The Voice Within: Creative Journeys, Big Transitions and Bold Goals | w/ Tru Adams

🎧 Unleashing Your Authentic Voice and Living Boldly

What happens when you stop running from your truth and start leaning into the person you were meant to be? In this inspiring episode of The Developing Life Podcast, Tru Adams takes us on a journey through her evolution—from a 20-year career in fitness to building a design business rooted in authenticity and empathy.

💡 Key Moments to Listen For:

• Tru’s powerful realization that perfectionism was silencing her voice—and how she learned to embrace vulnerability as a strength
• Why storytelling is at the heart of her creative process and how it helps brands resonate deeply with their audiences
• The personal challenges she faced in transitioning careers, including navigating imposter syndrome and finding clarity amidst uncertainty
• The value of consistency and self-belief in pursuing big, bold goals

Tru’s reflections remind us that growth isn’t linear, and living your truth requires courage, community, and the willingness to redefine success on your own terms. If you’ve ever felt like you’re stuck or afraid to take the leap, this episode will provide the inspiration and tools to reignite your creative spirit.

🎧 Listen now to hear Tru’s personal insights and discover how to step into your voice with confidence.

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome and Intro
• 2:15 The Journey to Finding Her Voice
• 10:30 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
• 18:45 The Role of Storytelling in Branding
• 26:20 Big Transitions and Bold Goals
• 34:10 The Power of Consistency and Community
• 42:00 Lessons from Failure and Growth
• 50:45 Aligning Creativity with Purpose

Transcript

00:00:00:00 - 00:00:12:13
Unknown
Welcome to the Developing Life podcast, people. Tick tick tick.

00:00:12:13 - 00:00:24:22
Unknown
Welcome to the Developing Live podcast, where we celebrate the human stories behind creative journeys. I'm so excited to introduce you to today's guests, someone we've all come to know, love and support.

00:00:24:23 - 00:00:55:22
Unknown
True atoms, a brand vocalist, insanely talented designer, and founder of true at Art, whose work goes so much deeper than esthetics. She helps brands discover and share their soul, their truth, and their story. Her designs don't just look good. They resonate, connecting deeply with audiences in a way that's honest, bold and human. What's so inspiring about true is her journey over the last five years.

00:00:55:23 - 00:01:24:12
Unknown
She has built an incredible career as a self-taught designer, rooted in her mission to craft inclusive and transformative narratives. She has consistently shown up not just for her clients and her community, but for her own growth, evolving with grit and staying true to her values. Every step of the way. In this episode, hosted by Heather crank, tour opens up about balancing artistry and purpose.

00:01:24:14 - 00:01:49:19
Unknown
Navigating big transitions and setting bold goals for the future. She reminds us that storytelling isn't just a tool for branding. It's a way to connect authentically. To bridge the gap between what we feel and what we share. If you've ever felt the weight of imposter syndrome, struggled with aligning your work to your heart, or needed a reminder that creativity is a journey worth embracing.

00:01:49:21 - 00:02:01:18
Unknown
This conversation is exactly what you need. Let's dive into the voice within and learn from one of the most soulful, consistent, and inspiring curators you'll ever meet.

00:02:02:01 - 00:02:30:22
Unknown
Thank you so much, Anna. True. Welcome to the Developing Life podcast. I'm so excited to be here, Heather. I know, I know, I know, this is, big for you to do this. And first of all, I just want to say how honored I am to be able to interview you. For those who don't know you and maybe haven't been following your journey.

00:02:30:24 - 00:02:57:05
Unknown
You and I met not too long ago through Eric Moore. And actually, that's how the developing life happened. And our great fearless leader Deveron brought us all together. And we have kind of grown and developed together. And I am just so thrilled to watch you blossom. So with that said, let's get into it. You ready? Yes, ma'am.

00:02:57:07 - 00:03:23:17
Unknown
Okay. So I know a little bit about you, but some people may not. Where are you from? Where did you grow up? What's your beginning of your life experience? Well, one I raised in South Jersey, and I always like to say not not the shore. Actually a little closer to the Philadelphia area. Than I am to the shoreline.

00:03:23:17 - 00:03:49:14
Unknown
But, yes, except for a brief period of time where I was in central Texas. I've. I spent my entire life here in Jersey. Grew up in a pseudo urban neighborhood. You know, youngest in the neighborhood. So, you know, I was like, the baby, regardless of where I was. And, yeah, it was the really quiet, weird kid.

00:03:49:16 - 00:04:34:06
Unknown
But to myself a lot I, I stuck close to family but I only had like 1 or 2 friends. So I was in my head a lot. You know, growing up, which probably explains a whole lot the way that I am today. But yeah, so the, the, my, my growing up was very, resourceful and I think, you know, and living with, living, growing up in a area where we have kind of limited means, you know, it it made me very creative in the things that I wanted to do and try to accomplish.

