1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:01,400 Speaker 1: Taking a walk. 2 00:00:01,480 --> 00:00:05,840 Speaker 2: It was learning to love myself, something that I thought 3 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:10,719 Speaker 2: I already knew, something I thought Mormonism already gave me 4 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:11,639 Speaker 2: a good grasp of. 5 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:14,240 Speaker 3: And it wasn't until mormon Ism. 6 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:17,919 Speaker 2: It wasn't until leaving Mormonism that I finally understood what 7 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:19,040 Speaker 2: it meant to love yourself. 8 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: Welcome to another episode of one of the top music 9 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:25,119 Speaker 1: podcasts in this country and in others. We're Taking a 10 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:30,000 Speaker 1: Walk podcast hosted by Buzznight. Buzz talks with musicians covering 11 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:34,639 Speaker 1: all genres. Today he speaks with David Archiletta, singer songwriter, 12 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:38,160 Speaker 1: from his success with American Idol to his new music 13 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 1: honoring the work of George Michael. David takes us behind 14 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 1: the scenes to an accomplished career that's just beginning. Here's 15 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:48,840 Speaker 1: Buzznight with David Archiletta on Taking a Walk. 16 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 4: Hey David, welcome to Taking a Walk. I appreciate it. 17 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:55,680 Speaker 3: Thank you, Buzz good to be here with you. 18 00:00:56,800 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 5: So, since the podcast is called taking a Walk, if 19 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 5: you could take a walk with someone living or dead, 20 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:07,959 Speaker 5: they don't have to be involved with music, but they 21 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 5: could be. Who would it be and where would you 22 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 5: like to take a walk with them? 23 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 2: Oh gosh, Well, since I released my cover of Freedom recently, 24 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:19,520 Speaker 2: it would be fun to take a walk with George 25 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 2: Michael and maybe just go around Echo Park or something. 26 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 2: Would be nice somewhere chill but kind of close to 27 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:32,680 Speaker 2: where the action is and see what things we could 28 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 2: relate with on as people who are performers and had 29 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:41,760 Speaker 2: to come out in front of our audience, you know, 30 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:44,480 Speaker 2: with our sexuality and our queer journeys. 31 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 4: Sure, yeah, it would be an amazing walk for sure. 32 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:48,960 Speaker 3: How about you? 33 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:49,560 Speaker 4: How about me? 34 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:50,400 Speaker 3: Yeah? 35 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 5: The first stab that comes into my head and think 36 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 5: about a walk in New York City with John Lennon. 37 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:57,960 Speaker 3: Ooh wow. 38 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 5: He was so ingrained in New York and never had 39 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 5: the opportunity, and I would just love to hear what 40 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:11,800 Speaker 5: he's thinking about the way things are in today's times, 41 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:12,080 Speaker 5: you know. 42 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, gosh, imagine the music he would have released. 43 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:18,239 Speaker 4: Oh my goodness. Yeah. 44 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:21,640 Speaker 5: I think he would have been still doing amazing things. 45 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 5: And I think he wouldn't let his opinions, He wouldn't 46 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 5: keep his opinions to himself. 47 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 2: You know. 48 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 3: Do you feel like there's an equivalent of that today? 49 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:36,520 Speaker 4: Well, I think, meaning a person such as John. 50 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:41,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, like a musician with like human activists in their music. 51 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:46,280 Speaker 5: Well, I think there are, but I think a lot 52 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:50,680 Speaker 5: of people aren't brave enough. They're sort of holding back 53 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:54,919 Speaker 5: right now. I mean, what you're doing is incredibly brave, 54 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 5: and I think there's a lot of people who are 55 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 5: sort of just you know, just just holding back right now. 56 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:03,359 Speaker 4: Don't you think. 