"Finding Faith and Harmony with Singer-Songwriter David Archuleta"

Summary

Finding Faith and Harmony with Singer-Songwriter David Archuleta

Podcast: Taking a Walk
Host: Buzz Knight
Guest: David Archuleta
Release Date: March 14, 2025

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1. Introduction

In this heartfelt episode of Taking a Walk, host Buzz Knight sits down with singer-songwriter David Archuleta to explore the intersections of music, faith, and personal identity. The conversation delves deep into David's journey from his rise to fame on American Idol to his evolving relationship with faith and self-acceptance.

2. Musical Inspirations and Influences

David begins by sharing his dream of walking alongside musical legends who have profoundly impacted him.

David Archuleta [04:33]:
"The first stab that comes into my head is a walk in New York City with John Lennon."

He elaborates on how Lennon’s presence would provide invaluable insights into the current state of music and activism.

Similarly, David expresses his admiration for George Michael, highlighting the significance of his song "Freedom" and its alignment with LGBTQ+ struggles.

David Archuleta [08:13]:
"He wrote the song and it came out 35 years ago... Same-sex marriage is now legal... The progress that society has made for the LGBTQ+ community and making space for them."

3. The Role of Activism in Music

The conversation shifts to the importance of activism in today's music scene. David reflects on the courage required for artists to voice their opinions in a climate where political correctness often stifles genuine expression.

David Archuleta [05:19]:
"I think a lot of people aren't brave enough. They're sort of holding back right now."

He draws parallels between historical activism in the 60s and 70s and the current need for artists to use their platforms for advocacy.

4. Personal Journey: Faith and Identity

A significant portion of the discussion centers on David's personal journey with faith and his decision to leave the Mormon Church. He shares the internal conflicts and societal pressures that influenced his path to self-discovery and acceptance.

David Archuleta [13:18]:
"Finding your spirit, you know, at that point... that really helped you find or further find your spirit of who you are."

David candidly discusses the emotional toll of religious teachings that conflicted with his true self, leading to a profound understanding of self-love and acceptance.

David Archuleta [18:24]:
"It was learning to love myself... it wasn't until leaving Mormonism that I finally understood what it meant to love yourself."

5. Creating the George Michael Tribute

David shares the creative process behind his tribute to George Michael, emphasizing the collaboration with producer Phil Lawrence and the decision to adopt a more organic musical arrangement.

David Archuleta [21:54]:
"Phil is great to work with. He gets the soul that needed to go into the song."

He describes drawing inspiration from George Michael's MTV Unplugged performance to infuse authenticity and emotional depth into his rendition.

6. Gratitude and Support from Allies

Expressing immense gratitude, David highlights the unwavering support from allies like Paula Abdul during his time on American Idol and throughout his personal journey.

David Archuleta [23:42]:
"Paula was the one who would come up after nearly every week after the performances and come and connect with us, give us a hug..."

He acknowledges the role of friends and the queer community in helping him embrace his identity and navigate the challenges that come with it.

David Archuleta [28:24]:
"And I'm grateful for my friends who've been there with me and my fans who've supported me both as a super Mormon and as after that life."

7. Conclusion

The episode concludes with David reflecting on his ongoing journey and the beginnings of a new chapter in his career and personal life.

David Archuleta [28:27]:
"You're just beginning."

Buzz Knight underscores the significance of David's contributions to music and advocacy, celebrating his bravery and inspiring future endeavors.

Buzz Knight [28:37]:
"Thank you for your bravery."

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Key Takeaways:

• Musical Legacy: David aspires to walk with icons like John Lennon and George Michael, drawing inspiration from their activism and artistry.

• Activism in Music: Emphasizes the crucial role of artists in advocating for social issues, despite potential backlash or the pressure to conform.

• Personal Growth: David's departure from the Mormon Church was pivotal in his journey toward self-love and acceptance of his queer identity.

