Free Daily Podcast Summary
The Person Who Believed In Me: Daily Summaries Delivered
by David Begnaud
Deeply human conversations with extraordinary humans. Raw. Relatable. Unexpected. Hosted by Emmy Award–winning storyteller David Begnaud, The Person Who Believed in Me brings together big names from every field around one powerful question: Who believed in you before anyone else did? Through vulnerable, gratitude-filled conversations, guests reflect on the mentors, teachers, family members, and quiet champions who shaped their lives long before success found them. While the names may be familiar, the stories rarely are. This is a podcast about belief, connection, and the people who change our lives without ever asking for credit.
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- Yesterday1h 1m
He Missed the NBA and Built a Music Empire | Grammy CEO Harvey Mason Jr.
Before Harvey Mason Jr. became the CEO of the Recording Academy and a legendary music producer who worked with Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, and Michael Jackson, he was a college basketball player at the University of Arizona headed to the NBA. Then a torn ACL ended his career in one awkward landing, leaving him watching soap operas in a dorm room, depressed and driving around Tucson pitching jingles to Chinese buffets and brake shops. In this deeply personal and unguarded conversation, the Grammy executive sits down with David Begnaud to share the story of the man who believed in him when he was still figuring out who he was: Clive Davis, the legendary music mogul who put him in a room with Aretha Franklin and changed everything. Harvey opens up about the day he walked into Clive's bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel, nervous and blown away by the flowers and the speakers and the man who had signed his father as an artist decades earlier. He talks about playing I Like Them Girls for Clive, watching him close his eyes and nod his head, and getting the yes that gave him a confidence boost he didn't know he needed. He shares what it was like to produce Aretha's vocals, pushing her so hard she sent a furious letter to Clive saying Harvey wasn't the right producer, only to send him flowers the next day after hearing the recording and calling it one of her favorite vocals ever. He reflects on recording Whitney Houston for seven hours when she'd only promised him 15 minutes, convincing her to keep going by saying his only job was to make fans say that's the best Whitney Houston song I've ever heard. There's also a raw reflection on belief, identity, and what it means to be pushed. Harvey talks about his father, drummer Harvey Mason Sr., who believed so fiercely in him that it became both a gift and a weight, and how that shaped the way he raised his own kids. He opens up about playing for Coach Lute Olson at Arizona, feeling like Olson didn't believe in him for years, and only realizing decades later that the hardest coaching was actually the deepest belief. He shares what he learned from teammate Steve Kerr, who asked the team on a bus ride how can you be sleeping on the way to the game? and taught him there was another level to greatness. And he reflects on what it means to be the first Black CEO of the Recording Academy, why he's never content, and why the truth is when you're in the moment of somebody believing in you, sometimes it doesn't feel like belief at all. Get more stories that remind you the world is still good. Sign up for our free newsletter: https://www.thedogoodcrew.com Chapters ☀️ Chapters 00:00:00 Intro: The Man Who Believed When the Dream Ended 00:02:02 The Bungalow Meeting: When Clive Davis Said Yes 00:09:27 Producing Aretha: The Flowers After the Fury 00:13:36 Seven Hours with Whitney: Negotiating with a Legend 00:15:53 What Makes a Great Producer: Listening and Serving 00:18:21 The Weekend Controversy: Leading Through Change 00:20:45 Coach Olson: The Belief That Felt Like Doubt 00:26:26 The Final Four and Steve Kerr's Leadership 00:28:13 The Torn ACL: When Basketball Dreams Die 00:29:47 Selling Jingles in Tucson: The Pivot to Music 00:43:35 The Pressure of a Legendary Father 00:42:31 I Love Watching You Play: Parenting Differently 00:48:26 First Black CEO of the Recording Academy 00:51:10 Coach Olson's Final Words: You'll Be As Successful 00:52:08 Never Fulfilled: The Lists and the Chase 00:56:20 To Clive: You Changed the Trajectory of My Life 00:59:11 The Ultimate Form of Belief: When It Feels Like Doubt 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: Harvey Mason Jr. 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
- 1 weeks ago1h 1m
