In this episode of The Pharmacy Planet Podcast, Boo Dhaliwal sits down with professional boxer, bodybuilding coach, and online fitness entrepreneur Aji "The General" Sharif to explore the realities of elite performance, muscle building, weight loss, and the ever-changing world of fitness.Aji shares his journey from competitive powerlifting into amateur boxing, including stepping into the ring with Anthony Joshua, before turning professional and later building a successful online coaching business through Vertex Fitness Coaching.The conversation explores the highs and lows of competing at the highest level, including the career-changing eye injury that forced Aji away from boxing, and how he rebuilt both his career and mindset through coaching and entrepreneurship.Boo and Aji also tackle some of the biggest topics dominating the fitness industry today, including protein supplements, creatine, peptides, weight loss injections such as GLP-1 medications, muscle preservation during weight loss, and separating evidence-based advice from social media myths.The episode also offers a fascinating insight into building a fitness business in Dubai, life in the UAE during periods of regional conflict, and what it really takes to stay disciplined while helping thousands of people achieve their fitness goals.💡 Whether you're interested in boxing, bodybuilding, weight loss, supplements, or simply becoming healthier, this conversation delivers practical advice, honest opinions, and plenty of laughs along the way.🎧 What This Conversation Covers• Aji Sharif's journey from powerlifting to professional boxing• Fighting Anthony Joshua as an amateur boxer• Transitioning into bodybuilding and online coaching• Recovering from a career-changing torn retina injury• The supplements Aji actually recommends• Creatine, whey protein and evidence-based nutrition• The truth about peptides and unlicensed gym supplements• GLP-1 weight loss medications, muscle loss and training advice• Building Vertex Fitness Coaching in Dubai• Life in the UAE during the Iran-Israel conflict• Coaching clients around the world through online fitness• Quick-fire questions with Aji "The General" Sharif🔗 LINKS👉 Aji "The General" Sharif📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vertexfitnesscoaching/👉 Pharmacy Planet🌐 https://www.pharmacyplanet.com/🎧 Listen on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/1xs0BApZk55bgrQz7PN7VW👉 Boo Dhaliwal📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boo_pharmacyplanet/💼 LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/boo-dhaliwal-85680b136🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@boo_pharmacyplanetFrom stepping into the ring with Anthony Joshua to coaching clients across the globe, Aji Sharif's career has been built on discipline, resilience and a relentless drive to improve.This episode explores what it really takes to build strength, recover from setbacks, and cut through the noise surrounding supplements, performance, and weight loss. Whether you're a gym beginner or an experienced athlete, there's something here for anyone looking to improve their health and fitness with practical, evidence-informed advice.#PharmacyPlanetPodcast #AjiSharif #VertexFitness #Boxing #Bodybuilding #FitnessCoach #WeightLoss #GLP1 #Supplements #Creatine #Protein #DubaiFitness #OnlineCoach #StrengthTraining #HealthPodcast #FitnessPodcast #PharmacyPlanet

In this special episode of The Pharmacy Planet Podcast, Boo Dhaliwal is joined by experienced pharmacy contractors Sharn Dev, Suraj Varia, and Kashif Ismail to discuss the newly announced Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) settlement for 2026.Representing independent pharmacies across Surrey, London, and Hertfordshire, the panel shares a candid, frontline perspective on what the latest funding settlement means for contractors, pharmacy teams, and the future of community pharmacy.With the government announcing a funding package that includes a 10.3% uplift, a £200 million increase in medicines margin, and significant changes to pharmacy funding, the sector has been left asking one question:Is this enough to secure the future of community pharmacy?The discussion explores everything from medicines margin, drug shortages, and dispensing at a loss, to independent prescribing, Pharmacy First, and whether pharmacies can finally move from survival mode to sustainable growth.💡 Whether you're a pharmacy owner, superintendent pharmacist, healthcare leader, or interested in the future of NHS pharmacy services, this episode offers an honest contractor-led assessment of the Pharmacy Contract 2026 settlement.🎧 What This Conversation Covers• First reactions to the Pharmacy Contract 2026 settlement• Is a 10.3% funding uplift actually enough?• The reality behind the £200 million medicines margin increase• Drug shortages, generic pricing, and dispensing at a loss• Why contractors remain frustrated by clawbacks and margin transparency• The financial impact of high-cost medicines such as Mounjaro• Can pharmacies realistically invest using the new funding?• Is the Single Activity Fee increase meaningful?