Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar

Jacob Elyachar

Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar is an extension of Mr. Elyachar's website: Jake's Take. The podcast features conversations with guests from across the entertainment and lifestyle industries.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jake-s-take-with-jacob-elyachar--4112003/support.

  1. Tony Berardo RETURNS + TALKS ‘Humanity & Hashtags’ & Human Dad | JTWJE EP #410

    15H AGO

    Tony Berardo RETURNS + TALKS ‘Humanity & Hashtags’ & Human Dad | JTWJE EP #410

    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.

    29 min
  2. Woody Woodbeck TALKS Reality TV, ‘The Challenge’ & NewsNation | JTWJE EP #409

    3D AGO

    Woody Woodbeck TALKS Reality TV, ‘The Challenge’ & NewsNation | JTWJE EP #409

    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.

    57 min
  3. MIKE LEWIS & OSCAR CHARK TALK ‘The Challenge’ Future | JTWJE EP #406

    JAN 29

    MIKE LEWIS & OSCAR CHARK TALK ‘The Challenge’ Future | JTWJE EP #406

    A Note from Jacob: Since the recording of this podcast, MTV’s Official Challenge Podcast has announced that it has concluded filming new episodes.  Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar thanks show co-hosts Aneesa Ferreira, Da’Vonne Rogers, Devyn Simone, and Tori Deal, and the Official Challenge Podcast crew for taking fans behind the scenes of the show.   For the first time ever, content creators Mike Lewis and Oscar Chark sat down together exclusively for Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.   Mike Lewis is a mental health advocate and host of The Mike Lewis Podcast. Since launching his show in March 2020, Mike has welcomed a plethora of The Challenge cast members, ranging from OGs Beth Stolarczyk, Jon Brennan, Rachel Robinson, and Syrus Yarbrough, and iconic heavy hitters Cara Maria Sorbello, Frank Sweeney Fox, Kellyanne Judd, Landon Lueck,  and Wes Bergmann, to modern cast members such as Asaf Goren, Corey Lay, Marie Roda, Paulie Calafiore, and Tula “Big T” Fazakerley.  He also welcomed Survivor alums, including Benjamin “Coach” Wade and Jessica “Sugar” Piper; 9/11 survivor Mikalia Cruz; and wrestlers Melina, Mr. Kennedy, Santino Marella, and Victoria to his platform.   In August 2020, Oscar Chark joined YouTube as the host of Rookie Revolution. Over the past several years, Rookie Revolution has built a following for its takes on the long-running MTV reality competition show The Challenge. Some of his topics include ranking the Top 10 Best Reunions, the Best Seasons to Watch for Beginners or New Fans, and “What Ifs” in show history.   On September 26, 2025, Oscar announced he was the channel’s host and that he might be done with MTV’s The Challenge. He also revealed that he was pursuing an acting career.  Since 2021, he has made appearances on various hit shows, including Allegiance (Sebastian), Riverdale (Teen Fan), So Help Me Todd (Juror #2 – Cole Winbar), and Yellowjackets (Teen #1). Oscar also starred as Young David (Age 15) in Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas, Jacob in You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, and Philip in Can I Get a Witness.   On this special episode of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, both Mike Lewis and Oscar Chark talk about the issues that The Challenge franchise is facing, the fights that were left on The Challenge 41: Vets & New Threats cutting room floor, and which cast members should return to the flagship show! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jake-s-take-with-jacob-elyachar--4112003/support.

    1h 5m
  4. WESTON & AMANDA BERGMANN TALK 20 YEARS ON REALITY TV & BRAND + COMMUNITY BUILDING | JTWJE PODCAST 405

    JAN 26

    WESTON & AMANDA BERGMANN TALK 20 YEARS ON REALITY TV & BRAND + COMMUNITY BUILDING | JTWJE PODCAST 405

    It is an honor to welcome both Weston “Wes” & Amanda Bergmann to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.   Reality TV fans first met Weston Bergmann in 2006’s The Real World: Austin. On the show, he met longtime friends Melinda (Stolp) Collins and Nehemiah Clark, and once filming completed, Weston and the rest of the Austin cast headed off to compete on the long-running MTV competition, The Challenge.   Throughout his time on the show, he appeared on 14 flagship seasons, both Champs vs. Stars seasons, The Challenge USA 2, The Challenge All-Stars: Season Three, and The Challenge: World Championship. He has cumulatively won three championships, 30 eliminations, 44 daily challenges, and $553,000.   Outside of The Challenge, Weston Bergmann also competed on several Reality TV shows. In 2024, he competed on House of Villains and finished second.  Last year, he appeared on the popular Peacock Reality TV series, The Traitors, and made it to the final four on Food Network’s Worst Cooks in America.   When he is not competing on Reality TV, Weston Bergmann is working at his company, BetaBlox. BetaBlox is a business incubator that helps entrepreneurs launch their businesses. Entrepreneurs who work with BetaBlox are statistically twice as likely to stay in business as those who don’t. BetaBlox’s combined annual client revenues have reached over a quarter of a billion US dollars!  BetaBlox also produces The Blox, a gamified, five-day educational bootcamp for entrepreneurs. The Blox is also the most intense, game-changing, community-building experience of their lives and will impact participants’ bank accounts.   In 2016, Weston proposed to Amanda at a Kansas City Royals game, and they married in June 2018.  Amanda Bergmann is a yoga teacher and fitness enthusiast who is always on the hunt for deals. She specializes in fashion, family, and food, and shares those finds with her 40K Instagram followers. Amanda has also been a massive supporter of local and regional Midwest businesses. Durrie Vision, Hy-Vee, Radiant Color Studio, Urban Egg, and Woodhouse Spa Leawood have previously been featured on Amanda’s Instagram (@nomastayinkc).   On this episode of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Weston and Amanda spoke about their proposal’s tenth anniversary, Weston celebrating 20 years on Reality TV, his iconic Pole Wrestle battle with Derrick Kosinski, and building their distinguished brands and communities.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jake-s-take-with-jacob-elyachar--4112003/support.

