Typology

"Mental health is health. We all have it. We can ignore it. We can mistreat it. We can take care of it. No matter what though, we can't deny that it exists." This was Ryan Casey Waller's response when I asked about his new book, "Depression, Anxiety, and Other Things We Don't Want to Talk About." This opened the door to a great, shame-free discussion about mental health and overcoming the stigma t...

Today, I'm answering a few carryover questions from our monthly Typology Institute Membership Town Hall.   Each month I host a live Town Hall for members where we go beyond Q&A because members get to ask their questions live and the answers end up facilitating great follow up conversations that we just can't do on this show.  It's truly a great time!  So, I pulled a few questions to share with you...

This week's amazing guest, Emily Ley, is the Founder of Simplified, a brand of planners and organizational tools for busy women. She's been featured in Forbes, Family Circle, Better Homes and Gardens, Glamour, and Good Housekeeping. She is also a national bestselling author of many books, including her latest, Growing Boldly: Dare to Build a Life You Love .  As an Enneagram Two, she's doing her wo...

Enneagram Nines appear to be so uncomplicated, and yet they're actually very complicated.  Enneagram Nines share a tendency to be other-referencing or more tuned in to what's going on in the outside than they are tuned into what's going on inside. They have a tendency to want to create harmony in their environment, and avoid conflict. They have a unique sensitivity to tension and conflict that the...

How does a traumatic incident shape the narrative you tell about yourself?  Our guest today, Amy Downs, shares her incredible transformation that occurred as a result of surviving the Oklahoma City bombing.  In the years since the bombing, Amy became a mother, lost 200 pounds, competed in an Ironman Triathlon, obtained her MBA, and became CEO of the same credit union that was bombed.  It's one of...

Today, Holly Hayes, award-winning author, founder and CEO of Sanctuary Project, and Enneagram 3 joins me to explore the Enneagram as it relates to healing and recovery, how understanding your stress and security points can help identify your type, and the work required to reconnect with your authentic self. It's a powerful reminder that we all need a safe place to take off our masks and get back i...

Enneagram Ones value principles and integrity and are driven by the need to be good. They are conscientious and ethical and self-controlled. But as with all types, when you dig into subtypes and instincts you'll see three different versions of the Improvers personality that look and behave differently. Today, Beatrice Chestnut and I dive into: The importance of being familiar with your passion and...

I know many of you are looking forward to today's show and I'm thrilled to share this rich conversation with Enneagram Nine, Seth Abram. Seth is a long-time friend, pastor, singer, songwriter, creator and founder of Integrated Enneagram, and co-host of the popular Enneagram podcast, Fathoms.  Seth not only shares his wealth of knowledge about the work that is needed to become the fullest expressio...

Today's guest, NBA Life Optimization Coach and former professional basketball player, David Nurse joins me to talk about the importance of self-awareness and the role it plays in leading others and optimizing your potential.  David also shares how making small pivots to look at things from a slightly different perspective can open up your entire perspective and lead to life-giving changes. In this...

In general, Enneagram Sixes focus on scanning for threats and risks, being prepared in case the worst happens, and predicting and anticipating what might happen next so they can be ready to meet whatever challenge occurs.  But, when you get into their subtypes...they can look and behave pretty differently.  I dive into this in-depth today with Enneagram guru, Beatrice Chestnut.  In this episode yo...

What are the benefits of using the Enneagram in the corporate space? The Enneagram helps grow self-awareness and self-knowledge among team members and executives in order to create a richer, more productive, more profitable environment that is also filled with joy, compassion and empathy.  When applied properly, it really gets under the waterline of consciousness and illuminates why you do what yo...

Everybody fights, so why not get better at it?  But how?   One of the great things about the Enneagram is it's a wonderful tool for improving communication between friends, family, spouses, and even coworkers. It fosters the self-awareness needed to be able to disagree better, love more, and maintain healthy relationships along the way. Best-known for their hit parodies on social media, husband-wi...

