The TrueIcon Podcast

TrueIcon

The TrueIcon Podcast is about what really happens when you stop performing for everyone else and start building a life that actually fits you. Hosted by Jennifer DeGroff, founder of TrueIcon Inc., this show dives into honest conversations about authentic success, self-worth, burnout, boundaries, emotional wellbeing, and personal growth. You’ll hear real stories from founders, creatives, leaders, and “everyday” true icons who chose to stay true to themselves as they discover and realize their own versions of success. New episodes every other week.

  1. 3d ago

    The Side of High Performance You Don't See: Masking, Late Diagnosis & Systems That Fit

    She called it ambition. Her body called it burnout. Two decades of pushing through before a late diagnosis finally explained what had been happening all along. In this episode of the TrueIcon Podcast, Jen sits down with Emma Cowsill, ADHD executive coach and founder of EchoNorth, who works at the intersection of neurodivergent leadership and lean systems thinking. Emma now helps ADHD founders and leaders build sustainable performance without burnout. But first, she had to figure out what was costing her. They unpack the invisible cost of masking, what the burnout loop really looks like from the inside, and what shifts when you finally have language for your own experience. If you have ever felt like you are giving everything and still running on empty, this one is for you. If this episode inspired you, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review. It helps us bring more honest, real stories to listeners like you. TAKEAWAYS • Busy and purposeful are not the same thing, and the difference matters • Masking carries an invisible cost most people carry quietly for years • Neurodivergent-friendly practices make every team better, not just some • Late diagnosis can bring both relief and grief that complexity deserves space • Clarity about how you work best is a superpower, not a demand CHAPTERS 00:00 "Being busy felt like the purpose" 00:57 Welcome and the hidden cost of performance 05:27 Why inclusive design helps everyone 13:13 Two decades in corporate: the praise and the invisible cost 20:10 Living without language for your own experience 21:09 The lockdown quiz that changed everything 33:38 Sharing the diagnosis with her team first 40:12 Where lean thinking and ADHD coaching meet 47:24 Protecting your energy like your life depends on it 56:00 What Emma wants you to know right now CONNECT WITH EMMA Website: echonorth.co.uk LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/emmacowsill Instagram: instagram.com/echonorthuk YouTube: youtube.com/@EchoNorthuk Facebook: facebook.com/echonorthuk CONNECT WITH JEN & TRUEICON Instagram: instagram.com/beatrueicon Website: beatrueicon.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jenniferdegroff ABOUT EMMA Emma Cowsill is the UK's only executive coach at the intersection of neurodivergent leadership and lean systems thinking. Two decades in FTSE 100 operations, an AuDHD diagnosis that reframed everything, and a mission to help ADHD founders and leaders build structures that actually fit. ABOUT THE TRUEICON PODCAST Hosted by Jennifer DeGroff, the TrueIcon Podcast is an interview show about authenticity, growth, and redefining success on your own terms. We celebrate uniqueness, normalize imperfection, and always lift people up. #beatrueicon #staytrueandboldlygrow #neurodivergentleadership #AuDHD

  2. Jul 30

    You'll Find Belonging in Others Once You Belong to Yourself | Authenticity & Showing Up Fully

    He left home because he didn't feel seen. He built a career in New York City, found his community, and came back three years ago a different version of himself. Now he helps organizations do what took him years to figure out: build cultures where people can actually show up. In this episode of the TrueIcon Podcast, Jen sits down with Chris Walrath, VP of Growth at Walrath Recruiting, executive coach, and DEI advocate. What surprises most people about Chris? He recharges in complete silence, sipping tea and listening to jazz. The person who spends his days deep in human connection craves quiet more than anything. This conversation has that same energy: honest, unhurried, and real. Chris and Jen dig into what belonging actually looks like at work versus just fitting in, what it takes to name what you need so people can actually show up for you, and why coming home to yourself is sometimes the hardest journey of all. They also sit in the parallel moments both of them have had when everything had to be stripped away before they could hear their own voice again. If you have ever wondered whether you are actually belonging somewhere or just surviving it, this one is worth your hour. What we get into: Belonging vs. fitting in and why the difference matters at workWhat inclusion actually requires beyond good intentionsHow to name what you need so others can actually show upComing home to yourself after years of building somewhere elseWhy your values are always the road back If this episode inspired you, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review. And if someone needs to hear this one, send it their way. Connect with Chris: Instagram: @itschriswalrath LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cwalrath Facebook: facebook.com/christopher.walrath.5 Connect with Jen and TrueIcon: Instagram: @beatrueicon Website: beatrueicon.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jenniferdegroff About Chris Walrath: Workforce development leader, executive coach, and DEI advocate helping people and organizations thrive for over a decade. VP of Growth at Walrath Recruiting and Albany Business Review 40 Under 40 honoree. About the TrueIcon Podcast: Hosted by Jennifer DeGroff. An interview show about authenticity, growth, and redefining success on your own terms. Real stories, no performance, always lifting people up. #beatrueicon #staytrueandboldlygrow #Belonging #AuthenticLeadership TRUE ICON PODCAST | Chris Walrath