00:04:34:06 - 00:04:59:21
Unknown
So, you know, it just I think it definitely built me up to be that, that kid that just kind of made stuff happen as anyway, you know, possible at that time, you know, because things weren't afforded to us. Yeah. So do you think that you were naturally creative or do you think it was just a response to your environment, or do you think it was both.

00:04:59:23 - 00:05:23:22
Unknown
I think it might be a little bit of both because I, if I were to compare myself to my sister. Who is completely left brained as opposed to my, my right brain miss. You know, we both grew up together our entire lives and she was, what I would have considered back then so much smarter than me.

00:05:23:24 - 00:05:52:15
Unknown
So much more practical than I was. And, Understood and and I loved and admired that about her. And for a very long time, I almost felt like that made me a little less than because, you know, like, I was so wildly abstract, you know, and a lot of that wasn't as nurtured, especially you know, going through school.

00:05:52:16 - 00:06:17:21
Unknown
You know, you, you, you feel there to be academic. And I was clearly not that. Just because my way that my brain worked just wasn't anything that was really focused on. So I didn't have a chance to grow and expand and and and develop with support. You know what? I mean? Because it it just wasn't understood. So I that probably also was why I kind of kept to myself a lot.

00:06:17:21 - 00:06:52:09
Unknown
But you know, are you in touch with your sister now? Oh, all the time. All the time. We have a actually a a what is probably unconventionally close relationship. We've had our entire lives as, as opposite as we are. We've we've never been not connected. Oh, wow. Yeah. That's beautiful. Yeah. Yeah. Okay, so you started out, probably naturally creative, and then your environment kind of reinforced that creativity, which made you a little bit different.

00:06:52:11 - 00:07:17:22
Unknown
How did you jump, then from being creative and being in the environment you grew up in, into fitness. Like what? How does that transition happen? So with with coming into fitness and I did it for 20 years, full time. And before then, you know, I was in retail management and I did administrative work because I secretly had like a business attire fetish.

00:07:17:24 - 00:07:44:04
Unknown
But the fitness came, the fitness came almost out of necessity for me. At the time I was in Texas, with my then husband, and he was in the military. So there were times and, you know, he was always away. He was out in the field and and so on, so forth. And then 9/11 happened, and he was sent to the trip.

00:07:44:05 - 00:08:18:22
Unknown
He went overseas. And I was left with two small children. You know, in a, in a town, military town that at that time, I mean, we're talking over 20 years ago, it wasn't as developed as that area is now. So no girlfriends, absolutely no family. And, you know. No, no, really secure unit. And in order for me to not lose my mind, I wrapped up the kids and I went to the gym, just worked out for the entire morning just to keep my mind occupied.

00:08:18:22 - 00:08:45:07
Unknown
To keep me from, you know, not feeling lonely or insecure that I was out here on my own more or less, or, you know, things like that. And that literally saved my life being there. And I did everything. I took classes, I started lifting weights, I started boxing, I was a boxer and, but, validating the fact that was a boxer because my trainer did hit me in the face, so I qualify.

00:08:45:08 - 00:09:14:09
Unknown
I was a boxer. Wow. Seriously? Yeah. Yeah, yeah. He was. He said it was. Sorry. It was fine, but he. So that literally, literally saved my my entire existence. Like, I was not coping well being out there on my own. And that was something that grounded me, to the point where I so, so.

00:09:14:11 - 00:09:41:05
Unknown
Relieved and and and strengthened and inspired that my only response to that was to be able to do that for someone else. Right? And I started studying and got my first certification and personal training, and that's how the whole thing started. So it was it was me paying it forward. You know what fitness gave me and that peace of mind.

00:09:41:05 - 00:10:07:12
Unknown
And like I said, that grounding, I wanted that for everybody else that I could connect with. So. Wow. Yeah. So you have a humanitarian bent in addition to the creativity and the fitness. And, you know, I always say, if I, if I didn't know what I wanted to do or, you know, what occupation I would end up in, I always said that I was a had a heart for service.

00:10:07:14 - 00:10:34:14
Unknown
Regardless of what that look like. And I think I get that from my mom. You know she is definitely giving person. And she's done so much extending of, of her heart and her grace and her service that it just definitely rubbed off on me. And that is the way that I want it to show up in this world, you know?

00:10:34:14 - 00:11:03:13
Unknown
So yeah, that's beautiful to and so okay, so you're in fitness and you're working through your own issues and you're deciding you want to give back. And then there's another transition where you decide it's time to leave fitness. So what happened after 20 years? It was time. And it lost and and there's I'm sure there's many, many more out here that do that.

00:11:03:13 - 00:11:33:00
Unknown
But when I started fitness, like being a trainer or a, exercise instructor or what have you, was like your part time gig? I was in it full time, like I was I treated like a 9 to 5. And, so 20 years of that being your 9 to 5 on top, not only you teaching others, but you know, you're training yourself and it was just a lot on my body.

