Around the Circle | An Enneagram Channel

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.

n this episode, Katie talks to mother/daughter duo Penny and Tori. We chat about how a 4 navigates life with two independent stance parents, and we ask ourselves an important question: Exactly how much fun can a 7 create at a wedding when given the opportunity to do so?Thank you to Penny and Tori for coming on the show, and if anyone else is interested in being interviewed, don't hesitate to navigate to my website and fill out the application form.ALSO - Registration is now live for Tyler Zach's newest Enneagram summit! Jeff and I will both be speaking on day 3 (June 11). Get your free tickets here!Find me on Instagram

We continue our dive into each of the types and their relationships with their Heart Center, spending most of our time on 9s, 2s, 6s, and 1s.Sign up for a Memebership : HERE

Find all our material on Dr. Siegel's Book : HEREIn this episode, Jeff Cook sits down with Danielle Fuller (Scientific Enneagram) for a deep conversation on Dr. Daniel Siegel’s Personality and Wholeness in Therapy—the book many are calling the most important scientific contribution to Enneagram theory in years. Together they unpack the book’s core framework around agency, bonding, certainty, emotional regulation, and developmental pathways while wrestling with both its strengths and frustrations.Jeff and Danielle explore where Siegel’s work reframes the Enneagram for therapists and skeptics, where the language becomes overly dense, and how neuroscience, polyvagal theory, and personality theory intersect with classic Enneagram ideas. Along the way, they debate whether the book advances the conversation, complicates it unnecessarily, or both at the same time.This is a theory-heavy discussion for serious students of the Enneagram, psychology, and human development.

In this episode of Rewired, Jeff Cook and Katie Whitlock explore the shared space between neighboring Enneagram types through the lens of wings, relationships, posture, and emotional overlap.Rather than treating wings as a way to narrow identity, they ask a different question: what do adjacent types share?The conversation begins with Ones and Twos, unpacking themes like sacrifice, servant-heartedness, grief, judgment, and the pressure to care for the world around them. From there, they move into the shared emotional world of Twos and Threes, exploring image crafting, externalized shame, relational performance, and the difficulty of truly seeing oneself.Along the way, Jeff and Katie discuss:Why wings may be “high level” Enneagram workThe difference between sharing a center and sharing a stanceWhy neighboring types often mistype as one anotherThe role gender can play in how types express sacrifice and careHow Twos and Threes use other people as mirrorsWhy some types struggle to do deep Enneagram work despite loving the systemThe tension between authentic connection and adaptive performanceThis episode opens a new direction for Rewired — less focused on categorizing people and more interested in the spaces between them.

These podcasts are getting bigger and bigger! Today I welcome TWO sisters and their mom to talk about more mother-daughter relationship dynamics. We chat about the similarities between 2s and 9s, and what it's like to give your children space to grow and be themselves.Follow me on Instagram to get updates on new episodes and classesJoin our Patreon to get exclusive episodes and access to our monthly workshops

Mistyping Monday returns!If you want to connect with us on workshops or one-on-ones like this, sign up for a membership at : www.aroundthecircle.org

From our Movie Typing podcast , this is the full 4 episode discussion of Enneagram eights, heroism, politics, and the movement into villainy with our friend Steve Morris. You can find, Steve's work: HERE

My extended family gets featured this week! I am joined by my cousin and my aunt to talk about the dynamics between a 7 mother & a 1 daughter. Their family also includes three younger siblings (triplets!) so we get to talk about sibling dynamics and how a 1 survives being the oldest sister.Follow me on Instagram to get updates on future podcast episodes and classes.

A conversation about the body center, instinct, anger, boundaries, and what it means to be present. In this episode of the Morning Show, Jeff, Kristin, Jackie, and TJ explore how each Enneagram center experiences the world through the body—whether through instinct, physicality, control, fear, affection, movement, autonomy, or anger.The discussion moves from tattoos and touch to chronic pain, flow states, repression, emotional regulation, and the complicated relationship each type has with anger and physical presence.Along the way, the group wrestles with questions like: What is healthy anger? What does it mean to trust your body? Why do some people move toward intensity while others avoid it? And how do we stop overthinking long enough to actually inhabit our lives?

In this final session of the series, Jeff and Katie wrap up their exploration of the shadow work of the Enneagram by focusing on Type Six and Type Seven.We unpack the fear, holy ideas and heart’s messages connected to each type, and ask what actually helps move people toward courage, temperance, and greater wholeness.The discussion moves beyond stereotypes and into the lived experience of Sixes and Sevens — how Sixes seek certainty and support, how Sevens navigate fear of deprivation and being trapped, and how both types wrestle with trust, vulnerability, and control.

