Podcasts about Enneagram

With the holidays just around the corner, we're bringing back a conversation that continues to deliver relational gold. Whether you heard it the first time or you're discovering it now, this replay with author and Enneagram teacher Christina Wilcox offers a beautifully practical and deeply compassionate look at how the Enneagram can transform the way we show up for one another during the most emotionally charged season of the year. In this episode, Christina shares her journey of discovering herself as an Enneagram Six—along with the courage, clarity, and self-understanding that followed. Together, we explore how each type navigates holiday stress, joy, expectation, and connection…and how you can care for the people you love in ways that truly meet them where they are. You'll learn: How to support friends and family of every Enneagram type through the busyness and emotional intensity of the holidays Practical tools for managing social anxiety, especially for Sixes Why presence and gratitude matter so deeply, particularly for Fours—and how all of us can cultivate them Simple, insightful practices for building healthier, more attuned relationships this time of year Whether you're hoping to deepen your emotional intelligence, strengthen your closest relationships, or simply bring more kindness and awareness into your holiday rhythms, this episode is a gift worth unwrapping again. Lean in, listen well, and let the Enneagram help you love the people in your life a little better this Christmas.   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ P.S. For a limited time, take 40% off all Enneagram Courses through the holidays.  Use the discount code HOLIDAY40 here.   

Sissy and David reflect on the meaningful conversations and listener feedback from their Enneagram parenting journey, offering a quick, hope-filled recap of each number's core parenting strengths and how to support kids of every type. They remind us there's no “right” way to parent—only the unique goodness each number brings—share a few favorite resources for further learning, and close with a tender benediction for parents doing the sacred work of raising boys and girls. Resources mentioned: The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron & Suzanne Stabile The Path Between Us by Suzanne Stabile The Journey Toward Wholeness: Enneagram Wisdom for Stress, Balance, and Transformation by Suzanne Stabile . . . . . .  Sign up to receive the⁠ bi-⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠monthly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to keep up to date with where David and Sissy are speaking, where they are taco'ing, PLUS conversation starters for you and your family to share! Access Raising Boys and Girls courses here! Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠raisingboysandgirls.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Owen Learns He Has What it Takes: A Lesson in Resilience⁠ ⁠Lucy Learns to Be Brave: A Lesson in Courage⁠⁠ . . . . . .  If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Advertise With Us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ form. A special thank you to our sponsors: QUINCE: Go to ⁠Quince.com/rbg⁠ for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns. THRIVE MARKET: Head over to ⁠ThriveMarket.com/rbg⁠ to get 30% off your first order and a FREE $60 gift.  NIV APPLICATION BIBLE: Save an additional 10% on any NIV Application Bible and NIV Application Commentary Resources by visiting faithgateway.com/nivab and using promo code RBG. MERCY SHIPS: Please donate today at MercyShips.org/podcast. OMAHA STEAKS: Visit OmahaSteaks.com for 50% off sitewide during their Sizzle All the Way Sale. And for an extra $35 off, use promo code FUN at checkout. JOLIE: Jolie will give you your best skin & hair guaranteed. Head to https://tinyurl.com/RBGJolie to try it out for yourself with FREE shipping. ​​EVERYDAY DOSE: Get 45% off your first subscription order of 30-servings of Coffee+ or Bold+. You'll also receive a starter kit with over $100 in free gifts including a rechargeable frother and gunmetal serving spoon by going to https://tinyurl.com/RBGEverdayDose or entering RGB at checkout. You'll also get FREE gifts throughout the year! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Find out more about The Art of GrowthTake a free Enneagram Test HERE.Sign up for the “Your Enneagram Starting Point” course HERE. Get Enneagram Certified HERE.Find out more about Teams Training HERE.Order our book on the Instincts: HERESet up One-on-One coaching HERE.www.theartofgrowth.org Email us your thoughts and questions!  Follow us on Instagram at ArtofGrowth for more on this subject this month and let us know what you are doing.© The Art of Growth ™ 2025Support the showhttps://www.theartofgrowth.org/