00:11:33:02 - 00:12:03:02
Unknown
Yeah. That, you know, after 20 years, I felt like, you know, if I was the one that walked, I might have to hang it up. And quite honestly, after after two decades, I did want to transition into something a little bit more on the educational side, which I, I started doing, at the last facility that I was at where I would actually teach other up and coming instructors, and prep them so they can also get certified.

00:12:03:02 - 00:12:21:03
Unknown
And I was really hoping that that would be kind of the box that I would live in, but it didn't quite work out. So, you know, it, it did push the I, the idea in my head that like, maybe this is needs to come to an end. And yeah, so after so many years and I kind of miss it.

00:12:21:03 - 00:12:47:13
Unknown
But it was it was time. It was like right, right. Yeah. Yeah I get that. So if you're so now you're, you're moving into, you're transitioning again, another big transition is you're moving back into the thing that you found when you were little, which is being a creative person. And you've told me this has been sort of a lifelong desire that you didn't give yourself permission to explore.

00:12:47:15 - 00:13:15:06
Unknown
So how are you moving into that? It's not like a complete 180. And I, a part of me still feels unprepared for it all, because I taught myself, but yeah, it was always something that my brain was wired to do. So it's felt I felt really compelled to, to tap into it and, and to explore it as much as I could.

00:13:15:08 - 00:13:54:15
Unknown
Again, regardless of the resources that I had to make it happen. But the, the, the, the weirdness, the, the abstract, all of the things that I really found joy in, I was able to find a way to express that, that could be seen and appreciated, without me actually having to be involved. So it was a really good way to kind of show people who I was, without actually having, like, this big face to face conversation because, you know, peopling was was really hard.

00:13:54:15 - 00:14:19:13
Unknown
It's still hard. But it was a great it was a great avenue or outlet for me, to be able to do that and, and show up in a way that was comfortable for me, but was still able to connect and impact and, and, you know, hopefully make a difference. So I started playing around with a lot of it, while I was still teaching.

00:14:19:15 - 00:14:53:05
Unknown
Training. Playing around with designs and, and, and design concepts and ideas and what I first did with that before I moved 100% into designs that I used to create, leggings, which kind of fit because I was in the fitness industry. So yeah. Fitness leggings. There you go. So I would like just come up with design that at the time I had not, an inkling of knowledge about how to create things like I didn't have at that time, Adobe or anything like that.

00:14:53:05 - 00:15:15:16
Unknown
I literally had this app called. I'm like, oh, now I'm so afraid of saying this because, like, you. So there was this app. I don't even know if it still exists. It was called Picsart x Art, and it was on your phone like it was just a phone app that just had a whole lot of different, like images and patterns and icons.

00:15:15:18 - 00:15:37:16
Unknown
That and I would just slap them together. So I'm like on my phone, like, did it do and then would expand it and put this on clothing, you know, and that was, that was the way that I could express all the weirdness in my head because I would just like random. This was just be like, whatever came out was everything in my head that came out on fabric.

00:15:37:16 - 00:16:02:06
Unknown
And yeah, that's what I did for a while to kind of feed, you know, the creative beast in me until I made the complete decision to say, this is what I want to move forward into doing full time. Do you think there's a connection between the fit, the the creativity and fitness? Like, was there a line you could draw between the two?

00:16:02:08 - 00:16:06:08
Unknown
If it was a line of a go like?

00:16:06:10 - 00:16:49:14
Unknown
Several times over. But I, I just think this the way that I, I taught because I wasn't, I wasn't a gym bro mentality. It was for me, it was always about the way that people felt afterwards. Not so much the esthetics like that was just a side effect of it. But I really wanted people to feel stronger and, and more capable, and the way that I, I did that, I think is what really made me tap even deeper into my creativeness to get those things across.

00:16:49:20 - 00:17:13:13
Unknown
You know what I mean? It was that simple, putting picking stuff up and putting things down for me. You know, I wanted something that would kind of stick with people, make sure that the message was was heard and felt and it was something that they could take with them, you know, so it was I, you know, came up with a whole bunch of crazy things over, over those years.

00:17:13:15 - 00:17:41:07
Unknown
And I remember and this is so silly, but I remember the year that, The Hunger Games came up. That series. So the day it was released, I was in the movie theater that day. Wow. With a notepad. Oh my God. And anything that sparked my interest that I saw them do, I would just like jot down.

00:17:41:07 - 00:18:03:19
Unknown
And in my head I was like, how could I change this to a fitness program? Like what? To what do I do? So I and then the next day or the day after that, I had like this full circuit of just this big, like bought new way. So. So Katniss was an archer, right? Like that was her main skill set.