Each of us digests or metabolizes grief in separate ways. It's important to understand how differently people grieve and allow others the space to grieve in the way that is appropriate to their architecture. Author, speaker, and executive pastor at Church of the City, Jonathan Pitts shares his journey through grieving the unexpected loss of his wife, learning to carve out space for joy, and findin...

Relationships are extremely important to Enneagram Twos.  They are the most interpersonal number on the Enneagram.  They are other referencing -- focusing their attention outside of themselves.  But when you mix the passion of the Two (pride) with their subtypes, Enneagram Twos not only present in very different ways but their transformational path also varies.     Psychotherapist, coach, business...

The journey of self-understanding isn't easy. Each of us are deep, mysterious, and complex beings who don't fit into one specific box.  Those complexities can sometimes make the process of uncovering your true self difficult. Today's guest thought he was an Enneagram Seven for a long time but when he realized he was actually a dominant Six with a heavy Seven wing things changed.  Front man of the...

We've got another great interview today.  An entrepreneur, actor, musician, singer-songwriter, and music executive...hip-hop artist Lecrae joins me in a personal conversation about shame and grief.  We get really honest about his life, where he came from, what influenced his Threeness, a real identity crisis that he hit at the height of his fame, and what role therapy has played in his healing and...

What mud do you bring into your relationships?  Though we're often unaware of them until we can no longer ignore them, each of us carries hidden beliefs adopted in childhood into every relationship. And until we bring that mud, those self-limiting beliefs, to the surface they're going to work against us as adults.  This week, Toni and Carey Nieuwhof, join me to talk about the unconscious messages...

Enneagram Nines have an innate ability to foster peace with those around them.  With their intuitive wisdom and great skill in listening to differences and understanding multiple perspectives, Nines seem to have a leg up on the rest of us when it comes to spirituality.  Artist and multiple Dove award nominee, Audrey Assad beautifully gives us an honest look into the importance of spiritual communi...

How do you do the things within your control without falling under the illusion that you are in control?  Control is a big theme in all of our lives...it just shows up in different ways. No matter your type, we all try to control others with the suite of behaviors that go with our type.  In fact, we train people to respond to us and interact with us in a certain way based on our type. So, how does...

As we navigate the current climate it's easy to become disconnected. But as humans, we're actually wired for connection.  We must look for opportunities to connect with each other.  Connection is fuel for the soul. And who better to explain the beauty of connection, of togetherness, than Morgan Harper Nichols. For Enneagram Fives who may already isolate, and be comfortable there, Morgan's words il...

I often get emails from our listeners asking how the Enneagram can help their marriage.  And usually, the email is asking for advice on a specific type-combination.  That can be difficult to answer because there are so many variants with the Enneagram. But, when you understand the Enneagram--and not just your own type--it can be an invaluable tool for communication and support in any relationship,...

I'm often asked how trauma affects your Enneagram type.  The answer is: it's complicated.  Trauma is the result of an extraordinarily stressful event that shatters your sense of security and safety and makes you feel isolated and helpless in the world.  It can be a one-time event or ongoing, complex trauma.  Your response to trauma largely determines the type toward which you gravitate as a little...

We often think of Enneagram Eights as powerful, charismatic, and natural leaders.  They make great mentors with an uncanny ability to inspire and uplift people.  Our guest today is a wonderful example of a healthy Eight leader who understands how to balance the power of her personality with self-restraint and vulnerability while motivating others.   Dr. Sasha Shillcutt shares what drives her as an...

At their best, Enneagram Twos truly radiate the unconditional, altruistic love of God. They just sort of signal love out into the world in a way that no other type can. But they also have a hard time being able to stop meeting the needs of others which can empty their tanks and lead to resentment.   This episode resonated so well with a lot of our Two listeners. So, take another listen as Lisa-Jo...

Decision making takes courage. But sometimes the commitment to find the  best option  consumes an enormous amount of mental energy and can leave any of us exhausted and stuck. However, when you learn to stop overthinking you can start spending time on things that bring more peace, love, and joy into your life. Today, we're revisiting my interview with Anne Bogel on getting decisive.  Though we foc...