What does it look like when a young entrepreneur discovers his Enneagram type and commits to doing his work and encourages his team to do the same? Today’s guest, co-founder of New Story Charity, Brett Hagler gives a clear picture of how powerful the Enneagram is as a tool for self-growth. 

In this episode you learn:

• How self-awareness positively impacts leadership  
• What the difference is between a spiritual director and a therapist
• The gradation of wings and why you should bring them into balance

And, you’ll hear how establishing his own rules of life helps keep Brett focused on what matters most while still making a huge impact in the world.

You can find more on Brett and New Story here.

This week, Former Governor of Tennessee, Bill Haslam returns to the show.  This time we talk about his new book, The Promise and the Peril of Faith in the Public Square, turning his attention inward to matters of the soul since his term ended, and what he’s learning about himself as an Enneagram 3.  

Bill Haslam is the former two-term mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee, and former two-term governor of Tennessee, reelected in 2014 with the largest victory margin of any gubernatorial election in Tennessee history. During his tenure, Tennessee became the fastest improving state in the country in K-12 education and the first state to provide free community college or technical school for all of its citizens, in addition to adding 475,000 net new jobs. Haslam serves on the boards of Teach for America and Young Life. In the fall of 2019, Haslam became a visiting professor of political science at Vanderbilt University. He and his wife of thirty-eight years, Crissy, have three children and nine grandchildren.

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

Ryan Casey Waller is a psychotherapist, pastor, lawyer, and, according to his book, a co-sufferer.  In this episode we explore the:

• Experience that triggered his own journey towards healing
• Importance of mental health and seeking help when it is needed
• How he’s using the self-knowledge gained from the Enneagram to manage his own mental health.

My hope is that this episode will highlight how complex each of us is, how our needs and desires differ, and why it’s important to avail ourselves of the multitude of resources available for healing.

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

If you’d like to join the next Town Hall, just visit typologyinstitute.com/membership to sign up. We’ll send you the link.

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

As an Enneagram Two, she’s doing her work to make positive changes in her professional and personal life.  We talk about her new journey in therapy, what it means to be a two and a leader in the corporate field, why she no longer keeps score at home, and even dig into the core struggle of the two...that need to be liked. 

So, whether you are a Two, work with a Two, or love a Two, this episode covers a lot of ground and will open your eyes to the way a Two views the world.

Enneagram Nines appear to be so uncomplicated, and yet they’re actually very complicated.  Enneagram Nines share a tendency to be other-referencing or more tuned in to what’s going on in the outside than they are tuned into what’s going on inside. They have a tendency to want to create harmony in their environment, and avoid conflict. They have a unique sensitivity to tension and conflict that they want to prevent or avoid altogether. So, I asked Beatrice Chestnut to join me to go deep into the inner workings of the Peacemakers. 

In today’s episode we: 

• Explore the nuances between each subtype 
• Highlight the various ways Nines wrestle with or express their anger
• Delve into the transformational path for each subtype

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

It’s one of the most dramatic stories we’ve ever had on this show. 

Don’t miss this rich conversation as we learn her story, hear how the Enneagram helps in her personal and professional relationships, and explore whether she’s an Enneagram 3 or 9.

Today, Holly Hayes, award-winning author, founder and CEO of Sanctuary Project, and Enneagram 3 joins me to explore the Enneagram as it relates to healing and recovery, how understanding your stress and security points can help identify your type, and the work required to reconnect with your authentic self.

It’s a powerful reminder that we all need a safe place to take off our masks and get back in touch with who we are meant to be.

Enneagram Ones value principles and integrity and are driven by the need to be good. They are conscientious and ethical and self-controlled.

But as with all types, when you dig into subtypes and instincts you’ll see three different versions of the Improvers personality that look and behave differently.

Today, Beatrice Chestnut and I dive into:

• The importance of being familiar with your passion and how to recognize when it’s taken the wheel

• What each subtype looks like and why knowing yours is critical

• How the growth path differs for each subtype of type one

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player. 

I know many of you are looking forward to today’s show and I’m thrilled to share this rich conversation with Enneagram Nine, Seth Abram. Seth is a long-time friend, pastor, singer, songwriter, creator and founder of Integrated Enneagram, and co-host of the popular Enneagram podcast, Fathoms. 

Seth not only shares his wealth of knowledge about the work that is needed to become the fullest expression of our true selves but also provides insight into learning to recognize and embrace the role that anger plays in the transformational path for an Enneagram 9.   

In this episode we discuss the: 

• Fear and passion of the Peacemaker
• Tension of the polarity of wings on type
• Recognizing and growing into right action

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player, then share your thoughts with us on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.