The Person Who Believed In Me – Details, episodes & analysis

The Person Who Believed In Me is a heartfelt podcast that celebrates the unsung heroes behind some of the world's biggest names. Hosted by Emmy Award-winning journalist David Begnaud, this series shines a spotlight on the everyday people who saw potential, offered unwavering support, and changed the trajectory of extraordinary lives. In this trailer, you'll hear from an incredible lineup of guests including Oprah Winfrey, Charlie Puth, Nick Cannon, Barry Diller, Sherry Lansing, Jason Ballard, and 2 Chainz - each sharing powerful glimpses into the people who believed in them before the world knew their names. These weren't just words of encouragement from afar. This was presence. Sacrifice. Dedication. From the music teacher who recognized raw talent, to the parent who refused to let their child settle, to the mentor who saw past society's limitations - these believers changed everything. Every episode features a big-name guest, but the true star is always the ordinary person who saw something extraordinary and chose to nurture it. Join David Begnaud as he explores the profound impact one person's belief can have on another's destiny. Get ready for intimate conversations, emotional revelations, and inspiring stories that remind us all of the power of believing in someone. Host: David Begnaud Created By: David Begnaud A Do Good Crew Production Executive Producer: Ellen Rocamora For Do Good Crew: Executive Producers Olivier Delfosse, David Begnaud, Associate Producer Griffen Hamilton, Editor Jonah Johnson, Booker Sully Bloch Director Of Photography: Foster Parks Music Composed By: Slipstream Post-Production: Longwave Digital

"Nobody but nobody can make it out here alone." In this powerful conversation, Oprah Winfrey shares how one teacher's attention saved her life during her darkest years and why being "seen" is the greatest gift one human can give another. Most people know Oprah as a voice of wisdom, but she wasn't always the woman we see today. In this premiere episode of "The Person Who Believed In Me," she sits down with Emmy-winning journalist David Begnaud to share the origin of her resilience - the lonely, introverted 13-year-old sitting in a chaotic cafeteria with a book, and the teacher named Mr. Abrams who saw something in her that she hadn't yet seen in herself. The conversation gets honest about the gap between who the world says you are and who you know you can be. Oprah opens up about overcoming the trauma of her youth and the moment she realized her past didn't have to define her future. If you've ever felt invisible or questioned whether you belonged, this conversation will remind you that one person's belief can change everything. It's a reminder that nobody makes it out here alone - and that you might be that person for someone else. Chapters ☀️ Chapters 00:00:00 Intro 00:04:05 Discovering a rare photo of Mr Abrams 00:06:04 Finding resilient girls with the it factor 00:09:34 The lunchroom conversations that changed everything 00:12:07 Nobody Makes It Alone: Oprah Reads Maya Angelou's Poem 00:14:07 The Deep Power of Being Truly Seen 00:16:30 Before Oprah Believed in Herself: The Truth She Was Hiding 00:19:34 "I See Something in You and I Know You Can Do Better" 00:25:55 The Contest That Changed Everything: The Barbara Walters Moment 00:36:18 When Did Oprah Truly Begin to Believe in Herself? 00:44:35 "What Are You Running From?" The Teacher Who Changed David's Life ABOUT THIS PODCAST: The Person Who Believed In Me is hosted by David Begnaud, founder and CEO of Do Good Crew and often called “America’s storyteller.” In each episode, David sits down with world-class guests to ask one simple question: Who believed in you before the world did? Big names. Honest stories. Relatable takeaways. Different paths — same question. David is also a CBS News contributor and host of the weekly segment Beg Knows America, which airs every Monday morning. Host: David Begnaud Guest: Oprah Winfrey Executive Producers: Ellen Rocamora, Olivier Delfosse Associate Producers: Griffen Hamilton, Jonah Johnson Booker: Sully Bloch Director of Social: Mariah Maull Director of Photography: Foster Parks Theme Music: Slipstream Get more stories that remind you the world is still good: www.thedogoodcrew.com Thank you to Canva for believing in the power of storytelling and helping us bring this podcast to life: https://canva.com CONNECT WITH US: The Person Who Believed In Me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/believedpodcast David Begnaud: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidbegnaud/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@davidbegnaud Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavidBegnaud/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@davidbegnaud X: https://x.com/davidbegnaud Do Good Crew: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogood/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dogoodstory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dogoodstory Oprah Winfrey: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oprah/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@oprah Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oprahwinfrey YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Oprah

