just tak

Takaya Honda

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

    broadcaster rachel corbett | 39

    Broadcaster, writer and podcaster Rachel Corbett joins Tak for a conversation about dementia, caring for both of her parents, family, career and finding contentment. Rachel spent almost two decades with dementia as a major part of her life, first with her mum and then, almost immediately afterwards, with her dad. She opens up about how her mum’s Alzheimer’s unexpectedly helped heal their complicated relationship, the guilt she felt trying to continue building a career while caring for her parents, and the reality of caring for someone when the relationship itself hasn’t always been easy. What we get into: • Caring for both of Rachel’s parents through dementia • How Alzheimer’s changed Rachel’s relationship with her mum • Feeling guilty about working while her mum was unwell • Almost 20 years of caring and dementia • Turning down career opportunities to stay close to her dad • The advice from Rachel’s therapist that stayed with her • Why caring ultimately changed the way Rachel sees herself • Dementia throughout Rachel’s family history • Her fear about what that could mean for her future • Wanting to stay healthy for her daughter • Whether she would want genetic testing • Her unexpected journey from law school to Big Brother and radio • Building a career in broadcasting and podcasting • Becoming a mum on her own 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 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. Dementia Support: If you or someone you love is affected by dementia, support is available. Australia — Dementia Australia National Dementia Helpline: 1800 100 500 Free and confidential support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. https://www.dementia.org.au/get-support/national-dementia-helpline United Kingdom — Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Support Line: 0333 150 3456 https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/dementia-support-line United Kingdom — Dementia UK Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline: 0800 888 6678 https://www.dementiauk.org/information-and-support/how-we-can-support-you/admiral-nurse-dementia-helpline/ Mental Health 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. 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.

    broadcaster rachel corbett | 39

  2. Sep 22

    jessica redmayne | 38

    Jessica Redmayne joins Tak for a deeply personal conversation about Home and Away, acting, grief and dementia. Fresh from her final episode as Harper Matheson, Jessica reflects on leaving Summer Bay, tackling a domestic violence storyline, losing her mum to younger onset dementia and the family history that continues to shape her life. What we get into: · Leaving Home and Away after three years as Harper Matheson · Why Jessica knew it was time to leave Summer Bay · Tackling Harper’s domestic violence storyline · Women sharing their own experiences after watching the story · Returning to work three days after her mum’s funeral · Jessica and Takaya share their experiences of losing their mums to dementia · Jessica’s mum’s younger onset dementia diagnosis · The early signs her family noticed · Her dad’s years caring for her mum · Grieving someone before they die · Dementia across multiple generations of Jessica’s family · Her fears about becoming the next generation affected · Why she refuses to live in fear · What she hopes comes next after Home and Away 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 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. General 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. Dementia Support: Australia — Dementia Australia National Dementia Helpline: 1800 100 500 Free and confidential support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. https://www.dementia.org.au/get-support/national-dementia-helpline United Kingdom — Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Support Line: 0333 150 3456 https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/dementia-support-line United Kingdom — Dementia UK Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline: 0800 888 6678 https://www.dementiauk.org/information-and-support/how-we-can-support-you/admiral-nurse-dementia-helpline/ 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.

    jessica redmayne | 38

  3. Sep 15

    ben hall | 37

    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 suit 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 Ben Hall on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/benhall23/ Pretty Woman: The Musical Australia https://prettywomanthemusical.com.au/ SOAPBOXED – Melbourne 15–19 September 2026 La Mama Courthouse, Melbourne Big tech has the capacity to replace human art. But does it have the power? Written by Megan Herbert Directed by Ryan Moloney Run time: 90 minutes Suitable 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. 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.

    ben hall | 37

  4. Sep 8

    georgie stone oam | 36

    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 London 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 Georgie Stone on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/georgiestone/ Watch The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone on Netflix https://www.netflix.com/title/81442970 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. 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.

    georgie stone oam | 36

  5. Sep 1

    shuang hu | 35

    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 built 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: Get episodes ad-free and 24 hours early, plus bonus and extended content: https://www.patreon.com/justtak Watch / listen to more Just Tak: https://www.justtak.com/ Follow @justtakpod on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. Promotion / links: Watch Shuang Hu on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/theoneshu Five Blind Dates Available on Prime Video SOAPBOXED - Melbourne: 15–19 September 2026 La Mama Courthouse, Melbourne Big tech has the capacity to replace human art. But does it have the power? Written by Megan Herbert Directed by Ryan Moloney Run time: 90 minutes Suitable 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. 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.

    shuang hu | 35

  6. Aug 25

    scott major | 34

    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 endgame 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 Follow Scott Major: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scottmaj/ Major Look TV: https://www.youtube.com/@Majorlooktv Website: 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. 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.

    scott major | 34

  7. Aug 18

    madeleine west | 33

    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 Desire 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 Madeleine West https://www.instagram.com/msmadswest/ Survivors Law / access to offender superannuation: https://ministers.ag.gov.au/media-centre/transcripts/press-conference-parliament-house-canberra-25-03-2026 A 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. 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.

    madeleine west | 33

  8. Aug 12

    only tak (live bonusode) | 32.5

    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 live 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 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. 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.

    only tak (live bonusode) | 32.5
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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
    41
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © just tak
  • Show Website
    just tak