Have you ever paused in the middle of your day and asked yourself, Why am I really doing all of this? We often get so busy chasing goals, checking boxes, and living up to expectations that we forget to step back and look at what’s truly driving us.

In this episode we’re having an honest conversation about finding and redefining...your “why.” Your why isn’t just a motivational phrase or a vision board exercise. It’s the deeper reason you show up every day. And here’s the thing: your why doesn’t stay the same forever. It grows and evolves as you do.

Together, we’ll explore why it’s so easy to lose sight of your purpose, how to notice when you’re on autopilot, and practical steps to help you reconnect with what matters most. You’ll also hear how shifting your perspective can make even the hardest days feel more meaningful.

Whether you’re navigating a career change, working through a personal challenge, or simply craving more direction, this episode will give you space to pause and reflect. Because when you get clear on your why, everything else — your goals, your choices, even your energy — starts to line up.

So take this as your reminder: it’s never too late to check in with yourself and rediscover what really drives you.

At 20, I thought life was about proving myself and earning approval. I shape-shifted depending on who was in the room, always worried that if I slipped, people would see the “real” me. What I didn’t realize was that all that performing wasn’t protecting me..it was erasing me.

The turning point came when I finally stopped pretending and started showing up as myself. That’s when I discovered something powerful: authenticity is magnetic. People aren’t drawn to perfection; they’re drawn to truth, vulnerability, and courage.

In this episode, I share:

• The mistake I made at 20 that held me back.

• Why “auditioning” for approval never works.

• The moment I realized honesty connects more than performance ever could.

• Practical tips for catching yourself in performance mode, practicing small honesty, and finding the people who value the real you.

This isn’t just advice for your twenties. Whether you’re 20, 30, or 40+, the same lesson applies: you don’t need to have it all figured out. You don’t need to be perfect. You need to be present, courageous, and unapologetically yourself.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re faking it, chasing approval, or shrinking to fit in, this episode is for you. Tune in, reflect, and ask yourself: what would change if I stopped performing and started showing up as me, right now?

We’re told life should be a straight road—one clear direction, no detours. But real life? It turns out our life path is more like circles, spirals, and occasional scribbles. That’s not failure—it’s growth, personal transformation, and authentic self-discovery.

In this episode of Real Talk, I get vulnerable about how our journeys rarely follow a neat, linear path. I share raw, personal moments when I thought I had “arrived,” only to find myself back at a crossroads. Those loops weren’t setbacks—they were deeper layers of wisdom and healing.

You’ll hear:

• Why chasing a straight path can leave you stuck chasing someone else’s version of success

• How to recognize when life is circling you back for closure or healing

• The surprising freedom of living spherically—moving in all directions at once

• Real stories about leaving stability, revisiting relationships, and finding meaning through repeat patterns

If you’ve ever felt behind, lost, or uncertain about your next step, this episode reframes those feelings as invitations to rediscover yourself. It’s a raw, honest invitation to reframe setbacks, embrace life transitions, and trust that your unique journey is unfolding exactly as it should.

Reflective Questions to Journal On:

1. Where do I feel behind—and what if I’m actually right on time?

2. What life patterns keep resurfacing, and what might they be teaching me?

3. If I let go of the straight path, what possibility would I explore next?

Ready to go deeper? Drop a comment sharing your biggest takeaway. Subscribe so you never miss a Real Talk with Dr. Asha Prasad moment, and share this episode with anyone who needs a reminder: they’re exactly where they belong—even if it’s not on a straight line.

We’ve all blamed a lack of willpower for something.

Didn’t go to the gym? Not enough willpower.

Ate the cookies? Weak willpower.

Skipped journaling (again)? Yep — must be willpower’s fault.

But what if the problem isn’t that you’re lazy or undisciplined?

What if the real issue is friction?

In this episode of Real Talk, Dr. Asha Prasad explores a powerful shift in perspective: maybe you don’t need more motivation — maybe you need to remove the small, annoying obstacles that are standing in your way.

This episode dives into why good habits often fail — and how small environmental tweaks can lead to big change.

You’ll learn:

• Why willpower is a limited resource — and not a great long-term strategy

• What “friction” really looks like in everyday life

• How to design your space and habits for real, sustainable follow-through

• Tiny changes you can make today to get unstuck

If you’re tired of the cycle of “try hard, burn out, repeat,” this episode is your permission to stop relying on sheer force — and start making your life easier by design.

Hit play to learn how to make the things you want to do feel almost effortless — and give your future self a fighting chance.

If this episode hits home, share it with a friend, leave a review, and follow Real Talk for more honest conversations about what really holds us back — and how to move forward with clarity and ease.

Have you ever felt like you just… don’t fit in?
Like no matter how hard you try, you’re always the one who thinks differently, sees the world differently, or lives life a little off the beaten path?

You’re not alone — and you’re not wrong for it.

In this episode of Real Talk, I’m sharing some of the real stories and moments from my life when I felt like the outsider — from being caught between cultures as a kid to walking into boardrooms as an adult where I clearly didn’t match the mold.

For years, I thought I had to explain myself… or worse, shrink myself… just to make other people comfortable.
But here’s what I’ve learned:
Fitting in isn’t the goal.
Belonging to yourself is.

We’ll talk about the hidden cost of trying to blend in, why so many of us feel pressured to apologize for who we are, and how things change when you finally decide to stop hiding.

If you’ve been waiting for permission to show up as your full, unapologetic self — this is it.

Because the moment you stop apologizing for your difference… is the moment you start living in your power.

Ready for some real talk? Hit play.

And if this episode resonates with you, follow the show and share it with someone who needs this reminder. You can also leave a review or message me(info@drashaprasad.com) — I’d love to hear your story. Let’s build a community where we stop pretending and start showing up for real.

Welcome to the very first episode of Real Talk with Dr. Asha Prasad.

This is the space where we stop pretending, drop the masks, and have honest conversations about life — the good, the hard, the messy, and everything in between.

In this kickoff episode, I’m sharing my personal story of growing up caught between cultures, navigating the feeling of not quite belonging, and how learning to embrace my differences changed everything. We’ll talk about what it really means to “fit in,” why we feel pressure to hide parts of ourselves, and how liberating it is to finally stop playing by everyone else’s rules.

I’ll also dive into some of the big life themes we’ll be exploring on this podcast — adulting, grief, identity, relationships, and dealing with the unexpected shifts life throws at us. Whether it’s figuring out how to handle aging parents, questioning everything you thought you knew, or letting go of the need to have it all together, this space is for those of us who are ready to get honest about real life.

If you’ve ever felt like the odd one out… if you’ve ever wondered, “Am I the only one who feels this way?” — you’re not alone.

This episode is my invitation to you. To stop hiding. To embrace the parts of you that don’t fit the mold. To find freedom in the messy middle of life.

Because the truth is, real talk leads to real connection.
And that’s where the magic happens.

Hit play — and let’s start this conversation together.

I’d love to hear your story — send me a message info@drashaprasad.com or leave a review and tell me how you’re showing up real in your life.