vrss Podcast

In the vrss podcast, we dive into the psychology, science, and soul of combat sports. We bring you conversations with people at the top of their fields: from world champions and legends of the game, to the doctors, neuroscientists, psychologists, and coaches pushing performance to new levels. At its heart, vrss means two things: You versus the fight, whatever form that takes. And the verses that get written through it.We’re here to go deeper into those stories. Into the internal fight, the philosophies, the truths. Into what fighting really teaches us. How it rewires the brain, the body, the mind. And what strength really means - on the mats, and far beyond them.Because the outside never tells the whole story. The real strength is from within.

vrss Podcast is a sports podcast hosted by Liana, with 12 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Liana hosts vrss Podcast, a sports show with 12 episodes published.

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  vrss Podcast

  Anaïs Verny: Why Athletes Overthink Under Pressure (And How to Trust Your Training)

  Aug 1, 20261h 8m

  There comes a point in every athlete's journey when the body is ready, but the mind isn't. Why does that happen? In this episode of the VRSS Podcast, psychologist and mental performance coach Anaïs Verny explains why pressure doesn't create new habits. It reveals the ones you've already built. Together, we explore why athletes overthink under pressure, how genuine self-trust is developed, and why the goal isn't to eliminate fear, but to perform alongside it. In this episode: why overthinking disrupts performance how CBT and ACT help athletes respond differently to pressure why self-trust is built through evidence, not confidence how visualisation complements physical training why nervousness isn't something to fear practical tools for building confidence before competition routines, journalling, and success logs for improving performance how to bounce back after setbacks and return to the process Anaïs Verny is a psychologist and mental performance coach based in Bangkok. Drawing on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and her own experience as a competitive golfer, she helps athletes develop practical strategies for performing under pressure. Whether you're a fighter, coach, or athlete in any sport, this conversation offers practical, evidence-informed strategies for building trust, regulating pressure, and performing closer to your true ability when it matters most. This is Anaïs Verny, and this is the VRSS Podcast. Like and subscribe to VRSS for conversations exploring the psychology, science, and soul of combat sports.

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  Episode #13

  Puja Tomar: From Budhana Village to the UFC - The First Indian Woman to Make History

  May 25, 202654 minS1

  Puja Tomar didn't just make history. She made it from scratch. No gym. No coach. No blueprint. Just a dream she saw on a screen, a friend to train with in a park, and a stubbornness that outlasted every obstacle her culture, her country, and her circumstances could throw at her. In this episode, we sit down with the first Indian woman ever signed to the UFC - and we go all the way back to the beginning. We get into: What it meant to be born a girl in Uttar Pradesh - and the weight that came with it Her father's death, and the secret newspaper clipping he left behind Training in parks, watching YouTube, and building a fighting career with nothing Her first MMA fight and what she did with her earnings Stepping into ONE Championship with no corner and a stranger she'd just met The walk to the UFC cage and what she was thinking What she wants to open up for every girl watching from India Faith, loss, and finding peace inside the fight This is a story about what happens when the door doesn't exist yet - and you decide to build it anyway. This is Puja Tomar, and this is the VRSS podcast.

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  Episode #12

  Ben Woolliss: ONE Championship Debut, 20 Years in the Making, and When Your Body Won’t Let You Fight

  Mar 24, 20261h 12mS1

  This episode was recorded just days after Ben Woolliss found out he would be making his ONE Championship debut - stepping up on short notice to face former world champion John Lineker. He had just under two weeks notice. But this was 20 years in the making. In this episode, we break down what it actually means to be ready at the highest level of combat sports. Ben Woolliss is a two-time kickboxing world champion and professional MMA fighter, with over two decades of experience across Muay Thai, kickboxing, and MMA. We get into: Preparing for a ONE Championship debut on short notice How 20 years of training shows up under pressure Emotional regulation and why Ben feels most calm in the ring How elite fighters use pattern recognition instead of reacting Fighting with Crohn’s disease and managing a chronic condition as an athlete What it’s like when your body won’t let you fight Rebuilding your body, mindset, and identity after setbacks The difference between obsession and discipline Building a life and business alongside fighting This is a conversation about readiness, resilience, and identity - and what it really takes to step into the moment when it finally comes. This is Ben Woolliss, and this is the VRSS podcast. 🔗 Join Ben’s 365 community: https://www.skool.com/365/about

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  Episode #9

  Jordy Sullivan: Weight Cutting, Health, and the Limits of the Human Body

  Feb 19, 20261h 30mS1

  <p>What actually happens inside the body when fighters train hard, restrict food, dehydrate, and push past their limits - and how do you fuel champions without compromising long-term health?</p><p>In this episode of the VRSS podcast, Liana sits down with Jordan Sullivan (aka The Fight Dietitian), one of the leading performance nutritionists in combat sports and the nutrition strategist behind multiple world champions, including Alexander Volkanovski and Israel Adesanya.</p><p>Together, they explore both sides of elite performance: extreme stress and intelligent support.</p><p>In this conversation, they discuss:</p><p>How the body responds...

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  Episode #9

  Dr. Tim Carroll: Motor Learning, Performance, and Trusting the Nervous System

  Jan 22, 20261h 17mS1

  <p>What actually happens in your brain when a movement finally clicks? And why does thinking about it sometimes make everything fall apart under pressure?</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode of the VRSS podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Timothy Carroll, one of the world’s leading researchers in motor control and motor learning at the University of Queensland.</p><p><br></p><p>Tim studies how humans learn to move, and his work challenges many of the assumptions athletes and coaches hold about training, feedback, and performance.</p><p><br></p><p>We explore why most skil...

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