Turn Down the Noise: Sarah Boyd on Resilience, Rest, and Raising Emotionally Healthy Kids

This is StRest! Meet Sarah Boyd—educational psychologist, founder of Resilient Little Hearts, and global voice on emotional health and resilience. In this episode, host Kerstin Lindquist welcomes Sarah for a future-facing conversation (literally—from Australia!) about overstimulation, chronic stress, and the underestimated power of recovery. Together, they unpack why true resilience isn’t about grit alone—it’s about rest, rhythm, and release. From parenting during puberty to the neuroscience of burnout, Sarah brings practical tools and deeply grounded wisdom to help you turn down the noise and reset your soul. If you’re running on fumes, feeling like the world might fall apart if you pause, or wondering how to raise emotionally healthy kids while holding it together yourself—this one’s for you. Major Themes & Concepts ✅ Resilience ≠ stoicism—it’s the dance between stress and recovery ✅ The neuroscience of overstimulation: why your brain needs breaks ✅ Loving detachment: trusting God with what’s not yours to carry ✅ Rest as resistance: Sabbath, slowing, and deprogramming productivity ✅ Parenting: you’re their prefrontal cortex until theirs develops ✅ Interrupting emotional buildup: how to stop the 10/10 blowup ✅ Creativity, joy, and play as pillars of adult recovery ✅ Tech boundaries & environmental overstimulation: the invisible epidemic ✅ Relationships as longevity medicine: lessons from the Harvard Study Chapters 00:00 | Introduction: misplaced responsibility & surrendering control 06:49 | What resilience really means—and how it’s misunderstood 09:21 | Why we need stress—and why recovery is missing 12:03 | Overstimulation: the epidemic we’re not talking about 14:37 | Real rest vs. fake rest: why scrolling won’t reset your brain 17:27 | Joy, creativity & the myth of wasted time 19:59 | Parenting insights: emotional regulation & brain development 22:42 | Redefining self-worth outside of productivity 27:44 | The sensory iceberg: what’s underneath overstimulation 29:57 | Extending ourselves the same compassion we give toddlers 31:59 | Interrupting emotional buildup: practical regulation tools 34:54 | Take the break before you explode—how to know when 37:00 | Boundaries in a boundaryless culture: pre-tech vs. now 40:22 | Rest, relationships, and HRV: building resilient bodies 42:09 | The overstimulation iceberg: sensory vs. chronic load 44:35 | Sarah’s non-negotiables: movement, prayer, and expression Work with Kerstin ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Workshops & Events⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Join upcoming events & retreats. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Health Coaching with Kerstin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – 1:1 coaching for stress reduction & wellness. Resources & Recommendations ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Denese Skincare ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠–   Use code STREST ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ancient Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Use code STREST25 Partner Links & Discounts ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Tabatha - Hormone test & HRT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apollo Neuro⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Discount Code: KERSTINLINDQUISTLLC ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lumen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Discount Code: CoachKL ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ultrahuman⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Discount Code: KERSTIN10⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Sarah Boyd Website:sarahboyd.co  IG: @sarahboyd More about Kerstin Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kerstin-lindquist.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @kerstin.lindquist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Kerstin Lindquist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @Kerstin.lindquist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @kerstin.lindquist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif Studio & Production & The Tallawah Group Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠www.massifsp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Massif Studio & Production⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.TallawahWorldwide.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices