Pressure can blur your vision or sharpen it. After a year of walking through fire on a complex, high‑stakes project, I watched a direction I deeply believed in fail to land and grieved hard for two days. That low point didn’t break me; it cut noise. The result was a clean, grounded clarity and a relentless focus on a real win‑win that brought a critical solution to life within six weeks—and an unshakable level of self‑trust I didn’t have before.

I share what changed and why Journey to Iconic is evolving toward one core discipline: emotional self‑leadership. Not the glossy version that avoids discomfort, but the practical mechanics you can use while the room gets loud: real‑time emotional regulation, presence in difficult conversations, clarity when things feel charged, and the ability to respond from wisdom rather than old patterns. If you’ve ever felt your integrity questioned, your voice squeezed, or your confidence wobble at the moment it matters, this conversation names the gap and offers a path to close it.

We unpack why strategy alone can’t hold if the person running it can’t hold themselves, and how leaders, executives, parents and community builders build confidence through integrity, regulation and self‑authority. I map where season two is headed—nervous system resilience, self‑command, identity shifts, the inner mechanics behind influence, and the subtle emotional patterns that quietly sabotage clarity—so you can practise skills that stand up under live pressure. Expect grounded tools, honest reflection and a clear invitation to start small and deliberate, because that’s how self‑leadership compounds.

If you’re ready to stop second‑guessing and start leading yourself with steadiness and precision, hit play, subscribe for season two, and leave a review with the one place you’ll step into self‑trust this week.

Send us a text

What if your results changed the moment you stopped proving and started allowing? We mark the close of one chapter and begin a new season built on a simple idea: energy leads and strategy follows. Across this conversation, we unpack how breakdown precedes breakthrough, why certainty in the eventual arrival of clarity reduces suffering, and how a grounded body lets life work through you, not just at you.

We talk about self-recognition as an antidote to the endless chase for validation. Instead of living for applause, we chip away the stories that never fit, like Michelangelo revealing David from stone. That shift frees us to notice the invisible—tiny alignments, subtle boundaries, and the quiet ways our frequency shapes outcomes. You’ll hear how exhaustion points to proving, how control melts into trust, and why the most sustainable growth comes from congruence rather than perfect technique.

A core pivot arrives with giving to give, not giving to get. We explore the discomfort of receiving and the importance of becoming a receptive vessel so generosity can circulate. From there, discernment becomes a daily skill: say yes when it’s a win for you and the other person, and say no when it isn’t. You’ll get a two-minute grounding invocation to reclaim scattered energy, clear what isn’t yours, and set an intention to be a clear channel. Then it’s about following breadcrumbs—small intuitive nudges that lead to outsized, surprising outcomes—while tracking the micro-miracles most people miss.

If you’re ready to lead with frequency, let strategy serve your state, and step out of people pleasing, this one’s for you. Listen, try the invocation, and then tell us what shift you noticed. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review so others can find the work.

Send us a text

Small talk says, “What do you do?” Real talk asks, “Who are you, and what gift are you here to bring?” We unpack the trap of reducing identity to a job title and explore a more generous lens on purpose: moving from inadequacy, through resourcefulness, into embodied wisdom you can share. Drawing on the Gene Keys activation sequence, we reframe fear as a signpost to the unknown and show why certainty in your ability to figure things out beats certainty about outcomes every time.

Across the hour, we tackle how to honour grief and mess and appropriately turn them into content, why integrity is the backbone of authenticity, and how to speak from the grounded place that attracts the right people and repels the wrong rooms. 

We look at the difference between fast knowledge and earned wisdom in an AI-saturated world, and why the skills that matter now are creativity, discernment, initiative, and the courage to keep taking the next step. You’ll hear stories of disagreement handled with respect, projects that demanded flexibility over pride, and the many mistakes that forged capability rather than shame.

You’ll also get simple practices to make this real today: a journaling ritual with classical music, the phrase “open and willing” to unlock momentum, and a set of better questions to ask the people in your life so you can know them beyond their roles. If you’re ready to stop contorting yourself into labels and start expressing the truth that lives in your bones, this conversation is your nudge.

If this resonated, follow the Journey to Iconic Podcast, share it with a friend who’s rethinking their path, and leave a review with the one question you’ll ask instead of “What do you do?” Your words help others find us.

Send us a text

What if the moment that stings is the blessing you asked for? We dive into the messy middle where frustration, failure and tricky people become teachers, and we show how to meet them with clean honesty, strong boundaries and calm observation. Instead of chasing feel-good moments, we practise seeing every experience as information. That shift—from polarity to equilibrium—returns agency, raises our signal and opens space for solutions that force can’t create.