Before 2 Chainz became a Grammy-winning hip hop icon, he was Tauheed Epps, a high-achieving student facing expulsion under a zero tolerance drug policy. One teacher's letter changed everything. In this raw and powerful conversation, the multi-platinum artist sits down with David Begnaud to share the person who believed in him when his future hung in the balance. 2 Chainz opens up about the moment in his senior year when he got into trouble, lost his basketball scholarship offers, and faced permanent expulsion from school. That's when Miss Love, his college prep geometry teacher, stepped in and wrote a letter to the school board with one simple plea: Don't throw this child's life away. Give him a second chance. 2 Chainz talks about growing up in a family where hustling was generational, how he broke that cycle for his own children, and why he believes the voice in his head is God. He shares street lessons that still guide him today, the mistakes that became his superpower, and why he's grateful for every closed door that led him here. There's also an unforgettable moment when David surprises him with a live call to Miss Love, and she reveals something even 2 Chainz didn't know about the impact he had on her. If you've ever felt like your past defined your future, or wondered whether one person's belief could really change everything, this episode will remind you that resilience isn't about avoiding the storm. It's about staying out of the graveyard and out of jail long enough to see another day. And sometimes, that's all you need. Chapters ☀️ Chapters 00:00:00 2 Chainz: A Story of Belief 00:01:14 The Letter That Changed Everything: Miss Love's Second Chance 00:03:14 Senior Year Trouble: When Everything Almost Fell Apart 00:07:04 The Night Before: When His Mother's Intuition Tried to Warn Him 00:09:43 Six Letters of Support and One That Stood Out 00:13:27 The Surprise Call: Reconnecting with Miss Love in Real Time 00:18:30 The Voice in My Head is God: Learning to Trust Intuition 00:21:52 Women as Superheroes: The Intuition 2Chainz Had to Learn 00:33:54 From Titty Boy to 2Chainz: The Origin of an Iconic Name 00:36:17 Environment vs Choice: What Really Determines Success 00:40:13 Street Lessons That Still Guide Him: Trust, Paranoia, and Survival 00:41:02 What You Have to Unlearn: From Cash to Credit 00:47:49 Breaking Generational Chains: From Bootleg to Legacy 00:55:10 Stay Out the Graveyard, Stay Out of Jail: Advice for the Youth 00:56:59 The Person Who Believed in Me: Miss Love ABOUT THIS PODCAST: The Person Who Believed In Me is hosted by David Begnaud, founder and CEO of Do Good Crew and often called "America's storyteller." In each episode, David sits down with world-class guests to ask one simple question: Who believed in you before the world did? Big names. Honest stories. Relatable takeaways. Different paths — same question. David is also a CBS News contributor and host of the weekly segment Beg Knows America, which airs every Monday morning. Get more stories that remind you the world is still good. Sign up for our free newsletter: www.thedogoodcrew.com Thank you to Canva for believing in the power of storytelling and helping us bring this podcast to life: https://canva.com Host: David Begnaud Guest: 2 Chainz Executive Producer: Olivier Delfosse Associate Producer: Jonah Johnson Booker: Sully Bloch Director of Social: Mariah Maull Director of Photography: Foster Parks Live Production Technician: Joseph Gabay & Will Whitley (Statik Creative) Post-Production: Longwave Digital Theme Music: Slipstream CONNECT WITH US: The Person Who Believed In Me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/believedpodcast

Before Barry Diller became one of the most powerful media moguls in history, he was a 32 year old television executive that everyone thought was too young, too inexperienced, and completely unqualified to run a major Hollywood studio. One man saw something different. In this deeply personal conversation, the legendary entertainment titan sits down with David Begnaud to share the story of Charlie Bluhdorn, the Austrian immigrant and industrialist who bet everything on him when no one else would. Barry Diller opens up about the moment Charlie Bluhdorn, the volatile and brilliant founder of Gulf+Western, made him chairman of Paramount Pictures at just 32 years old. Barry had never worked in the movie business. He had no connections. And for the first two years, Paramount was dead last among the six major studios. But Charlie never flinched. He had unbreachable faith. That