Deez Interviews: Cheryl Strayed, on turning the tables re: advice-giving + what she’s watching during quarantine
Today’s interview is with CHERYL STRAYED YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As in, yes, the author of soul-affirming best-sellers like Wild and Tiny Beautiful Things, and the master advice columnist we all know as Sugar, from her iconic Dear Sugar column.
We talked about her new podcast with NYT, Sugar Calling; the thrill of chatting it up with Margaret Atwood; and tons more. Enjoy!!
So, what is it like right now to be someone whom everyone famously turns to for advice?
It’s super sweet — no pun intended! Really, I feel honored that people look to me for advice, which I’ve come to understand really means for assurance, for consolation, for confirmation that it’s going to be okay — even when some things aren’t.
Your new podcast, Sugar Calling, just launched this month and turns the tables a little — instead of being the one giving advice, you’re the one doing the “wisdom-seeking” via convos with greats like George Saunders and Margaret Atwood. What inspired that?
One of the things I’ve learned in my years of giving advice is that so many of us have the same fairly narrow set of problems, and I think that’s even more true right now. So instead of the narrow focus of answering a letter, I wanted to widen the lens, to take the long view and the deep dive with someone who might have some wisdom to offer — that’s also why I’m specifically talking to writers over the age of sixty.
I also loved the idea of going back to my origins in some way. When I first began writing the Dear Sugar column, I realized that it was my years of being a writer that had best prepared me for the job of giving advice. Writers are constantly pondering the human condition, so I thought who better to seek wisdom from at this time than the writers who’ve illuminated my life.
The episode you did with Atwood has been my favorite so far. What was your favorite part of that conversation?
Margaret Atwood is a force. It’s so hard to pick my favorite moment, but it might be when she tells me about how she — at age 80 — recently climbed onto her roof with a bottle of hot pepper sauce, hoping to drive away the squirrels that have taken up residence there.
She has this incredibly matter-of-fact attitude about so many things and I found that to be incredibly bracing and much-needed right now. She quoted her mother who often said to Margaret and her sister, “roll up your sleeves, girls!” That phrase fairly succinctly sums up what she had to say in my conversation with her.
Before this podcast, you also co-hosted Dear Sugars for four years. How does the creative process of podcasting compare to your process for writing?
Writing and podcasting are entirely different. Writing is ten billion times harder! I would say that this podcast — and also my Dear Sugars podcast that I co-hosted with Steve Almond—feels more to me like play than work.
I think deeply about what I’m most curious about before I speak to each guest, but I don’t over-prepare. I go into each call with the desire to talk to someone interesting about important things and I let the conversation wander where it may.
Finally, Wild — both your book and the movie — has been popping up on a quite a few recommended lists to help people contemplate resilience, solitude, and wanderlust during self isolation. My question is: what have you been reading/watching lately that's fulfilling those needs for yourself personally?
I’m reading Ruthie Lindsey’s marvelous memoir, There I Am, which will be published later this month. It’s moving, heartfelt, and truly inspiring. A great book to read right now.
As for what I’m watching, I have three things going on. They are:
1. My family and I are watching The Good Place. I’ve been hearing about it for quite some time, but I’m glad I put it off watching it until now. It’s a wonderful show and it’s strangely perfect for viewing during a global pandemic. It’s funny and deep. In the most entertaining way possible it invites you to ponder the big questions about what goodness means.
2. My husband and I had been watching Schitt’s Creek, which we have been watching week by week, as each episode of the final season was slowly doled out to us. I could not love that show or its creator, Dan Levy, more than I do.
3. In the moments in between, when it’s only just me and my iPad mini, I’m watching The Durrells in Corfu, on Masterpiece PBS. I cannot tell you what a relief it is to be swept away to 1930s Greece with a loving but messy and brilliant British family (one of whom is the great writer Lawrence Durrell). I love it so much.
Don’t forget to follow @CherylStrayed and omg seriously go order Tiny Beautiful Things right now if you haven’t read!!!
Signal Boost:
**Please reach out to each person directly if you can help + if you want to be added, DM me on Twitter!
—Social Media—
Christina Santos: I have 10+ years experience working in every facet of social media, PR and media especially in soccer and fashion and tourism. I currently live in Madrid, however I have telecommuting experience working for companies from USA to Italy. I am bilingual in English/Spanish. My email is christinasantos01@gmail.com. My LinkedIn is in my bio.
Summer Kelly: I am a social media specialist with 4 years of relevant experience. I’m looking for work in pop culture media and/or music. However I’ve worked in plenty of other industries and would be happy with anything in my field! My email is summer.c.kelly@gmail.com.
—PR / Marketing / Communications—
Matt Alexander: I run a PR agency in the London UK and help international clients (America, Dubai, Australia etc) secure coverage in the UK’s mainstream press! Email Matt@reppmedia.com / Website reppmedia.com
Temniet Mesgna: Social & Creative Strategy. Resume with links is in my bio but I have a ton more work I can share including personal projects! I’m nyc based but once lockdown ends, I’m down for whatever! temnietm@gmail.com // 3018734209 // @temniet on everything!
—Writing—
Gracie Linden: Lots of experience with arts and culture copywriting, freelance art criticism, and then all types of research assistance. Gracie.Linden@gmail.com
Thank you! Hope you're staying sane and healthy
Robert Quick: I recently lost my job at a men’s fashion magazine and am looking for other editorial opportunities in the fashion/pop cultural realm. My email is robertmichelquick@gmail.com
Daisy Williams: I’m a freelance culture writer who is looking for an unpaid summer internship. Email is Daisy.williams@journalism.cuny.edu
—Photo / Video / Production—
Christine Wohltjen: I was working as a photo studio assistant in NYC for almost 2 years until I was laid off last month. I’m looking for a similar position or a job in production (I have experience in social media content creation and film production). To find more info/contact, my email is cwohltjen27@gmail.com, or connect with me on LinkedIn! linkedin.com/in/christinewohltjen…)
Sophie Schieli: I actually just got laid off from my video editing job at The FADER. Had been there almost exactly two years and then...COVID-19 happened. If you have any contacts looking for any sort of video work IE: Anything from socials, to longer-form doc stuff, to youtube interviews, ETC. I'm your gal! My email is s.schieli@gmail.com
Anna Hu: I'm an NYC-based Post Production Supervisor looking to work in video for web content. My email is annaxhu@gmail.com
J’Taime Weaver: I’m looking for an associate producer job in NY! Email is jtaime.weaver@gmail.com
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