Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar

The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast’s fifth anniversary season kick-off month continues!

I am delighted to welcome comedian, rapper, and singer Ksenia as a guest! Russian-born and now Los Angeles-based, Ksenia began integrating her grand tongue-in-cheek comedy into her music, often poking fun at the cultural follies of her homeland while leaning into observational humor around societal issues. She’s now taken that comedy component directly to the stage. She has been performing her stand-up routines across the United States, including the Comedy Store, Dangerfield’s Comedy Club, New York City’s Comedy Cellar, and the Hollywood Improv.

Initially navigating the realm of sad pop songs, Ksenia channeled her experiences as a Russian woman, expressing the depth of her emotions through her music. A whole album emerged from this period, encapsulating the essence of her journey and the universal theme of suffering. Despite her musical prowess, she encountered roadblocks in releasing her work, grappling with the challenge of navigating the music industry independently. In a pivotal moment during her sad singing shows, an unintentional foray into humor opened a new chapter. Embracing the unexpected laughter from her audience, Ksenia decided to take a stand-up comedy class. Her unique brand of humorous rap, influenced by her stand-up routine, stands as a testament to resilience and creative innovation, embodying the spirit of an artist unafraid to redefine her narrative.

Recently, Ksenia released the fiery “It’s My Birthday.” She co-wrote the song with producer Mario Marchetti (Demi Lovato and JoJo) and was inspired by 50 Cent’s signature song “In Da Club.” She also infused an empowering message against ageism into the track.

In this edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Ksenia spoke about her transition from singer to rapper, the stories behind some of her most streamed Spotify songs, and finding social media success.

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It is the first Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW of 2024!

Rock Me Amadeus – Live! Co-producer and opera soprano Alyson Cambridge returned to the podcast! She is back to promoting the eagerly anticipated world premiere of the groundbreaking rock-meets-classical fusion concert experience, which is set to captivate audiences on Sunday, January 21, 2024, at 7:30 PM at the prestigious David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, FL.

Rock Me Amadeus – Live! weaves classic rock anthems from iconic bands such as Aerosmith, Journey, Led Zeppelin, and Nirvana with timeless compositions by classical luminaries like Beethoven, Mozart, and Puccini. Grammy-nominated conductor and pianist James Lowe, who appeared with several prestigious opera companies, including the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Houston Grand Opera, and the San Francisco Opera, will perform the January 21 premiere.

A diverse group of performers will join Alyson on stage. Vocalists include Alyson, tenor Victor Ryan Robertson, Chloe Lowery, Toby Rand, Tony Vincent, and Kia Warren. Meanwhile, co-producer Tony Bruno, who is also the show’s music director, will lead a group of talented musicians, including drummer Brian Delaney, pianist Henry Aronson, bassist Luis Guzman, and Emmy and Grammy-nominated Celtic Violinist Máiréad Nesbitt. In this edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, the Rock Me Amadeus – Live! Co-producer previewed the upcoming January 21 production and the show’s future.

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It is a pleasure to welcome back my friend, reality TV star, two-time Challenge finalist, and the Ten Management founder Paulie Calafiore to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.

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 Vetos before being evicted on Day 66. He next made his MTV debut on Ex on the Beach USA’s inaugural season. 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 girlfriend Cara Maria Sorbello, Ninja, and series veterans Ashley Mitchell, Kam Williams, and Leroy Garrett, took command of Team USA and won four different daily challenges before gassing out and coming in second place.

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 he lost to the seven-time Challenge champion in the Fire and Ice arena game. When he is not on Reality TV, Paulie owns Ten Management and is co-captain of The Soccer Tournament team, the Kingdom FC, with his brother – fellow Big Brother legend Cody Calafiore. He also launched the Invite Only! Podcast with Cara Maria and Paulie Calafiore. On the podcast, the duo discusses various topics ranging from relationships and weird internet finds to conversations with guests, such as social media influencer Ashley K Hawaii and fitness icon Shaun T.
In this edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Paulie Calafiore spoke about his The Challenge USA 2 experience, coming out as bisexual on the show, and what he is looking for in athletes who want to join him and Cody on the 2024 Kingdom FC team.

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The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast’s Fifth Anniversary Season kickoff month continues! It is a pleasure to welcome Ana Saia to the podcast.

Ana is a talented, comical influencer and the self-proclaimed “redheaded Latina.” She is joining the “no sabo” generation out to reclaim the term and inspire her over 3 million TikTok and Instagram followers with comical and accurate portrayals of Mexican American heritage. Embracing her insecurities and driving into the acting and singing space, this influencer aims to take the media world by storm.

As a white-presenting Latinx woman, Ana Saia often feels conflicted when others place their own racial or ethnic assumptions upon her and disregard the Mexican heritage she has grown to love throughout her life. She decided to join TikTok to share her unique life with others. Her first viral video was of her using a colloquial Spanish term with her Spanish teacher and receiving a poor grade. The Las Vegas-based creator prompted many viewers to respond with their own stories of being failed by Spanish teachers for making similar mistakes.