• Creative Process: Collaborating with Phil Lawrence, David sought to create an authentic tribute to George Michael that honors his legacy while staying true to his artistic vision.

• Support Systems: The unwavering support from Paula Abdul and the LGBTQ+ community played a significant role in David's personal and professional growth.

This episode of Taking a Walk offers listeners an intimate glimpse into David Archuleta's life, highlighting the challenges and triumphs that shape his music and message today.

Transcript

[Matt Rogers]

Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, just won Podcast of the Year at this year's iHeart Podcast Awards.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, wow.

[David Archuleta]

You're kidding.

[Bowen Yang]

Stop it.

[Matt Rogers]

Lady Gaga will take home the Innovator award at Monday's iHeartradio Music Awards. Now these iHeart Award winners are teaming up on a brand new episode of Las Culturistas.

[Bowen Yang]

Thank you so much for having me here, but please, please, please don't make me get angry about anything in public.

[Matt Rogers]

Just open the free iHeartRadio app, search Las Culturistas and listen now.

[A.J. Jacobs]

Dressing. Dressing.

[David Archuleta]

Oh, French dressing.

[A.J. Jacobs]

Exactly.

[Bowen Yang]

That's good.

[A.J. Jacobs]

I'm A.J. jacobs, and my current obsession is puzzles, and that has given birth to my podcast, the Puzzler.

[Bowen Yang]

Something about Mary Poppins?

[A.J. Jacobs]

Exactly.

[Bowen Yang]

This is fun.

[A.J. Jacobs]

You can get your daily puzzle nuggets delivered straight to your ears. Listen to the Puzzler every day on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Cheekies]

Hey, y'all, it's your girl, Cheekies. And I'm back with a brand new season of your favorite podcast, Cheekies and Chill. I'll be sharing even more personal stories with you guys, and as always, you'll get my exclusive take on topics like love, personal growth, health, family ties, and more. And don't forget, I'll also be dishing out my best advice to you on episodes of Dear Cheekies. It's going to be an exciting year, and I hope that you can join me. Listen to Cheekies and chill season four on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or where you get your podcasts.

[Minnie Driver]

What if you ask two different people the same set of questions? Even if the questions are the same, our experiences can lead us to drastically different answers. I'm Minnie Driver, and I set out to explore this idea in my podcast. And now Mini Questions is returning for another season. We've asked an entirely new set of guests our seven questions, including Jane Lynch, Delaney Rowe, and Cord Jefferson. Listen to mini questions on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Seven questions. Limitless answers.

[Alec Baldwin]

Hey, it's Alec Baldwin. This past season on my podcast, here's the thing, I spoke with more actors, musicians, policymakers, and so many other fascinating people, like writer and actor Dan Aykroyd.

[Dan Aykroyd]

I love writing more than anything. You're left alone, you know, you do three hours in the morning, you write three hours in the afternoon. Go pick up a kid from school and write at night. And after nine hours, you come out with seven pages and then you're moving on.

[Alec Baldwin]

Listen to here's the thing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Buzz Knight]

Taking a Walk.

[Bowen Yang]

It was learning to love myself. Something that I thought I already knew, something I thought Mormonism already gave me a good grasp of. And it wasn't until Mormonism, it wasn't until leaving Mormonism that I finally understood what it meant to love yourself.

[Buzz Knight]

Welcome to another episode of one of the top podcasts in this country and in others, the Taking a Walk podcast, hosted by Buzz Knight. Buzz talks with musicians covering all genres. Today he speaks with David Archuleta, singer, songwriter. From his success with American Idol to his new music honoring the work of George Michael, David takes us behind the scenes to an accomplished career that's just beginning. Here's Buzz Night with David Archuleta on Taking a Walk.

[David Archuleta]

Hey, David. Welcome to Taking a Walk. I appreciate it.

[Bowen Yang]

Thank you, Buzz. Good to be here with you.

[David Archuleta]

So since the podcast is called Taking a Walk, if you could take a walk with someone, living or dead, they don't have to be involved with music, but they could be, who would it be? And where would you like to take a walk with them?