7 Years as a Waiter to TOP-PAID Comedian
Before Sebastian Maniscalco became one of the highest paid comedians in the world — selling out five shows at Madison Square Garden and earning his own Sirius XM channel — he was a waiter at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills, spending seven years serving nuts to celebrities while bombing at open mics. Then Mitzi Shore, the legendary owner of the Comedy Store, saw something in him that the rest of the industry had missed. In this deeply personal conversation, Sebastian sits down with David Begnaud to share the story of the woman who believed in him when he barely knew her, and how she gave him the one thing he needed most: a place to belong. Sebastian opens up about the moment Mitzi grabbed him after his audition and said the words that changed everything: Come back for 10 minutes next week. He talks about skipping straight to paid regular status, getting hot spots one week and 1:30 a.m. slots in front of four people the next, and how Mitzi manipulated lineups to build his thick skin without him realizing it. His relationship with her was never verbal — her love came through the stage time she gave him, and his came through never letting her down. There's also a raw reflection on family and work ethic. Sebastian's father Cecilion, a 79-year-old hairdresser, still cuts hair and refuses to retire because he believes stopping means dying. He rented Sebastian a lawnmower as a kid to teach him about business expenses — making him cut grass while allergic to it — and after a quadruple bypass, his first question from the hospital bed was when he could go back to work. Sebastian bought his parents cars last year, because the journey was never just his. He covers a lot of ground Get more stories that remind you the world is still good. Sign up for our free newsletter: https://www.thedogoodcrew.com Chapters ☀️ Chapters 00:00:00 Intro: The Woman Who Gave Him a Stage 00:03:00 Why Her? The Audition That Changed Everything 00:09:29 The Hulk Hogan Documentary: A Morning Cry About Family 00:11:20 From Anger to Disbelief: Finding His Voice on Stage 00:13:36 Seven Years at the Four Seasons: The Nuts That Never Got Stale 00:16:18 Renting the Lawnmower: Learning Business from Dad 00:21:40 Selling Satellite Dishes in the Ghetto: The Kiosk Days 00:29:54 The Photo That Made Him Cry: When They Were a Unit 00:33:37 AI and Comedy: Using Technology to Brainstorm Ideas 00:39:53 The Grind: Boxing Rings, Bowling Alleys, and Blood-Stained Canvas 00:42:05 The Sandman Moment: Worst Night Ever, Best Lesson Learned 00:45:40 From 91 People to 91,000 Tickets: The Madison Square Garden Journey 00:47:39 The Introvert Comedian: Steam Rooms and Recharging Alone 00:52:36 The SNL Sketch: When Marcello Called 00:53:59 Thank You, Mitzi: A Relationship From Afar ABOUT THIS PODCAST: The Person Who Believed In Me is hosted by David Begnaud, founder and CEO of Do Good Crew. In each episode, David asks one simple question: Who believed in you before the world did? David is also a CBS News contributor and host of Beg Knows America, airing every Monday morning. Host: David Begnaud Guest: Sebastian Maniscalco Executive Producer: Olivier Delfosse Associate Producer: Jonah Johnson Booker: Sully Bloch Director of Photography: Foster Parks Live Production: Joseph Gabay & Will Whitley (Statik Creative) Social: Mariah Maull, Maxim Trofimenko, Kylee Anderson Theme Music: Slipstream Post-Production: Longwave Digital Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/believedpodcast
- 2 weeks ago1h 8m
Sharon Stone on Abuse, Death, and Who Believed in Her
Before Sharon Stone became one of Hollywood's most iconic stars, she was a kid from rural Pennsylvania getting sent to the principal's office for teaching her classmates cursive and multiplication. Then her father - a blue-collar machine shop worker with the touch of kings - walked in and said: Here's what's going to happen. It's not going to stop. She's going to keep right on doing it. Are we clear? In this unguarded conversation with David Begnaud, Sharon shares the story of the man who believed in her when the world told her to be less - and reflects on the life that followed. She opens up about the nine-day misdiagnosed brain hemorrhage she survived against 1% odds, the assault she didn't understand for a decade, the custody battle she lost to an ex-husband who ran the only newspaper in town, and why being a sex symbol meant the world assumed she was stupid instead of surviving. She talks about being the 13th choice for Basic Instinct, fighting through every makeup test to wipe off the bimbo overlay, and a mother who