The Person Who Believed In Me

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.comThank you to Canva for believing in the power of storytelling and helping us bring this podcast to life: https://canva.comChapters ☀️Chapters00:00:00 Intro: The Girl from Leavenworth and Her Dad00:02:49 The Soldier Who Became a Teacher: John Etheridge's Story00:05:13 He Just Showed Up: A Father's Quiet Belief00:07:16 Learning Metaphor from Neil Diamond: Music Lessons with Dad00:11:57 Is That It? Coming Out to Her Father in 198000:15:46 Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Navigating Fame While Gay in the 90s00:25:45 The Grammy Performance That Changed Everything00:29:21 The Heroic Overdose: A Cannabis Journey That Changed Her Life00:36:43 Losing Beckett: The Son Who Taught Her the Hardest Lessons00:42:47 Life is Happening FOR Me: A New Philosophy After Cancer00:46:32 Rise: Writing Anthems from the Dirt00:51:50 The Dad Mom: Parenting Like John Etheridge01:10:57 If I Could Call Him Today: A Final Thank YouABOUT 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 BegnaudGuest: Melissa EtheridgeExecutive Producer: Olivier DelfosseAssociate Producer: Jonah JohnsonBooker: Sully BlochDirector of Photography: Foster ParksLive Production Technician: Joseph Gabay & Will Whitley (Statik Creative)Director of Social: Mariah MaullTheme Music: SlipstreamPost-Production: Longwave DigitalCONNECT 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.comThank you to Canva for believing in the power of storytelling and helping us bring this podcast to life: https://canva.comRecorded January 28, 2026Chapters ☀️Chapters00:00:00 Intro: Nick Cannon00:03:26 Meeting Master Wilson: The Five-Year-Old Who Didn't Want Discipline00:07:37 The Superhero in the Neighborhood: Why Master Wilson Was Different00:13:45 Integrity: The Word That Changed Everything00:09:08 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 Hero00:29:13 The Diagnosis Collection: ADHD, NPD, Lupus, and Labels00:27:39 Therapy as Waste Management: Offloading to Stay Superhuman00:30:25 The Narcissist Test: When You Try to Give the Right Answer00:35:40 Standing in the Fire: Why Slowing Down Hurts More00:37:18 The Machete Juggler: Proving Something to Himself Every Day00:43:13 MTV and Wild 'N Out: Creating Space for Hip-Hop Culture00:54:00 The 12 Kids Question: Legacy vs. Lineage00:55:10 School Pickups and Guilt: The Super Dad Who Can't Be Everywhere00:57:16 The Relentless Dreamer: Insomnia, Faith, and What's Left to Prove00:42:35 Where Humans Connect: The Struggle Behind the Success00:59:40 The Man Master Wilson Wanted: Honorable Over FamousABOUT 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 BegnaudGuest: Nick CannonExecutive Producer: Olivier DelfosseBooker: Sully BlochDirector of Photography: Foster ParksLive Production Technician: Joseph Gabay & Will Whitley (Statik Creative)Associate Producer: Jonah JohnsonDirector of Social: Mariah MaullTheme Music: SlipstreamPost-Production: Longwave DigitalCONNECT WITH US:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/believedpodcast

Charlie Puth, singer-songwriter-producer known for multi-platinum hits and technical ear, reveals a quieter, anxious side. He talks about growing up with perfect pitch and OCD. He recalls freezing at America's Got Talent, how his parents believed in him, why melody soothes him, and why his new music finally lets vulnerability through.

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.comThank you to Canva for believing in the power of storytelling and helping us bring this podcast to life: https://canva.comChapters ☀️Chapters00:00:00 Intro: The Girl with the Thumbs Up and Roger Ebert00:07:47 The Cold Pitch: Sending the Film to Roger Ebert00:07:17 The Tweet That Changed Everything00:11:02 The Review: When a Critic Sees Your Soul00:15:33 I Will Follow: A Film About Aunt Denise00:29:34 The Power of Being Taken Seriously00:44:13 From Publicist to Filmmaker: Finding Your Calling at 3000:41:28 Cinema as Memory: The Power to Rewrite and Heal00:54:14 Opening Doors All the Way: The Philosophy of True Mentorship00:58:47 Get On a Moving Train: What It Takes to Earn Help01:00:54 Leading with Kindness While Demanding Excellence00:37:39 Speaking at Roger Ebert's Funeral: The Full Circle MomentABOUT 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 BegnaudGuest: Ava DuVernayExecutive Producers: Ellen Rocamora, Olivier DelfosseAssociate Producer: Griffin HamiltonBooker: Sully BlochDirector of Photography: Foster ParksDirector of Social: Mariah MaullTheme Music: SlipstreamPost-Production: Longwave DigitalCONNECT 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.comThank you to Canva for believing in the power of storytelling and helping us bring this podcast to life: https://canva.comChapters ☀️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 BegnaudGuest: Barry DillerExecutive Producers: Ellen Rocamora, Olivier DelfosseAssociate Producer: Griffin HamiltonBooker: Sully BlochDirector of Photography: Foster ParksTheme Music: SlipstreamPost-Production: Longwave DigitalCONNECT WITH US:The Person Who Believed In Me:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/believedpodcast