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, gosh. Well, since I released my cover of Freedom recently, it would be fun to take a walk with George Michael and maybe just go around Echo park or something. Would be nice. Somewhere chill, but kind of close to where the action is and see what things we could relate with on as people who are performers and had to come out in front of our audience, know with our sexuality and our queer journeys.

[David Archuleta]

Sure. Yeah. That would be an amazing walk for sure.

[Bowen Yang]

How about you?

[David Archuleta]

How about me?

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[David Archuleta]

The first stab that comes into my head and think about a walk in New York City with John Lennon.

[Alec Baldwin]

Oh, wow.

[David Archuleta]

He was so ingrained in New York and never had the opportunity. And I would just love to hear what he's. What he's thinking about the way things are in today's times, you know?

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, yeah. Gosh, Imagine the music he would have released.

[David Archuleta]

Oh, my goodness. Yeah. I think he would have been still doing amazing things, and I think he. He wouldn't let his opinions. He wouldn't keep his opinions to himself, you know?

[Bowen Yang]

Right. Do you feel like there's an equivalent of that today?

[David Archuleta]

Well, I think. I mean. Meaning a person such as John.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah. Like a musician with, like, human activists in their music.

[David Archuleta]

Well, I. I think there are, but I think a lot of people aren't brave enough. They're sort of holding back right now. I mean, what you're doing is incredibly brave. And I. I think there's a lot of people who are sort of just, you know, just. Just holding back right now. Don't you think it's.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, it's kind of like a holding your breath kind of a moment because you' what will come will take power and take the lead with everything and influence what's okay to say and what's not okay to say.

[David Archuleta]

Yeah, I mean, I'm sure there's people who. Whose opinions are, you know, bubbling up and I may not be as familiar with, but I. I think the activism time, you know, when we. When we think of it was so critical through the 60s and. And the 70s. Activism needs to. Needs to stay. You know, we need it more than ever.

[Bowen Yang]

I think Kendrick Lamar is kind of that, like, he always. He's always going to have a message. So when. When he releases a song, he's. I mean, his. His main message as like that people been watching is his beef with Drake. But aside from that, like, a lot of his other songs talk about preserving his culture and making sure that. I feel like he's definitely about, like, human rights activity. Who else? I can't think of anything right. Right now, but that's just the one that I know. Everyone's. If he has something to say, people are going to tune in and listen to it because he's. He's got a strong opinion and it's not always the politically correct thing that he says. But I think that's what people want. They don't want everything to always be politically correct and proper. And sometimes you got to say things how you see them, even if you see them differently than how someone else may see it, which is why they get offended.

[David Archuleta]

Yeah. And I think as we have this conversation, I promise you, both of us are going to come back to that. And we can, because we're going to think of some people that come to our head who need to be sort of positively called out there, you know, congratulations on freedom. When I think of the times and I think of. Of your. Your, you know, tribute to the song done so brilliantly.

[Bowen Yang]

Thank you.

[David Archuleta]

And I think of the importance of the times. Do you sort of, you know, ruminate on that and think of it in today's times not only as. As a tribute to George Michael, but. But also what's going on in the world today?

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, I. He wrote the song and it came out 35 years ago, and he came out at a time when it was, you know, the aids, the HIV AIDS pandemonium. Was about at its height at that time, and so many stigmas and misconceptions with the gay community and religion thinking like, this is God's way of punishing them for being who they are and doing what they do. And to now be in a time where it's like, okay, people understand the science behind things. There's been medications like prep that prevent HIV and AIDS for the most part. You know, 99% being gone and, and. And 100, you know, completely manageable. And to be at a time where, at least for the time being, you know, same sex marriage is now legal, you know, it was not a thing back when George Michael had come out. In 35 years, the progress that society has made for the LGBTQ+ community and making space for them, like, we've made progress, and then there's pushback. And it does make me wonder, okay, what is the pushback coming from? And I think a lot of it is just simply that I think it's instinctual for them to want something to combat. They want to have a foe, an enemy to. To go against. And it's easier to target people who aren't like you. I mean, just like Kendrick Lamar song, he has, his big song is not like us. They not like us. Anyway, it's not that that song is related to what I'm talking about, but I just always think of songs when. When I think of when I say words and phrases, but seeing how politics, it reminds me of Wicked. Have you seen the musical Wicked?

