just tak

Madeleine West joins Tak for a raw, funny and wide-ranging conversation about Neighbours, surviving a near-fatal accident, rebuilding her identity, stand-up comedy, advocacy and the landmark Survivors Law.What we get into:* Motherhood and embracing the chaos* The landmark Survivors Law and why it matters* Speaking publicly about childhood sexual abuse and confronting her perpetrator* Landing Dee Bliss after just two days with an agent* Walking away from Neighbours at the height of her success* The bus accident that shattered her face and her sense of identity* Rebuilding a career beyond being “the soap girl”* Doing stand-up comedy while heavily pregnant* Dee’s wedding-day cliff plunge and one of Neighbours’ most iconic exits* Returning as Dee and evil twin Andrea* The physical tricks she used to switch between the twins* Why she could not return for Neighbours’ first finale* Playing Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desirejust tak. is an interview platform dedicated to unmasking the reality of the creative industry. Hosted by Australian actor and presenter Takaya Honda, the show strips away the polished PR narratives to ask the most important question in performance: Why?Support Just Tak on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/justtakPromotion / Links:Follow Madeleine Westhttps://www.instagram.com/msmadswest/Survivors Law / access to offender superannuation:https://ministers.ag.gov.au/media-centre/transcripts/press-conference-parliament-house-canberra-25-03-2026A Streetcar Named Desire - Bangalow Theatre Company:https://www.bangalowtheatre.com.au/Sponsors:BeautyBoat.com: use code BIN25 for 25% off your entire order.https://beautyboat.com/RØDE: thanks for the mics making us sound so good.Support:If you’re having a tough time, please don’t struggle alone.Australia: Lifeline 13 11 14, 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention.

Something a little different from Just Tak this week…No guest. No edit. Just Takaya, live on YouTube and answering your questions.In this special live episode, Tak takes questions from viewers around the world and chats all things Neighbours, Play School, acting and the realities of working in the Australian screen industry - with plenty of stories and tangents along the way.We get into:· Neighbours memories and behind-the-scenes stories· David, Aaron and life on Ramsay Street· Play School and what’s coming up· Acting, auditions and the state of the industry· Future Just Tak guests· Your questions, answered livejust tak. is an interview platform dedicated to unmasking the reality of the creative industry. Hosted by Australian actor and presenter Takaya Honda, the show strips away the polished PR narratives to ask the most important question in performance: Why?Support Just Tak on Patreon:Patreon.com/justtakSponsors:BeautyBoat.com: use code BIN25 for 25% off your entire order.https://beautyboat.com/RØDE: thanks for the mics making us sound so good.

Debra Lawrance joins Tak for a warm, candid and deeply personal conversation about Home and Away, Neighbours, Please Like Me, nearly 50 years in acting, learning to listen to her body, surviving the industry and the moment she finally became Debra rather than simply Pippa.What we get into:· Stepping away from the Steel Magnolias tour· Why actors push through illness and exhaustion· Learning to rest after nearly 50 years in the industry· Discovering acting and leaving Melbourne for NIDA· Training alongside Judy Davis, Mel Gibson and Steve Bisley· Learning not to envy another actor’s success· Missing a major role and the advice that stayed with her· Taking time away from acting for family· Returning through Blue Heelers· Life after Pippa and becoming Debra Lawrance· The responsibility and social impact of television· Please Like Me and telling stories without labels· Coaching young actors on Neighbours· Jackie Woodburne, Alan Fletcher and on-set mentorship· Playing Liz Conway and crossing from Summer Bay to Ramsay Street· Working through grief while filming Home and Away· Signs, dreams and unexplained moments after loss· Acting coaching, career mindset and creating your own workjust tak. is an interview platform dedicated to unmasking the reality of the creative industry. Hosted by Australian actor and presenter Takaya Honda, the show strips away the polished PR narratives to ask the most important question in performance: Why?Support Just Tak on Patreon:https://Patreon.com/justtakPromotion / Links:Debra Lawrance on IMDbhttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm0492592/Watch Please Like Mehttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt2155025/Sponsors:BeautyBoat.com: use code BIN25 for 25% off your entire order.https://beautyboat.com/RØDE: thanks for the mics making us sound so good.Support:If you’re having a tough time, please don’t struggle alone.Australia: Lifeline 13 11 14, 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention. If life is in danger, call 000.United Kingdom: Text Shout to 85258 for free, confidential 24/7 crisis text support. If you are in immediate danger, call 999.