faith gave Barry the space to fail, to figure it out, and eventually to lead Paramount from worst to first for seven straight years, producing Saturday Night Fever, Grease, and some of the most iconic films in cinema history. Barry talks about growing up feeling abandoned by his family, cementing himself shut emotionally, and learning to please others as a survival skill. He shares why he believes in creative conflict over polite debate, and why torturing the process is the only way to get from good to great. There's also a raw and honest reflection on being gay in Hollywood during the AIDS crisis, the guilt he carries for not being louder when it mattered, and how his wife Dionne became the miracle of his life after 50 years together. If you've ever doubted whether you were ready or whether one person's belief could actually change the trajectory of your entire life, this episode will remind you that sometimes the greatest gift someone can give you is faith when the world says no. And sometimes, that's all you need to become unstoppable. Get more stories that remind you the world is still good. Sign up for our free newsletter: www.thedogoodcrew.com Thank you to Canva for believing in the power of storytelling and helping us bring this podcast to life: https://canva.com Chapters ☀️ ABOUT THIS PODCAST: The Person Who Believed In Me is hosted by David Begnaud, founder and CEO of Do Good Crew and often called "America's storyteller." In each episode, David sits down with world-class guests to ask one simple question: Who believed in you before the world did? Big names. Honest stories. Relatable takeaways. Different paths — same question. David is also a CBS News contributor and host of the weekly segment Beg Knows America, which airs every Monday morning. Host: David Begnaud Guest: Barry Diller Executive Producers: Ellen Rocamora, Olivier Delfosse Associate Producer: Griffin Hamilton Booker: Sully Bloch Director of Photography: Foster Parks Theme Music: Slipstream Post-Production: Longwave Digital CONNECT WITH US: The Person Who Believed In Me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/believedpodcast

Before Nick Cannon became a multi-hyphenate media mogul, comedian, rapper, producer, and host of The Masked Singer, he was a hyperactive five year old kid walking into a storefront Taekwondo studio in San Diego, terrified of the stern man who would change his life. In this deeply personal and unguarded conversation, the entertainment powerhouse sits down with David Begnaud to share the person who believed in him when discipline was the last thing he wanted. Nick opens up about meeting Grandmaster James Wilson, a stoic and accomplished man who was not just a martial arts instructor, but an assistant United States attorney, a minister, and a pillar in a community that rarely saw figures like him. Nick talks about growing up with a teenage dad, being raised in a disenfranchised neighborhood, and how Master Wilson became larger than life to him. He shares what it felt like to learn integrity before he even knew what the word meant, why he wanted to quit more than he wanted to stay, and how the discipline he resisted as a child became the foundation for everything he does today. There's also a raw reflection on being diagnosed with ADHD, narcissistic personality disorder, and lupus nephritis. Nick talks about why he sees diagnoses as chapters, not his whole story, and why therapy has become a space to offload, take inventory, and grow. He shares why he believes he's a machete juggler, why standing in the fire is where he feels most alive, and why slowing down has never been an option even when doctors tell him it should be. He opens up about fatherhood, raising 12 kids, the guilt he carries daily, and why being present matters more than being perfect. Get more stories that remind you the world is still good. Sign up for our free newsletter: www.thedogoodcrew.com Thank you to Canva for believing in the power of storytelling and helping us bring this podcast to life: https://canva.com Recorded January 28, 2026 Chapters ☀️ Chapters 00:00:00 Intro: Nick Cannon 00:03:26 Meeting Master Wilson: The Five-Year-Old Who Didn't Want Discipline 00:07:37 The Superhero in the Neighborhood: Why Master Wilson Was Different 00:13:45 Integrity: The Word That Changed Everything 00:09:08 The Question: Have You Become the Man He Wanted You to See? 00:18:30 Growing Up With Dad: The Teenage Father Who Became His Hero 00:29:13 The Diagnosis Collection: ADHD, NPD, Lupus, and Labels 00:27:39 Therapy as Waste Management: Offloading to Stay Superhuman 00:30:25 The Narcissist Test: When You Try to Give the Right Answer 00:35:40 Standing in the Fire: Why Slowing Down Hurts More 00:37:18 The Machete Juggler: Proving Something to Himself Every Day 00:43:13 MTV and Wild 'N Out: Creating Space for Hip-Hop Culture 00:54:00 The 12 Kids Question: Legacy vs. Lineage 00:55:10 School Pickups and