never once said I love you. And she shares what her father - who died exactly four months to the day after calling to say he had four months left - would want the world to know. Get more stories that remind you the world is still good. Sign up for our free newsletter: https://www.thedogoodcrew.com Chapters ☀️ Chapters 00:00:00 Intro: The Man Who Believed When Nobody Else Did 00:04:59 The Principal's Office: Here's What's Going to Happen 00:09:42 The Confrontation at 14: I Will Never Love You Again 00:15:45 Growing Up in Rural Pennsylvania: The Girl Who Dyed Her Hair 00:22:30 I'm Not a Quitter: The 1% Chance of Survival 00:29:59 The Psychic Gift: Babies, Animals, and Knowing Things 00:49:07 The Attack: What Really Happened That Day 00:56:39 Not a Sex Symbol: The 13th Choice for Basic Instinct 00:39:22 The Vanilla Milkshake: A Father's Love in a Mason Jar 01:00:51 Four Months to the Day: Cleaning Every Can on Her Hands and Knees 01:04:10 Work Your Own Door: The Legacy of Joseph William Stone III 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: Sharon Stone Executive Producer: Olivier Delfosse 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
- 3 weeks ago48 min
Harvard Professor: You Won’t Be Happy Until You FIX This | Arthur Brooks
Before Arthur Brooks became a Harvard professor, bestselling author, and one of the world's most influential voices on happiness and human behavior, he was a 34 year old PhD student standing in front of a room full of Nobel Prize winners, delivering what he calls a catastrophic dissertation defense. Then James Q. Wilson, the most distinguished social scientist of the 20th century, walked up and said the words that changed everything: You know, you got something special here. If I can ever help you, just let me know. In this deeply personal and unguarded conversation, the renowned social scientist sits down with David Begnaud to share the story of the man who believed in him when no one else did. There's also a raw reflection on faith, struggle, and the complex problem of God. Arthur talks about the priest who rejected him, why he believes therapy isn't about solving problems but living with complexity, and why your marriage is not a problem to solve. He shares the one regret he carries every day, why he still asks if his father would be proud of him, and how losing his parents too soon led him to move his entire family to one place so he wouldn't make the same mistake twice. He opens up about the meaning crisis destroying young people today, why happiness is love and love is a choice, and why the greatest act of selfishness is refusing someone's generosity. Get more stories that remind you the world is still good. Sign up for our free newsletter: https://www.thedogoodcrew.com Chapters ☀️ Chapters 00:00:00 Intro: The Man Who Changed Everything 00:01:14 The Catastrophic Dissertation Defense That Led to Destiny 00:01:46 From French Horn Player to Social Scientist 00:06:31 The Email That Opened a Door: Will You Let Me Help You? 00:08:56 The Calling You Can't Articulate: Right Brain vs Left Brain 00:10:58 Faith, Struggle, and the Complex Problem of God 00:15:03 Complex vs Complicated: Why Your Marriage Isn't a Problem to Solve 00:18:19 The Power of Being Present: You Can Only Love Right Now 00:20:55 Growing Up Brooks: The Mathematician and the Artist 00:23:29 Why I Quit Music: When You Don't Love the Craft, Only the Dream 00:25:48 Every Day I Ask: Would My Dad Be Proud of Me? 00:28:12 Moving the Whole Family to One Place: Learning from Loss 00:30:03 The Meaning Crisis: Why Young People Are Suffering 00:31:55 How to Find Your Calling: Earning Your Success and Being Needed 00:33:05 The I Self vs The Me Self: Why Looking Inward Makes You Miserable 00:33:41 The Funk and How to Get Out: Forcing Yourself to Serve 00:36:27 Why We Connect Through Struggle, Not Success 00:37:58 James Q. Wilson's Legacy: Community Policing and Broken Windows 00:39:36 Did You Ever Ask Him Why He Believed in You? 00:46:26 The One Takeaway: Happiness Is Love, and Love Is a Choice 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: Arthur Brooks Executive Producers: Ellen Rocamora, Olivier Delfosse Associate Producer: Griffin Hamilton Booker: Sully Bloch Director of Photography: Foster Parks Director of Social: Mariah Maull Live Production Technician: Joseph Gabay & Will Whitley (Statik Creative) Theme Music: Slipstream Post-Production: Longwave Digital CONNECT WITH US: The Person Who Believed In Me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/believedpodcast
- 4 weeks ago1h 0m
He LOST His Family Overnight for Being Gay
