Meet Jax Tobias

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jax Tobias a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jax, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

I was raised by a single mom. She is my hero and I definitely get my resilience from her. Watching her work multiple jobs while completing nursing school was a powerful example for my sisters and I. My mother often didn’t know where our next meal would come from. Yet, despite the challenges, she never let us feel the weight of her struggles. We didn’t need to be rich to have a rich life and my mom showed us every day what being resilient looked like. She filled our home with love and a strong foundation of faith, teaching us to never give up, to keep pushing forward, and to be the change we wanted to see in the world. Witnessing my mother’s strength and resilience from such a young age profoundly shaped the woman I am today – and I recognize that thanks to her, I am able to follow my dreams of being a television producer.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m an Emmy® Award-Winning Producer originally from New York. I specialize in unscripted programming, particularly shows that cover current events and sit down celebrity interviews. Throughout my 15 years in the industry, I have produced content for major platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, and Disney. I have also had the pleasure of collaborating with high profile figures such as Oprah, Will Smith and First Lady Michelle Obama.

My proudest achievement to date is producing the groundbreaking talk show Red Table Talk with Jada Pinkett Smith; where I earned an Emmy® win for Outstanding Talk Show, 3 Emmy® nominations, and 2 NAACP Image Award wins. Additionally, my work at Red Table Talk helped garner over 1 billion views and became the highest-rated talk series of all time.

I am currently producing “The Sabrina Soto Show”, a new lifestyle talk series on Hulu that will air in early 2025. This innovative series focuses on embracing small, transformative changes that can lead to a life you love, while guiding viewers to redesign their lives from the inside out. Due to the current state of our world, I have observed a shift in audiences wanting to consume more positive content. I am committed to using my skills and platform to share messaging that is not only entertaining, but that also inspires hope and fosters good mental health.

Additionally, as a proud Latina, I’ve dedicated my career to amplifying the voices of marginalized communities and giving a voice to the voiceless. As a minority in the entertainment industry, I am motivated to be a leading Producer in the Latinx space. My life’s work is to inspire and educate the collective; and to ultimately change the world with positive content for future generations.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, I realize that my challenging childhood was the foundation for my success as an adult. It taught me early on the importance of empathy and instilled in me a commitment to show compassion and kindness to everyone I encounter, regardless of their race, gender, or beliefs. My upbringing also taught me that we all have a chance to pursue our dreams; no matter what obstacles you inherited. I did not allow the poverty from my childhood to dictate my future. Instead, I used it as fuel to be a trailblazer in the industry.

Growing up in New York, I was immersed in a vibrant melting pot of cultures and experiences. Being surrounded by people from all walks of life shaped my perspective and greatly influenced my work as a Producer. My love for people and curiosity about their stories have not only enriched my craft but also fueled my passion for using producing as a tool to create meaningful change in the world.

For those early in their journey who may not have had the exposure I did growing up, I highly recommend volunteering in communities outside your own and engaging with people who don’t look or think like you. If your goal is to work in unscripted content, this kind of exposure is invaluable. Understanding diverse perspectives and learning about the challenges faced by different groups is a skill that will deeply enrich your storytelling and elevate your mindset. As a child, I often wished for a more “normal” and stable upbringing. However, looking back now, it was all by design and prepared me for a thriving career in the entertainment industry.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?

Over the past year, my greatest area of growth has been learning to slow down and embrace being present. In a culture that glorifies the hustle, I found myself trapped in the negative cycles of the entertainment industry—overwhelmed with fatigue, caught in constant comparison to my peers, and neglecting my mental and physical well-being.

I suffer from Crohn’s disease; a chronic condition that affects the immune system. For years, I fought through the pain and stress; convincing myself that it was needed in order to achieve my goals. However, jeopardizing your health for the sake of your career was not worth it and I learned that the hard way. This past year has been transformative—I’ve learned to prioritize my well-being, establish healthy boundaries, and savor life’s moments, all while continuing to thrive as a Producer in Hollywood.

I want to inspire others to understand that no level of success is worth compromising your mental and physical well-being. True growth and fulfillment come when you honor yourself and prioritize self-care. I encourage everyone to take the journey of self-discovery and to identify what truly matters to them. It’s okay to take a break to find realignment; the fruit will still come.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badillacjac
• Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/tobiasjax