00:18:03:21 - 00:18:27:09
Unknown
So I would I had my students like mimic that with like a, a core like a and then, yeah, this is core and like act like they're pulling and oh gosh, it was it was just so fun. Like the weirder the better. Like and I, I feel like that was the way that I like to, you know, be there for, for my people.

00:18:27:09 - 00:18:53:17
Unknown
Like as many different out of the box ways to get them, you know, into their strength. That's what I wanted to do and that that made me happy. So you're like, you're a natural conceptual thinker that just comes naturally to you. Yeah, yeah. Well, that's makes perfect sense. I love Conceptual Thinker because I just keep saying weird. I like conceptual.

00:18:53:19 - 00:19:20:03
Unknown
We're going to go with that from now on. Yeah. Well you're that's what you're doing. You're taking concepts and then you're applying them to different mediums, which makes you primed for a creative job. Yeah, it does. One other amazing thing I noticed about you, when we first started working together, is that you have this incredible voice, and I was listening to you once.

00:19:20:05 - 00:19:47:15
Unknown
Actually, I was playing you in my kitchen, and, my husband and I were there, and he. He turned to me, and he's like, wow. She has a natural talent for voice. And I'm like, I know. And so I started talking to you about it, and, you were gracious enough to do our trailer for the podcast, and you're kind of flirting with the video world a little bit.

00:19:47:17 - 00:20:10:19
Unknown
So I'd like to talk to you about your voice and not only what it can do in the world, but also your personal voice and where you'd like to go and where you see yourself. Yeah. So first of all, I would like to officially blame you on record if it is your fault, but I'm even entertaining this at all because I would have never.

00:20:10:21 - 00:20:52:11
Unknown
But funny story like I it's so funny that people say that they they love the sound of my voice. But it was not always like that. It matter of fact, the entire 20 years of of my fitness career, I actually sound a lot like a Klingon because I, I, I, I was so vocal during classes and so hyper and just so on 100 every single class that I would go hoarse weekly, to the point where I actually damaged my vocal cords and, and, and actually had surgery because of it.

00:20:52:11 - 00:21:16:23
Unknown
So, yeah. Yeah. So it's, it's I'm actually there's really even there's no proof that this the voice that I have now, which I've always had a lower register, but I feel even after surgery, after all those years of, like, persistent damage, I'm pretty sure this is not what my voice would have been had I been a normal person.

00:21:17:00 - 00:21:45:22
Unknown
So. But I'm glad it. At least. You know, I'm not sounding, you know, like. Like I definitely have more. Yeah. No, it whatever has happened is lovely and, you know, so there are musicians and artists out there who intentionally damaged your voice to make it more interesting. So. Right. Oh my gosh, that's crazy. But yeah. So, person a voice person.

00:21:45:24 - 00:22:17:11
Unknown
Let's talk about that. Yeah. So it's it's so funny. Like even like I said, going back to me being so vocal and so on a hundred and so hyper in, in classes when I taught, that really wasn't the case. Like after hours, you know, I mean, like, I, I have a hard time convincing people that I am so socially awkward and anxious all the time, and I really don't want to.

00:22:17:11 - 00:22:44:13
Unknown
People and crowds are scary and all that kind of stuff because they usually see me, you know, with that face on. And so it was a it was a really hard thing for me to even connect with myself, my own voice. And the duality of it actually caused a lot of insecurity to where I didn't even believe in myself.

00:22:44:15 - 00:23:12:23
Unknown
Too much. And that actually made me quieter. A little bit more reserved. And so it took a while and life circumstances, you know, kind of compounded that and it took a minute for me to come out of that. I feel like it felt to me like it was just this dampening field that was around me for several years.

00:23:13:00 - 00:23:42:00
Unknown
And it made it so me expressing myself, was just a job, and it wasn't anything that I was ever comfortable with, but I made myself do it because, again, being a person of service, I knew the importance of me sharing my story and, and, you know, connecting with other people. Some maybe helped them along their own journeys.

00:23:42:00 - 00:24:12:12
Unknown
But, once I was done that and I got offline, so to speak, I would just crumble because I didn't have that for myself. Like all the things I was telling people to be encouraged about and inspired by was just falling flat on me because I did not. I was scared, you know, I was I was scared to, to be truthful about that with myself, you know?

00:24:12:14 - 00:24:45:06
Unknown
And as years went on, it made it even harder because, you know, I had put on this, this front, so to speak, that was still me to the, you know, some sort of level. But it wasn't anything that I could. Rely on for myself. You know, so this past couple of years, especially the last two years, has been really me kind of digging my own self out of that hole.

00:24:45:08 - 00:25:09:16
Unknown
And there's a, there was a little bit of guilt involved because I actually saw somewhere that some I can't remember who said this, but they said, how is paraphrasing? It was how can you offer something that you're not executing? And yeah, right. Like, yeah. Trigger it. Yeah. So I was like, oh my god. Like, how do I fix this?