  3. Jul 17

    Living Proof: Anxiety, Doing It Afraid, and the Story You Tell Yourself

    You have been waiting for someone to give you permission to change your life. Tim Parent is here to tell you that person has been you the whole time. In this episode of the TrueIcon Podcast, Jen sits down with Tim Parent, host of Pieces to Wellness, author of Never Underestimate the Power of You, and a mental health advocate who turned his own lived experience with anxiety into a message that reaches people exactly when they need it. In this conversation: the story you tell yourself and what it is actually costing you, why awareness is the foundation of everything, how to do it afraid when you are not ready, what healing really looks like in the small everyday moments, and why vulnerability is your greatest strength. If you have ever caught yourself shrinking, waiting, or running on empty, this one was made for you. If this episode inspired you, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review. It helps us bring more honest, real stories to listeners like you. And if someone in your life needs to hear this one, share it with them. That is how we grow this community. Find Tim: @piecestowellness on Instagram and Facebook Pieces to Wellness Podcast on Spotify Book: Never Underestimate the Power of You Find Jen DeGroff & TrueIcon: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beatrueicon Website: https://www.beatrueicon.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferdegroff/ Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: CGRQ0DEMPRTWQXFJ #beatrueicon #staytrueandboldlygrow #mentalhealthpodcast #anxiety CHAPTERS 00:00 - Welcome and intro 02:17 - What most people don't know about Tim 06:54 - How journaling became a book and a message 10:39 - Why your purpose doesn't have to be grand 13:00 - Faux connection and instant gratification 16:50 - Defining happiness and success on your terms 22:37 - What people stuck in waiting mode are feeling 25:35 - Do it afraid: courage is action despite fear 31:07 - Awareness as the foundation of everything 35:50 - How to build awareness as a daily practice 41:00 - The story you tell yourself and how to rewrite it 44:13 - The tree and the basil: two analogies that hit 51:05 - Why vulnerability is your greatest strength 59:19 - How Tim defines success now 01:00:44 - The legacy Tim wants to leave 01:02:29 - One thing to take with you today

  4. Jul 3

    The Hidden Power of Letting Go: How Trust Transforms Your Life and Career

    Most of us feel stuck in the in-between, knowing there’s more beyond the current chaos but unsure how to get there. Jeannine Trimboli’s inspiring journey from theatre to entrepreneurship, fitness, and ultimately thriving in the trades reveals a powerful truth: transformation begins when you let go of control and trust the process. In this episode, Jeannine shares how she overcame self-doubt, built a business from scratch in the middle of personal upheaval, and found clarity in blending diverse life experiences into a purpose-driven career. You'll discover how embracing grit, curiosity, and self-awareness empowers her to lead with authenticity in industries where women are underrepresented, breaking barriers and shifting mindsets along the way. We break down specific strategies Janine used to cultivate resilience, find alignment, and cultivate a growth mindset amid challenges. Topics include redefining success, navigating difficult conversations, and harnessing the power of intentionality through meditation, journaling, and community. Her story offers a blueprint for anyone seeking to rebuild or reinvent themselves, highlighting that success isn’t a finish line but a continuous practice of inner work and openness. Why does this matter? Because without clarity and self-trust, your potential remains hidden behind fears and assumptions. But with her insights, you'll learn how to spot opportunities in disguise, whether in your career, relationships, or personal growth, and move forward with confidence, even in chaos. Perfect for anyone feeling at a crossroads or craving more alignment, Jeannine's experience reminds us that growth is ongoing, and grace is essential along the way. Her journey shows that life’s toughest moments often lead to your most authentic, powerful self. Ready to see the bigger door waiting for you? Hit play and start your next chapter. Connect with Jeannine Trimboli: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jmtrimboli LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmtrimboli Instagram: @jeanninetrimboli

  5. Jun 18

    How Hard Conversations Can Transform Your Life: Lisa Boucher on HR, Leadership and Owning Your Worth

