Typology

This week we continue our focus on couples and the Enneagram by taking another look at my conversation with Abner and Amanda Ramirez (better known as Johnnyswim). I break down a few sections I found that exemplify the ways their types complement each other as well as where they might struggle.   If you'd like to know more about how you and your partner can better relate to each other, get a copy o...

Taking an Enneagram assessment is a great first step in learning about yourself and how you relate to others and the world. So, how do you use that information to explore who you are in relationship to your life partner? On Typology, we talk a lot about the role the Enneagram plays in how we relate to others. Over the next four weeks, we're going to focus on partnerships by reflecting on past inte...

Life doesn't always go as we plan.  As we grow up, we develop certain expectations about who we are and what we'll become.  But sometimes those dreams don't come true. So, what do you do when the dreams die? Artist, Artist, and Enneagram 4, Scott Erickson joins me for a discussion about life beyond the death of those dreams.  We explore the importance of grieving past expectations and he illustrat...

Enneagram Threes tether their identity and self-worth to how others see them and strive for validation through their accomplishments. So, how does the Achiever see their own value without the esteem and approval of others? Today, we go under the hood of Enneagram 3, Pat Flynn. He shares how the insights he's gleaned from the Enneagram have deepened his relationship with his wife and opens up about...

As most of you know, I have long been an evangelist for a daily meditative practice if for no other reason than to help people on their journey of self-discovery. There's power in the silence.  It trains us to be present, to hear our own voice, and to acknowledge who we truly are. In today's episode, Rick Hamlin joins me for a rich conversation about how meditation leads to greater compassion, for...

What does it mean to be "masculine." Unfortunately, there are a lot of conflicting ideas and messages about what a "real man" is (and is not). In today's episode, author, nationally syndicated radio show host, and Enneagram Five, Brant Hansen challenges us to redefine masculinity and paints a refreshing picture of what it looks like at its absolute best.   We have an insightful conversation about...

When was the last time someone asked you a question that set you back on your heels? I've always been more interested in questions than answers. So, I keep a notebook of powerful questions that upend me, subvert my assumptions, and stop me in my tracks.  Most of us already have the answer to life's questions; it's just that we're waiting for someone to come along with the key to open the door to a...

Trauma impacts not just our mental state, but also our emotional and physical health. So, in a world that teaches us to just "try harder" and keep pretending "we're fine," how do we make space to process our stories and truly work through trauma? Today, therapist Aundi Kolber explains what trauma is, identifies how it operates in the body, and walks us through the importance of aligning our minds...

What happens when an unstoppable force meets an unmovable object?  Well, it can either be a recipe for a really great relationship…or a not-so-great one.  But when a Peacemaker and a Challenger are both healthy, they bring out the best in each other. Today's guests, Christine and Steve Bailey show us how learning to balance their differences as an Enneagram 9 and an Enneagram 8 has helped their ma...

We have a very special guest for you today…author, editor, and Enneagram One, Jana Riess joins me for an in-depth discussion about The Improvers.  As the very talented editor of both The Road Back to You and The Story of You , Jana is well-versed in the Enneagram and brings a wealth of knowledge and valuable insights to our conversation about lasting personal transformation.  A few topics we explo...

This week, attorney, author and Enneagram 7, Bob Goff shares how committing to therapy gave him a common language to better understand and communicate with others. We explore the importance of finding safe people to be authentic with and build deeper, more meaningful relationships. He offers incredible perceptions for Sevens and valuable insights that we can all apply to our lives.  Bob Goff is th...

Every personality style has a story that includes a catalog of false beliefs about themselves and the world. But what happens when you take those false beliefs and pain from your younger years and turn them into purpose? Our guest today, award-winning personal trainer and host of the Adversity Advantage podcast, Doug Bopst, explains how he went from hopeless and emotionally bankrupt to helping oth...

