Life After Getting Cut Off by My Parents, Building a Pharmacy Empire & Battling the PBMs

Raised in a traditional Sri Lankan household, Tania’s education and achievement were everything. Originally on track for a career in medicine, Tania studied microbiology and completed hospital internships in Houston. But mentors encouraged her to explore sales and marketing, recognizing her strong people skills. Choosing to pivot away from medicine caused major conflict at home, and her family withdrew their support, forcing her to become fully independent and build her career from the ground up.She started in entry-level healthcare roles and worked her way up through pharmacy sales, eventually leading teams and managing multi-state operations. After more than a decade in the industry, she decided to buy her own independent pharmacy in Houston—both to continue her work and to test out a concept for supporting other independent pharmacies.Now, after several years of ownership, Tania has turned her focus to advocacy and innovation. Drawing on her medical background and firsthand experience in the pharmacy world, her mission is to help independent pharmacies survive and to expand access to essential medications for patients who need them most.GUESTTania KangaTania is a Houston-based entrepreneur dedicated to protecting and empowering independent pharmacies. With a background in microbiology and over a decade in pharmaceutical sales, she’s seen firsthand how access gaps affect patients. Today, as the owner of TPS pharmacy and Founder of Prescribox, she’s on a mission to help independent pharmacies thrive and make medications more accessible for everyone.Connect with Tania on LinkedInLearn more about TPS Pharmacy and PrescriboxFollow TPS Pharmacy on Instagram @tps_pharmacyFollow Prescribox on Instagram @prescriboxMatt Handy is the founder of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas, where their mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for anyone facing addiction, mental health challenges, and co-occurring disorders.About Harmony Grove Behavioral Health Harmony Grove delivers outpatient addiction and mental health treatment focused on wellness, creativity, and authentic human connection—providing a supportive space for healing that extends beyond traditional clinical care.Harmony Grove’s IOP in Houston, Texas, is more than a program; it’s a lifeline for those ready to take the next step in their recovery. We are ready to meet you where you are and find your unique path to change. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available.  If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction and recovery through conversations with those whose lives have changed.For anyone disillusioned with traditional recovery and feeling left out, misunderstood, or weighed down by unrealistic expectations, this podcast looks ahead—rejecting the lies and dogma that keep people from imagining life without using.Got a question for us? Leave us a message or voicemail at mylastrelapse.comFind us on YouTube @MyLastRelapse and follow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17Host: Matthew HandyProducer: Eva SheieAssistant Producer: Mary Ellen ClarksonEngineering: Chris MannTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.com