The Room She Built

Pam Newman & Karen Loader
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Entrepreneurship

The Room She Built is a podcast for women who didn't wait for permission. Hosted by Pam Newman and Karen Loader, two women who have built businesses, careers, and lives inside systems that were never designed for them. The Room She Built features honest conversations about leadership, ambition, identity, resilience, and what it really takes to create success on your own terms. Each episode features candid stories from founders, executives, creatives, and changemakers who have challenged expectations, navigated setbacks, and built something meaningful. No polished corporate narratives. No pretending to have it all figured out. Just real conversations about the wins, the struggles, the lessons, and the moments that changed everything. Whether you're building a business, leading a team, reinventing yourself, or simply looking for a room where your voice belongs, pull up a chair. This room was built for you.

Episodes

  1. 2d ago

    Ep 4: Changing The Game, with Tandi McCallum

    Professional golfer, coach, SuperSport commentator, mom, and a woman who has spent nearly two decades building a career in a sport that has not always made it easy for women to succeed. Tandi MacCallum started playing golf seriously at 14, after the death of her father, and went on to represent South Africa, compete in Europe, win the SA Women’s Open, and most recently make history as the first woman to win the PGA National Order of Merit. She is also a back-to-back Women’s PGA National Champion. But this conversation is about far more than golf. Tandi opens up about the financial reality of being a female professional athlete, the enormous pressure she placed on herself to make the career work, and the surprising way that taking some of that pressure off actually helped her become a better player. She shares the moment she almost walked away from golf completely, only to play some of the best rounds of her life the very next day, and the lesson that followed: sometimes giving in is very different from giving up. We also talk about motherhood and returning to professional competition just eight weeks after giving birth, the reality of mom guilt, the importance of a strong support system, and how her definition of success has evolved as her life has expanded. Today, Tandi has built a multi-faceted career across playing, coaching and commentary, while also helping to create more opportunities for the next generation of women in golf. In this episode, we talk about: The journey from picking up her father’s golf clubs at 14 to becoming a professional golferCompeting internationally and the reality of life on tourThe financial pressure behind professional women’s sportThe disparity in prize money and sponsorship between men and womenWhy pressure can sometimes make us perform worse, not betterThe moment Tandi almost gave up golf completelyLearning to detach her identity from the resultWhy she believes she is playing some of her best golf at 40Building a career through playing, coaching and SuperSport commentaryReturning to competition eight weeks after becoming a motherMom guilt, support systems and the reality of trying to balance it allWhy enjoyment and fun are underrated ingredients in successThe changing landscape for women in South African golfWhy more sponsorship, tournaments and pathways are still neededMentoring the next generation and sharing the lessons she had to learn the hard way At the heart of this episode is a much bigger question: What changes when you stop trying to prove that you belong and start trusting that you already do? Tandi’s story is one of resilience, reinvention and learning to play her own game, both on and off the course.

  2. Jul 29

    Ep 3: The Art of Reinvention, with Kamo Moth

    Some careers are built by following the plan. Others are built by having the courage to walk away from it, and venture into the unknown. This week, we sit down with broadcaster, producer, actress and entrepreneur Kamo Moth for a conversation about identity, reinvention and what happens when you realise that the dream you've been chasing no longer fits the life you want to build. After a decade in radio and entertainment, Kamo made the difficult decision to leave an industry she had worked tirelessly to break into. Together, we unpack the pressure of proving yourself, the cost of ambition, and why walking away from success can sometimes be the bravest decision you'll ever make. From growing up with parents who expected excellence, to navigating heartbreak, confidence, purpose and starting over, this conversation is filled with wisdom for anyone standing at a crossroads. We talk about: Why "just get in the room" became the advice that shaped her careerThe difference between your public identity and who you really areWhy reinvention is impossible without growthGrieving the version of yourself you've had to leave behindBuilding confidence without waiting for permissionThe importance of community, role models and creating spaces where other women can thrive This episode is a reminder that success isn't always about holding on. Sometimes it's about having the courage to let go, trust yourself, and build something even better. If you've ever questioned your next chapter, this conversation is for you.

  3. Jul 15

    Ep 2: Unlimited Beliefs, with Paige Lindenberg

    Breaking Barriers in Motorsport and Motherhood: An Interview with Paige Lindenberg What happens when you grow up believing there are no limits? In this candid episode, Paige Lindenberg shares her inspiring journey navigating a male-dominated motorsport industry while embracing the joys and challenges of motherhood. Her story is a powerful testament to resilience, independence, and redefining success on her own terms. Key Topics: Challenges of being a woman in motorsportThe importance of resilience and mental strengthBalancing motherhood with a racing careerThe role of independence and confidence in successThe impact of upbringing and family support Connect with Paige: Instagram LinkedIn Shelby South Africa - https://shelbysouthafrica.co.za/ Road to Race - https://roadtorace.co.za/ Lindenberg Racing - https://lindenbergracing.co.za/

  4. Trailer

    Welcome to The Room She Built

    What if the stories we hear could change the way we see ourselves? The Room She Built is a space to share the real stories of women building businesses, families, communities, and lives on their own terms. We talk about leadership, resilience, ambition, and the messy middle of success. If you've ever felt like you needed permission to dream bigger, these conversations are for you.

  5. Jun 30

    EPISODE 1: There's a Seat For You Here

    The Room She Built — Pilot Episode Welcome to The Room She Built, where women’s stories, leadership, and honest conversations take center stage. In this first episode, we introduce the vision behind the podcast: a space for real, unpolished stories about success, struggle, permission, and growth. We open up about why we launched the show now, what inspired us to create a platform for women’s voices, and why authenticity matters more than a polished highlight reel. Pam shares how her entrepreneurial journey has been shaped by inconsistency, reinvention, and a deep desire to create community. Karen reflects on her career across hospitality, conservation, and fitness, and how those experiences shaped her belief in building systems, leading with excellence, and creating opportunity for others. Together, we discuss: Why women need more spaces to tell their storiesHow community can replace competitionThe reality behind success and the “messy middle”Why permission starts from withinThe difference between masculine and feminine energy in work and lifeWhat it means to build a room where everyone belongs We also explore topics we’re excited to cover in future episodes, including money, burnout, leadership, resilience, and the unspoken pressures women face while building businesses, families, and communities.This episode is a bold, vulnerable introduction to a podcast rooted in connection, courage, and truth. Key moments The origin story of The Room She BuiltPam and Karen’s personal career journeysWhy community matters more than competitionThe role of women as leaders and protectorsTheir vision for inspiring women across South Africa and beyond Main themes AuthenticityWomen’s voicesLeadershipCommunityResiliencePermissionGrowth Best for listeners who want Honest conversations about entrepreneurshipInspiration from women building meaningful lives and businesses• • A podcast that goes beyond the highlight reel

Trailer

About

The Room She Built is a podcast for women who didn't wait for permission. Hosted by Pam Newman and Karen Loader, two women who have built businesses, careers, and lives inside systems that were never designed for them. The Room She Built features honest conversations about leadership, ambition, identity, resilience, and what it really takes to create success on your own terms. Each episode features candid stories from founders, executives, creatives, and changemakers who have challenged expectations, navigated setbacks, and built something meaningful. No polished corporate narratives. No pretending to have it all figured out. Just real conversations about the wins, the struggles, the lessons, and the moments that changed everything. Whether you're building a business, leading a team, reinventing yourself, or simply looking for a room where your voice belongs, pull up a chair. This room was built for you.

Information

  • Creator
    Pam Newman & Karen Loader
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Pam Newman & Karen Loader