• Alternative funding models for community pharmacy• The future of clinical services and independent prescribing• Business rates, rents, staffing pressures and operational costs• Whether contractors would accept or reject the settlement• What needs to happen next to make pharmacy sustainable👥 Guests👉 Sharn Dev💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharn-dev-883415193/👉 Suraj Varia💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraj-varia-b9635428/👉 Kashif Ismail💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kashif-kashif-37m-59042641/🔗 Links👉 Pharmacy Planet🌐 https://www.pharmacyplanet.com/🎧 Listen on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/1xs0BApZk55bgrQz7PN7VW👉 Boo Dhaliwal📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boo_pharmacyplanet/💼 LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/boo-dhaliwal-85680b136🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@boo_pharmacyplanetCommunity pharmacy remains one of the most accessible parts of the NHS, but increasing operational costs, workforce pressures, medicine shortages, and funding concerns continue to challenge contractors across the UK.This discussion brings together frontline pharmacy owners to provide an honest assessment of the Pharmacy Contract 2026 settlement and what it could mean for the future of independent pharmacy, NHS services, Pharmacy First, independent prescribing, and patient care.If you work in community pharmacy, pharmacy ownership, NHS contracting, healthcare leadership, or pharmacy business, this episode offers valuable insight into one of the most important funding settlements the profession has seen in recent years.#PharmacyContract2026 #CommunityPharmacy #UKPharmacy #PharmacyFunding #PharmacyFirst #IndependentPharmacy #CPCF #NHSPharmacy #PharmacyBusiness #ContractorsPerspective #MakePharmacyGreatAgain #PharmacyPlanetPodcast #HealthcarePolicy #PharmacyLeadership #PharmacyFuture #CommunityPharmacist #NHSFunding #PharmacyOwners #IndependentPrescribing #PrimaryCare

In this episode of The Pharmacy Planet Podcast, Boo sits down with bilingual pharmacist, presenter, DJ, entrepreneur and motorsport personality Jesi Moyano to discuss what happens when you refuse to fit into a single career path.Jesi shares her journey from pharmacy student to locum pharmacist, while simultaneously building a career in motorsport presenting, CrossFit events, social media, and motorcycle touring. From presenting for Honda Racing in the British Superbike Championship to hosting major CrossFit competitions in front of tens of thousands of viewers, Jesi has carved out a career that combines healthcare, media, fitness and adventure.The conversation explores the challenges of balancing multiple identities, dealing with rejection, creating opportunities from scratch, and deciding whether traditional pharmacy alone can provide enough fulfilment for ambitious professionals.Boo and Jesi also discuss the reputation of pharmacy, the profession's future, work-life flexibility, entrepreneurship, networking, and whether pharmacists are doing enough to showcase the incredible opportunities available within the industry.💡 Whether you're a pharmacist, healthcare professional, student, entrepreneur, or someone considering a career change, this episode is packed with practical lessons on building a career that works on your own terms.🎧 What This Conversation Covers:• Jesi's unconventional route into pharmacy• Why she chose locum pharmacy for flexibility• Building a social media presence as a healthcare professional• Breaking into motorsport presenting and Honda Racing• Presenting CrossFit competitions and live events• Handling rejection and creating opportunities• Balancing pharmacy with an adrenaline-fuelled lifestyle• Hospital pharmacy vs community pharmacy• Whether pharmacists can have multiple careers• Entrepreneurship and motorcycle touring ventures• The importance of networking and personal branding• Pharmacy's reputation problem and attracting future talent• Making Pharmacy Great Again🔗 LINKS👉 Jesi Moyano📸 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/jesimoyanoo/🌐 Linktree:https://linktr.ee/jesimoyano👉 Pharmacy Planet🌐 https://www.pharmacyplanet.com/🎧 Spotify Podcast:https://open.spotify.com/show/1xs0BApZk55bgrQz7PN7VW👉 Boo Dhaliwal📸 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/boo_pharmacyplanet/💼 LinkedIn:https://uk.linkedin.com/in/boo-dhaliwal-85680b136🎵 TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@boo_pharmacyplanetJesi Moyano is a pharmacist, motorsport presenter, DJ, entrepreneur and content creator who has built a unique career across healthcare, racing, fitness and live events. Through her work in pharmacy, British Superbikes, CrossFit competitions and international presenting, Jesi demonstrates how healthcare professionals can build flexible careers that combine professional expertise with passion, creativity and personal growth.#PharmacyPlanetPodcast #JesiMoyano #PharmacyCareer #LocumPharmacist #Motorsport #HondaRacing #BritishSuperbikes #CrossFit #HealthcareCareers #WomenInMotorsport #PharmacyLife #PharmacyProfession #CareerDevelopment #Podcast #UKPharmacy #womeninstem