Grief doesn’t just break you open—it breaks you open to truth. And in this transformative episode, Dr. Mark Matthews and I journey into the sacred territory where loss becomes a portal to identity, purpose, and sovereign leadership.

From losing both parents at nine years old to navigating a lifetime of introspection, Dr. Mark shares how grief became his greatest teacher—shaping his worldview, his leadership philosophy, and the deep sense of compassion that infuses every aspect of his coaching. Together, we explore how the “armor of avoidance” keeps us disconnected from our deepest desires and how embracing our emotional landscape leads to explosive growth in business, relationships, and self-worth. 

We dive into:

• Why care is the antidote to overwhelm and the foundation of conscious leadership
• How expanding your capacity unlocks your next level of sovereignty
• What Maslow really meant about human development and fulfillment
• How grief reframes identity and becomes a catalyst f...

What if the pain you’ve endured wasn’t meant to break you — but to make you?

In this deeply heartfelt episode of the Crown Yourself podcast, Kimberly Spencer sits down with Bonnie Strati — a former “hot mess” turned high-performing coach, author, and sovereign leader — to explore what it really means to build yourself back stronger after life knocks you down.

Bonnie’s new book, Built Stronger: The Art of Becoming Whole Again, is part memoir, part medicine, part permission slip to feel the grief, the rage, the disappointment — and still choose to rise. Together, Kimberly and Bonnie dive into how betrayal serves as a mirror for our own healing, why boundaries are sacred acts of self-love, and how we can stop numbing with busyness and start sitting with what needs to be felt.

This conversation is raw, real, and radically empowering. Whether you’re facing a personal initiation, navigating grief, or ready to rewrite your story, Bonnie’s wisdom will inspire you to embrace the mess, honor ...