just tak

Ben Hall joins Takaya Honda to talk Pretty Woman: The Musical, Neighbours, Better Man and the relentless drive to keep improving.He opens up about life on tour, building chemistry with Samantha Jade, surviving live theatre disasters and the sacrifices required to make a living as an Australian actor. What we get into:· Playing Edward Lewis in Pretty Woman: The Musical· Married life and travelling Australia with his wife, Prue· Why performing eight shows a week is a marathon· Being compared to Richard Gere· Returning to musical theatre after swearing he never would· Building trust and chemistry with Samantha Jade· The backstage discipline required to protect his voice and body· Missing his entrance during a song and entering “the white room”· Samantha Jade running offstage to be sick mid-scene· Completing almost 300 performances of Pretty Woman· His upcoming role in Whispering Jack· The uncertainty of working as an Australian actor· Looking back on his years as Ned Willis in Neighbours· Working on the Robbie Williams film Better Man· Why Better Man struggled commercially despite its critical reception· Performing Robbie Williams scenes in a motion-capture suitjust 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 Ben Hall on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/benhall23/Pretty Woman: The Musical Australiahttps://prettywomanthemusical.com.au/SOAPBOXED – Melbourne15–19 September 2026La Mama Courthouse, MelbourneBig tech has the capacity to replace human art. But does it have the power?Written by Megan HerbertDirected by Ryan MoloneyRun time: 90 minutesSuitable for ages 15+Tickets and information:https://www.lamama.com.au/whats-on/la-mama-hope-punk-climate-festival/soapboxed/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 offers 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.

Georgie Stone joins Tak for an honest and moving conversation about Neighbours, acting, trans representation and life after Mackenzie. She reflects on online abuse, advocacy, Harry Potter, finding her identity beyond the show and her upcoming move to London.What we get into:· Playing Mackenzie Hargreaves on Neighbours· Pitching a trans character directly to Jason Herbison· Being cast on Neighbours while still at school· Online trolling, death threats and the need for approval· Learning to surrender and trust the work· Mackenzie and Hendrix’s heartbreaking love story· Why Georgie wanted more kidnappings and chaos· Creating authentic, imperfect trans characters· The pressure of representing an entire community· JK Rowling and the pain of feeling betrayed· Daniel Radcliffe and the Harry Potter cast’s support· Advocacy and the personal toll of the National Press Club· Australian television’s limited trans representation· The enduring importance of Neighbours· Life after Mackenzie and rediscovering her identity· Georgie’s move to Londonjust 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 Georgie Stone on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/georgiestone/Watch The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone on Netflixhttps://www.netflix.com/title/81442970Sponsors: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 offers 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.

Shuang Hu joins Tak for a huge conversation about going from The Family Law to building a global audience of millions, generating more than 8 BILLION YouTube views, and taking control of her own career.What we get into:· Growing up Chinese-Australian in Townsville· Meeting Takaya on The Family Law· Going from painfully shy to wanting to perform· Moving to LA and starting again· Starting TikTok just before the pandemic· Turning social media into a career and business· Reaching 8 million YouTube subscribers· More than 8 BILLION YouTube views· Creating and starring in Five Blind Dates· The four-year journey getting the movie made· Screen Australia-backed series Austra Asian· What actually makes a video go viral· Meeting her fans for the first time at VidCon· Learning to be proud of what she has builtjust 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:Get episodes ad-free and 24 hours early, plus bonus and extended content:https://www.patreon.com/justtakWatch / listen to more Just Tak:https://www.justtak.com/Follow @justtakpod on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.Promotion / links:Watch Shuang Hu on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/theoneshuFive Blind DatesAvailable on Prime VideoSOAPBOXED - Melbourne:15–19 September 2026La Mama Courthouse, MelbourneBig tech has the capacity to replace human art. But does it have the power?Written by Megan HerbertDirected by Ryan MoloneyRun time: 90 minutesSuitable for ages 15+Tickets and information:https://www.lamama.com.au/whats-on/la-mama-hope-punk-climate-festival/soapboxed/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.

Scott Major joins Tak for a funny, candid and wide-ranging chat about Heartbreak High, 17 years on Neighbours, acting, directing, indie filmmaking and what comes next for Australia’s creative industry.What we get into:Returning to Heartbreak High and playing Rivers againWhy both generations of Heartbreak High connected around the worldBecoming drama coach on the rebootSaying goodbye to Neighbours after 17 yearsWhy the loss of Neighbours matters for the Australian screen industryLife after Ramsay Street and working in indie filmActing, instinct and staying present on setBuilding Major Look TVCreating a more sustainable model for actors and filmmakersWhy actors still need to be paid for their craftGoing from acting on Neighbours to directing itDirecting the Neighbours finale — twiceDarren Stark, Lucas Fitzgerald and directing himselfWhether Steph and Lucas should have been endgamejust 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/justtakFollow Scott Major:Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/scottmaj/Major Look TV:https://www.youtube.com/@MajorlooktvWebsite:http://www.scottmajor.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. 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.

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.