Explore every episode of the podcast Around the Circle | An Enneagram Podcast

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Are Enneagram Sevens really avoiding pain? Or is something deeper driving their relentless pursuit of possibility, experience, and connection?

In this episode of Around the Circle, Jeff is joined by Lindsey Davis Marks and Marion Biglan for a revealing conversation about the inner world of Enneagram Sevens. Together, they explore how Sevens relate to their thinking, feeling, and body centers—and what happens when they move toward One in stress and Five in security.

This time, Jeff pushes back on some familiar Enneagram stereotypes. Sevens aren't necessarily afraid of pain, disconnected from their emotions, or incapable of slowing down. Their experiences suggest something more complicated: a deep desire to live fully, a fear of losing life's possibilities, and a longing to be genuinely seen and understood.

Along the way, they discuss perfectionism, chronic illness, optimism, emotional vulnerability, relationships, and the surprising ways Sevens find stillness and security.

What if the Seven's greatest struggle isn't avoiding suffering, but learning to embrace the life they have—even when it doesn't go according to plan?

Join our Tuesday night Reading Room discussions : HERE

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Work with Mandy Capehart : HERE

Talk with TJ WIlson : HERE

What happens when we combine the nine Enneagram types with the three human instincts? We get 27 subtypes—and a whole new layer of complexity in understanding personality, motivation, and relationships.

In this episode of The Reading Room, Jeff continues exploring Helen Palmer’s The Enneagram in Love and Work, examining the history of the instincts and how self-preservation, sexual (one-to-one), and social energies interact with each of the nine types. Moving through all 27 subtypes, Jeff highlights Palmer’s most compelling observations about the passions, relationships, and the hidden motivations that shape our lives.

But how much of this framework actually holds up? While some of Palmer’s descriptions offer remarkable insight, others seem incomplete or miss the mark entirely. Jeff challenges several of her conclusions, particularly those concerning Enneagram Ones, and asks whether subtypes are essential to understanding personality—or simply another useful language for exploring ourselves.

#Enneagram #EnneagramSubtypes #EnneagramInstincts #HelenPalmer #TheReadingRoom

Join our Tuesday night Reading Room discussions : HERE

Register for Year One : HERE

Work with Mandy Capehart : HERE

Talk with TJ WIlson : HERE

What happens when an Enneagram Eight loses control? And what does it look like when their strength gives way to tenderness?

In this episode of Around the Circle, Jeff sits down with three Enneagram Eights—Kyle, Deena, and Grace—to explore their experiences of stress and security, particularly their movement toward Five and Two. Together, they discuss the Eight's relationship with anger, anxiety, vulnerability, and the often-overlooked emotional life beneath their powerful exterior.

The conversation explores the difference between gut intuition and emotional connection, why Eights often express love through action, and how fear can quickly become anger when their sense of agency is threatened. Along the way, the panel considers how instinctual differences shape their experiences and how growth can open the door to generosity, service, and tenderness. What happens when an Eight discovers that strength isn't always about being in control?

#enneagram #enneagram8 #enneagrameight

Join our Tuesday night Reading Room discussions : HERE

Register for Year One : HERE

Work with Mandy Capehart : HERE

Talk with TJ WIlson : HERE

In this episode of the Reading Room, Jeff begins exploring the nine Enneagram types through Helen Palmer's The Enneagram in Love and Work. Moving through the first pages of each type's chapter, Jeff examines four central themes: worldview, spiritual path, concerns, and personality bias. What does each type believe about the world, where does its attention go, and what does meaningful growth require?

This time, Jeff highlights Palmer's most compelling insights while pushing back on her assumptions about childhood wounds, the origins of personality, and the relationship between our motivations and behaviors. Along the way, he considers the difference between describing a type's struggles and identifying the work that might actually lead to growth.

• Type Two: Becoming indispensable to others, the subtle manipulation of relationships, and learning to recognize personal needs and worth apart from being needed.
• Type Three: Confusing performance with identity, losing touch with genuine emotions, and learning to distinguish the authentic self from the image presented to others.
• Type Four: The push-pull of longing and rejection, the emotional focus on love and loss, and learning to find satisfaction in what is already present.
• Type Five: The desire for privacy and independence, mistaking emotional detachment for spiritual maturity, and discovering the importance of participating in life rather than merely observing it.
• Type Six: The complicated relationship with authority, forgetting past successes, and developing genuine faith rather than settling for the security of rules and protective structures.
• Type Seven: Finding joy in possibilities and plans, replacing painful feelings with positive alternatives, and learning to stay present rather than moving on.
• Type Eight: Confusing subjective convictions with objective truth, using power to establish control, and learning to question personal assumptions while genuinely considering other perspectives.
• Type Nine: The comfort of neutrality, the enormous energy spent avoiding what matters most, and learning to direct attention toward personal priorities and meaningful action.
• Type One: The severe inner critic, the tendency to turn self-criticism outward, and the difficult but essential work of distinguishing what we want from what we believe is right.

