On this episode of the #OddCast Show, we host champion shooter couple Heena Sidhu and Ronak Pandit. Heena is India's first female shooter to achieve a global rank of number one, and her coach Ronak Pundit, who is also her husband and the coach of the Indian shooting team delve into the challenges and realities of making a career in sports in India. They lay out clear path in academics to the nebulous journey an athlete must navigate. Through their personal stories and observations, they criticise the Indian education system's obsession with academics at the expense of sports, emphasising the lack of infrastructure, guidance, and support for budding athletes. They highlight the necessity for an ecosystem that integrates sports and academics, providing clear pathways, support, and eventual careers for athletes, while also touching upon issues like societal pressure, mental health, and the critical role of proper coaching and governance in sports. Don't miss this. 00:00 Let's go! 00:36 A Deep Dive into Sports Careers 01:02 The Pathway to Becoming an Athlete: Insights and Challenges 06:52 Personal Journey into the World of Shooting Sports 11:27 The Harsh Reality of Sports Careers and Education in India 15:58 Redefining Education and Sports: A Vision for the Future 24:22 Emotional Resilience and Mental Health in Sports 30:53 The Critical Need for a Supportive Ecosystem in Sports 33:29 The Harsh Reality of Sports Careers 34:54 Transitioning from Athlete to Coach: Success Stories 35:24 The Importance of Education for Athletes 37:46 The Challenge of Perseverance in Sports 41:16 The Critical Role of Coaches in Athlete Development 42:35 Addressing Burnout and the Importance of Balance 58:11 Navigating Controversies as an Athlete 01:02:41 Creating a Pathway for Success in Sports

This episode of the Oddcast show features an insightful interview with Dr. Bhushan Shukla, a renowned child psychiatrist from Pune. The discussion delves into the complex topics of mourning, grief, depression, the over-diagnosis and misunderstanding of mental health conditions, and the impact of technology and societal changes on mental health. Through personal experiences of mourning, we seek Dr. Shukla's expertise on the matter, exploring the nuances that differentiate normal emotional responses from clinical depression. But we go beyond grief and depression. A riveting conversation on the legal and ethical considerations in mental health treatment, the effects of drugs on young people, and practical advice for individuals dealing with grief or considering seeking mental health support ensues. 0:00 Let's begin 2:52 Mourning vs. Depression 6:08 Is going to a therapist a fad? 8:36 How would you define depression? 10:30 Should mental help centres be open 24x7? 16:11 Mobile phones are like guns with live bullets 19:52 COVID helped some families to get back some quality of life 23:18 What’s the actual difference between psychiatrist and psychologist? 26:37 How do you select which professional to seek help from? 29:10 Preserve our family system 30:00 The current generation has it particularly difficult 35:53 Impact of educational pressures on today’s children 49:34 Should we legalise drugs like Cannabis? 51:34 Legalisation of drugs is the future

One of India's most-loved creators, Ishan Sharma opens up about his journey, his reasons for becoming a creator and what makes him tick. Ishan shares his reasons behind dropping out of college and is someone who has found success by carving his own path through social media and entrepreneurship. Despite the challenges of managing a YouTube channel, a social media services agency, and adjusting to the demands of college, Ishan chose to leave college to fully commit to his passions. Throughout the conversation, Ishan shares his motivations for starting on YouTube to improve his communication skills, the realisation of needing to market one's skills effectively, and how he built and grew his business leveraging his alumni network. He accepts that he faces doubts and the uncertainty of not having a traditional educational path, but Ishan emphasises the importance of hard work, staying true to one's values, and continuously learning and adapting. The hosts discuss the changing perceptions of success and education, the impact of social media on learning and connections, and the importance of planning for life's unpredictability. 0:00 Let’s begin! 00:52 Dropping out of college 03:27 Why did you start your YouTube journey? 04:57 Important to know how to pitch and sell 07:16 Marker 07:16 Family support 09:44 Time Management 11:01 More friends or fewer friends? 13:51 Struggles of dropping out 17:40 Reality of the creator life 27:13 Side Hustle or Work-life Balance? 29:10 Hunger for learning 33:51 Future plans? Or go with the flow? 36:17 Please, look up from your phones! 38:36 Planning for the future 43:20 Books, not social media, are the best way to learn 44:57 Tips to grow The Oddcast