Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar

It is a privilege to welcome actress and singer Cristina Rae to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.

The Nashville, Tennessee performer began her career as a backing vocalist for The Band Perry, Carrie Underwood, and Trace Adkins at several country music events. She also portrayed several notable characters such as Effie White (Dreamgirls), Evilene (The Wiz), and Sofia (The Color Purple) on various theatrical productions.

However, Cristina Rae became a household name when she auditioned for America’s Got Talent (AGT)’s fifteenth anniversary season. Her powerful interpretations of Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight” and The Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter” secured her place in the competition as she became returning judge Heidi Klum’s Golden Buzzer act. Cristina’s audition on the official AGT YouTube channel has been seen over 18 million times as of publication.

When the long-running NBC talent competition broadcasted live from Universal Studios Hollywood, Cristina Rae indeed soared as a vocalist. Her covers of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” Cynthia Erivo’s “Jump,” and Imagine Dragons’ “Demons” were all highlights throughout the season. After wowing viewers all season long, Cristina Rae took home third place.

In this edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Cristina Rae talked about her America’s Got Talent journey. She also revealed which legendary music superstars she wants to collaborate with in the future.

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It is a privilege to welcome mentalist and magician Max Major to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.

Known as “The Real-Life Sherlock Holmes,” Max Major is a world-renowned mentalist living in Las Vegas. He has performed over 2,000 live shows for several organizations, including BlueCross BlueShield, Costco, Deloitte, Facebook, and Lockheed Martin. Max has also been called before two different Department of Defense Agencies to demonstrate his innovative body language techniques, hypnosis, and influence.

This past summer, Max Major auditioned for America’s Got Talent (AGT)’s fifteenth anniversary season. He auditioned for Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, Simon Cowell, and Sofia Vergara during the AGT at Home: The Show Must Go Online’s second week. He received four “Yeses” from all the judges. Eventually, AGT incorporated Max’s audition into the show.

However, Max Major had one more obstacle to get into the Season 15 Live Shows. Simon and the rest of the judges had Max perform one final time during the Season 15 Judge Cuts. After successfully making a deep connection with Simon, Max was invited to compete at the Universal Studios Hollywood live shows, where he made it to the Season 15 Quarterfinals and Semifinals.

In this edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Max Major talked about his AGT journey and inducted me into his fan group: Major Nation.

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It is a pleasure to welcome escapologist and daredevil Jonathan Goodwin to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.

Throughout his career, Jonathan has been hanged, buried alive, and burned at the stake. He also suspended by his toes from helicopters, was covered in 200,000 bees, and was attacked by rattlesnakes and sharks. His stunts have been featured on countless television programs, including Dirty Tricks, Cheating the Gallows, Deathwish Live, and Dangerman: The Incredible Mr. Goodwin. He also toured with the Illusionists, a supergroup of magicians.

In 2019, Jonathan Goodwin stepped entered the Got Talent franchise when he auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent: Series 13 and terrified judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and David Walliams with his stunts. He impressed the British public with his performances that they voted him into the Series 13 finals.

This year, Jonathan auditioned online for America’s Got Talent’s fifteenth anniversary season. He impressed Simon, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, and Sofia Vergara. However, he had to prove himself during the Season 15 Judges Cuts, and after performing another death-defying stunt, the judges voted him through to the Season 15 live shows.

During the Universal Studios Hollywood live rounds, Jonathan soared as he performed two death-defying stunts in the Season 15 quarterfinals and semifinals that surprised and stunned the audience. Sadly, he was eliminated right before the Season 15 finale.

In this edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Jonathan Goodwin talked about his time on the Got Talent franchise and how he prepares for live performances.

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It is a privilege to welcome actor and composer Stephen Manas to The Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.

While growing up in the small French town of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Stephen Manas wanted to work in the film industry once he saw Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone. He loved the cinema and had the first chance to act when he was recruited for a small tole in an independent film in Lyon, France.

His life changed for the better when a talent agency in India cold-called him and invited him to work there. Stephen left his corporate marketing job and headed to India, where he worked on various Bollywood projects. In 2018, Stephen Manas returned home to France to work in the French cinema industry.

He booked the lead role in the award-winning short film OUT OF FRAME/HORS CHAMP, for he won several acting awards, including Actors Awards-Los Angeles' "Best Performance of Fest," Alternative Film Festival's "Best Actor," and Top Shorts Film Festival's "Best Actor." Stephen also starred in the film La Bonheur Des Uns (A Friendly Tale) opposite actor Vincent Cassel (Black Swan and Westwood) and Oscar, Golden Globe, and SAG Award-nominated actress Bérénice Bejo (The Artist).

Recently, Stephen Manas joined the cast of Apple TV's Ted Lasso. The sports comedy show follows American football coach Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) as he coaches the English Premier League team, the AFC Richmond, despite having no experience in coaching soccer. Stephen portrays Richard Montlaur, a French footballer who struggles to understand his new coach's thick American access.

In this edition of The Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Stephen talked about getting started in Bollywood and spoke about what audiences can expect from Ted Lasso.

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For the milestone sixtieth episode of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, I welcomed my longtime friend: author and singer Branden James.

