just tak

Something a little different from Just Tak this week…

No guest. No edit. Just Takaya, live on YouTube and answering your questions.

In this special live episode, Tak takes questions from viewers around the world and chats all things Neighbours, Play School, acting and the realities of working in the Australian screen industry - with plenty of stories and tangents along the way.

We get into:
· Neighbours memories and behind-the-scenes stories
· David, Aaron and life on Ramsay Street
· Play School and what’s coming up
· Acting, auditions and the state of the industry
· Future Just Tak guests
· Your questions, answered live

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:
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.

Debra Lawrance joins Tak for a warm, candid and deeply personal conversation about Home and Away, Neighbours, Please Like Me, nearly 50 years in acting, learning to listen to her body, surviving the industry and the moment she finally became Debra rather than simply Pippa.

What we get into:
· Stepping away from the Steel Magnolias tour
· Why actors push through illness and exhaustion
· Learning to rest after nearly 50 years in the industry
· Discovering acting and leaving Melbourne for NIDA
· Training alongside Judy Davis, Mel Gibson and Steve Bisley
· Learning not to envy another actor’s success
· Missing a major role and the advice that stayed with her
· Taking time away from acting for family
· Returning through Blue Heelers
· Life after Pippa and becoming Debra Lawrance
· The responsibility and social impact of television
· Please Like Me and telling stories without labels
· Coaching young actors on Neighbours
· Jackie Woodburne, Alan Fletcher and on-set mentorship
· Playing Liz Conway and crossing from Summer Bay to Ramsay Street
· Working through grief while filming Home and Away
· Signs, dreams and unexplained moments after loss
· Acting coaching, career mindset and creating your own work

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://Patreon.com/justtak

Promotion / Links:
Debra Lawrance on IMDb
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0492592/

Watch Please Like Me
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2155025/

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.

George Zhao joins Takaya Honda for a funny, open and vulnerable chat about Ghosts Australia, The Family Law, acting, ego, imposter syndrome, identity, clown doctoring, almost quitting the industry and learning that casting is not a competition.

What we get into:
· George’s Logie nomination for Ghosts Australia
· Meeting Takaya on The Family Law
· Moving from Sydney to Melbourne
· Growing up between New Zealand and Australia
· His first brush with performance through The Lion King auditions
· Dance, school, shame and self-awareness
· Almost training to become an Anglican minister
· Finding acting at drama school
· Early success, ego and The Family Law
· Ghosts Australia and playing Joon
· Anxiety, self-worth and almost quitting acting
· Working as a clown doctor in children’s hospitals
· Disability support, counselling and life outside acting
· Asian actors, comparison and competition
· Why booking the role is not the same as “winning”
· Neighbours auditions, David, Leo and old friendships
· Voting for George at the TV Week Logies

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/c/justtak

Promotion / Links:
Watch George Zhao in Ghosts Australia
https://10.com.au/ghosts-australia

Watch George Zhao in The Family Law
https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-series/the-family-law

Vote for George Zhao at the TV Week Logies
https://tvweeklogies.com.au/

Find out more about Clown Doctors Australia
https://clowndoctorsaustralia.org.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.

Matthew Backer joins Takaya Honda for a funny, thoughtful and honest chat about Neighbours, Play School, acting, identity, bullying, coming out, casting, resilience and what it really means to bring yourself to the work.

What we get into:
· Playing Logan on Neighbours
· Being labelled “the gay stalker”
· Aaron, David and fan reaction
· Working together on Play School
· School musicals, bullying and finding acting
· Jersey Boys and the eight-show-week grind
· Screen acting, guest roles and finding confidence
· Writing and starring in Die Bully Die
· Homophobic bullying and turning trauma into story
· Coming out and the fear of being a gay actor
· The casting director who saw through the mask
· Play School, Story Salad and improvising for kids
· The F Ward, medical drama and playing a triage nurse
· Emma’s Dance Club and Brady the Trady

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:
/ justtak

Promotion / Links:
Die Bully Die:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28325544/

Follow Matthew Backer:
Instagram: / matthewbacker

Watch Matthew on Play School:
https://iview.abc.net.au/show/play-sc...

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.

Nathan Borg was told more than once that acting probably wasn’t going to happen for him. He didn’t accept that.

In this episode, Nathan talks to Takaya about growing up profoundly deaf, being bullied at school, landing Neighbours during COVID, and becoming the show’s first recurring actor with a cochlear implant.

What we get into:
· Growing up profoundly deaf in Bacchus Marsh
· Meningitis, cochlear implants and learning to hear
· School bullying and discovering drama
· Being told the industry would not accept him
· Meeting Jason Herbison and auditioning for Neighbours
· Joining one of TV’s fastest-paced sets during COVID
· Jackie Woodburne, Annie Jones and Sally-Anne Upton having his back
· Teaching directors basic signs on set
· Playing Curtis Perkins and staying on Ramsay Street for years
· The pressure of becoming an advocate
· Developing Bump Into You, a deaf gay romance series

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:
Patreon.com/justtak

Promotion / Links:
Follow Nathan Borg
https://www.instagram.com/nathan_borg/

Deaf awareness and support
Australia: Deaf Australia
https://www.deafaustralia.org.au/
United Kingdom: RNID
https://rnid.org.uk/

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.