Before Joel Kim Booster became an Emmy-nominated writer, actor, producer, stand-up comedian, and the star and creator of Fire Island, he was a 17 year old kid living in his car, kicked out by his adoptive parents for being gay, and convinced he was going to hell. Then Sarah Casey, a classmate he barely knew, turned around in choir and said the words that changed everything: If you ever need a place to stay, you can come and stay with me and my family. In this deeply personal and unguarded conversation, one of comedy's sharpest voices sits down with David Begnaud to share the story of the girl who became his chosen family when his own family walked away.e can give you is a place to belong when the world says you don't. And sometimes, that's all you need to become exactly who you were meant to be. Get more stories that remind you the world is still good. Sign up for our free newsletter: https://www.thedogoodcrew.com Chapters ☀️ Chapters 00:00:00 Intro: The Girl from Choir Who Saved His Life 00:01:47 The Offer That Changed Everything: If You Need a Place to Stay 00:03:32 Coming Out in a Homeschooled Evangelical Home 00:05:50 The Exorcism: When Your Father Tries to Cast Out Demons 00:06:56 Bipolar and Undiagnosed: The Difficult Kid Nobody Understood 00:08:00 Adopted from Korea: The Complex Relationship with Janet and Ken 00:11:47 Moving In with the Caseys: A Year of Being Seen and Loved 00:13:16 Pastor Tim's Words: There Is No Biblical Basis for Hell 00:15:18 A Version of the Future I Never Considered Before 00:19:33 The Dad Who Showed Up: Quiet Support and Complicated Love 00:23:05 Neither of Them Have Ever Seen My Work: Making Peace with Distance 00:24:08 The Cases Helped Me Reconcile: Bridging the Gap with His Parents 00:25:23 Therapy and Honesty: Why He Gives His Parents Grace Now 00:27:53 Relationships Are Complex: Arthur Brooks and a Better Word 00:29:58 Best Friends from Housemates: The Porch Talks That Built a Bond 00:31:11 She Always Believed I Would Be Right Where I Am 00:33:10 Sarah the Minister: Following in Her Father's Footsteps 00:38:10 Rejection from Casting Directors Hurts More Than Family Rejection 00:39:30 Diagnosed Bipolar Two: Six Months Before the Pandemic 00:41:00 John Michael: The Man Who Loves Him Unconditionally 00:51:01 I Never Considered What It Would Be Like to Be Loved 00:51:51 The Last Six Months: Finding Stability Through Marriage and Medication 00:52:33 Not a Single Person Would Have Predicted This: Proving It to Himself 00:53:35 Chosen Family: The People Who Bump Into Your Life and Change It 00:54:10 She's a Superhero: Real Work That Changes the World 00:55:59 For the Little Girl: Giving Back to Sarah's Daughter 00:56:23 Twenty Years from Now: Kids, Stability, and Less Self-Promotion 00:57:31 To His Younger Self: You Know Jack Shit, But You'll Figure It Out 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: Joel Kim Booster Executive Producer: Olivier Delfosse Associate Producer: Jonah Johnson Booker: Sully Bloch Director of Photography: Foster Parks Director of Social: Mariah Maull Live Production Technician: Joseph Gabay & Will Whitley (Statik Creative) Theme Music: Slipstream Post-Production: Longwave Digital CONNECT WITH US: The Person Who Believed In Me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/believedpodcast
- May 11, 202658 min
From Cleaning Airbnbs to a Number 1 Hit Song in 12 Hours | Carly Pearce
Before Carly Pearce became a Grammy-winning country music superstar and a member of the Grand Ole Opry, she was a 24 year old singer who had spent eight years in Nashville being told she wasn't enough. She'd done countless showcases, recorded endless songs, and watched labels pass her by again and again. Then she met Daniel Lee, a music publisher who saw something the entire industry had missed. In this deeply personal and unguarded conversation, the multi-platinum artist sits down with David Begnaud to share the story of the man who believed in her when she was cleaning Airbnbs and ready to move home. Carly opens up about the moment Daniel sat her down at a coffee shop and said the words that changed everything: I know your story. I know how long you've been here. I know what the industry thinks. I believe otherwise. She talks about growing up in Taylor Mill, Kentucky, telling her parents at age five she was going to be on the Grand Ole Opry, dropping out of high school in ninth grade to work six shows a day at Dollywood, and spending years in Nashville chasing what everyone else wanted instead of trusting what made her different. She shares what it felt like to play five songs for a manager who told her to her face that they would never work, only to watch one of