A so-called “no sabo” kid is a child who comes from a Latin or Hispanic family and speaks little to no Spanish. Because of this, they can sometimes be treated as outsiders to the culture. Ana Saia created a post explaining how to survive a family reunion as a “no sabo” kid. When the United States observes Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, it is often peppered with debates about what terms Latinos should use to identify themselves. Ana grew up listening to Spanish at home in Las Vegas but continuously works to improve her Spanish to clean up the “English accent” many tend to have due to the culture clash.

Along with embracing her insecurities, Ana also jumps into acting and singing. She has always loved the arts and performing as a child, but with a family of low means, she wasn’t able to pursue acting or see it as an option growing up. With her growing social media presence, Ana is taking classes and auditioning and is not afraid to show her growth. She has posted reels of her favorite film scenes from Brave, Encanto, Enchanted, and Spider-Man, along with her comical skits.

In this edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Ana Saia spoke about finding success on TikTok and why Selena Gomez would be the perfect collaborator.

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It’s The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast’s fifth anniversary season kick-off episode! I am honored that three-time Challenge champion and Challenge Mania co-host Derrick Kosinski visited the podcast!

Derrick began his Reality TV journey on Road Rules: X-Treme, where he and his teammates, including fellow Challenge legend Jodi Weatherton, completed 13 missions across Argentina and Chile. He debuted on The Challenge on the Battle of the Sexes and competed in nine additional seasons, where he made the final five times and won championships on The Inferno 3, The Island, and The Ruins. Throughout his time on the main show, Derrick won 43 daily challenges and nine elimination wins, earning $210,970. The last time he appeared in the main franchise was on Vendettas, whereas a Mercenary, Derrick, took out then-newcomer Joss Mooney in the Crazy Eight game.

Derrick returned to The Challenge for three installments in the Paramount+ series: The Challenge: All-Stars. In the first season, Derrick never saw an Arena Elimination game, but he and his partner, Jisela Delgado, placed eleventh after they failed to place the first checkpoint. In the spin-off’s sophomore season, Derrick Kosinski won the first two daily challenges but was blindsided into elimination when longtime friend Brad Fiorenza sent him home.

In The Challenge: All-Stars’ third season, Derrick competed against cast members who made it to the finals. Derrick played an excellent game this season and even defeated All-Stars 2 champion MJ Garrett in the Star Struck elimination game after the latter called him out. Sadly, one of his longtime rivals, Nehemiah Clark, eliminated Derrick one episode before the Season Three finals in the infamous Pole Wrestle arena game. This was the same game that Derrick lost to another rival and Nehemiah’s best friend, Wes Bergmann, in The Duel.

When he is not competing on The Challenge, Derrick hosts the popular Challenge Mania Podcast with co-host (and Jake's Take friend) Scott Yager. Since 2017, the duo has covered the franchise and sat down with show icons, including Johnny Bananas, CT Tamburello, Cara Maria Sorbello, and Aneesa Ferreira, and current-day fan-favorites such as Amber Borztotra, Chris Underwood, Jonna Mannion, and Paulie Calafiore. Also, the duo connects show fans with their favorite cast members as a part of Challenge Mania Live. Atlanta, Austin, Buffalo, Chicago, Denver, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New Orleans, and New York City have been previous stops on the live show.

In this edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Derrick Kosinski revealed his favorite Challenge seasons, spoke about his iconic elimination matches against Wes and Joss (including reacting to Joss’s commentary in 2020), and Challenge Mania’s evolution.

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It is the final 2023 episode of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast!

SEE YOU IN 2024!

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It is a pleasure to welcome Emmy-winning journalist Michael Mackie to The Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.

Michael Mackie is a proud Midwesterner. Growing up, he always knew he wanted to be in TV. Or on TV. Or watching TV. (He's not picky.) "I even got my degree in broadcasting from the University of Iowa to prove to the world I was not only educated but well-versed in sitcoms, game shows, and Oprah," he says. "Also, I got minors in French and acting as well. Someday, that will enable me to write, produce, direct, and star in a straight-to-video project in Quebec." Not only is Mackie an Aries with a Pisces rising, but he's also an eight-time Emmy award winner. He's worked and freelanced for various local television affiliates in Des Moines, Orlando, and Kansas City and was the co-host of a local daily entertainment show, KC Live.

A prolific travel writer by trade, Mackie recently joined the prestigious Society of American Travel Writers. "My parents never could comprehend how I earned my keep stringing words together for the universe to appreciate," he says. "Frankly, that makes three of us. But I feel like it's what I was put on this earth to do. I was born to tell people's stories. Whether you read it—welp, that's up to you."

In this edition of The Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Michael Mackie spoke about his most memorable interviews of 2023 and his Four Inane Questions column for The Pitch Kansas City.

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It is a pleasure to welcome multi-instrumentalist, composer, and singer Ezra Grey to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.