Guilt: The Super Dad Who Can't Be Everywhere 00:57:16 The Relentless Dreamer: Insomnia, Faith, and What's Left to Prove 00:42:35 Where Humans Connect: The Struggle Behind the Success 00:59:40 The Man Master Wilson Wanted: Honorable Over Famous ABOUT THIS PODCAST: The Person Who Believed In Me is hosted by David Begnaud, founder and CEO of Do Good Crew and often called "America's storyteller." In each episode, David sits down with world-class guests to ask one simple question: Who believed in you before the world did? Big names. Honest stories. Relatable takeaways. Different paths — same question. David is also a CBS News contributor and host of the weekly segment Beg Knows America, which airs every Monday morning. Host: David Begnaud Guest: Nick Cannon Executive Producer: Olivier Delfosse Booker: Sully Bloch Director of Photography: Foster Parks Live Production Technician: Joseph Gabay & Will Whitley (Statik Creative) Associate Producer: Jonah Johnson Director of Social: Mariah Maull Theme Music: Slipstream Post-Production: Longwave Digital CONNECT WITH US: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/believedpodcast

Before Charlie Puth became a multi-platinum artist and one of the most technically gifted musicians of his generation, he was a kid who couldn't sing in front of people until he was 18 years old. He was a student who heard everything at 200% volume, who felt sick when sounds were off-key, and who believed the only way he could express himself was if there was music behind him. In this deeply personal and unguarded conversation, the Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and producer sits down with David Begnaud to share the people who believed in him when he was too afraid to believe in himself. Charlie opens up about growing up with diagnosed OCD, perfect pitch, and a sensitivity to sound so intense that it still makes him nauseous. He talks about his parents, Chuck and Deb, who championed him when teachers told him to stay in one lane, when Catholic school didn't understand his love for Eminem, and when competitive swimming felt like sensory overload. His mom, a Jewish music teacher in a Catholic school, taught him that music could bring people in. His dad took a day off work and sat with him for 14 hours in line for an America's Got Talent audition, only to watch Charlie freeze and say he couldn't sing without something behind him. There's also a raw reflection on why Charlie has resisted vulnerability for so long, why he's terrified of being judged, and why his new album is the first time he's letting people see the imperfect, anxious, overthinking version of himself. He shares what it felt like to hear Taylor Swift mention his name in a song, why sitting with Quincy Jones changed his life, and why the song I Used To Be Cringe might be the most honest thing he's ever written. He talks about his pregnant wife, building a house, going on tour the same week his baby is due, and why the only thing that makes him feel better when the world gets too loud is a melody in his head. Get more stories that remind you the world is still good. Sign up for our free newsletter: www.thedogoodcrew.com Thank you to Canva for believing in the power of storytelling and helping us bring this podcast to life: https://canva.com Chapters ☀️ Chapters 00:00:00 Intro: The Musical Prodigy Who Hears Everything 00:02:39 The Incense, The Nerves, and Sweating the Small Stuff 00:05:30 When Music is Your Only Comfort: The Gift and the Curse 00:08:41 I Used to Be Cringe: Writing the Song That Was Too Honest 00:15:49 The Swimming Pool Story: When Mom Pulled Him Out 00:15:08 Chuck and Deb: The Parents Who Believed When No One Else Did 00:39:51 The Classical vs Jazz Battle: Fighting to Do Both 00:44:55 Mom's History: Why She Fought So Hard for Charlie's Freedom 00:50:05 The Vulnerability He's Been Hiding: Opening Up for the First Time 00:49:21 Taylor Swift, Baby Puth, and the Album That Changes Everything 00:57:19 The Imperfections Make It Human: Charlie's Letter to His Younger Self ABOUT THIS PODCAST: The Person Who Believed In Me is hosted by David Begnaud, founder and CEO of Do Good Crew and often called "America's storyteller." In each episode, David sits down with world-class guests to ask one simple question: Who believed in you before the world did? Big names. Honest stories. Relatable takeaways. Different paths — same question. David is also a CBS News contributor and host of the weekly segment Beg Knows America, which airs every Monday morning. Host: David Begnaud Guest: Charlie Puth Executive Producers: Ellen Rocamora, Olivier Delfosse Booker: Sully Bloch Director of Photography: Foster Parks Theme Music: Slipstream Live Production Technician: Joseph Gabay & Will Whitley (Statik Creative) Post-Production: Longwave Digital CONNECT WITH US: The Person Who Believed In Me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/believedpodcast