This is our final post on Processing Center and Jeff gets to interview Katie Whitlock (3), Kristin Messegee (6), and TJ WIlson (9) about how their types move around the circle.

In this episode of The Morning Show, Jeff Cook, Kristin Messegee, and Jackie Contessa explore the three centers of intelligence in the Enneagram—head, heart, and body—but with a broader lens than usual. Instead of focusing only on dominant or repressed centers, the conversation examines how each person relates to all three, and what balance across them might actually look like.They break down each center: the body as presence, boundaries, and action; the heart as identity, connection, and significance; and the head as discernment, strategy, and anticipation of the future. Along the way, they connect these ideas to the nervous system, emotional patterns like anger, shame, and fear, and the practical challenge of moving beyond automatic reactions.The discussion also turns toward growth—what it means to develop non-dominant centers, how that creates real freedom and choice, and why over-reliance on one center can become limiting. The episode closes with a larger debate about individual work, community, and what true integration looks like in everyday life.

Connect with us : HEREIn this episode of Rewired, we wrap our discussion on the thinking triad by focusing on Enneagram Sevens and Nines. The conversation challenges common assumptions about these types—especially the idea that they are less mentally engaged—and instead highlights how active and complex their inner processing really is.We explore how Sevens use reframing, anticipation, and possibility to navigate their experience, often thinking far ahead of their actions. Then we turn to Nines, examining how their thinking supports stability, connection, and ease—often by holding multiple perspectives at once.

Katie Whitlock is joined by her mom, Sara, with Jeff Cook stepping in as guest interviewer for a conversation about their relationship.As a Type Two and a Type Three , they explore how their motivations shape connection, attention, and emotional needs within their family. They talk through family dynamics, parenting styles, and what it looked like to grow up in a household with strong relational energy but very different ways of expressing it.The conversation also moves into more personal territory, reflecting on Sara’s cancer diagnosis, how it impacted the family, and how both of them now understand those years in light of their Enneagram work.

Connect with us at : www.aroundthecircle.orgA conversation on recovery—what it is, how it happens, and why most of us only find it after burnout. The group explores the difference between recovery and renewal, the role of daily habits, and how Enneagram type shapes what “rest” actually looks like. From naming excess and admitting powerlessness to rebuilding balance across the centers, this episode moves through both the theory and the lived reality of getting unstuck.They also wrestle with deeper questions: Are we trying to get back to something, or move forward into something new? What does it mean to recover when life keeps disrupting us? And how do meaning, identity, and daily practices create the kind of resilience that can actually hold when things fall apart?

Join us on Tuesday Nights : HEREIn this episode, Jeff works through the opening section of Chapter Four of "Personality and Wholeness in Therapy," by Dr. Daniel Siegel, focusing on how personality forms through automatic processes beneath awareness. The discussion centers on Siegel’s framework of three core motivations—agency, bonding, and certainty—and how these map onto the Enneagram’s centers.Jeff walks through each of the nine types using Siegel’s categories of “experience and express,” “contain and channel,” and “reframe and redirect,” translating dense neuroscience into practical Enneagram language. Along the way, he offers critiques, clarifies key ideas, and highlights where the model aligns—or conflicts—with traditional Enneagram understanding.

Jeff and Katie step into the final triad—Head types—and the conversation sharpens immediately. Drawing from Joey Schewee's work, they wrestle with what “thinking processing” actually is, pushing past surface definitions into something more precise: the ability to step back, hold multiple conclusions, and move toward the path of least resistance.Along the way, they contrast this with the urgency and emotional weight of other centers, unpacking how Fives (and their Head counterparts) relate to ideas, energy, and the world itself. The result is a conversation that feels both analytical and grounded—less about abstract theory and more about how people actually experience thinking in real time.

We had a stellar discussion with Melissa Kircher, Josiah Goff and Nadia Brackett. This is a highly informed, self aware conversation about Five-ness, the Fives relationship with their heart and body, and what it looks like to see the world from their center.If you want to connect with our guests, they can be found below:https://www.instagram.com/nadiaraebrackett/https://www.instagram.com/josiahgoff/https://www.instagram.com/enneagrampaths/

Katie is joined by Kelly Cook (Enneagram 3) and her son Becket (Enneagram 5) for a candid conversation about what it was like to parent—and be parented—across different personality styles.They talk through real-life moments: learning how to communicate clearly, navigating boundaries, and discovering what each person actually needs.

