David Begnaud Launches Do Good Crew With Video Podcast Focused On Kindness.

David Begnaud’s television career began when he was just a teenager, and for the past decade he has been a fixture at CBS News. But Begnaud is now casting out with a new venture, with a video podcast as its foundation, and a mission to shine a light on acts of kindness, generosity and courage.

“I’m learning that podcasts are where it’s at right now,” Begnaud said, as he debuts “The Person Who Believed In Me” under the newly formed Do Good Crew. It’s a media company that says it was built to “activate the good in people and turn it into a powerful community.” Its initial plans include the flagship podcast, a weekly newsletter, and live events.

“The mission of the Do Good Crew is to do something that in some way highlights the good that people are doing and puts good out into the world. Plain and simple,” Begnaud said in an interview this week.

Television personalities have been moving into podcasting for years, but the evolution of the medium made it more attractive to Begnaud. He said the expansion of podcasting into video played a decisive role in how he decided to move forward.

“If it was only audio, I honestly don’t know that I would have been as attracted as I am with it being both audio and video,” Begnaud explained. “I have an affinity for the for audio — but for me, being a visual person, I like combining the two. What I love about podcasts is you get to say to that person who wants an audio on the commute, there you go. But you also get to see a visual, something that is as premiere as the quality of the network I work at.”

Begnaud also acknowledged the competitive landscape he faces in podcasting is much different than what he has experienced in network TV.

“You look at podcasts today and you’re like, ‘My God, how am I going to compete? There are so many. How am I going to stand out?’” he said. But growing up gay with Tourette’s in the South, Begnaud said he always felt like a bit of an outsider. He took from that a lesson of not showing up with a half-baked idea. The mindset extended to his entry in podcasting. “When you see the resources that have been pumped and poured into it, we are very serious, and we are in it to win it. This is not some fly-by-night passion project side thing,” he explained.

Big Names, Everyday Heroes

“The Person Who Believed In Me” features high-profile guests reflecting on the person who supported them before fame. But Begnaud said the celebrity is not the true focus.

“Every guest is a big name — but the star of every episode is the everyday person who believed in our guests before they were famous,” he said. 

The show debuts with an Oprah Winfrey interview, in which she shares a personal story about a person she has seldom spoken of publicly — and the defining childhood moments that changed her life. Future guests include 2 Chainz, Charlie Puth, Ava Duvernay, Nick Cannon, and more. 

“The whole premise is that I can’t relate to Oprah’s billionaire status, her private plane or her celebrity. I can’t relate to 2 Chainz wealth,” Begnaud said. “But I can relate to every bit of the struggle when they go into that.”

Although the show launches independently, Begnaud confirms potential collaborations with “CBS Mornings” are being discussed. He also remains a contributor to the show. “There may be a day come soon where you see the podcast also appearing on CBS,” he predicted.

While “The Person Who Believed In Me” is the launch vehicle, Begnaud is not ruling out expanding the podcast slate — but he is signaling that growth will be deliberate.

“I’m open to that, because I want to build something that grows and is big,” Begnaud said. At the same time, he made clear that scale for the sake of optics is not the goal.

“I want to grow where it is intentional and financially sensible, but also editorially right for the mission,” he added. “Do I foresee a period where we have contributors? Absolutely, are we there now? Absolutely not.”

Live Events Planned

While the podcast may be the entry point, Begnaud said Do Good Crew is not designed to live solely behind a microphone. For him, the real energy — and long-term growth — lies in bringing the community together in person.

“I am so fired up to do live events,” Begnaud said. In an era where algorithms often dictate connection, he thinks live events offer a direct connection and a way to achieve the venture’s mission. “There’s nothing more high value than someone who will fly, drive or take the train to come and see you,” he said.

He also sees live events as an editorial engine for the broader platform. “It allows me to find stories in person that I end up taking to television, and it gives me a space where I can bring the podcast into a live event format,” Begnaud said.

There will also be a unique element that brings in regular Americans. Do Good Crew put a microphone in The Grove shopping center in Los Angeles that collected stories from people who shared stories about people in their lives who believed in them. Begnaud says he will take a version of that and take it to TV as a companion to the podcast.

Advertisers Must Do Good

Do Good Crews launches with backers including Allen & Company. Begnaud has partnered with co-founder Olivier Delfosse on the project, who takes on the role as President & COO. “Together we have a big vision: building the biggest community of people dedicated to doing acts of good,” Delfosse said in a social media post.

As Do Good Crew begins building its business model, Begnaud said advertising will be welcome — but only if it aligns with the company’s values.

“It is ready-made for any advertiser who has an interest in doing good,” Begnaud said. At the same time, he drew a firm line around brand fit. “I’m going to be cautious — you have to be a company that wants to be involved in doing good,” he said.