    She got the corner office. Wore the power suit. And walked away. In this episode, Jen sits down with Lisa Boucher, HR consultant, career coach, and 6th-degree Taekwondo Black Belt with over two decades in HR. They get into why avoiding hard conversations is actually the unkind choice, how the stories we make up in our heads are almost always wrong, and what self-advocacy really looks like when you are scared to use your voice. If you have ever held back, stayed too long in the wrong room, or wondered if being direct makes you difficult, this one will change how you think about that. Subscribe, rate, and leave a review. And if someone needs to hear this, share it. Connect with Lisa: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisa_rosati_boucher LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisamboucher Facebook: https://facebook.com/LisaBoucherMentorCoach Connect with Jen and TrueIcon: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beatrueicon Website: https://www.beatrueicon.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferdegroff/ CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome and intro 03:03 The temper she had to unlearn 08:12 What happens when you stop self-advocating 21:42 The ripple effect of one conversation 34:19 Redefining what success actually looks like 36:22 The fear and freedom of going out on your own 53:53 Staying true to your values in real life 59:37 One last thing: have more fun #beatrueicon #staytrueandboldlygrow #hardconversations #hrtips

  6. Jun 4

    The Three Ingredients to Making a Bold Move with Kristen Rocco

    The Ingredients to Making a Bold Move with Kristen Rocco What's between you and your next bold move? For over 15 years, Kristen Rocco worked as a Brand Leader for global companies, mastering the art of turning corporate strategy into human connection. Today, she uses that same storytelling lens to bridge the gap between where people are and where they want to go. In this episode of the TrueIcon Podcast, Jen sits down with Kristen and dives into Kristen's experience of climbing a path that looked "right" until the quiet pull toward something more became impossible to ignore. She did not have all the answers when she made her move. She had a desire, a sense of who she wanted to become, and the courage to act anyway. Together, Jen and Kristen unpack her three-part Bold Moves framework: desire, who, and do. They go deep on what it really means to listen to yourself when everything around you says stay, how to stop waiting for certainty before you take the leap, and why your recurring desires are not random, they are data. What You Will Take Away: Desire is direction: If a want keeps coming back, it is not noise. It is a signal worth following.The bold move framework: Three questions that cut through overthinking and get you moving.You do not need certainty: Most bold moves are made without a full plan. Action comes before clarity.Community is the strategy: Who you surround yourself with shapes what you believe is possible.Authenticity is a practice: Living true is not a moment. It is a daily decision.Chapters: 00:00 Welcome and intro 03:15 Kristen's career that looked right on paper 12:40 The internal shift before anything changed externally 22:10 The bold moves framework: desire, who, and do 33:45 What fulfillment actually feels like 42:20 Fear, community, and doing it anyway 52:00 Legacy, authenticity, and what is alive right now Where to Find Kristen Rocco: Instagram: @kristenrocco LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kristenrocco Substack: kristenrocco.substack.com Podcast: Bold Moves: How Did You Know? on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/0GoOwSiG8iQo3F5Ch7OyLt Where to Find Jen DeGroff and TrueIcon: Instagram: instagram.com/beatrueicon Website: beatrueicon.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jenniferdegroff About Kristen Rocco: Kristen Rocco is a writer, speaker, and podcast host on a mission to help people stop waiting for permission and start making bold moves. Through her podcast Bold Moves: How Did You Know? and her writing on Substack, she explores the real, messy, honest stories behind major life pivots. Her work is grounded in the belief that desire is not a distraction. It is a map. About the TrueIcon Podcast: Hosted by Jennifer DeGroff, the TrueIcon Podcast is an show about authenticity, growth, and redefining success on your own terms. We celebrate uniqueness, normalize imperfection, talk values, and lift people up. Whether you are navigating a large change, building a business, or trying to find your voice, this is your space to feel empowered to step into your greatness. #beatrueicon #staytrueandboldlygrow #boldmoves #careerpivot

  7. May 21

    Equal Parts Irrational Confidence and Humility: Quitting Corporate to Build Something Real