00:25:09:16 - 00:25:36:11
Unknown
Because I don't want to be. It almost made it feel like I was being fake about it, which, you know, kind of made it all that much more worse, much more worse. Don't don't don't let that out. Whatever. So, you know, so I, I really I really decided at that point that I needed to kind of bring myself out of that, that, that hole and to really find my own voice.

00:25:36:11 - 00:25:57:14
Unknown
If I wanted to be this for other people, I need to be that for myself first. Okay. So do you think that by you were sort of by you were compelled to be that for other people. I don't know if I would use the word fake, but maybe that was just what you were aspiring to for yourself, but you just didn't know it yet.

00:25:57:16 - 00:26:31:12
Unknown
It's possible. Yeah. Yeah. And do you consider yourself an introvert. Yeah. Yeah. Yes. And again it's so hard to prove because every time I show up it's, you know, it's it's, it's what when I first started in fitness, before I got named true. They used to call me Sasha Fierce, which was at the time Beyonce's alter ego.

00:26:31:14 - 00:26:59:14
Unknown
Oh, wow. Really? It really was that, like, as soon as I stepped. Then it was like switch was on. It was no longer about me. I could not feed into how awkward and and and terrified I felt because I was here for them and for the job. But then the people that that called me that actually saw me in like, church, oh my God, look, it's not like that's not the same girl.

00:26:59:16 - 00:27:33:20
Unknown
Wow. Really? Ram around the gym with an inch of my life, and now she's in the pew like, so. So then you're me. But yeah. So, Oh my gosh. But wait, wait wait, how did you get the name? True. So who? So initially like like I said, when I, when I got to teaching and training and I started as a, as a personal trainer that I went into group exercise.

00:27:33:22 - 00:28:00:21
Unknown
And group exercise was my home. And I went a little crazy like, it was. It was I enjoyed it so much. And and like I said, I was so connected to the purpose of it and what I could do for anybody that came in that, you know, things got really, really wow sometimes. And people who were coming in to the classes and, you know, so many like, oh, who's that?

00:28:00:21 - 00:28:18:15
Unknown
And it was, you know, my government, government name which we will, we will not disclose at this time, but they would see my name on on the list of classes. I was like, oh, who's that talking to another member? And they're like, oh, she's the true like, be ready if you're going to take her class just be ready.

00:28:18:17 - 00:29:02:05
Unknown
So that actually all happened. Like behind my back. I had no idea that people were calling me that. So, yeah, that that kind of stuck a little bit. And then once I found out, they actually if for some reason it went from the truth to just true, and I decided to adopt it probably subconsciously at the time, because I wanted to connect that persona that they were experiencing with, you know, the little insecure girl that after teaching those amazing classes, used to go in her car and cry to decompress like I wanted those two people to be more aligned.

00:29:02:08 - 00:29:25:22
Unknown
So I, I ended up officially adopting that name, and I had it for 20 years. Wow. Yeah. So the where only H.R. knows my real name. But when I step into the classroom, they know me as true. And I kept that with me, you know, in my branding and everything like that. So, yeah. Do you think that that you've brought those two worlds together more now?

00:29:25:24 - 00:29:49:15
Unknown
I think more now. I, I do believe the first time I attempted, I had a little bit of identity crisis, that kind of reared its head again when I retired from fitness because I was, again, so connected to the work of it and that persona that when I left the work, even though again, it was time for me to go.

00:29:49:15 - 00:30:14:05
Unknown
And I do not regret that decision, but leaving that work for me felt like for a while I was leaving that person behind and I was left a little, well, who am I? You know, like without that, I had I felt like for a while I had no identity and it made it way more apparent than I was willing to admit, that I still had not found the security in my own voice.

00:30:14:05 - 00:30:41:04
Unknown
Yet at that time. So that is again. Yeah. The last couple of years I've been trying to rebuild that. Yeah. You know, and be a little bolder. Yes. Which is because look at you, you're on this podcast, it's like, oh yay I week now there's, there's, there's moments where I just have to say, just come on, just do it.

00:30:41:06 - 00:31:13:23
Unknown
Just. Throw it against the wall. See the sticks and be okay if it sucks because you're here and you're real. And I think that's all I really know how to be is real. You know. So true. And. So speaking of being real and being true, we are kind of in this tenuous place as a culture creatively, and you're moving into a creative career.

00:31:14:00 - 00:31:39:00
Unknown
I would love to hear your thoughts on moving into a creative industry at a time when things are a little tumultuous. Yeah. This year hit hard. And I said and I said this to you and I said a few other people that would listen. That felt like now more than ever I was primed to do something.