George Zhao joins Takaya Honda for a funny, open and vulnerable chat about Ghosts Australia, The Family Law, acting, ego, imposter syndrome, identity, clown doctoring, almost quitting the industry and learning that casting is not a competition.What we get into:· George’s Logie nomination for Ghosts Australia· Meeting Takaya on The Family Law· Moving from Sydney to Melbourne· Growing up between New Zealand and Australia· His first brush with performance through The Lion King auditions· Dance, school, shame and self-awareness· Almost training to become an Anglican minister· Finding acting at drama school· Early success, ego and The Family Law· Ghosts Australia and playing Joon· Anxiety, self-worth and almost quitting acting· Working as a clown doctor in children’s hospitals· Disability support, counselling and life outside acting· Asian actors, comparison and competition· Why booking the role is not the same as “winning”· Neighbours auditions, David, Leo and old friendships· Voting for George at the TV Week Logiesjust tak. is an interview platform dedicated to unmasking the reality of the creative industry. Hosted by Australian actor and presenter Takaya Honda, the show strips away the polished PR narratives to ask the most important question in performance: Why?Support Just Tak on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/c/justtakPromotion / Links:Watch George Zhao in Ghosts Australiahttps://10.com.au/ghosts-australiaWatch George Zhao in The Family Lawhttps://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-series/the-family-lawVote for George Zhao at the TV Week Logieshttps://tvweeklogies.com.au/Find out more about Clown Doctors Australiahttps://clowndoctorsaustralia.org.au/Sponsors:BeautyBoat.com: use code BIN25 for 25% off your entire order.https://beautyboat.com/RØDE: thanks for the mics making us sound so good.Support:If you’re having a tough time, please don’t struggle alone.Australia: Lifeline 13 11 14, 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention. If life is in danger, call 000.United Kingdom: Text Shout to 85258 for free, confidential 24/7 crisis text support. If you are in immediate danger, call 999.

Matthew Backer joins Takaya Honda for a funny, thoughtful and honest chat about Neighbours, Play School, acting, identity, bullying, coming out, casting, resilience and what it really means to bring yourself to the work.What we get into:· Playing Logan on Neighbours· Being labelled “the gay stalker”· Aaron, David and fan reaction· Working together on Play School· School musicals, bullying and finding acting· Jersey Boys and the eight-show-week grind· Screen acting, guest roles and finding confidence· Writing and starring in Die Bully Die· Homophobic bullying and turning trauma into story· Coming out and the fear of being a gay actor· The casting director who saw through the mask· Play School, Story Salad and improvising for kids· The F Ward, medical drama and playing a triage nurse· Emma’s Dance Club and Brady the Tradyjust tak. is an interview platform dedicated to unmasking the reality of the creative industry. Hosted by Australian actor and presenter Takaya Honda, the show strips away the polished PR narratives to ask the most important question in performance: Why?Support Just Tak on Patreon:  / justtak  Promotion / Links:Die Bully Die:https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28325544/Follow Matthew Backer:Instagram:  / matthewbacker  Watch Matthew on Play School:https://iview.abc.net.au/show/play-sc...Sponsors:BeautyBoat.com: use code BIN25 for 25% off your entire order.https://beautyboat.com/RØDE: thanks for the mics making us sound so good.Support:If you’re having a tough time, please don’t struggle alone.Australia: Lifeline 13 11 14, 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention. If life is in danger, call 000.United Kingdom: Text Shout to 85258 for free, confidential 24/7 crisis text support. If you are in immediate danger, call 999.

Nathan Borg was told more than once that acting probably wasn’t going to happen for him. He didn’t accept that.In this episode, Nathan talks to Takaya about growing up profoundly deaf, being bullied at school, landing Neighbours during COVID, and becoming the show’s first recurring actor with a cochlear implant.What we get into:· Growing up profoundly deaf in Bacchus Marsh· Meningitis, cochlear implants and learning to hear· School bullying and discovering drama· Being told the industry would not accept him· Meeting Jason Herbison and auditioning for Neighbours· Joining one of TV’s fastest-paced sets during COVID· Jackie Woodburne, Annie Jones and Sally-Anne Upton having his back· Teaching directors basic signs on set· Playing Curtis Perkins and staying on Ramsay Street for years· The pressure of becoming an advocate· Developing Bump Into You, a deaf gay romance seriesjust tak. is an interview platform dedicated to unmasking the reality of the creative industry. Hosted by Australian actor and presenter Takaya Honda, the show strips away the polished PR narratives to ask the most important question in performance: Why?Support Just Tak on Patreon:Patreon.com/justtakPromotion / Links:Follow Nathan Borghttps://www.instagram.com/nathan_borg/Deaf awareness and supportAustralia: Deaf Australiahttps://www.deafaustralia.org.au/United Kingdom: RNIDhttps://rnid.org.uk/Sponsors:BeautyBoat.com: use code BIN25 for 25% off your entire order.https://beautyboat.com/RØDE: thanks for the mics making us sound so good.Support:If you’re having a tough time, please don’t struggle alone.Australia: Lifeline 13 11 14, 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention. If life is in danger, call 000.United Kingdom: Text Shout to 85258 for free, confidential 24/7 crisis text support. If you are in immediate danger, call 999.

