Episode 43: Leon Cerrone—Cycling Lessons, Overcoming Injury & Being Socially Vulnerable

On episode 43 I chat with Leon Cerrone; who I found through sharing his journey with depression through a Mr Porter x Rapha project last year. I was inspired by his vulnerability, sharing his struggle with injury, feeling alone and how cycling and the community around it helped him survive. We dive into some cycling tips for keeping up with the pros, his career in fashion and finding Inventory magazine, the adversity of being a Gunners supporter and growing up boxing and how his relationship with his father and English culture began to shape his emotional experience. Leon also shares how things snowballed to the point of trying to take his own life, and how that inspired him to get help.

“I got to the point where I tried to take my own life, and that was the point that I realized I needed to try and get some help.”

— Leon Cerrone

SHOW NOTES

• 3:00 Leon bought every issue of Inventory magazine living in London

• 4:45 The experience of working with Mr Porter and Rapha to share his story

• 11:00 First sharing challenge with depression through Instagram on new years day of 2018

• 16:00 Living with depression is more of a journey, letting go of the idea of being ‘healed’

• 19:00 How to live day to day life while acknowledging the darker times and being more open

• 24:20 Growing up boxing and playing football and getting into running and cycling in mid-twenties

• 29:00 The art of boxing and growing up in the culture with a different perspective

• 35:00 How Leon got into cycling through friendship with Rob Saunders

• 40:00 Why it’s good to take off your running watch or cycling computer and just ‘cover the earth’

• 46:45 A warm welcome into cycling community, staying humble and open

• 57:00 Experiencing race, Brexit and cultural clashes in London and the UK

• 65:00 The nerve-racking process of getting engaged to his fiancee

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