Throughout the episode, Jeff asks whether traditional Enneagram descriptions adequately capture the motivations beneath our behaviors. Can we move beyond familiar caricatures and childhood narratives toward a more precise understanding of each type—and a clearer picture of what growth actually looks like?

What happens when Enneagram Nines begin taking up space in their own life?

In this episode of Around the Circle, Jeff sits down with five Enneagram Nines—Sara, Theresa, Sue, Lynsie, and Andrew—to explore their relationships with their body, head, and heart.

Together, they discuss the challenge of listening to their physical self, the mental energy spent considering everyone else's perspective, and the difficulty of expressing their own emotions, desires, and needs.

We then take up the experience of Nines as they move to Six in stress and Three in security. Along the way, the panel explores anger, inertia, self-neglect, confidence, and the possibility that growth for Nines involves learning to recognize their own value and take up space in the world.

Join us on Tuesdays : HERE

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What if the greatest obstacle to becoming who we want to be is settling for something less than what we truly desire?

In this episode of the Reading Room, Jeff continues his study of Helen Palmer’s The Enneagram in Love and Work, exploring the relationship between our deepest fears, what we avoid, and the passions traditionally associated with each Enneagram type. What if the seven deadly sins are not the source of our struggles, but the fruit of something deeper?

This time, Jeff introduces the idea of idols—the lesser substitutes we settle for when our fears shape our choices. Ones settle for being right instead of being good. Twos pursue appreciation instead of genuine love. Threes chase image instead of excellence. Across all nine types, these false substitutes promise satisfaction but ultimately leave us wanting more.

How can recognizing what we settle for help us understand our shadow, confront our fears, and recover the things we genuinely desire?

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We're studying Helen Palmer's The Enneagram in Love and Work together every Tuesday evening. Join us for thoughtful conversations about the Enneagram and the things that matter most.

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#Enneagram #HelenPalmer #AroundTheCircle #EnneagramTypes #PersonalGrowth

In this episode of Around the Circle, Jeff welcomes Sherry Danner, former marriage and family therapist, boundaries coach, and Enneagram Five, for a conversation about boundaries as the art of relationship. Rather than simply protecting our peace or learning to say no, they explore how boundaries shape our identity, commitments, and ability to connect with others.

This time, Jeff and Sherry discuss the difference between hurt and harm, the challenge of being clear, kind, direct, and honest, and how our familiar strategies for avoiding discomfort can eventually work against us. Lastly, they explore the role of the head, heart, and body centers in navigating relationships, including our desires for clarity, connection, and agency. When does protecting ourselves become a form of isolation? And what might it look like to establish boundaries that make deeper relationships possible?

Sherry is currently developing Divine Lines, a new project focused on identifying and overcoming patterns that keep us from pursuing what we truly desire. Drawing on insights from the Enneagram and personal growth work, she plans to offer individual and group opportunities beginning in early 2027.

Website: divinelines.com (currently under construction)

Email: sherry@divinelines.com

Reach out to Sherry to join her mailing list, learn about upcoming offerings, or inquire about working with her individually.

What do Enneagram Eights, Nines, and Ones really have in common?

In this Enneagram panel, Jeff is joined by coaches representing the three Body Types to explore the inner worlds of Eights (Stacey Wynn), Nines (TJ Wilson), and Ones (Dani Cooper). They talk about agency, autonomy, control, anger, energy, and what it actually feels like to move through the world from the Body Center.

Along the way, the conversation explores the arrows and lines, passive aggression in Nines, the One’s relationship with control and spontaneity, the Eight’s movement between strength and vulnerability, and the complicated relationship all three types have with anger. The group also pushes back on the idea that our Enneagram type necessarily begins with a childhood wound, asking whether our type may shape how we experience our story rather than simply being caused by it.

What changes when anger isn’t simply a problem to overcome, but a source of energy, agency, and action?

#Enneagram #Enneagram8 #Enneagram9 #Enneagram1 #EnneagramTypes

To meet with us on Tuesday Nights : GO HERE

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What if the deepest motivation of each type begins not with something broken, but with something good?

In this episode of the Reading Room, Jeff continues working through the introduction to Helen Palmer’s The Enneagram in Love and Work, focusing on a foundational question: Where does our Enneagram type actually come from? Palmer describes the passions—the traditional deadly sins—as a central axis of type, shaping the biases through which we experience ourselves and the world.

This time, Jeff pushes back, exploring three categories that may be more foundational to our experience: embodiment, fear, and avoidance.

#Enneagram #HelenPalmer #EnneagramTypes #PersonalGrowth #TheReadingRoom

Spiral Dynamics Podcast Feed : HERE

In this episode of Around the Circle, Jeff continues our series on Spiral Dynamics, exploring the high and low sides of Orange, Green, Yellow, and beyond.

As the spiral expands, our values become more complex: Orange elevates reason and achievement, Green turns our attention toward empathy and inclusion, and Yellow begins asking how we discern what is actually wise.