We talk about owning emotions without shame, because the avoidance of feeling drains more energy than the feeling itself. From there, we get practical: claim quiet space, disrupt overcommitment, and stop wearing “Yes” as a badge of honour. Real leadership removes tasks from the basket so excellence can breathe. We also challenge a common myth: you are responsible for your emotions and actions, not anyone else’s. Let go of managing other people’s moods and watch your clarity return.

To ground the mindset, we bring in the Gene Keys—moving from Shadow to Gift to Siddhi—using examples like control to trust, and corruption to equilibrium to harmony. Behaviour can look similar across these states, but intention transforms everything. The goal is the middle path where life is neither good nor bad; it just is. From that centre, intuition finally has room to speak, and answers often arrive in ways logic could never design.

If you’re ready to choose yourself, start by asking: where am I contributing to what isn’t working, and what is the gift wrapped in sandpaper here? Press play, share this with someone who needs a reframe, and tell us the gritty blessing you’re recognising today. Subscribe, leave a review, and join the conversation—your story may spark someone else’s breakthrough.

Send us a text

What if the knot in your stomach isn’t a warning to people-please, but an invitation to finally choose yourself? We dive into the real reason saying no feels edgy, how resentment grows from quiet martyrdom, and why honest emotion carries a stronger frequency than forced positivity. This is a grounded, practical journey from lack to wholeness—where boundaries are clean, relationships mature, and your energy stops leaking into obligations that don’t serve you.

We unpack the mechanics of triggers and nervous-system reactions, then flip the frame: other people aren’t villains in your story, they’re indicators pointing to where you abandon yourself. You’ll hear how to pause, read your body’s signals, and reflect once the emotional charge settles. We explore the “for me, for you, for us” test for decision-making, and what it means to trust others to find their own solutions. From career pivots to partnerships, we look at why blessings like money and visibility demand greater responsibility—and how to hold that weight without collapsing into old patterns.

Along the way, we tackle distractions that test your commitment, the myth that your yes must be someone else’s win, and the practice of making no a complete sentence. Expect simple, usable prompts: audit your agreements, spot the difference between a full-body yes and obligation, and create space for daily choices that align with your highest good. The destination matters less than the repeated act of choosing yourself—because that repetition is what dissolves resentment, raises your signal, and invites others to stand in their wholeness too.

If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a brave no today, and leave a review to help more listeners find us. Your insight could be the nudge someone else needs to choose themselves.

Send us a text

In this episode, I chat with Priya about her journey from the vibrant tropics of India to the rainy streets of the Netherlands and how this shift sparked her passion for making fitness accessible to everyone.

She shares how she embraced the Dutch love for outdoor activities, turning those drizzly streets into her training ground and discovering the joy of movement, no matter the weather or budget.

We talk about her growth from struggling with short runs to conquering marathons, showing how slow and steady progress can lead to incredible achievements. Priya opens up about the realities of marathon training—finding balance, staying consistent, and adapting to life’s demands, especially as a busy parent.

We also touch on the lessons running has taught her about life, from tackling nutrition and hydration challenges to staying disciplined even when things get tough.

Our conversation takes a deeper turn into mindfulness, journaling, and visualisation, and how these practices have helped Priya set and achieve goals, whether it’s a personal best in running or an unexpected financial win.

This episode is all about embracing who you are, taking small, mindful steps forward, and connecting with others on the same path. Tune in and join us on the journey to becoming iconic.

Priyamvada is a wellness and career coach, marathon runner, and former startup founder who helps ambitious individuals reclaim their health, build powerful personal brands, and pursue a limitless life—with strength in both body and mind.

Send us a text

What happens when life suddenly pulls the rug from under your feet? For Christine Manko, a breast cancer diagnosis followed by her employer's bankruptcy became the unexpected catalyst for profound transformation.

Christine takes us through her journey from corporate burnout to authentic living, revealing how these simultaneous challenges forced her to pause and listen to her body's wisdom. Before her diagnosis, Christine was thriving in her role as a business psychologist, traveling internationally and managing client relationships. Yet beneath the surface, she was spreading herself too thin, ignoring crucial signals from her body.

The enforced stillness of her recovery became a gateway to self-discovery. Through meditation, yoga, and connecting with nature, Christine developed a deeper relationship with her intuition—recognizing how it showed up as physical sensations, spontaneous insights, and inner knowing. This awareness helped her realize that returning to her previous corporate environment no longer aligned with who she'd become.

Now certified as a life coach, Christine helps corporate professionals break free from cycles of busyness and overwhelm by honoring their unique rhythms. She shares practical wisdom about discovering when you're naturally most creative or analytical and structuring your day accordingly—even within corporate constraints. Her refreshing approach challenges the mainstream "hustle culture" by emphasizing that balance looks different for everyone.