[David Archuleta]

I haven't seen it, but obviously, you know, know the story, right?

[Bowen Yang]

You know, my goodness, it is. Yeah, it's a great story. And I think it's. Oh, I guess I don't want to blow it for people who haven't seen it, especially since Act 2 hasn't come out. But basically how in order to get that group of people together, you have to give them a common enemy to go against. And unfortunately, a lot of people who are misunderstood are targeted because, like, well, they're different enough. Let's make them the villain so that I can control my group of people that I want to control. And I feel like, unfortunately, you know, that happens in religious communities. They're used to feeling like Satan is their enemy, but it's like, you can't see him. He's not around. So how do we put a visual to Satan? And so they. They pick people who are the most foreign to that community in that group, the least common denominator. Okay, most people are straight. We have families. Maybe most of them be Caucasian, or maybe if you're, you know, if you're in another country, they say South America, most of you are Hispanic. So then the common enemy becomes anyone who's queer, you know, they're different. So let's, we need to put a face to what we think Satan is. So we're gonna choose this community and be like, okay, let's fight. And unfortunately, the LGBT community has been picked on time and time again. And I. And now they are again. Especially with the trans community. I think it's just fear mongering because, you know, to distract the people from the bigger issues. Like people who are, have a lot of money and taking advantage of the rest of the population, taking more and more wealth and while leaving the rest of the people struggling to distract people from what's actually causing them the hardship. They try to point and like, look, don't let trans people go into the bathrooms. They might rape your women. If it's a, if it's a trans woman entering a women's bathroom, it's like, that is not the issues. That's not happening. You know, that's not the issue happening. And it's not the concern we should have. But, you know, I think we're just an easy target. It's easy to misunderstand the queer community, especially trans, so they get weaponized and it sucks. So I think you have to be even more vocal, even more just yourself. In a time when people don't want to see you, they're uncomfortable because they don't. And so you have to expose them to say, hey, I'm not as scary as you thought I was. And even in my journey, I've had a lot of people from the Mormon community or the Christian community I grew up with saying, why don't you just keep it to yourself? Like, I don't care if you're like that, but I don't want to see it. And it's like, well, guess what? You have to. Because you have to see it's not what you think it is. You think I'm trying to, like, have sex in front of you and your family, and it's like, no, I'm just. I have to openly be myself. So you see, I'm not much different from you. This is interesting.

[David Archuleta]

Well, incredibly astute and, and spot on everything you're saying. And can you describe what it was like, you know, finding your spirit, you know, leaving the Mormon Church?