57 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 2: It's Yeah, it's kind of like holding your breath kind 58 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 2: of a moment because you're not sure. 59 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:13,079 Speaker 3: What will come, will take power and take the lead with. 60 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 2: Everything and influence what's okay to say and what's not 61 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 2: okay to say? 62 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean, I'm sure there's people who whose opinions 63 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:23,640 Speaker 5: are you know, bubbling up and I may not be 64 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 5: as familiar with, but I think the activism time, you know, 65 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 5: when we when we think of it was so critical 66 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 5: through the sixties and the seventies. Activism needs to needs 67 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 5: to stay, you know, we need it more than ever. 68 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:44,440 Speaker 2: I think Kendrick Lamar is kind of that. Like he 69 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:46,960 Speaker 2: always he's always going to have a message. So when 70 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:50,760 Speaker 2: when he releases a song, he's I mean, he's his 71 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 2: main message as like that people been watching is his 72 00:03:55,840 --> 00:04:00,160 Speaker 2: beef with Drake. But aside from that, like a lot 73 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 2: of his other songs talk about preserving his culture and 74 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:09,360 Speaker 2: making sure that I feel like he's definitely about like 75 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:16,480 Speaker 2: human rights activity. Who else I can't think of anything 76 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 2: right right now, but that's just the one that I 77 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 2: know everyone. If he has something to say, people are 78 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 2: going to tune in and listen to it because he's 79 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:29,039 Speaker 2: got a strong opinion and it's not always the politically 80 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 2: correct thing that he says, but I think that's what 81 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:35,720 Speaker 2: people want. They don't want everything to always be politically 82 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:39,839 Speaker 2: correct and proper, and sometimes you got to say things 83 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:42,839 Speaker 2: how you see them, even if you see them differently 84 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 2: than how someone else may see it, which is why 85 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:46,120 Speaker 2: they get offended. 86 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:49,240 Speaker 6: Yeah, And I think as we have this conversation, I 87 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:51,599 Speaker 6: promise you both of us are going to come back 88 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:53,720 Speaker 6: to that, and we can't because we're going to think 89 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:57,360 Speaker 6: of some people that come to our head who need 90 00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 6: to be sort of positively called out there. 91 00:05:01,839 --> 00:05:02,040 Speaker 4: You know. 92 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:07,360 Speaker 5: Congratulations on freedom. When I think of the times, and 93 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:13,920 Speaker 5: I think of your tribute to the song done so brilliantly, 94 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 5: thank you, and I think of the importance of the times, 95 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:22,680 Speaker 5: do you sort of you know, ruminate on that and 96 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:25,840 Speaker 5: think of it in today's times, not only as a 97 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:29,320 Speaker 5: tribute to George Michael, but also what's going on in 98 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 5: the world today. 99 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:34,559 Speaker 2: Yeah, he wrote the song and it came out thirty 100 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 2: five years ago, and he came out at a time 101 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:44,560 Speaker 2: when it was you know, the aid's, the HIV AIDS 102 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:48,320 Speaker 2: panemonium was about at its height at that time, and 103 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:54,000 Speaker 2: so many stigmas and misconceptions with the gay community and religion, 104 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:57,200 Speaker 2: thinking like this is God's way of punishing them for 105 00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:00,960 Speaker 2: being who they are and doing what they do. And 106 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 2: to now be in a time where it's like, okay, 107 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 2: people understand the science behind things. There's been medications like 108 00:06:09,279 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 2: prep that prevent HIV and AIDS for the most part, 109 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 2: you know, ninety nine percent being gone and one hundred 110 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:20,560 Speaker 2: you know, completely manageable. And to be at a time 111 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:23,799 Speaker 2: where at least for the time being, you know, same 112 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:27,479 Speaker 2: sex marriage is now legal. You know, it was not 113 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 2: a thing back when George Michael had come out in 114 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:35,680 Speaker 2: thirty five years. The progress that society has made for 115 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 2: the LGBTQ plus community and making space for them, like 116 