Typology

We've got a special treat for you this week. Every month, we record a secret podcast episode exclusively for Typology Institute Members. But this month, we're letting you listen to one of our favorites, a conversation with Andrew Chapman, psychotherapist and meditation teacher, about the nature of mindfulness and how it relates to the Enneagram. You won't want to miss this deep dive into how transformational mindfulness impacts your daily life. Check out the Typology Institute Membership to access a monthly podcast episode like this, plus: A monthly live Town Hall Q&A session with Ian about a specific topic. A monthly newsletter from Ian that shares thoughts around personal development, Enneagram insights, and spiritual formation. The "Hidden Gems of the Enneagram" video series (more video series coming soon).

Mother & Daughter duo Nancy and Samantha Beach are both leaning into their Enneagram number by tackling one of the most audacious goals possible: addressing the mass exodus from the church, and working to make it more inclusive. As a millennial, Samantha suspects there may be a disconnect within the generations when it comes to messaging: "We're seeing this all across society, all the -isms, right? Racism, sexism, homophobia, all these things. And, I think my friends just wanna know, is the church having these conversations too?" In this episode, we chat about how to create a healthy dialogue between people of different views and age groups, and how working together on that message was the best way to model community for those in the church: "The texture of community is vital. There's something different about confessing sins together…singing together, even learning together in a room side by side. Then there's something about the conversation before and after, that can happen." — Nancy Beach (3w4) serves as a leadership coach with theSlingshot Group and on the teaching team at Soul City Church in downtown Chicago. Previously, Nancy served as the programming director at Willow Creek Community Church in suburban Chicago. She is also the author of An Hour on Sunday and Gifted to Lead. Nancy and her husband Warren have two adult daughters, Samantha and Johanna. Samantha Beach Kiley (3w2) is a writer and performer working at the intersection of art and faith. Samantha's creative work has appeared in theatres, churches, and non-profit spaces. She has taught at Northwestern's National High School Institute and Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre, where she is the co-education director. She and her family have recently moved to Raleigh, NC where Samantha is associate pastor at Church on Morgan in Raleigh. Check out their new book, Next Sunday: An Honest Dialogue About the Future of the Church. To learn more about Nancy Beach, follow her on Twitter, or visit her website. To learn more about Samantha Beach Kiley, follow her on Twitter, or visit her website.

For years, Irene Rollins lived on auto-pilot. Unaware of just how motivated by shame she was, it took a jolt to wake her up to the fact that she didn't have to live a life characterized by fear and defensiveness. It was an addiction to alcohol, made more severe by the pressures of pastoring a church, that finally woke her up to these bigger problems: "Imagine the weight I was carrying. I still had three kids, the dogs, managing life, and I found myself reintroducing alcohol into my life." From there, things escalated, says Rollins. "My dependency increased over a six year period of time, and I went into a full blown alcohol addiction." In this episode, we explore the nature of addiction and recovery, including the ways in which every one of us struggle with addiction in our own way. — Irene Rollins is passionate about the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health of all people. As a certified Emotional Intelligence Coach, she loves to study human behavior, which enables her to understand a wide variety of people, guiding them to be the best version of themselves through her teaching, writing and coaching. She founded the ministry of TWO = ONE with her husband Jimmy with a mission to help build strong marriages that result in healthy families that impact our communities for the better. To learn more about Irene Rollins, follow her on Instagram, visit her ministry, TWO = ONE, or check out her new book, Reframe Your Shame: Experience Freedom from What Holds You Back.

As the director of family counseling at Daystar Counseling in Nashville, TN, David Thomas has seen some patterns develop over the years. "Some of the healthiest parents I have worked with over the years are parents in recovery," says David. "Because you've done your work: those basic tenets of 'I understand I have a struggle, I need God, I need community.'" Those are principles that apply for everyone, whether in recovery or not, and they reflect a kind of humble acknowledgement of reality that every parent needs. But there's another way into these concepts: "The other set of parents that I see are the healthiest are those who are using the Enneagram," says David. "You're getting connected with some of those same things. Understanding, 'Here's what the shadow side looks like, Here are my traps, Here are my vulnerabilities." This week, we talk to David Thomas about his own experience dealing with the Enneagram One's inner monologue, how the shadow side comes out in parenting, and how the Enneagram can help us raise emotionally strong boys. — David Thomas, LMSW, is the director of family counseling at Daystar Counseling in Nashville, TN, and the coauthor of ten books, including the bestselling Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys and Are My Kids on Track? He is the co-host of the top 10 parenting podcast "Raising Boys and Girls." To learn more about David Thomas, follow him on Instagram, visit his website, or check out his new book, Raising Emotionally Strong Boys: Tools Your Son Can Build On for Life.