This time, we look at what each stage contributes—and what happens when its central value is pushed too far. Orange can give us science, expertise, and extraordinary human achievement while reducing people to productivity. Green restores attention to dignity, subjective experience, and unheard voices, but can struggle to distinguish between listening to every perspective and treating every perspective as equally wise. Yellow responds by reaching for discernment, integration, balance, and wisdom.

Lastly, we bring Spiral Dynamics into conversation with the Enneagram, asking what maturity might look like when we can recognize the different voices, centers, instincts, and values within ourselves without being dominated by any one of them. And as Yellow gives way to Turquoise, we consider whether maturity eventually requires something beyond understanding the map: actually entering the world, participating in it, and learning how to live what we know.

#spiraldynamics #Enneagram #motive #maturity

Connect with Melissa and her work : HERE

How does the Enneagram shape our creativity?

In this episode of Around the Circle, Jeff sits down with author, artist, and Enneagram coach Melissa Kircher to explore creativity through the head, heart, and body. We talk about finding the right physical space for creative work, the importance of routine and “shitty first drafts,” eureka moments, curiosity, the muse, and the strange mixture of discipline and receptivity required to make something new.

Along the way, we explore creativity through an Enneagram lens: how each center contributes something different, how our stress and security moves can shape the creative process, and why creativity can be both an act of purposeful expression and a form of restoration. Melissa also shares how years of writing, painting, illustration, and coaching have shaped her understanding of what it means to create.

Lastly, Melissa gives us a preview of her upcoming book—a practical, illustrated guide designed to move Enneagram wisdom from theory into transformation. The central question underneath it all: What happens when we stop thinking of creativity as something reserved for artists and begin seeing it as part of being human?

#Enneagram #Creativity #CreativeProcess #PersonalGrowth #AroundTheCircle

To join us this Tuesday : GO HERE

In this episode of the Reading Room, we begin our journey through Helen Palmer’s The Enneagram in Love and Work, one of the foundational texts of the modern Enneagram.

We introduce Palmer and the narrative tradition, explore her emphasis on learning from people speaking from inside their own type, and consider why attention, relationships, and lived experience are so central to her approach.

Along the way, we work through Palmer’s concise portraits of all nine types—especially how each approaches love and where each naturally focuses attention. We then move into some of the deeper assumptions beneath her Enneagram: personality as a “false self,” essence as our deeper spiritual nature, and the passions as the organizing forces that shape the way each type experiences the world.

Lastly, we explore Palmer’s account of the passions, virtues, fixations, and arrows while asking where her framework is illuminating and where it deserves more scrutiny. Is our Enneagram type primarily something to transcend, or does it reveal something genuinely good about who we are? And what happens when we keep Palmer’s remarkable observations about type while questioning some of the metaphysics underneath them?

#enneagram #HelenPalmer

For more Panel discussions go : HERE

In this episode, we sit down with Enneagram Fours, Sixes, and Eights to explore what happens when something goes wrong. We’ve been calling 4-6-8 the emotional response triad—three types that often look for some kind of response from the people around them before they can move through a problem.

Along the way, we explore what that response looks like for each type. Fours look for emotional connection and the sense that you get it. Sixes look for congruence, reassurance, and evidence that their experience makes sense. Eights push for presence, investment, and signs that the other person has real skin in the game. The language differs, but underneath it is a shared question: Do you see what I see, and do you care about this with me?

Lastly, we talk about trust, betrayal, intensity, vulnerability, and what happens when that hoped-for response never comes. What emerges is a conversation about how 4-6-8 types seek alignment in difficult moments—and why being seen by another person may be an essential part of how these types find their way forward.

Join the Reading Room : HERE

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In this episode of the Reading Room, we finish our journey through Brené Brown’s Atlas of the Heart, turning to pride, hubris, humility, and the complicated work of seeing ourselves clearly. We explore the difference between healthy self-regard and self-obsession, and ask how wisdom might help us find an honest assessment of both our value and our limitations.

Along the way, we move into Brown’s conclusion and the relationship between emotion, theory, and meaning. What stories do we use to make sense of ourselves and the world—and where might the Enneagram fit as a theory of human motivation? We consider the role of self-awareness, the centers, and the stories we tell in creating meaning from our experience.

Lastly, we explore Brown’s distinction between the “near” and “far” enemies of connection and what it might tell us about love. Attachment can masquerade as love, just as other emotions can appear to connect us while actually pulling us apart. We end with a question at the heart of the entire book: How might knowing ourselves more deeply help us become people who can more freely love and connect with others?

#enneagram

Connect with us at : www.aroundthecircle.org

Subscribe to the Spiral Dynamics feed : HERE

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In this episode of Around the Circle, Jeff continues his introduction to Spiral Dynamics by looking at the high side and low side of each stage—and what each color can teach us about human growth.

This time, we move through Beige, Purple, Red, and Blue, exploring survival, belonging, individual power, and belief. Along the way, Jeff connects Spiral Dynamics with the Enneagram, showing how our values shape what we want, how we understand ourselves, and why we sometimes talk past the people closest to us.

