Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar

It is a pleasure to welcome Shruti Sadana as a guest to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.  

With a rich background both in front of the camera as an actor and behind the scenes in production, Shruti brings a uniquely holistic perspective to managing talent — one that honors the whole person, not just the career.

As Co-Founder of Hey Beauti Magazine, a platform rooted in deep and authentic conversations, Shruti partnered with Nicola Haggins to amplify voices and stories that inspire real connection. She produced compelling cover shoots featuring talents like Sarah Shahi, Steve...

Author’s Note: Because Karen B. Gerson and I discussed serious topics related to mental health on the podcast, if you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please visit the Mental Health Hotline website or call 9-8-8.  

It is a thrill to welcome my longtime mentor, Karen B. Gerson, to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.

Karen is a writer, advocate, and survivor who uses her lived experience with mental illness to break stigma and inspire understanding. Her debut memoir, I Should Not Be Here, explores...

It is a privilege to welcome actor and author Blake Cooper Griffin to the Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.  

Blake’s story spans extraordinary extremes. Raised in the South, he survived bullying and conversion therapy as a teenager before navigating Hollywood as an openly gay actor long before inclusivity became an industry talking point. Despite being told by top representation that his sexuality made him “unmarketable,” he went on to book nine film and television roles in a single year — launching a career that includes standout performances in HBO’s Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynast...

It is a privilege to welcome back my friend, Kenyth Mogan, to the Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.  

The Glasgow, Montana, native, now a Los Angeles transplant, released his first full-length studio album, Star Stealer.  The collection paid tribute to some of his favorite singer-songwriters, including Belinda Carlisle (“Live Your Life Be Free”), Tiffany (“I Think We’re Alone Now”), and several top artists from the 1980s and 1990s. 

Recently, Kenyth Mogan and the illustrator Umi Rage released My Super Fiancé. It is a genre-bending Boys Love drama that fuses superhero action with sizzling romance, mystery, a...

It is a privilege to welcome singer, songwriter, and actress Kendra Erika to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.  

Kendra’s unmistakable voice, cinematic flair, and fearless creativity have made her one of today’s compelling emerging artists. With five Billboard Top 10 dance hits, including her number one re-imaging of Laura Branigan’s “Self-Control,” Kendra has carved a signature lane in pop, dance, jazz-fusion, and sophisticated theatrical storytelling.  

 On February 13, Kendra released her new full-length studio album, License to Thrill. Inspired by the timeless world of James Bond glamour, the project blends cinematic jazz, sultry vocals...

It is a privilege to welcome actor, model, and producer Jake Jensen to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.  

Jake is a former professional tennis player turned actor, producer, sports psychologist, and mental health performance coach. He brings a rare blend of grit, intellect, and emotional depth to every role he inhabits – on screen and in life. His portrayal of Finn Larsen in Challengers is a profound statement of his ability to channel lived experience into cinematic authenticity. As a trash-talking Scandinavian tennis pro, Jensen’s character embodies the psychological warfare and raw ambition that define the spo...

It is a privilege to welcome back my friend, content creator, entrepreneur and podcast host Tony Berardo, to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.  

Tony is a content and podcast expert. He offers various services, including sponsorship opportunities for his two successful podcasts and podcast coaching services to help people start a podcast. He also specializes in creating UGC (user-generated content) videos to help customers engage more with their websites and social media channels. Previous clients include AeroTrunk, HighKey, LifePro, Ninja Creami, and Superfat + Whole Foods.  

Tony also hosts the show, Humanity & Hashtags (formerly The B...

It is a privilege to welcome Woody Woodbeck to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.  

For over 20 years, Woody has been taking the world of entertainment by storm, starting in radio and quickly expanding to TV, entertainment news, and social media. He is an TELLY, EMMY & GLAAD award winning TV producer, former producer for Dr. Phil, former member of President Obama's Leadership Council of 2012, previously a producer for former Vice President Al Gore and CURRENT TV, and has been featured in PEOPLE, OUT magazine, Entertainment Tonight, Huffington Post and The Advocate magazine for his work within the...