Is motherhood really the hardest job in the world? Is there such a thing as a biological clock? Is motherhood the highest calling? And is it true that you can't truly know love until you're a mother? For Erin Lane, the mythology around motherhood has gotten out of hand. "How did we make motherhood an occupational, performative, identity based measure of worth?" This week, we speak to Erin Lane about these questions, and how being an Enneagram 5 has helped her break out of the scripts our culture gives her for motherhood. --- Erin S. Lane is the author of Someone Other Than a Mother: Flipping the Scripts on a Woman's Purpose and Making Meaning Beyond Motherhood and works as a vocational retreat facilitator. She resides in Raleigh, North Carolina. To learn more about Erin Lane, follow her on Instagram, visit her website, or check out her new book, Someone Other Than a Mother: Flipping the Scripts on a Woman's Purpose and Making Meaning Beyond Motherhood. REGISTER NOW for Dos and Don'ts of the Enneagram with Ian Morgan Cron to get access to the live webinar with Ian on October 26th at 2pm CST.

In addition to breaking ten world records, Colin O'Brady's feats include the world's first solo, unsupported, and fully human-powered crossing of Antarctica, speed records for the Explorers Grand Slam and the Seven Summits, and the first human-powered ocean row across Drake Passage. Would you be surprised to hear he's a three on the Enneagram? But as he grows older, his approach to achieving his goals is changing. "It's not the same burning desire, like deep in my bones," says Colin. Is he losing his "three-ness" or is there something deeper going on here? On this episode of Typology, we explore the ways our approach to goals, and the need to achieve, can evolve over time. — Colin O'Brady is a ten-time world record breaking explorer, speaker, entrepreneur, and expert on mindset. Colin's highly publicized expeditions have been followed by millions and his work has been featured by The New York Times, The Tonight Show, The Joe Rogan Experience, and The Today Show. He is the author of The New York Times bestseller The Impossible First and now The 12-Hour Walk: Invest One Day, Conquer Your Mind, and Unlock Your Best Life (Scribner; August 2nd).

This week, we step bravely into the world of politics, investigating the reasons it feels more divided than ever, and how we can truly listen to one another. Sarah and Beth started discussing these issues from opposite sides of the aisle, and while their positions have changed over time, they still believe in the power of dialoguing with those who disagree. In fact, they see their shifting positions on politics and government as a sign of the value of truly hearing one another out. But listening can be difficult when so many are leading with anger and rage. And those are emotions that signal something deeper beneath the surface than merely strong opinions on policy: "Instead of starting from 'what's wrong with you'," says Sarah, it's better to start with "What happened? How did you get here?" — Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers host Pantsuit Politics podcast, named by Apple Podcasts as one of the Best Shows of 2021. They are also the authors of Now What? How to Move Forward When We're Divided (About Basically Everything) (2022) and I Think You're Wrong (But I'm Listening): A Guide to Grace-Filled Political Conversation (2019).

When Maud Newton read about the traits of the Enneagram Four, she had to laugh out of pure recognition. "On my mother's side, there was this impulse toward larger than life stories. There wasn't really shame around difficult histories and that sort of thing. The greatest sin was to be boring." Maud's ancestors were anything but boring. In this episode, Maud shares what she's learned about herself through exploring her ancestors' lives, and explains how we're setting ourselves up to repeat our ancestors' trauma and toxic patterns if we aren't able to acknowledge them first. — Maud Newton has written for The New York Times Magazine, Harper's, The New York Times Book Review, and Oxford American. She grew up in Miami and graduated from the University of Florida with degrees in English and law.