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:43,680 Speaker 2: we've made progress and then there's pushback, and it does 117 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:45,920 Speaker 2: make me wonder, Okay, what is a pushback coming from? 118 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:48,000 Speaker 2: And I think a lot of it is just simply 119 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:51,599 Speaker 2: that I think it's instinctual for them to want something 120 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:55,000 Speaker 2: to come back. They want to have a foe and 121 00:06:55,279 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 2: enemy to go against, and it's easier to target people 122 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:02,479 Speaker 2: who who aren't like you. I mean, just like Kendrick 123 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 2: Lamar's song, he has this big song is not like us. 124 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:08,479 Speaker 3: They're not like us anyway. 125 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 2: It's not that that song is related to what I'm 126 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 2: talking about, but I just always think of songs when 127 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 2: I think of when I say words and phrases. But 128 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 2: seeing how politics, it reminds me of Wicked. Have you 129 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 2: seen the musical Wicked? 130 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 5: I haven't seen it, but obviously you know know the story, right, 131 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:26,680 Speaker 5: you know? 132 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 2: My goodness it is. Yeah, it's a great story, and 133 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:33,040 Speaker 2: I think it's Oh, I guess I don't want to 134 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:35,040 Speaker 2: blow it for people who haven't seen it, especially since 135 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 2: AC two hasn't come out. But basically, how in order 136 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 2: to get that group of people together, you have to 137 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:45,480 Speaker 2: give them a common enemy to go against, and unfortunately 138 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:50,760 Speaker 2: a lot of people who are misunderstood are targeted because like, well, 139 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 2: they're different enough, Let's make them the villain so that 140 00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:56,559 Speaker 2: I can control my group of people. 141 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:57,480 Speaker 3: That I want to control. 142 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 2: And I feel like, unfortunately, you know that happens in 143 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:06,560 Speaker 2: religious communities. They're used to feeling like Satan is their enemy, 144 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:09,520 Speaker 2: but it's like you can't see him, he's not around. 145 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 2: So how do we put a visual to Satan? And 146 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 2: so they pick people who are the most foreign to 147 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 2: that community, in that group, the least common denominator. Okay, 148 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:28,560 Speaker 2: most people are straight, we have families, maybe most of 149 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 2: them be Caucasian, or maybe if you're you know, if 150 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:33,839 Speaker 2: you're in another country, they say South America, most of 151 00:08:33,920 --> 00:08:38,640 Speaker 2: your Hispanics. So then the common enemy becomes anyone who's queer. 152 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:43,680 Speaker 2: You know, they're different. So let's we need to put 153 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:45,760 Speaker 2: a face to what we think Satan is. So we're 154 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:48,439 Speaker 2: going to choose this community and be like, okay, let's fight. 155 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 2: And unfortunately, the LGBT community has been picked on time 156 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 2: and time again, and now they are again, especially with 157 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:59,080 Speaker 2: the trans community. I think it's just fear mongering because 158 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:02,680 Speaker 2: you know, to distract the people from the bigger issues, 159 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:05,960 Speaker 2: like people who are have a lot of money and 160 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 2: taking advantage of the rest of the population, taking more 161 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 2: and more wealth and while leaving the rest of the 162 00:09:12,280 --> 00:09:16,960 Speaker 2: people struggling to distract people from what's actually causing them 163 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 2: the hardship that they try to point in, like, look, 164 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:23,200 Speaker 2: don't let trans people go into the bathrooms. They might 165 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:27,840 Speaker 2: rape your women. If it's a trans woman entering a 166 00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:31,840 Speaker 2: women's bathroom. It's like, that is not the issues that's 167 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 2: not happening. You know, that's not the issue happening, and 168 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:36,760 Speaker 2: it's not the concern we should have. But you know, 169 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:40,560 Speaker 2: I think we're just an easy target. It's easy to 170 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:45,840 Speaker 2: misunderstand the queer community, especially trans, so they get weaponized 