00:31:39:02 - 00:32:08:18
Unknown
Then just sit here and languish and say that I don't have a voice or I don't have a place. Yeah. It definitely mobilize something in me. Then we'll find out what it is. So it's like an adventure, but I honestly, I believe like this, this whole transition, I mean, and it's across the board, like socially, culturally, economically, ethically, you know, we are I feel we are screaming for our humanity to be returned.

00:32:08:20 - 00:32:34:06
Unknown
It's just it's just such a weird place to be right now. And this next four years, I think it's going to redefine, hopefully if enough people speak up and find their voice, like what community means and how creativity will show up and serve that. So I, you know, I'm, I feel really fortunate that I'm here in this space right now to be able to contribute in that way.

00:32:34:06 - 00:33:09:02
Unknown
You know, and I see I see creativity and community going kind of hand in hand, you know, with this. So I think people are are every year just getting more and more weary. And I think the, the creative, innovative, caring, compassionate, real voices like, this is our time, you know, to kind of collectively come together and, and be a part of the expansion and expression of that, you know what I mean?

00:33:09:04 - 00:33:31:12
Unknown
I don't know what it's going to look like, but I really feel like this is the moment to really figure that out. You know, and I met you when I met you, we were working on an AI project together. So how do you. And you're really great at AI. So how do you see that moving into the future?

00:33:31:12 - 00:34:09:07
Unknown
Do you see it as part of your career moving forward? And how is it going to play into everything for you? For me, I don't feel like I, I always said even though like I'm now in the design industry, I never considered myself to be an artist. So an artist kind of landed weird on me. And that is, that is so personal because, you know, me being self-taught and me feeling like I came into this industry very, very late, because I'm old and I don't have the what?

00:34:09:07 - 00:34:36:20
Unknown
I feel like a strong foundation, you know, to even play around with that. I feel comfortable, like, I don't know. And again, like, this could just be me because I know a lot of people just immediately adopted it and and ran with it. And that just didn't feel really stable to me. Like when we first got well, when I first got introduced to AI, and that was two years ago.

00:34:36:22 - 00:35:02:15
Unknown
I had fun with it. Like, I love the, the, the idea of getting even more. That was in my head, kind of out. But at the same time, it terrified me because, like I said, I had no real foundation in it. I didn't consider myself an artist. So for me to put stuff out there, like, I felt so illegitimate in the whole thing.

00:35:02:17 - 00:35:44:03
Unknown
But with that being said, like, again, we talk about, you know, the impact of AI and, and, the need for it to be utilized ethically. And I think there's still going to be a lot of people that are just not going to put the work in to make that the reality. And again, that that still comes back to, you know, well, what I see for us in the future, if more of us, you know, that care deep enough, start speaking out more because I think the balance is, is is more shifted towards the people who just want to be seen or just want to go viral or, you know, just want to do

00:35:44:03 - 00:36:26:22
Unknown
like the look what I can do and not really thinking deep into the after effects of all of that, you know, so yeah. Yeah. The why behind it. Exactly, exactly. You know. Yeah. So yeah, I joke and I and I know I joke, but I, I, I don't want to disrespect anybody. But we saw like so many real cool robots and you know, I mean it was just, it was just such a, an uncanny explosion of the same thing over and over again just in regards to aspects of AI art, you know what I mean?

00:36:30:20 - 00:37:05:03
Unknown
That type of saturation was just why, you know what I mean? Like, it's so I really feel as though if we're going to continue with this, we have to make it matter. You know, so, yeah. You might say people need to have their own personal voice in their work. Yeah. I just and even with me when I, when I created things, with AI I literally because I don't know how to not touch stuff, I would put, I would pull it into another editing.

00:37:05:05 - 00:37:35:00
Unknown
Yeah. It's just literally completely redesign it. So it was never what the machine rendered. It was always, you know, leveled up. Yeah. Yeah, I, I, I wanted that identity to be mine, you know what I mean? So sure. Yeah. I completely understand. You and I talked about, one of your favorite books called. I believe it's a five second rule.

00:37:35:02 - 00:38:02:21
Unknown
Hi. Second rule? Yeah, five second rule. So why is this one of your favorite books? I love, hate that book. I'm gonna tell you. So Mel Robbins love her. She's so motivational. And, you know, I, I followed her for a while, and I, and I, you know, read a few of her books, but the first, second rule was, the first one that I read, and that was a part of my whole, you know, I'm trying to define myself and and be stronger and more resilient in my own life.

00:38:02:23 - 00:38:24:09
Unknown
But with that book, the premise of it, I'm sure everybody knows what it is. But just in case you don't. So the premise of it is basically to get up and just do things, the thing that you're afraid of, the things that you think are holding you back. If you were to count down from 5 to 1, as soon as you get to one, you are to do the thing, whatever that thing is.