Ezra is no newcomer to the music industry. He composed, recorded, and toured internationally with numerous bands since he was 15-years-old. Ezra Grey has served as guitarist, bass player, and pianist for countless hip-hop, R&B, rock, heavy metal, classical and jazz bands. He has won awards for his performances (including Downbeat Magazine’s Outstanding Performance in Pop/Rock/Blues) and compositions from the American Composers Orchestra.

As a vocalist, he has performed at Gracie Mansion (for Mayor Bloomberg), on VH1’s Big Morning Buzz, and with Mike Malinin, former drummer of the Goo Goo Dolls. He also has a double degree in music and philosophy from Columbia University. In addition, he has worked with several music industry greats, including Tony Levin, bassist for Peter Gabriel, King Crimson, and former bassist for John Lennon, David Bowie, and Frank Zappa. Ezra is expected to debut his solo extended play, Afterall, for release on February 16, 2024. The EP highlights the artist’s evolution as a solo artist, featuring his original compositions from age 15 to the present, all with themes of love, heartbreak, or introspection. Additionally, the EP will showcase Ezra’s versatility, weaving together guitar-driven melodies with influences from his touring experiences with metal bands like GAREK, Sinaro, and Etherius. He incorporates in what he calls “deceptively technically difficult guitar arrangements” reminiscent of metal, intertwined with jazz harmonies and hints of Latin and reggae influences.

In this edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Ezra Grey spoke about touring with metal bands GAREK, Sinaro, and Etherius. He also previewed the EP and the story behind the single: “Into the Sun.”

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It is a privilege to welcome actress and singer Lauren Marcus to The Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.

Stephen Mosher of BroadwayWorld best described Lauren: "Take all the female rock stars you have known and loved and roll them up into one. Take, for instance, Linda Ronstadt's soul, Tina Turner's sexiness, Pat Benatar's grit, Debbie Harry's defiance, and all the Go-Go's playfulness. Mix and bake at 350, then frost with a five-inch thick layer of The Icing of Originality, and you've got Lauren Marcus."

Hailed as "fabulous" by The Boston Globe and a "powerhouse" by The Chicago Tribune, Lauren is a multi-hyphenate actor, singer, and writer whose work has been seen on stage and screen. She has appeared in countless regional theatrical productions, including Company (with Aaron Tveit; Amy), Fiddler on the Roof (Tzeitel), Hello, Dolly! (with Tovah Feldshuh; Ermengarde), two productions of Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey) and Merrily We Roll Along (Mary Flynn). She also was part of four world premieres, including Beatsville (Carla), Love in Hate Nation (Miss Asp), Pregnancy Pact (Jenn), and Punk Rock Girl! (Patricia).

She also appeared in the Off-Broadway productions of Sarah Silverman's The Bedwetter (multiple roles) and White Girl in Danger (Meagan). Lauren was also part of Be More Chill's journey. She portrayed Brooke Lohst in the regional, off-Broadway, and Broadway productions. Lauren starred as Donna in the Netflix adaption of the Lin-Manuel Miranda-directed Tick, Tick…BOOM! Lauren also performed across New York City's famous music venues, including 54Below and Rockwood Music Hall, where she had multiple residencies and had a party of 12 performers on stage. While she considers her live shows – half-party/half-therapy, Lauren's sound is inspired by the effervescent melodies of 1960s pop, the lyrical poetry of 1970s troubadours, and the electric edge of contemporary indie rock…and usually includes a healthy dose of theatricality. Her sound is at once a throwback and entirely forward-thinking.

In this edition of The Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Lauren Marcus spoke about being part of Be More Chill's entire circle journey, pulling off a quick recovery on stage while performing in Company with the late Stephen Sondheim in attendance and her latest single: "Skinny & Blonde."

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

Born in Denver, Colorado, Gabriella listened to 1980s pop icons, including The Cure, Depeche Mode, and Madonna, who would later heavily inspire her to create her music. She composes, sings, arranges, and produces all her songs. Gabriella's music blends Alternative R&B, Baroque Pop, Darkwave, and Electro House. Her tunes have an overarching theme of romanticism and often feature storylines that explore agony and the passion of star-crossed lovers and forbidden love through dark femininity's lens.

On October 13, 2023, Gabriella released Nephele: Act I. The album drew inspiration from a fictional character she named after Nephele, the Greek Goddess of Clouds. Zeus created her as a replica of his wife, Hera, to test another man's integrity who also lusted after Hera. Through her music, Gabriella breathes life into the captivating narrative of Nephele, a 21-year-old enchantress from the vibrant 80s era. Engaged in a fierce internal struggle of displacement and melancholy, Nephele: Act I pulses with raw emotion, encapsulating the heartache and courage of a young woman's journey to find her place in a world seemingly determined to cast her adrift.

In this edition of The Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Gabriella Raelyn spoke about Nephele: Act I's creation process, her TikTok success, and transforming some of modern-day pop's hits into successful 80s-inspired covers, including Lana Del Rey's "Summertime Sadness."

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