‘My purpose is to speak’: Peloton’s Tunde Oyeneyin publishes memoir
Tunde Oyeneyin’s energy is undeniable, unique and contagious. Thousands have felt it through Peloton Interactive’s platform, on which Oyeneyin teaches cycling classes and hosts a podcast.
But the Peloton instructor, Nike athlete and public speaker is sharing herself in a new format: Oyeneyin has written a book, “Speak” (Avid Reader Press/ Simon & Schuster, 240 pp., out now), which can also serve as a kind of life guide.
In her debut memoir, subtitled “Find Your Voice, Trust Your Gut, and Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be,” the Houston native details her life story – the good and the bad – focusing on the takeaways and lessons.
And the title is appropriate.
“When you live a life, it should be a life of service,” Oyeneyin tells USA TODAY. “A life of service is lived in purpose, on purpose and of purpose. My purpose is to speak.” “SPEAK” also serves as an acronym. Surrender Power Empathy Authenticity Knowledge Those words shape Oyeneyin’s philosophy, she says in her book, and they’ve carried her through life, relationships and work.
Tunde is also the founder of an Instagram Live series “S.P.E.A.K.,” which shines a spotlight on figures who have been resilient and thrived while facing adversity. She’s hosted guests including Cynthia Erivo, Venus Williams and Allyson Felix.
SPEAK she does in her new book – on paper, of course.
Oyenyin uses the acronym to help format the book, labeling chapters detailing her experiences with those key terms and highlighting lessons from those times in bold.
The author, who is of Nigerian descent, shares tales from her upbringing, including her struggles with body image and self-esteem, and her path from professional makeup artist to fitness instructor.
Her trajectory changed when she first tried a spin class. Oyeneyin identified a new element of her purpose, and after reflection and taking spin classes on the side, she set herself in a new direction: First becoming an instructor at a studio in Los Angeles where she was living, and then auditioning for Peloton after receiving an invitation to do so via Instagram DM from instructor Cody Rigsby.
Readers will also learn about how she endured grief, mourning the deaths of her brother, father and mother; and setbacks, including her first Peloton instructor audition which resulted in rejection. Oyeneyin details how she was able to evolve, gain confidence and find triumph through her experiences.
Through the sharing of her own story of heartache, joy, loss, missed opportunities and successes, Oyeneyin hopes readers will find common ground with her. Readers will learn how she continued to pursue her goal of joining Peloton’s team of instructors, as well as fun tidbits about her personal life (including the time she went on “Deal or No Deal”).
She wants her audience to use her story as support and fuel as they embark on the next chapter of their lives.
“I hope that they step into purpose – their purpose,” she says.
Oyeneyin is fulfilling her purpose daily. After a second audition, she landed the gig at Peloton. Purpose doesn’t always entail a direct route.
“The plan, after all, doesn’t always go according to plan,” she writes. “If it looks like I haven’t failed, it’s because I choose not to see anything that happens as failure. To me, failure doesn’t exist.”
Failure, she adds, creates limits. Instead, understand that a detour can take you in a different direction to fulfill your vision can get you back on track.
Since becoming a Peloton instructor in the summer of 2019, Oyeneyin’s list of accomplishments and occupations has continued to grow. As has her following. And she’s been using her voice.
In 2020, after George Floyd was killed, she hosted a ride on the Peloton platform called “Speak Up,” during which she spoke on what happened. She encouraged people to use their voices to speak up, too.
“Peloton,” she recalled saying in the book, “go out and create great change.”
More than 20,000 people tuned in.