Sara Billups (type 4, 4-5 pairing), author of "Nervous Systems: Spiritual Practices to Calm Anxiety in Your Body, the Church, and Politics," joins us for a conversation about anxiety that's especially needed as we head into Christmas. Sara explores how anxiety manifests in three interconnected ways, and how couples who are in the sandwich generation (Millennial, Gen X especially) navigate personal anxiety, church disillusionment, and political division all at once as their nervous systems rise up in anxiety. Drawing from her experience caregiving for aging ill parents while parenting teens with their own anxiety along with her own anxiety, Sara offers wisdom for couples in the sandwich generation stretched thin caring for multiple generations while trying to protect their marriage. She also unpacks scrupulosity and how being trained to pursue "being good" is often far from healthy holiness, especially for those raised evangelical, and how this performance anxiety shows up in marriage. Sara's prescription for anxiety is holy indifference, the Ignatian concept of open-handedness toward both blessings and trials, not as giving up but as giving into the Spirit, and what this looks like practically when anxious about outcomes or when life isn't going as hoped. Rather than offering prescriptive how-to lists, Sara offered a soothing balm for anxious hearts heading into holiday chaos. Find "Nervous Systems" wherever books are sold. Watch on YouTube, too! Get Sara's book, Nervous Systems, here! https://a.co/d/ieVOMum Deeper Dive Guides on sale here! Use code DEEPERDIVE for $10 off! https://www.enneagramandmarriage.com/deeper-dives Find more about your type, the pod, freebies, and SO much more at our website right here! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.EnneagramandMarriage.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Love what you're learning on E + M? Make sure you leave us a podcast review so others can find us, too⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Get Christa's Best-Selling Book, The Enneagram in Marriage, here! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/df8SxVx Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This Christmas-week episode is a special re-release from the early days of the podcast. Recorded six years ago, Teresa listens back with fresh ears and chooses to let this raw, honest reflection stand as it is. Through story, Enneagram insight, and an original song written from the heart, this episode invites listeners to slow down, make room, and rediscover wonder in the Christmas story.FREE RESOURCES:Take the FREE Intro to Needs & Values AssessmentReady to discover what uniquely matters to YOU? CLICK HERE to take our FREE Intro to the Needs & Values Assessment.FREE Download: 4 Steps to Simplify Your CalendarReady to uncover more time on your calendar? This FREE download will help you remove what doesn't matter, so you have space for what does. Click here to get this FREE resource!OTHER RESOURCES:Join the REALIFE Practice Membership!The REALIFE Practice Membership is designed for those who want to grow spiritually, but feel like REALIFE is getting in the way. We'll learn how to integrate meaningful spiritual practices and tools into our daily lives through live group calls, group coaching, training videos, downloadable resources, and an interactive community. Visit www.therealifeprocess.com/membership to join us today!Check out our YouTube Channel!Prefer to watch AND listen? Check out our YouTube channel for the podcast episode on video! Make sure to subscribe so you get all the latest updates.My Book LinkMy new book, Do What Matters, is available NOW! Banish busyness and discover a new way of being productive around what truly matters. Learn more at DoWhatMattersBook.com.LifeMapping ToolsWould you life to discover  Life Mapping tools to help you recognize and respond to God in your Story. Check out these tools here https://www.onelifemaps.com/JOIN OUR COMMUNITY & CONNECT WITH ME:Become part of the FREE REALIFE Process® Community! Connect with Teresa and other podcast listeners, plus find additional content to help you discover your best REALIFE.Connect with your host, Teresa McCloy, on:Facebook - The REALIFE Process® with Teresa McCloyInstagram - teresa.mccloyLinkedIn - teresamccloyAbout Teresa McCloy:Teresa McCloy is the founder and creator of the REALIFE Process®, a framework designed to empower individuals and groups with the tools, training, and community needed for personal and professional growth. Through the REALIFE Process®, Teresa is on a mission to help others grow in self-awareness, establish sustainable rhythms, and enhance their influence and impact by integrating faith and work into their everyday lives. She lives with her husband of 42 years on their 5th generation family farm in central Illinois and enjoys great coffee, growing beautiful flower gardens and traveling as much as possible. About Erica Vinson:Erica Vinson helps clients walk through defining moments with confidence and courage enabling them to move forward in freedom and embrace fearless living. As an ACC Credentialed and Certified Professional Life & Leadership Coach, she uses wisdom from all 3 Centers of Intelligence to help clients gain deeper self-awareness and grow in relationships with others both personally and professionally. Erica is a certified REALIFE Process® Master Coach, an ©iEnneagram Motions of the Soul Practitioner, and has a certificate in Spiritual Transformation through the Transforming Center. She lives in the Metro East St. Louis area and enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, golfing, tennis, boating/water skiing, traveling, is a bit of a technology nerd and loves learning!

