Episodes

  • Blake Cooper Griffin TALKS Brainworks & ‘The Story of You’ | JTWJE EP 414

    Blake Cooper Griffin TALKS Brainworks & ‘The Story of You’ | JTWJE EP 414
    Feb 26 2026
    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 Dynasty, Ryan Murphy’s Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story on Netflix, Animal Kingdom, Preacher, and most recently Lionsgate’s Scrambled. His critically acclaimed role in Love Is All You Need? sparked an NPR collaboration and national speaking tour, cementing his reputation as a storyteller whose work resonates both on screen and off.

    Beyond acting, Blake has built a life defined by authorship and impact. He is the founder and CEO of Brainworks, a premier educational consulting company that has helped hundreds of students reshape their futures and has served as a national surrogate for former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former President Joe Biden, and former Vice President Kamala Harris, speaking nationwide on leadership, resilience, and LGBTQ+ visibility.

    On February 24, Blake Cooper Griffin will release his memoir, The Story of You: A Life Rewritten. The memoir is part cinematic life story, part practical blueprint for reinvention; written for anyone standing at a crossroads between the life they were handed and the one they want to author next. Blending emotional honesty with sharp, actionable frameworks, the book invites readers to stop performing a version of their lives and start rewriting them with intention.

    On this edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Blake Cooper Griffin spoke about the lessons he learned on the sets of Animal Kingdom, Preacher, and Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, and from former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Plus, he spoke about The Story of You: A Life Rewritten’s writing process.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jake-s-take-with-jacob-elyachar--4112003/support.
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    35 mins
  • KENYTH MOGAN RETURNS + TALKS ‘My Super Fiancé’ & J-Pop | JTWJE EP 413

    KENYTH MOGAN RETURNS + TALKS ‘My Super Fiancé’ & J-Pop | JTWJE EP 413
    Feb 23 2026
    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, and media intrigue. Set in the electrified sprawl of a futuristic metropolis known as Prism City, the story follows investigative journalist Trevor Prince and his fiancé Cole Carter—better known to the world as the vigilante superhero, MoonShadow. As love and danger collide, the two must navigate corrupt institutions, intergalactic conspiracies, and the fine line between truth and power. Told in twelve serialized episodes, each chapter is released with an original song crafted to amplify the themes, emotions, and tension of that episode—turning each release into a cinematic, multi-sensory experience. My Super Fiancé is equal parts superhero saga, queer love story, and social commentary—where power comes at a price, and passion pulls the trigger.

    On this edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Kenyth Mogan spoke about releasing his latest book, My Dead Boyfriend, the 20th anniversary of The Phoenix Chronicles, and what fans can expect from My Super Fiancé’s soundtrack.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jake-s-take-with-jacob-elyachar--4112003/support.
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    30 mins
  • Kendra Erika TALKS ‘License to Thrill’ & Overcoming Being Tone-Deaf | JTWJE 412

    Kendra Erika TALKS ‘License to Thrill’ & Overcoming Being Tone-Deaf | JTWJE 412
    Feb 19 2026
    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, and modern sophistication—showcasing Kendra’s evolution from dance-floor powerhouse to a multidimensional artist with global appeal.

    On this episode of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Kendra Erika shared the stories behind her most-streamed Spotify songs, how she overcame being tone-deaf to have a superb recording career, and License to Thrill.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jake-s-take-with-jacob-elyachar--4112003/support.
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    27 mins
  • Jake Jensen TALKS ‘Challengers,’ ‘Believe’ & Radio Show | JTWJE EP 411

    Jake Jensen TALKS ‘Challengers,’ ‘Believe’ & Radio Show | JTWJE EP 411
    Feb 16 2026
    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 sport’s most competitive tiers.

    Yet Jake’s story doesn’t begin—or end—on the court. He holds a PhD in Sport & Performance Psychology and serves as a tenured professor at California State University, Northridge. His work with elite athletes, actors, and creatives focuses on optimizing mental performance through mindfulness, emotional regulation, and strategic mindset training. Whether coaching one-on-one or lecturing in the classroom, Jake’s approach is grounded, intuitive, and transformative.

    As a producer and creative collaborator, Jake is currently leading the romantic fantasy drama Believe, where he stars as a war veteran entangled in a mysterious love story with Eve from the Bible. He’s also a gifted pianist and composer, scoring original work while developing new scripts that fuse psychological insight with artistic storytelling.