Burnout isn’t just about doing too much—it’s about getting stuck.In this episode of The Morning Show, Jeff Cook, TJ Wilson, Kristin Messegee, and Jackie Contessa explore burnout through the lens of the Enneagram, reframing it as the result of unprocessed emotional cycles, internal imbalance, and living out of alignment with oneself. Rather than a simple crash after overwork, burnout shows up as emotional exhaustion, disconnection, and a loss of meaning—often driven by patterns we don’t see in ourselves.The conversation moves from theory into lived reality: parenting, work, identity, and the weight of responsibility. Each type burns out differently—emotionally, mentally, or physically—and recovery isn’t one-size-fits-all. The path forward centers on naming the true source of burnout, rebalancing the centers of intelligence, processing emotions instead of avoiding them, and adopting a long-term “marathon” posture toward life. This is an honest look at limits, responsibility, and how to keep going without losing yourself.

Connect with us and comment : HEREFInd Joey Schewee's book : HERE__What does it really mean for a Six to seek security?In this episode, Jeff and Katie explore the inner world of Enneagram Sixes—how they navigate uncertainty, why they turn to relationships for clarity, and what’s really happening beneath their questions, intensity, and need for truth. Using Joey Schewee’s idea of the “processing center,” they trace how Sixes move out of their thinking center into the relational space, gathering information and testing reality in order to steady their internal world.This conversation brings fresh language to familiar patterns—distinguishing honesty from authenticity, exploring why Sixes can feel more intense than other feeling types, and showing how their drive for certainty shapes the way they engage others.In the second half, Jeff and Katie include a full bonus segment: a long-form theory discussion on processing, detachment, and the shared movement of Threes, Sixes, and Nines. If you enjoy the deeper architecture of the Enneagram, this is one to stay for.

Jeff and Dr. Sam E. Greenberg take a thoughtful look at the Enneagram’s place between philosophy and psychology, exploring skepticism, meaning, and what it really means for something to be “true.” Their conversation moves through questions of evidence, face validity, and the tension between data-driven frameworks and the lived reality of transformation.Connect with Sam's fantastic work : HERE

Connect with Around the Circle : HEREFollow Katie's work : HEREThis episode of Early Access: Roots explores the evolving relationship between a mother and daughter through the lens of the Enneagram. Katie Whitlock sits down with Jennifer (Type Two) and her daughter Skyler (Type One) to unpack how personality, parenting, and personal growth intersect over time. They talk about family dynamics, anxiety, identity, and the challenges of loving someone well when their needs differ from your own instincts.

This episode of The Morning Show explores "the fixation"—those oft repeated mental patterns that feel like solutions but quietly limit our freedom. The conversation moves from defining fixation as an “unhealthy preoccupation” into a deeper examination of how each Enneagram type gets mentally stuck. We spend time with all nine types highlighting how each fixation both protects and constrains. This is a conversation about reclaiming choice, restoring balance across the centers, and stepping out of the loops that quietly shape our lives.

Danielle returns to the Scientific Enneagram podcast to share the story behind her unexpected absence—her father’s sudden transition to hospice the very day the podcast launched, and his passing shortly after.Joined by Melissa Kircher, the conversation moves through grief as it actually unfolds: nonlinear, unpredictable, and often impossible to name. Together, they explore how loss interacts with personality—especially through the lens of the Enneagram—touching on anger, emotional processing, withdrawal, and the tension between intellectualizing and simply feeling.More than a discussion of grief, this episode becomes an honoring. Danielle reflects on her father’s life as an engineer, a thinker, and a deeply influential presence who helped shape her love of science and nuance. Through stories, systems, and his unforgettable “11 life axioms,” a portrait emerges of a complex, principled man whose legacy continues to shape her work and voice. This conversation offers both insight and companionship for anyone navigating loss—and a reminder that grief, like love, doesn’t follow a formula.Connect with Danielle : HEREConnect with Melissa : HERE

Join us for this advanced discussion of the Enneagram and the science behind it.Sign up for a $20 Membership : HEREThen click here for links and all the details: HEREIn this episode, we continue our deep dive into Personality and Wholeness in Therapy by Daniel J. Siegel, exploring Chapter 3 and one of the most ambitious questions in Enneagram work: How do the nine types actually form? Drawing from neuroscience and developmental theory, this conversation moves beyond philosophy and into the subcortical layers of the brain—where emotion, instinct, and survival strategies take shape.We unpack Siegel’s framework of agency, bonding, and certainty, and how core aversive emotions like anger, distress, and anxiety drive the formation of personality patterns at a deeply embodied level.To go further, access the full class, join our live discussions, and explore the growing library of Enneagram content at: 👉 https://www.aroundthecircle.orgJoin us for weekly classes, including our Tuesday night sessions, and be part of one of the most in-depth explorations of the Enneagram available right now.