 In this week's episode of Retire in Texas, Darryl Lyons explores one of the most overlooked drivers of long-term financial success: behavior. Rather than focusing on market performance or investment selection, Darryl breaks down why the way we think, communicate, and make decisions could potentially have a greater impact on outcomes than the strategies we choose. Darryl begins by reflecting on his own journey into behavioral finance and how studying the intersection of psychology, neuroscience, and traditional finance reshaped his perspective on the role of a financial advisor. That realization sets the foundation for today's discussion: helping individuals and families make rational decisions amid uncertainty, stress, and emotional noise. He breaks the episode into several key themes: Why behavioral finance matters, and how emotional decision-making can potentially outweigh stock selection or asset allocation over time. The role of a financial advisor as a "thinking partner," especially during periods of volatility or life transitions. A real-world example of a couple who had strong financial habits but struggled to move forward because they approached money from different emotional and personality frameworks. How personality differences can create conflict around money, and why spreadsheets alone often fail to resolve those challenges. An introduction to the Enneagram as a practical personality tool that can help couples, families, and teams develop a shared language around money. A walkthrough of the nine Enneagram types, including common financial tendencies, strengths, and blind spots associated with each. Darryl connects self-awareness, communication, and behavioral insight to show how understanding personality may reduce conflict, improve clarity, and support more intentional long-term planning - both financially and relationally. If you benefited from today's episode, share it with a friend or family member! This episode provides general educational information only and is not intended to provide specific investment, tax, or legal advice. Resource: https://www.truity.com/test/enneagram-personality-test   

This episode about Enneagram 2 arrows takes us deeper into the Enneagram transformation. This is NOT a shallow episode. With the next step of arrows, you are going to see a side of yourself that is SO illuminating! Check out The Coven Try the Free Enneagram Quiz!!!! Message me on Instagram @Angie.Alchemist and ask all your Enneagram questions! OR email me at angiealchemy@gmail.com Check out more at AngieAlchemist.com Link to the episode all about stress and growth arrows #120

In this rich and hope-filled conversation, Sissy and David are joined by beloved friends and Enneagram teachers Jill Phillips and Hunter Mobley to explore how the Enneagram can help parents show up with more grace, humility, and curiosity. Together, they unpack how understanding motivations—not just behaviors—can transform parenting, reduce reactivity, and deepen connection. Hunter shares insights from his book Letting Go, Finding You, inviting parents to see their Enneagram type not as a box but as a pathway toward virtue, healing, and surrender, while Jill offers practical wisdom on stances, compassion, and loving kids in ways that fit who they uniquely are. With reflections on contemplative practices, slowing down, and trusting that our kids' stories are still unfolding, this episode offers parents reassurance, perspective, and hope for the long game of growth—for themselves and for their children. Resources mentioned: Letting Go, Finding You: Uncover Your Truest Self Through the Enneagram and Contemplation by Hunter Mobley The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawerence The Quotidian Mysteries by Kathleen Norris Under Pressure by Lisa Damour . . . . . .  Sign up to receive the⁠ bi-⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠monthly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to keep up to date with where David and Sissy are speaking, where they are taco'ing, PLUS conversation starters for you and your family to share! Access Raising Boys and Girls courses here! Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠raisingboysandgirls.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Owen Learns He Has What it Takes: A Lesson in Resilience⁠ ⁠Lucy Learns to Be Brave: A Lesson in Courage⁠⁠ . . . . . .  If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Advertise With Us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ form. A special thank you to our sponsors: QUINCE: Go to ⁠Quince.com/rbg⁠ for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns. THRIVE MARKET: Head over to ⁠ThriveMarket.com/rbg⁠ to get 30% off your first order and a FREE $60 gift.  NIV APPLICATION BIBLE: Save an additional 10% on any NIV Application Bible and NIV Application Commentary Resources by visiting faithgateway.com/nivab and using promo code RBG. MERCY SHIPS: Please donate today at MercyShips.org/podcast. OMAHA STEAKS: Visit OmahaSteaks.com for 50% off sitewide during their Sizzle All the Way Sale. And for an extra $35 off, use promo code FUN at checkout. OUR PLACE: Stop cooking with toxic cookware, and upgrade to Our Place today. Visit https://tinyurl.com/RBGOurPlace and use code RBG for 10% off sitewide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Find out more about The Art of GrowthTake a free Enneagram Test HERE.Sign up for the “Your Enneagram Starting Point” course HERE. Get Enneagram Certified HERE.Find out more about Teams Training HERE.Order our book on the Instincts: HERESet up One-on-One coaching HERE.www.theartofgrowth.org Email us your thoughts and questions!  Follow us on Instagram at ArtofGrowth for more on this subject this month and let us know what you are doing.© The Art of Growth ™ 2025Support the showhttps://www.theartofgrowth.org/

