Everyone says don't start a business with your best friend. April and Sarah built an iconic one.

In this episode of ICONIC, Jennifer Leigh is joined by April Brown and Sarah Sklash, co-founders of June Motel, entrepreneurs, and stars of Netflix's Motel Makeover. 

Together, they share the story behind transforming neglected roadside motels into one of Canada's most recognizable hospitality brands. From navigating friendship and leadership to making difficult decisions and protecting their shared vision, April and Sarah offer an honest look at what it takes to build something extraordinary together. 

This conversation isn't just about building a successful business. It's about building something meaningful with someone you trust, while staying true to your vision through every challenge along the way.

In this conversation, April and Sarah share:

• How they built a business without sacrificing their friendship

• Leadership lessons that only come through experience

• Why company culture starts with how you treat your people

• The importance of staying true to your vision while growing

If this episode resonates with you, follow ICONIC and leave a review.

Connect with April & Sarah:

• Instagram: @thejunemotel

• Website: thejunemotel.com

• Netflix: Watch Motel Makeover

Connect with Jen:

• Read Iconic Magazine®: becomingiconic.co/magazine

• Join House of Her, our exclusive membership community: becomingiconic.co/houseofher

• Watch on YouTube: @theICONICmagazine

• Follow on Instagram: @iconicmagazine__

The life everyone admires often comes with a story no one sees.

In this episode of ICONIC, Jennifer Leigh is joined by Sarah Nicole, founder of The Birds Papaya, bestselling author, and one of the internet's most influential voices on body acceptance, authenticity, and self-worth.

Behind Sarah's success is a story of learning to trust herself, navigate public criticism, and redefine what confidence really means. Together, Jennifer and Sarah explore what happens when your identity becomes intertwined with your work, how motherhood reshapes your perspective, and why building a meaningful life matters more than building a perfect image.

This conversation is for every woman who has ever questioned whether she's enough, wondered if success would finally bring confidence, or felt the pressure to become who the world expects instead of who she truly is.

In this conversation, Sarah shares:

• Why authenticity is something you protect, not perform

• The unexpected challenges of building a personal brand in public

• How motherhood transformed the way she sees herself and success

• Why becoming more of yourself is the greatest freedom you'll ever find

If this episode resonates with you, follow ICONIC and leave a review.

Connect with Sarah:

• Instagram: @thebirdspapaya

• Website: thebirdspapaya.com

• Podcast: The Papaya Podcast

Connect with Jen:

• Read Iconic Magazine®: becomingiconic.co/magazine

• Join House of Her, our exclusive membership community: becomingiconic.co/houseofher

• Watch on YouTube: @theICONICmagazine

• Follow on Instagram: @iconicmagazine__

Are the choices you make each day helping you embody who you are becoming? In this episode, Jen is joined by Ameerah Ghaffar, Founder of Orris Labs and Chief Nose, to explore the intersection of scent, identity, entrepreneurship, and intentional living. Together, they unpack how fragrance can become a powerful tool for self-expression, confidence, and creating meaningful experiences for ourselves and others.

They discuss building experiences that evoke emotion, taking calculated risks in business, creating a brand that people can feel, and why success is about so much more than money. Whether you're building a company, cultivating a personal brand, or becoming more intentional about how you move through the world, this episode will inspire you to embody who you want to be before you arrive there.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How a signature scent can become an extension of your identity and personal brand
• Why creating experiences is often more powerful than simply selling products
• The role of risk-taking and self-investment in building a successful business
• How to build a team and culture that supports long-term growth
• Why fulfillment, purpose, and impact matter more than chasing money alone

Connect with Ameerah:

• Website: orrislabs.ca
• Email: [email protected] | Phone: 647.339.8372
• Instagram: @orrislabs

Connect with Jen:

• Read Iconic Magazine®: becomingiconic.co/magazine

• Join House of Her, our exclusive membership community: becomingiconic.co/houseofher

• Watch on YouTube: @theICONICmagazine

• Follow on Instagram: @iconicmagazine__

Most founders spend their days focused on what needs to happen next: the next client, the next launch, the next hire. But what if the most important question isn't what's next, but where are you actually going?

