3rd & Fairfax: The WGAW Podcast

3rd & Fairfax, the official podcast of the Writers Guild of America West, features information and updates about the Guild and interviews with top writers.

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Executive Producers: Brian Gary and Steve Trautmann
Hosts: Aaron Fullerton, Brian Gary, Josephine Green Zhang, Hilliard Guess, Jon Gutierrez, David Radcliff, Luciano Saber, David Sheftell, Susie Singer Carter, Monique Sorgen, Steve Trautmann, Andra Whipple, Moon Zappa

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Episode transcripts available upon request.

MARCH 6, 2024

Ep. 368 – Albert Kim | Matt Pearce on Organizing in the Newsroom
This year has seen multiple newsroom strikes, massive lay-offs, and sudden closures. In this episode’s Union Town segment (1:01), WGAW Asian American Writers Committee Chair Kristina Woo talks with Media Guild West President and former Los Angeles Times writer Matt Pearce about how reporters are organizing the newsroom to push back against corporate greed and protect good jobs. Kristina then speaks with writer and former journalist Albert Kim, developer and showrunner of Avatar: The Last Airbender, about crafting his new hit Netflix series, how Asian representation matters, and more (31:51).

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February 22, 2024

Ep. 367 – Gina Yashere | Second City Teachers Discuss Tentative Deal
In this episode’s “Union Town” segment (1:05), host Andra Whipple speaks with Rebekah Walendzak Slepski & Bina Martin about how teachers at the Second City Training Center in Chicago, members of the Association of International Comedy Educators, reached a tentative deal with the iconic comedy company after a marathon, 11-hour bargaining session, thwarting a planned strike and ending a two-year fight for their first contract. Then host Monique Sorgen talks with writer-actor-comedian Gina Yashere (25:18) about her Nigerian-British roots and her unique path from stand-up to co-creating and co-starring on CBS’ hit comedy series Bob Hearts Abishola.

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February 8, 2024

Ep. 366 – Cord Jefferson, and USC Adjunct Professors Fight for Unionization
In this episode’s new “Union Town” segment (1:18), WGAW member Jasmyne Peck speaks with educators Peter Gamble and Dara Resnik about how USC’s Adjunct Faculty Alliance is organizing with UAW (United Auto Workers) to improve their pay and working conditions. Next up, to coincide with Black History Month, Committee of Black Writers Co-Chair Hilliard Guess talks with Writers Guild Award & Emmy-winning and Academy Award-nominated writer Cord Jefferson (18:24) (Succession, Watchmen) about his acclaimed film American Fiction, the challenges of adaption, and creating Black-centered narratives.

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