Shane Isheev joins Takaya Honda for a proper behind-the-scenes deep dive into the Neighbours writers’ room, life as a script producer, fan backlash, storylines that changed direction, and the wild plots that never made it to air.What we get into:· Going from Neighbours superfan to script producer· How a script department actually works· NCIS Sydney and the difference between soap and crime drama· Plotting hundreds of episodes a year· Actors pushing back on scripts· David’s final story and whether David and Aaron should have returned· Fan reaction, criticism and not being able to explain the “why”· Finn Kelly, amnesia and the joy of ridiculous soap· The emotional weight of the 2022 finale· COVID-era storytelling challenges· Mackenzie’s story and meaningful representation· The lost Amy Williams twist· The planned earthquake that never happenedjust tak. is an interview platform dedicated to unmasking the reality of the creative industry. Hosted by Australian actor and presenter Takaya Honda, the show strips away the polished PR narratives to ask the most important question in performance: Why?Support Just Tak on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/justtakPromotion / Links:Follow Shane IsheevInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaneisheev/Watch NCIS: SydneyParamount+: https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/ncis-sydney/Sponsors:BeautyBoat.com: use code BIN25 for 25% off your entire order.https://beautyboat.com/RØDE: thanks for the mics making us sound so good.Support:If you’re having a tough time, please don’t struggle alone.Australia: Lifeline 13 11 14, 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention. If life is in danger, call 000.United Kingdom: Text Shout to 85258 for free, confidential 24/7 crisis text support. If you are in immediate danger, call 999.

Riley Bryant joins Takaya Honda for a funny, thoughtful and emotional chat about Neighbours, school, anxiety, growing up through lockdowns, surviving one of the fastest sets in television and figuring out whether acting is still the life he wants.What we get into:· Playing JJ Varga-Murphy on Neighbours· Meeting Takaya on Surviving Summer and running the Neighbours callback· Balancing Year 11 and Year 12 with a major TV role· Riley’s chaotic sporting childhood and the basketball own-goal disaster· Acting classes, auditions, Coles, Surviving Summer and booking Neighbours· First-day nerves on Ramsay Street· Driving into Ramsay Street on his L-plates· The Felix reveal, James Beaufort and learning by watching himself back· Riley’s emotional final scene as JJ· Post-show blues, stability and whether he might step away from actingjust tak. is an interview platform dedicated to unmasking the reality of the creative industry. Hosted by Australian actor and presenter Takaya Honda, the show strips away the polished PR narratives to ask the most important question in performance: Why?Support Just Tak on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/justtakWatch / listen to more Just Tak:https://www.justtak.com/Promotion / Links:Follow Riley BryantInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rileyjbryant/Sponsors:BeautyBoat.com: use code BIN25 for 25% off your entire order.https://beautyboat.com/RØDE: thanks for the mics making us sound so good.Support:If you’re having a tough time, please don’t struggle alone.Australia: Lifeline 13 11 14, 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention. If life is in danger, call 000.United Kingdom: Text Shout to 85258 for free, confidential 24/7 crisis text support. If you are in immediate danger, call 999.

Tim Robards joins Takaya Honda for a funny, honest and surprisingly revealing chat about Neighbours, SAS Australia, Peloton, fatherhood, fitness, wine, acting and what success really looks like when life changes.What we get into:· Tim’s work with Peloton as an Australian guest instructor· Building Elle Wines and the story behind Elle Rosé· The pressure of balancing family, business and creative work· The psychic who pushed Tim towards acting· From Italy With Love and carrying a US film lead· Leaving Neighbours during the pandemic· Watching Don Hany take over as Pierce Greyson· Filming Neighbours under COVID rules· Whether Tim would ever return to Ramsay Street· SAS Australia and what really happened behind the scenes· Zima Anderson’s accidentSupport Just Tak on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/justtakjust tak. is an interview platform dedicated to unmasking the reality of the creative industry. Hosted by Australian actor and presenter Takaya Honda, the show strips away the polished PR narratives to ask the most important question in performance: Why?Promotion / Links:Follow Tim RobardsInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/mrtimrobards/Elle Wines / Elle RoséAward-winning Australian Grenache rosé crafted by Tim Robards and Shun Eto.https://ellewines.com/Tim Robards on PelotonTim joined Peloton as an Australian guest instructor for Bike, Tread and strength classes.https://www.onepeloton.com/en-AU/blog/peloton-guest-instructor-tim-robardsSponsors:BeautyBoat.com: use code BIN25 for 25% off your entire order.https://beautyboat.com/RØDE: thanks for the mics making us sound so good.Support:If you’re having a tough time, please don’t struggle alone.Australia: Lifeline 13 11 14, 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention. If life is in danger, call 000.United Kingdom: Text Shout to 85258 for free, confidential 24/7 crisis text support. If you are in immediate danger, call 999.