00:38:24:11 - 00:38:43:19
Unknown
And it was a great tactic because it went from, I would say five, four, three, two, one, and then I would go do that thing. Great. And then it got to where I was, say five, and it was like, oh my God. It was almost like Pavlov's dog. Wow. Where as soon as I heard myself, could you say it out loud?

00:38:43:21 - 00:39:08:13
Unknown
So I hurt myself, say five. I was like, oh, I want to take thing right. So, it hurt. You weren't, but, you know, you have to be ready for it because I. I would be lying if I didn't say I would. I would just not count. I'm I'm so grateful for that traumatic experience. But yeah, that that that messaging stuck with me.

00:39:08:15 - 00:39:31:16
Unknown
You know to where it kind of it was almost like a you, I do it scared kind of thing. Like it doesn't matter how you feel about it in the moment. Just get in there, you know. So it was the kind of like a little, little bit of a push to, to do things that you might not be 100% comfortable with.

00:39:31:18 - 00:39:59:22
Unknown
You know, but you do it anyway, and it's, it seems to work out at some point. And if it doesn't, it's a learning experience. And I think that was the progression that, you know, was probably the main point of all of that. So yeah, every so often I do count in my. Yeah, I mean, you kind of talk about this, with your fitness journey too, but that idea of discomfort doesn't mean avoid always.

00:40:00:00 - 00:40:24:14
Unknown
Yeah. Sometimes it just means you're going to go through something and come out the other side. Different. Exactly, exactly. Yeah. So as you are moving into this new career and you're finding your voice physically and just, in your own work in your future, in the next five years, where do you see yourself or where do you want to go?

00:40:24:16 - 00:40:56:11
Unknown
Oh my gosh, it's a big question. It's a big question. It's a big question because, you know, I was never brave enough to even say that for myself. Like, wow, those type of decisions. And now like all of those big questions coming to me, they feel so new and so big, and I feel like I'm unprepared. But and I'm so used to the oh, we'll just see what happens kind of thing.

00:40:56:13 - 00:41:36:11
Unknown
You know that actually having a plan seems weird, but I do. I do hope that whatever it is again, that it matters, that it it serves in some way that it makes somebody better and hopefully in turn, make me a better person for it. But I want to be able to express myself in a way. That shows an example of a life lived better.

00:41:36:13 - 00:42:00:10
Unknown
More connected. I'm getting better at peopling. So, you know, I, I really want whatever I do to impact the heart in some way. And I want to be able and this is going to sound really, really odd because like you're like well she doesn't like talking. I really want to help others find what I am finding.

00:42:00:10 - 00:42:37:21
Unknown
I don't I'm not even claiming that I found it yet, but I would like to help others on this journey as I'm like digging through and unpacking all of this insecure, anxious mess. I would love to be able to take somebody else by the hand and say, let's go find out what happens if we just, you know, we're our mouths and and finally speak up, you know, so so if you were to at this point, if you met little true, what would you tell her?

00:42:37:23 - 00:43:09:02
Unknown
Keep being weird because little true was loud as all get out. She was definitely, She didn't care how odd she was. She didn't. She loved the stories that came out of her head. She didn't really have any type of awareness of the judgment that might come with that. And she was okay with sucking every so often.

00:43:09:04 - 00:43:38:02
Unknown
And messing up and tripping. You know, she actually found that funny. And somewhere along the line, you know I kind of lost that. So I would tell her I definitely tell her to fight harder. To keep that as we lost it for quite some time, I understood. So let's just say that you could have anybody you wanted on the podcast.

00:43:38:04 - 00:43:48:18
Unknown
Who's your dream guest?

00:43:48:20 - 00:44:17:09
Unknown
Very there's one person that I have considered being a mentor and he was he came into my life during my whole fitness history. But the impact that he had on my life, is stays even today. And I don't get to speak to him very often, but I always have his little messages running through my head.

00:44:17:11 - 00:44:48:14
Unknown
His name is, Pepper Vaughn. And, he's he's just an amazing human. So kind. You want to talk about being a person of service? The compassion that man possesses is outstanding and is something that I've always aspired to be. But I have a feeling that if I were to talk to him about this in the podcast, I would probably cry the entire hour.

00:44:48:16 - 00:45:12:02
Unknown
But he is he's my favorite person. He's he's taught me more than I'm sure he's even aware of. But yeah, I would love to connect with him on that, I think. So tell me where what kind of worked his pepper van do? He is in Venice, which is very. That's where I met him. Yes. And he's been in the game for decades and decades.

00:45:12:02 - 00:45:37:06
Unknown
Like he's iconic, in that regard. And I met him, you know, going to fitness conferences connected with him. He started his own fitness program. And, you know, I got certified in that and was really connected with him that way, you know, and I became part of, you know, his performance team for a little bit when he did other conferences and things like that.