Our paths first crossed in 2013 when Branden first appeared on America’s Got Talent (AGT)’s eighth season. I was genuinely moved by his showmanship and his outstanding covers of “You Raise Me Up,” “Alone,” and “Hallelujah.” Months after he was eliminated one week before the Season Eight finale, I conducted my first interview with Branden.

A few guests have appeared on both jakes-take.com and The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast that I can say I developed strong friendships with, and Branden James is one of them. I am proud of all that Branden has accomplished throughout his career, including starting up a new act with his husband, James Clark. The duo (Branden + James) performed in over 50 countries and performed in various venues that range from Feinstein’s 54Below to live-streaming concerts.

For the first time since 2013, Branden James returns solo for an exclusive interview. In this edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Branden talked about his new memoir: Lyrics of My Life: My Journey with Family, HIV, and Reality TV. He also spoke about being a part of AGT’s legacy and Chasing Dreams, his first studio album that he recorded under Branden + James.

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Today is a special edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.

Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast is honored and thrilled to welcome Brandon Leake, the reigning champion of America’s Got Talent.

Brandon Leake is the first poet and spoken word artist to win the long-running NBC talent competition. After his powerful poem, he first became a household name received veteran judge Howie Mandel’s Golden Buzzer during the final phase of the Season 15 Judges’ Auditions. Throughout the Season 15 Live Rounds, Brandon captivated the country with his words that ranged from family to the Black Lives Matter movement.

In this special edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Brandon Leake opened up on winning America’s Got Talent and how his victory could encourage other members of the spoken word artists community to seek bigger stages.

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It is a pleasure to welcome actor Lucas Hyde to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.

Born and raised in Cadiz, Kentucky, Lucas is a former world champion archer and competitive bodybuilder. Before he arrived in the acting world and studying at Los Angeles’ Berg Studios, he was also an Environmental Health and Safety Engineer for Gulfstream Aerospace.

He also starred in two TV series, including Mark of a Killer, where he played Robert Hansen for two episodes. Lucas Hyde also portrayed James Cravens in the Wild West Chronicles that also stars Jack Elliott, Chris Cleveland, and Josh Gilmer. Recently, he headlined the first season of Jake’s Take friend Paul Kruger’s web series: Man of Action.

In this edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Lucas Hyde opened up about being in China when the coronavirus pandemic began and previewed his role in the Man of Action web series.

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It is a pleasure to welcome back my friend, filmmaker, and digital content creator Paul Krueger, back to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast!

He is also the podcast’s first returning guest. Throughout 2020, Paul has built a diverse amount of his content through social media such as TikTok and YouTube. In his solo YouTube podcast series, Paul, the filmmaker talked about various topics that range from P90X and scouting locations to personal moments such as changing apartments and vehicles.

Recently, Paul wrapped up his first web series: Man of Action. The four-part web series focuses on Tom Cross (Lucas Hyde), who investigates a radio tower for a potential terrorist threat. However, he begins to suspect his employer, the Anti-Terrorist Agency, has been holding information from him.

In this edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Paul Krueger spoke about Man of Action, gave his thoughts on TikTok, and revealed why actors and performers should be utilizing digital platforms.

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It is a pleasure to welcome Big Brother 21 alum and the host of Conspire Away B*tches! With Kat Dunn podcast: Kathryn Dunn.

Last summer, Kathryn entered the Big Brother house with 15 other houseguests. She also introduced the phrase: “Are you b*tches conspiring against me?” into the show’s lexicon. Through her 58 days inside the house, she won one Veto and a trip to Hawaii before becoming Season 21’s second jury member.

When the coronavirus lockdown began, she treated her social media following several Instagram Live conversations with Big Brother alums. Once Kathryn Dunn finished sitting down with her fellow Big Brother 21 castmates, she decided to treat the long-running CBS summer Reality TV competition’s fans for a real treat.

Kathryn welcomed a plethora of show icons onto the Instagram Live. Some of the show’s greatest characters and winners including Dan Gheesling, Derrick Levasseur, Janelle Pierzina, Angie “Rockstar” Lantry, Tyler Crispen and Angela Rummans. A significant Instagram Live conversation was with Big Brother 16 fan-favorite Zach Rance, which made headlines when he revealed that the crew allegedly rigs the show.

These Instagram Lives lead to her starting her podcast. So far, Kat spoke with previously evicted houseguests such as Pierzina, Keesha Smith, and our mutual friend Nicole Anthony. She also talked to Big Brother 9 winner Adam Jasinski, Big Brother 15 winner Andy Herren, and Big Brother 19 winner Josh Martinez.

In this edition of The Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Kathryn Dunn reminisced about her time in the Big Brother 21 house and spoke about Big Brother's second edition of All-Stars.

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It is a pleasure to welcome singer, songwriter, and producer Jono Dorr to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.

Jono Dorr is a rising voice in the music industry. As a songwriter and a producer, the Los Angeles native has helped launch several Top 40 artists' careers. He wrote and produced for Gnash, Hayley Kiyoko, Kehlani, and The Neighborhood. Jon is also featured in various media outlets, including All Access Music Magazine, DVINE Magazine, and New Music Weekly.

In this edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Jono Dorr talked about his musical influences and how the coronavirus pandemic challenged him as a musician. Jono also spoke about his latest album: The Unexamined Life, Part 1.

You can listen to Jono Dorr’s music on Spotify!