Episodes

In this special episode of The Court Reporter Podcast, Joey Seymour steps behind the microphone as guest host for a conversation with Jill Parker Landsman and Alex Vlahopoulos of the National Court Reporters Foundation (NCRF). The conversation gets personal as Jill and Alex share why I, as the host of the Court Reporter Podcast, was unanimously selected as the 2026 recipient! I am truly honored and encouraged by this, so I wrote a song about it... I hope you love it! I'm so excited to continue ...

From Australia to London: The Global World of Realtime Reporting What happens when a childhood fascination with a court reporter on television turns into a 30+ year international career? In this episode, I sit down with Leah Willisdorf, an accomplished international realtime reporter who takes us from her beginnings in Australia to her current home in London. Leah shares how a fictional court reporter on a television show sparked her interest in the profession and ultimately led her to a care...

From a Chance Encounter to 30+ Years in Court Reporting In this episode, I sit down with Cindy Sebo, a court reporter certified across 16 states with more than 30 years of reporting experience. If you weren't already convinced from my 96 other episodes that you need a VTM (Virtual Transcript Manager, basically like a super-scopist & project manager of the entire production pipeline), I think you will finally be convinced after listening to this. Cindy shares the unexpected story of how she di...

What happens when a court reporter is assigned to a case that's simply too personal to remain neutral? In this episode, Brynn explores one of the profession's most difficult ethical questions: Where is the line between impartiality and personal conviction? The conversation begins with her experience covering clergy sexual abuse litigation. From there, the discussion expands into a broader conversation about corporate accountability, public health, and the responsibility of those who document hi...

From Hitchhiking to Realtime: 42 Years Behind the Steno Machine What do you do when your very first day on the job starts with no car... and ends with reading back testimony from double-sided paper notes because you ran out of paper? In this episode, I sit down with Norma Alicia Fame, an Official Court Reporter in Houston, Texas, who has spent more than 42 years in one of the most demanding professions out there. Norma shares unforgettable stories from the early days of court reporting, inclu...

Why would two of Southern California's most respected court reporters sell their agency to one of the industry's largest companies? In Part 2 of Brynn's conversation with Kamryn and Whitney, the twins address the questions and criticism that followed KW Court Reporting's acquisition by Veritext. They share why they made the decision, the realities of running an independent agency, and why they believe partnering with a larger company was the best path forward for their staff, clients, and the pr...

Is Hollywood accidentally contributing to the court reporter shortage? It might sound like a strange question, but the way court reporters are portrayed on screen could be having a bigger impact than most people realize. In this episode, Brynn explores how decades of inaccurate portrayals have shaped public perception of the profession, why so few people understand what court reporters actually do, and how that misunderstanding may be contributing to the nationwide shortage. Brynn also shares ...

🏆 The Court Reporter Podcast Awards: Nominations Are Open What makes an attorney unforgettable from a court reporter's perspective? It's probably not what you think. In this episode, Brynn officially opens nominations for the first-ever Court Reporter Podcast Awards and reveals some of the surprisingly small things that make a huge impact on the record. If you've ever worked with an attorney or judge who just "gets it," this episode is for you. 🎙️ Listen now and nominate someone who deserve...

Episode 91 | 🎵 On The Record #2: ReporterFlow If there is one song that captures the heart of the Court Reporter Podcast, this is it. ReporterFlow is about the transformation so many court reporters are seeking. Not just becoming a better writer or writing faster. Not just taking on more work (and then drowning in the admin). But finally creating a business that supports your life instead of consuming it. Most court reporters enter this profession because they love the craft. They love prese...

What does a court reporter hear when everyone else is talking? Before you listen, I want to challenge you to listen to this song in two different ways. As court reporters, we have a unique perspective because we spend our lives preserving moments that everyone else forgets. In this special music episode of the Court Reporter Podcast, we hear a song inspired by the unique role court reporters play in preserving the spoken word. The song explores the pressure, responsibility, and quiet professi...

Lately, I’ve been questioning everything about my career path as a court reporter. In this episode, I share why I applied for a digital court reporting position… why I didn’t get the job… and what I learned. Topics covered: • the reality of juggling transcript production, deadlines, admin work, and life balance • why training my new VTM (Virtual Transcript Manager) has completely changed the way I view this profession • the hidden cause of so much burnout in court reporting • the CAPTUR me...

Most court reporters don't go to school thinking they're going to become entrepreneurs. But that's exactly what happens — and nobody teaches you how. Whitney Kumar and Kamryn Villegas did it anyway. The identical twins — one minute apart — spent 13 years building KW Court Reporting from the ground up: a $350-a-month office, note cards with their names on them as business cards, and their parents following them in a separate car to law firm parking lots to watch the babies while they knocked on ...