Before Ava DuVernay became an Oscar-nominated director and groundbreaking force in Hollywood, she was a 32 year old publicist with a $50,000 film, no film school degree, and a dream she wasn't sure anyone would take seriously. Then Roger Ebert said yes. In this deeply personal conversation, the visionary filmmaker sits down with David Begnaud to share the story of the legendary film critic who believed in her when the world had no idea who she was. Ava opens up about the moment she cold-pitched Roger Ebert to review her debut film I Will Follow, a meditation on grief inspired by her aunt Denise. She had worked with him before as a publicist, always transactional, always professional. But this time it was different. This was her movie. She didn't tell him that at first. She just sent the pitch like she always did. He said yes. And then he wrote a review that changed everything. Ava talks about growing up in Compton with her aunt Denise, standing outside the Oscars as a little girl getting a thumbs up from Roger Ebert himself, and never imagining she'd one day be the filmmaker he championed. She shares what it felt like to be taken seriously by the critic of a generation, how his belief gave her the confidence to keep going, and why she spoke at his funeral years later. There's also a powerful reflection on what it means to open doors all the way, not just crack them, and why she believes your presence alone is an act of resistance. If you've ever felt unqualified, if you've ever been afraid to ask for help, or if you've ever wondered whether one person's attention could actually change the trajectory of your life, this episode will remind you that sometimes all it takes is someone willing to take you seriously. And sometimes, that's the greatest gift of all. Get more stories that remind you the world is still good. Sign up for our free newsletter: www.thedogoodcrew.com Thank you to Canva for believing in the power of storytelling and helping us bring this podcast to life: https://canva.com Chapters ☀️ Chapters 00:00:00 Intro: The Girl with the Thumbs Up and Roger Ebert 00:07:47 The Cold Pitch: Sending the Film to Roger Ebert 00:07:17 The Tweet That Changed Everything 00:11:02 The Review: When a Critic Sees Your Soul 00:15:33 I Will Follow: A Film About Aunt Denise 00:29:34 The Power of Being Taken Seriously 00:44:13 From Publicist to Filmmaker: Finding Your Calling at 30 00:41:28 Cinema as Memory: The Power to Rewrite and Heal 00:54:14 Opening Doors All the Way: The Philosophy of True Mentorship 00:58:47 Get On a Moving Train: What It Takes to Earn Help 01:00:54 Leading with Kindness While Demanding Excellence 00:37:39 Speaking at Roger Ebert's Funeral: The Full Circle Moment ABOUT THIS PODCAST: The Person Who Believed In Me is hosted by David Begnaud, founder and CEO of Do Good Crew and often called "America's storyteller." In each episode, David sits down with world-class guests to ask one simple question: Who believed in you before the world did? Big names. Honest stories. Relatable takeaways. Different paths — same question. David is also a CBS News contributor and host of the weekly segment Beg Knows America, which airs every Monday morning. Host: David Begnaud Guest: Ava DuVernay Executive Producers: Ellen Rocamora, Olivier Delfosse Associate Producer: Griffin Hamilton Booker: Sully Bloch Director of Photography: Foster Parks Director of Social: Mariah Maull Theme Music: Slipstream Post-Production: Longwave Digital CONNECT WITH US: The Person Who Believed In Me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/believedpodcast

Before Melissa Etheridge became a Grammy-winning rock legend and an icon of resilience, she was a Kansas kid with a wild dream and a father who never told her she couldn't do it. In this deeply personal and unguarded conversation, the multi-platinum singer-songwriter sits down with David Begnaud to share the story of John Etheridge, the man who believed in her when belief was the only thing she had. Melissa opens up about growing up in Leavenworth, Kansas, with a father who came from nothing. A migrant farmer's son who served in the Korean War, earned a teaching credential on a sports scholarship, and became a coach who spent weekends driving his daughter to rehearsals, gigs, and bars filled with grown men so she could play guitar. He never gushed. He never overreacted. He just showed up. And when she sat him down in 1980 to tell him she was gay, he said the words that changed everything: Is that it? Just be happy. There's also a raw reflection on what it means to lose a child, how stress can eat you alive if you let it, and why Melissa had to learn to love her music before anyone else would. She talks about the 2005 Grammys, walking out bald after radiation to sing Piece of My Heart, and why that moment became one of the most powerful of her career. She shares what it felt like to be nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, why