Bandier senior delves into the entertainment industry and mental health in new podcast

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When Jordyn Tareaz arrived at Syracuse University as a freshman in the Bandier Program, she had endless questions about the entertainment industry. Now approaching graduation, Tareaz asks many of these questions to industry insiders on her own podcast.

“Now that I’m going into the real world, everything comes back in a bigger way,” Tarez said. “How am I supposed to negotiate rates for my show and advance my career while protecting my mental health and work-life balance? No one is talking about that.”

As a self-proclaimed pop singer, songwriter, performer and producer, music has been a part of Tareaz’s life since childhood. At 2, she learned to play the piano from her grandfather, who would seat her on his lap so she could reach the keys. At the age of 3, she performed on stage in the musical Cinderella, playing the evil stepmother. At the age of 8, she wrote her first song to be performed in an elementary school talent show.

By middle and high school, Tareaz found her way into any musical, club or show that allowed her to sing. Tareaz’s podcast, “Let’s Talk to Jordyn Tareaz,” now features guest interviews with industry and business leaders including fashion photographer Carly Jean Sharp, choreographer Kayla Janssen, and Mind in Motion CEO and founder Leigh Weinraub. health professionals. Tareaz also plans to release solo episodes in which she will discuss vulnerable topics like imposter syndrome, anxiety and burnout.

Before launching the podcast, Tareaz relied on mentors she met while at SU. She realized that the information they shared could be helpful to anyone looking to break into the entertainment industry. Her senior capstone project was a great opportunity for Tareaz to combine her passion for music and mental health with her connections with industry professionals.

Tareaz already made it easy to interview industry icons by hosting virtual live panels as a sophomore. She interviews celebrities like Charlie XCX, Ally Tamposi, UPSAHL and Amy Allen about their journeys to success. The feedback she received from the group was overwhelmingly positive and inspired the idea to host a podcast focusing on the intersection between entertainment and mental health.

“Because a lot of people don’t have industry connections, I wanted to make these raw and authentic conversations available to the world,” Tareaz said.

She hopes each episode provides a sense of stability for someone new to entertainment. Tareaz empathizes with the loneliness that pervades an industry so heavily reliant on relationships.

“There are a lot of gatekeepers in the music industry, and unless you have connections within the industry, it’s going to be very difficult for you to break in,” Tareaz said.

During Bandier Rezak’s presentation, Tareaz announced that she would start a podcast and seek help. Amanda Long, a freshman on the Bandier project and avid podcast listener, was immediately captivated by her presentation.

Long quickly became a producer on the podcast, helping Tareaz flesh out ideas, brainstorm marketing plans, reach out to potential guests or sponsors, and edit each episode. From the beginning, Long was captivated by Tareaz’s determination to take the podcast beyond the SU community.

“Tareaz’s passion and unique vision for where she wants podcasting to go is incredible,” Long said. “She’s not afraid to go above and beyond in every aspect of the business.”

Likewise, Bill Werde, director of The Bandier Project, thinks Tareaz made a good choice to combine mental health with entertainment in the form of a podcast. He sees Tareaz as a man full of boundless energy and positivity who will captivate the audience.

Tareaz is most excited to launch the first episode with Kayla Janssen, a choreographer, creative director and athletic trainer who has worked with celebrities such as Dua Lipa, Rita Ora and G-Eazy. In a podcast released Wednesday, Janssen talks about surviving in the industry and why artists should always trust their instincts.

“As an artist, I’m constantly second-guessing myself. When Kayla talks about confidence being trust, it resonates with me,” says Tareaz. “You hear a million different opinions every day, and if you don’t have strong faith in your vision, you can’t survive in this industry.”

As Tareaz thinks about her last five weeks at SU, she feels like she has become the artist she never believed she would be.

Before his freshman year, Tareaz hadn’t released any music, never recorded in a studio, or taken writing classes. As a senior, she proudly shared that she opened for Maude Lator and The Backfires, released two Billboard mentioned songs, and was featured on Spotify’s “One’s to Watch Now” playlist. She’s wrapping up her debut EP and of course launching “Let’s Talk to Jordyn Tareaz”.

“These were things freshman Jordyn never thought about. I took what I wanted and went for it,” Trez said. “As a senior, I’m obviously stressed about the future, but I’m more sure of myself and my direction than ever before.”