Typology

Enneagram Threes, or The Achievers, see a world in which people only value others for what they can do versus for who they are. They tend to be driven, task-oriented, visionaries, goal crushers who want to avoid failure at all costs.  Threes are very concerned with what other people think of them and are able to look in anybody's eyes and respond instinctively to whether or not they're being appro...

Sevens have a core belief that in order for them to be secure, loved and valued they have to bring the energy and excitement into every situation.  There's this expectation and pressure to be on all the time. And though they are generally wired with a great deal of energy, so it does come easily to them, Sevens have a lot more to offer than just their energy and humor. The struggle for a Seven com...

For those of you who are new to the Enneagram and listening, Eights are called the Challengers. Sometimes they're called the Boss. Eights are typically people who are real forces of nature in the world. They live larger than life. The deadly sin or passion of Eights is lust. That doesn't necessarily mean in the sexual sense of the word, although Eights do have a hunger for excess in every area of...

What's your best friend's number? Understanding the Enneagram can profoundly impact how you relate to others and help you build strong friendships. Knowing your friends' number allows you to understand each other's tendencies and creates space for conversation and compassion.  Today on Typology, listen as Michael Gungor and Mike McHargue, co-hosts of the wildly popular podcast, The Liturgists, dem...

In last week's episode, Mark Scandrette shared some simple steps to help you begin using the Enneagram to move from unconscious to conscious living. In part two, Mark and Ian continue their conversation by discussing the importance of doing work within a community and asking the right questions.  Mark Scandrette has written five books on practical spirituality that seek to apply spiritual wisdom t...

Every day listeners email asking, "I know my type, now what?" Well, the truth is that simply knowing your Enneagram type doesn't change anything in and of itself other than to arm you with a little bit of self-knowledge. Understanding where you go in points of stress and where you go in growth helps explain a lot about why each of us has particular struggles. But to really begin to heal and experi...

Open to new experiences, Sevens are self-confident, optimistic and joyful people who exude loads of energy. They bring a sense of adventure and energy to their relationships and generally try to avoid negative feelings. But that doesn't mean that Sevens aren't emotionally articulate. In fact, as part of the Head Triad, Sevens are very intelligent about a variety of subjects, including emotions.  I...

The Enneagram is a great tool for discovering why we feel the way we feel, act the way we act, and think the way we think.  For Fives, who are unconsciously motivated by Avarice (or Greed), the Enneagram can help identify when fear begins to take over and they are operating with a perpetual scarcity mentality.  On auto-pilot, Fives can be inclined to disassociate and observe from a distance, rathe...

Sixes have excellent analytical minds, are great strategists, troubleshooters, problem-solvers, and of course, see worst-case scenarios that other people don't see. The passion of the Six is fear which is often experienced as anxiety…anxiety that the unexpected could happen at any time. Sixes are really good at playing out all the worst-case scenarios in any given situation. But once they launch a...

When you truly begin doing your work, the Enneagram really should mess with you. It should dis-equilibrate you, throw you back on your heals, make you wonder, "Who am I? Who is everybody else? What am I supposed to do now? This week we're back with part 2 of Claire Diaz-Ortiz's interview revealing how her research into Enneagram Threes has helped her dig beneath the surface and shift her focus tow...

Welcome back to Season 2 of Typology.  I'm thrilled to continue Season Two with a really great friend who I've known for many years, Aaron Niequist. Though Aaron is a four on the Enneagram, we're actually going to explore some new territory today. We're going to go into some content that'll be great for every single number to know and learn about. With two fours on the line, I do need to say that...

Claire Diaz-Ortiz first discovered the Enneagram in 2005 and typed herself as an Enneagram One. When Ian first interviewed Claire in Season One, she came onto the show sharing her life through the lens of a One.  But the more she and Ian dug into her narrative, the more Ian began to sense there was more to Claire's story.  Ian suggested she consider reading up on Enneagram Threes...and she did. To...