It is a privilege to welcome comedian and musician Jeff Richards to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.  

Jeff is one of two cast members to have performed on both late-night comedy shows – MADTV and Saturday Night Live (SNL). On January 23, he released a 31-track collection called Don’t Know You (But I Miss You). The collection brings together the best of his music from years of projects, characters, and his alter ego, Ditto Kitto, all released under his own name.  

The album swings from lo-fi 80s weird-pop to sharp, funny mini-anthems, several of which al...

A Note from Jacob: Since the recording of our podcast, Israel found and returned the body of Ran Gvilii from Gaza, marking the return of all hostages.  

It is a privilege to welcome singer-songwriter Tristan to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast. 

Tristan is a Generation Z recording artist with a growing social media following thanks to his music and activism. Since the October 7 attacks, he has raised his voice on social media, calling out against the raging antisemitism and anti-Zionism. He also launched the We Are Dancing Again movement, which honors the victims and s...

A Note from Jacob: Since the recording of this podcast, MTV’s Official Challenge Podcast has announced that it has concluded filming new episodes.  Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar thanks show co-hosts Aneesa Ferreira, Da’Vonne Rogers, Devyn Simone, and Tori Deal, and the Official Challenge Podcast crew for taking fans behind the scenes of the show.  

For the first time ever, content creators Mike Lewis and Oscar Chark sat down together exclusively for Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.  

Mike Lewis is a mental health advocate and host of The Mike Lewis Podcast. Since launchi...

It is an honor to welcome both Weston “Wes” & Amanda Bergmann to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.  

Reality TV fans first met Weston Bergmann in 2006’s The Real World: Austin. On the show, he met longtime friends Melinda (Stolp) Collins and Nehemiah Clark, and once filming completed, Weston and the rest of the Austin cast headed off to compete on the long-running MTV competition, The Challenge.  

Throughout his time on the show, he appeared on 14 flagship seasons, both Champs vs. Stars seasons, The Challenge USA 2, The Challenge All-Stars: Season Three, and The Challenge: World Cham...

I am so delighted to finally welcome one of my friends and mentors, the incomparable Julie Cortés, to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast!  

Julie is a copywriter by day and a freelance rockstar by night. Her journey began in 1998, when she was removed from her job. However, the event lit a fire beneath her. What started as a “What now?” moment turned into a HELL YEAH kind of career – one that she built from the ground up following her natural talent, relentless drive, and rebellious energy.  Today, Julie Cortés helps clients across the globe find t...

It is a privilege to welcome actress and singer Kim Yarbrough back to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar brand (and for the first time on the podcast) for the first time in 14 years!  
 
Many Reality TV fans first saw Kim Yarbrough audition for The Voice USA: Season Two in Spring 2012. Her powerful interpretation of Chaka Khan’s “Tell Me Something Good” turned both founding coaches' chairs, Adam Levine and Christina Aguilera, around.  After joining Team Adam, Kim wowed the audience with her cover of Mary J. Blige’s “No More Drama” and advanced to the Season Two Live Playoffs...

The Masked Singer is back! America’s favorite celebrity competition has returned for a fourteenth helping. 

Host Nick Cannon and panelists Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Robin Thicke, and Rita Ora welcomed a new set of undercover performers to the show. Little do they know that Rita’s Descendants co-star, Kylie Cantrall, infiltrated the competition as the show’s first Masked Singer (MS) Insider.  

Last week, she entered the competition as the Cat Witch and, along with fellow competitors Galaxy Girl, Hangman, Pugcasso, Queen Corgi, Scarab, Snow Cone, and Stingray, advanced.  However, her competitors, Googly Eyes and the C...

I could not be celebrating my fifteenth anniversary as a content creator and interviewer without welcoming back one of my all-time favorite guests and Reality TV alums, Paulie Calafiore, to Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar.  