If we're trying to change a million things about ourselves at once, we're only going to find ourselves feeling overwhelmed and discouraged. So, what do we do? Today on Typology, I'm going to walk you through the daily practice I use to help me change the false beliefs and old messages that support and perpetuate my old, broken story. I call it my "New Story Jar." My New Story Jar contains slips of...

How do you find your "perfect match" during a pandemic? Over the past two years, dating etiquette has changed and transparent and to-the-point conversations out of the gate are now welcome. More singles are making time for self-reflection, therapy, and finally figuring out what they want in a relationship. So, what role does the Enneagram play in helping people develop deeper, more meaningful conn...

How do you repair that which is broken? You must first be willing to see the truth. We all have broken stories that directly impact the choices we make today. But, when we take the time to reflect on and see the whole truth of who we are, only then can we choose to do things differently. Only then can we craft a new narrative…one that is fueled by forgiveness, kindness, and love. Activist, author,...

How does the Enneagram help you grow spiritually?  We've indirectly touched on this on Typology but I've always wanted to specifically explore the Enneagram as a useful tool for profound spiritual formation.   Today, pastor, Enneagram teacher, and author AJ Sherrill joins me to talk about the Enneagram and Spiritualty.  With two Master's in Theology and a Doctorate in the area of Spiritual Formati...

Each Enneagram Type occupies a story about who they are and how they think the world works.  The Enneagram Nine's story is built around the mistaken belief that they're not really as important as other people, or sometimes it's just that other people just seem to have more energy and investment in their own opinions, preferences, desires, and viewpoints than Nines do.  Coupled with their desire to...

As you can imagine, when you're in the middle of a book launch, you talk to your publisher quite frequently. One of the things that kept coming up in our conversations was a desire to serve our Typology listeners with some great content from my new book. After batting some ideas back and forth, we finally decided on what I think is a great 'thank you' to our loyal listeners…. and that is to do a b...

In today's episode, Becca Stevens joins me for a conversation about embracing the divine in our everyday ordinary and extraordinary experiences. She recounts her observations of sacredness when she opens her heart and truly listens to the stories of others and shares how redefining and rewriting our own stories leads to lasting transformational healing. Becca Stevens is a speaker, social entrepren...

Do you long to enjoy your spouse over a lifetime but you don't know how to get there? How do you identify where you want to be in your relationship and what practices can you implement to help you get there? In today's episode, Chris and Jenni join me for a conversation about the habits and rhythms that shape a strong relationship with your spouse. We explore how understanding the Enneagram can se...

This is a first! In five seasons of Typology, we finally have our first pair of siblings….who share the same type!  What better way to explore the inner workings of The Enthusiast than from two siblings who share the same Enneagram number? Raised in a home where creativity and deep thinking were celebrated, Nathan and Joy Clarkson join me for a conversation about all things Seven. In this episode,...

The Enneagram provides nine consistent, fairly predictable ways for us to understand and tell our narrative of how we operate in the world and make sense of our lives. It's a tool that helps us enter into a conversation about the recurring themes and patterns of behaviors that are self-defeating or hurtful to others. One theme that operates as a thread in each of our lives is shame. Next to love,...

We're taking a break to be with family over the holiday so we wanted to replay two topic-based episodes that have gone over extremely well with our listeners. This week, take another listen to my killer conversation with psychologist, author, and spiritual director Chuck Degroat, about the nine faces of narcissism.  We're not talking about people with full-blown narcissistic personality disorder p...

After spending 10 years as a successful nightclub promoter in New York, Scott Harrison made a huge pivot to volunteer as a photojournalist on a hospital ship off the coast of Liberia, West Africa.  That experience changed his life.  Founder of Charity: Water, Scott Harrison returns to Typology to reflect on stories from his childhood and how they've shaped who he is today. We explore his journey o...

In this special episode, Anthony and I drop by the studio to talk about my new book, The Story of You , and what motivated me to write it.  We all craft a story about who we are and how the world works as little people. Then, as we grow older, we think of our lives as a movie we're in that's unfolding in real-time. But the narrative we crafted as children no longer works for us as adults. But how...