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, well, I feel like I was still in the Mormon Church when I came out. And for me, like, the, the experience Coming out. You know, I don't know, I, I consider myself agnostic now, but at the time what I understood and interpreted as the Spirit and like the voice of God speaking to me, I, I just kind of consider it my higher self because so many people from that community who believe in God and this, this whole God identity according to society, it's like, well God wouldn't tell you that, you know, that's the devil, that's, that's Satan appearing to you as an angel, just deceiving you. And it's like, how would you know? Who are you? Just tell me what my moments of peace, my moments of light are, my moments of feeling the great like love and that I have a purpose like you. Who are you to tell me what that experience is and what God has told me. It's like if that's what you call God, then you know what, I don't want to believe in that because it sounds like a very fearful, fear based, hate based, very judgmental and self righteous approach to what this spiritual universal connection that we're all supposed to have. It's like, it seems like you sure want to do a lot of cutting off for something that's supposed to be all encompassing, all loving, all knowing, all creating. So for me I'm like, hey, I don't want to call, I don't want to, if that's what God is, then I'm not going to call this God because I don't want you to twist it. But you know my, my experience was I was praying in this feeling of God said, you know what David, stop asking me to change who you are because you're, you're how I created you to be. And you keep trying to run away from what that is when there's no reason to. And a lot of well meaning people out there may claim that this is what I think and this is what I say and that I, I as God think that this is wrong. But I'm the one who created this and there's beauty in it and I need you to see it. And when I started sharing that, I like a lot of people agreed, but I think the majority of religious people disagreed. Almost like they had an entitlement to know what the queer experience was when they are so unwilling to listen to what it is and what queer people go through. So I thought that was interesting that they thought they have all the answers when it's like, you know, God is, God is the only one who has all the answers. Just because you believe in God does not Mean, you have all the answers, you know, and you, perhaps you should be open to learning more of what there is, for example, like what queer people are like. One of my friends, Charlie Bird, he's Mormon, got married, was still going to church with his husband, trying to kind of change the expectations in the Mormon community about what it means to be gay. And I, his book is what helped me come to terms with my sexuality being queer because he said he's, because before that I never seen someone who was Mormon and willfully call themselves gay because we were always discouraged to use that word to identify with gay to the point where there is even one of the worldwide leaders of the church of the Mormon Church, David A. Bednar. He was an apostle. And he said in a talk when people are asking him, like, what do you think about gay people in the church? And his response was, there are no gay people. He's like, it is not a matter of like, there's no gay people. He's like, they're only children of God. And while the intent may have been okay, like, okay, like he's trying to say, regardless of if you're gay or straight, like, we are all really children of God at the same time, I think he was passively trying to disregard the fact that gay people, it's not just like a moment of their life, it is something that they experience their whole entire lifetime. And you're trying to take away from that and disregard that. That's their experience. I, I, I, I don't know what, what was your question? My bad.

[David Archuleta]

Finding your spirit, you know, at that point, you know, which, which I think, in my opinion, you tell me, as, as you ultimately made that decision to leave the Mormon Church, that was an awakening of sorts that really helped you find or further find your spirit of who you, who you are.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, it was learning to love myself, something that I thought I already knew, something I thought Mormonism already gave me a good grasp of. And it wasn't until Mormon is, it wasn't until leaving Mormonism that I finally understood what it meant to love yourself. Because it was clear how much I hated myself. Once I was able to look back, even though I, it wasn't, I wasn't told it was self hatred. It was, and you're almost like praised for hating yourself and thinking that you're, you're like dirt and lower than dirt, that you are unworthy and good for nothing and that you need this religion to be something. They may not have phrased it that way, but that is what you end up feeling about yourself. I don't think they realize it perhaps necessarily, but I feel like in the end all religion needs you to, it needs to condition and kind of hack your mindset in order to have control and have you work in the way that they want you to. For them, I think they think it is, you know, they really believe like this is what's going to help you be a good person. So I wouldn't say it's like with this evil scheme and plot in the end, I think they just some things are misinformed, especially with the queer community and some interesting teachings that they teach about how, you know, Caucasian people, most of them being like the tribe of Ephraim, were called of God, like America was divinely called by God and to have the Mormon Church be restored by Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith taught, he was the founder of the Mormon Church. He, he went and taught everyone like the Native Americans and indigenous people of Americas are people who've been cursed, who need to be brought back to God and re enlightened, which I think a lot of people from a few hundred years ago believed. You know, Joseph Smith taught a lot of people that if he had dark skin, it was because it was cursed, it was cursed by God to show that white people are blessed and they're clean, whereas dark skinned people are, which is why black people weren't allowed to have full participation in the Mormon Church until 1978. Those are a few examples how the Mormon Church were misinformed, greatly misinformed. And most of the people following it, I don't think have evil intentions. But you have to take a look and say, like, you know what? Hey, a lot of these things aren't okay. And sometimes you're steered the wrong way. Whether it's the color, why someone's color of skin is different, or why someone's sexuality is different. The church does not have all the answers that it claims to have. The church changes its mind and then forgets, oh, we've never said any of that. You know, we changed our minds or, or you know, God changed his mind. So that's how it's framed a lot of times like, well, God changed his mind, he's now given us more. When it's like, you know, I think sometimes you're just dragging your feet with how, you know, culture progresses and we learn more. You need to not drag your feet so much because it's affecting a lot of people in a negative way.

