Live Your Bold: The Making of Sierra 914 with Will Turner & Ryan Dugger

 In this episode of The Best Dam Podcast, your Host, Jill Lagan, is joined by ultra-endurance athlete Will Turner and filmmaker Ryan Dugger. Will and Ryan break down the making of Sierra 914, an award-winning documentary capturing Will's grueling 914-mile triathlon through the Sierra Nevada mountains. 

From the extreme mental fortitude required to push through sleep deprivation to the chaotic reality of filming a non-stop moving target, they provide an inspiring look at what it means to "Live Your Bold". They also discuss the profound impact of support teams, the unexpected beauty of the journey, and why age should never be an excuse for stopping.

DISCUSSION

1. 914 Miles of Grit: Will and Ryan discuss the logistics of an 8-day, non-stop ultra-triathlon that wasn't a looped course but a continuous point-to-point journey, requiring the film crew to live on the road right alongside the athlete.
2. Hacking the Mind: Will shares his mental strategies for enduring extreme pain, including a specific technique of counting to eight while climbing Benton to distract himself and focus on what he could control in the moment.
3. Filming on the Move: Ryan reveals the production challenges of a small crew constantly moving with no base camp, dealing with dust, exhaustion, and weather changes, resulting in a film that authentically mirrors the raw, gritty nature of the race.
4. The Storm and the Rainbow: Will recounts a pivotal moment where a freezing downpour nearly broke his spirit, only to be followed immediately by a double rainbow that reset the team's morale for the final push.
5. Live Your Bold: The origin story of Will's mantra is revealed, which began with a goal to do 60 Ironmans at age 60, evolving into a mission to encourage students and adults alike to reach their full potential.
6. The Power of Connection: The team shares the heartwarming story of Jose Gomez, a stranger on a grocery run who ended up cycling 100 miles out of his way just to share the road and energy with Will.
7. Roots of Resilience: Both guests reflect on how their parents—Will's hard-working father and supportive mother, and Ryan's integrity-driven father—shaped the character traits necessary to complete such a monumental project.
8. Award-Winning Storytelling: The duo discusses the reception of the film, including winning the Audience Choice and Maverick Awards at the Richmond International Film Festival, and the surreal experience of receiving a massive standing ovation.

LEARN MORE

To learn more about the film and Will's journey, visit the Sierra 914 website at https://www.sierra914.com/ or learn about "Live Your Bold" initiatives on their website at https://www.liveyourbold.com/.

KEYWORDS

Will Turner, Ryan Dugger, Sierra 914, Ultra Triathlon, Documentary Filmmaking, Live Your Bold, Endurance Sports, The Best Dam Podcast, Boulder City Chamber of Commerce 

#WillTurner #RyanDugger #Sierra914 #UltraAthlete #Documentary #LiveYourBold #TheBestDamPodcast #BoulderCityChamberofCommerce