just tak

Miah Madden joins Tak to talk growing up in the acting industry, studying law alongside a successful career and learning to live without needing everyone’s approval. She reflects on losing her father at a young age, the influence of her Aboriginal family and community, and starting work at just eight years old.

What we get into:

* Juggling a law degree with a successful acting career

* Growing up in a politically engaged Aboriginal family

* Losing her father when she was two

* The extraordinary life and legacy of her dad

* Finding an outlet for grief through acting

* Growing up alongside Australia’s Indigenous screen community

* Becoming the youngest ever presenter on Play School

* Working with Takaya on Play School

* Living with anxiety since childhood

* What success means to Miah now

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.

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.

Tak goes rogue. And by rogue, we mean live.

For Only Tak 2, Tak takes over the show completely, leaving Producer Tom with absolutely no way to edit him, cut around him or quietly remove anything he probably shouldn’t have said.

No guest. No safety net. No edit.

What could possibly go wrong?

Note: This was recorded LIVE on YouTube two weeks ago, normal pod releases have now resumed.

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

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.

Kate Connick joins Tak for a chat about Neighbours, starting over in Australia, ambition, nepotism and learning to define success on her own terms. She talks about landing her first acting job as Fallon Morell, growing up with Harry Connick Jr. and Jill Goodacre, leaving LA, dating, entrepreneurship and launching Acre Wellness in Melbourne.

What we get into:

* Joining Neighbours as Fallon Morell in her first-ever acting role

* Having an American character written specifically for her

* Why Neighbours felt like acting boot camp

* Moving to Australia for one month and still being here three years later

* Why leaving Los Angeles helped Kate figure out who she was

* Being Harry Connick Jr. and Jill Goodacre’s daughter

* Why Kate has learned to own the “nepo baby” label

* Launching Acre Wellness and taking her ice cream bars into Melbourne stores

* How her parents’ marriage shaped what she expects from relationships

* Dating, being single and refusing to teach someone how to love

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?

Promotion / Links:

Follow Kate Connick on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/skateconnick/

Acre Wellness: Launching in Melbourne, Australia

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.

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, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 again
• Why both generations of Heartbreak High connected around the world
• Becoming drama coach on the reboot
• Saying goodbye to Neighbours after 17 years
• Why the loss of Neighbours matters for the Australian screen industry
• Life after Ramsay Street and working in indie film
• Acting, instinct and staying present on set
• Building Major Look TV
• Creating a more sustainable model for actors and filmmakers
• Why actors still need to be paid for their craft
• Going from acting on Neighbours to directing it
• Directing the Neighbours finale — twice
• Darren Stark, Lucas Fitzgerald and directing himself
• Whether 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.

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.