her new album Rise is about falling to the earth and tasting the dirt, and how a heroic cannabis overdose sent her on a journey to understand consciousness, plant medicine, and what it means to truly be alive. Melissa talks about her wife Linda, who makes her laugh every single day, why she calls herself a dad mom, and how the Etheridge Foundation is working to bring psychedelic research into the fight against opioid addiction in honor of her son Beckett. She reflects on why life doesn't happen to you, it happens from you, and why the greatest gift her father gave her was the freedom to believe in herself when no one else did. Get more stories that remind you the world is still good. Sign up for our free newsletter: www.thedogoodcrew.com Thank you to Canva for believing in the power of storytelling and helping us bring this podcast to life: https://canva.com Chapters ☀️ Chapters 00:00:00 Intro: The Girl from Leavenworth and Her Dad 00:02:49 The Soldier Who Became a Teacher: John Etheridge's Story 00:05:13 He Just Showed Up: A Father's Quiet Belief 00:07:16 Learning Metaphor from Neil Diamond: Music Lessons with Dad 00:11:57 Is That It? Coming Out to Her Father in 1980 00:15:46 Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Navigating Fame While Gay in the 90s 00:25:45 The Grammy Performance That Changed Everything 00:29:21 The Heroic Overdose: A Cannabis Journey That Changed Her Life 00:36:43 Losing Beckett: The Son Who Taught Her the Hardest Lessons 00:42:47 Life is Happening FOR Me: A New Philosophy After Cancer 00:46:32 Rise: Writing Anthems from the Dirt 00:51:50 The Dad Mom: Parenting Like John Etheridge 01:10:57 If I Could Call Him Today: A Final Thank You ABOUT THIS PODCAST: The Person Who Believed In Me is hosted by David Begnaud, founder and CEO of Do Good Crew and often called "America's storyteller." In each episode, David sits down with world-class guests to ask one simple question: Who believed in you before the world did? Big names. Honest stories. Relatable takeaways. Different paths — same question. David is also a CBS News contributor and host of the weekly segment Beg Knows America, which airs every Monday morning. Host: David Begnaud Guest: Melissa Etheridge Executive Producer: Olivier Delfosse Associate Producer: Jonah Johnson Booker: Sully Bloch Director of Photography: Foster Parks Live Production Technician: Joseph Gabay & Will Whitley (Statik Creative) Director of Social: Mariah Maull Theme Music: Slipstream Post-Production: Longwave Digital CONNECT WITH US: The Person Who Believed In Me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/believedpodcast

Before David Oyelowo became a critically acclaimed actor and the man who brought Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to life on screen, he was a shy kid who came back from Nigeria struggling to find his place in British life. Then Jill Foster, a theatre studies teacher at his Sixth Form College, saw something in him he hadn't yet seen in himself. In this deeply personal and unguarded conversation, the award winning actor sits down with David Begnaud to share the story of the teacher who changed everything when she cornered him outside a London tube station and said the words he'll never forget: I think you could do acting professionally. And I want to help you with that. David opens up about growing up between two worlds, living in Lagos, Nigeria from ages six to thirteen with a father who bore tribal marks and came from a royal family. He talks about what it felt like to experience life as a black man who was not a minority, and how those formative years gave him an identity so secure that no one could take it away. He shares the story of returning to the UK, discovering acting because he had a crush on his pastor's daughter, and meeting Jill Foster, the teacher who didn't just encourage him, she built him a ladder. She introduced him to the National Youth Music Theatre, helped him apply for funding through the Prince's Trust, coached him through drama school auditions, and gave him access to a world he didn't even know existed. Get more stories that remind you the world is still good. Sign up for our free newsletter: www.thedogoodcrew.com Thank you to Canva for believing in the power of storytelling and helping us bring this podcast to life: https://canva.com Chapters ☀️ Chapters 00:00:00 Intro: The Teacher Who Saw a King 00:01:44 Meeting Jill Foster: The Theatre Teacher Who Changed Everything 00:06:11 The Tube Station Moment: I Think You Could Do This Professionally 00:09:45 Jessica: The Wife Who Said I've Got You, I've Got Us 00:12:31 Playing Henry VI: When a Black King Became a Threat to the Status Quo 00:24:01 The God Whisper: I'm Going to Play Dr. King 00:30:17 Shooting Selma While His Mother Lay Dying 00:33:11 The 2 AM Call: Losing His Father on Day One of Newborn 00:40:55 Lagos, Nigeria: Where the Minority Mentality Was Boiled Out of Him 00:55:01 