Crowning Yourself Through Fire: 300 Episodes of Growth, Grief, and Becoming the Leader You Were Meant to Be

Apr 02, 2026

Please enjoy this transcript of the Crown Yourself Podcast, with your host, transformational story coach, Kimberly Spencer (@Kimberly.Spencer)

There’s a version of success no one talks about—the one built in grief, uncertainty, and the moments you almost walked away.

In this milestone 300th episode of the Crown Yourself Podcast, I pull back the curtain on what it really takes to build a legacy brand—not just when things are thriving, but when life cracks you open.

From launching this podcast in a one-bedroom apartment… to navigating loss, motherhood, identity shifts, business pivots, and rebuilding from cash flow crises—this episode is a raw, unfiltered journey of sovereign leadership in action.

This isn’t about overnight success. It’s about choosing your throne—again and again—when your ego, fear, and circumstances try to pull you off it.

Inside this episode, you’ll discover:

Why consistency is the real currency of high-performance leadership
The hidden trap of chasing “viral success” vs. building a legacy brand
How to navigate grief, identity shifts, and business pivots without losing your power
The truth about podcasting, visibility, and authority in the age of AI
What it actually means to lead from ownership, not ego

This episode is a transmission—a reminder that your evolution is the strategy.

Because sovereignty isn’t built in perfect conditions.
It’s forged in the moments you decide… I’m still choosing this.

👑 Your reign isn’t coming.
It’s now.

*Transcripts may contain typos. We do our best to catch any human or robot errors prior to release. And we thank you in advance for your understanding. Enjoy!

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, or your favorite podcast platform. And, you can always watch the episode on YouTube here.

Before we dive in, boundaries are everything to protecting your energy and your empire, so please note some legal boundaries before we dive into the full episode transcript:

WHAT YOU’RE WELCOME TO DO: You are welcome to share the below transcript (up to 500 words but not more) in media articles (e.g., Forbes, The New York Times, CNBC The Guardian), on your personal website, in a non-commercial article or blog post (e.g., Medium), and/or on a personal social media account for non-commercial purposes, provided that you include attribution to the “Crown Yourself Podcast” and link back to crownyoutself.com/podcast URL

For the sake of clarity, media outlets with advertising models are permitted to use excerpts from the transcript per the above release.

WHAT IS NOT ALLOWED: No one is authorized to copy any portion of the podcast content or use Kimberly Spencer’s name, image or likeness for any commercial purpose or use, including without limitation inclusion in any books, e-books, book summaries or synopses, or on a commercial website or social media site (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) that offers or promotes your or another’s products or services, except without explicit consent in writing, from Crown Yourself LLC. For the sake of clarity, media outlets are permitted to use photos of Kimberly Spencer from the Media Room at crownyourself.com/media or (obviously) licensed photos of Kimberly Spencer from Getty Images, etc.

We good? Great. Let's get to the goods.

👑 Crown Yourself Podcast Episode 300

How to Build a Legacy Brand Through Growth, Grief, and Sovereign Leadership

⏱️ [00:00] Introduction: 300 Episodes & The Power of Showing Up

Kimberly Spencer (host):
If you have ever wanted to start a podcast and grow it, to having hundreds of thousands of downloads, to being seen and heard around the world and over 45 countries, then welcome to the Crown Yourself podcast and our special 300th episode.

I am your host, Kimberly Spencer, Master mindset coach, certified high performance coach, and business strategist, and I am here to just say thank you so much for being a loyal listener.

If this is your first time tuning in to the Crown Yourself podcast, welcome to episode 300.

We have come such a long way in this journey, and I just wanted to take this podcast episode to reflect on how far we have grown…

The Evolution of the Crown Yourself Podcast

⏱️ [03:00] How It All Started: Environment Shapes Identity

Kimberly Spencer (host):
We started this podcast in 2019… and back then I launched it and the podcast was called The Princess and the Bee.

I was in a podcast mastermind… and I was the only one without a podcast.

And you’ve heard it said—you are who you surround yourself with.

And in that moment, I realized… I had to do something about that.

⏱️ [06:00] From Princess to Queen: Identity Transformation in Business

Kimberly Spencer (host):
Back then, quite frankly, I was still working through some victim mindset patterns.

I had replaced my husband’s income… I was the breadwinner… I was a new mom…

And yet, I was still processing deep transformations.

That version of me? She built the foundation.

But she wasn’t the final form.

Building a Business Through Life’s Hardest Seasons

⏱️ [09:00] Entrepreneurship, Family, and Mental Health Challenges

Kimberly Spencer (host):
2019 was a very interesting year.

My dad was struggling with mental health… he ended up in the psych ward…

And this podcast became a lifeline.

It gave me a space to think, to process, and to lead—even when things behind the scenes were heavy.