171 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:49,160 Speaker 2: and it sucks. So I think you have to be 172 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:55,480 Speaker 2: even more vocal, even more just yourself in a time 173 00:09:55,520 --> 00:09:59,160 Speaker 2: when people don't want to see you, they're uncomfortable because 174 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 2: they don't know. It's you have to expose them to say, hey, 175 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:05,000 Speaker 2: I'm not as scary as you thought I was. And 176 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:07,120 Speaker 2: even in my journey, I've had a lot of people 177 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:10,160 Speaker 2: from the Mormon community or the Christian community I grew 178 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:13,000 Speaker 2: up with, saying why don't you just keep it to yourself, 179 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:16,080 Speaker 2: Like I don't care if you're like that, but I 180 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:17,880 Speaker 2: don't want to see it. And it's like, well, guess 181 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:20,600 Speaker 2: what you have to because you have to see it's 182 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:22,920 Speaker 2: not what you think it is. You think I'm trying 183 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:25,840 Speaker 2: to like have sex in front of you and your family, 184 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:29,840 Speaker 2: and it's like, no, I'm just I have to openly 185 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:32,640 Speaker 2: be myself. So you see, I'm not much different from you. 186 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:39,360 Speaker 5: This is interesting, well, incredibly astute and spot on everything 187 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:43,840 Speaker 5: you're saying. And can you describe what it was like, 188 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:49,440 Speaker 5: you know, finding your spirit, you know, leaving the Mormon Church. 189 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:54,240 Speaker 2: Oh well, I feel like I was still in the 190 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:58,160 Speaker 2: Mormon Church when I came out, and for me, like 191 00:10:58,240 --> 00:11:03,520 Speaker 2: the experience. Now, you know, I don't know. I consider 192 00:11:03,520 --> 00:11:06,840 Speaker 2: myself agnostic now, but at the time, what I understood 193 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:11,280 Speaker 2: and interpreted as the spirit and like the voice of 194 00:11:11,280 --> 00:11:13,360 Speaker 2: God speaking to me, I just kind of consider it 195 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:17,400 Speaker 2: my higher self. Because so many people from that community 196 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:21,520 Speaker 2: who believe in God and this this whole God identity 197 00:11:21,679 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 2: according to society, It's like, well, God wouldn't tell you that, 198 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:28,800 Speaker 2: you know, that's the Devil's that's a satan appearance. 199 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:33,480 Speaker 3: To you, as an angel, just deceiving you. And it's like, how. 200 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 2: Would you know, who are you to tell me what 201 00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:42,000 Speaker 2: my moments of peace, my moments of light, are, my 202 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:46,600 Speaker 2: moments of feeling the great like love and that I 203 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:48,960 Speaker 2: have a purpose like you, who are you to tell 204 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:53,800 Speaker 2: me what that experience is and what God has told me. 205 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:56,680 Speaker 2: It's like, if that's what you call God, then you 206 00:11:56,679 --> 00:11:58,440 Speaker 2: know what, I don't want to believe in that because 207 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:02,600 Speaker 2: it sounds like a very fearful, fear based, hate based, 208 00:12:03,559 --> 00:12:10,839 Speaker 2: very judgmental, and self righteous approach to what this spiritual 209 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:14,720 Speaker 2: universal connection that we're all supposed to have. It's like, 210 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:16,559 Speaker 2: it seems like you sure want to do a lot 211 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:20,079 Speaker 2: of cutting off for something that's supposed to be all encompassing, 212 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:23,160 Speaker 2: all loving, all knowing, all creating. 213 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 3: So for me, I'm okay, I. 214 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:27,680 Speaker 2: Don't want to call I don't want to if that's 215 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:29,719 Speaker 2: what God is, then I'm not going to call this 216 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:31,720 Speaker 2: God because I don't want you to twist it. But 217 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:35,880 Speaker 2: you know, my experience was I was praying and this 218 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:39,360 Speaker 2: feeling of God said, you know what, David stopped asking 219 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:42,439 Speaker 2: me to change who you are because you're You're how 220 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:45,120 Speaker 2: I created you to be. And you keep trying to 221 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:47,800 Speaker 2: run away from what that is when there's no reason to. 222 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 2: And a lot of well meaning people out there may 223 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:55,800 Speaker 2: claim that this is what I think and this is 224 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:59,560 Speaker 2: what I say, and that I, as God, think that 225 