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What happens when someone has been “the strong one” for so long… they forget they’re allowed to need support too?

In this episode of Manders Mindset, host Amanda Russo sits down with PK (Prakash) for a conversation that’s equal parts grounding, honest, and deeply human. PK opens up about growing up in the UK in a South Asian family while helping care for two older siblings with profound learning disabilities, one of whom is his twin and how that responsibility shaped his identity, empathy, and purpose.

Together, Amanda and PK explore the pressure of holding everything together, the moment his friends lovingly intervened and changed his life, and why his biggest lesson is simple but powerful: It’s okay to not be okay. 

From using travel as a form of mental reset, to navigating unexpected open-heart surgery, to learning how to let community show up...

This episode is for anyone who carries a lot… and is ready to stop carrying it alone.🎙️

 In this episode, listeners will discover:
❤️ How being a lifelong caregiver shaped PK’s identity, empathy, and resilience
🧠 Why hiding what you’re going through can feel safer… until it doesn’t
🤝 The power of community and what changes when people are finally allowed in
✈️ How travel became PK’s reset button for mental health and recovery
🫀 What open-heart surgery taught him about surrender, support, and perspective
🌍 Why letting go of others’ opinions can become a turning point
🌿 A reminder that applies to everyone: It’s okay to not be okay

⏰ Timeline Summary:

 [1:44] Growing up South Asian in the UK while caring for two siblings with complex needs
 [7:47] PK’s education journey through engineering, career pivots, and finding his path
 [11:07] College, commuting, and the exhaustion of living with his head in two worlds
 [15:57] The friend intervention that broke the silence and changed everything
 [23:03] Learning to stop putting himself last and why 10–15 minutes of “me time” matters
 [25:32] Travel, music, and switching off to come back stronger
 [36:09] Open-heart surgery, unexpected support, and why tough times bring out the magic
 [41:47] PK’s biggest aha: Control isn’t required to get through life.

To Connect with Amanda:

Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE

📸 Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess

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To Connect with PK:

Instagram: @official.thisisme