Around the Circle | An Enneagram Channel

To Join us Tuesday : GO HEREIn 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

To Subscribe to The Scientific Enneagram ITUNES : HERESPOTIFY : HEREEp 3 | What Do We Actually Mean by Scientific Evidence?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 systemReliability and validity are not the same thingCorrelation does not automatically prove an Enneagram explanation“Supported,” “Plausible,” and “Speculative” are useful ways to think about different claimsOne study may be interesting, but it is not scientific consensusThe 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 : HEREJilian's Enneagram work is at : jilianbrown.com Matilda and Rob Zombie is a much watch : HEREIn 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 : HEREIn 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_____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 HEREFor the Movie Typing Podcast : GO HEREIn 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 : HEREIn 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 : HERETry or Share the Start Here Podcast : iTunes or Spotify ____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 : HEREWhat 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 : HEREWhat 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 : HEREEmpathy 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_______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 HEREComment on the episode HEREOur Prior Episdoes on Sex and Enneagram are Here and Here.

Join our weekly Reading Room discussions and workshops at : www.aroundthecircle.orgWhy 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 : HEREShame 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 hereFind Remy's episodes here: Part 1, Part 2Cohort Applications are now LIVE!!!!! Find the application and a list of FAQs on my websiteFollow me on Instagram for updates and more class opportunities

Join the Reading Room: HEREAround 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.___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 : HERESign up for Second Saturday : HEREHow 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 FacebookALSO - the cohort application is still open! Visit my website for FAQs or to applyMessage 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 29-30April 16-17September 24-25November 12-13Apply NowMessage me on Instagram with any questions or send me an email at [email protected]

Subscribe. iTunes | Youtube | SpotifyWhat 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 : HEREOr at her website : HEREThe 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!!!!!!!!Follow me on Instagram to keep up to date with new episodes and happenings

JOIN US ON TUESDAYS : HEREIn this week’s Reading Room, Jeff explores Brené Brown’s discussion of comparison and the surprising emotions that can grow from it: admiration, reverence, envy, jealousy, resentment, schadenfreude, and freudenfreude.Along the way, he reflects on why some comparisons inspire growth while others expose our wounds, how resentment may be rooted in hidden envy and unmet needs, and why celebrating the success of others might be one of the deepest forms of connection available to us.From Enneagram insights to questions of justice, self-worth, and belonging, we're invited to pay closer attention to what our emotions are trying to teach us.

What happens when an Enneagram Eight is also autistic, non-binary, and willing to speak candidly about their inner world?For Jeff’s 50th, he sits down with his oldest, Augie Cook, for a discussion about identity, neurodivergence, gender, family, and the Enneagram. Together they explore what it feels like to move through the world as an autistic person, how sensory processing shapes daily life, why so many assumptions about Eights miss the mark, and how understanding motives can deepen relationships. The conversation also explores the overlap between autism and online communities, the experience of being non-binary, the challenges autistic adults face around work and belonging, and the importance of allowing people the freedom to understand and express themselves on their own terms.

In this episode, we continue our exploration of the spaces between the Enneagram types by examining the shared ground between Eights and Nines, and between Nines and Ones. While these pairings can appear very different on the surface, they often share deeper motivations, struggles, and strengths that reveal the logic of the Enneagram symbol itself.Jeff and Katie discuss themes like guardedness, resistance, agency, self-control, confidence, team dynamics, conflict avoidance, and the unique relationship these body types have with anger. Along the way, they explore why Eights and Nines can seem so stubborn, why Nines often act with quiet certainty after long periods of reflection, and how Ones and Nines both wrestle with what is happening inside of themselves before it reaches the outside world.The conversation also highlights the gifts these types bring to relationships, teams, and communities: stability, consensus-building, thoughtfulness, and a desire to create environments where people can thrive together. Whether you're an Eight, Nine, One, or simply curious about the dynamics between these types, this discussion offers a deeper look at the motivations that unite and distinguish them.

Veronica is back, today with her younger sister Veronica! We talk about what it's like to share a common sense of justice, the difference (and similarities) between "harmony" and "order", and how a 1 and 9 offer each other a lot of balance.