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:02,120 Speaker 2: this is wrong, but I'm the one who created this 226 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:03,800 Speaker 2: and there's beauty in it and I need you. 227 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:04,280 Speaker 3: To see it. 228 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:07,000 Speaker 2: And when I started sharing that, I like a lot 229 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:11,239 Speaker 2: of people agreed, but I think the majority of religious 230 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:15,760 Speaker 2: people disagreed, almost like they had an entitlement to know 231 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:19,960 Speaker 2: what the queer experience was when they are so unwilling 232 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:22,520 Speaker 2: to listen to what it is and what queer people 233 00:13:22,559 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 2: go through. So I thought that was interesting that they 234 00:13:25,559 --> 00:13:27,720 Speaker 2: thought they have all the answers when it's like, you know, 235 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:29,520 Speaker 2: God is God is the only one who has all 236 00:13:29,520 --> 00:13:31,920 Speaker 2: the answers. Just because you believe in God does not 237 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:36,000 Speaker 2: mean you have all the answers, you know, and perhaps 238 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 2: you should be open to learning more of what there is, 239 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 2: for example, like what queer people are. Like one of 240 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:49,920 Speaker 2: my friends, Charlie Bird, he's Mormon who got married, was 241 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:52,640 Speaker 2: still going to church with his husband, trying to kind 242 00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:56,840 Speaker 2: of change the expectations in the Mormon community. 243 00:13:56,440 --> 00:13:57,640 Speaker 3: About what it means to be gay. 244 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:01,720 Speaker 2: And I book is what helped me come to terms 245 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:08,440 Speaker 2: with my sexuality being queer, because he said, because before that, 246 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:11,800 Speaker 2: I had never seen someone who was Mormon and willfully 247 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:16,200 Speaker 2: call themselves gay because we were always discouraged to use 248 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:19,560 Speaker 2: that word to identify with gay, to the point where 249 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:22,400 Speaker 2: there is an even one of the leader worldwide leaders 250 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:26,080 Speaker 2: of the Church of the Mormon Church, David A. Bednar, 251 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 2: he was an apostle, and he said in a talk 252 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:31,440 Speaker 2: when people are asking him, like, what do you think 253 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:35,760 Speaker 2: about gay people in the church, and his response was 254 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:40,320 Speaker 2: there are no gay people. He's like, there, it is 255 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:42,600 Speaker 2: not a matter, like there's no gay people. He's like, 256 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 2: they're only children of God. And while the intent may 257 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:49,840 Speaker 2: have been okay, like okay, like he's trying to say, 258 00:14:49,960 --> 00:14:52,480 Speaker 2: regardless of if you're gay or straight, like we are 259 00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:56,680 Speaker 2: all really children of God, at the same time, I 260 00:14:56,680 --> 00:15:00,200 Speaker 2: think he was passively trying to disregard the fact fact 261 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:04,040 Speaker 2: that gay people it's not just like a moment of 262 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:07,840 Speaker 2: their life. It is something that they experience their whole 263 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:10,360 Speaker 2: entire lifetime, and you're trying to take away from that 264 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:16,200 Speaker 2: and disregard that's that that's their experience. I don't know 265 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 2: what what was your question, my bad. 266 00:15:19,200 --> 00:15:20,280 Speaker 4: Finding your spirit? 267 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:23,680 Speaker 5: You know at that way, spirit you know which which 268 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:27,480 Speaker 5: I think, in my opinion, you tell me as you 269 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 5: ultimately made that decision to leave the Mormon Church. That 270 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:37,520 Speaker 5: was an awakening of sorts that really helped you find 271 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 5: or further find your spirit of who you who you are. 272 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:47,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, it was learning to love myself, something that I 273 00:15:47,480 --> 00:15:52,600 Speaker 2: thought I already knew, something I thought Mormonism already gave 274 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:56,160 Speaker 2: me a good grasp of. And it wasn't until Mormonism. 