The star of the 2025 Oscar-nominated short film A Lien opens up about representation, perseverance, and working with Shonda Rhimes.
In the brand new episode of Survival Jobs, a Podcast, hosts Jason A. Coombs and Samantha Tuozzolo, sit down with charismatic, kind and hardworking actor Will Martinez for a heartfelt, hilarious, and deeply inspiring conversation about perseverance, purpose, and the role of art in today’s world.
Martinez, who played the lead role in the 2025 Oscar-nominated short film A Lien, shares how the film’s message resonates during a time when undocumented communities continue to face increasing hate and bigotry. He opens up about the responsibility artists have to reflect the times—and how A Lien gave voice to stories too often ignored!
Plus, in a can’t-miss moment, Will dishes on what it was like stepping into the Grey’s Anatomy universe as a guest star, including that nerve-wracking (and slightly surreal) first in-person table read with none other than Ellen Pompeo, Shonda Rhimes, and the whole dream team. This episode was recorded live and in-person at the WelcomeToTimesSquare.com Studios in New York City.
Jason and Samantha open the episode with a mic check, reflecting on their favorite things about summer as well as how submissions for the Bridgeport Film Fest are open till Monday, July 21! !
Lastly, the exclusive video interview can be found here on Broadway World, while the audio-only version of the episode is available on Broadway Podcast Network as well as popular platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible etc. Tune in now for insights, inspiration, and entertainment!
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