The Inner Athlete

Welcome to The Inner Athlete – Hosted by Samir Pai, this podcast is dedicated to exploring the world of sports, performance, and the mindset behind athletic success.What you'll find here:⦁ Inspiring stories and trends from the world of sports⦁ Deep dives into sports performance and training techniques⦁ Insights from sports professionals and coaches on what it takes to succeed⦁ Exploration of the business of sports: from team operations to event management⦁ Mental toughness and motivation to elevate your gameTune in, get inspired, and unlock The Inner Athlete within you.

The Inner Athlete is a sports podcast hosted by Samir Pai, with 46 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Samir Pai hosts The Inner Athlete, a sports show with 46 episodes published.

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  The Inner Athlete

  Yashasvi Jaiswal: Is His Aggression Becoming a Problem?

  Sep 25, 20267 min

  Yashasvi Jaiswal is being talked about as one of the brightest young talents in world cricket. But there is another side of his game that is increasingly becoming part of the conversation his aggression. Cricket has always had its share of skirmishes, sledging and heated moments. But when they happen repeatedly, they can begin to overshadow a player's achievements. In this episode, we discuss Yashasvi Jaiswal's on-field controversies, his exchanges with opponents, his past disciplinary moments in domestic cricket, and the question of whether his aggressive approach is becoming excessive.

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  The Inner Athlete

  India at Asian Games 2026: The Sports You Need to Watch

  Sep 18, 20267 min

  India is heading into the 2026 Asian Games with a 492-athlete contingent — and there is plenty to watch. In this episode of The Inner Athlete Podcast, we take a closer look at India's Asian Games campaign and the bigger questions surrounding Indian sport. The conversation begins with the size of India's contingent and how it compares with the 655 athletes who represented India across 39 disciplines at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. We also discuss the selection criteria being used for individual and team sports, and the debate around some notable omissions from the Indian contingent.

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  The Inner Athlete

  Want to Work in Sports? Watch This Before You Quit Your Job

  Sep 11, 20261 hour

  What does it really take to build a career in sports? In this episode, Shruti shares her journey from petroleum engineering and fitness education to powerlifting, entrepreneurship and sports management. We talk about: • How Shruti discovered powerlifting • The difference between strength training and powerlifting as a sport • Why strength training becomes increasingly important as we age • Protein, creatine, cardio and fitness fundamentals • Why consistency matters more than chasing the “perfect” workout • The growing sports industry in India • Careers in sports beyond being an athlete • Technology, content, athlete management and broadcasting • The reality of salaries in the sports industry • Why Shruti calls it the “passion tax” • The importance of building a strong core skill set • Which sports could have major commercial potential in India • Why accessibility is still a major challenge in fitness and sport • Why sports stories don't always need a traditional winning ending • And why taking risks can build a story you won't forget One of the biggest takeaways from the conversation: “Certainty is a luxury.”

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  The Inner Athlete

  The Rohit Sharma 2027 Debate!

  Sep 10, 20266 min

  Should Rohit Sharma play in India's 2027 ODI World Cup team? Or is it time for Indian cricket to make room for the next generation? In this episode of The Inner Athlete, Sameer Pai dives into one of the biggest selection debates surrounding Indian cricket. The discussion looks at the reported debate around Rohit Sharma's availability for the 2027 World Cup, the role of experience and stature, and the difficult decisions selectors and cricket administrators have to make when a legendary player is involved. Because this isn't simply about Rohit Sharma. It's about a much bigger question: When does loyalty to a great player become an obstacle to building the next great team?

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  The Inner Athlete

  Are We Raising Athletes or Just Training Them for One Sport? | Shruti Jahagirdar

  Sep 4, 20261h 9m

  What does it really take to become an athlete? Is it talent? Hard work? The right sport? Discipline? Or simply the willingness to keep going when things get difficult? In this episode of The Inner Athlete, Sameer Pai sits down with Shruti Jahagirdar a national-level volleyball player, state-level powerlifter, petroleum engineer, fitness professional and host of The Curious Human Project.

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