The TrueIcon Podcast

TrueIcon
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Entrepreneurship

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. 1d ago ·  Bonus

    What I Learned About Staying True to Myself | Between Seasons Update

    As I get ready to launch Season 2 of the TrueIcon Podcast, I’m reflecting on what I’ve learned about perfectionism, self-trust, and the courage it takes to show up as yourself. This season, I’ve been grateful for the honest conversations with people willing to share what they’ve learned, what they’ve changed their minds about, and the moments that shaped them. Those conversations reminded me that we don’t need to have all the answers, and that we’re always learning, evolving, and growing. In this episode, I share: -How perfectionism can keep me from even trying -What it means to stop playing small and show up more fully -Why our stories and voices matter -What I’m looking forward to in Season 2, including more collaborations and in-person conversations My hope is that these conversations help you find something in yourself that you want to nurture—or give you the encouragement to act on something you’ve been putting off. Thank you for listening and being part of this journey. Stay true to yourself, and boldly grow.

  2. Aug 27

    LeeAnne Ruff on Loneliness, Connection, and Why Being Seen Changes Everything

    She was abandoned as a newborn, survived three days alone before anyone found her, and grew up terrified of rooms full of people. Today she speaks to 25,000 people at once, and built an entire community around one idea: everyone deserves to feel seen. Jen sits down with LeeAnne Ruff, keynote speaker and founder of ADK Woman and Bright Side Leadership Group, to talk about the loneliness epidemic hiding behind our most "connected" society. LeeAnne opens up about the origin story she rarely shares, being abandoned at birth, neglected in foster care, and carrying a lifelong inability to feel love even in a marriage she trusts. She and Jen unpack what it costs to not feel seen, how LeeAnne turned that into her SEEN Standard framework, and why chasing "number one" almost cost her everything. This one is for anyone who has ever walked into a room and walked out just as alone as they walked in. Takeaways: The Seen Standard: See yourself first, engage like a human, establish rituals, notice who's missing.Isolation vs. loneliness: not the same thing, only one of them is a problem.You are not your failure.Interested over interesting: curiosity about someone else beats social fear. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome and the power of being seen 01:42 Meet LeeAnne Ruff 04:19 Building ADK Woman 07:44 Friend Working: no business cards, just human ones 14:25 The Room: strangers into real conversations 18:21 The introvert who speaks to 25,000 people 23:12 Abandoned at birth: LeeAnne's origin story 34:00 The call that changed everything: losing her mom 35:23 Rock bottom, PTSD, and rebuilding a career 38:58 The Oprah moment 39:39 Resilience is already in you 40:33 The phone alarm trick, nine years later 41:03 The ripple effect of feeling seen 55:44 Fear as a companion, not something to eliminate 58:09 The SEEN Standard 1:09:08 How to start showing up as your true self today Subscribe, rate, and review. It helps us bring more honest stories to listeners like you, and share this with someone who needs it. Find LeeAnne Ruff: leeanneruff.com | linkedin.com/in/leeanneruff | facebook.com/leeanneruff | adkwoman.com Find Jen DeGroff & TrueIcon: instagram.com/beatrueicon | beatrueicon.com | linkedin.com/in/jenniferdegroff About LeeAnne Ruff: Keynote speaker and leadership expert with 30+ years of experience. Founder of ADK Woman, a community fighting loneliness through real connection, and Bright Side Leadership Group. Creator of Friend Working and The Room. About The TrueIcon Podcast: Hosted by Jennifer DeGroff, an interview show about authenticity, growth, and redefining success on your own terms. We celebrate uniqueness, normalize imperfection, and lift people up. #beatrueicon #staytrueandboldlygrow #beingseen #authenticconnection #resilienc

  3. Aug 16

    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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

See All (15)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    TrueIcon
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 TrueIcon