[David Archuleta]

Can you take us inside the process that you had creatively around creating the George Michael tribute Yeah, I worked with.

[Bowen Yang]

An arranger, producer, Phil Lawrence, his right hand guy, Davey as well. And Phil, he's part of Bruno Mars's band. He was part of the producer and arranger for Bruno's 24 Karat Magic album, which was amazing. And someone I work with connected me with him. And Phil is great to work with. He. He gets the soul that needed to go into the song. Phil's siblings, his brothers and sisters, even sang the background vocals on the track because they all grew up in church singing. He's like, I'm gonna ask my siblings to sing on this. And they sound incredible. They sound amazing. And I. At first the song was going to be like a dance, like almost like disco Y or something, like just faster tempo. And it was going to be for. To be played at clubs. But then we decided to take a step back and say, you know what, let's just keep it more organic. And so we did. And I really liked an MTV Unplugged performance that George Michael did with a choir. They were in a circle performing around like a microphone or something or a few microphones. It was just George vibing and, like, guiding the circle in. In the song. And I thought, that is so cool. I want that energy in in my version. So just paying tribute to George with one of. With a stellar live performance that he did of this song.

[David Archuleta]

That's awesome. That's great. In closing, your American Idol experience, obviously it was a, you know, critical part of your life, and with that came your connection with Paula Abdul, and she was a great friend and an ally. Talk about what Paula means to you, how special she is, and also maybe shout out some of your other allies that have really been in your corner. David?

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, Paula, I mean, she received a straight up ally award last year, which is. Which I presented to her and got to do a tribute to her. I did a medley of her songs. They asked me to do one song, and I was like, you know what, Paula? I need. She deserves more than just one song. I want to. I want to pay tribute for the legacy that she's left. She's. She's had multiple number one hits. She sold tens of millions of albums and is one of the most legendary choreographers there are, choreographing some of the most epic Janet dances, who's another person known for dancing. But, like, Paula choreographed a lot of those epic moves that Janet did. And Paula speaking out for the queer community during the time when everyone was afraid. You know, around that time that freedom came out, you know, Paula was an ally, spoke to in support for AIDS victims and. And for the queer community in a time when people were afraid to even talk about it and mention it. To then have her as one of my judges during my season of American Idol. Simon and Randy and Paula, you know, they're all special in their own way, but Paula was the one who would come up after nearly every week after the performances and come and connect with us, give us a hug, let us know that she understood the pressure we were under, that we were doing a good job and that we could get through it. You know, Simon definitely wasn't doing that. It was Paula who always, has always, always been compassionate, reaching out. You know, she's been supportive both before I came out and since I've come out. So it was. It was really special to get to kind of thank her in return last year to other allies. Yeah, there have been some great allies. You know, my fellow American Idol alumni, you know, David Cook, Brooke White, who. She's, you know, she's Mormon and she grew up Mormon, but she's always been more progressive in the way she looks at things. She's always said, you know, I don't know why, you know, she's like, I. I want to challenge these things and how queer people are perceived and stuff, and she's always been in my corner. Jordan Sparks, Ramiel Malubai, Adore Delano have all been amazing people who've. It's. It's been really nice to know. I've had people who supported me even when I was a Mormon and who now support me after my journey being a Mormon and after coming out as queer, and some of my fellow queer friends who've taught me that it's okay because I thought if I come out as queer, I'm going to be this dangerous person. I don't know. I didn't know how. I just. That's what I was told, so that's what I believed. So if my friends like Scott Hoying from Pentatonix and his husband Mark have been great. My friend Kevin McHale as well, just people to get to talk to and realize, oh, you can still be good. Yeah, I. I don't know what I perceived before, but it's just, you know, you. You're not around it. You're told to stay away from it. So you have no real idea of what queer people actually are like because you're always encouraged. You're always encouraged to stay away from them. At least I was. So to not be afraid of them anymore, to have friends, just connect with them. And you know, we have a shared lived experience where we were afraid of ourselves when we were kids. And then we have to reach a point where it's like, you know, I can't be afraid of myself anymore. I have to just accept who I am. And the process of recreating your identity in yourself and getting to know who you really are after hiding from it yourself has been an interesting process. But I'm grateful for my friends who've been there with me and my fans who've supported me both as a super Mormon and as after that life. It's like two lives and people. People are supporting both of my lives.

