Episode Overview

In the final installment of her vulnerable three-part series, Kristen continues to unpack the emotional, spiritual, and professional journey she’s been on over the past year. Picking up where she left off—at rock bottom—Kristen shares what happened after taking radical responsibility for her actions and stepping away from the business that made her a household name in social selling.

She explores the deep healing work she’s done through therapy, a transformational retreat, and a season of radical stillness...before realizing that healing often intensifies when we start building again. Kristen discusses the creation of Sondera, her new company focused on nervous system regulation, and how the entrepreneurial process is offering her the most humbling and redemptive growth of all.

This is not a polished comeback. This is the messy middle—where ego dies, faith grows, and identity is rebuilt.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• Why healing often accelerates in the process of building something new
• How nervous system dysregulation can sabotage success
• The dangers of attaching self-worth to productivity and platform
• Why Kristen walked away from a wildly successful business
• The origin story of Sondera and what it’s really about
• Why your internal safety matters more than external security

Key Takeaways

• Healing is not linear. Kristen thought peace would come from stillness. But it came through risk, exposure, and being seen in a new way.
• Burnout is more than overwork. Chronic nervous system dysregulation—not just hours worked—was what broke Kristen down.
• Success doesn’t mean alignment. Kristen shares how she knew she was out of alignment even though her business was thriving on the surface.
• Redemption is found in transparency. Instead of disappearing and re-emerging perfectly polished, Kristen invites her audience into the real-time journey.
• Your body tells the truth. Learning how her stress response (flight) controlled her behavior helped her take back agency and make healthier decisions.

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro: “I see you with brand new eyes.”

01:20 – Recapping Part 2: Hitting bottom and coming home

03:00 – The power of bringing your story into the light

05:00 – Deep therapy and emotional healing at Onsite

06:15 – Feeling disillusioned with her former business model

07:10 – Launching “Beyond the Business” coaching calls

08:00 – The agonizing decision to shut down her signature programs

09:45 – Stewarding success well in seasons of plenty

11:00 – Letting go of external validation and facing public perception

12:30 – The fantasy of a “quiet, offline life” vs. the call to rebuild

15:00 – Discovering nervous system regulation as the missing link

17:00 – Fight, flight, freeze, and fawn: how they show up in your business

20:00 – Why she mistook her chronic stress for ambition

23:30 – Understanding burnout through the lens of dysregulation

25:10 – Building Sondera: from idea to messy execution

26:30 – Why healing happened through building, not before it

29:00 – Learning to express vulnerability to her husband

31:00 – Letting go of ego, hustle, and performance-driven identity

33:00 – Creating Sondera as a redemptive act

34:30 – Reconnecting with her story and reclaiming her voice

36:00 – An invitation to listeners: look for the growth in your own build

39:00 – Next up: nervous system regulation and what it means in daily life

Resources & Mentions

• Kristen’s New Company: Sondera
• Previous Episodes: [Part One & Two of Kristen’s Story]

Call to Action

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend who might be in their own “messy middle.” And if you haven’t yet, leave a review—it helps others find the show and gives Kristen fuel to keep showing up authentically.

Let’s Connect

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