just tak

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.