Nine Lives With Jeff King: Live Your Best One

In this final episode of Season 9, we journey into the Head Center, home to Types 5, 6, and 7, and the center that perhaps more than any other knows what it is to live in a mind that simply will not be still. Panelists Gerry Gebhart (Type 5), Joy Wray (Type 6), and Marnie Thomson (Type 7) engage in an honest and sometimes disarming conversation about what it's like to think for a living — not as a...

What does it mean to lead — or love, or live — from the heart? Not sentiment, not emotion management, but the deep, often aching intelligence of the Heart Center. This episode features panelists who know this terrain from the inside: Bill Reed (Type 2), Leslie Quilico (Type 3), and George Patton (Type 4). Together, they represent the Enneagram's Heart Triad — three distinct responses to the same f...

What does it mean to know something in your gut? The Body Center — home to Enneagram Types 8, 9 and 1 — carries a wisdom that lives below the neck. These three types share a gut-level intelligence rooted in instinct, presence, and an instinctive relationship with anger. But each one navigates that anger in a strikingly different way. This episode features a panel with Joanne Flowers (Type 8), Jack...

What if your first move — when life gets hard, uncertain, or morally murky — is to look for what's right ? For Enneagram Types 1, 2, and 6, that's not rigidity. That's how they're wired to love. This episode explores the Compliant Grouping of the Hornevian Triads — one of three movement patterns that shape how we seek what we most deeply need. While some types turn inward and some move against, th...

What if your first move — when life gets hard, overwhelming, or just too loud — is to go inward ? For Enneagram Types 4, 5, and 9, that's not avoidance. That's home. This episode explores the Withdrawn Grouping of the Hornevian Triads — one of three movement patterns that shape how we seek what we most deeply need. While some types move toward others and some move against, the Withdrawn types char...

This episode introduces the Hornevian Triads, which describe three distinct social stances — the ways we instinctively move in relation to others and the world around us. Every type belongs to one of three groups: Compliant (Ones, Twos, and Sixes), Withdrawn (Fours, Fives, and Nines), or Assertive (Threes, Sevens, and Eights). Understanding which group you belong to can be just as illuminating as...

This episode concludes our exploration of the Enneagram's Harmonic Triads, which describe common ways people respond to conflict, stress, and disappointment. In previous episodes, we explored the Catalyzer Grouping (Types 4, 6, and 8) and the Positive Outlook Grouping (Types 2, 7, and 9). In this episode, we focus on the Competency (or Efficiency) Grouping—Types 1, 3, and 5. People in this group t...

What happens when we encounter conflict, stress, or disappointment? The Enneagram's Harmonic Triad reveals patterned ways of responding that various Enneagram Types hold in common. In this episode, we explore the Catalyzer—also known as the Intensifier—group, consisting of Types 4, 6, and 8. Catalyzers push into the tension and meet it with energy, intensity and emotional truth. Their goal is to a...

This episode explores the Enneagram's Harmonic Triad—specifically the Positive Outlook group. In the Enneagram, the Harmonic Triads describe how we respond when things don't go the way we want. The Positive Outlook group—Types 2, 7, and 9—tend to cope with conflict, disappointment, or pain by reframing, focusing on what's good, or moving toward possibility rather than sitting in the negative. But...

Identifying the Enneagram Type we lead with is often a journey of self-discovery. While online assessments can point us in the right direction, they are not precise instruments. A more reliable process for discovering and clarifying your Enneagram Type is the Enneagram Type Discovery Interview—often called a Typing Interview. Facilitated by a trained Enneagram teacher or practitioner, the Typing I...

In this honest and heartfelt conversation, I sit down with David Hayward — also known as The Naked Pastor — to explore his journey of self-discovery, healing, and creative expression. David opens up about his path through discouragement, his passion for social justice, and how discovering he leads with Enneagram Type Four felt like a "born again" moment that brought him home to himself. We talk ab...

Kathy Escobar returns to Nine LIves to explore the joys and struggles of living in community—especially through the lens of an Enneagram Two. She opens up about learning to set boundaries, navigating faith shifts, and the deeply personal journey of learning to receive help. In this powerful episode, Kathy shares how the loss of her son to suicide continues to shape her story and her ongoing evolut...

Leslie Quilico offers an honest and insightful look at life through the lens of an Enneagram Type Three. While Threes are known for their drive and success, Leslie shares how she's learning that there is more to life. That said, she's also learning to embrace her drive for meaningful accomplishment. A natural achiever, she admits: "If we can make it a competition, it will be more fun!" — yet she c...

