Beyond the Type: An Enneagram-Inspired Podcast about Being Human.

Trust isn't built in one big moment. It's built in hundreds of small ones. Trust is the foundation of every relationship, whether it's with a partner, a friend, a client, or a coworker. And it rarely disappears in one big moment. More often, it erodes through small ones: the phone glanced at mid-conversation, the plan canceled one too many times, the reasoning that was never quite explained. Those...

Career Change, Divorce, Empty Nest, Retirement, and Other Life Transitions Life transitions come in many forms, but they often ask the same things of us: What do we take with us? What do we leave behind? What needs to be honored before we move forward?   In this episode, Sandy shares seven questions that she uses with coaching clients who are navigating major life changes. These aren't quick...

Why do so many people feel guilty when they slow down, even when their body and intuition are telling them to do exactly that?  If you've ever felt low-energy, nostalgic, or experienced "summer sadness" during the warmer months when everyone else seems to be thriving, this episode is for you. Sandy opens with a personal story about sitting alone in her car on her birthday, feeling forgot...

  You've done the work. The therapy, the journaling, the coaching, maybe you've had a few real breakthroughs. And then summer rolls around. And so does the inevitable trip home to see your family, friends, and people from your past. And it feels like all of your hard work just goes right out the window. Why does this always happen??!? In this episode of Beyond the Type, Sandy a...

If you've ever felt exhausted despite doing all the "right" things, stuck between who you were in January and who you are now, or quietly haunted by a feeling you keep pushing aside — this episode is for you. In this episode of Beyond the Type, holistic life and leadership coach Sandy Swanson invites you to do something radical: stop measuring your progress and start checking in with yourself...

Have you ever been told to "just be yourself" and wondered what that even means? In this episode, Sandy explores the difference between the True Self and the False Self through the lens of the Enneagram. We look at how personality patterns develop, why authenticity can feel so difficult, and how each of the nine Enneagram types can lose touch with their deeper essence. Because before we can *be* o...

Feeling exhausted, reactive, emotionally flat, or constantly on edge? It may not be burnout. In this episode, Sandy explores the difference between burnout and nervous system overwhelm - and why so many people feel exhausted, reactive, anxious, emotionally flat, or “on edge” even when nothing catastrophic is happening. We'll cover: • The difference between burnout and nervous system dysregula...

Have you ever been surrounded by people and still felt completely, inexplicably lonely? That hollow, flat feeling has a name: relational hunger . And it's more common than you think. In this episode, Sandy explores the difference between being heard and being truly known, why so many of us are starving for real connection even when our calendars are full, and what's quietly getting in the way. You...

Do you reach for your phone without really deciding to? You're mid-scroll at 11pm, exhausted, and yet... you keep going. There's a reason for that - and it has nothing to do with willpower. In this episode of Beyond the Type, Holistic Life and Leadership Coach Sandy Swanson digs into why our phones have such a grip on us:  from the dopamine loop and the slot machine design of social media app...

Most of us are walking around with a set of beliefs about ourselves that we never consciously chose. Beliefs that were handed to us early, filed away as facts, and have been quietly running the show ever since. In this episode, Sandy will be digging into limiting beliefs:  What they are, how they form, and why they're so stubborn. She'll draw on the work of therapist and author Marissa Peer,...

Shed what no longer serves you to make space for what DOES. Spring is here, and with it comes an invitation that goes a lot deeper than cleaning out your closet. This short, reflective episode is about the kind of renewal that actually matters — the internal kind. I explore what it really means to "start again," why something has to die first, and what gets in the way (hint: it's probably yourself...

In Part 2 of this two-part conversation on listening, we move from awareness into action, with five practical skills to help you become a more present, connected, and intentional listener. In your relationships, your workplace, and everywhere in between. We start with a framework from Otto Scharmer, a senior lecturer at MIT and author of Theory U, that will genuinely change how you think about eve...

Listening is the most important part of communication (imho). In Part 1 of this two-part series on listening, we look at  why  we  don't listen as well as why we think we do - and what's actually happening in our heads when someone else is talking. We'll explore five of the most common patterns that get in the way of real listening, including: The "righting reflex" (the ur...

