Coming Out, Speaking Up, Starting Over: Getting Real with David Archuleta

This week on Duke’s Download I sat down with the one and only David Archuleta — and let me tell you, this conversation is everything. We talk about his New York Times bestselling memoir, Devout: Losing My Faith to Find Myself, and why he finally felt ready to tell the full story — growing up Mormon, coming out, and stepping into his power as an openly queer artist.

And when I say full story? I mean full story.

David gets real about writing the book in his own voice (yes, he had a collaborator — but trust me, this is 100% David). We dive into the chapters that were hardest for him to relive — especially the complicated, emotional journey with his dad. We talk boundaries. We talk about stepping away for years. We talk about what it actually takes to rebuild something healthier after you’ve had to break it apart first.

It’s vulnerable. It’s honest. It’s beautiful.

And of course, we couldn’t just stay serious the whole time — we also get into the Devout EP, where his music is headed now, and a very unexpected bonding moment over our shared love of EDM and house music. 

He also leaves us with something I think a lot of people need to hear: give yourself space to figure out who you are. It’s okay to question. It’s okay to evolve. And it’s definitely okay to start over.

If you’ve ever struggled with faith, identity, family expectations, or just finding your own voice — this one’s for you.

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