Just three weeks shy of their one-year anniversary, the unthinkable happened. Mattie's 28-year-old husband died unexpectedly, leaving her with a massive hole in her life. But being an Enneagram three becomes a double-edged sword in grief: "This compulsion to perform that I have, in whatever I'm doing, was one of my greatest assets in my grief," says Jackson, who adds, "It was also one of the things that I had to be the most careful to keep in check." This week, we hear how she pursued personal growth and balance through her grief, and managed to come out on the other side with hope, ambition, and her love for her former husband intact. Mattie Jackson Selecman is an author, podcaster, speaker, and co-founder NaSHEville, a women's philanthropic apparel brand serving orphans, widows, and victims of human trafficking. To learn more about Mattie, follow her on Instagram, check out her new book, Lemons on Friday, or visit her website.

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier has experienced abandonment from her mother, put herself in positions where she would inevitably be betrayed, come to terms with the power of her anger, and found herself struggling with addiction and alcoholism. But for Mary, so much of that tumult and life experience came from a sense of internal intensity. "The self-destructive and self-constructive forces inside of me," she says, "are both very, very strong." That conflict often can be too much to bear for many. But for Mary, it was songwriting that gave her the space and opportunity to work it all out. In the end, those six decades were time enough for her story to be reframed, rewritten, and even redeemed. To learn more about Mary, follow her on Instagram, check out her new book, Saved by a Song, or visit her website.

Every creative has a dream project: something they'd love to do if they had infinite time and resources. But what if you got the chance to pull off that dream project, and it didn't succeed? That's what happened to Steve Taylor, who poured himself into directing Blue Like Jazz, only to see a middling response at the theater. To him, that result felt like humiliation. This week, we hear about how his experience creating art for a living has changed his approach to success, risk-taking, and his own personal worth. Filmmaker/writer/producer/recording artist/entrepreneur Steve Taylor earned his "Renaissance Man" stripes (Prism Magazine) from a body of work that's garnered him multiple Grammy, Billboard, Telly, Addy, and Dove awards and nominations. As a recording artist, he's sold over one million albums worldwide, garnered two Grammy nominations for Meltdown (1984) and Squint (1993), and made history as the only artist to twice win Billboard Music Video Awards for self-directed music videos. He also fronted the MCA-signed rock band Chagall Guevara.

This week, we're going deep! With the help of the author of The Enneagram for Spiritual Formation, we discuss the various ways the Enneagram can be used narcissistically, and how to avoid those pitfalls. Then, we discuss spiritual bypassing, or the ways each type can end up evading the essential personal work they need to do to grow as an individual. AJ Sherrill (DMin, Fuller Theological Seminary) has more than twenty years of experience as a pastor, including as lead pastor at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is now lead pastor at St. Peter's Church in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. He is an adjunct professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, where he teaches popular courses on transformational preaching and the Enneagram. Sherrill leads Enneagram workshops across the country and is the author of The Enneagram for Spiritual Formation and Being with God.

In the span of a few years, Shauna Niequest found herself experiencing a series of changes and heartbreaks that left her feeling like a completely different person. But in the end, she found herself more easily feeling empathy for those who were going through grief themselves. In this episode, Shauna and and I discuss the importance of finding the right geographical place for who you are, the various practices that can help us work through our grief, and how our attempts to outrun grief will always catch up with us. Shauna Niequist is the New York Times bestselling author of Present Over Perfect and I Guess I Haven't Learned That Yet. She is married to Aaron, and they live in New York City with their sons, Henry and Mac. Shauna is a bookworm, a storyteller, and a passionate gatherer of people, especially around the table.

When her husband discovered Julie Solomon's thirty thousand dollars of credit card debt, she became acutely aware of how her narrative about herself had failed her. But that moment also kicked off a mutual journey of growth in her marriage. In this episode, Julie explains how being an Enneagram 3 can be a burden as well as a gift, how growing up in a lower-income household led to a complicated relationship with money, and how being married to an Enneagram 4 taught her not to have all the answers. Julie Solomon is a Speaker, Business Coach, Host of the top rated The Influencer Podcast, and Author of the book, Get What You Want: How to Go From Unseen to Unstoppable (HarperCollins Leadership, June 7, 2022). Get What You Want teaches you how to shake off outdated ideas of what is possible and use your newfound belief to make anything you want happen. Julie has launched several successful online programs including Pitch It Perfect, The Influencer Academy, and SHINE Mastermind, which teach clients how to master the skill sets needed to take a personal brand idea and turn it into a profitable, sustainable. In her weekly podcast, The Influencer Podcast, Julie offers up real-time coaching, straight talk, and conversations to her millions of listeners worldwide.