    He did everything right. Climbed from the mailroom to senior software engineer at a Fortune 500 company. Checked every box. And then one day he quit. Not because he failed, but because he finally got honest about what success actually meant to him. In this episode of the TrueIcon Podcast, Jen sits down with Brad Colacino, founder and creative director of Bright Cycle Design Co., community builder, storyteller, musician, and mentor. Brad spent over two decades navigating the corporate ladder before making the leap to build something that actually felt like him. His story is not about burning it all down. It is about getting quiet enough to hear what you actually want. Brad and Jen talk about what it costs to stay somewhere that no longer fits, how sobriety reshaped his relationship with himself and his work, and what it looks like to build a creative life from scratch after decades in corporate. He also gets into community, mentorship, and why redefining success is not a one-time decision but a daily practice. If this episode inspired you, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review. It helps us bring more honest, real stories to listeners like you. In this episode: Climbing every rung of the corporate ladder and still feeling emptyThe decision to quit and what finally made it feel possibleHow his personal journey changed everything, including how he createsBuilding Bright Cycle Design Co. from the ground upCommunity, mentorship, and showing up for other peopleWhat redefining success actually looks like in daily life Chapters: 00:00 Intro + Meet Brad 08:37 How Brad defines success now vs. then 16:24 The tipping point that made quitting feel possible 23:23 Divorce, financial pressure, and choosing not to go back 32:32 No wrong roads: lessons from The Phantom Tollbooth 41:58 The stepdad story that stopped the room 51:49 The sobriety journey 01:06:28 Building community and the question that changes everything 01:22:24 Equal parts irrational confidence and humility Connect with Brad: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-colacino/ Website: brightcycledesign.com Connect with Jen and TrueIcon: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beatrueicon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferdegroff/ Website: https://www.beatrueicon.com About Brad Colacino: Brad Colacino is the founder and creative director of Bright Cycle Design Co. After more than two decades in corporate, including a senior software engineering role at a Fortune 500 company, he made the leap to build a creative life on his own terms. He is a community builder, storyteller, musician, and mentor who has been rewriting what success actually means. About the TrueIcon Podcast: Hosted by Jennifer DeGroff, the TrueIcon Podcast is an interview show about authenticity, growth, and redefining success on your own terms. We celebrate uniqueness, normalize imperfection, and lift people up. Whether you are navigating a career change, building a business, or trying to find your voice, this is your space to feel empowered to step into your greatness. #beatrueicon #staytrueandboldlygrow #creativelife #redefinesuccess

  8. May 7

    Art, Peace, and the Hundred Steps: Eugene O'Neill on Finding Your True Self

    This episode contains a candid conversation about personal wellness practices, including some that may not be right for everyone. Nothing shared here is medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions about your own health and wellness journey. He went to a wellness retreat at one of the darkest points of his life. He walked a hundred steps. And by the time he reached the top, he had the only answer he needed. This one will stay with you. In this episode of the TrueIcon Podcast, Jen sits down with Eugene O'Neill, muralist, art educator, and founder of Made In Truth. Eugene has spent his career transforming communities and classrooms through art and wellness. But in this conversation, he opens up about his own journey: the grief that broke him open, the retreat that changed everything, and what peace, love, and joy actually look like when you stop performing and start living them. Eugene and Jen go deep on what it means to heal the healers, how art became his path to personal wellness, and why reconnecting with your inner child is not soft, it is essential. He shares the story of the Hundred Steps of Life, a meditation that helped him stop over-planning and trust the frequency he wanted to live in. If you have ever felt like you were showing up for everyone else while quietly falling apart, this conversation will meet you exactly where you are. If this episode inspired you, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review. It helps us bring more honest, real stories to listeners like you. In this episode: Who heals the healers: Eugene spent years supporting others through grief and loss. This episode is about what happened when he finally turned that care toward himself.The Hundred Steps: a meditation that helped him stop over-planning and trust that peace, love, and joy are enough of a compass.Your shadow side is not the enemy: forming a relationship with the parts of yourself you have been hiding, not fixing them, but understanding them.The inner child is expansive: the inner parent refines and reduces. The inner child expands. You need both to grow.Forgiveness is where it starts: you cannot move out of the past without forgiving the version of yourself that did not yet have the tools you have now. Episode chapters: 00:00 Welcome and intro 05:56 Art, community, and where it all started 18:01 Breaking free from external expectations and the retreat that changed everything 30:31 The Hundred Steps of Life 39:21 The journey to finding your true self 49:08 Living with peace, love, and joy 01:06:21 Forgiveness, the inner child, and lasting impact Connect with Eugene: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn: @madeintruthinc Website: www.madeintruthinc.com Connect with TrueIcon: Instagram: @beatrueicon About Eugene O'Neill: Eugene O'Neill is a muralist, art educator, and founder of Made In Truth. He has spent his career using art and wellness to transform communities and classrooms. His work sits at the intersection of creativity, healing, and human connection. About the TrueIcon Podcast: Hosted by Jennifer DeGroff, the TrueIcon Podcast is an interview show about authenticity, growth, and redefining success on your own terms. We celebrate uniqueness, normalize imperfection, and lift people up. Whether you are navigating a career change, building a business, or trying to find your voice, this is your space to feel empowered to step into your greatness. #beatrueicon #staytrueandboldlygrow #mentalhealth #personalgrowth

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The TrueIcon Podcast is about what really happens when you stop performing for everyone else and start building a life that actually fits you. Hosted by Jennifer DeGroff, founder of TrueIcon Inc., this show dives into honest conversations about authentic success, self-worth, burnout, boundaries, emotional wellbeing, and personal growth. You’ll hear real stories from founders, creatives, leaders, and “everyday” true icons who chose to stay true to themselves as they discover and realize their own versions of success. New episodes every other week.