Running clubs, obstacle races, hybrid fitness competitions and marathons are changing the way Indians think about staying fit. Increasingly, it’s not just about losing weight, building muscle or improving endurance. It’s also about finding your people, challenging yourself and making room for real-world connections in an increasingly digital life.

In this episode, host Kritika Sharma, Assistant Editor with TOI, speaks to Adnan Adeeb, founder of Spectacom and the man who brought Devil’s Circuit to India, about the rise of participative sports and why they are resonating with a new generation of fitness enthusiasts. From building a community around obstacle races to transforming his own health at 39, Adeeb discusses how fitness can reshape confidence, mental well-being and everyday habits.

The conversation also explores Gen Z's appetite for experiences, the balance between fitness trackers and listening to your body, and why getting stronger doesn’t have to come with an age limit.

Chapters:

00:01-02:32 - Why Fitness Is Becoming a Social Experience

02:32-04:20 - What Are Participative Sports? Inside the Rise of Devil's Circuit

04:20-05:36 - From Obstacle Races to Hybrid Competitions: What’s Next for Fitness?

05:36-07:50 - Why Gen Z Is Putting Experiences Before Everything Else

07:50-10:01 - Can Running Clubs Help Fight Loneliness?

10:01-12:20 - From 98 Kg to 73 Kg: Adnan Adeeb's Fitness Transformation After 39

12:20-16:05 - Resting Heart Rate, Body Fat and Fitness Metrics: How Much Should You Track?

16:05-18:03 - Fitness Trackers and AI: Are Wearables Worth It?

18:03-19:46 - Fitness After 40: Why It’s Never Too Late to Get Stronger

19:46-21:52 - How Exercise Changes Your Mental Health and Confidence

21:52-23:08 - Raising Active Kids: Can Parents Pass on a Love of Sport?

23:08-25:19 - Gen Z vs Millennials: Who Takes Fitness More Seriously?

Cancer does not affect only the person diagnosed. It can change the lives of entire families, bringing emotional, financial and practical challenges along with the treatment journey.

In this episode, host Anuja Jaiswal, senior assistant editor with TOI, speaks to Dr Pragya Shukla, head of clinical oncology at Delhi State Cancer Institute, cancer survivor Kamaljeet Bisla, health policy expert Urvashi Prasad, and health insurance expert Abhijit Ghosh about what families need to know when cancer enters their lives.

Dr Shukla explains why cancer should no longer automatically be viewed as a death sentence. With advances in oncology, the focus today is not only on curing cancer but, where a cure is not possible, on controlling the disease and helping patients live with it as a chronic condition. She also highlights the importance of making effective treatments accessible and affordable, particularly for poorer patients.

Bisla shares her deeply personal journey with cervical cancer, from the shock of diagnosis when her children were young to becoming a cancer survivor two decades later. Her experience offers an important message about early detection, treatment and hope.

The conversation also looks beyond medicines. Prasad discusses the gaps in cancer screening and the importance of early and accurate diagnosis, while Ghosh explains why families need to look beyond the sum insured when choosing health insurance, including room-rent restrictions, cancer-specific sub-limits, coverage for newer treatments and restoration benefits.

The episode also explores the often-overlooked needs of caregivers, including emotional support, counselling and financial protection. A conversation about cancer, but also about early detection, better support, survivorship and the possibility of life beyond a diagnosis.

Chapters

00:00 – Cancer affects the whole family

01:15 – What does the 92% cancer figure mean?

01:53 – The financial and emotional burden of cancer

03:02 – Can we approach cancer with hope?

03:40 – Can cancer become a chronic disease?

06:28 – A survivor remembers her cancer diagnosis

10:07 – Why early and accurate diagnosis matters

12:12 – What your cancer insurance may not cover

17:15 – Supporting patients and caregivers

18:50 – Why cancer screening must become routine

20:18 – Why people fear cancer screening

21:19 – Caregivers need support too

24:21 – Cancer is not a death sentence

24:50 – Life 20 years after cancer

At 25, heart health may be the last thing on your mind. But could the lifestyle choices you make today already be shaping your heart health for the future?In this episode, host Anuja Jaiswal, a senior assistant editor with TOI, speaks to senior cardiac surgeon Dr Naresh Trehan, chairman and managing director of Medanta, about why heart disease remains a major concern in India and why younger people should not assume they are immune.

Dr Trehan explains the role of genetics, diabetes, abnormal cholesterol levels, obesity, stress, sedentary lifestyles, pollution and dietary habits in cardiovascular risk. He also discusses the idea of a personalised “health horoscope”, combining genetic information, lifestyle and biomedical parameters to identify an individual’s risk and guide preventive measures. The conversation also explores what healthy living really means. Dr Trehan stresses on moderation rather than deprivation, regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, managing stress and keeping track of important health numbers. He recommends 40 minutes of brisk walking five times a week as a simple form of cardiovascular exercise, and explains why people who spend long hours sitting should take regular movement breaks.

Why are some apparently healthy young people collapsing suddenly? Dr Trehan explains that heart attacks are not the only concern. Undiagnosed rhythm disorders, abnormal heart muscles, valve disease and congenital heart conditions can also lead to serious events. He discusses warning signs including breathlessness, palpitations, unusual fatigue and recurring chest, jaw or back pain, and why symptoms should not simply be dismissed as acidity.

The episode also touches on energy drinks, pre-workout supplements, ageing, muscle loss and GLP-1 medicines, including what is known and what still requires longer-term evidence. It wraps up with a conversation on recognising risk early, making informed lifestyle choices, and taking heart health seriously at every age.

Chapters

00:01 – Why young Indians need to think about heart health

02:27 – The three major risk factors for heart disease

03:23 – Can your genes predict your heart risk?

05:15 – From treatment to prevention

07:08 – Stress, pollution and your heart

09:35 – How much does family history matter?

10:32 – What does a healthy diet really mean?

12:01 – How your health changes with age

13:44 – Why apparently healthy young people can collapse suddenly

18:00 – Why Indians face a higher heart-disease risk

20:07 – How technology is changing heart care

26:24 – The three things you must do for your heart

33:06 – Is one hour of exercise enough if you sit all day?

38:07 – Heart warning signs you should never ignore

42:24 – GLP-1 drugs and heart health