Over This Should

Pamela Meadows

Welcome to Over This Should, the podcast where we ditch societal expectations, challenge the "shoulds" holding women back, and embrace life on your own terms. Hosted by Pamela Meadows, this empowering series features inspiring conversations, expert insights, and practical strategies to help you set boundaries, boost confidence, and live authentically. Designed for women ready to step into their power, Over This Should covers topics like self-love, emotional intelligence, navigating relationships, and achieving personal and professional growth. Whether you’re redefining success, balancing life’s demands, or seeking inspiration, this podcast provides the tools and support you need to create a fulfilling, unapologetic life. Join us every week for uplifting stories, actionable advice, and thought-provoking interviews that empower you to live boldly and authentically. Let’s redefine what it means to thrive—together!

  1. The Identity Crisis Nobody Warned You About: When the Title Stops Fitting

    1d ago

    The Identity Crisis Nobody Warned You About: When the Title Stops Fitting

    Send us Fan Mail That moment when you pull into the driveway, turn the car off, and just sit there? You’re not crying. You’re not falling apart. You’re not even sure what you’re feeling. You just know something about the life you’ve built doesn’t feel like it fits the way it used to. In this episode of Over This Should, Pamela Meadows explores the identity crisis nobody warns ambitious women about: what happens when the title, role, or version of yourself that once made you proud starts to feel like a costume you can’t wait to take off. Drawing from research on professional identity transitions and “possible selves,” Pamela unpacks why you can’t always think your way into your next chapter. Sometimes, you have to try your way there. You’ll learn why the “parking lot moment” is not a breakdown, why outgrowing an old identity doesn’t mean you wasted your life, and how to begin experimenting with the next version of yourself through small, honest “try-ons.” This episode is for the woman who has done everything right, built the career, carried the responsibilities, earned the praise, and still finds herself quietly wondering: Who am I if I’m not the one doing all of this? You are not having a crisis. You may be having a homecoming. In this episode, you’ll learn:  Why the role that once fit can start to feel too small  How conditioning keeps high-achieving women tied to outdated identities  What research says about acting your way into a new identity  How “possible selves” can help you understand the pull toward something new  A simple four-step practice called Try-On Days  Why the next version of you does not require blowing up your life Reflection prompt: Complete this sentence:  I might be the woman who… Then choose one small try-on this week. Not a life overhaul. Just one honest experiment. Share this episode with a woman who is not falling apart, but may be coming back to herself.

    19 min
  2. The Reliable One Is Tired

    May 21

    The Reliable One Is Tired

    Send us Fan Mail The reliable one is tired. She remembers the appointments, tracks the deadlines, manages the emotional temperature of the room, and somehow knows when the upstairs bathroom needs more toilet paper. She is capable, trusted, praised, and quietly exhausted. In this episode of Over This Should, Pamela Meadows unpacks the hidden cost of being the dependable one everyone counts on. From the competence trap to invisible labor, emotional over-functioning, and the quiet resentment that builds when your reliability becomes your identity, this episode is for the high-achieving woman who looks fine but feels far away from herself. This is not about becoming unreliable. It is about becoming reliably honest with yourself. If you have ever thought, “I just need to get through this week,” for three years straight, this one is for you.

    23 min

  3. May 14

    The Tampon, the Boardroom & the Practice That Changed My Career

    Send us Fan Mail There are moments in life where your brain becomes fully convinced your career is over. Not because you failed. Not because you weren’t prepared. But because you had one deeply human moment in front of other people. In this episode of Over This Should, Pamela shares the hilarious and horrifying story of accidentally pulling a tampon out of her work bag during a leadership meeting… and the powerful realization that came from it years later: Self-leadership is not about being perfectly polished. It’s about not abandoning yourself when discomfort shows up. This episode dives into: Why ambitious women are conditioned to equate perfection with credibilityThe neuroscience behind embarrassment, self-criticism, and nervous system threat responsesWhy beating yourself up actually makes you less effective under pressureThe “3-Second Stay” practice for handling awkward, emotional, or uncomfortable moments in real timeHow to build true confidence by staying with yourself instead of spiralingIf you’ve ever replayed a meeting in your head for three business days… convinced everyone noticed the one thing you did wrong… this episode is for you. You are not disqualified by your humanity. You are connected through it. Come hang out with Pamela on Instagram and LinkedIn @thepamelameadows and share your own “tampon story.” Because we’ve all got one.

    13 min

  4. May 7

    The Runaway Yes: Why Women Say Yes When We Want to Say No

    Send us Fan Mail How many times have you said “yes” before you even checked your calendar… your energy… or your actual desire to do the thing? In this episode of Over This Should, Pamela dives into the hidden conditioning behind people-pleasing, overcommitting, and being “the reliable one.” From the nervous-system response that makes women automatically say yes, to the research showing most people already expect rejection when they ask for favors, this episode will completely change the way you think about boundaries. You’ll learn:  Why saying yes has become an automatic survival response for so many women  The psychological research behind requests, guilt, and obligation  The real emotional and physical cost of chronic overcommitment  Pamela’s “24-Hour Yes” framework to stop agreeing out of pressure and start choosing intentionally  Simple scripts for saying no without guilt spirals or overexplaining If you’ve ever hung up the phone already regretting what you agreed to… this one is for you. Because the goal isn’t becoming someone who says no to everything. It’s becoming someone who says yes on purpose.