Enneagram Eight energy is on full display in this episode with author and award-winning drama teacher Deborah Baldwin. With a no-nonsense approach and big-picture leadership, Deb is all about meaningful work and cutting through the noise. Her passion for theater education shines in her book, We're Live! Radio Theater #101 , which brings a fresh, engaging approach to teaching drama through the exci...

Brian Mueller on the Enneagram One Journey Brian Mueller shares his experience as an Enneagram One, exploring the inner critic's powerful call to "do the right thing." Brian discusses how recognizing his Type One structure helps him regulate it, using awareness and practice to avoid being confined by his Type.  Brian also highlights the ongoing work of returning to presence—not just getting ground...

In this episode, I sit down with Brandon Graves and unpack the patterns and structure of the Enneagram Four . Like many, Brandon initially mistyped himself, thinking he was a Three. Over time, he discovered his true home in Four. Brandon shares key insights into the core traits of Fours —deep emotions, comparison, envy, and the ongoing pursuit of feeling "enough." Beyond the Enneagram, Brandon is...

Shelby Hay shares her journey as an entrepreneur through the lens of an Enneagram Four. She opens up about the highs and lows of business, the struggle with comparison, and the challenge of feeling "not enough." With honesty and creativity, Shelby reveals how she overcame self-doubt and found joy in the process. She offers practical tools to break free from self-defeating emotions and Enneagram Fo...

Musician, pastor, leader and all-around-great-human John Flynn reflects on the stuff of life that really matters. John emphasizes the role of community in creating a balanced, healthy life as well as shaping our approach to leadership. As an Enneagram Type One, John has firsthand experience navigating the drive for perfection. Through his music, leadership, and relationships, he continues to softe...

David Tensen returns to the show to explore the importance of "eldering"—living with sacrificial love in later life. He introduces key concepts like "decentric eldering," "transcend and include," and "stages of faith." Based in Australia, David exemplifies how healthy Enneagram Nines show up and make a meaningful impact in the world. He's also a poet, author, and advocate for emotionally healthy s...

This episode wraps up Season Seven of Nine Lives, where we've been exploring the Enneagram through panel work.  Our finale focuses on Enneagram Six. Dan Gregg, Christine Flower and Craig Hinca join me in an engaging and insightful examination of the Enneagram Six structure. A key feature of Type 6 is the ongoing thought process Sixes experience. Their thoughts consist of worries, doubts and planni...

Billie McGraw, Cindy Payne and Lynda Rands join together in this robust panel of Enneagram Threes. As is clear from these panelists, the Enneagram Three structure is one of energy, drive, productivity, and performing. At the top of the list comes efficiency, which can be both a superpower for the Three, but also can be their blind spot. Billie, Cindy and Lynda venture into vulnerable territory as...

Roger Hornbeck, Cody Harris and Josiah Goff comprise this panel of those leading with Enneagram Type 5. The Enneagram 5 structure is built around analyzing, assessing and calculating as the go-to strategy for self-protection. Enneagram Fives employ an internal energy calculus to filter their feelings and assess their participation in life.   Leading with Type 5, Roger, Cody and Josiah possess natu...

Panelists Kat Lipka, Kimberly Holt and Kezia Shine form this panel of Enneagram Twos and brilliantly describe the Type 2 structure. The constant, underlying energy of Enneagram Two consists of giving attention to others' needs and longing to be helpful. While this is one of Type 2's superpowers, it also can be a blind spot for 2's.  Kat, Kimberly and Kezia unpack this tension with clarity and vuln...

Cherri Rodriguez, Andy Houltberg and Richard Haynes join me to form an Enneagram Nine panel. Our conversation proves quite engaging for four Nines!!! Our panelists discuss the harmonizing energy of the Nine structure that continuously operates at the gut level. While Enneagram Nines appear calm and peaceful on the outside, there is a lot of churning and angst going on beneath the surface. Enneagra...

Anna Peterson, Susan Johnson, and Steve Garlow combine forces to form our panel of those leading with Enneagram Type 1. They masterfully excavate the Enneagram One structure to provide a clear picture of how the Type 1 personality operates. Enneagram Type 1 is known for its strong, unrelenting inner critic. As our panelists relate, the inner critic is an ever-present reality. Anna, Susan, and Stev...