Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar Jacob Elyachar

It is a pleasure to welcome award-winning filmmaker and entrepreneur Gene Blalock to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.  

Gene is renowned for his significant contributions to the film industry, particularly in the realms of drama, horror, and fantasy. He is a founder of Seraph Films and has established himself as a prominent figure in the cinematic world, known for his unique storytelling and creative direction.   Gene’s passion for storytelling and the art of filmmaking has been a driving force throughout his career. He has successfully cultivated a reputation for creating compelling narratives that captivate audiences and push the boundaries of imagination. Under his unwavering guidance, Seraph Films has produced diverse projects that showcase his artistic versatility and unwavering dedication to the craft.  
With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of storytelling, Gene Blalock has crafted films that terrify and challenge conventional norms. His ability to merge heartbreak with suspense, thrills, and thought-provoking themes has earned him a dedicated fan base and critical acclaim within the industry.  

Infusing a distinctly human perspective into every endeavor, Gene’s creations embody our shared human experience, mirroring reality through a compassionate lens. He continues to shape the cinematic landscape through his innovative projects, aiming to captivate audiences and leave an indelible mark on the filmmaking world, a testament to his profound impact on the industry. 

On this episode of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Gene Blalock shared Seraph Films’ origin story and several of his projects, including working on 41 episodes of The Disappearance of Madison Bishop and 44 episodes of Horror Haiku.  

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It is a pleasure to welcome singer-songwriter Nikitaa to The Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.

 Nikitaa is a Los Angeles-based recording artist born and raised in India. They infuse their music with ethereal Pop/R&B influences and their South Asian heritage, creating what they call Goddess Pop – music that emphasizes the fluidity of gender and emotional expression. As a genderfluid demisexual person who predominately uses they/them pronouns, Nikitaa always stresses the importance of representation and inclusivity in the music industry. With almost 6 million YouTube views and Spotify streams combined, Nikitaa's music has instantly captured listeners' attention. Their third single, "Majesty," landed placement on N.M.F. playlists across the world, and their singles through 2020 were released during lockdown with self-directed and produced videos that soared on Spotify and YouTube.

 Throughout 2023, Nikitaa delved into themes of vulnerability and strength in their songs, including "Scheming," "On My Own," "Peter Pan," "Throne," "Daddy Era," and "Truman Show." Their work garnered attention from prestigious platforms such as Rolling Stone India, Radio One India, and Ones to Watch playlist Now Watching.

Nikitaa's exceptional lyricism and keen ear for music have also led to brand placements with Splice's Pride Month and South Asian Heritage Month campaigns, further solidifying their position in the industry.   Nikitaa's talent as a songwriter extends beyond their own projects, with notable credits on tracks for artists such as Trophy Boy (Nightmare, T.O.F.U., and Trophy Boy), Srushti Tawde (Breakfast for Bae), RIKA (Grown Up), Aastha Gill, Munawar Faruqi, and Robica. This versatility and ability to adapt their style to different artists is a testament to Nikitaa's skill and creativity.  

On this episode of The Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Nikitaa shared the stories about some of her songs, including "Elevator," "Godless,"  and "Majesty," and revealed her dream collaborators.

Let's connect on social media! Follow me on:
A) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JacobElyachar
B) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacobelyachar/
C) Threads: https://www.threads.net/ @JacobElyachar 
D) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@therealjacobelyac
E) Twitter: https://x.com/JacobElyachar
F) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JacobElyachar

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It is a pleasure to welcome DJ Ashton Martin, one of my longtime friends, back to the Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar platform and, for the first time, to the podcast. 

Ashton differs from your average DJ in his ability to turn each performance into an epic party. Having grown up in the industry and began his music education at a young age, Ashton captures crowds with an immense music repertoire and high-voltage performances. Quickly mixing effortlessly between musical genres has become a trademark quality, a rare skill set that guarantees crowd excitement.  DJ Ashton Martin has residencies at Kansas City attractions such as Aura, the Fall, Fontaine Hotel, the Scarlet Room, Society, Westport Ale House, and Woodside Pool.  He also had sets at DNVR and the Tivoli in Denver, the McFadden’s Social House in Phoenix, and the Crown Room in St. Louis.

Ashton has been the official DJ for Sporting KC since 2019 and was the official DJ of the Kansas City Royals from the 2021 to 2023 seasons. He also performed for various charitable organizations, including the Alzheimer’s Association, Big Brothers & Big Sisters, Hope House, the Kansas City Art Institute, and Operation Breakthrough.  The Kansas City community awarded Ashton for all his efforts as he was voted the Best of KC Club/Party DJ four times by The Pitch Kansas City from 2013 and 2018 through 2020. Kansas City Magazine was declared Best of KC in 2013, 2020, and 2021.  Ashton entertained the College World Series from 2017 to 2022 and performed at several New York City Fashion Week events. He also opened for 98 Degrees, DJ Pauly D, Jack Harlow, and Tory Lanez. Since 2021, he has been involved in the Tacos and Tequila Festival, where he shared the stage with Ludacris, Mario, T.I., and the Ying Yang Twins.

On this episode of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, DJ Ashton Martin spoke about DJing at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium when Sporting KC took on Lionel Messi and Inter Miami and previewed the 2024 Tacos and Tequila Festival. 