those exact songs, Every Little Thing, debut at number one on iTunes 12 hours after it hit Sirius XM's The Highway. If you've ever wondered 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 Chapters ☀️ Chapters 00:00:00 Intro: The Publisher Who Believed When Nobody Else Did 00:02:13 The 12-Hour Period That Changed Everything: Every Little Thing 00:06:36 I Believe Otherwise: The Coffee Shop Meeting That Saved Her Career 00:10:20 Stop Chasing Other People: Finding Her True Voice 00:12:18 These Songs Will Never Work: The Manager Who Said No 00:07:57 Meeting Busby: The Producer Who Understood the Purist in Her 00:18:50 The Kentucky Girl's Dream: From Age Five to the Grand Ole Opry 00:37:36 Cleaning Airbnbs While Her Song Played on the Radio 00:26:43 Eight Months of Marriage: The Mistake She Knew on Her Wedding Night 00:25:06 Never Wanted to Be That Girl: The Grammy-Winning Collaboration 00:39:48 Recurrent Pericarditis: When Doctors Dismissed Her Heart Condition 00:41:38 The Sacrifices: How Mom and Dad Held It Down 00:22:57 Dolly's Surprise: Becoming a Member of the Grand Ole Opry 00:50:10 I Don't Feel Like I've Achieved What I Deserve Yet 00:54:14 Daniel's Lifeline: You Continue to Make Me Believe I Matter 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: Carly Pearce Executive Producer: Olivier Delfosse Associate Producer: Jonah Johnson Booker: Sully Bloch Director of Photography: Foster Parks Director of Social: Mariah Maull Live Production Technician: Joseph Gabay & Will Whitley (Statik Creative) Theme Music: Slipstream Post-Production: Longwave Digital CONNECT WITH US: The Person Who Believed In Me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/believedpodcast
- May 4, 20261h 9m
The Man Printing Homes Opens Up About GRIEF and PURPOSE | Jason Ballard, ICON’s CEO
Before Jason Ballard became the CEO of Icon, a groundbreaking company using 3D printing and robotics to revolutionize how humanity builds homes and even NASA-backed lunar habitats, he was a skinny kid from East Texas with big ideas and a wife who believed those ideas could change the world. In this deeply personal and unguarded conversation, the visionary entrepreneur sits down with David Begnaud to share the story of Jenny Yuri Ballard, the woman who believed in him when belief was the only thing they had. Jason opens up about meeting Jenny at a summer camp in Colorado, dancing with her all night in a barn, and writing a letter to her parents to introduce himself before driving 20 hours from Texas to South Dakota just to see her for less than a day. He talks about the moment she broke her neck in Nepal, how he bribed an official to get a visa and drove through the night searching hospital after hospital in New Delhi until he found her. He shares what it felt like to be married to someone who never counted the cost, who said let's move into my parents' basement so he could chase a dream, and who maxed out credit cards to buy concrete so they could finish printing the world's first permanent 3D printed house days before South by Southwest. If you've ever doubted whether one person's belief could change the trajectory of your entire life, or wondered what it means to burn the ships and go all in, this episode will remind you that sometimes the greatest gift someone can give you is the courage to try the impossible. And sometimes, that's all you need to build something that lasts forever. Get more stories that remind you the world is still good. Sign up for our free newsletter: www.thedogoodcrew.com Chapters ☀️ Chapters 00:00:00 Intro: The Woman Who Danced on the Prairie 00:17:19 The Barn Dance That Changed Everything: Meeting Jenny 00:19:27 The Letter to Her Parents: A 20-Hour Drive for Love 00:21:54 Broken Neck in Nepal: Finding Her in India 00:25:26 We're Going to Do This Together: The Philosophy of Fearless Living 00:28:11 From East Texas to Boulder: Building Treehouse 00:04:29 The Diagnosis: Breast Cancer at 28 00:56:31 If I'm Going to Die, We Better Keep Moving: Living with Cancer for 13 Years 00:27:42 The Bishop Who Changed His Path: Choosing Icon Over Priesthood 00:37:38 You Print Houses? Starting Over After Seven Years 00:42:47 100% Rejection: When No One Believed Except Them 00:45:05 Maxing Out the Third Credit Card: The First House 00:49:42 The Window Screen That Saved Icon: Sifting Concrete at 2 AM 00:58:03 We Have No Regrets: The Final Diagnosis 00:59:15 Christmas Eve Mass by the Fireplace: The Last 90 Days 01:01:45 I Love You Guys So Much: Her Final Words 01:03:50 Thank You for Loving Our Daughter: A Message from Her Parents 01:06:38 To Do Right By All the Trust and Courage She Gave Me 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: Jason Ballard Executive Producers: Ellen Rocamora, Olivier Delfosse Associate Producer: Griffin Hamilton Booker: Sully Bloch Director of Photography: Foster Parks Director of Social: Mariah Maull Live Production Technician: Joseph Gabay & Will Whitley (Statik Creative) Theme Music: Slipstream Post-Production: Longwave Digital CONNECT WITH US: The Person Who Believed In Me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/believedpodcast
