SAG-AFTRA

For many actors, commercials are a vital part of building and sustaining a career. But the world of commercial casting can sometimes feel like a mystery. There are differences from theatrical casting, and the skills that book a commercial aren’t always the same ones that land a film or television role. To help break it all down, we’re joined by highly regarded casting director Alyson Horn. Alyson is the founder of AHC Casting in Lo...

Podcasting has never offered more ways to grow your career and your income. Actor, comedian and impressionist Amy Phillips shares how she built her hit show, Drama Darling: A Real Housewives Comedy Podcast, from the ground up. She taught herself production, built an audience without a network and created multiple revenue streams from her home studio. Amy also explains how her podcast became a SAG-AFTRA signatory, making it possible...

This Labor Day, we’re replaying a SXSW Panel Discussion from last spring with leaders from SAG-AFTRA, the Writers Guild of America, the Directors Guild of America and IATSE. We talked about how our unions are protecting members in the age of A.I., what we’ve already won at the bargaining table, what’s still ahead and why collective action matters more than ever. Labor Day is about honoring workers and their rights, and this panel i...

Audiobooks are one of the fastest growing segments in entertainment, but how do you land work and build a sustainable career as a narrator? Veteran performer and coach Sean Pratt has recorded nearly 1,200 titles over 25 years, voicing everything from Agatha Christie mysteries to business books. In this episode, he shares the skills and temperament the job requires, how to get started on ACX, tips for a basic home studio, the differ...

Your voice is 50 percent of your instrument, but many performers don’t realize they’re not using it to its full potential. On this episode of the SAG-AFTRA podcast, voice coach and dialect expert Bob Corff—who’s worked with stars like Antonio Banderas and Gwyneth Paltrow—explains what it really means to have a strong speaking voice. He shares simple but powerful breathing exercises and reveals why some vocal habits can sabotage you...

Social media is a powerful tool for performers, but it can also be confusing and time-consuming. What should you post? How do you promote yourself without feeling cringey? And does any of it actually lead to work? In this episode, social media strategist Heidi Dean—founder of Marketing4Actors.com and author of Social Media for Actors: 100 Essential Tips to Grow, Thrive, and Survive Online—breaks down the five biggest mistakes actor...

Creator V Spehar built a massive audience on TikTok by delivering news from under their desk. Then the media companies came calling. In this replay of an episode, V talks with SAG-AFTRA’s Duncan Crabtree-Ireland about staying independent, using TikTok to support striking workers and building a career as a creator without giving up control. The pair also explain how SAG-AFTRA’s influencer agreement is helping more digital creators j...

Self-taping can sometimes feel like sending your audition into a void. In this episode, veteran casting director Jenny Jue, known for her work on Inglourious Basterds and The Brothers Sun, explains what actually happens after you hit send. She shares how casting has evolved, why she watches every tape, how she advocates for actors behind the scenes and what performers can do to improve their chances of landing the role. The views e...

There’s no shortage of advice out there for performers, but not all of it’s helpful or even accurate. In this episode, Rob Brownstein — a working actor, respected teacher and  SAG-AFTRA Professional Representatives Committee Chair — shares what works when preparing for auditions and honing your craft. Brownstein, who runs An Actor’s Space in Los Angeles, offers practical and actionable tips, including how to approach self-tapes wit...

Performers often hear they have to “network to get work,” but how can they do so without it feeling awkward, forced or just plain transactional? In this episode, host Duncan Crabtree-Ireland talks with performer-producer and SAG-AFTRA NextGen Performers Committee Vice Chair Rudy Solis III about building genuine relationships in the industry. From union events to everyday encounters, Rudy shares mindset shifts and practical tips to ...

In the second half of our conversation with Daisy Wu, senior partner at the Gersh Agency, we explore how the agent-actor relationship evolves over time—and what happens when success leads performers to rethink their reps. Wu shares hard truths about shifting industry economics, the realities of self-tapes and the importance of adaptability in today’s competitive landscape. She also discusses the often-overlooked collaboration betwe...

What makes a great agent—and how do you build a relationship that lasts? In Part 1 of this two-part series, Daisy Wu, senior partner in the talent department at the Gersh Agency, offers a candid look at how representation really works. She breaks down what agents are looking for, how actors can communicate more effectively, what to expect at different career stages and how to navigate tough industry realities. Whether you're lookin...

At this year's SAG Awards, Jane Fonda was named the 60th recipient of the Life Achievement Award. The legendary actor and activist sat down with SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher in an Actor to Actor conversation about her remarkable career spanning five decades. Fonda reflects on her early struggles finding meaningful roles, her emotional journey on ‘Grace and Frankie,’ and the challenges of being a woman in Hollywood. She also di...

At SXSW 2025, labor leaders gathered in a provocative panel discussion to address one of entertainment's most pressing challenges: A.I. regulation. Hosted by SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the panel featured Sam Wheeler (Executive Director/WGA East), Vanessa Holtgrewe (International Vice President / Assistant Department Director, Motion Picture & Television Production/ IATSE), an...

From stunt sequences to child protection, SAG-AFTRA members face unique challenges during production that require expert oversight. SAG-AFTRA Executive Director, Field Services Jim Damis and stunt performer Samantha MacIvor take listeners inside the critical work of the union's frontline presence protecting members. They also discuss responses to the Rust tragedy and the impact of the Safer Set 24/7 hotline. *The views expressed by...

Earlier this month, labor leaders worldwide gathered in Las Vegas for the 6th Annual Labor Innovation & Technology Summit. The event, held alongside CES 2025, was co-founded by SAG-AFTRA, the AFL-CIO and the AFL-CIO Tech Institute to tackle technology’s impact on workers' rights. In this episode, SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland sits down with Executive Vice President Linda Powell, NINT Committee Chair ...

V Spehar is the creator of Under the Desk News, which has become Gen Z and Millennials' go-to source for news, reaching over 3 million loyal followers. Throughout their career, V has been a powerful advocate for workers' rights, bringing a signature style of making complex issues accessible. In this episode, V talks about a personal journey from restaurant work to digital journalism, having an influential role during the 2023 SAG-A...

For the last several years, SAG-AFTRA has made it a priority to attend CES, the world's largest consumer tech exhibition where companies descend on Las Vegas to showcase their latest inventions and innovations. Members of the National Innovation and New Technology Committee and A.I. Task Force Committee join the podcast and talk about the emerging technologies they saw at CES 2025 that could impact the entertainment industry, from ...

With the SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contracts expiring on March 31, 2025, we're preparing to negotiate with the Joint Policy Committee, which represents advertisers and advertising agencies. Katie Von Till, actor and national chair of the Commercials Performer Committee, and Tracy Hyman, SAG-AFTRA national director of the Commercials and Corporate/Educational & Non-Broadcast department, join the podcast to help break down key contract e...