Let's connect on social media! You can find me on:
A) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JacobElyachar/
B) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacobelyachar/
C) Threads: https://www.threads.net/@jacobelyachar
D) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@therealjacobelyac
E) Twitter: https://x.com/JacobElyachar
F) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JacobElyachar/

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It is an honor and privilege to welcome author and illustrator Rick Stasi to The Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast. 

Rick and I first met at the first Planet Comicon Kansas City in 1999 at the defunct Overland Park International Trade Center, and every time I attend the convention, his booth is one of my first stops. He has credits with DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Charlton Comics, and NOW Comics (The Twilight Zone). Rick also worked on projects for Disney, Warner Bros. (Looney Toons and Tiny Toons), and Lucasfilm (Star Wars).  Not only is Rick a prolific creator, but he is also a dedicated educator. For over 20 years, he has been sharing his knowledge and passion for comics, sequential art, and storyboarding as an instructor with the Shawnee Mission School District, the Westport School of Art, and the Kansas City Art Institute.

Currently, he provides individual instruction and career counseling, demonstrating his commitment to nurturing the next generation of artists. In addition, Rick has excelled in the corporate world, serving as a creative director, graphic designer, and marketer.  Outside of the comic world, Rick has explored various creative avenues. He authored Funny You Should Ask: Musings and Verse for Better Or…Poetry, Essays, and Lyrics, a collection that showcases his diverse writing skills. He also released an audio collection: Talking to Myself (To You!), a 60-plus track double album that demonstrates his versatility as a performer. Rick has taken his spoken word selections to live events and even to the airwaves of KKFI 90.FM Kansas City Community Radio.  His talents extend to voice acting, with his most notable role being the narrator for Wounded Warriors, a B2B veterans film focusing on mental health. 

On this episode of The Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Rick Stasi spoke about working at DC Comics, Warner Bros, and Disney. He also previewed his final book, Letters From the Exodus: The Definitive Anthology of Poetry, Musings, Songs and Scripts. 

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It is a privilege to welcome actress, singer-songwriter, and model Nina Bergman to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast. 

Born in Denmark, Nina is the granddaughter of Russia’s most outstanding actor, Pavel Kadochnikov. She spent her early childhood traveling around Europe with her Russian Gypsy grandparents. At 14, she received a scholarship to the musical theatre Urdang Academy in London. A year later, Nina was in Moscow attending the world-famous Bolshoi Theatre. From there, she moved to New York City and was accepted at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. At that time, Nina got her first agent and began booking various jobs in commercials, films, modeling, and plays. She also started singing in underground bands. 

Being an adrenaline junkie, she found herself making extra money as an amateur boxer, which later helped her book films, including Universal Pictures’ The Car and the DOOM movie franchise. Her other work includes the starring role of Marie in Hell Hath No Fury, a Jesse V Johnson movie, playing a French resistance fighter, and she played the lead role of GG, who was based on a 90s goth singer in the film Carpe Noctem, which Gene Blalock directed. 

Nina Bergman’s performance in Assassin X earned her Honorable Mention Award for Best Actress from the AOF International Film Festival for her role as the notorious Trinidad. She starred as Wonder Woman, directed by Jesse V Johnson, which stars Timothy V Murphy and Marina Sirtis. She also played a cold-hearted killer in The Wayshower with Peter Stormare and Eric Roberts and starred in Know New Art, a Newport Beach Film Festival project by the Freise Brothers and Biscuit Filmworks.  Nina also starred alongside David Arquette, Jesse Metcalfe, John Malkovich, and Vivica A. Fox.

She has also been featured in numerous skits on late-night shows, including The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and The Late Late Show with James Corden. Nina also hosted various E! Entertainment and Fuse shows and was a Trophy Presenter at The Grammy Awards.  She also worked on soundtracks for Lionsgate Films, singing the theme songs for Catacombs, Repo the Genetic Opera, and Sharknado. She sang the end title song in Black Limousine and the voice on the soundtrack for All About Her. Additionally, she performed live for the World Series and the NCAA College Football Season. 

On this episode of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Nina Bergman discussed working on three late-night talk shows: The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and The Late Late Show with James Corden. She also discussed her latest film, Cold Meat. 

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The Canada’s Got Talent (CGT) finale is tomorrow!  

Eight acts will compete for the $1 million prize. Singer Natalie Morris is one of the acts competing for the $1 million prize.

The Toronto Maple Leafs anthem singer blew the audience and the CGT judges (Howie Mandel, Trish Stratus, Kardinal Offishall, and Lilly Singh) away with her powerful cover of Brandi Carlilie’s “The Joke.”  Her performance received four yeses.  Natalie was one of 14 performers invited back to compete for a spot in the show’s first elimination round. She delivered a poignant cover of Beyonce’s “I Was Here” that resonated with the Canadian audience. Her performance was not just a success but a life-changing moment when the judges awarded her the Group Golden Buzzer. This Golden Buzzer secured her a spot in the million-dollar season finale and a generous $25,000, courtesy of CIBC. 

In this special CGT edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Natalie Morris discussed her journey through the Canadian talent competition and previews her finale performance. 

Canada’s Got Talent airs on CityTV. 

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