Send us a textThis episode is written to gift you a little extra joy amidst the holiday noise. It features a fictional Christmas story, read aloud by my sister, Annaliese Hinking, that speaks to the parts of us feeling weary from constantly doing, stretching, pleasing, and trying to hold it all together. “To Grandmother's House We Go” follows Etta, a warm-hearted, overextended mom, as she navigates family expectations, emotional overload, and the quiet yearning for rest she struggles to articulate. Yet, amid the clatter of dishes and the insight gained from an unexpected conversation, Etta begins to let go of an old belief: that love must be earned to be kept.If you've ever felt responsible for everyone else's experiences, if the holidays bring both tenderness and tension, or if you simply need a moment to breathe and feel understood, this story is for you. May it provide you with more than just comfort. May it encourage you to receive love, not for what you do, but simply because you are here.Looking for more seasonal resources? Find them here: https://www.simplywholehearted.com/enneagram-gift-guideRESOURCES FOR YOU: Book a High-Value Clarity Call with Amy Wicks https://www.simplywholehearted.com/callamywicks Not sure about your Enneagram Type? Start here: https://www.simplywholehearted.com/enneagramquiz Wholehearted Enneagram Coachinghttps://bit.ly/SWcoachingcollectiveEnnea-what? The Beginners Guide to the Enneagram(free course + printables)https://bit.ly/Enneagram101GuideThe Real History of the Enneagram Course(use code AMY for 40% OFF)https://bit.ly/EnneagramHistoryShould Christians Use the Enneagram? (Amy's book)https://amzn.to/3VB9PrxConnect with Amy:IGWebsite

Find out more about The Art of GrowthTake a free Enneagram Test HERE.Sign up for the “Your Enneagram Starting Point” course HERE. Get Enneagram Certified HERE.Find out more about Teams Training HERE.Order our book on the Instincts: HERESet up One-on-One coaching HERE.www.theartofgrowth.org Email us your thoughts and questions!  Follow us on Instagram at ArtofGrowth for more on this subject this month and let us know what you are doing.© The Art of Growth ™ 2025Support the showhttps://www.theartofgrowth.org/