- Apr 27, 20261h 48m
Hollywood’s Most POWERFUL Woman on Overcoming Self-Doubt | Sherry Lansing
Before Sherry Lansing became the first woman to run a major Hollywood studio and a legendary force behind some of cinema's most iconic films, she was an insecure young woman convinced she had to hide her ambition, terrified of judgment, and struggling to believe in herself. Then she met Dr. Joshua Hoffs, a therapist who gave her something she'd never experienced before: a space where she could be vulnerable without shame, ambitious without apology, and herself without fear. In this deeply personal and unguarded conversation, the trailblazing studio executive sits down with David Begnaud to share the story of the man who believed in her when she couldn't believe in herself. Sherry opens up about growing up with a mother who escaped Nazi Germany and wanted nothing more than for her daughter to get married and join the country club, even though that same mother became Sherry's first role model when she took over the family real estate business after Sherry's father died when she was just nine years old. She talks about her first therapist, who told her that when he was done with her she wouldn't want to work, she'd just want to bake pies, and how that experience nearly broke her. She shares what it felt like to walk into Dr. Hoffs' office for the first time and realize within the first hour that this was different, that he wasn't there to judge her or change her, but to help her become the best version of herself. When Dr. Hoffs asked her a question that changed everything: Why can't you be the head of the studio? Sherry talks about her decades long marriage to Academy Award winning director William Friedkin, the only person who ever gave her unconditional love, and why losing him was the hardest chapter of her life. She shares why she believes therapy taught her to understand people in a way that made her a better executive, why she never craved power, and why the only thing that lasts forever is the movies. She reflects on greenlighting Titanic, Braveheart, Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, and Fatal Attraction, why Glenn Close almost didn't get cast, and how she learned to pick her battles in rooms full of men who didn't hear her. 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 Therapist Who Changed Everything 00:03:56 The First Bad Therapist: When Therapy Goes Wrong 00:05:42 Meeting Dr. Hoff: The Non-Judgmental Zone 00:08:50 Margot's Contradictions: A Mother's Complex Love 00:23:03 The Moment That Changed Her Career: Why Can't You Be Head of the Studio? 00:25:42 Understanding People: The Gift of Therapy 00:29:26 Billy Friedkin: The Only Man Who Gave Unconditional Love 01:08:09 Fatal Attraction: The Glenn Close Audition That Taught Her Everything 00:59:32 Success vs Happiness: What Therapy Gives You That Fame Never Can 01:15:19 Life as Chapters: Finding Joy After Loss 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: Sherry Lansing Executive Producers: Ellen Rocamora, Olivier Delfosse Associate Producer: Griffin Hamilton Booker: Sully Bloch Director of Photography: Foster Parks Director of Social: Mariah Maull Live Production Technician: Joseph Gabay & Will Whitley (Statik Creative) Theme Music: Slipstream Post-Production: Longwave Digital CONNECT WITH US: The Person Who Believed In Me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/believedpodcast
About The Person Who Believed In Me
Deeply human conversations with extraordinary humans. Raw. Relatable. Unexpected. Hosted by Emmy Award–winning storyteller David Begnaud, The Person Who Believed in Me brings together big names from every field around one powerful question: Who believed in you before anyone else did? Through vulnerable, gratitude-filled conversations, guests reflect on the mentors, teachers, family members, and quiet champions who shaped their lives long before success found them. While the names may be familiar, the stories rarely are. This is a podcast about belief, connection, and the people who change our lives without ever asking for credit.
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