just tak

Takaya Honda
  • 5.0 (1)
  • TV & Film
  • Updated Weekly

The most fascinating conversations happen the moment the performance stops. Welcome to just tak., an unfiltered interview platform hosted by Australian actor Takaya Honda. After spending over a decade navigating the rigorous landscape of Australian television, Takaya is turning the microphone around to unmask the reality of the creative industry. Through long-form, intimate conversations with industry-leading actors, directors, and creatives, we explore the human instincts that drive the work. We discuss the reality of the daily grind, the politics of production, and the art of survival in a notoriously ruthless business. Whether you are an industry professional looking for tactical insight, or a fan wanting to hear the stories that never make it to the press release, just tak. delivers the reality behind the screen. No script. No character. Just the real story. Follow on just tak in your podcast app. You can also watch full episodes on YouTube @justtakpod, and on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook @justtakpod for first looks, bonus content, and all the merch these two reprobates (and their guests) “rescued” from the set. Watch full episodes of just tak on YouTube (and subscribe so you don't miss special live events!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 1d ago

    actor george zhao | 31

    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 Logies just 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/justtak Promotion / Links: Watch George Zhao in Ghosts Australia https://10.com.au/ghosts-australia Watch George Zhao in The Family Law https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-series/the-family-law Vote for George Zhao at the TV Week Logies https://tvweeklogies.com.au/ Find out more about Clown Doctors Australia https://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. Watch just tak on YouTube (and subscribe so you don't miss special live events). Catch up with all things @justtakpod on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    actor george zhao | 31

  2. Jul 14

    matthew backer | 30

    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 Trady just 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. Watch just tak on YouTube (and subscribe so you don't miss special live events). Catch up with all things @justtakpod on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    matthew backer | 30

  3. Jul 7

    nathan borg (curtis from neighbours) | 29

    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 series just 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/justtak Promotion / Links: Follow Nathan Borg https://www.instagram.com/nathan_borg/ Deaf awareness and support Australia: Deaf Australia https://www.deafaustralia.org.au/ United Kingdom: RNID https://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. Watch just tak on YouTube (and subscribe so you don't miss special live events). Catch up with all things @justtakpod on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    nathan borg (curtis from neighbours) | 29

  4. Jun 30

    shane isheev (neighbours script producer) | 28

    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 happened just 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/justtak Promotion / Links: Follow Shane Isheev Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaneisheev/ Watch NCIS: Sydney Paramount+: 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. Watch just tak on YouTube (and subscribe so you don't miss special live events). Catch up with all things @justtakpod on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    shane isheev (neighbours script producer) | 28

  5. Jun 23

    riley bryant (jj from neighbours) | 27

    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 acting just 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/justtak Watch / listen to more Just Tak: https://www.justtak.com/ Promotion / Links: Follow Riley Bryant Instagram: 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. Watch just tak on YouTube (and subscribe so you don't miss special live events). Catch up with all things @justtakpod on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    riley bryant (jj from neighbours) | 27

  6. Jun 16

    tim robards | 26

    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 accident Support Just Tak on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/justtak just 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 Robards Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/mrtimrobards/ Elle Wines / Elle Rosé Award-winning Australian Grenache rosé crafted by Tim Robards and Shun Eto. https://ellewines.com/ Tim Robards on Peloton Tim joined Peloton as an Australian guest instructor for Bike, Tread and strength classes. https://www.onepeloton.com/en-AU/blog/peloton-guest-instructor-tim-robards 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. Watch just tak on YouTube (and subscribe so you don't miss special live events). Catch up with all things @justtakpod on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    tim robards | 26

  7. Jun 9

    presenter andrea mclean | 25

    Andrea McLean joins Takaya Honda for a raw, generous and deeply honest conversation about leaving Loose Women, losing professional identity, financial collapse, shame, resilience and building a life after public failure. What we get into: Growing up in Trinidad and Tobago and returning to the UKGMTV, live TV and becoming the long-serving anchor of Loose WomenThe art of holding a panel together and making the viewer at home feel seenWalking away from a stable TV contractBuilding This Girl Is On Fire and launching into a pandemicBusiness failure, illness and selling her homeShame, public identity and the Starbucks storyRebuilding through media training, writing and moving to SpainRedefining success, money, contentment and what comes next just 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/justtak Promotion / Links: Buy Andrea McLean’s book Shameless and find out more about Andrea: https://andreamclean.com/ Follow Andrea McLean Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreamclean1/ 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. Watch just tak on YouTube (and subscribe so you don't miss special live events). Catch up with all things @justtakpod on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    presenter andrea mclean | 25

  8. Jun 2

    rob 'millsy' mills | 24

    Rob Mills joins Takaya Honda for a warm, funny and refreshingly honest chat about fame, theatre, Neighbours, music, ageing, resilience and what it really takes to keep showing up in the creative industry. What we get into: Australian Idol and early fameRob’s Neighbours era as Finn KellyWaitress, Wicked, Ghost and the eight-show-week grindTaking on Bon Jovi liveVocal discipline, fitness and recoveryReviews, critics and being called “surprisingly good”Georgie Tunny, interviews and wedding planningMusic education and the Australian Children’s Music FoundationActing technique, emotional fatigue and staying good to work with just 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/justtak Promotion / Links: See Rob Mills in Waitress Rob stars as Dr Pomatter in Waitress, now playing in Australia. https://waitressthemusical.com.au/ Follow Rob Mills Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robmillsymills/ Rob Mills Official Site https://www.robmills.net.au/ Australian Children’s Music Foundation https://acmf.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. Watch just tak on YouTube (and subscribe so you don't miss special live events). Catch up with all things @justtakpod on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    rob 'millsy' mills | 24
See All (32)

About

The most fascinating conversations happen the moment the performance stops. Welcome to just tak., an unfiltered interview platform hosted by Australian actor Takaya Honda. After spending over a decade navigating the rigorous landscape of Australian television, Takaya is turning the microphone around to unmask the reality of the creative industry. Through long-form, intimate conversations with industry-leading actors, directors, and creatives, we explore the human instincts that drive the work. We discuss the reality of the daily grind, the politics of production, and the art of survival in a notoriously ruthless business. Whether you are an industry professional looking for tactical insight, or a fan wanting to hear the stories that never make it to the press release, just tak. delivers the reality behind the screen. No script. No character. Just the real story. Follow on just tak in your podcast app. You can also watch full episodes on YouTube @justtakpod, and on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook @justtakpod for first looks, bonus content, and all the merch these two reprobates (and their guests) “rescued” from the set. Watch full episodes of just tak on YouTube (and subscribe so you don't miss special live events!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Takaya Honda
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © just tak
  • Show Website
    just tak

You Might Also Like