What is a VTM? A Virtual Transcript Manager is a project manager for court reporters. They manage the coordination between scopists and proofreaders, the data, the deadlines, the captions and appearances, everything that allows court reporters to focus 100% on the part of the workflow that only we can do: showing up and taking down the testimony as accurately as possible, in realtime. I already know what you might be thinking -- if you haven't heard me talk about the VTM before and explain in d...

In this episode of The Court Reporter Podcast, Brynn sits down with Dr. Robert Lustig, a leading expert in metabolic health, to explore the science behind sugar, energy, and what’s really happening inside the body. From the perspective of court reporters and legal professionals, this conversation goes beyond health advice. It offers insight into how expert witnesses think, how complex medical testimony is structured, and why understanding these concepts can elevate your confidence in the room. ...

In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of a decision I’ve been talking about for years… but am finally executing. At the start of 2026, I made a commitment to either walk away from this profession or step fully into becoming a high-level, real-time court reporter. No more in-between. So I did something different. I reached out to some of the top real-time reporters in the industry and offered $10,000 for true coaching and accountability. Not casual mentorship, but real structure, r...

What is the court reporter’s role when something on the record feels… wrong? And how can court reporters and interpreters work together effectively to enhance the record-taking process? In this episode, Brynn explores one of the most nuanced and debated issues in court reporting: working with interpreters (including "underqualified" or reporter-illiterate interpreters). Where is the line between neutrality and responsibility? When should a reporter remain silent, and when is it necessary to spe...

Episode Description You know what no one tells you about remote depositions? It’s not the big mistakes that trip you up… It’s the small, seemingly harmless ones. The moments where you think you’re being helpful. The times you speak up when you shouldn’t… or stay quiet when you shouldn’t. In this episode, I’m sharing real stories from the field—times I learned the hard way what not to do as a court reporter. From awkward read-and-sign situations… To accidentally overstepping with attorney...

Court reporting isn’t just about the record—it’s about the business you’re running (or the one that’s running you). In this episode, Brynn Seymour cuts through the industry noise to address the "hidden" side of the profession: the struggle to maintain total accuracy while managing the chaos of being a solo entrepreneur. Most reporters are trained to be brilliant stenographers, but they’re left in the dark when it comes to being CEOs. What we’re covering: The Business Gap: Why the transition fr...

The court reporting profession is confronted by rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and an alarming rise in reporter burnout. As the mechanisms for capturing and delivering the official record evolve, court reporters find themselves grappling with the immense responsibilities of their roles, often at full capacity. This episode delves into the tensions that have emerged within the industry, as well as the solutions. We advocate for a future where technology and the expertise of court ...

Scoping in the Age of AI (Part 2): Workflow Mastery, Coaching, and Avoiding AI "Scopist” Scams. In this episode, we continue the conversation as a Part 2 of Episode 77. Brynn discusses with Rachel Harris about hands-on coaching to streamline scoping and editing, including observing reporters via Zoom plus FaceTime to see exact mouse and keyboard actions, identifying repetitive pain points, and customizing macros, keyboard mappings, and EZ Speaker usage to reduce steps and save time. Rachel sha...

What happens when the court reporter’s voice is ignored? In this episode, we take an honest, grounded look at one of the most exhausting parts of our profession: protecting the record when multiple people are talking over each other despite repeated attempts to speak up. This conversation is for court reporters who have ended a deposition feeling completely drained… not because of the length or the terminology, but because of the behaviors of the participants... We are not here to bash anyone...

This wasn’t the episode I planned. I had a script ready, but I threw it out for something more honest. This is a "sprawled on the floor" conversation about the deep insecurities of working in a system—specifically New York's—that feels designed to keep us in the dark. We’re diving into the "New York Glitch": the jurisdictional ambiguity other states don’t have, and the moments I almost walked away from court reporting entirely. If you’ve ever felt like you're walking on thin ice despite your e...

In this episode, Brynn Seymour and Rachel Harris delve into the evolving landscape of technology in the court reporting industry, addressing the common question: Will court reporters or scopists be replaced by AI? How can scopists and court reporters make sure that they are not falling behind, but keeping up with technology in a safe and secure way? What should court reporters and scopists be focused on now? Listen to this episode to find out! Rachel Harris was featured in the JCR in December...

In this episode, I’m joined by Judge Janet Malone for a real conversation about judicial life — the good, the challenging, and everything in between. We talk about what it’s like to juggle the work itself while also running a business, how important it is for court reporters to speak up for accuracy on the record, and why communication and teamwork in the courtroom really matter. Judge Malone also shares her perspective from the bench and how empathy plays a role in the way cases unfold. If yo...