00:45:37:06 - 00:46:07:16
Unknown
So, yeah. Yeah. He's amazing. He's a big, he's added to the list. I knew that was coming. He's added to the list. So, we are actually at the 45 minute mark, and I survived. You survived. And I if there's anybody who is listening to this that would like to put a question in the chat, or if you would like to turn on your camera and speak to to directly, you're welcome to do that.

00:46:07:16 - 00:46:37:13
Unknown
Now, and while I'm waiting for that, I'm going to ask you one more question. Oh. Hi, Hannah. Do you have a question before I dig in? Okay. Do. Yeah. First of all, I just want to say thank you so much for sharing your journey and your perspective, because I think so many of us have this nervousness and this anxiety, and that just comes with existence on this planet.

00:46:37:15 - 00:46:58:21
Unknown
And I just I wanted to ask the question of when you are feeling this way and you've been through all the challenges that you have been through, what is the inner voice telling you that that helps you keep going and trying?

00:46:58:23 - 00:47:22:22
Unknown
Yeah, I think for me, a little bit of it definitely comes for from. What I want to be able to provide for others. But I think now more than even it was in the past, what the thing that comes up in my head is that I just, I want to be better. I want to be better for me.

00:47:22:24 - 00:47:55:24
Unknown
So yeah, I think saying that and really believing that I have the capacity to do that, I think is what gets me to do the things that I am afraid to do. Thank you. Thank you Hannah. Thanks. Yeah. So I don't see any other questions. And so I have one final question for you too. Okay.

00:47:56:01 - 00:48:28:20
Unknown
Well actually it's kind of in two parts, but one, where can people find you on the interwebs if they'd like to connect with you or talk with you about community or what you're doing creatively? Okay, so I, I live on online more than I probably should. So they can find me on Instagram. True at art. And that is true with no E with a dot at with a dot art.

00:48:28:22 - 00:49:00:03
Unknown
And they can find me on LinkedIn by True Atoms. Yeah. And design wise it's those two places I try to engage and connect. Of course I can probably do better, but those are the places that they can find me. Or if they want to see how weird my work is, they can actually go to my portfolio website, which is@twitter.com.

00:49:00:05 - 00:49:38:05
Unknown
Thank you. Yeah. So my closing question for you is it's ready. I'm ready. Are you ready? Okay. This is it. This is it. You've almost made it through like Final Jeopardy. Let's go. All right. So but as you're finding your voice and you're learning to speak up for yourself and move into your truth about who you are, what you really want as you're continuing this journey and at the same time you want to mentor and build community, what advice would you give to someone who is in a similar position?

00:49:38:05 - 00:50:02:03
Unknown
You were, let's say, at the beginning of your fitness journey, and it's just waking up to the idea that they want to be better, that they want to be more, that they have a calling in their heart that they want to follow, but they're just feeling hesitant about doing it. I think it actually just starts with having the belief in yourself.

00:50:02:03 - 00:50:26:22
Unknown
And I know that probably sounds very generic and and and cliche, but nothing is going to happen, and I'm proof of that like I've done. So it's like several things, like I've gone out and done it, and I really feel like a lot of the times that wasn't sustainable for me because I did it in the crisis of not believing in myself, you know?

00:50:26:22 - 00:50:51:05
Unknown
So none of those things held for very long, you know, because I was not really confident on what I would was doing and thinking that I wasn't enough while I was doing it, you know. So I think that has to be where it starts. And, you know, maybe I kind of came at it kind of sideways and probably why I took a little bit of time.

00:50:51:07 - 00:51:26:12
Unknown
But I really believe that you have to stop being afraid of what your capacity is. Regardless of your training, because I nothing that I've done in, in my adult life, as far as career wise, has been, traditionally trained like I did not go to school for any of this, you know what I mean? And I think that came with its own set of insecurities.

00:51:26:14 - 00:51:50:08
Unknown
But that doesn't have to be the case, like I, I had to actually start validating what I know and what I could learn, you know, and I think that's that's where you have to start believing that you have the capacity to do those things and to not be afraid of the success of it. You know, along with not being afraid to fail.

00:51:50:14 - 00:52:14:04
Unknown
Don't be afraid of succeeding. You know, you've heard that before, but that rings true so much more than people give it credit for. You know what I mean? Like, I think a lot more people than admit it are afraid to succeed in things, and they end up self-sabotaging when they see good things coming towards them. I know I've I've done that plenty of times.

00:52:14:06 - 00:52:38:22
Unknown
But you have to be in the frame of mind to. Get over that and believe that you are supposed to be where you are, and you have to own that space and love that space and love yourself in that space. So I love that. That's beautiful. Well, true. Thank you so much for talking with me today.

00:52:38:22 - 00:52:57:20
Unknown
You. It is such an honor to have you on the podcast and learn more about you. And I really do encourage the listeners to please go check out True's amazing site and her amazing voice. Thank you so much everybody and have a wonderful week. Thank you.