A Conversation With Finneas

Vertical microdramas are scripted series shot in portrait mode for your phone and told in bite-sized, cliffhanger-filled chapters — and they're becoming a fast-growing form of entertainment. That's why SAG-AFTRA launched the Vertical Programs Agreement, a contract built specifically for this kind of storytelling. SAG-AFTRA Executive Vice President Linda Powell talks with Deputy Chief Contracts Officer Jessica Johnson about what counts as a vertical, what performers should know before saying yes to work, and how you're protected when you book one. For more info: sagaftra.org/verticals. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA.

Getting paid for your music has never been simple. And as the industry has moved from radio to satellite and streaming, it's only gotten more complicated. Now artificial intelligence is raising new questions about who controls an artist's work and who gets paid when it's used. SoundExchange President and CEO Michael Huppe joins the podcast to explain how his organization has distributed more than $13 billion in digital royalties to over 850,000 music creators, the threat of AI to divert royalties away from human artists and why the American Music Fairness Act could change how performers are compensated for radio airplay. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA.

One of the most important skills for any actor, whether they're prepping for class, an audition, or a self-tape at home is analyzing this script: the who, what, when, where and why of a scene. Our guest today, New York Local member Jill Stern, has been teaching those elements at SAG-AFTRA's New York Conservatory since 2013. She shares how to get the most out of a first read, how to make bold choices and when it's OK to improvise. Jill also shares tips for self-tapes and advice on creating your own projects during slow periods. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA.

Broadcast journalists chase breaking news, work unpredictable hours and sometimes put themselves in harm's way to tell stories the public needs to know. But the job is changing. Tracee Wilkins is an investigative reporter with NBC4 Washington and president of SAG-AFTRA's Washington-Mid Atlantic Local. She takes us inside the newsroom to talk about why reporters are being asked to do more with less, what it takes to produce for TV, digital and social all at once, and growing concerns about safety and First Amendment rights. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA

Voiceover work covers a lot of ground: audiobooks, animation, commercials, video games, ADR/looping, dubbing. But how different are they really, and what does it take to break in? David Jolliffe has voiced well over 1,000 TV episodes and serves as SAG-AFTRA's L.A. Local Second Vice President. Nancy Linari is a voiceover performer and audiobook narrator best known as the voice of Aunt May in Marvel's Spider-Man. They walk through the distinct skill set each lane demands. They also get into how home studios changed the game post-COVID, why relationships and networking matter and how the union contracts protecting this work came together. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA.

This Labor Day, we step back and ask a bigger question: what's the state of the unions in America right now? Not just SAG-AFTRA, but the whole movement. Where we've made real gains, where we're facing challenges and what it actually means to be a union member in 2026. To tackle these topics, we're joined by two prominent labor leaders who are at the center of that fight. Sean Astin is President of SAG-AFTRA and was recently elected a Vice President of the AFL-CIO. Liz Shuler is President of the AFL-CIO, representing nearly 15 million working people. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA.  

Not every commercial is a big-budget ad for a national brand. Local restaurants, car dealerships, state lotteries, to name a few, all need commercials too. But the terms of our national commercial contract don't always make sense for these regional advertisers. That's where Regional Commercial Codes come in. These agreements create opportunities for working actors in small to mid-size markets across the country by making it easier for local businesses to hire union talent. SAG-AFTRA Vice President, Mid-Size Locals, Nikki Izanec joins the show to walk us through what Regional Commercial Codes are, how they work and why they matter. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA.

Finneas O'Connell is a two-time Academy Award winner, an 11-time Grammy winner, and the creative force behind some of the biggest music of the last decade. He's also a lifelong SAG-AFTRA member who grew up watching his family navigate the industry. In this episode, Finneas talks about his path from child actor to multi-hyphenate creative, the craft behind his music, and why union membership has meant something to him his whole life. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA.

Earlier this year, SAG-AFTRA ratified a new TV/Theatrical Agreement, and a previous episode covered the big wins: the pension merger, AI protections, scale increases, and more. But it's a 148-page contract, and some of the most meaningful gains for working performers may have flown under the radar. This episode goes deeper into the provisions that really add up on set and in members' paychecks. Deputy Chief Contracts Officer Jessica Johnson joins the show to discuss recurring performer escalators, series regular protections, meal penalties, per diems, and even a new pay provision for corsets. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA.

SAG-AFTRA member Harrison Ford has spent nearly seven decades as one of Hollywood's most beloved actors, but he'd still rather be called a working actor than an icon. This year, Ford was honored with the union's 61st Life Achievement Award at the 32nd Annual Actor Awards presented by SAG-AFTRA on March 1. In this episode, we listen back to an Actor to Actor conversation with Ford and SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin. The two talk about Ford's early studio contract years at Columbia and Universal, his quiet standoff with Ridley Scott while shooting Blade Runner, and what's kept him showing up for the work all these years later. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA.