
A side of Charlie Puth the media never showed
From The Person Who Believed In Me with David Begnaud by Do Good Crew
March 23, 2026 · 1h 5m
About this episode
Charlie Puth shares his journey of overcoming personal challenges and the support he received from his family.
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…
People in this episode
Host: David Begnaud
Guest: Charlie Puth
Topics covered
- music
- personal growth
- mental health
- family support
- vulnerability
Keywords
- Charlie Puth
- music career
- OCD
- vulnerability
- family support
- mental health
- America's Got Talent
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: America's Got Talent, Catholic school, Eminem
More episodes of The Person Who Believed In Me with David Begnaud
- Chelsea Handler | He Said He Was Coming Back · September 7, 2026 · 1h 25m
- Bozoma Saint John | Always the Outsider · August 31, 2026 · 1h 3m
- Tori Kelly | The Internet Made Her a Star · August 24, 2026 · 1h 6m
- Gary Vaynerchuk | A Studio Apartment for Eight · August 17, 2026 · 1h 30m
- Atsuko Okatsuka | My Kidnapper, My Best Friend · August 10, 2026 · 1h 15m
- Brian Grazer | Straight F's, But a Gift for Gab · August 3, 2026 · 1h 12m
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Person Who Believed In Me with David Begnaud podcast page.