[David Archuleta]

And you know what? You're just beginning.

[Bowen Yang]

Thank you.

[David Archuleta]

You're just beginning. And I salute you with your tribute to George and freedom. And I salute you for your for your bravery.

[Bowen Yang]

Thank you. I appreciate it.

[David Archuleta]

Buzz, thanks for being on Taking a Walk.

[Bowen Yang]

David, thanks for having me.

[Buzz Knight]

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Taking a Walk podcast. Share this and other episodes with your friends and follow us so you never miss an episode. Taking a Walk is available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.

[Matt Rogers]

Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. Just one podcast of the year at this year's iHeart Podcast Awards.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, wow. Stop it.

[Matt Rogers]

Lady Gaga will take home the Innovator award at Monday's iHeartradio Music Awards. Now these iHeart Award winners are teaming up on a brand new episode of Las Culturistas.

[Bowen Yang]

Thank you so much for having me here, but please, please, please don't make me get angry about anything in public.

[Matt Rogers]

Just open the free iHeartRadio app, search Las Culturistas and listen now.

[A.J. Jacobs]

Dressing. Dressing.

[David Archuleta]

Oh, French dressing.

[A.J. Jacobs]

Exactly.

[Bowen Yang]

Ah, that's good.

[A.J. Jacobs]

I'm A.J. jacobs, and my current obsession is puzzles, and that has given birth to my podcast, the Puzzler.

[Bowen Yang]

Something about Mary Poppins?

[A.J. Jacobs]

Exactly.

[Bowen Yang]

This is fun.

[A.J. Jacobs]

You can get your daily puzzle nuggets delivered straight to your ears. Listen to the Puzzler every day on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Minnie Driver]

What if you ask two different people the same set of questions? Even if the questions are the same, our experiences can lead us to drastically different answers. I'm Minnie Driver and I set out to explore this idea in my podcast. And now Mini Questions is returning for another season. We've asked an entirely new set of guests our seven questions, including Jane Lynch, Delaney Rowe, and Cord Jefferson. Listen to Mini questions on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Cheekies]

Seven questions, limitless answers hey y'all, it's your girl, Cheekies. And I'm back with a brand new season of your favorite podcast, Cheekies and Chill. I'll be sharing even more personal stories with you guys, and as always, you'll get my exclusive take on topics like love, personal growth, health, family ties, and more. And don't forget, I'll also be dishing out my best advice to you on episodes of Dear Cheekies. It's going to be an exciting year and I hope that you can join me. Listen to Cheekies and chill season four on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Alec Baldwin]

Hey, it's Alec Baldwin. This past season on my podcast, here's the thing, I spoke with more actors, musicians, policymakers, and so many other fascinating people like writer and actor Dan Aykroyd.

[Dan Aykroyd]

I love writing more than anything. You're left alone. You know, you do three hours in the morning, you write three hours in the afternoon. Go pick up a kid from school and write at night. And after nine hours, you come out with seven pages and then you're moving on.

[Alec Baldwin]

Listen to here's the thing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.