Love, Take Two

Most people know David Archuleta from the American Idol stage. Far fewer know what was happening beneath the surface the entire time.In this episode of Love, Take Two, David sits down to talk about Devout: Losing My Faith to Find Myself, his 2026 memoir that pulls back the curtain on a journey most of his fans never saw coming. From winning Star Search at 12 to becoming one of the most recognized faces of the American Idol era, David spent years performing for the world while privately navigating something much harder — a faith system that had no room for who he actually was.David opens up about what it felt like to grow up deeply embedded in the Mormon Church while quietly reckoning with his queer identity, the emotional abuse he experienced along the way, and the severe anxiety that followed him through some of the highest profile moments of his career. He talks about what finally pushed him toward deconstruction, what he lost in the process, and what he found on the other side of it.Key TakeawaysWhat David's early rise on American Idol looked like from the insideHow his Mormon faith shaped his identity and his career for yearsThe moment he knew something had to change and what that process actually looked likeHow he navigated coming out publicly while also leaving his churchWhat writing Devout taught him about himself and why he felt it was time to tell this storyIf this episode moved you, pass it along to someone who is in the middle of their own deconstruction — whatever form that takes — and come find us on social.Connect with Us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Love, Take Two Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Love, Take Two Tiktok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Love, Take Two Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jaimie Kelton Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jose Rolon Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠David ArchuletaCredits:Edited by: Jerson BarajasRecorded by: MCM CreativeProduced by: Jose Rolon, Jaimie Kelton, and Dianni Hall

Most people spend their teenage years figuring out who they are. Alessandra Ciuffo spent hers winning on Food Network.In this episode of Love, Take Two, Alessandra takes us back to where it all started — stepping in front of a camera at 12 years old on Rachael vs. Guy: Kids Cook-Off and then going on to win Guy's Grocery Games at 15. What could have been a fun footnote became the foundation for something real. Today she is the face behind Flavors by Alessandra, a brand she has built by being exactly herself — chaotic, warm, genuinely skilled, and completely unfiltered about all of it.Alessandra gets into what the journey from child competitor to full-on food personality actually looked like, including the parts that were not glamorous. She talks about how she developed her voice in a space that can feel oversaturated, why she refuses to see other creators as competition, and how her belief that there is room for everyone at the top has shaped the way she moves through her career. Authenticity is not just a buzzword for Alessandra — it is the entire strategy.This is a conversation about creative confidence, staying positive when the path is not linear, and what it looks like to build something that is genuinely yours.Key TakeawaysWhat it was really like to compete on Food Network as a kid and teenagerHow Alessandra built Flavors by Alessandra into a brand people actually connect withWhy she believes there is room for everyone at the top and how that mindset has served herThe role authenticity plays in standing out in a crowded creator spaceHow she has stayed consistent and positive through the less glamorous parts of the journeyIf this episode got you fired up about backing yourself and betting on your own lane, send it to someone who needs to hear it — and come hang out with us on social.Connect with Us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Love, Take Two Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Love, Take Two Tiktok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Love, Take Two Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jaimie Kelton Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jose Rolon Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alessandra CuiffoCredits:Edited by: Jerson BarajasRecorded by: MCM CreativeProduced by: Jose Rolon, Jaimie Kelton, and Dianni Hall

What does it take to build something from nothing and then decide to start over again?For this week’s guest, Alexis Bittar, that question has defined his career.In this episode of Love, Take Two, Alexis reflects on his early days selling vintage jewelry on the streets of New York City and how that experience shaped his approach to creativity, business, and risk. What began as a scrappy, self-made path evolved into a globally recognized brand known for its bold design and hand-carved Lucite pieces.Over the years, Alexis built a fashion empire, earning recognition from the Council of Fashion Designers of America and designing for cultural icons like Beyoncé, Michelle Obama, Lady Gaga, and Iris Apfel. But success didn’t follow a straight line.After selling his company at its peak, Alexis made the unexpected decision to step back in and reclaim the brand in 2021. A move that speaks to a deeper understanding of ownership, identity, and what it means to evolve.Alexis opens up about the realities of building and selling a business, the lessons that come with stepping away, and what it looks like to take control of your second act. Key TakeawaysHow Alexis got his start selling jewelry on St. Mark’s PlaceBuilding a globally recognized fashion brand from the ground upThe creative vision behind his signature Lucite designsWhat it was like to sell his company — and why he came backLessons on entrepreneurship, risk, and long-term successWhat reinvention looks like at different stages of a careerIf this episode resonates, share it with someone thinking about taking a risk or starting over — and come hang out with us on social!Connect with Us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Love, Take Two Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Love, Take Two Tiktok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Love, Take Two Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jaimie Kelton Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jose Rolon Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alexis BittarCredits:Edited by: Jerson BarajasRecorded by: MCM CreativeProduced by: Jose Rolon, Jaimie Kelton, and Dianni Hall

