Her knee injury prompted a search for purpose
Summary
– Charlotte Flair said her injury recovery inspired Off the Pedestal
– Time away made her question how closely she tied self-worth to wrestling
– The podcast will give athletes space to discuss personal struggles
Charlotte Flair says her upcoming podcast, Off the Pedestal, grew from the questions she faced while recovering from a torn knee.
Speaking on Set, Hut!, Flair explained that being unable to wrestle forced her to reconsider her identity outside the ring. Performing had become such a central part of her life that its absence left her searching for purpose.
“When I wasn’t in the ring, I was kind of like, who am I?”
Flair said her sense of self-worth was tied less to championships than to the routine of wrestling: lacing her boots, hearing the crowd, and competing.
During recovery, she began thinking about how she could help others. That eventually developed into the idea for a podcast where athletes could speak openly about experiences they might otherwise keep private.
Flair wants Off the Pedestal to explore subjects including body image, self-worth, and the mental and emotional pressures of reaching the top of a profession.
“I wanted to create a space for athletes where we can kind of talk about these conversations,” she explained.
She also spoke about her own experiences with body dysmorphia and the pressure to remain successful. Flair said focusing on staying at the top had sometimes meant putting her personal needs aside.
The injury interrupted that cycle. Although the recovery period was difficult, she now sees it as a setback that helped her reassess her priorities.
Off the Pedestal reflects that experience, allowing Flair to connect with fellow athletes through conversations about the challenges behind their public careers.