Connect with all our work : HEREThis episode of Rewired continues a deep dive into the Enneagram’s processing centers, turning toward those who process with feeling—Twos and Fours. Using Joey Schewee's NEW BOOK as a springboard, Jeff and Katie wrestle with how Twos and fours meet their needs and overcome their underlying feeling.Through Twos, the discussion becomes concrete. Feeling processing shows up as a drive to cultivate connection, often at the expense of productivity or self-reflection. The Two’s outward energy—serving, engaging, and attuning—reveals both the beauty and cost of building identity through others. Jeff and Katie contrast this with the Three’s pursuit of admiration and the difficulty doing types have in understanding relational ambiguity. The result is a grounded exploration of how connection becomes both a compass and a vulnerability.As the conversation expands to Fours (and begins moving toward Sixes), a richer picture emerges: feeling processors possess a heightened awareness of people, an instinct for emotional depth, and a persistent need to locate themselves within relationship. Whether through the Two’s service, the Four’s emotional magnetism, or the Six’s relational testing, each type reveals a different strategy for securing connection. What unfolds is less a tidy definition and more an invitation—to see how profoundly our wiring shapes what it means to feel “okay” in the world.

Sign up for our April 11 Workshop : HEREThis is a recording of our Second Saturday Workshop from March.Our next Second Saturday workshop is April 11, where we’ll be focusing on Sixes and Sevens. You can find all the details and sign up at AroundtheCircle.org.___We moved into the inner world of Enneagram Fours and Fives, exploring what each type fears, avoids, and protects. For Fours, the conversation centers on the fear of insignificance, the pull of envy, and the deep longing to be seen and understood. What emerges is a powerful insight: envy isn’t just comparison—it can become a form of protection, keeping Fours in longing rather than risking rejection through real action and expression.As the conversation shifts to Fives, the focus turns to competency, energy, and the instinct to withhold. Fives reflect on their relationship to time, knowledge, and emotional exposure—revealing how easily life can be observed, analyzed, and prepared for, rather than fully entered. Their connection to need, dependence, and self-sufficiency brings a different angle on withdrawal, one rooted not in identity, but in resources.Together, this session offers a grounded and honest look at two withdrawn types and what it takes to move toward fuller participation in life.

Join us a Member : HEREIn this first Early Access family episode, Katie Whitlock sits down with a mother–daughter pair to explore how the Enneagram plays out inside real relationships.Jen (Enneagram 3) and Olivia (Enneagram 1) bring both depth and honesty as they reflect on their shared history—shaped by achievement, responsibility, and a deep desire to “do things right.” From childhood dynamics and sibling comparisons to adult friendship and mutual respect, this conversation traces how their relationship has evolved across seasons of life.Together, they unpack the unique strengths of a 3–1 pairing—drive, alignment, and shared vision—alongside the tensions: judgment, emotional restraint, and the pressure to perform.

Connect with us : HEREIn this Morning Show conversation, we dive into one of the most uncomfortable—but essential—parts of growth: exposure and vulnerability. From the “Enneagram of Avoidances” to the deeper question of what each type refuses to face, this episode explores how avoidance shapes our patterns … and how facing it might be the exact path to what we actually want.We unpack:The core avoidance for each Enneagram typeWhy growth requires contacting what we resistThe tension between healing vs. reopening woundsWhether parts of ourselves should be accepted, integrated, or eradicatedHow vulnerability functions in real relationships and communityAlong the way, the conversation moves from playful (favorite compliments 👀) to deeply personal—touching on fear, motivation, shadow work, and what it means to actually change.

Sign up for our Around the Circle Membership : HEREThis week in the Reading Room, we continue our journey through Personality and Wholeness in Therapy with a deep dive into Chapter Two. This chapter introduces the PDP framework—a fresh attempt to reinterpret the Enneagram through developmental pathways, neuroscience, and narrative data. Along the way, we wrestle with big questions: What actually counts as evidence? How much of personality is fixed? And what role does inner experience play in shaping who we become?The conversation moves between appreciation and critique. We explore the strengths of the narrative tradition—especially its focus on first-person experience—while also pushing back on philosophical assumptions around “true self,” wholeness, and the limits of scientific grounding. We also examine the tension between “types” and “patterns,” the role of automatic behavior, and whether personality constrains or enables real change.Ultimately, this episode lands on a practical and urgent insight: the Enneagram matters because it reveals motive. And if we don’t examine our motives, they quietly run our lives. But when we bring awareness to them, we gain the possibility of real transformation—toward greater balance, integration, and health.

In this installment on the Enneagram’s processing centers, Jeff Cook and Katie Whitlock engage When Working Together Doesn’t Work by Joey Schewee, focusing on the doing center through Types One and Three.The conversation explores how these types assess life through action—how progress, productivity, and accomplishment become the primary lens for determining whether things are working.For Ones and Threes, doing is not secondary; it is the ground of evaluation, the place where identity and meaning begin to take shape.