Charlotte Flair says her new podcast, Off The Pedestal with Ashley Fliehr, is nearing its official launch.
Flair discussed the project during an appearance on Set, Hut! with Russell Wilson and Kyle Long, confirming that listeners should expect the show to arrive within the next several weeks. The podcast was first revealed during the summer of 2026 and will be presented under Flair’s real name, Ashley Fliehr.
For one of WWE’s most decorated and consistently visible performers, the decision to enter the podcast space was not simply a matter of expanding her platform. Flair explained that the project emerged from an intensely personal period in her life: the time she spent away from wrestling after tearing her knee.
That forced absence, she said, led her to examine how closely she had tied her identity and self-worth to competing inside the ring. Rather than treating the podcast as another celebrity venture, Flair intends to use it as a forum for athletes to have candid conversations about subjects that can be difficult to address publicly.
For more background on this topic, read WWE Raw Holds at 2.5 Million Netflix Views for September 28 Episode.
A Purpose Beyond the Ring
Flair said the uncertainty of being sidelined was central to why she wanted to create Off The Pedestal with Ashley Fliehr. Wrestling has been the defining focus of her life, and losing the ability to perform left her confronting questions that had been easier to avoid while she was active.
“Yes, it launches in a few weeks,” Flair said. “While I was out on injury, when I tore my knee, I really needed to find purpose because, I don’t know about you guys, but wrestling is my life. So, when I wasn’t in the ring, I was kind of like, ‘Who am I?’”
That question is at the core of the show’s apparent mission. Flair described how her sense of value was not necessarily rooted only in championships, but in the routine and presentation of being a wrestler: lacing up her boots, wearing the robe and crown, and preparing to fight.
For a performer whose WWE career has been built around occupying major positions and pursuing the highest accomplishments available, that separation from the ring became a significant emotional adjustment. Flair’s remarks frame the podcast as a response to that adjustment, one designed to explore what happens when an athlete’s work, identity, ambition, and public image are all intertwined.
She said she came to believe that she could still help others during that period, and that doing so gave her a renewed sense of purpose. The show will provide a vehicle for those conversations while allowing Flair to speak from her own experiences rather than only from the perspective of an in-ring character.
Addressing Difficult Conversations
Flair emphasized that she did not launch the podcast merely because the format has become common among athletes and entertainers. Instead, she wants to establish a space where guests can discuss mental and emotional pressures that are often present in elite sports but not always openly examined.
“Not that I woke up one day and was like, man, I really wanna have a podcast because everyone has a podcast,” Flair said. “But I wanted to create a space for athletes where we can kind of talk about these conversations that I think necessarily haven’t been… comfortable to talk about.”
Among the subjects Flair identified were body dysmorphia, self-worth issues, the burden of reaching the top of a profession, and the mental and emotional cost of sustaining that position. Her comments point toward a show that will move beyond wrestling stories alone, even if wrestling remains inseparable from her own journey.
Flair openly acknowledged that she has experienced body dysmorphia and struggles related to self-worth. She also spoke about the pressures associated with success, particularly the fear of losing the place one has worked to attain. In a competitive environment, reaching the top does not necessarily make the demands disappear. In many cases, it creates another challenge: trying to remain there.
“When you’re at the top, you never want to not be at the top,” Flair said.
That idea carries particular significance for an athlete whose career has included sustained expectations, high-profile matches, championship pursuits, and the constant scrutiny that accompanies being one of WWE’s most recognizable stars. The title of the podcast itself, Off The Pedestal, reflects the broader concept of stepping away from assumptions surrounding status, achievement, and public perception.
Flair said her knee injury brought her down from the place she had been professionally and emotionally. While difficult, she now views that setback as something that made it possible to rebuild and return with a different understanding of herself.
“For me, hurting my knee brought me down here, which I was like, OK, I needed that dip to get back to here and that’s why I’m doing that podcast,” Flair said.
Ric Flair and T.J. Wilson Have Recorded Episodes
The initial guest list has not been fully detailed, but two notable names have already recorded material for the podcast: Ric Flair and WWE producer T.J. Wilson.
Ric Flair’s inclusion gives the series an opportunity for a conversation involving one of professional wrestling’s most famous figures and his daughter, whose own career has placed her among the leading stars of her generation. The relationship between Charlotte Flair and Ric Flair has long been part of WWE’s wider public narrative, but the podcast format may offer a more personal setting for discussion than a conventional wrestling interview or television segment.
Wilson, meanwhile, brings another perspective from inside WWE. As a producer, he has experience on the creative and performance side of the company, making his appearance a potentially valuable addition to a program focused on the realities athletes face beyond what audiences see in the ring.
Neither the full lineup of guests nor an exact premiere date was announced in Flair’s comments. However, her confirmation that the launch is only weeks away provides the clearest timing update since the podcast was initially announced.
A New Outlet for Charlotte Flair
The move represents a new type of public platform for Flair. WWE has provided the stage on which she has built her career, while interviews and social media have allowed fans glimpses of the person behind the on-screen presentation. A podcast offers something different: the possibility of extended, direct conversations centered on subjects that may not fit within the typical rhythms of wrestling programming.
Flair’s stated goals also distinguish the show from a format focused solely on match stories, career retrospectives, or wrestling news. Those elements could still arise depending on the guests and discussions, but she has made clear that the larger purpose is to talk honestly about identity, pressure, recovery, and emotional well-being.
That approach follows directly from the personal challenge she described. Being unable to wrestle forced Flair to confront the degree to which the job had become her primary measure of self. Her upcoming show is intended to turn that experience into a conversation that can be useful for other athletes who have faced similar uncertainty, whether through injury, setbacks, changing roles, or the demands of maintaining elite success.
Off The Pedestal with Ashley Fliehr is expected to launch in the coming weeks. With Ric Flair and T.J. Wilson already confirmed as recorded guests, Flair’s new venture is positioned to begin with connections to the wrestling world while pursuing discussions that reach beyond the ring.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.