Paulie first made his way to Reality TV when he was cast on CBS’s Big Brother 18, where he won two HOHs and three Vetoes before being evicted on Day 66. He next made his MTV debut on the inaugural season of Ex on the Beach USA. After the show, Paulie ventured onto The Challenge: Final Reckoning, where he teamed up with Big Broth...

Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar is beginning our 15th anniversary celebration! To commemorate this milestone, I decided to combine two of my favorite things – podcasting and The Masked Singer!
 
Introducing, Jake’s Masked Singer Take! Like its older brother spin-off, Jake’s AGT Take, this podcast focuses on FOX’s undercover celebrity talent competition!    

For the first time in a year, The Masked Singer is back and with its biggest twist ever! Earlier in December, actress and singer (and Rita Ora’s Disney’s Descendants co-star) Kylie Cantrall was revealed to fans as the MS Insider. However...

It is a thrill to welcome back my friend, three-time Tony-winning producer and investor Evan McGill, to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast!  

Evan is also a Drama Desk Award and Drama League Award-winning theatrical and music producer whose work spans Broadway, the West End, and Australia. He is a member of the Broadway League and the founder of Evan McGill Productions, where he has played a pivotal role in shaping some of the most celebrated theatrical productions in recent years. ​ On Broadway, his producing credits include Parade (2023), The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window (2023), The Outsiders, a...

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jake-s-take-with-jacob-elyachar--4112003/support.

It is hard to believe that 2025 is concluding on December 31. This year has come and gone so fast!

Professional Milestones:   
It has been an incredible year for Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar, as we received our first award – a Silver Stevie for “Best Interview / Talk Show” in the inaugural podcasting division. Million Podcasts placed the Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast at number 72 on their Best 100 Celebrity Interview Podcasts in the US. I am honored to be included on this list, joining On Air with Ryan Seacrest (number four), The Drew Barrymore Show (number five...

It is a thrill to welcome back newly crowned Challenge champion Yeremi Hykel for a special Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast episode.  

A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Yeremi first appeared on Reality TV on The Amazing Race 35, which aired in 2023. He partnered with his brother, Navy veteran Liam, who had been estranged for years.  The first leg saw the duo start racing from the Hollywood sign and finish in Thailand, where they placed eighth out of 13.  The duo was nearly eliminated in Vietnam, but fortunately, it was a non-elimination leg. Sadly, Yeremi and Liam...

For the final regular podcast of 2025, I am thrilled to welcome back my friend, eight-time Emmy-winning media personality Michael Mackie, to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast!  

Michael Mackie is a proud Midwesterner. Growing up, he always knew he wanted to be in TV. Or on TV. Or watching TV. (He’s not picky.) “I even got my degree in broadcasting from the University of Iowa to prove to the world I was not only educated but well-versed in sitcoms, game shows, and Oprah,” he says. “Also, I got minors in French and acting as well. Someday, th...

It is an honor and a privilege to welcome music producer and songwriter Toby Gad to the first Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast Holiday Special!  

Toby began his career in the late 1980s, when he and his brother Jens had three of their songs featured on controversial music duo Milli Vanilli’s European debut and multi-platinum album, All or Nothing. Because of the songs’ success, Milli Vanilli’s producer Frank Farian produced the brothers’ 1990 debut album, NRG. That same year, Toby met Jacqueline Nemorin, and a 10-year collaboration began with 1992’s Creole Dance and continued with 1995’s Mission of Lo...

Welcome to a special edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast!

Today, we welcome D’Andre McKenzie to the podcast!   A Lee’s Summit, Missouri native, D’Andre McKenzie began his career as a Defensive Back (jersey number 29) for the University of Missouri Tigers football team.  After graduating with a double bachelor’s degree in mass communication + Media Studies and English, D’Andre worked as an actor in the Kansas City metropolitan area before relocating to New York City.  

In 2023, D’Andre made his Reality TV debut on Netflix’s Squid Game: The Challenge’s first se...

It is a pleasure to welcome actor Bryan James to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.  