Enneagram Twos are called The Helpers.  They are some of the most loving, kind, supportive, upbeat, and—when healthy—genuinely helpful to other people.  Their underlying motivation is to feel loved and needed. But sometimes that need to be needed can lead to burn out. In this week's episode of Typology, we revisit our Panel of Twos who describe what it's like to view life through the eyes of The H...

Discovering the Enneagram was a game-changer for Rob. His knowledge and enthusiasm for the Enneagram runs deep, and as you'll discover while we revisit this episode, Rob is an Enneagram "7 with a 7 wing." Check out Rob's latest book,  What Is the Bible? , and visit  RobBell.com  for speaking dates and other events.

This week we are revisiting Ian's interview with 'Science Mike' McHargue as he shares his journey through the inner sanctum of an Enneagram Nine and his process of building a healthy connection to anger.   To preserve their inner peace and harmony, Nines often deny or simply don't even recognize their anger. Instead, they create an inner boundary to tamp down any feelings or desires that might dis...

For the month of July we will be revisiting some of Typology's most downloaded episodes.  This week we revisit Ian's interview with Sarah Thebarge. Sarah shares how she approaches the world through the lens of an Enneagram Six. With a strong need for security and consistency, Sixes appreciate order, plans and rules and like the comfort and predictability of laws and guidelines.  But their passion...

Today we are revisiting Ian's interview with celebrated Author, Speaker Bob Goff and his wife Maria. Bob is an Enneagram 7 and Maria is a 9.  And even though this episode provides a lot of insight into the worldview of a 7 and 9, the show today is really more about marriage and how two very distinct personality types can create a climate in which difference isn't merely tolerated, but rather is ce...

As Richard Rohr says, Ones are childlike and full of joy and wonder at the world and creation.  But for Ones, that sense of joy has been lost.  Instead, they suppress their own feelings and focus on being good and doing what is right.  They feel a sense of duty and responsibility and may harbor resentment toward others who don't see things the right way – their way.  But what would it look like if...

Every single day I receive multiple emails from listeners saying they are stuck and can't figure out their Enneagram type.  Usually, my first recommendation is to dive into the Subtypes of each number to see if that helps narrow things down. But there is something else to consider…something we have not yet talked about on Typology.  Just as the Enneagram is broken into Triads, it is also broken in...

Our guest today is an Enneagram professional, spiritual director, coach, facilitator, and author who is passionate about the Enneagram personality model and its value in Christian spiritual transformation. Her workshops and retreats focus on how the Enneagram helps people identify barriers to living out their unique expression and experience as one created in God's image. This show is packed with...

Eights are often called the Challengers, but I like to call them the Protectors or Defenders. Every type has a basic fear and desire coloring the waters of their personality.  The basic fear of an Eight is being not in control of their self. The basic desire is to avoid feeling weak or vulnerable. But Eights can often be misinterpreted. Though they can often appear blunt and aggressive, Eights are...

Sevens are the joy bombs of the Enneagram.  The energy they give off is energetic, fun-loving and naturally cheerful. They are optimistic by nature and seize every moment of life. They live for the next adventure and are experts at reframing a negative situation to find the silver lining.  But all their "living for tomorrow" is really to avoid pain and introspection.  Sevens may have an underlying...

The last time I spoke with Jen Hatmaker on her "For of Love" podcast, we talked about how she identifies as a Three. As our conversation continued I began to think, "Man, you've got a lot of features of an Eight. I wonder if you should check out this other type."   Threes and Eights are both assertive, ambitious, and competitive. But the difference is that an average eight wants to get their way p...

Last week David Gungor shared his struggle in determining his type, how he embraces his "chaotic intentionality," and what it means to need others to "get out of his face."  Today we continue the conversation about how the Enneagram can help Enneagram Eights grow in self-awareness through spiritual practices and leaning into the people they do trust to gain true intimacy.   David Gungor is a membe...

Enneagram Eights are called The Challenger for a good reason. Eights don't like to feel controlled and avoid any appearance of vulnerability.  They are naturally confrontational and their combative energy can feel intimidating to others.  But what feels like intimidation to others actually feels like connection to an Eight. Eights express their anger freely, are fueled by high levels of stimulatio...