Lastly, we consider an important possibility: growth doesn't always mean moving forward. Sometimes the healthiest move is reclaiming something valuable from an earlier stage—and learning to recognize the wisdom each color has to offer.

In this episode of Around the Circle, Jeff sits down with a panel of Enneagram Ones to explore their relationships with the head, heart, and body—and what those relationships reveal about stress, security, and growth.

This time, the panel talks about thinking repression, the inner critic, the need to fix what has gone wrong, and the grief Ones experience when relationships or ideals fall apart. They also explore why emotions can feel messy and why Ones so often turn their feelings into something to manage or solve.

Lastly, the conversation turns toward the body, anger, limits, and the ever-present language of “should.” What might growth look like when Ones learn to bring the gifts of the head, heart, and body together with greater freedom and grace?

#enneagram #enneagramone #enneagram1 #enneagram1w2 #enneagram1w9

To Join us Tuesday : GO HERE

In this episode of The Reading Room, Jeff continues through Brené Brown’s Atlas of the Heart with Chapter 12, “Places We Go When We Feel Wronged.”

We begin with anger: Is it a primary emotion, or is it often an indicator pointing toward something deeper—grief, betrayal, fear, shame, disappointment, or pain?

This time, we follow Brown through contempt, disgust, dehumanization, and hate, asking what happens when the experience of being hurt begins separating us from other people. Along the way, Jeff brings the Enneagram, the ethics of Jesus, and questions of prejudice and human dignity into the conversation.

Lastly, we turn to self-righteousness and the danger of becoming so convinced of our own rightness that we lose curiosity, connection, and compassion. Anger can be a catalyst—but what would it mean to transform the pain of being wronged into something life-giving: courage, love, justice, compassion, and meaningful change?

#BreneBrown #AtlasOfTheHeart #Enneagram #EmotionalIntelligence #TheReadingRoom

In this episode of Around the Circle, Jeff sits down with a panel of Enneagram Twos—Amy, Sarah, and Jennifer—for a candid conversation about how Twos experience the Head, Heart, and Body Centers. They talk about thinking through relationships, the deep drive toward connection, and the challenge of knowing when helping becomes overstepping: “Is this mine to do?”

This time, the conversation moves into rejection, relational rupture, emotional intelligence, and the complicated relationship Twos can have with their own needs and bodies. The panel considers the Heart Center as a “bonding center”—an intelligence constantly tracking connection and the state of relationships.

Lastly, they explore the Two’s movement toward Eight: the power and agency it can provide, but also the temptation toward control when vulnerability feels threatening. What does growth look like when a Two can care deeply for others without taking responsibility for everyone—and can trust that connection doesn’t have to be earned?

#Enneagram #Enneagram2 #EnneagramTwo #PersonalGrowth #Relationships

In this episode of Around the Circle, Jeff continues through Brené Brown’s Atlas of the Heart, looking at the places we go when life is good: joy, happiness, calm, contentment, gratitude, relief, and tranquility. Along the way, he asks a bigger philosophical question: What if these emotions don’t simply describe how we feel, but offer clues about what human beings are made for?

This time, Jeff brings Brown into conversation with Aristotle, Socrates, Jesus, Aquinas, and C.S. Lewis, contrasting momentary pleasure with a much richer vision of happiness as human flourishing. Aristotle’s eudaimonia, Aquinas’s union with the highest good, and the Beatitudes all point toward happiness as something deeper than favorable circumstances.

Lastly, we turn toward gratitude, foreboding joy, and tranquility—and the practices that help us build a life characterized by wisdom, moderation, virtue, and joy. What habits spiral us upward? And what if the best life isn’t simply one that feels good, but one in which our character truly flourishes?

#AtlasOfTheHeart #BreneBrown #Enneagram #Happiness #AroundTheCircle

What does it actually mean when someone says the Enneagram is “scientifically validated” - or, on the flip side, that there’s “no evidence” for it at all?

In this episode, we break down some of the basic building blocks of scientific evidence - observation, correlation, reliability, validity, replication, and predictive value - and apply them to common Enneagram claims.

You’ll also hear why:

• Evidence for one part of a theory doesn't validate the whole system
• Reliability and validity are not the same thing
• Correlation does not automatically prove an Enneagram explanation
• “Supported,” “Plausible,” and “Speculative” are useful ways to think about different claims
• One study may be interesting, but it is not scientific consensus

The goal isn't to prove or disprove the Enneagram as a whole, but to ask a better question:

Which claims have earned which level of confidence?

Find more at @scientificenneagram on Instagram.

To be on a panel, sign up for a membership for opportunities : HERE

Jilian's Enneagram work is at : jilianbrown.com

Matilda and Rob Zombie is a much watch : HERE

In this episode of Around the Circle, Jeff sits down with a panel of Enneagram Threes to explore what really happens in stress and security—and how Threes experience their head, heart, and body along the way.