A California native, Bryan James grew up all over the state, living everywhere from San Francisco to San Diego. James did a lot of theatre growing up in different areas of the state. When he moved to Hollywood, he joined the Ivana Chubbuck Studio.    Bryan took his first step in the professional acting world when he starred in the Discovery Health Channel’s Mystery ER. From 2012 to 2016, he created, produced, and starred in the popular web series Youthful Daze, in which h...

It is a pleasure to welcome singer-songwriter Jennifer Harper as a guest on the latest edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.

 Raised in a musical family in Washington, D.C., Jennifer was drawn to the piano from a young age. Her early influences included the sounds of Simon & Garfunkel, Cat Stevens, and Joni Mitchell, which she taught herself to play by ear. This early passion for music set the stage for a lifelong journey of creative expression and healing. Jennifer’s artistry is both contemplative and assured, a blend of her classical training and deep...

Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar salutes all the veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces. Thank you for your service and sacrifices.  

It is a pleasure to welcome Yeremi Hykel to the podcast! A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Yeremi first appeared on Reality TV on The Amazing Race 35, which aired in 2023. He partnered with his brother, Navy veteran Liam, who had been estranged for years.  The first leg saw the duo start racing from the Hollywood sign and finish in Thailand, where they placed eighth out of 13.  The duo was nearly eliminated in Vi...

Six years ago, I launched a new venue, The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.

The podcast has welcomed guests across the entertainment and lifestyle industries.   The guests have ranged from Emmy-winning journalists such as Anne Trujillo, Elex Michaelson, and Michael Mackie, and Emmy-winning actor Mike Manning, to Tony-winning producer Evan McGill and Reality TV legends such as Beth Stolarczyk, Derrick Kosinski, Ethan Zohn, Jon Brennan, Mark Long, Rachel Reilly, Rob Cesternino, and Syrus Yarbrough.  I am incredibly grateful to all the publicists and talent management teams who trusted me with their clients.  

...

It is an honor and a privilege to welcome two-time Emmy-winning actor, producer, and writer Mike Manning to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.   

Television audiences first met Mike when he joined the cast of MTV’s legendary Reality TV series, The Real World: D.C. After completing filming, he dove into the entertainment industry. He appeared on Crash & Bernstein, Hawaii Five-0, Major Crimes, Teen Wolf, The Haves and Have Nots, and This Is Us.  

Daytime television fans know Mike from his work on the popular web soap opera The Bay (Caleb McKinnon), Days of Our...

Happy Halloween, everyone!   For the first time (and in podcasting history), I will be entering the Pokémon world! 

All thanks to my friend, Marcus J. Anthony (Elite MJ)!   Marcus has written a phenomenal fan fiction series, Pokémon: Next Generation. The series is set ten years after Ash Ketchum won the Pokémon World Championships.  Inspired by Ash Ketchum, Johto native Marc Masters is on his own journey in the home region of his hero.  Together with his friends Rachel and Anthony, they are currently traveling across Kanto with unique goals.  Along the way, Marc has won four gym...

It is a privilege to welcome author and journalist Katie Bain to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.  

For over 15 years, Katie has covered the global dance and electronic music world scene. Her work has appeared in The Guardian, VICE, RBMA, L.A. Weekly, Flaunt, and many other publications.   She is currently the director of dance and electronic coverage and senior music correspondent at Billboard. Katie wrote more than a dozen cover stories on recording artists, including Justice, Justin Bieber, Peggy Gou, Swedish House Mafia, and the Weeknd. She also reported stories from 13 countries and has done...

I am delighted to welcome back Cody L. Patterson and his fellow co-hosts, AGT Commenter and Jay Bock, to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.  

Together with their colleagues Ryan “Minnesota Ryan” Rivard and Stephen Michael, this trio has covered the long-running NBC talent competition. 

On this post-season episode of Jake’s AGT Take, Cody, Commentator, and Jay break down the season, share their take on robbed acts, Jessica Sanchez’s win, and how the show producers can make the show better for its upcoming twenty-first season.

Become a supporter of this podcast: htt...

It is a privilege to welcome actor and content creator Oscar Chark as a guest on The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.  