Dani Cooper is a Certified Enneagram Teacher, Coach, and your biggest cheerleader on the road to self-discovery. She helps individuals, couples, and teams identify the patterns keeping them stuck — and grow beyond them into who they were always meant to be. She’s the author of The Enneagram for Christian Couples (2022), and her life’s work is simple: helping people know themselves, love themselves, and live more freely. IG: @deepwatersenneagram website: deepwatersenneagram.com

This week in The Reading Room, we continue our journey through Brené Brown’s Atlas of the Heart by exploring "comparison." Join our Tuesday night discussion : HEREAs we elevate other topics in ths text, it seems good to sit on this experience for a moment. Drawing from Brown’s research, we examine how comparison shapes our relationships, self-worth, emotional life, and even our sense of the future.

Join us Saturday, June 13th to discuss 369s! : HEREThis episode goes some places!In this month's Second Saturday gathering, we explored the Enneagram's Affect Groups (sometimes called Harmony Groups), drawing on the work of David Daniels.The conversation focused on the 2-5-8 triad, often called the Relationists or Rejection Group.Together we explored questions such as:What does it mean to "expect rejection" in relationships?How do Twos, Fives, and Eights offer connection through gifts, service, knowledge, protection, and strength?Why do these types often maintain a small circle of true vulnerability?How do experiences of rejection, betrayal, unmet needs, and emotional exposure shape the way these types connect with others?What is the difference between transparency and vulnerability?How do our instincts (Self-Preservation, Social, and One-to-One) influence the way we seek connection?An idea to hold that may bring clarity to this discussion is this:The term "Rejection" refers to the idea that these types unconsciously assume that their ordinary needs may not be welcomed, so they learn to gain connection by offering something rather than simply showing up with their needs. In classic Enneagram language:Twos reject their own needs and become needed.Fives reject their needs and become self-sufficient.Eights reject vulnerability and become strong.That is somewhat different from the way many people hear the term today. It does not necessarily mean "I expect everyone to reject me." Rather, it points to a developmental stance in which the person concludes:"My needs won't automatically be met, so I must relate through what I can provide."Join Us This SaturdayThis Saturday we'll continue our exploration of relationship patterns through the lens of the 3-6-9 triad.How do Threes, Sixes, and Nines create connection? How do they seek belonging, support, and security? What happens when attachment, success, harmony, and safety become central to our relationships?These monthly gatherings typically include around 30 participants and are one of the most engaging ways to move beyond theory and into real conversation.Saturday8:30 AM Pacific11:30 AM Eastern4:30 PM GMT

Surprise! We are doing more than just parent/child episodes now. Emma & Gregg have been dating for 5.5 years, and on this episode we discuss what they've learned about each other and what their specific relationship dynamic looks like. We talk about the difference between a 3's anxiety and a 6's anxiety, and we get to really dig deep about what makes each of them feel vulnerable - and why the answers are so different from each other.Follow me on Instagram : hereLearn more about what I'm up to, sign up for a coaching call, and find the current class schedule on my website

In this episode of Inside Story, Kristen sits down with Joe, a Type Nine whose journey through recovery, Enneagram work, marriage, parenting, and leadership offers a thoughtful look at what growth can look like for Nines.Together they explore the relationship between the Enneagram and 12-step recovery, the challenge of recognizing and expressing anger, passive-aggression, conflict, self-forgetting, and the fear of disrupting peace. Joe reflects on how routines, courage, accountability, and trusted communities have helped him find his voice and take meaningful action.The conversation also touches on humility, expertise, relationships, spirituality, and why growth often requires doing the thing we least want to do. For Nines—and anyone who struggles to trust themselves, speak up, or act before they feel ready—this is a rich conversation about what it means to remember that you matter.

