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10 Questions with ... Cherie Louise Turner
April 7, 2020
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I have spent over 20 years working as an editor and writer, primarily in magazines. Out of a love of radio and then podcasts, I expanded my storytelling reach into audio in 2018. In the world of sports, I am a former professional bicycle racer on the track and road, turned runner.
1. You were always an athlete, but you've focused your efforts on running. What got you into running in the first place, and what led you to become a marathoner?
I turned to running a few years after I stopped bike racing. Running was a sport I’d done a lot for cross-training but I’d never been competitive in it, so there wasn’t as much pressure on myself to perform. And it doesn’t require much: all you really need is a decent pair of shoes. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve gravitated to the longer events, like marathons, because I’m intrigued by the mental aspect of endurance sports. There’s a bottomless well of discovery there, and I learn things I can take into my daily life, like patience, positive self-talk, not looking too far ahead. Also, a lot of the big, exciting events that you can do as a non-elite runner are the longer events, like the Boston Marathon and South Africa’s (56-mile) Comrades Marathon.
2. You've been a writer and now you've gotten into podcasting; what appealed to you about the podcast form, and how did you get started with audio? (Bonus question: What were the most important things you learned doing your first podcast?)
I’ve loved radio, and then podcasting, for a long, long time and for years kept thinking, I’d love to start a podcast some day, and that it’d be a life dream to be on the radio. I made the leap during a time I was feeling a bit stagnant with my writing and a friend wanted help telling stories about women she knew. I threw out the idea of doing it through audio, taught myself Audacity, learned how to use ZenCaster, and away I went.
>What I most love about audio storytelling is hearing people's stories told in their own voice. The inflections, emotions, accents, tone . . . you just can’t capture that any other way.
One of the most important things I’ve learned is to keep quiet during an interview. With audio interviews, the goal is to capture what someone else says, uninterrupted. Follow-up questions are also paramount. The more details, the better.
3. The podcast features stories about women who run. What overarching themes have you found in the stories you've collected so far -- what do the women who you're featuring have in common?
I share the stories of women who run long distances, marathons and longer, so that’s what they all have in common. An overarching theme is that running provides a lot of lessons that we can take into everyday life; I’ve had many runners tell me that running helps them to be a better person overall. Something else I hear a lot: we’re often capable of much more than we think we are.
4. The Comrades Marathon is still, as of this writing, scheduled to go on this year in June (although another meeting is coming shortly that may lead to a postponement), and you've been training for it. It's 90 km (56 miles) and it's intense. Non-runners will always ask this question, so I'll ask it for them: Why do a 56 mile run? Is it the challenge, or something else?
It’s the challenge but it’s also this event. One thing that draws me to long-distance running is that it’s one way I’ve seen that unites people regardless of anything else about them. When you experience shared suffering, there’s a respect and level of support you just don’t see in regular life, from your co-competitors and from the crowd. And I’ve never seen any event that brings out the best of the human spirit in this way, and on such a grand scale, better than Comrades. How could I not want to be a part of that?
5. While we're all in various stages of self-isolation, lockdown, and/or quarantine, let's ask a non-podcast-related question about fitness: What are you doing to keep fit/sane during this time, and what would you recommend people do to keep healthy when they can't hit the gym and might also be restricted as to where they can walk or run?
I’m running a lot! And I’m also strength training, meditating, and doing yoga classes (over Zoom) regularly. I’m also fortunate that the one person I’m isolated with, my husband, is a highly disciplined runner. There’s a lot of wellness momentum in my home. For others, just move regularly every day. I set a timer to make sure I get up from working at least every 30 minutes. Getting your heartrate up and moving your body is great for you physically but also very important for mental and emotional health. Running and walking are excellent options, as well as body-weight exercises and yoga. Now more than ever, there are loads of resources online for advice, guidance, and motivation. Make it fun and do what feels good, but do something and do it regularly.
6. You're a traveler, and travel is a little difficult at the moment. Other than South Africa for the Comrades Marathon, where is the first place you'd want to travel once things return to normal, and why?
Ireland. We lived in Cork for a year in 2017/18 and I fell in love with it and made great friends there. I relish the opportunity to return whenever possible.
7. Who are your influences and inspirations in podcasting? In life?
The workshops and community I’ve experienced through the PRX Podcast Garage in Allston, MA, have had a big influence on my podcasting and provided a lot of inspiration and support. Specifically, I have been fortunate enough to take classes from Karen Given, and then to work with her and the incredible team at Only a Game. I also worked with The Moth storyteller Aaron Wolfe at the Garage, and regularly refer to lessons I learned from him.
In terms of life inspirations and influences, I’d say my friends and husband. I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of creative, thoughtful, adventurous, and ambitious people in my life who cherish unconventional pursuits and life routes. I’m always learning from and inspired by them.
8. Of what are you most proud?
Overall, I’d say I’m most proud of never giving up on pursuing my ambitions, many times in the face of some strong influences that didn’t support what I wanted to do. In that same vein, I’m proud of and really thankful for the very supportive friendships and relationships I’ve made along the way. My husband, dear friends, and family members have kept me strong and grounded, through lots of ups and downs.
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without ______________.
...moving my body in a meaningful way.
10. What's the best advice you ever got, and the worst?
I don’t have any stand-out examples of bad advice, so I’ll stick with the great advice. It came from Carlos Soto, a cyclist I met very early on in my cycling career who told me, “If you want to be a bike racer, you can’t just ride your bike, you have to train.” I’ve returned to this advice throughout my life, which I expand to, If you want to do something well, you have to put in the disciplined work.
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