The Writers Guild Podcast: Why All Writers Should Listen To 3rd and Fairfax
3rd and Fairfax Podcast Review: A WGA Podcast Not Just For Guild Members
You can throw a dart at iTunes and chances are you’ll hit a creative podcast of some form or another. One of the best things about podcasting is that anyone can launch a podcast. As with most creative endeavors, the cream tends to rise to the top. So when the Writers Guild of America launched its official podcast back in 2015, I was excited to see how the Guild would ensure that the podcast doesn’t run out of gas. Since its inception, it has evolved, introduced new hosts, and featured a great number of professional writers.
Read More »The host of the show changes episode to episode, but there are a few consistent hosts that return to interview guests. Some notable guests have included writers from shows like The Walking Dead, Better Call Saul, Big Little Lies, and feature films like Lady Bird and Get Out.
The 3rd and Fairfax podcast is a great resource for writers of all levels. While it is produced by the WGA, it’s not exclusively for WGA members. In fact, many of the episodes don’t even focus on Guild-related topics. Even if you’re not a member of the WGA, there’s still a lot to learn from this podcast.
Is the 3rd and Fairfax Podcast Exclusive to WGA Members?
No, as mentioned above, the 3rd and Fairfax podcast is NOT exclusive to WGA members, so you don’t need your WGA card to download. The WGA podcast is free to everyone, and any aspiring writer — regardless of his or her medium — would benefit from listening to a few of the podcast episodes and absorbing some of the insight and wisdom provided by its prolific guests.
Who Hosts the 3rd and Fairfax Podcast?
The hosts of the 3rd and Fairfax podcast vary from episode to episode, and they are all WGA writers themselves that write for movies, television, or both. There are a few regular hosts that appear on the show frequently. Here are some of the most notable:
• Brian Gary
• Hilliard Guess
• Luciano Saber
• Monique Sorgen
• David Sheftell
• Josaphine Green Zhang
• Aaron Fullerton
• Moon Zappa
• Gary Goldstein
• Steve Trautman
Who Are Some of the Featured Guests?
The guests on the 3rd and Fairfax podcast are mostly writers, but occasionally you’ll find an agent or manager as a guest. The majority of guests have worked on some pretty big shows, and they may not be household names. But for the uninitiated, some of the television and film writers have worked on highly acclaimed series and features, including:
• The Walking Dead
• Better Call Saul
• Breaking Bad
• Mad Men
• Game of Thrones
• The Handmaid’s Tale
• Big Little Lies
• Stranger Things
• Get Out
• Lady Bird
• Black Panther
• Wonder Woman
And many, many more. If you’re a fan of any of these shows, then you’ll definitely want to check out the episodes featuring the writers behind them.
Notable 3rd and Fairfax Podcast Episodes
There are too many great episodes of the 3rd and Fairfax podcast to list them all here, but here are a few early episodes that stand out and are a must-listen:
Episode 1: “Breaking In” with John August
In this episode, John August, screenwriter of Go and Big Fish, talks about how he got his start in Hollywood and the importance of writing a great script.
Episode 3: “The Business” with Chris Soth
In this episode, Chris Soth, an agent at Verve, talks about the business of Hollywood and how to get your foot in the door.
Episode 5: “TV Writing” with Terence Winter
In this episode, Terence Winter, writer of The Sopranos and Boardwalk Empire, talks about writing for television.
More recent episodes of note include:
Danny Strong: Creator of Dopesick on Hulu
Alex Berg & Bill Hader: Creators of Barry on HBO
Michael Patrick King: Creator of Sex and the City and …And Just Like That
Liz Hannah & Patrick Macmanus: Creators of The Girl From Plainview
How to Listen to the 3rd and Fairfax Podcast
You can listen to the 3rd and Fairfax podcast on a number of different platforms, including:
• iTunes
• Stitcher
• Google Play Music
• Spotify
• iHeartRadio
• Podbean
There are also a few episodes available on the WGA website, but the best way to keep up with new episodes is to subscribe on your preferred podcasting platform.
When Is the 3rd and Fairfax Podcast Released?
New episodes of the 3rd and Fairfax podcast are released every Wednesday, but there are some episodes that get dropped off schedule. If you’re new to the podcast, however, there are over 300 episodes to binge, literally hundreds of hours of education for any aspiring writer or screenwriter.
Final Thoughts: A Screenwriter Podcast With Something For Everyone
There are some podcasts that transcend their niches and reach a greater audience. While the Writers Guild of America’s 3rd and Fairfax podcast may be interesting to many, it will likely appeal most to writers. However, if you’re not a writer, there’s still something to be gleaned from listening, especially if one of your favorite show or movies is featured.
The podcast is a great way to get an inside look at how some of the biggest shows on television are written, and it’s also a great way to learn about the business side of Hollywood. Even if you’re not interested in writing for television or film, the 3rd and Fairfax podcast is still worth a listen.