In this powerful conversation, Jen is joined by entrepreneur and global angel investor Erika Aquino to explore what it really takes to build a business with long-term vision. From understanding the difference between angel investing and venture capital to becoming the kind of leader investors want to back, Erika shares practical insights on accountability, strategic growth, networking, and building a business that can thrive beyond you. 

Whether you're interested in raising capital or simply becoming a stronger founder, this episode will challenge you to think bigger about what's possible.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The difference between angel investing and venture capital
• What investors look for when evaluating founders and businesses
• Why accountability can be one of the greatest growth tools in business
• How to avoid shiny object syndrome and lead with greater clarity
• The power of building a global network and thinking beyond your current market

Connect with Erika:

• Website: erika-aquino.com
• Instagram: @iamerikaaquino

Connect with Jen:

• Read Iconic Magazine®: becomingiconic.co/magazine

• Join House of Her, our exclusive membership community: becomingiconic.co/houseofher

• Watch on YouTube: @theICONICmagazine

• Follow on Instagram: @iconicmagazine__

So many women are moving through life feeling exhausted, foggy, disconnected from themselves, or unlike who they used to be, while continuing to push forward and perform at a high level.

In this important conversation, Jen is joined by Nurse Practitioner and women’s hormone health expert Olenka Lyle to explore the hormonal shifts affecting women physically, mentally, and emotionally, especially during perimenopause. 

Together, they unpack the rise in brain fog, burnout, and the pressure many women feel to keep functioning normally while their bodies are asking for support. This episode offers a grounded and empowering perspective on hormone health, helping women better understand what is happening in their bodies and why these conversations matter more than ever.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why so many women are experiencing brain fog, exhaustion, and perimenopausal symptoms without realizing what is happening
• The connection between hormones, stress, nervous system health, and emotional wellbeing
• Why high achieving women are especially vulnerable to pushing past what their bodies need
• The importance of advocating for yourself and paying attention to changes in your body
• How supporting your hormones can help you reconnect with yourself again

Connect with Olenka:

• Website: claraderma.com
• Instagram: @olenka_npinjector

Connect with Jen:

• Read Iconic Magazine®: becomingiconic.co/magazine

• Join House of Her, our exclusive membership community: becomingiconic.co/houseofher

• Watch on YouTube: @theICONICmagazine

• Follow on Instagram: @iconicmagazine__

Birthdays are not only for celebrating, they can also become powerful reflection points, moments to pause, take inventory, and reconnect with where you are and where you want to go.

In this intimate solo episode on her birthday, Jen shares a personal reflection on the journey of building the Iconic Podcast, the unexpected realities of trailblazing in an industry, and the power of creating intentional checkpoints throughout the year. From celebrating wins that unfolded differently than expected to examining what no longer fits, this conversation offers a powerful reminder that growth is not only about reaching goals, but about becoming the person who can hold them.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why creating personal reflection points can shift the direction of your year
• Jen’s stop, start, continue practice and how she uses it to lead herself
• What it means to stop tolerating what no longer fits
• Behind the scenes reflections on building the Iconic Podcast and trusting intuitive pivots
• Why becoming the woman behind the vision matters just as much as achieving it

Mentioned in the Episode:

• Join the membership: House of Her
• Check out the refined Brand Lounge
• Curious about working with our agency? Apply here

Connect with Jen:

• Read Iconic Magazine®: becomingiconic.co/magazine

• Join House of Her, our exclusive membership community: becomingiconic.co/houseofher

• Watch on YouTube: @theICONICmagazine

• Follow on Instagram: @iconicmagazine__

Creating a spacious life is not just about having more time. It is about creating room to hear yourself, trust yourself, and move through life with greater intention.