In August 2020, Oscar joined YouTube as the host of Rookie Revolution. Over the past several years, Rookie Revolution has built a following for its takes on the long-running MTV reality competition show The Challenge. Some of his topics include ranking the Top 10 Best Reunions, the Best Seasons to Watch for Beginners or New Fans, and “What Ifs” in show history.  

 On September 26, 2025, Oscar announced he was the channel's host and that he might be...

It is a pleasure to welcome country music singer Adam Warner to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.

Country music’s breakout artist has learned not to take himself too seriously, and his music gives his audience permission to do the same. With standout releases like “4 Square Miles,” which reached #1 on The Country Network’s Video Countdown, and “Semper Fi” featuring Trace Adkins, a tribute to active and former military that was named Independent Country Music Song of the Year, Warner has carved out a place of honor in the genre. His high...

It is an honor to welcome author, educator, and music executive Tom Sturges to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.  

Tom served as president of Chrysalis Music, EVP and Head of Creative for Universal Music Publishing Group, and VP/GM of Shaquille O’Neal’s TWIsM Records. Tom’s signings include 3 Doors Down, 50 Cent & G Unit, Afroman, Chris Brown, Foo Fighters, Jack Johnson, Owl City, and Vanessa Carlton. He also signed several hit songwriters and producers, including Jason Epperson (Jay-E), Mark Batson, and Sean Garrett. Tom Sturges’s signings produced a combined 195 million albums and 32 million singles in...

It is an honor and a privilege to welcome Jane Eisner to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.  

In 1980, Jane joined The Philadelphia Inquirer. For 25 years, she held various positions at the outlet, including editorial page editor, syndicated columnist, City Hall bureau chief, and foreign correspondent.  From 2006 to 2008, she served as the vice president of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.   

In 2008, Jane Eisner joined The Forward as editor-in-chief, the first woman to hold the position at America’s foremost national Jewish news organization. The publication dramatically expanded its digital reach, becoming the authoritative source o...

It is a privilege to welcome music producer and podcast host Tony Mantor to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.  

The Madison, Maine native first arrived in Nashville as a touring sideman for country music sensation Ronnie McDowell in 1976.  Since that time, Mantor has progressed and evolved into an award-winning music producer and artist developer, recording and placing 33 songs into the Top 40, and 16 songs into the Top 10 of various U.S.-based major music charts, including Billboard, Indicator, Mediabase, Cashbox & Music Row Magazine. He’s worked with artists like Debby Campbell (daughter of Glen Campbell), Bobby Brooks...

America’s Got Talent (AGT)’s 20th Anniversary Season has concluded!

Earlier this year, thousands of acts auditioned for the chance to impress producers. Only a select few were invited by show producers to appear in front of veteran judges Simon Cowell, Sofia Vergara, Howie Mandel, and Mel B. 10 acts received an immediate ticket to the live shows thanks to the Golden Buzzer. At the same time, 34 had to wait for the deliberations.  

Then, we had the live shows, as for the second year in a row, four acts (Steve Ray Ladson, Mama Duke, Micah...

It is a privilege to welcome alt-pop recording artist and producer ROHAN to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.  

ROHAN was an Australian kid with big dreams. Indian parents raised him in Australia and Singapore. He was introduced to music through Australian Idol and Green Day’s American Idiot, which led him to explore computers and front bands in Melbourne and Singapore.  

After high school, he moved to California and attended Stanford to continue exploring his love for technology and music. Now, out of his own studio in San Francisco and pulling inspiration from Austral...

It is a privilege to welcome Max Bartos and Chelsea Turbin as guests for a special edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.  

On Sunday, September 21, Max (from Sing Street) and Chelsea (from Off-Broadway’s Little Shop of Horrors) will join an all-star lineup of performers at the New York City-based 54 Below to celebrate the 21st anniversary of Green Day’s iconic album, American Idiot, and its subsequent Broadway musical. 

Max co-produced this tribute concert with director/producer Laura Pietropinto and actor Matt DeAngelis. The two explosive shows mark over two decades since the band...