Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar

America’s Got Talent (AGT) is celebrating its 21st season! Judges Simon Cowell, Sofía Vergara, Howie Mandel, and Mel B, alongside host Terry Crews, will return for the 21st search for the million-dollar talent on June 2 on NBC and Peacock. To commemorate the 21st season, Jake’s take with Jacob Elyachar is taking a retrospective on the 21 auditions that changed the NBC talent competition forever: 1...

May is Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM), which annually celebrates the history, culture, and contributions of Jewish Americans to the United States.   As JAHM concludes, I am very excited that singers, songwriters, and bandmates Max Bartos & Jake Kitchin are the final guests on this Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar special series!   Max is New York’s resident motherfolker! His folk and Ame...

Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar acknowledges Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM). Mental Health America was established this observance in May 1949 to increase awareness of mental health issues, reduce stigma, celebrate recovery, and provide resources for individuals and communities.   I am thrilled to welcome Sean Martin as this year’s MHAM special guest. Sean is the executive producer, guitaris...

I am very excited to launch a very special series for  Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast . May is Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM), which annually celebrates the history, culture, and contributions of Jewish Americans to the United States.   It is a privilege to welcome Margarita Lyadova as the fourth guest on my JAHM special series. Margarita hosts the People Jew Wanna Know Podcast. Th...

I am very excited to launch a very special series for Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar. May is Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM), which annually celebrates the history, culture, and contributions of Jewish Americans to the United States.   I am honored to welcome my dear friend and mentor, Joanne J-Bird Phillips, to the podcast. I first met J-Bird in New York City through our mutual friend and...

I am very excited to launch a very special series for  Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast . May is Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM), which annually celebrates the history, culture, and contributions of Jewish Americans to the United States.   There are no words to describe how ecstatic I am to welcome back Ethan Zohn for a third time!  Ethan became a household name when he first appeared...

I am very excited to launch a very special series for Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast. May is Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM), which annually celebrates the history, culture, and contributions of Jewish Americans to the United States.    Throughout the month, I will welcome some incredible content creators, podcast hosts, performers, a Reality TV Legend, and a dear mentor who are mak...

A Note from Jacob: Since my conversation with Matt, the 2026 Janice Jam at Sony Hall is OFFICIALLY SOLD OUT!   I am thrilled to welcome back my friend, actor Matt DeAngelis, to Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar for an exclusive conversation!   Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Matt grew up on showtunes and Boston sports. Matt studied theatre at the University of Southern Maine and The Boston Co...

It is a pleasure to welcome Tony Kieraldo to the Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.   Tony is a world-renowned pianist, composer, and musical director, known for his work with Postmodern Jukebox, musical director for Celebrate the Beat in Colorado, and a music teaching artist with the National Dance Institute in New York.  In August 2025, he released Golden Keys. This project reimagined Jame...

It is a privilege to welcome Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Alvin Garrett to the Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.   Hailing from Birmingham, Alabama, the Grammy-nominated Alvin Garrett is commanding the attention of hearts and minds with his transcendent artistry. With a 25-year career defined by musical brilliance, lyrical depth, and cultural impact, he unveils the next chapter in his...

It is a privilege to welcome Chicago-born producer, rapper, singer, and songwriter Vi City to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.   He got his start at the Midwest city’s storied Wild Hundreds, a proving ground that shaped his raw, reflective sound and entrepreneurial mindset. Blending lived truth with elevated ambition, Vi’s music captures both the weight of his origins and the clarity o...

A Note from Jacob: Welcome to the 425th episode of Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast!  When I started this platform back in November 2019, I did not know that this journey would take me to interview authors, Emmy-winning actors and journalists, Grammy-winning producers, independent recording artists, my fellow podcasters, Reality TV legends, and social media influencers. Thank you to all my...

It is a privilege to welcome Sarah Harralson to the Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.   Sarah is a Nashville-based country music singer-songwriter known for her honest storytelling, emotional lyrics, and memorable melodies. Music Connection Magazine described her music as “honest, bare-boned recordings that are authentic,” a quality that has helped her build a growing international audience...

It is a pleasure to welcome author and musician Ben Barbic to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.   At 5-years-old, Ben was already recording his voice and never stopped. Music gave him peace, a way out of chaos, and a place to build himself. It became his sanctuary early in life, and it is today.  The Reggae and hip-hop artist have released over 100 songs with artists and producers world...

It is a thrill to welcome back my friend, singer-songwriter Max Bartos, to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.   Max is New York’s resident motherfolker! His folk and Americana music pairs introspective lyricism with anthemic folk-rock energy. As the frontman of Max Bartos and the Misfit Toys, he crafts songs rooted in storytelling and emotional honesty, with a modern acoustic sound shape...

Planet Comicon Kansas City has wrapped up its 2026 edition! Thousands of pop culture lovers traveled to the Kansas City Convention Center to meet some of their favorite celebrities, creators, and cosplayers. They also attended panels, fawned at artwork, bought merchandise, and created countless memories.    As always, Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar is my take on the 2026 Planet Comicon Kansas Cit...

It’s the second Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar EXCLUSIVE of 2026!   I am so excited and honored to welcome content creator and entrepreneur Nick Uhas back to the podcast!   Reality TV veterans first met the former professional stunt skater on the polarizing Big Brother 15, where he was the second evicted houseguest of the season. After the show, Nick continued creating science content on his YouT...

It is the first Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Exclusive of 2026 !  I am very privileged to welcome two-time Emmy-nominated actress Sydney Mikayla to the podcast!   Sydney began her career in 2011, playing roles in various television shows, including Community, Criminal Minds, Fuller House, Hot in Cleveland, Parenthood, and School of Rock.  In 2019, she joined the cast of the long-running ABC soa...

It is a privilege to welcome back my friend, Jeff Azar, aka Demi the Daredevil, to Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.   Hailing from El Paso, Texas, Demi, went from being the drummer to being a singer after the original lead singer, Jovan Ortiz, suddenly passed away. With this loss and his mental health struggles as catalysts, Jeff reimagined the band’s identity as an evocative blend of thea...

It is a privilege to welcome actor Kevin O’Sullivan to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.   Born in Los Angeles and raised in Potomac, Maryland, he splits his time between New York City and LA.  Kevin has enjoyed a long and lucrative career in the entertainment industry.  His first major role was on the iconic Beverly Hills, 90210, where he shared the screen with Jennie Garth, Jason Prie...

It is a pleasure to welcome singer Dawn Derow to the Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.   A New Yorker by way of Cape Cod, Dawn has been captivating audiences for more than 17 years with extraordinary versatility, moving seamlessly from Puccini to Brandi Carlile to Broadway and jazz. A graduate of the Boston Conservatory, she has performed on world-class stages including Carnegie Hall, Jazz...

It is a thrill to welcome back my friend, Ed Eason, to the Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast. Reality TV fans first met Ed when he appeared on the inaugural season of Netflix’s The Circle. He competed alongside his mom, Tammy. While they entered the game in the eighth episode, they were eliminated on the eleventh episode.  After The Circle, Ed appeared on The Challenge 37: Spies, Lies and Al...

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 authen...

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...

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 s...