The conversation moves through achievement, shame, anger, identity, belonging, and the complicated relationship Threes can have with rest. What happens when the body has simply had enough? What does the move to Nine look like when it becomes withdrawal or numbing—and what changes when a Three intentionally steps off the stage, stops striving, and allows Nine to become a place of restoration and discernment?

Lastly, the panel looks toward Six and the security found in community: being one of many instead of the person at the front, risking vulnerability without performing, and discovering the freedom to champion other people’s success. For Threes, growth may not mean accomplishing something better, but learning when to put down the oars, receive the support of others, and simply belong.

#Enneagram #Enneagram3 #EnneagramThree #StressAndSecurity #PersonalGrowth

Join us for our weekly online gathering : HERE

In this episode of Around the Circle, Jeff continues through Brené Brown’s Atlas of the Heart, exploring the places we go when the heart is open: love, lovelessness, heartbreak, trust, betrayal, defensiveness, flooding, and hurt.

This time, we’re asking what it actually means to open our hearts to another person. Why does love require vulnerability? How should we think about trust and boundaries? What makes something a betrayal? And what happens when different Enneagram types bring radically different strategies to conflict?

Lastly, we turn toward heartbreak and hurt—and the courage required to simply say, “My feelings are hurt.” Opening our hearts always carries risk, but perhaps that vulnerability, paired with wisdom, is part of what makes deep relationship possible in the first place.

#Enneagram #AtlasOfTheHeart #BreneBrown #Relationships #AroundTheCircle

For more deep dives into the Enneagram Types of Movie Characters : GO HERE

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A few summers back, TJ Wilson, Kelly Cook, Daniel Mothershed, and Jeff walked through the Enneagram types of the characters in our favorite ensemble film, 1985’s Clue.

At the head of the cast is the irreplaceable Tim Curry, who passed away yesterday after suffering a stroke in 2012.

We’re reposting the full five-hour discussion here with joy and remembrance for a man who gave so much to so many millions.

For the Full Episode : GO HERE

For the Movie Typing Podcast : GO HERE

In this special episode of Around the Circle, Jeff and TJ revisit Dolly Parton through the lens of the Enneagram, asking whether one of America’s biggest personalities might actually be a Nine.

From “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You” to her extraordinary career and philanthropy, they explore a woman whose presence is enormous without seeming to demand attention for itself.

Along the way, they look at Dolly’s collaborative spirit, the surprising passivity in some of her most famous songs, and the way she has repeatedly used her fame, money, and influence to build other people up. Could her tremendous ambition actually reflect the Nine’s movement toward Three—bringing her presence fully into the world while still pointing the attention somewhere else?

A short conversation about Dolly Parton, the Enneagram, and what it looks like to become impossible to overlook without needing to be the center of attention.

#Enneagram #DollyParton

In this episode of Around the Circle, Jeff and TJ sit down with their biggest panel yet—six Enneagram Fours—to talk about stress, security, and what happens when Fours move toward Two and One. Along the way, the panel talks about how Fours experience their thoughts through story and emotion, what it means to feel understood, and why relationships and emotional connection matter so deeply.

We spend a lot of time on the Four’s movement toward Two: the desire to help, fix, give, and restore connection—and how that can shift from empathy and generosity into overextending, losing touch with yourself, and trying desperately to get a relationship back into place.

Lastly, we turn toward "competency," and ask : What if security for Fours isn’t something you feel before you act, but something you build by getting into your body, developing practical skills, and doing the work in front of you? Sometimes growth means honoring what you feel—and sometimes it means doing the thing anyway.

#Enneagram #Enneagram4 #EnneagramFour #PersonalGrowth #AroundTheCircle

Join us for our weekly online gathering : HERE

In this episode of Around the Circle, Jeff continues through Brené Brown’s Atlas of the Heart, exploring the places we go when we search for connection: belonging, fitting in, insecurity, invisibility, disconnection, and loneliness.

This time, we're not just talking Enneagram, but Spiral Dynamics, and Aristotle’s three kinds of friendship—asking what separates relationships built around usefulness or pleasure from those rooted in genuine care for one another’s growth. This episode explores why authentic belonging requires both a strong relationship with ourselves and the vulnerability to be truly known by others.

Lastly, it turns toward loneliness and the importance of investing not simply in more relationships, but in a few relationships of real depth: people who see us, know us, challenge us, and genuinely care about who we are becoming.

Dr Sam E Greenberg and Prof Jeff Cook take to the mics again, this time to talk about high quality Enneagram study: where’s the best work being done, what counts as knowledge, and do those learning about Enneagram have access?

They spend the first 30 minutes talking about broad issues in epistemology and contemporary media, but pivot to Enneagram world and work through the needs and discoveries of our community.

This episode introduces Spiral Dynamics as a framework for understanding human maturity, the values that shape us, and the predictable transitions we experience throughout life.

Jeff connects Spiral Dynamics with the Enneagram, asking how our stage of development influences what we seek from the Enneagram, how we understand our type, and ultimately what we believe the Enneagram is for.