⏱️ [12:30] Leadership Through Trauma and Healing

Kimberly Spencer (host):
There were parts of my story I didn’t share back then…

Experiences growing up—emotional abuse, fear…

And navigating those while building a business… it shapes you.

It forces you to grow.

Growth, Expansion, and Global Reach

⏱️ [16:00] Scaling During COVID: Visibility and Authority

Kimberly Spencer (host):
During COVID, the podcast grew exponentially.

We started getting award nominations… listeners across 45 countries…

Thousands of downloads per episode.

That was when things expanded beyond just friends and family.

Grief, Loss, and Identity Shifts

⏱️ [20:00] Navigating Loss While Leading a Business

Kimberly Spencer (host):
While living in Australia… my dad passed away.

Then my grandma. My aunt.

I had a baby.

And that level of grief… it changes you.

It makes you question everything—your purpose, your life, your leadership.

⏱️ [25:00] When You Have to Pause to Rebuild

Kimberly Spencer (host):
I put the podcast on pause.

Because I didn’t know how to lead… while navigating that level of grief.

And sometimes, leadership looks like stepping back.

Rebranding: Aligning Identity with Mission

⏱️ [30:00] Why “Crown Yourself Podcast” Was Born

Kimberly Spencer (host):
That was when I realized…

This isn’t The Princess and the Bee.

I had to become the queen.

And the brand needed to reflect that.

That’s when we became the Crown Yourself podcast.

⏱️ [34:00] SEO, Branding, and Alignment

Kimberly Spencer (host):
Side note—from a business standpoint…

Don’t name your podcast something fluffy and metaphorical.

It messes with your SEO.

When we aligned the name with the brand—everything grew.

Business Growth, Revenue, and Reality

⏱️ [38:00] Podcasting as a Business Asset

Kimberly Spencer (host):
This podcast became a vehicle…

For building relationships, collaborations, and clients.

For demonstrating leadership.

For growing authority.

⏱️ [42:00] Cash Flow Crisis and Hard Truths

Kimberly Spencer (host):
Fast forward to 2024…

We were making revenue—but not profit.

I was paying my team from personal funds.

And I realized…

This model doesn’t work.

⏱️ [46:00] Pivoting to Alignment

Kimberly Spencer (host):
So we pivoted.

Into a model that aligned with our core value: ownership.

Because sovereignty requires responsibility.

Why Most People Fail (And How to Win)

⏱️ [50:00] The Truth About Podcasting and Consistency

Kimberly Spencer (host):
90% of podcasters quit after 10 episodes.

Ten.

And here we are… at 300.

That’s the difference.

⏱️ [54:00] Consistency vs Viral Success

Kimberly Spencer (host):
People chase viral wins.

But longevity?

That’s what builds legacy.

Content Strategy in the Age of AI

⏱️ [58:00] Visibility, Authority, and Conversion

Kimberly Spencer (host):
You don’t want to just create content…

You want it to convert.

To build trust. Community. Relationships.

Otherwise—you’re just shouting into the wind.

Leadership, Ego, and Growth

⏱️ [01:02:00] Meeting the Ego at Every Level

Kimberly Spencer (host):
You will meet that same devil again…

Just dressed differently.

Doubt. Fear. Ego.

It doesn’t go away—you just grow through it.

⏱️ [01:06:00] Longevity as a Leadership Strategy

Kimberly Spencer (host):
Longevity stretches you.

More than any quick win ever could.

The Power of Choosing Again

⏱️ [01:10:00] Commitment Over Motivation

Kimberly Spencer (host):
This podcast has been an exploration of choice.

Choosing to show up.

Choosing to lead.

Choosing again… and again… and again.

Final Reflections: 300 Episodes Later

⏱️ [01:15:00] Gratitude, Growth, and the Journey

Kimberly Spencer (host):
This podcast has been a gift.

To witness my own growth…

To see who I’ve become.

⏱️ [01:18:00] Closing Message: Sovereignty and Leadership

Kimberly Spencer (host):
Thank you for being a part of this journey.

Cheers to the next 300.

As always, my fellow sovereigns…

Own your throne.
Mind your business.
Because your reign is now.

👑 Key Takeaways from This Crown Yourself Podcast Episode

Consistency is the real strategy → Most people quit before results compound
Identity drives growth → You must evolve to scale
Alignment matters more than revenue → Profit without purpose leads to burnout
Longevity builds legacy → Sustainable success beats viral moments
Sovereign leadership = ownership → No excuses, just responsibility

The Crown Yourself Podcast is a fast-growing self-improvement podcast, ranked in the top #200 personal-development podcasts in two countries, so far, out of 4.5 million podcasts. Each week, you get the conscious leadership strategies you need to help you reign with courage, clarity, and confidence so that you too can make the income and impact you deserve. Imagine this podcast as your royal invitation to step into your full potential and reign in your divine purpose. To listen to any of the past episodes for free, check out this page.