What does it actually look like to be a working parent in Hollywood — not the glossy version, but the real one? Morena Baccarin is not here to sugarcoat it.In this episode of Love, Take Two, Morena gets candid about the side of her life that does not make the press junkets — the school runs, the scheduling gymnastics, the guilt, and the joy that comes with raising kids while maintaining a career that demands everything you have. From her breakout in Firefly to her Emmy nominated turn in Homeland to the Deadpool franchise, Morena has built one of the most respected careers in the industry. And she has done a significant chunk of it as a mother.She opens up about what it has been like to navigate auditions, sets, and long shoots while staying present for her kids, how her priorities have shifted over the years, and what she wishes someone had told her earlier about trying to do both. She also shares what is coming next, including her work on Sheriff Country and what drew her to the project.This is a refreshingly honest conversation about ambition, parenthood, and the messy, meaningful work of showing up in both.Key TakeawaysWhat no one tells you about balancing an acting career with raising kidsHow Morena's approach to her career shifted after becoming a motherThe realities of working on set while managing family lifeWhat drew her to her latest project, Sheriff CountryHow she defines balance — and why she has stopped chasing the perfect version of itIf this one hit home, send it to another parent who is figuring it out in real time — and come hang out with us on social.Connect with Us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Love, Take Two Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Love, Take Two Tiktok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Love, Take Two Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jaimie Kelton Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jose Rolon Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Morena BaccarinCredits:Edited by: Jerson BarajasRecorded by: MCM CreativeProduced by: Jose Rolon, Jaimie Kelton, and Dianni Hall

What happens when faith, identity, and healing intersect in the most unexpected ways? For this week's guest, Timothy Schraeder Rodriguez, that intersection became both his greatest struggle and his most powerful mission.In this episode of Love, Take Two, Timothy opens up about his decade-long experience with conversion therapy while working behind the scenes at some of the most influential evangelical megachurches in America. He shares the complex journey of reconciling his faith with his identity as a gay man, and how that internal conflict eventually led him to leave the church world entirely — only to find his way back on his own terms.After moving to New York City eight years ago to escape the evangelical world, Timothy has built a life centered on authenticity and service. He co-founded Church Clarity, an organization that helps LGBTQ+ individuals find affirming faith communities where they can practice their beliefs without shame or judgment. His work has garnered national attention from major outlets like TIME, NBC, and The Washington Post.Timothy discusses his path to sobriety, his transition from church work to tech, and how writing became a healing tool that led to his upcoming book, "Conversion Therapy Dropout: A Queer Story of Faith and Belonging" (releasing May 2026). Despite everything he's endured, Timothy still attends church...sometimes.This is an honest conversation about trauma, resilience, and the courage it takes to redefine what belonging means when the institutions you once served reject who you are.Key Takeaways:The reality of conversion therapy and its lasting impactHow faith and identity can coexist authenticallyThe process of healing from religious traumaHow he began conversion therapy at 19 years oldWhy sobriety became essential to Timothy's journeyHow his experience has effected his ability to date now as an out gay manIf this episode moves you, share it with someone who might need to hear that faith and identity don't have to be at war — and come connect with us on social!Connect with Us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Love, Take Two Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Love, Take Two Tiktok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Love, Take Two Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jaimie Kelton Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jose Rolon Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Timothy Schraeder RodriguezCredits:Edited by: Jerson BarajasRecorded by: MCM CreativeProduced by: Jose Rolon, Jaimie Kelton, and Dianni Hall