Join us September 12 for our discussion with 891s by signing up for a membership : HERE

Try or Share the Start Here Podcast : iTunes or Spotify

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What do Enneagram Fives, Sixes, and Sevens actually share?

In this Second Saturday workshop, we sit down with three Enneagram coaches to explore the Head Types—moving beyond stereotypes and returning to some of the basics that aren't so basic : featuring Kristin Messegee (6), Jackie Brewster (7), and Nadia Rae Brackett (5).

We talk fear versus anxiety, the search for safety and certainty, our relationship with thinking, the emotional lives of the Head Types, and what it means to become more present to ourselves. Along the way, we explore how Fives, Sixes, and Sevens can be reaching for something similar while using remarkably different strategies to get there.

#Enneagram #Enneagram5 #Enneagram6 #Enneagram7 #AroundTheCircle

What if some of the most familiar Enneagram descriptions are actually getting in the way?

In this episode of The Morning Show, Jeff, TJ, Jackie, and Kristin take aim at the stereotypes that flatten the nine types into easy labels: Eights are challengers, Nines are peaceful, Ones are perfectionists, Twos are helpers, Sevens are happy, and Sixes are afraid.

Which stereotypes contain a piece of truth—and which fundamentally misunderstand the type? The crew digs beneath behavior to motivation, exploring why archetypes can be useful, why labels can be misleading, and how popular Enneagram language may actually contribute to mistyping.

It’s a lively, occasionally combative attempt to move beyond the memes and recover something deeper.

#Enneagram #EnneagramTypes #Personality #SelfAwareness #AroundTheCircle

JOIN US ON TUESDAY NIGHTS : HERE

What happens when falling short becomes a verdict about who we are?

In this episode of the Reading Room, Jeff continues through Brené Brown’s Atlas of the Heart, exploring shame, guilt, humiliation, embarrassment, perfectionism, and self-compassion. We look at Brown’s distinction between “I did something bad” and “I am bad,” why empathy can disrupt shame, and how perfectionism can turn achievement into a measure of our worth.

The conversation also pushes into Enneagram territory: Do different types experience shame differently? When does healthy striving become perfectionism? And if we are not what we accomplish, where should we locate our value?

A conversation about failure, empathy, connection, achievement, and learning to make room for being imperfect.

#Enneagram #BreneBrown #AtlasOfTheHeart #Perfectionism #Shame

Join us on Tuesdays : HERE

What does it actually mean to empathize with someone? And how is that different from compassion?

In this Reading Room discussion on Brené Brown's Atlas of the Heart, we explore empathy, compassion, boundaries, and the Enneagram. Together, we wrestle with why some of us instinctively fix, others merge, and others withdraw—and how each type can grow in learning to truly be present with another person's suffering.

#Enneagram #BreneBrown #Empathy #Compassion #ReadingRoom

Join us on Tuesdays : HERE

Empathy is harder than we think.

In this episode of Reading Room, Jeff continues through Chapter 7 of Brené Brown's Atlas of the Heart, exploring the emotional landscape of compassion, empathy, pity, sympathy, boundaries, and comparative suffering.

Along the way, Jeff connects Brown's research with Aristotle, Wittgenstein, Buddhist thought, and the Enneagram, asking what it actually means to accompany another person in pain without trying to fix, rescue, or distance ourselves from them.

The conversation explores why empathy is a skill rather than an instinct, why compassion requires both courage and restraint, how pity and sympathy quietly undermine connection, and why healthy boundaries are an essential part of loving others well. Jeff also reflects personally on how these themes challenge him as an Enneagram One and considers whether genuine maturity requires moving from individual achievement toward shared human experience.

Join us for the live Reading Room discussion each Tuesday at AroundtheCircle.org

#AtlasOfTheHeart #BreneBrown #Empathy #Compassion #Enneagram

Jeff Cook and TJ Wilson are joined by Brendan, an Enneagram Six living with chronic pancreatitis, chronic pain, PTSD, and life after a total pancreatectomy.

Alongside TJ's experience with fibromyalgia, they explore how chronic illness interacts with Enneagram type, revealing why two people facing similar pain can respond in profoundly different ways.

Together they discuss the invisible burden of chronic illness, the struggle to be believed by doctors and loved ones, how different personality types advocate for themselves (or don't), and why pain so often compounds our deepest patterns of fear, responsibility, identity, and control. The conversation also explores work, marriage, shame, recovery, grief, and the difficult process of accepting a "new normal" when life cannot return to what it once was. Along the way, they offer hope through meaningful connection, mindfulness, movement, and the possibility that understanding ourselves can help us navigate suffering with greater compassion.

Connect with us at aroundthecircle.org

#Enneagram #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #MentalHealth

"It's important that I'm not perceived as..."

The answers uncover the hidden identities each type works to protect—from the Four's fear of being ordinary or misunderstood, to the Three's struggle with competence and authenticity, the Two's desire to remain indispensable and easy to love, and the One's deep concern with integrity, intention, and being seen as fundamentally good.