For Jeanne Stevens, it didn't take long to see herself in her Enneagram type. But it took the experience of facing three deep losses in a short period of time to finally learn how to process—and ultimately let go—of grief, freeing her up to truly live in the present. In today's episode, Jeanne shares how a childhood experience led her to believe a narrative about her life that no longer serves her. She also shares the ways she's learned to live in the present through noticing and naming what's happening around her, asking and answering the all-important question: "What's Here Now?" Jeanne Stevens is the founding and co-lead pastor of Soul City Church in Chicago, one of America's fastest growing urban churches. Prior to starting Soul City Church, Stevens was on the pastoral staff at Willow Creek Community Church and North Point Community Church. A sought-after speaker, leader, and writer, Jeanne's passion is to help people wake up to their purpose as they pursue a life of wholehearted freedom. She lives in Chicago with her husband, Jarrett, and their two children.

Known for exuding energy, joy, and laughter, former Miss Kentucky and three-time contestant of The Amazing Race, Mallory Ervin reveals her fear of being average and how her hunger to achieve publicly resulted in a big wake-up call. In today's episode, we explore her personal story of overcoming the unhealthy and damaging patterns in her life, the turning point that made her go to treatment, and how her time in recovery helped unmask and reveal her true self, allowing her to "live fully." Mallory Ervin is a Kentucky-grown, Nashville-living dreamer who had a roundabout way of arriving at today. From her time in the Miss America pageant to being a three-time contestant on The Amazing Race, Mallory turned her passion for sharing her love of fashion, beauty, and life into a platform for impact. Today she runs a global lifestyle brand she founded in 2016, hosts the Living Fully podcast where she encourages and inspires her dedicated following to seek joy and live fully, and appears across platforms ranging from Instagram to YouTube sharing her life and message of living fully.

What is the life that you want to live? The final step of S.O.A.R. is to rewrite your old story and write a new one that is fulfilling and true to who you are. The goal is to challenge the old, taken for granted, broken beliefs of your old story and lean into what the future looks like. So how do you do that? In today's episode, I'll walk you through a few proactive approaches you can take for lasting transformation. For more exercises, reflection prompts, and guided questions, pick up a copy of The Story of You Workbook.

This week, we're talking about Step 3 of S.O.A.R. and what it means to awaken. We'll explore mindfulness practice, why all of us need to develop this muscle, and we will share a few more tips for rewriting your story. This is just the sort of work I lead you through in my new The Story of You Workbook. Get your copy here.

What has your broken narrative cost you? This week, we're moving on to step 2 of the acronym S.O.A.R. from The Story of You, which is to 'own' your story. I explain what it means to 'own' your story and why this step is essential on your journey toward transformation. For more exercises, reflection prompts, and guided questions that can help you make lasting changes, pick up a copy of The Story of You Workbook.

For the next four weeks, I'm going to walk you through each step of the acronym S.O.A.R. to help you identify and rewrite your origin story. The S.O.A.R. acronym is four simple steps you can begin to journey through in order to relax your grip on the old story and craft a new one. In this episode, I explain the first step of S.O.A.R. which is to 'see' how you became who you are today. In order to narrate a new story, we must first explore and accept our history. I share a few questions to get you started on this journey. For more exercises, reflection prompts, and guided questions that can help you transform your life, check out The Story of You Workbook (available now for pre-order).