In this expansive conversation, Jen is joined by spiritual teacher and business mentor Renée Walker to explore spirituality, self connection, discernment, and the practice of co-creating a more present and intentional life. Together, they unpack the difference between spirituality and religion, the importance of intentional stillness in a constantly distracted world, and how creating space within your life can deepen your connection to yourself, God, or spirit. This episode is a grounded and thoughtful invitation to explore spirituality in a way that feels personal, honest, and fully your own.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• The difference between spirituality and religion and why the distinction matters
• What it means to co-create your life with intention and trust
• Why spaciousness and stillness are essential for deeper self connection
• How discernment supports a grounded spiritual practice
• The role of intuition, awareness, and presence in personal growth

Connect with Renée:

• Podcast: Spiritually Wired Podcast
• Membership: Spiritually Wired Membership
• Website: reneewalkerwellness.com 

Connect with Jen:

• Read Iconic Magazine®: becomingiconic.co/magazine

• Join House of Her, our exclusive membership community: becomingiconic.co/houseofher

• Watch on YouTube: @theICONICmagazine

• Follow on Instagram: @iconicmagazine__

Money plateaus are often treated like strategy problems, but what if they are actually identity ceilings?

In this solo episode, Jen breaks down the deeper reason behind stalled growth and why increasing your income is rarely about doing more. This conversation explores how your current identity, beliefs, and internal capacity can set the limit for what you allow yourself to receive. Jen shares a grounded perspective on what it really takes to move beyond financial plateaus, not by chasing more tactics, but by expanding who you are available to be and what you are willing to hold.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why money plateaus are often rooted in identity, not strategy
• How your current self concept can cap your income and opportunities
• What it means to expand your capacity to receive and hold more
• The subtle ways you may be reinforcing your own ceiling
• How to shift your identity to create new levels of growth

Connect with Jen:

• Read Iconic Magazine®: becomingiconic.co/magazine

• Join House of Her, our exclusive membership community: becomingiconic.co/houseofher

• Watch on YouTube: @theICONICmagazine

• Follow on Instagram: @iconicmagazine__

There comes a moment where you realize it is not about starting over, it is about deciding differently.

In this empowering conversation, Jen is joined by Kylie Jones, founder of Fifty and Fearless, to talk about what it really looks like to step into your power in a new season of life. From reinvention to confidence to releasing the belief that time has passed you by, Kylie shares what it means to build momentum, trust yourself, and move forward without needing to erase your past. This episode is a reminder that your experience is not something to overcome, it is the very thing that prepares you for what’s next.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why it is never too late to start again or choose a different path
• What it really means to reinvent yourself without starting from scratch
• How confidence and personal power evolve over time
• The mindset shift that allows you to stop holding yourself back
• Why your next chapter can be your most expansive one yet

Connect with Kylie:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fiftyandfearless/
• Podcast: https://tr.ee/22OnpZevOW
• More resources: https://stan.store/fiftyandfearless

Connect with Jen:

• Read Iconic Magazine®: becomingiconic.co/magazine

• Join House of Her, our exclusive membership community: becomingiconic.co/houseofher

• Watch on YouTube: @theICONICmagazine

• Follow on Instagram: @iconicmagazine__

Challenges are not a sign that something has gone wrong. More often, they are the exact moment where everything begins to shift.

In this grounded solo episode, Jennifer Leigh shares a powerful perspective on what it really means to move through hard seasons without walking away. This conversation reframes challenges as a refining process, one that shapes your identity, strengthens your self trust, and determines who you become on the other side. It is not about avoiding difficulty, but about deciding to stay when it would be easier to quit.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why challenges are often the moment where most people give up and what happens if you don’t
• How staying through hard seasons shapes your identity and long term results
• The role of resilience, self trust, and perspective when things feel uncertain
• What it means to be refined through challenges instead of defined by them
• How to move through difficulty in a way that actually expands you

Connect with Jen:

• Read Iconic Magazine®: becomingiconic.co/magazine

• Join House of Her, our exclusive membership community: becomingiconic.co/houseofher

• Watch on YouTube: @theICONICmagazine

• Follow on Instagram: @iconicmagazine__