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 ☀️Chapters00:00:00 2 Chainz: A Story of Belief00:01:14 The Letter That Changed Everything: Miss Love's Second Chance00:03:14 Senior Year Trouble: When Everything Almost Fell Apart00:07:04 The Night Before: When His Mother's Intuition Tried to Warn Him00:09:43 Six Letters of Support and One That Stood Out00:13:27 The Surprise Call: Reconnecting with Miss Love in Real Time00:18:30 The Voice in My Head is God: Learning to Trust Intuition00:21:52 Women as Superheroes: The Intuition 2Chainz Had to Learn00:33:54 From Titty Boy to 2Chainz: The Origin of an Iconic Name00:36:17 Environment vs Choice: What Really Determines Success00:40:13 Street Lessons That Still Guide Him: Trust, Paranoia, and Survival00:41:02 What You Have to Unlearn: From Cash to Credit00:47:49 Breaking Generational Chains: From Bootleg to Legacy00:55:10 Stay Out the Graveyard, Stay Out of Jail: Advice for the Youth00:56:59 The Person Who Believed in Me: Miss LoveABOUT 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.comThank you to Canva for believing in the power of storytelling and helping us bring this podcast to life: https://canva.comHost: David BegnaudGuest: 2 ChainzExecutive Producer: Olivier DelfosseAssociate Producer: Jonah JohnsonBooker: Sully BlochDirector of Social: Mariah MaullDirector of Photography: Foster ParksLive Production Technician: Joseph Gabay & Will Whitley (Statik Creative)Post-Production: Longwave DigitalTheme Music: SlipstreamCONNECT WITH US:The Person Who Believed In Me:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/believedpodcast

"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 ☀️Chapters00:00:00 Intro00:04:05 Discovering a rare photo of Mr Abrams00:06:04 Finding resilient girls with the it factor00:09:34 The lunchroom conversations that changed everything00:12:07 Nobody Makes It Alone: Oprah Reads Maya Angelou's Poem00:14:07 The Deep Power of Being Truly Seen00:16:30 Before Oprah Believed in Herself: The Truth She Was Hiding00:19:34 "I See Something in You and I Know You Can Do Better"00:25:55 The Contest That Changed Everything: The Barbara Walters Moment00:36:18 When Did Oprah Truly Begin to Believe in Herself?00:44:35 "What Are You Running From?" The Teacher Who Changed David's LifeABOUT 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 BegnaudGuest: Oprah WinfreyExecutive Producers: Ellen Rocamora, Olivier DelfosseAssociate Producers: Griffen Hamilton, Jonah JohnsonBooker: Sully BlochDirector of Social: Mariah MaullDirector of Photography: Foster ParksTheme Music: SlipstreamGet more stories that remind you the world is still good: www.thedogoodcrew.comThank you to Canva for believing in the power of storytelling and helping us bring this podcast to life: https://canva.comCONNECT WITH US:The Person Who Believed In Me:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/believedpodcastDavid Begnaud:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidbegnaud/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@davidbegnaudFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavidBegnaud/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@davidbegnaudX: https://x.com/davidbegnaudDo Good Crew:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogood/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dogoodstoryFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/dogoodstoryOprah Winfrey:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oprah/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@oprahFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/oprahwinfreyYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Oprah

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 BegnaudCreated By: David BegnaudA Do Good Crew ProductionExecutive Producer: Ellen RocamoraFor Do Good Crew: Executive Producers Olivier Delfosse, David Begnaud, Associate Producer Griffen Hamilton, Editor Jonah Johnson, Booker Sully BlochDirector Of Photography: Foster ParksMusic Composed By: SlipstreamPost-Production: Longwave Digital