    54 min
  5. JULIE CORTÉS TALKS FREELANCE ROCKSTAR + BATTLING ANTISEMITISM | JTWJE #404

    JAN 22

    JULIE CORTÉS TALKS FREELANCE ROCKSTAR + BATTLING ANTISEMITISM | JTWJE #404

    I am so delighted to finally welcome one of my friends and mentors, the incomparable Julie Cortés, to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast!   Julie is a copywriter by day and a freelance rockstar by night. Her journey began in 1998, when she was removed from her job. However, the event lit a fire beneath her. What started as a “What now?” moment turned into a HELL YEAH kind of career – one that she built from the ground up following her natural talent, relentless drive, and rebellious energy.  Today, Julie Cortés helps clients across the globe find their voice, own their brand, and show up like the rockstars they were meant to be.   Julie did not choose the freelance life. It chose her! Fast forward over 25 years, and Julie Cortés founded the Freelance Exchange of Kansas City, a community for solo creatives. She also built and taught a college-level Freelancing 101 course at the Kansas City Art Institute. Julie became a business coach for freelancers and solopreneurs and spoke on stages across the country.  She was also featured on various media platforms, including Clients from Hell, CNN, Great Day KC, The Kansas City Business Journal, and The Kansas City Star.   Julie won numerous awards, ranging from Innovator of the Year from the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the Women’s Business Advocate of the Year from the Kansas Department of Commerce to being named a Small Business Superstar by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.   On this episode of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Julie Cortés shared the origin story of Freelance Exchange of Kansas City, the creation of a Freelancing 101 course, and her efforts to combat antisemitism and anti-Zionism on social media.   Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jake-s-take-with-jacob-elyachar--4112003/support.

    38 min
  6. KIM YARBROUGH TALKS ‘Spider-Man- Into the Spider-Verse’, Teaching + Potential ‘Voice’ Return | JTWJE #403

    JAN 19

    KIM YARBROUGH TALKS ‘Spider-Man- Into the Spider-Verse’, Teaching + Potential ‘Voice’ Return | JTWJE #403

    It is a privilege to welcome actress and singer Kim Yarbrough back to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar brand (and for the first time on the podcast) for the first time in 14 years!     Many Reality TV fans first saw Kim Yarbrough audition for The Voice USA: Season Two in Spring 2012. Her powerful interpretation of Chaka Khan’s “Tell Me Something Good” turned both founding coaches' chairs, Adam Levine and Christina Aguilera, around.  After joining Team Adam, Kim wowed the audience with her cover of Mary J. Blige’s “No More Drama” and advanced to the Season Two Live Playoffs.  During The Voice: Season Two Live Playoffs, she sang Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” but fell into the Bottom Three.  After delivering a superb, powerful cover of Jennifer Hudson’s “Spotlight,” the Maroon 5 frontman chose to advance Kim’s then teammate, Katrina Parker, to the Top 16.  After her appearance on the NBC talent competition, Al Roker, Hoda Kotb, and Kathie Lee Gifford interviewed her on Today, and she sang with the Roots on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Over the years, Kim dove deep into the entertainment industry. She guest-starred on several television shows, including 2 Broke Girls, 9-1-1, Hollywood Heights, Hot in Cleveland, Kenan, The Mindy Project, New Girl, Shameless, and The Up-Shaws. Kim also had recurring roles in Cherish the Day (Aunt Natalie), The Haunted Hathaways (Madame Labuef), and the animated series Kid Cosmic (Flo (voice)). In addition, Kim lent her voice to the Oscar-winning animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.   She also shared the stage and screen with entertainment industry legends, including Dennis Quaid, Loretta Devine, Octavia Spencer, Cedric the Entertainer, Stevie Wonder, Sheila E, and the late Betty White and her mentor Della Reese, who produced the stage show Della Reese Presents Kim Yarbrough, which allowed Kim to showcase her talents to the Hollywood Entertainment Community.     On this episode of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Kim Yarbrough spoke about voice acting, tutoring students in the arts, and if she would ever audition for America’s Got Talent or wait for a future All-Stars season of The Voice USA. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jake-s-take-with-jacob-elyachar--4112003/support.

    36 min
4.6
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar is an extension of Mr. Elyachar's website: Jake's Take. The podcast features conversations with guests from across the entertainment and lifestyle industries.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jake-s-take-with-jacob-elyachar--4112003/support.