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Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar

Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar

Written by: Jacob Elyachar
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About this listen

 Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar is an extension of Mr. Elyachar's website: Jake's Take. The podcast features conversations with guests from across the entertainment and lifestyle industries.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jake-s-take-with-jacob-elyachar--4112003/support.Copyright Jacob Elyachar Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Joanne J-Bird Phillips TALKS The Arts & Journalism | JTWJE Jewish American Heritage Month Special #3

    Joanne J-Bird Phillips TALKS The Arts & Journalism | JTWJE Jewish American Heritage Month Special #3
    May 14 2026
    I am very excited to launch a very special series for Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar. May is Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM), which annually celebrates the history, culture, and contributions of Jewish Americans to the United States.

    I am honored to welcome my dear friend and mentor, Joanne J-Bird Phillips, to the podcast. I first met J-Bird in New York City through our mutual friend and former guest, Beatrice Kimmel. She and I instantly bonded and became fast friends. I love her zest for life, and it was Beshert (Yiddish for “destiny”) that the stars finally aligned for her to come on the show for our third JAHM special.

    Born in The Bronx and raised on Long Island, NY, Joanne Phillips grew up in a family of professional drummers and band leaders. Having a natural rhythm since childhood, Joanne's father taught her to play drums with brushes when she was seven, and her first song was "Come Fly with Me" by Frank Sinatra. She grew up listening to Swing, Motown, Bossa Nova, and Rock 'n' Roll, and honed her drum skills on a full orange sparkle drum kit that her family bought for her. At age sixteen, Joanne was asked to join a local garage band of teenage boys who needed someone to play their cover of "Wipeout" by The Surfaris correctly. She stepped in and nailed it. Hence began Joanne's lifelong love of music and live performance.

    Fast forward to the late 70's, after Joanne had moved to Long Beach, NY, and raised two children of her own in the arts -- her son, an alumnus of Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in NYC, and one of the metro area's popular freelance Improv coaches, and her daughter, a SAG-AFTRA TV actress and comedian/comedy writer working in LA.

    Over the years, Joanne witnessed how many music and arts programs were evaporating and eventually terminated, due to a lack of funding and/or support from the government, as well as certain folks with no interest in keeping arts programs alive, resulting in the arts being put on the back burner in the education system. Joanne remained an avid supporter of an arts education platform for children. She saw how it created positive experiences for her own kids (and many other youths) and witnessed how even a basic arts education enriched lives of youths on many levels for years into their adulthood.

    In 2012, Joanne founded J-Bird Music for the Arts, Inc., with the vision of reviving arts programs by providing much-needed equipment, instruments, and resources to enrich the lives of youth through arts education. She wanted to bring that same joy, excitement, and creativity to youth everywhere, especially in underserved or underfunded areas. Through J-Bird Music for the Arts, Joanne brings her vision alive. From her tireless efforts as a brain tumor survivor with a second chance to live and continue on this mission, she has provided much-needed equipment and support to music and arts programs throughout New York State, including Still Waters In A Storm in Brooklyn, Long Beach High School in Long Island, and Goshen Central High School in Orange County, NY.

    On this edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Joanne spoke about her tenth anniversary of being associated with the US Press Association and revealed some of the J-Bird Music for the Arts’ top accomplishments.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jake-s-take-with-jacob-elyachar--4112003/support.
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Ethan Zohn RETURNS + TALKS ‘Survivor 50’ + Grassroot Soccer | JTWJE Jewish American Heritage Month Special 2

    Ethan Zohn RETURNS + TALKS ‘Survivor 50’ + Grassroot Soccer | JTWJE Jewish American Heritage Month Special 2
    May 11 2026
    I am very excited to launch a very special series for Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast. May is Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM), which annually celebrates the history, culture, and contributions of Jewish Americans to the United States.

    There are no words to describe how ecstatic I am to welcome back Ethan Zohn for a third time!

    Ethan became a household name when he first appeared on Survivor: Africa, the third season of the legendary US reality TV competition. He won seven challenges and the title of “Sole Survivor.” He appeared on Survivor: All-Stars, where he won four challenges but lasted only 21 days, and returned to compete in the milestone season Survivor: Winners at War, where he only won one challenge and lasted 35 days.

    Since Survivor, Ethan has become an influential social entrepreneur. With a portion of his Survivor: Africa winnings, he co-founded Grassroot Soccer (GRS). GRS is an adolescent health organization that harnesses the power of soccer to provide young people with the essential information, services, and mentorship they need to lead healthier lives. Since its inception, GRS has expanded to 60 countries in Africa and worldwide, has graduated 13 million youth, and has worked with scores of public—and private-sector partners.

    He also raised his voice to fight cancer. Cancer-free since 2012, Ethan Zohn has been a voice for fighters, survivors, and caregivers of all ages, even chronicling the gritty details of his entire cancer experience for People Magazine. While undergoing treatment, he ran and finished the New York City and Boston marathons to help spread messages of hope and resilience to the world. Ethan is a champion for investment in new medical research and technology. He is an advisor to numerous hospitals and foundations, such as Cancer Buddy, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and Memorial Sloan Kettering.

    As demonstrated by his charitable work, tzedakah, and community involvement, Ethan believes that Jewish values can achieve a better and healthier world. His inspiration to help heal the world stems from being taught at an early age the importance of community, a connection to the Jewish faith, and the preservation of Israel. Ethan shares his deep bond to Judaism, his connection to the Jewish community, and his relationship with Israel by partnering with Jewish organizations that do critical work worldwide, such as BBYO, the Jewish National Fund, and Maccabi USA.

    On this edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Ethan Zohn gave his take on Survivor 50, previews Grassroot Soccer’s 25th anniversary, and how Grassroot Soccer is going to play a role with the World Cup coming to North America.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jake-s-take-with-jacob-elyachar--4112003/support.
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    35 mins
  • Beatrice Levine TALKS Culture Quota & Love for Timothee + Wendy | JTWJE Jewish Heritage Month Special 1

    Beatrice Levine TALKS Culture Quota & Love for Timothee + Wendy | JTWJE Jewish Heritage Month Special 1
    May 7 2026
    I am very excited to launch a very special series for Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast. May is Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM), which annually celebrates the history, culture, and contributions of Jewish Americans to the United States.

    Throughout the month, I will welcome some incredible content creators, podcast hosts, performers, a Reality TV Legend, and a dear mentor who are making an impact on the entertainment industry.

    To kick things off, I am welcoming my friend and fellow Kansas Citian, Beatrice Levine, to the podcast! Beatrice is an art historian, culture writer, and digital creator blending high-low aesthetics with a distinctly smart, funny voice. Since 2016, she has built Culture Quota, a highly engaged global community of college-aged and professional women who come to me for content that’s equal parts educational, irreverent, and always visually sharp. From museum deep-dives to viral reels, her work lives at the intersection of culture, commentary, and connection.

    Beatrice has worked with various brands, including The Academic Writer’s Space, Diet Coke, Jerry Gogosian, the Leo Baeck Institute, and YSL Beauty. In addition to Culture Quota, she works as a Social Media Associate at 70 Faces Media and as a Content Manager at Betches Media.

    In this edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Beatrice Levine shared Culture Quota’s origin story, her love for Timothée Chalamet and Wendy Williams, how to counter antisemitism in the Reality TV world, and what Jewish heritage means to her.

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