Newborn: Seven Years in Solitary and the Power of Love ABOUT THIS PODCAST: The Person Who Believed In Me is hosted by David Begnaud, founder and CEO of Do Good Crew and often called "America's storyteller." In each episode, David sits down with world-class guests to ask one simple question: Who believed in you before the world did? Big names. Honest stories. Relatable takeaways. Different paths — same question. David is also a CBS News contributor and host of the weekly segment Beg Knows America, which airs every Monday morning. Host: David Begnaud Guest: David Oyelowo Executive Producer: Olivier Delfosse Associate Producer: Jonah Johnson Booker: Sully Bloch Director of Photography: Foster Parks Live Production Technician: Joseph Gabay & Will Whitley (Statik Creative) Director of Social: Mariah Maull Theme Music: Slipstream Post-Production: Longwave Digital CONNECT WITH US: The Person Who Believed In Me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/believedpodcast

Before David Archuleta became a household name as the runner up on American Idol and a multi-platinum recording artist, he was a kid who didn't believe in himself, terrified of being exposed, and convinced that who he was at his core was something he needed to hide. Then he met Ronda Truman Ford, a Nashville mom who opened her home, her heart, and gave him something he'd never experienced before: a place where he could belong without expectations. In this raw and deeply personal conversation, the singer sits down with David Begnaud to share the story of the woman who believed in him when he was too afraid to believe in himself. David opens up about meeting Ronda when he was just 18, exhausted & longing for a home cooked meal and a sense of family. He talks about how Ronda invited him in, cooked for him, held game nights, and made him feel seen not as a celebrity, but as a person. He shares what it felt like to move to Nashville at 24 after serving a two year mission in Chile, still closeted, still codependent, and how Ronda became his accountability partner, his gym buddy, and the safe place he needed to start healing. She never forced him to change. She just made him want to grow. Get more stories that remind you the world is still good. Sign up for our free newsletter: www.thedogoodcrew.com Thank you to Canva for believing in the power of storytelling and helping us bring this podcast to life: https://canva.com Chapters ☀️ Chapters 00:00:00 Intro: The Nashville Mom Who Saw Him Whole 00:01:49 Game Night in Nashville: The First Meeting That Changed Everything 00:04:06 Moving to Nashville: Searching for a Place to Belong 00:06:23 What Do You Want in Return? Learning Unconditional Love 00:10:35 The Dad Who Pushed Too Hard: Growing Up Under Jeff's Control 00:17:53 The Accusation That Shattered Everything: A Family Secret at Age Nine 00:20:50 I Was Used to Being Obedient: Homeschooling and Hiding Who He Was 00:23:48 The Late-Night Conversations: Ronda's Table and the Healing That Began 00:13:23 She Knew I Was Gay Before I Did: The Permission to Be Myself 00:23:48 I'm a Living Contradiction: Being the Mormon Poster Boy While Struggling Inside 00:37:40 The Prayer That Saved My Life: When God Said Stop Asking Me This 00:33:10 Three Engagements to Women: The Desperate Attempt to Be Straight 00:57:36 I Almost Chose Not to Be Here: Writing His Will and the Fear of Failing 00:25:47 Singing at Her Bedside: The Week COVID Shut Down and Ronda Passed Away 00:26:22 Thank You for Giving Me a Safe Place: What David Would Say to Ronda Today 00:50:06 The Paralyzed Vocal Cord That Became His Story: Turning a Flaw Into Fame 00:40:18 From Agnostic to Raves: Finding God Outside the Mormon Church 00:43:29 To the Gay Mormon Watching This: It's Okay to Take a Break 00:49:18 I Can't Keep It to Myself: Why Visibility Matters More Than Silence 01:00:35 Devoted to Being Alive: Making Mistakes On Purpose and Living Without Regret 01:03:10 You Are Not a Mistake: David's Message to Anyone Who Feels Wrong ABOUT THIS PODCAST: The Person Who Believed In Me is hosted by David Begnaud, founder and CEO of Do Good Crew and often called "America's storyteller." In each episode, David sits down with world-class guests to ask one simple question: Who believed in you before the world did? Big names. Honest stories. Relatable takeaways. Different paths — same question. David is also a CBS News contributor and host of the weekly segment Beg Knows America, which airs every Monday morning. Host: David Begnaud Guest: David Archuleta Executive Producer: Olivier Delfosse Associate Producer: Jonah Johnson Booker: Sully Bloch Director of Photography: Foster Parks Live Production Technician: Joseph Gabay & Will Whitley (Statik Creative) Director of Social: Mariah Maull Theme Music: Slipstream Post-Production: Longwave Digital CONNECT WITH US: The Person Who Believed In Me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/believedpodcast