When growing in self-awareness, it's important to be able to recognize, or identify, what your triggers are. If you're a regular listener, you've heard me talk about how critical meditation and journaling are to strengthen your ability to respond to life rather than react. But, how we treat our bodies is also important. When I notice I feel anxious, envious, or irritable, I like to pause and notice how I'm feeling physically. I ask myself, "how did I sleep last night?", "do I need to go for a walk?" or "what have I eaten today?" At times, simply drinking some water or having a good, healthy meal helps me process what I'm truly feeling. How you eat not only fuels your body but also fuels your mind. It allows you to pause and reflect, and make intentional decisions. In today's episode, health and science journalist, Max Lugavere joins me for a conversation about the connection between food and cognitive health. Tune into this interesting discussion on how to feed your brain to live a more full life…no matter your Enneagram type. Max Lugavere is a filmmaker, health and science journalist and the author of the New York Times bestseller Genius Foods: Become Smarter, Happier, and More Productive While Protecting Your Brain for Life. He's also the host of the #1 iTunes health podcast, The Genius Life and regularly appears on the Dr. Oz Show, The Rachael Ray Show, and The Doctors. For more on Max, visit https://geniuskitchenbook.com

After reading Pathological: The True Story of Six Misdiagnoses, I was delighted to have the opportunity to sit down and discuss the book with author Sarah Fay. In this exploration of the ways we pathologize our human experiences, Sarah opens the door to a new conversation about mental health. In this episode, Sarah shares: How and why do we categorize ourselves to make everyday life easier How any diagnosis can turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy Her recommendations for when you are handed a diagnoses Why recognizing signals in your body can help you learn how to process feelings and emotions Sarah Fay (Ph.D., Iowa MFA) is an award-winning author and mental health advocate working to improve how we think and talk about mental health by moving the conversation away from simplistic diagnoses and toward a deeper understanding of our mental and emotional lives. Her personal experience of being diagnosed with six different mental health disorders and finding no relief led her to investigate the diagnoses we receive and to write her journalistic memoir, Pathological: The True Story of Six Misdiagnoses which Apple Books chose as one of the Best Books in March. Sarah has shared her story on NPR, Salon, and more. I hope you find this conversation as fascinating as I did. Be sure to share the episode with your friends and family.

This week we're continuing our series on feeding the brain. There's an ample amount of research about the importance of tapping into the mind-body connection, or tuning into our emotional and mental states, to rewire our neuropathways and relieve anxiety, depression, and intrusive thoughts. Dr. Caroline Leaf joins me for a fascinating conversation about "cleaning up the mental mess" and taking back control over your thoughts and life. In today's episode, Dr. Leaf: explains the difference between the "mind" and the "brain" discusses how to use the conscious mind to connect with your nonconscious mind walks us through her neurocycle program to detox and rebuild the brain

Your brain is a fascinating place that makes you who you are. It is also an endless source of information about how all of humanity not only organizes information but how we make meaning in the world every day. Using the latest advances in neuroscience and the wisdom of the Enneagram, Dr. Rick Hanson and Forrest Hanson join me for a deep conversation about using neuroscience to unveil our inner wholeness. They provide specific practices we can all use to awaken to our true selves. To learn more about Dr. Rick Hanson and Forrest Hanson, visit https://rickhanson.net and

Today, our longtime friends, Michael and Julianne Cusick, join us as special co-hosts to interview Anne and me about how the Enneagram has strengthened our marriage of 33 years. We explore the low sides of our types and how they've negatively impacted our marriage and how we've overcome that, discuss the ways our types have helped us each grow, and highlight the important role of self-compassion. Tune in to this very special episode on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player. Cheers, Ian P.S. We're offering the full episode exclusively to our Typology Institute Members. So, to hear the rest of our interview, become a member today at https://typologyinstitute.com/membership.

Expressing our emotions is vulnerable, and vulnerability is the secret sauce of relationships. So how do an Enneagram Two and an Enneagram 5, who approach emotions from very different angles, maintain a strong marriage? In today's episode, I revisit my conversation with Jon and Tristen Collins, authors of Why Emotions Matter, to explore what they've learned about each other and how they meet in the middle to build a more intimate relationship.

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 of your couples report here. (Use the code COUPLES to get 10% off). P.S. Abner and Amanda have a new album out titled, Johnnsywim. Check it out.