Dan Siegel's Patterns of Developmental Pathways (PDP) framework is one of the first serious attempts to bridge Enneagram ideas with neuroscience, developmental psychology, and clinical practice.In this episode, I break down the core concepts behind PDP: temperament vs. adaptive strategies, neuroplasticity, the role of "wholeness" in personality development, and the three pillars of the framework -- Vectors, Attendency, and Emotional Regulation Strategies.We'll also explore how PDP maps onto traditional Enneagram types, where it agrees with existing Enneagram theory, where it diverges, and why Dan Siegel prefers talking about patterns rather than fixed personality types.If you've heard about PDP but haven't wanted to tackle a 400-page book, this episode is your quick-start guide.

Upcoming Reading Room Discussion📅 Tuesday, June 9🕢 7:30 PM Eastern / 5:30 PM Mountain / 4:30 PM Pacific📖 Discussion Topic: Atlas of the Heart, Chapter 1 — Places We Go When Things Are Uncertain or Too MuchSign up for a Free Membership : HERE___In this Reading Room episode, Jeff continues our summer study of Brené Brown’s Atlas of the Heart, exploring the emotions and experiences that emerge when life feels uncertain, overwhelming, or simply too much.Drawing connections between Brown’s research and the Enneagram, this discussion covers stress, overwhelm, anxiety, worry, avoidance, fear, dread, and vulnerability—and asks what these experiences might be trying to teach us.Topics include:The relationship between stress, coping, and Enneagram movementWhy overwhelm may require something different than more effortThe distinction between anxiety, worry, and fearHow personality shapes emotional experienceVulnerability as courage rather than weaknessThe ongoing conversation between head, heart, and body

Jeff and Katie continue their exploration of the numbers that sit beside each type, uncovering how neighboring types share underlying emotional patterns, coping strategies, and ways of moving through the world. They discuss why wings may be more useful for self-awareness than personal growth, the role of instincts and subtypes in Enneagram study, and the surprising similarities between Sixes and Sevens as they manage anxiety.The conversation then turns to the dynamic relationship between Sevens and Eights: adventure, challenge, disruption, leadership, independence, and the pursuit of a life fully lived. Why do these types seem drawn toward bigger experiences? What happens when feeling takes a back seat? And what gifts emerge when they learn to bring others along for the journey?

Katie talks to a mother/daughter duo that she first met at one of her in-person courses in Cincinnati. Featuring our youngest podcast guest ever (eee!), the trio discuss what it feels like to be a teenage 4, what's important as we grow up and think about what we want our life to look like, and the many different ways that a 1 can show up as a parent.

This week on the Morning Show, the crew continues their exploration of the Enneagram centers by diving into the Head Center. Jeff, Kristen, Jackie, and TJ discuss fear, certainty, anxiety, planning, and all that emerges through that cognitive, future focus.

Sign up for a Free Membership : HEREWe've selected our next book.Brené Brown's Atlas of the Heart is one of the most influential books on emotions in recent years, and we're going to talk through it this June and July.The first 2 classes are free to all free members.Register : HEREIn this episode, Jeff highlights fifteen key ideas from the introduction that connect emotional awareness, language, and personal growth with the wisdom of the Enneagram. Along the way, he reflects on the relationship between feeling, thinking, and behavior, the importance of naming emotions, and why emotional vocabulary matters for both self-understanding and healthy relationships.

Connect with us at Aroundthecircle.org : HEREKatie Whitlock and Jeff Cook continue their dive into the shared space between adjacent Enneagram types, exploring the emotional and psychological overlap between Threes and Fours, Fours and Fives, and Fives and Sixes. Along the way they discuss authenticity, significance, narcissism, objectivity and subjectivity, emotional processing, rumination, preparation, and the strange intimacy that can emerge between neighboring types.This conversation moves beyond simple wing theory and into the deeper architecture of the Enneagram itself: why certain types sit next to each other, what they share beneath the surface, and how understanding those shared dynamics can deepen our understanding of motivation, emotion, and personality structure.Topics include:Why Threes and Fours both long to leave an impactThe tension between authenticity and adaptationRumination, analysis, and the private inner world of Fours and FivesWhether feelings can ever be “objective”Why Fives and Sixes both prepare against uncertaintyEmotional data, problem solving, and internal processingThe hidden strengths shared between neighboring typesThis episode originally aired on Patreon. To join future type panels, discussions, and bonus conversations, visit aroundthecircle.org.