    On this episode of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Jake Jensen spoke about the lessons that he learned from the Challengers and King Richard sets, previewed Believe and Power 98.5’s In the Actors and Athletes Studio, where he co-hosts with Steven Cuoco.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jake-s-take-with-jacob-elyachar--4112003/support.
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    30 mins
  • Tony Berardo RETURNS + TALKS ‘Humanity & Hashtags’ & Human Dad | JTWJE EP #410

    Tony Berardo RETURNS + TALKS ‘Humanity & Hashtags’ & Human Dad | JTWJE EP #410
    Feb 12 2026
    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 Berardo Project). The show focuses on what it really means to stay human in a digital age world. From wellness and mindset to social media, parenting, and productivity, he keeps it real with honest conversations, humor, and objective thinking. Previous guests include actors Annie Korzen (Seinfeld) and Whitney Caskey (HBO Max’s Somewhat Familiar), filmmaker Jason Manchester, Emmy-nominated reporter and comedian Garin Flowers, and podcast hosts Jeff Dwoskin and Natalie and Rebecca Davey (Reframeables).

    Tony Berardo also launched the Human Dad brand. Human Dad was not born in a group chat looking for laughs. It was born in the quiet moments – when responsibility hits harder than you expected, and there’s no manual, no applause, and no reset button. Tony got tired of seeing fatherhood turned into a punchline – the jokes, the novelty merchandise, and the “Best Dad Ever” energy that disappears the second things get hard. Human Dad exists for the men who take that seriously – the ones breaking cycles, learning in real time, showing up exhausted, and doing the work even when no one’s watching.

    On this edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Tony Berardo spoke about Humanity & Hashtags and the creation of the Human Dad Club.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jake-s-take-with-jacob-elyachar--4112003/support.
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    29 mins
  • Woody Woodbeck TALKS Reality TV, ‘The Challenge’ & NewsNation | JTWJE EP #409

    Woody Woodbeck TALKS Reality TV, ‘The Challenge’ & NewsNation | JTWJE EP #409
    Feb 9 2026
    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 LGBTQ community, high profile events and celeb relationships.

    Over the past several years, Woody was part of the production teams on projects for Hulu, MTV, OWN, Bravo, and his first feature-length sports documentary. He has worked on shows like Real Housewives of Potomac (BRAVO), Queer Eye (NETFLIX), Southern Hospitality (BRAVO), The Challenge USA: Season 2 (CBS), Beyond the Pole (WEtv), Love after Lockup (WEtv), The Real World (MTV), and more.

    Woody Woodbeck spent years dominating the entertainment news world as West Coast Editor-at-Large for LIFE & STYLE Weekly, coordinating producer at E! News Now, and a freelance writer for US Weekly. He hails from upstate New York, where he learned to treat everyone with respect and to wear his heart on his sleeve, allowing him to form genuine connections with anyone he meets. He is currently developing unscripted TV shows and is a producer at NewsNation.

    On this episode of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Woody Woodbeck spoke about being on the ground floors of iconic Reality TV shows such as America’s Next Top Model, Project Runway, and Top Chef, his time in The Challenge universe, and how working for NewsNation is similar or different to working on Reality TV!

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jake-s-take-with-jacob-elyachar--4112003/support.
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    57 mins
  • Jeff Richards TALKS ‘MadTV,’ ‘SNL’ & ‘Don’t Know You’ | JTWJE EP. 408

    Jeff Richards TALKS ‘MadTV,’ ‘SNL’ & ‘Don’t Know You’ | JTWJE EP. 408
    Feb 5 2026
    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 also appear in his upcoming horror comedy, Pay to Die, co-starring Robert Carradine. Jeff recently went viral with his Gary Busey impression on his show, The Jeff Richards Show (“Buttered Sausage”), pulling in hundreds of millions of views and introducing a new audience to his signature chaotic brilliance.

    On this episode of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Jeff Richards talked about working on both MADTV and SNL, the stories behind several songs that are featured on Don’t Know You (But I Miss You), and previewed Pay to Die.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jake-s-take-with-jacob-elyachar--4112003/support.
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    25 mins
  • Tristan TALKS Songwriting & We Are Dancing Again | JTWJE EP #407

    Tristan TALKS Songwriting & We Are Dancing Again | JTWJE EP #407
    Feb 2 2026
    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 survivors of the Nova Music Festival who were brutally attacked by the terrorist organization Hamas.

    On this edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Tristan gave the stories behind his songs, including “Take You Dancing,” “We Don’t Have to Talk,” and “Some Kind of Way.” He also spoke about the We Are Dancing Again movement and his fight to combat anti-Jewish hate online.

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