275 00:15:56,520 --> 00:15:59,800 Speaker 2: It wasn't until leaving Mormonism that I finally understood what 276 00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:02,840 Speaker 2: it and to love yourself, because it was clear how 277 00:16:02,880 --> 00:16:06,960 Speaker 2: much I hated myself. Once I was able to look back. 278 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:11,840 Speaker 2: Even though I wasn't told it was self hatred, it was. 279 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:17,960 Speaker 2: And you're almost like praised for hating yourself and thinking 280 00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:22,440 Speaker 2: that you're like dirt and lower than dirt, that you 281 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:25,960 Speaker 2: are unworthy and good for nothing, and that you need 282 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 2: this religion to be something. They may not have phrased 283 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:33,120 Speaker 2: it that way, but that is what you end up 284 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:38,440 Speaker 2: feeling about yourself. I don't think they realize it, perhaps necessarily, 285 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 2: but I feel like in the end, all religion needs 286 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 2: you to It needs a condition and kind of hack 287 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:47,560 Speaker 2: your mindset in order to have control and have you 288 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:50,600 Speaker 2: work in the way that they want you to for them. 289 00:16:50,640 --> 00:16:54,040 Speaker 2: I think they think it is you know, they really 290 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:56,400 Speaker 2: believe like this is what's going to help you be 291 00:16:56,480 --> 00:17:00,440 Speaker 2: a good person. So I wouldn't say it's like this 292 00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:03,240 Speaker 2: evil scheme and plot in the end. I think they 293 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:08,960 Speaker 2: just some things are misinformed, especially with the queer community 294 00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:14,439 Speaker 2: and some interesting teachings that they teach about. How you know, 295 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:18,040 Speaker 2: Caucasian people, most of them being like the tribe of Ephraim, 296 00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:23,360 Speaker 2: were called of God, like America was divinely called by 297 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:26,959 Speaker 2: God and to have the Mormon Church be restored by 298 00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:27,720 Speaker 2: Joseph Smith. 299 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:31,240 Speaker 3: Joseph Smith taught he was the founder of the Mormon Church. 300 00:17:31,320 --> 00:17:35,440 Speaker 2: He he went and taught everyone like the Native Americans 301 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:38,520 Speaker 2: and indigenous people of Americas are people who've been cursed 302 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:42,560 Speaker 2: who need to be brought back to God and re enlightened, 303 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:45,440 Speaker 2: which I think a lot of people from a few 304 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:49,639 Speaker 2: hundred years ago believed. You know, Joseph Smith taught a 305 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:51,919 Speaker 2: lot of people that if you had dark skin, it 306 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:55,560 Speaker 2: was because it was cursed. It was cursed by God, 307 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:59,480 Speaker 2: to show that white people are blessed and they're clean, 308 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:04,720 Speaker 2: whereas dark skinned people are, which is why black people 309 00:18:04,760 --> 00:18:09,600 Speaker 2: weren't allowed to have full participation in the Mormon Church 310 00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:14,199 Speaker 2: until nineteen seventy eight. Those are a few examples how 311 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 2: the Mormon Church were misinformed, greatly misinformed, and most of 312 00:18:21,359 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 2: the people following it, I don't think have evil intentions, 313 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:26,560 Speaker 2: but you have to take a look and say, like, 314 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:28,879 Speaker 2: you know what, hey, a lot of these things aren't okay, 315 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:33,720 Speaker 2: and sometimes you're steered the wrong way, whether it's the color, 316 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:37,480 Speaker 2: why someone's color of skin is different, or why someone's 317 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:40,359 Speaker 2: sexuality is different. You're the church does not have all 318 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:43,879 Speaker 2: the answers that it claims to have. The church changes 319 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:46,560 Speaker 2: its mind and then forgets, oh, we've never said any 320 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:49,840 Speaker 2: of that. You know, we changed our minds or or 321 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:53,880 Speaker 2: you know, God changed his mind. So that's how it's 322 00:18:53,880 --> 00:18:55,960 Speaker 2: framed a lot of times like well, God changed his mind, 323 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:58,720 Speaker 2: He's now given us more. When it's like, you know, 324 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:01,680 Speaker 2: I think sometimes you're just droft your feet with how 325 00:19:02,359 --> 00:19:06,399 Speaker 2: you know, culture progresses and we learn more. Need to 326 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:08,560 Speaker 2: not drag your feet so much because it's affecting a 327 00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:09,840 Speaker 2: lot of people in a negative way. 328 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:16,359 Speaker 4: Can you take us inside the process that you had 329 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:21,680 Speaker 4: creatively around creating the George Michael tribute. 