    13 min

  5. Mar 6

    I Should Feel Confident By Now: The Real Root of Imposter Syndrome

    Send us Fan Mail Have you ever looked around a room and thought: “Everyone here knows what they’re doing… except me.” Even though you’re qualified.  Even though you’ve earned your seat.  Even though people trust your leadership. That quiet voice saying “they’re going to find out” has a name: imposter syndrome. And if you’ve felt it, you are far from alone. Research suggests up to 70% of high-achieving professionals experience imposter feelings at some point in their careers. In this solo episode of Over This Should, Pamela breaks down the deeper truth behind imposter syndrome and why it shows up most often in capable, ambitious women. This conversation goes beyond surface-level advice. Pamela walks through a Five Whys analysis to uncover the real root cause of imposter syndrome and how it’s often tied to belonging, achievement conditioning, and the pressure to perform. You’ll learn: • Why imposter syndrome is most common among high performers • The hidden connection between achievement and belonging • How “gold star conditioning” follows women into leadership roles • The subtle ways imposter syndrome affects visibility, negotiation, and decision making • Five practical shifts to rebuild self-trust and leadership confidence If you’ve ever thought: “I should feel more confident by now.” This episode is for you. Because confidence isn’t a prerequisite for leadership.  Self-trust is. 🎧 Listen in and start dismantling the “should” that keeps so many brilliant women playing smaller than they deserve.

    11 min

  6. Feb 27

    The Invisible Moment You Started Abandoning Yourself

    Send us Fan Mail There is a moment most high-achieving women can’t name. It doesn’t look dramatic.  It doesn’t look reckless.  It looks responsible. In this episode, Pamela explores the subtle, invisible pattern that quietly erodes confidence, fuels resentment, and leaves capable women feeling exhausted while still appearing wildly competent. We’re talking about self-abandonment. Not quitting your job.  Not blowing up your life.  But the micro-moments where you override your own needs to preserve peace, prove value, or avoid being “too much.” Inside this conversation, you’ll learn: • The research behind self-silencing and why women internalize stress  • How over-consenting disguises itself as leadership  • Why adaptability is both your superpower and your risk  • The early conditioning that trains high performers to disappear  • A simple awareness shift that rebuilds self-trust If you’ve ever said:  “I’m fine.”  “I can handle it.”  “It’s easier if I just do it.” …this episode will feel uncomfortably familiar in the best way. This is not about becoming someone new. It’s about noticing the moment you left yourself — and choosing differently. Welcome back to Over This Should.

    8 min

  7. 10/01/2025

    Breaking the Silence: This Survivor's Journey

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Pamela Meadows discusses her personal experiences with sexual assault, the impact of societal narratives on victims, and the importance of empowering survivors. She addresses current media coverage, systemic issues in the justice system, and the pervasive culture of victim blaming. The conversation highlights the importance of accountability, support for survivors, and a call to action for listeners to take a stand for change. Takeaways This episode contains a trigger warning for sensitive topics.Pamela shares her personal story of sexual assault.The impact of societal narratives on victims is profound.Media coverage often perpetuates victim-blaming.Statistics reveal systemic issues in handling sexual assault cases.Victim blaming is reinforced through cultural narratives.Empowering survivors is crucial for healing and advocacy.Anger can be transformed into actionable strategies.Support for survivors should be prioritized in policies.We must challenge the narratives that silence victims.

    18 min

  8. 04/28/2025

    When Speaking Up Feels Like a Risk: Feminism, DEI, and Still Finding My Voice in 2025

    Send us Fan Mail In today's episode, I'm getting real about something I've been wrestling with: how do you raise your voice for what’s right without alienating the people you want to reach? This episode is not a perfectly polished TED Talk. It's messy. It's real. It’s the tug-of-war between anger and hope. Between truth and fear. And if you’ve ever felt like your passion might make you "too much," this one’s for you. Key Topics We Cover: The truth behind the Arlington National Cemetery website changesThe 2025 crackdown on DEI language in federal grants and public universitiesWhy being “palatable” can sometimes be a trapHow to find your voice—and your power—when the world wants you quietBalancing righteous anger with the desire for connection and changeQuotes to Remember: “You can be kind and disruptive. You can love people and still hold them accountable. Truth doesn’t require you to whisper.”   Loved this episode? 🔥 Share it with someone who’s finding their voice right now. 🔥 Leave a review to help more women break free from the "shoulds." 🔥 Connect with me on Instagram at @thepamelameadows and tell me what part resonated most. Let’s keep showing up—loud, soft, messy, brilliant—and everything in between.

    17 min
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5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Welcome to Over This Should, the podcast where we ditch societal expectations, challenge the "shoulds" holding women back, and embrace life on your own terms. Hosted by Pamela Meadows, this empowering series features inspiring conversations, expert insights, and practical strategies to help you set boundaries, boost confidence, and live authentically. Designed for women ready to step into their power, Over This Should covers topics like self-love, emotional intelligence, navigating relationships, and achieving personal and professional growth. Whether you’re redefining success, balancing life’s demands, or seeking inspiration, this podcast provides the tools and support you need to create a fulfilling, unapologetic life. Join us every week for uplifting stories, actionable advice, and thought-provoking interviews that empower you to live boldly and authentically. Let’s redefine what it means to thrive—together!

Information

  • Creator
    Pamela Meadows
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Over This Should
  • Show Website
    Over This Should