The third episode in our Advent series explores why most couples don't feel joyful during the holidays and how to protect joy when everything feels like obligation and chaos. Joy becomes elusive when we expect it to be natural, when we prioritize mere survival over connection, when we forget to dig deep to remember God's love for us is the deepest reason for joy, when we lose ourselves in others' never-ending needs, when we escape instead of engaging, and when we don't pause during the chaos that puts your nervous system in survival mode where delight is impossible. There is so much to learn and we can take it step by step together! Listen here as you find centering and re-embrace delight this holiday or anytime of year!! Watch on YouTube! Use the code "GLOW" for $10 Couple Pairing Guides here! Find more about your type, the pod, freebies, and SO much more at our website right here! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.EnneagramandMarriage.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Love what you're learning on E + M? Make sure you leave us a podcast review so others can find us, too⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Get Christa's Best-Selling Book, The Enneagram in Marriage, here! ⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/df8SxVx Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this enlightening conversation, Dr. Mindy Pelz and Dr. Kelly Casperson explore the transformative journey of menopause, emphasizing the importance of mindset, self-advocacy, and cultural conditioning. They discuss how women can awaken to their true selves during this pivotal life stage, the significance of understanding one's identity through tools like the Enneagram, and the necessity of engaging men in the conversation about women's health. The discussion highlights the generational shifts in attitudes towards menopause and the empowerment of women to reclaim their voices and advocate for their health and well-being. Mindy Pelz IG Mindy Pelz Book To my fellow clinicians: listen to the You Are Not Broken podcast on ⁠⁠Pinnacle's network to earn FREE CME credit⁠⁠ Listen to my Tedx Talk: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why we need adult sex ed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take my Adult Sex Ed Master Class:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠My Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Interested in my sexual health and hormone clinic? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waitlist is open⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Midi Women's Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Designed by midlife experts, delivered by experienced clinicians, covered by insurance.Midi is the first virtual care clinic made exclusively for women 40+. Evidence-based treatments. Personalized midlife care.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joinmidi.com⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Enneagram at Work, we are continuing the 9 Types Overview Series with a closer look at Enneagram Type 6: Striving to Feel Secure. This can be one of the most misunderstood types, and also one of the most important energies on any team.In many descriptions, you'll seeType 6s often labeled as anxious or fearful, but what I see again and again in workshops and leadership teams is something very different: brave, caring, thoughtful, prepared, and deeply committed people who care about doing things the right way and keeping the team safe. In this episode, I unpack how that drive for security shows up at work.What You'll Learn When You Listen:Why Type 6s ask questions and why that's a strength, not a problemHow Type 6s build trust, loyalty, and reliability on teamsThe Guardian leadership style and how it protects organizationsCommon stress points for Type 6s at work (especially during change or uncertainty)How the three instinctual biases shape different expressions of Type 6Growth insights through Type 6's arrows to Type 9 and Type 3How to give feedback to Type 6s in a way that builds confidence instead of doubtTry This at Work:If you're a Type 6: Notice when your questions are actually asking for reassurance. Pause and remind yourself of the evidence that you can handle what's in front of you.If you work with a Type 6: Don't dismiss their questions or concerns. Most of the time, they're thinking ahead and protecting the team from issues others haven't considered yet.For Teams & Leaders: Type 6s bring steadiness, commitment, and preparation to teams, especially when things feel uncertain. They're often the people thinking through worst-case scenarios so everyone else can move forward with confidence.Teams work best with Type 6s when there's clear communication, follow-through, and trust. When Type 6s feel informed and included, they become some of the most reliable and supportive teammates and leaders you can have.Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

Abbey Howe is a certified Enneagram coach who creates educational content that is accessible for everyone. She works with teams around the world-from global companies to local community groups-helping people build self-awareness, empathy, and stronger relationships. She shares her personal journey discovering the Enneagram and how it transformed her life. She also discusses her upcoming book, My Enneagram: A Visual Guide to Find Your Personality Type, Stress Less, and Live Your Dreams. She opens up about parenting through the lens of the Enneagram and the ongoing journey of personal growth.Key Takeaways:The Enneagram can help you understand your motivations and course-correct life decisions.The Enneagram can help improve communication and collaboration with teams.The Enneagram can help parents respond rather than react.The Enneagram can help individuals separate their worth from their productivity.Abbey's Links:WebsiteInstagramBook Pre-Order

Did you know your Enneagram type says a lot about your takes on holiday classics like movies, gifts and sweet treats?Join us in this special bonus episode where Jess and Kendall prepare for the holidays Enneagram style!Follow us on Instagram @themulemindeset to see exclusive video content!

Discover why rest is one of the most powerful rhythms for quiet, sustainable leadership. In this episode of Strength in Numbers, Jilann explores how rest restores clarity, reduces stress, strengthens resilience, and supports the kind of grounded leadership every team needs.You'll learn how all nine Enneagram types recharge differently - and why honoring those differences leads to healthier relationships, better communication, and more authentic leadership. Whether you're a Type 1 striving for improvement, a Type 7 chasing possibilities, or a Type 9 seeking peace, this episode offers practical, type-specific ways to build rest into your daily rhythm.In this episode:• Why rest is essential for quiet leaders• How each Enneagram type finds true rest• Simple daily practices to restore presence and energy• How modeling rest helps the people you leadIf you're ready to lead with more clarity, compassion, and intention, this rhythm is for you.Ready for more? Find your next steps HERE!