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 interviews with couples on the show. These won't be straight replays. Instead, I'm going to stop at certain points and provide some commentary on how you can improve the quality of your important relationships through the Enneagram. For Annie and me, the Enneagram was probably the single most important revelation in our relationship. It has illuminated so much for us over the years. But we would have saved a ton of time and heartache if we had a tool that explained how our specific types work against and complement each other. That's why I'm thrilled to share the new Enneagram Couples Assessment from Integrative Enneagram Solutions. It does just that. This new report provides a window into how you and your partner's specific Enneagram types interact, highlights the strengths each of you brings to the relationship, and identifies potential pitfalls to look out for. Now, let's kick things off with a fresh look at my interview with Kim and Penn Holderness. Tune in for some valuable insights into what makes their marriage work. P.S. Get your Couple's Report now. Use discount code COUPLES to receive 10% off your assessment.

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 illustrates the freedom that comes from saying yes to new opportunities and finding your true self in the gifts of life.

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 his struggle to find self-worth apart from the love and praise of others, Tune in to this transparent conversation on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player.

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, forgiveness, and acceptance. We explore how silence helps us develop the muscle of attention that gives us the capacity to stand back and observe ourselves so we can recognize our repeating thought patterns. We cover the benefits of meditation and then offer a few recommendations on how to begin your meditation journey.

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 the: importance of expressing feelings and affection value of protecting others from a place of kindness and love, rather than control and anger core task men need to take responsibility for, and Six decisions that set men apart from others Brant's vulnerability and openness will genuinely move you. Brant Hansen is an author, radio host, and advocate for healing children with correctible disabilities through CURE International. He's won multiple awards for "Personality of the Year" for his radio show, which airs on more than 200 stations nationwide. His podcast with his friend and radio producer, The Brant and Sherri Oddcast, has been downloaded more than 10 million times. The author of The Truth About Us, Unoffendable, and Blessed Are the Misfits. Hansen has written for CNN.com, the Washington Post, U.S. News and World Report, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Relevant, and numerous other outlets on matters as varied as public policy, culture, sports, Asperger's syndrome, and faith. He and his wife, Carolyn, live in South Florida.

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 answers we already have in our hearts, souls, and minds. The key to that is great questions. Probably more than any other single piece of input in my life, what has driven change in me has been great questions. And today, I'm giving you a peek into my notebook of outstanding questions that force you to go inside and wrestle with ideas and feelings that can change the direction of your life. I'll also be posting a question on social media every day for the next week, and I'd love for you to engage with me. Perhaps you'll resonate with a few of mine or share your gems I can add to my notebook. I'm always jotting down new ones as I come across them. For example, I added a new one from a Typology Institute member this past Tuesday. So, listen to or watch this episode, then share your thoughts with me on Instagram or Facebook.

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 and bodies to build resilience and self-compassion. She also offers up a few tips for practicing self-compassion in deep and truly meaningful ways that will begin the process of healing. Aundi Kolber is a Licensed Professional Counselor (MA LPC), writer, and speaker in Castle Rock, Colorado. She specializes in trauma- and body-centered therapies and is passionate about the integration of faith and psychology. As a survivor of trauma, Aundi brings hard-won knowledge around the work of change, the power of redemption, and the beauty of experiencing God with us in our pain. Looking for more conversations on trauma? Listen to our past interviews with Chris Cook, Dan Allender, or Amy Downs. You can also watch them on YouTube: Chris Cook, Dan Allender or Amy Downs.

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 marriage and their business thrive. We explore the dynamics between their relationship and how learning to speak each other's language and tapping into the other's strengths fosters a perfect yin-yang relationship. Tune in on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player for this amazing conversation.

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 explore today are: the Improvers fixation on anger what messages Ones internalize, and how Ones can tap into the high side of Seven to find their joy ABOUT JANA RIESS Since 2008, Jana Riess has been an editor in the publishing industry, primarily working in the areas of religion, history, popular culture, ethics, and biblical studies. From 1999 to 2008, she was the Religion Book Review Editor for Publishers Weekly, and continues to write freelance reviews for PW as well as other publications. She holds degrees in religion from Wellesley College and Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in American religious history from Columbia University. She speaks often to media about issues pertaining to religion in America, and has been interviewed by the Associated Press, Time, Newsweek, People, the Boston Globe, USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, and Newsday, among other print publications, as well as "Voice of America," the "Today" show, MSNBC, and NPR's "All Things Considered," "Tell Me More," and "Talk of the Nation." She is the author or co-author of many books, including The Prayer Wheel; Flunking Sainthood; What Would Buffy Do?; Mormonism for Dummies; and The Writer's Market Guide to Getting Published. Her book The Twible: All the Chapters of the Bible in 140 Characters or Less . . . . Now with 68% More Humor! won first place in the non-fiction category in the Writer's Digest Annual Self-Published Book Awards. Her book The Next Mormons: The Rising Generation of Latter-day Saints will be released in March 2019 from Oxford University Press. She is a senior columnist for Religion News Service.

