Episode Summary:

In this deeply personal and thought-provoking episode, Kristen opens up about the emotional challenges of the past year, including the unexpected loss of her beloved dog Hank. But this conversation is about much more than personal hardship—Kristen invites listeners into her raw reflections on the moral dilemma of marketing, the unhealthy patterns often baked into the personal development space, and how the industry subtly preys on people’s insecurities.

She shares powerful insights from behind the scenes of entrepreneurship, including conversations with high-level business leaders who are grappling with the same ethical concerns. Kristen explores the difference between building a business from empowerment versus shame, and why she’s committed to creating sustainable, holistic success through her new venture, Sondera.

You’ll walk away with a renewed sense of clarity, challenged thinking, and the motivation to pursue growth from a place of wholeness—not hustle. This is a must-listen for anyone who’s tired of burnout, tired of the same old formulas, and ready to rewire success on their own terms.

• Why fast fixes and dopamine-driven purchases keep us stuck
• The hidden ways marketing tactics prey on fear and urgency
• The difference between empowered growth and shame-based action
• Why so many people struggle to implement what they’ve learned
• Kristen’s behind-the-scenes journey in building a truly holistic business model
• How to break the cycle of self-growth shame and finally experience sustainable change

• Success isn't just about results—it's about how we become in the process.
• The personal development industry often teaches transformation from a place of lack. It’s time to shift that.
• You don’t need more strategy. You need better tools for implementation.
• Buying from panic and shame rarely leads to lasting transformation. Empowered decisions do.

Kristen is hosting a brand new 3-day event:

🎯 The Success Rewire

🗓️ December 8–10

💸 Just $9

This event will help you stop quitting on yourself and finally follow through on the growth you’ve been chasing. No gimmicks. No shame. Just tools that work.

Follow @thekristenboss on Instagram for updates and keep an eye on your email.

• 00:00 – Holiday reflections and recent personal losses
• 04:30 – The broken model of hustle-based business building
• 09:20 – A conversation with a high-level entrepreneur on burnout
• 12:45 – The ethical dilemma of scarcity marketing
• 18:40 – The psychology of empowered vs. shame-based purchases
• 23:50 – What Sonera is really about and why it matters
• 27:00 – Announcing the 3-Day Event: The Success Rewire
• 32:00 – Breaking the cycle of self-growth shame
• 35:00 – Final thoughts and invitation

• Instagram: @thekristenboss
• Website: www.kristenboss.com or www.sonderalife.com

If this episode moved you, inspired you, or made you rethink success—share it on Instagram and tag @thekristenboss. She might just shout you out!

In this insightful and vulnerable episode, Kristen is joined by longtime friend and author Sarah Boyd to unpack the often misunderstood world of nervous system regulation and how chronic stress shows up in parenting, entrepreneurship, and everyday life.

They explore how hustle culture isn’t just a mindset—it's often a nervous system coping mechanism, and why high achievers struggle with stillness, rest, and emotional connection. Sarah shares practical tools for recognizing overstimulation, building emotional regulation, and deepening relationships at home—especially for parents who are also business owners.

If you've ever felt like you're stuck in "go mode" and can’t seem to slow down without guilt or anxiety, this episode is a must-listen.

• What nervous system dysregulation actually is—and how to spot it in your own life
• Why high performers often struggle with parenting and connection
• How hustle can be a trauma response masked as productivity
• The hidden role of overstimulation in burnout and disconnection
• Tools for re-regulating your nervous system—especially during transitions between work and family life
• How entrepreneurs can build deeper emotional awareness and healthier coping strategies
• Why rest might feel unsafe for you—and how to change that

• [00:00] Intro and heartfelt reunion with Sarah Boyd
• [04:00] How Sarah's new book reframes overstimulation and parenting
• [08:30] The science of stress: what your nervous system is trying to tell you
• [13:00] What keeps high performers stuck in chronic dysregulation
• [17:00] Kristen’s personal story of entrepreneurial vigilance and internalized scarcity
• [22:00] A hard truth: many entrepreneurs are dysregulated and calling it “ADHD”
• [27:00] The role of parenting in nervous system awareness
• [30:10] Why entrepreneurs struggle to connect with their kids
• [35:00] How to move out of “fight or flight” and back into empathy
• [38:45] Reclaiming rest: learning to downshift your nervous system after work
• [42:00] Hustle as a flavor of dysregulation—and recovering from it
• [44:30] Why EQ (emotional intelligence) is the future for our kids
• [45:36] Final reflections + where to find Sarah’s work

Sarah Boyd is a writer, child and adolescent development expert, and founder of the educational company, Resilient Little Hearts, a platform helping parents and children navigate big emotions in a chaotic world. Her book, Turn Down the Noise, helps readers understand the impact of overstimulation on the nervous system and offers practical tools to find calm, especially for parents raising children in the modern age.

Follow Sarah:

Instagram: @resilientlittlehearts Book: Turn Down the Noise – available now wherever books are sold

Learn more about Kristen by heading to her website: www.kristenboss.com

Loved this episode?

Screenshot it and tag @thekristenboss and

Kristen peels back the glossy layers of the personal development world and gets radically honest about what real growth looks and feels like. Spoiler alert: it’s not always pretty—and it’s definitely not linear.

If you've ever thought, “Why am I still dealing with this?” or felt stuck in self-help shame spirals, this conversation is your permission slip to ditch the unrealistic timelines and redefine what growth really means.

Kristen dives into:

• Why consuming personal development content isn’t the same as doing the work
• The danger of turning personal growth into a self-shaming tool
• What it means to turn in your “victim card” and reclaim radical responsibility
• How to spot when you're stuck in a pattern vs. truly evolving
• The nature-inspired reminder that nothing in life grows endlessly—and that’s okay

Plus, she shares a heartfelt personal reflection about fulfillment, redefining success, and how breaking her own patterns led to unexpected transformation.

Whether you’re working on your mindset, relationships, business, or just trying to become the best version of yourself—this episode will meet you where you are.

• Growth is not a straight line—expect spirals, setbacks, and seasons.
• Awareness without action is a trap. Real change requires implementation.
• Stop treating yourself like a never-ending project to fix.
• True growth happens when you love yourself through the process—not once you “arrive.”
• Fulfillment metrics matter more than performance metrics.

00:58 – Welcome back + the truth about "growth drama"

02:52 – Consuming vs. integrating personal development

04:50 – Turning in your victim card and owning your agency

07:34 – The shadow side of self-help culture

12:23 – When personal growth turns into self-shaming

19:24 – What nature teaches us about healthy growth patterns

23:52 – Revisiting old wounds from a new level of awareness

27:46 – How Kristen manages her own defaults around hustle

30:19 – Why fulfillment > achievement

33:21 – A new lens for your lifelong journey

Join Sondera Signature Membership – Weekly coaching, transformative tools, and deep work to help you break patterns and build a meaningful life. (Special offer ends November 1st—don’t miss it!)

Love the podcast? Drop a quick rating and review on Apple or Spotify. It helps more people find the show—and we’d love to shout you out on Instagram. Tag @thekristenboss with a screenshot and your biggest takeaway.