Perhaps most powerful is Christine's observation that personal transformation creates ripple effects through all our relationships. When we align with our values and natural rhythms, those around us notice the positive changes, creating waves of impact in families, workplaces, and communities.

Ready to discover your own rhythm and path to fulfillment? Tune in for Christine's parting wisdom that might just change how you approach your life and work: "Don't take life too seriously... there is so much beauty in ease."

Christine Manko is a Business Psychologist and founder of a Coaching, Training & Consulting practice, helping individuals and organizations thrive through mindfulness-based strategies that support growth, resilience, and real human connection.

Send us a text

What happens when your story burns within you, but the words just won’t come? In this illuminating conversation with professional ghostwriter Eilis Olson, we explore the delicate art of helping others tell their most powerful stories—even when they don’t see themselves as writers.

Eilis shares her own journey from number-crunching accountant to soul-stirring storyteller, showing how following your intuition can lead to unexpected fulfillment. Despite battling the inner voice that whispered “I’m not brave enough,” she eventually embraced her passion and now empowers others to do the same. Her blend of deep empathy and gentle humor creates a safe space for clients to access the stories they didn’t know they could tell.

We dive into the collaborative nature of ghostwriting—far more personal and intimate than most people realize. Through thoughtful interviews and compassionate listening, Eilis helps her clients unpack the messy, raw, and often overlooked parts of their lives. “There’s no oversharing,” she reassures them, honoring the truth that our most vulnerable moments are often the most impactful.

Whether you’ve ever thought “I should write a book about this,” or simply long to share your story but feel unsure of your voice, this episode offers both inspiration and practical insight. As Eilis so beautifully puts it:

“Everything that’s happened in my life has led me here.”

A reminder that your story matters—and with the right support, it can reach hearts in ways you might never expect.

You can reach Eilis directly at: [email protected]

Eilis Olson is a nonfiction ghostwriter who helps purpose-driven individuals turn their life stories into legacy-worthy books—with clarity, empathy, and expert support.

Send us a text

Have you ever stopped to question where your value truly comes from? In our achievement-driven world, we've learned to equate our worth with our productivity, contributions, and external validations. But what if this entire framework is missing the most fundamental truth about human value?

This episode explores the powerful distinction between doing-based worth and being-based worth. I share personal insights about the trap of trying to "earn" our place in the world and the freedom that comes when we recognize our intrinsic value. When we operate from a place of inherent self-worth rather than a need to prove ourselves, we access a magnetic energy that transforms how we show up and what we attract.

The journey requires us to see both sides of the coin. While evidence of our limitations and disappointments is real, so too is our unlimited potential and unique gifts. Learning to hold both perspectives simultaneously is where true transformation happens. I offer practical questions to help you recognize your inherent value: What would it look like to see your challenges as gifts? What unique value do you bring that requires no doing, only being? How might you see yourself through "God's eyes"?

Join me for this deeply reflective conversation about moving beyond external validation to discover the power that comes from knowing your worth exists independently of anything you do or achieve. Subscribe, share, and continue your journey to becoming iconic by embracing your authentic self.

Ready to take this deeper? If you’re feeling the call to express yourself more powerfully and authentically, I invite you to book a Voice of Power Activation Session. 

This 90-minute intuitive session utilising your unique energetic blueprint (including Human Design insights) to help you unlock your unique communication style and lead from your highest self.

https://calendly.com/kirsten-barfoot/voice-of-power

Send us a text

What if your healthy lifestyle wasn’t enough to keep you truly well? This was the wake-up call for our guest, Venzo.

Join us as Venzo courageously shares his transformative journey—from ignoring emotional struggles to confronting a significant core wound. His story reveals how true healing goes beyond physical discipline, emphasising the deep connection between emotions and the body.

Gain insights into the unique relationship between emotional stress and physical pain, and discover how personal triggers shape this dynamic. We explore practical techniques for identifying these stressors, moving beyond generalised interpretations to uncover deeply personal insights.

We also dive into shadow work, inner child integration, and the courage to break free from societal expectations of “good” behaviour in favour of true authenticity.

Through Venzo’s experiences and breakthrough moments, we uncover the significance of self-worth and self-acceptance. Concepts like “invisible loyalty” and “parentification” come to light, highlighting the importance of nurturing the inner child and cultivating self-awareness for personal growth.

Join us on this journey of healing and transformation, and prepare to rethink what it truly means to live authentically and with purpose.

Venzo Chaar is a multilingual public speaker, leadership consultant, and Bioneuroemotion® Practitioner known as The Inner Child Guide, helping people heal emotional wounds and build resilient, purpose-led lives through inner child work and holistic self-leadership.

Send us a text