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 the author of Undistracted (March 1, 2022) as well as the New York Times bestselling books Love Does, Everybody Always, and Dream Big. He is the Honorary Consul to the Republic of Uganda, an attorney, and the founder of Love Does—a nonprofit human rights organization operating in Uganda, India, Nepal, Iraq, and Somalia. He's a lover of balloons, cake pops, and helping people pursue their big dreams. You can typically find Bob writing and taking calls from his boat, welcoming people to his Southern California retreat center--The Oaks, or at an event speaking. Bob's greatest ambitions in life are to love others, do stuff, and, most importantly, to hold hands with his wife, Sweet Maria Goff, and spend time with their amazing kids. For more, check out BobGoff.com and LoveDoes.org.

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 others overcome adversity to achieve greatness. His inspiring story of transformation is a prime example of what happens when we learn to re-interpret our past and choose to lean into a new narrative.

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 paper with a new message on each that I'm trying to integrate into my life. I pull one (and only one!) of these slips out each day and work on incorporating the new message or belief written on it into my life. That's it—one new belief or practice that I work on each day that helps support my journey toward living a new and better story. And it can work for you too! What you write on the slips is entirely up to you. For example, right now I'm working through my struggle with fear, so one of my slips states, "Do not be afraid." Another asks the question, "What would I do if I wasn't afraid right now?" You get the idea, but here are a few more examples to get your New Story Jar started: Today, I will make mistakes, and that's okay. Just say no. The present moment contains everything I need to be happy. Disappointing others is a misdemeanor, not a felony. Difficult feelings won't kill me. At first, your New Story Jar doesn't need a million slips in it, but you'll be surprised how quickly your jar fills up. One new message or belief that we reflect on, and practice daily gradually will change us! As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Sow a thought, and you reap an action; sow an act, and you reap a habit; sow a habit, and you reap a character; sow a character, and you reap a destiny." Want to make your own? Click here to download a few statements you can use to start your own jar today! Cheers, Ian

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 connections? Today's guest, Global Chief Marketing Officer of OkCupid, Melissa Hobley, joins me to explore different Enneagram types in relationships and how she sees the Enneagram being used in dating. Melissa shares a few basic tips for dating and gives two important insider tips, before asking Ian a few questions of her own. Melissa Hobley is the Global Chief Marketing Officer of OkCupid, one of the largest dating apps in the world. Under her direction, OkCupid has become famous for its message of inclusion and affirmation, winning numerous awards for its breakthrough social campaign. In this role, she is responsible for global brand advertising, marketing, social media, and partnerships. Melissa was the first CMO at OkCupid and brought the brand from decline to being one of the foremost leaders in a competitive space. She regularly appears as an expert on tech and relationships in media like The New York Times and NPR. Currently, she is a regular guest on NBC's "Today Show" discussing relationships in a digital era. She's on the list of "Forbes Most Influential CMOs in the World," is on AdAge's "Women to Watch" list, and was recently featured on AMA's "40 Under 40." (AMA= Americian Marketing Association).

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, and founder of Freedom Project, Lisa Sharon Harper shines light on the connection between the choices we make and the stories we tell ourselves, reminding us that truth-telling, repentance, and forgiveness are just a few basic things that can begin the process of healing a nation. Leading activist, author and founder of the consulting group Freedom Road, Lisa Sharon Harper has spent three decades researching ten generations of her family history through DNA research, oral histories, interviews and genealogy. In her new book, Fortune: How Race Broke My Family and the World—and How to Repair It All (Brazos Press, February 8, 2022), Harper draws on her lifelong journey to know her family's history to recover the beauty of her heritage, expose the brokenness that race has wrought in America, and cast a vision for collective repair. Her work has been featured in the New Yorker, Relevant, Essence, HuffPost, The National Civic Review, and CNN, and she has appeared on PBS's Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly, TV One, Fox News, NPR, and Al Jazeera America.

