Bandier senior delves into entertainment industry, mental health in new podcast

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When Jordyn Tareaz came to Syracuse as a freshman in the Bandier Program, she had endless questions about the entertainment industry. Now approaching her graduation, Tareaz poses many of those questions to people in the industry on her own podcast.

“Everything is coming back in bigger ways now that I’ll be going into the real world,” Tareaz said. “How should I be negotiating rates for my performances 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 she was a toddler. At age 2 she learned how to play the piano from her grandfather, who would sit her on his lap so she could reach the keys. At 3, she was on stage performing “Cinderella,” the musical, as the evil stepmother. And at 8, she wrote her first song she performed at her elementary school talent show.

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

Prior to launching the podcast, Tareaz leaned on mentors she met throughout her time at SU. She realized the information they shared would be helpful to anyone with hopes of breaking into the entertainment industry. Her senior capstone project was the perfect opportunity for Tareaz to incorporate her passions for music and mental health with the connections she has to industry professionals.

Tareaz already felt comfortable interviewing industry icons through hosting virtual live panels as a sophomore. She interviewed celebrities like Charlie XCX, Ally Tamposi, UPSAHL and Amy Allen about their journey to success. The feedback she received from the panels was extremely positive and sparked the idea to host a podcast with an emphasis on the intersection between entertainment and mental health.

“Because so many people don’t have industry connections, I wanted to take these raw and real conversations and put them out for the world to hear,” Tareaz said.

She hopes each episode offers a sense of stability for people just starting out in the entertainment field. Tareaz empathizes with the feeling of loneliness that is common in an industry that relies so heavily on connections.

“The music industry has a lot of gatekeeping and unless you are connected within the industry you are going to have a hard time breaking in,” Tareaz said.

At a Bandier Rezak lecture, Tareaz announced that she would be starting a podcast and was looking for help. Amanda Long, a freshman in the Bandier program and avid podcast listener, was immediately drawn to her pitch.

Long quickly became the producer of the podcast, helping Tareaz flesh-out ideas, brainstorm marketing plans, reach out to potential guests or sponsors and edit each episode. From the get-go, Long was drawn to how determined Tareaz was in taking this podcast beyond the SU community.

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

Similarly, Bill Werde, the director of the Bandier program, feels like Tareaz made an excellent choice intersecting mental health with entertainment in a podcast format. He sees Tareaz as someone who bubbles with limitless energy and positivity that will draw listeners in.

Tareaz is most excited about launching the first episode with Kayla Janssen, a choreographer, creative director and movement coach who’s worked with celebrities like Dua Lipa, Rita Ora and G-Eazy. In the podcast, released Wednesday, Janssen spoke about what it takes to survive in the industry and why artists should always trust their intuition.

“As an artist, I’m constantly second guessing myself. It resonated with me when Kayla talked about how confidence is all about trust,” Tareaz said. “You hear a million different opinions everyday and if you don’t have unwavering trust in your vision, you won’t survive in this industry.”

When Tareaz thinks about her last five weeks at SU, she feels like she has transformed into the artist she never believed she could.

Before freshman year, Tareaz hadn’t put any music out, never recorded in a studio or experienced a writing session. As a senior, she proudly shares that she’s opened for Maude Lator and The Backfires, released two songs with mentions from Billboard and a feature on Spotify’s “One’s to Watch Now” playlist. She’s in the process of finishing up her debut EP and, of course, launching the “Let’s Talk with Jordyn Tareaz.”

“These are all things that freshman year Jordyn never thought was possible. I came to terms with what I want and went for it,” Tereaz said. “As a senior, I’m obviously stressed about the future, but I’m more sure of myself and my direction than ever.”