330 00:19:22,119 --> 00:19:23,000 Speaker 3: Da Yeah. 331 00:19:24,280 --> 00:19:29,280 Speaker 2: I worked with an arranger, producer Phil Lawrence. His right 332 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:30,639 Speaker 2: hand Guy Davy as well. 333 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:31,639 Speaker 3: And Phil. 334 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:35,879 Speaker 2: He's part of Bruno Mars's band. He was part of 335 00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:40,640 Speaker 2: their producer and arranger for Bruno's twenty four Caret Magic album, 336 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:45,800 Speaker 2: which was amazing, and someone I work with connected me 337 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:50,160 Speaker 2: with him, and Phil is great to work with. He 338 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:53,240 Speaker 2: he gets the soul that needed to go into the song. 339 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:58,040 Speaker 2: Phil's siblings, his brothers and sisters even saying the background 340 00:19:58,119 --> 00:20:01,520 Speaker 2: vocals on the track because they all grew up in 341 00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:04,720 Speaker 2: church singing. He's like, I'm gonna ask my siblings to 342 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:08,440 Speaker 2: sing on this, and they sound incredible. They sound amazing 343 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:11,600 Speaker 2: and I at first the song was going to be 344 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:15,359 Speaker 2: like a dance like almost like disco or something like 345 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:19,359 Speaker 2: just faster tempo, and it was going to be to 346 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:23,360 Speaker 2: be played at clubs. But then we decided to take 347 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 2: a step back and say, you know what, let's just 348 00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:28,320 Speaker 2: keep it more organic, and so we did. And I 349 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:32,480 Speaker 2: really liked an MTV Unplugged performance that George Michael did 350 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:35,119 Speaker 2: with a choir. They were in a circle performing around 351 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:38,800 Speaker 2: like a microphone or something or a few microphones. It 352 00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:44,720 Speaker 2: was just George vibing and like guiding the circle in 353 00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:47,159 Speaker 2: the song, and I thought that is so cool. I 354 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:52,720 Speaker 2: want that energy in my version. So just paying tribute 355 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:57,520 Speaker 2: to George with one of with a stellar a live 356 00:20:57,560 --> 00:20:59,119 Speaker 2: performance that he did of this song. 357 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:00,680 Speaker 4: It's awesome. 358 00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:07,600 Speaker 5: That's great in closing your American Idol experience, obviously it 359 00:21:07,640 --> 00:21:09,840 Speaker 5: was a you know, critical part of your life. And 360 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:15,119 Speaker 5: with that came your connection with Paula Abdul and she 361 00:21:15,280 --> 00:21:19,240 Speaker 5: was a great friend and an ally talk about what 362 00:21:19,280 --> 00:21:23,439 Speaker 5: Paula means to you, how special she is, and and 363 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:28,199 Speaker 5: also maybe shout out some of your other allies that 364 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:30,080 Speaker 5: have really been in your corner. 365 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:32,240 Speaker 4: David, Yeah, Paula. 366 00:21:32,520 --> 00:21:35,280 Speaker 2: I mean she received a straight up Ally Award last year, 367 00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:38,399 Speaker 2: which is which I presented to her and got to 368 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:39,400 Speaker 2: do a tribute to her. 369 00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:40,800 Speaker 3: I did a medley of her songs. 370 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:43,600 Speaker 2: They asked me to do one song, and I was like, 371 00:21:43,840 --> 00:21:46,280 Speaker 2: you know, Paula, I need she deserves more than just 372 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:49,280 Speaker 2: one song. I want to I want to pay tribute 373 00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:53,000 Speaker 2: for the legacy that she's left. She's She's had multiple 374 00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:56,240 Speaker 2: number one hits, she sold tens of millions of albums, 375 00:21:57,200 --> 00:22:01,399 Speaker 2: and is one of the most legen and dairy choreographers 376 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:06,640 Speaker 2: there are, choreographing some of the most epic Janet dances, 377 00:22:06,640 --> 00:22:10,720 Speaker 2: who's another person known for dancing, but like Paula, choreographed 378 00:22:11,359 --> 00:22:12,919 Speaker 2: a lot of those epic moves. 379 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:13,440 Speaker 3: That Janet did. 380 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 2: And Paula speaking out for the queer community during the 381 00:22:19,359 --> 00:22:21,800 Speaker 2: time when everyone was afraid, you know, around that time 382 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:25,359 Speaker 2: that freedom came out. You know, Paula was an ally 383 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:30,879 Speaker 2: spoke in support for AIDS victims and for the queer 384 00:22:30,880 --> 00:22:34,119 Speaker 2: community in a time when people were afraid to even 385 00:22:34,320 --> 00:22:37,639 Speaker 2: talk about it and mention it. To then have her 386 00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:40,959 Speaker 2: as one of my judges during my season of American Idol. 387 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:45,240 Speaker 2: Simon and Randy and Paula, you know, they're all special 388 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:47,080 Speaker 2: in their own way, but Paula was the one who 389 00:22:47,080 --> 00:22:52,040 Speaker 2: had come up after nearly every week after the performances 390 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:54,120 Speaker 2: and come and connect with us, give us a hug, 391 