Episode 57 of the Jason Turner Podcast. I first met Kyndelynn when I was making the second season of a YouTube series following CSI Cheer. She was an energized and hardworking rookie who eventually grew into one of the veterans and leaders of the team. The following year Kaylee joined as a rookie, and the two of them went on to compete at Nationals during the production of my documentary Cheer Dreams. I spent a lot of time around these two during practices, competitions, travel, and plenty of moments away from the mat. Somewhere along the way I ended up developing a genuine friendship with a couple of tiny blonde cheerleaders who have become some of my favorite people to sit down and have real conversations with. A lot of life has happened since Cheer Dreams. Today they are both on the other side of the sport as cheer coaches. We talk about what it feels like watching the documentary back now, the mistakes they see differently with time, leadership, hard coaching, burnout, and the strange feeling of teaching younger athletes the same lessons they once had to learn themselves. Kyndelynn has also become a mother, which gave us a lot to catch up on because fatherhood has become such a major part of my life as well. She was actually the first person from Cheer Dreams that I told when my wife and I found out we were having our son. We talk about how quickly parenthood can change your identity, grieving pieces of your old life, and eventually learning to love the new person you become. The conversation also gets much heavier when Kyndelynn talks about being inside the Twin Falls In N Out with her three week old son when the shooting happened. She explains freezing in fear, how Jace got her and their baby out, and what it has been like trying to feel safe again after experiencing something like that firsthand. From there we get into toughness, forgiveness, family, identity, coaching, growing up, and learning when to push forward and when to let the past go. Kaylee and I have always joked that we are fellow Turners, but beyond the name, I have always respected the work ethic both of these girls bring to whatever they are doing. I watched it when they were athletes, and now I get to see it again as they coach the next generation. That kind of dedication is something I relate to heavily in my own work, and seeing people around me care deeply about their craft has always given me fuel to keep pushing mine. These two bring a lot of energy wherever they go. I can always count on some deep conversations, plenty of ridiculous ones, and a lot of laughs. This is Kyndelynn and Kaylee. Hope you enjoy the conversation. Watch Cheer Dreams now on my YouTube channel and streaming on Tubi. Follow Kyndelynn:https://www.instagram.com/kyndelynnloos Follow Kaylee:https://www.instagram.com/kayleeamturner Follow along:https://www.instagram.com/jasonturnervideo/ Subscribe for long form conversations exploring philosophy, religion, creativity, and real life experiences through honest dialogue. Topics in this episode:Kyndelynn Loos, Kaylee Turner, Cheer Dreams, cheerleading, CSI Cheer, college cheer, competitive cheerleading, coaching, leadership, Nationals, motherhood, fatherhood, young motherhood, postpartum identity, parenting, Twin Falls Idaho, In N Out shooting, trauma, fear, safety, family, friendship, work ethic, discipline, toughness, forgiveness, second chances, growing up, filmmaking, documentary filmmaking, sports documentary, athletic development, cheer coaching, tumbling, stunting, competition, burnout, teamwork, creativity, life after college sports.