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 Formation, AJ shares spiritual practices each type can adopt to gain clarity and access to a more virtuous life. AJ teaches courses on preaching and also the Enneagram at Fuller Theological Seminary, offers workshops on spiritual formation around the world.

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 preserve connections with other people and preserve inner and outer peace, Nines adopt a strategy of avoiding conflict and merging with others. The risk of this story is that they can become self-less…without a self. The healing journey for the Peacemaker is to decouple themselves from that story to rewrite a new one. So, today, one of my favorite singer-songwriters on the planet and long-time student of the Enneagram, Andy Gullahorn joins me in the studio for a conversation about how the Enneagram has helped guide his healing and growth. In this episode we talk about: Character defects or defenses Doing Enneagram work in community Finding a different relationship with anger, and Learning to feel things and form opinions in real-time He also shares a special Enneagram song during the interview. You're going to love it! Cheers, Ian

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 bonus episode of Typology where we actually include an entire chapter of the audiobook version of The Story of You. In this episode, you'll hear the entire first chapter of The Story of You, recorded by yours truly from a beautiful studio here in Nashville. Recording an audiobook is really one of the coolest parts of writing a book, so I'm very excited to be able to share a sneak peek of that with you all! We'll have another great episode coming your way on Thursday with my friend Andy Gullahorn. Stay tuned for that episode and if you like what you hear of the audiobook, please consider heading over to Audible and picking up an audiobook copy of The Story of You.

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 entrepreneur, author, priest, founder of 10 justice initiatives, and President of Thistle Farms. She has been featured on PBS NewsHour, The Today Show, CNN, ABC World News, named a CNN Hero, and White House Champion of Change. Drawn from 25 years of leadership in mission-driven work, Becca leads important conversations across the country with an inspiring message that love is the strongest force for change in the world.

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 set your marriage up for success and help you awaken to the things we each can do differently to improve our relationships. Chris and Jenni also explain: The 5 core rhythms to help a marriage thrive Important ways to support each other through different seasons of growth, and How different orientations to time can impact your relationships

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, we share: Tips for raising an Enthusiast from two Sevens The communication style of Sevens The role orientation to time plays in all our relationships We also discuss their new, aptly named book, The Clubhouse: Open the Door to Limitless Adventure, where they draw on their own childhood experiences and show that imagination is the best way to play and learn. Tune in on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player then share your feedback on Instagram. We'd love to hear your insights.

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, I believe shame is the most powerful force in the universe, but in the wrong direction. In today's profoundly moving, heart-changing replay, author and psychiatrist Dr. Curt Thompson joins me for a deep conversation about shame and how it plays out as a human experience for all nine types. In this episode you'll learn: What shame does as opposed to what it is How shame manifests in each Enneagram type How we can begin to heal shame through community

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 per se. We're talking about narcissism on a continuum and what it looks like when each Enneagram type is manifesting a narcissistic style or type. Each of us is somewhere on that narcissistic spectrum. In this episode you'll learn: What narcissism actually is How narcissism shows up in all nine types, and What the healing path is for all nines types to keep narcissism in check. Chuck is the Professor of Counseling and Christian Spirituality at Western Theological Seminary Holland MI, and Co-Founder and a Senior Fellow at Newbigin House of Studies, San Francisco. His latest book is, When Narcissism Comes to Church: Healing Your Community From Emotional and Spiritual Abuse. He is a licensed therapist, author, retreat leader, and spiritual director. Chuck has been married to Sara for 25 years and has two daughters.

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 of transformation, what he's learned since leaving New York, and get a peek into what's next for him. Scott has been recognized in Fortune Magazine's list of 40 Under 40, the Forbes' Impact 30 list, and Fast Company's 100 Most Creative People in Business where he earned the #10 spot. He is currently a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and author of the New York Times Bestselling book, Thirst. Scott recently moved to Franklin, TN with his wife Viktoria, son Jackson and daughter Emma.