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:58,000 Speaker 2: let us know that she understood the pressure we were under, 392 00:22:59,119 --> 00:23:02,119 Speaker 2: that we were doing a good job and that we 393 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:05,320 Speaker 2: could get through it. You know, Simon definitely wasn't doing that. 394 00:23:06,080 --> 00:23:10,800 Speaker 2: It was Paula who always has always always been compassionate 395 00:23:10,840 --> 00:23:14,800 Speaker 2: reaching out. You know, she's been supportive both before I 396 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:18,080 Speaker 2: came out and since I've come out, So it was 397 00:23:18,359 --> 00:23:21,480 Speaker 2: it was really special to get to kind of thank 398 00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:25,679 Speaker 2: her in return last year to the other allies. Yeah, 399 00:23:25,720 --> 00:23:27,959 Speaker 2: there have been some great allies. You know my fellow 400 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:32,880 Speaker 2: American IDOL alumni, you know David Cook, Brooke White, who 401 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:35,480 Speaker 2: she's you know, she's Mormon and she grew up Mormon, 402 00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:38,439 Speaker 2: but she's always been more progressive in the way she 403 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:40,120 Speaker 2: looks at things. She's always said, you know, I don't 404 00:23:40,160 --> 00:23:43,240 Speaker 2: know why. You know, she's like, I want to challenge 405 00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:47,000 Speaker 2: these things and how queer people are perceived and stuff. 406 00:23:47,040 --> 00:23:52,000 Speaker 2: And she's always been in my corner. Jordan Sparks, Rameo Malubai, 407 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:57,080 Speaker 2: Adore de Lano have all been amazing people who've It's 408 00:23:57,480 --> 00:24:00,480 Speaker 2: been really nice to know. I've had people who supported 409 00:24:00,520 --> 00:24:03,480 Speaker 2: me even when I was a Mormon and who now 410 00:24:03,520 --> 00:24:07,720 Speaker 2: support me after my journey being a Mormon and after 411 00:24:07,800 --> 00:24:11,240 Speaker 2: coming out as queer, and some of my fellow queer 412 00:24:11,359 --> 00:24:15,280 Speaker 2: friends who've taught me that it's okay. Because I thought 413 00:24:15,280 --> 00:24:16,600 Speaker 2: if I come out as queer, I'm going to be 414 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:17,679 Speaker 2: this dangerous person. 415 00:24:17,840 --> 00:24:19,200 Speaker 3: I don't know, I didn't know how. 416 00:24:19,320 --> 00:24:21,720 Speaker 2: I just that's what I was told, So that's what 417 00:24:21,800 --> 00:24:26,080 Speaker 2: I believed. So my friends like Scott Hoying from Pentatonics 418 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:31,200 Speaker 2: and his husband Mark have been great, my friend Kevin 419 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:36,199 Speaker 2: McHale as well, just people to get to talk to 420 00:24:36,320 --> 00:24:41,679 Speaker 2: and realize, oh, you can still be good. Yeah, I 421 00:24:41,680 --> 00:24:46,480 Speaker 2: don't know what I perceived before, but it's just you know, you're. 422 00:24:45,720 --> 00:24:46,359 Speaker 3: Not around it. 423 00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:48,000 Speaker 2: You're told to stay away from it, so you have 424 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:52,840 Speaker 2: no real idea of what queer people actually are like 425 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:56,520 Speaker 2: because you're always encouraged. You're always encouraged to stay away 426 00:24:56,520 --> 00:24:59,159 Speaker 2: from them. At least I was so to not be 427 00:24:59,240 --> 00:25:03,000 Speaker 2: afraid of them anymore, to have friends just connect with them, 428 00:25:03,040 --> 00:25:05,280 Speaker 2: and you know, we have a shared lived experience where 429 00:25:05,320 --> 00:25:08,280 Speaker 2: we were afraid of ourselves when we were kids, and 430 00:25:08,320 --> 00:25:10,560 Speaker 2: then we have to reach a point where it's like, 431 00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:12,480 Speaker 2: you know, I can't be afraid of myself anymore. 432 00:25:12,480 --> 00:25:14,400 Speaker 3: I have to just accept who I am. 433 00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:21,159 Speaker 2: And the process of recreating your identity and yourself and 434 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:23,680 Speaker 2: getting to know who you really are after hiding from 435 00:25:23,760 --> 00:25:28,359 Speaker 2: it yourself has been an interesting process. But I'm grateful 436 00:25:28,359 --> 00:25:30,439 Speaker 2: for my friends who've been there with me, and my 437 00:25:30,520 --> 00:25:33,560 Speaker 2: fans who've supported me both as a super Mormon and 438 00:25:33,600 --> 00:25:38,440 Speaker 2: as after that life. It's like two lives, and people 439 00:25:38,480 --> 00:25:40,200 Speaker 2: are supporting both of my lives. 440 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:45,400 Speaker 4: And you know what, you're just beginning. Thank you, you're 441 00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:46,120 Speaker 4: just beginning. 442 00:25:46,240 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 5: And I salute you with your tribute to George and freedom, 443 00:25:51,760 --> 00:25:54,360 Speaker 5: and I salute you for your bravery. 444 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:55,520 Speaker 3: Thank you. I appreciate it. 445 00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:58,960 Speaker 5: Buzz, thanks for being on Taking a Walk, David, Thanks 446 00:25:59,000 --> 00:25:59,520 Speaker 5: for having me. 447 00:26:00,840 --> 00:26:03,320 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to this episode of the Taking a 448 00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:07,240 Speaker 1: Walk podcast. Share this and other episodes with your friends 449 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:10,800 Speaker 1: and follow us so you never miss an episode. Taking 450 00:26:10,840 --> 00:26:14,760 Speaker 1: a Walk is available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 451 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:17,240 Speaker 1: and wherever you get your podcasts.