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 You'll Learn:
- 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
Timestamps:
- [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
About Sarah Boyd:
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
Call to Action:
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