courtroom Sciences, the firm founded by Dr. Phil McGraw, where she began her legal consulting career. Over the past two decades, she has built a firm from the ground up that now serves top-tier litigators in complex commercial and intellectual property cases nationwide and has twice been named one of the top three jury consulting firms by the National Law Journal Reader Survey.
“I’ve always been someone who stands up for others. I don’t know how not to. It’s just in my DNA. Whether it’s in a courtroom, a classroom, or on this show, I believe deeply in using my voice to make space for people who haven’t had one. Most of the things in my life that have brought me joy or fulfillment were the things that were hardest to do. Taking over this host chair is one of them. It’s something I’ve never done before, and it’s hard—but that’s exactly why it’s so meaningful.”
In this special handoff episode of The Last Mile Radio, hosts Chris Redlitz and Beverly Parenti pass the mic to Tara Trask as she steps into her new role as host of the show. The conversation unpacks her journey from small-town Texas to the national stage in legal consulting, her deep ties to the rule of law, and her hard-won recovery journey, celebrating 12 years of sobriety at the time of recording. Tara draws compelling parallels between the emotional discipline needed for high-stakes trial prep and the reentry challenges faced by incarcerated individuals navigating parole hearings. With raw honesty and clarity, she explains how her commitment to civil rights, personal transformation, and amplifying marginalized voices makes her uniquely positioned to take The Last Mile Radio into its next era.
(00:00:00) Introduction and Reflections on The Last Mile’s Mission
(00:04:30) Why Tara Trask Was Chosen as the New Host
(00:08:00) Tara’s Reaction to Taking Over the Host Role
(00:10:30) Tara’s Legal Background and Experience in Trial Consulting
(00:17:30) Launching and Growing Trask Consulting
(00:23:00) Connections Between Litigation Prep and Criminal Justice Reform
(00:30:30) The Role of Recovery and Tara’s 12-Year Sobriety Journey
(00:38:00) Aligning The Last Mile with Broader Themes of Transformation
(00:45:00) Official Baton Handoff to Tara Trask
(00:48:30) Vision for the Future of the Show and Expanding Its Impact