We are wrapping up our dive into the experiences of shame for 4s, 3s, 2s, and 1s.

#Enneagram #Shame #BreneBrown #SelfAwareness #PersonalGrowth

Connect with us: HERE

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Hope. Courage. Grief. Longing.

Continuing through Brené Brown's Atlas of the Heart, Jeff explores what happens when suffering changes not just how we feel, but how we imagine the future. Why does despair convince us tomorrow will look exactly like today? Why is being unseen in our suffering one of the loneliest human experiences? And why does returning to our center matter so much when life becomes disorienting?

At the heart of the discussion is a simple conviction: hope is not naïve optimism. It is the fuel that gives courage something to run on—and perhaps the beginning of every meaningful recovery.

Sex is rarely just about sex.

In this conversation, Jeff sits down with sexuality researcher Dr. Sam Greenberg and certified sex therapist Lyndsey Fraser to explore how the Enneagram shapes intimacy, desire, communication, and long-term relationships.

Moving beyond stereotypes, they discuss why so many couples struggle with mismatched desire, why "low desire" is often something else entirely, and how each Enneagram type approaches vulnerability, attraction, and connection in distinctive ways.

The episode takes a deep dive into two common pairings—Eight/Nine and Four/Six—examining the ways these couples pursue intimacy, avoid rejection, communicate desire, and unknowingly frustrate one another. Along the way, they explore the roles of trust, shame, healthy sexual development, gender expectations, instincts, and why understanding motive can transform the way partners experience one another.

Rather than offering one-size-fits-all advice, this conversation argues that healthy sexuality begins with self-awareness. The Enneagram becomes more than a personality system—it becomes a language for expressing desire, understanding your partner, and discovering what intimacy actually asks of us.

Connect with Sam HERE and Lyndsey HERE

Comment on the episode HERE

Our Prior Episdoes on Sex and Enneagram are Here and Here.

Join our weekly Reading Room discussions and workshops at : www.aroundthecircle.org

Why are contradictory emotions so uncomfortable—and why might they actually be signs of growth?

In this Reading Room episode, Jeff explores Chapter 5 of Brené Brown's Atlas of the Heart through the lens of the Enneagram. From bittersweetness and nostalgia to cognitive dissonance and paradox, the conversation examines why mature people learn to hold tension rather than rush toward certainty.

Drawing on philosophy, psychology, and the Enneagram, this episode explores intellectual humility, reflection versus rumination, and the surprising wisdom found in ambiguity.

#Enneagram #BreneBrown #AtlasOfTheHeart #PersonalGrowth #SelfAwareness

Connect with us : HERE

Shame is often less about what we've done and more about who we fear others think we are.

Drawing from Brené Brown's, we explore a simple but revealing prompt:

"It's important that I'm not perceived as..."

The answers expose the identities each Enneagram type works hardest to protect—and the hidden assumptions that quietly shape our relationships, reactions, and sense of self.

Focusing on Types Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, and Five, the conversation examines how unwanted identities trigger shame, why our blind spots are often invisible to us, and how growth begins not by defending ourselves, but by accepting the parts of ourselves we'd rather deny.

Join us to talk more about Dr. Brown's Book : HERE

Two return guests! Today, I chat with Remy and BJ, two long-time friends who have helped each other heal from past hurts and traumas. We chat about what it means to be a friend, and how 4s and 2s can have a mutually beneficial relationship due to their stress & security lines.

Find BJ's initial episode here

Find Remy's episodes here: Part 1, Part 2

Cohort Applications are now LIVE!!!!! Find the application and a list of FAQs on my website

Follow me on Instagram for updates and more class opportunities

Join the Reading Room: HERE

Around the Circle members are invited to our live Tuesday evening discussions as we work through books that deepen our understanding of the Enneagram and the inner life.

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What happens when we stop trying to have all the answers?

In this episode of Reading Room, Jeff Cook continues through Chapter Four of Brené Brown's Atlas of the Heart, exploring the emotions that arise when life stretches beyond our understanding: awe, wonder, confusion, curiosity, interest, and surprise.

The conversation examines why awe reconnects us to the natural world, why confusion may be one of the most important conditions for learning, and why curiosity is not simply a feeling but perhaps one of the great human virtues. Along the way, Jeff reflects on philosophy, science, education, weight training, Einstein, Oppenheimer, and the Enneagram to ask a deeper question:

What if growth begins not with better answers, but with better questions?

This episode also marks a personal shift. After years of teaching, writing, and producing content built around providing answers, Jeff shares why he believes the next season of his work will be centered on curiosity, conversation, and learning alongside others rather than speaking from certainty.

Join us as we continue working through Chapter 4 of Atlas of the Heart and consider what it means to become people who embrace wonder, welcome confusion, and cultivate the courage to remain curious.

Become a Member : HERE

Sign up for Second Saturday : HERE

How do Threes, Sixes, and Nines build relationships—and why do they sometimes suddenly detach from them?

