SPEAK

A memoir and inspirational guide from the popular Peloton cycling instructor.

In her debut, Oyeneyin, a first-generation American whose parents “emigrated from Nigeria to Houston” before she was born, shares the personal journey that has allowed her to live “on purpose, of purpose, and with purpose.” From an early age, she struggled with her weight, allowing her insecurities to “imprison” her. The author contends that many of us get trapped by our personal expectations and intentionally self-imposed limits. Once she began losing weight, Oyeneyin took notice of the comments she received. “Society had showed me that looking a certain way meant I was invited into places I didn’t fit before, and I now realized that hadn’t been far from the truth,” she writes. With a new sense of confidence, she began pursuing a career as a makeup artist in Houston. Based on encouragement from friends, she moved to Los Angeles to advance her career. The author recounts the ups and downs of her career journey, which ultimately led to finding her calling as a cycling instructor and her dream job, working in New York for Peloton. Oyeneyin also shares a personal experience with racial profiling by the police. Having found her own voice, the author felt compelled to help other women do the same. She formed a group called SPEAK, based on her “five key pillars”—Surrender, Power, Empathy, Authenticity, and Knowledge—created a “SPEAK Up” ride for Peloton, and launched an interview series on Instagram, “showcasing the voices of Black celebrities so that people could see that even they had dealt with racism.” Throughout the book, Oyeneyin tells stories from her own life that correlate with each pillar. Much of the author’s guidance can be found in other self-help books, but her drive to motivate others is apparent.

Fans of Oyeneyin will appreciate her guidance and find pieces of solid advice from her personal experiences.