Noah Fearnley | A Vertical "Love Story" : The Vertical Buzz Ep 09

This week on The Vertical Buzz, host Buzz Leer sits down with Noah Fearnley, one of the most in-demand actors in vertical entertainment right now, to talk about what it takes to work at a high level in two worlds at the same time: vertical storytelling and traditional television. Noah opens up about the real grind behind the momentum, from juggling nonstop vertical shoots to stepping into major press for Love Story (FX, Hulu, Disney+), the series about JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette where Noah plays Michael Bergin. They also dig into his path from football and a major injury, to modeling, to moving to Los Angeles with almost nothing, to booking work, surviving the strike, and then exploding in verticals with 50+ projects. The conversation gets personal and meaningful as Noah shares his mental health journey, what success does and does not change, and why he is now building a mental health foundation. Then they close with a big look ahead at the Vertical Drama Love Fan Awards, the energy of bringing the community together in person, and what comes next for Noah. In this episode, you will learn: • How Noah Fearnley went from football and a knee injury to acting full time • The realities of building an acting career through the strike and hard financial seasons • How vertical storytelling hooked Noah and why he believes actors should start in verticals • The key differences between vertical sets and traditional sets, including pace and prep • What it was like stepping into the FX, Hulu, Disney+ world on Love Story • What people never warn you about success and why it does not fix what is happening inside • Noah’s approach to staying grounded and why he protects the fans by staying intentional • The mental health conversation and Noah’s plan to launch a foundation • Why the Vertical Drama Love Fan Awards matters and what the in-person energy will be like Chapters 00:00 Meet Noah Fearnley 02:34 Bio and Big Credits 05:02 Busy Life and Press 08:42 From Football to Verticals 21:15 Love Story Casting Journey 34:30 Staying Vertical Long Term 36:47 Rapid Fire Hot Takes 40:51 Success Pressure and Staying Grounded 50:40 Mental Health and New Foundation 01:02:58 Awards and Final Wrap Sponsor: AEIRO (Arrow Air Purifiers) AEIRO Air Purifiers help identify, reduce, and monitor airborne contaminants to create a cleaner indoor environment for homes and professional spaces. Featured in this episode: AEIRO AC150, powerful enough to clean rooms 300+ sq ft, quiet enough for production, with smart sensor controls and true HEPA plus carbon filtration. Website: AEIRO.co Guest: Noah Fearnley Noah Fearnley is an American actor from Orange, Connecticut, making serious noise in the fast-rising world of vertical storytelling. With leading roles across Apple TV, Hulu, and the Lifetime Network and more than 50 vertical films under his belt, Noah has quickly become one of the genre’s most recognizable faces. He made his theatrical debut in the 2026 film Mercy alongside Chris Pratt and now plays Michael Bergin in the FX series currently on Hulu and Disney+ Love Story, the story of JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. Before the camera, Noah built four companies. Off set, he is restoring his 68 Mustang, hanging with his dogs, or getting in a daily workout. Instagram: @noahfearnleyy Host: Buzz Leer Buzz Leer is an actor, host, and veteran of the vertical film space. Instagram: @buzz_leer Produced at Glendale Podcast Studio Owned and operated by Erika and Jason Hanan Instagram: @glendalepodcaststudio Social Media Coordinator: Ana Karina Cano Instagram: @anakarinacano Theme Song Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley, The Vertical Buzz Theme Song Public Relations and Media Robb Leer, Leer Communications, Inc. Thank you Special thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family. -Host, Buzz Leer