Why do we sometimes react so strongly to situations that seem small in hindsight? Strong reactions are often blamed on stress, personality, or a lack of emotional control. But research suggests something simpler and more practical is often at play:  a lack of precise language for what we’re actually feeling. In this episode, we delve into how language influences emotional experience, why vagu...

Manifesting isn’t magic. It’s mental training. Your brain is already rehearsing the future. The question is:  Is it rehearsing the future you want ...? In this episode, we’re talking about manifesting, mindset, and vision boards, without the woo and without the magical thinking. We’re grounding this conversation in neuroscience, psychology, and real-world practice. Drawing on the work of neur...

Ever wonder why certain reactions feel automatic, even when you know better? In this episode, we explore the Enneagram passions:  Those emotional patterns beneath each type that quietly shape how we communicate, react, and relate. We'll get into where the passions came from and why they’re sometimes called the seven deadly sins plus two;  we'll also walk through each passion for eac...

Since the holidays are coming (and politics somehow always sneaks onto the table...I'm looking at you, Uncle Jim), now is the perfect moment to learn how to bring safety back when things get tense. In this episode, we dive into the thing that makes or breaks every conversation you care about:   safety . This is the foundation of healthy communication, conflict resolution, and staying gro...

How to use Nonviolent Communication for calmer, more confident holiday conversations. Tired of tiptoeing around family or coworkers during the holidays? This episode will get you ready for those holiday conversations that sometimes go sideways. I’m talking about the moments when you want to stay kind, but you also want to remain honest. We’ll dive into Nonviolent Communication, or NVC, and how it...

How stepping away from screens can open up meaning, creativity, and deeper connection.   We’ve trained ourselves to fill every quiet moment with screens, but research shows boredom isn’t the enemy - it’s a hidden superpower. In this episode, we talk about what happens in your brain when you stop scrolling, how screens fuel anxiety and distraction, and why boredom might be the secret to m...

This 20-minute guided yoga nidra meditation helps your nervous system regulate and relax, restoring a deep sense of safety and calm in your body. In this session, you’ll be guided through a short rotation of consciousness (body scan) and a series of vivid images designed to bring calm, curiosity, and balance to your whole being. You’ll explore both ease and discomfort, learning how to stay present...

Most people don’t struggle with communication because of the big moments—it’s the small, sneaky habits that trip us up. In this episode, you’ll uncover five common communication habits that quietly sabotage clarity and connection, and learn simple swaps to replace them. Whether you’re navigating tough conversations at work or at home, these tools will help you feel more confident, clear, and authe...

Because nobody likes reactive or awkward conversations. In this episode, Sandy is diving into the myths and pitfalls of communication and sharing the science and coaching tools that actually help us connect. You'll learn: Why clarity doesn’t equal agreement (and how this shows up in everyday life - including Sandy's life on LinkedIn - yikes!) The dangers of reacting vs. responding (and h...

Ever feel like you’ve got a tiny judge (or a giant gray monster) sitting on your shoulder with a megaphone? That’s your inner critic, and it has a different script for each Enneagram type. In this episode, we'll look at how the voice of judgment shows up for all 9 types, from the Type 1’s perfection police to the Type 9’s chill hippie dude. You’ll also learn 7 practical (and fun!) practices t...

Ready to dive deeper into the Enneagram? Today, we’ll explore the growth paths of all nine types using the lines and arrows of the Enneagram symbol. The arrows aren’t just cute little decorations - they point us toward both stress and transformation. Learning to go "against the current" is where real growth happens, and that's what I'll be talking about in this episode. You'll learn: What the Enne...

It’s the same scene every time with this poor kid in the "hallway incident", but when you put nine different Enneagram types in the role of the person stepping in to help, you get nine completely different reasons for doing so. In this episode, Sandy will walk you through a story that brings the Enneagram motivations to life. Because the Enneagram is all about motivation , not behavior . This...