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.

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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!

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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. 

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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.  

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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.

The Masked Singer is back! America’s favorite celebrity competition has returned for a fourteenth helping. 

Host Nick Cannon and panelists Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Robin Thicke, and Rita Ora welcomed a new set of undercover performers to the show. Little do they know that Rita’s Descendants co-star, Kylie Cantrall, infiltrated the competition as the show’s first Masked Singer (MS) Insider.  

Last week, she entered the competition as the Cat Witch and, along with fellow competitors Galaxy Girl, Hangman, Pugcasso, Queen Corgi, Scarab, Snow Cone, and Stingray, advanced.  However, her competitors, Googly Eyes and the Croissants, were forced to leave the show. Baseball legend David “Big Papi” Ortiz was behind the Googly Eyes costume, while the Season 14 premiere episode ended with the identity of the Croissants just about to be unmasked.  

On the second episode of The Masked Singer: Season 14, fans learned the Croissants’ true identities and experienced Fear Night, where five new costumed performers – Calla Lily, Eggplant, High Voltage, Le Who Who, and Owl – made their debuts along with guest panelist Johnny Knoxville, who hosts the revival of Fear Factor: House of Fear.  

Which performers joined Googly Eyes and the Croissants in the Season 14 elimination club?

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I could not be celebrating my fifteenth anniversary as a content creator and interviewer without welcoming back one of my all-time favorite guests and Reality TV alums, Paulie Calafiore, to Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar.  

Paulie first made his way to Reality TV when he was cast on CBS’s Big Brother 18, where he won two HOHs and three Vetoes before being evicted on Day 66. He next made his MTV debut on the inaugural season of Ex on the Beach USA. After the show, Paulie ventured onto The Challenge: Final Reckoning, where he teamed up with Big Brother rival Natalie Negrotti. Despite being eliminated in the second and third episodes, the duo returned to the game near the season’s end, where they ultimately placed third.  

He returned for War of the Worlds 1 and partnered with Natalie “Ninja” Duran and (for two episodes) Georgia Harrison. Paulie won seven daily challenges but did not make it to the finale. In War of the Worlds 2, he, along with Cara Maria Sorbello, Ninja, and series veterans Ashley Mitchell, Kam Williams, Leroy Garrett, and Zach Nichols, took command of Team USA and won four daily challenges before gassing out and finishing second.  

Four years after War of the Worlds 2, Paulie Calafiore returned to CBS to compete in The Challenge USA: Season 2. Despite reconnecting with allies such as Amanda Garcia, Cory Wharton, and Wes Bergmann, and rebuilding bridges with foes including Johnny Bananas, Josh Martinez, and Tori Deal, Paulie was sent home early after losing to the seven-time Challenge champion in the Fire and Ice arena game.   

Paulie returned to compete on the milestone season, The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras, representing Era Four. Sadly, he was eliminated by his longtime rival, Theo Campbell, in the show’s classic Hall Brawl elimination. Since that appearance, he appeared with Cara Maria Sortbello on Hulu’s Vanderpump Villa and Netflix’s Pop The Balloon.   

When he is not on Reality TV, Paulie owns Paulie Calafiore Management and Productions. He leads with a vision to produce original, high-quality content that resonates deeply with audiences. His company focuses on bold storytelling, creative collaboration, and the embrace of emerging technologies to push the boundaries of entertainment across television, film, and digital platforms. He is also the captain of The Soccer Tournament team, the Kingdom FC, with his brother, fellow Big Brother legend Cody Calafiore.    

 On his fourth go-around, Paulie Calafiore spoke about his brief time on The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras, The Challenge 41: Vets vs. New Threats’ lackluster veteran representation, rebranding Ten Management into Calafiore Management, adding Calafiore Global and Calafiore Productions to his portfolio, and celebrating his tenth anniversary of being a part of the Reality TV community.

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Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar is beginning our 15th anniversary celebration! To commemorate this milestone, I decided to combine two of my favorite things – podcasting and The Masked Singer!
 
Introducing, Jake’s Masked Singer Take! Like its older brother spin-off, Jake’s AGT Take, this podcast focuses on FOX’s undercover celebrity talent competition!    

For the first time in a year, The Masked Singer is back and with its biggest twist ever! Earlier in December, actress and singer (and Rita Ora’s Disney’s Descendants co-star) Kylie Cantrall was revealed to fans as the MS Insider. However, while the panel (Rita, Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, and Robin Thicke) doesn’t know she is competing, viewers don't know her undercover identity.   

In addition to Kylie competing, Entertainment Weekly reported that there are 17 additional costumes and that this batch of performers collectively has over 54 million Instagram followers and sold over 94 million records. These performers will compete throughout different theme nights, including Fear Factor (with new host Johnny Knoxville), Star Trek, Clueless, and Ozzfest, which will see Kelly Osbourne (Ladybug in Season Two) return and help the show pay homage to her late father -the incomparable Ozzy Osbourne.  

On Wednesday, January 7,  The Masked Singer returned to FOX airwaves for a massive two-hour season premiere!

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It is a thrill to welcome back my friend, three-time Tony-winning producer and investor Evan McGill, to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast!  

Evan is also a Drama Desk Award and Drama League Award-winning theatrical and music producer whose work spans Broadway, the West End, and Australia. He is a member of the Broadway League and the founder of Evan McGill Productions, where he has played a pivotal role in shaping some of the most celebrated theatrical productions in recent years. ​ On Broadway, his producing credits include Parade (2023), The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window (2023), The Outsiders, and Sunset Blvd (2024), and he has held a stake in numerous other commercial productions. Across the pond, Evan is involved in the West End revivals of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express (2024) and Evita (2025), among others. In Australia, he has been involved with Hamilton, MJ, and Beetlejuice.

In addition to his work on stage, Evan McGill has produced successful Broadway cast albums, including The Music Man: The 2022 Broadway Cast Recording and Funny Girl: New Broadway Cast Recording—both of which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Cast Albums chart. ​ In the world of entertainment finance, Evan McGill serves as a general partner at Tanninger Fund II, an SEC-registered investment vehicle that supports live entertainment ventures globally. His work has earned him three Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical for Parade at the 76th Tony Awards, Best Musical for The Outsiders at the 77th Tony Awards (in collaboration with Tanninger Entertainment), and Best Revival of a Musical for Sunset Blvd. at the 78th Tony Awards. He also received a Drama Desk Award for Parade and a Drama League Award as part of the producing team behind Sunset Blvd.  

On this episode of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Evan McGill talked about his success with The Outsiders, why Sunset Blvd was a cultural phenomenon, and previewed both the latest North American tour of Monty Python’s Spamalot and Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York).

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