In this month's Second Saturday workshop, members of the Around the Circle community explore the unique relational strategies of the Enneagram's attachment types. Together we discuss how Threes create environments of success and affirmation, Sixes cultivate safety and trust, and Nines foster peace and understanding—not only for others, but as a way of experiencing those same realities themselves.

The conversation then turns toward the more difficult questions: What leads these types to "cut and run"? How do failure, uncertainty, dismissal, validation, trust, agency, and emotional discomfort shape their relationships? Along the way, participants share remarkably honest personal stories about conflict, belonging, detachment, repair, and growth.

One of the richest conversations we've had in this series, this discussion offers a thoughtful look at the ways attachment types connect, disconnect, and learn to stay present when relationships become difficult.

We continue our journey into different types of relationships with a SIBLING podcast today. Lindsay and Leah are two sisters who also work together, and we talk about the type of trust that they have built with each other in doing so. We also get into the core differences between 1 & 6 with an interesting discussion on what it means to want autonomy and the differences in how we trust ourselves.

Find Leah and Lindsay's counseling work on their Instagram, website, or Facebook

ALSO - the cohort application is still open! Visit my website for FAQs or to apply

Message me on Instagram with any questions, and follow me to get updated info on future classes and cohorts!

What does the real work of the Enneagram look like for Type Twos?

In this episode of Inside Story, Kristin sits down with coach Candice Michelle for a rich conversation about shame, pride, anxiety, and the lifelong practice of self-awareness.

Along the way, they explore why Twos often struggle to receive help, how TV characters can illuminate our personality patterns, and why doing "the work" isn't about becoming perfect—it's about learning new practices that help us stay connected to ourselves. From Ted Lasso and The Office to conversations about emotional ownership, chronic pain, relationships, and the stories we tell ourselves, this episode is an honest look at what growth really feels like. Whether you're a Two or simply trying to understand the people you love, you'll find practical insight, laughter, and plenty of moments that invite deeper reflection.

You can connect with Candice Michelle here:

https://www.instagram.com/candicemichelleenneagram/

In celebration of the nation's 250th Anniversary, we do a deep dive into one of our favorite movies highlighting the best of America : Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln."

This is the full 7 hour discussion.

If you prefer to listen to it in parts go to : THE MOVIE TYPING PODCAST

Big things are happening!!!

I'm so excited to announce the launch of my new cohort program in Cincinnati. Joey Schewee and I will be working together to teach a dedicated group of people all about the Enneagram and how to apply it to your life. We will also be joined by Andrew Kohr, a dear friend of mine who is well-versed in the intersection between Enneagram and story work. Applications are now live on my website.

Cohort dates (2027):

January 29-30

April 16-17

September 24-25

November 12-13

Apply Now

Message me on Instagram with any questions or send me an email at katie@9fold.life

Subscribe. iTunes | Youtube | Spotify

What four films best capture the story of America?

In this Fourth of July edition of Sacred Frames, Jeff Cook, Sean Palmer, and Mike Yager each build their own cinematic "Mount Rushmore," selecting four films they believe reveal the promises, contradictions, triumphs, and tragedies that have shaped the American experiment. From Far and Away, Do the Right Thing, Wall Street, and The Right Stuff to Lincoln, Killers of the Flower Moon, Saving Private Ryan, Malcolm X, and beyond, the conversation explores immigration, race, capitalism, war, religion, identity, and the enduring tension between America's highest ideals and its deepest failures.

Rather than asking which films are the greatest, this episode asks a different question: Which stories help us understand who America has been—and who it might still become?

In this week's Reading Room, we dive into Chapter 3 of Brené Brown's Atlas of the Heart : "The Places We Go When Things Don't Go as Planned."

Jeff explores boredom, disappointment, regret, discouragement, resignation, and frustration through the lens of the Enneagram, asking what these emotions reveal about desire, courage, vulnerability, and the stories we tell ourselves.

Why does disappointment occupy so much of our emotional lives? What does it mean to name what we truly want? And how can regret become a path toward wisdom instead of shame?

Join us Tuesday : HERE

Parents of neurodivergent children often carry questions, grief, hope, and a fierce love all at once.

In this conversation with Christina Young, creator of The Autistic Enneagram and mother of three autistic children, we explore autism, parenting, the Enneagram, and what it looks like to create environments where children can truly flourish—not by changing who they are, but by understanding them more deeply.

Connect with Christina on Instagram : HERE

Or at her website : HERE

The video of this episode is up at www.aroundthecircle.org

We're traveling to Alaska this week! Braden & Lydia walk us through their relationship as a young 3 & 9; we chat about performance, rest, & meeting each other in the middle.

A quick disclaimer for this video - we had some audio issues around the 15 minute mark. They resolve themselves in ~5 minutes but Braden's comments were so good that I didn't want to cut them out! You might also notice some fluctuations in volume across the recording because of this.

Also - tune in next week for a big SURPRISE!!!!!!!!

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