SummaryIn this episode of Service Evolution, host Jim Robinson is joined by Lori Prust, owner and coach at SOAR Clarity, a company on a mission to help women recognize their worth, live in their strengths, and recognize their blind spots, leading to more joyful and focused lives. SOAR's vision is to foster a new trend of unconventional women, helping them cultivate self-awareness while empowering them to uplift and support others in their community.Lori shares her personal story of feeling out of alignment in her corporate job, and credits Jim as one of the catalysts who encouraged her to explore her passion further. With his mentorship and her own introspection, Lori became a life coach certified and eventually left her secure but unsatisfying corporate career. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing and nurturing one's unique strengths and talents.Furthermore, a unique aspect of Lori's journey is her collaboration with her daughter, Anna, in building SOAR. This mother-daughter duo combines their strengths to create a synergistic team dedicated to helping others achieve personal and professional growth. They leverage tools like the Enneagram for personal development, ensuring that their clients receive tailored coaching experiences.Lori also touches on the role of faith in her journey, highlighting how her Christian beliefs guide her approach to coaching and business. She underscores the importance of serving others, whether it's through personal interactions or broader philanthropic efforts, aligning with her mission of giving back. Listen today!Show Notes(00:00) Introduction(01:52) Lori's Exit from the Corporate World(04:23) Defining Moments That Encouraged Lori to Coach(07:30) Navigating New Career Challenges(9:31) The Role of Faith in the Creation of SOAR Clarity(14:02) Lori's Daughter's Involvement in SOAR(17:57) Lessons Lori Learned in the Corporate World(23:49) Encouragement to Transition into Coaching(24:47) Closing ThoughtsLinksJim Robinson CGP Maintenance and Construction ServicesLori PrustSOAR Clarity

Part 2: Exploring the Enneagram and Its Impact on the Human Experience with Phil George  Join us as we continue to explore the impact of the Enneagram on the human experience. This is the second of a 2-part episode. The Enneagram is a model of the human psyche that describes nine interconnected personality types, each defined by a different core motivation, fear and desire. It is used as a tool to understand behavior, unconscious patterns, growth paths, and the types are represented through the use of a nine-pointed symbol diagram. In this episode, we will explore the nine personality types and discuss how understanding this information can assist you in communicating with others.  Connecting with Phil:  philgeorge@charter.net Dreamvisions7 Wellness Wave Radio Show:  Wellness Wave Radio LLC Archives with Phil George Dreamvisions 7 Radio Network Connect with She Wise Wellness: Website: https://www.shewisewellness.com/ Website: www.shewisepublications.com Email: shewisepublications@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/she_wise_publications/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094044723450 YouTube: SHE Wise @survivingthehumanexperience https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtYaqS-cL1WAFQKDadapxPQ

What happens when the life you built—carefully, faithfully, and publicly—splits down the middle in a single night? On this episode of Typology, I sit down with bestselling author and beloved cultural commentator Jen Hatmaker to talk about her stunning new memoir, Awake. Jen, an Enneagram Three with a courageous streak that can look a whole lot like an Eight, opens up about the "before-and-after date" that changed everything—July 11, 2020—when her 26-year marriage ended, and her whole world cracked open. Together, we explore what it means to wake up in midlife: to grief and betrayal, to leaving behind scripts you never chose, to freedom from needing to be liked, to discovering what really matters in the "second half of life." We dive into the Enneagram and the unique way Threes navigate identity, image, success, and failure—especially when life doesn't cooperate with the plan. Jen shares how therapy, embodiment work, and raw honesty helped her rebuild, and why this memoir isn't about spectacle, but about hope. This is a conversation about midlife transition, spiritual awakening, and the quiet miracle of becoming more fully yourself—right when you thought everything was falling apart. If you're navigating change, heartbreak, faith shifts, or a midlife renaissance of your own, this episode will feel like a hand on your shoulder and a light on the path.   ---------------------------------------------- ABOUT JEN HATMAKER Jen Hatmaker is a bestselling author, award-winning podcaster, speaker, and fierce advocate for women living in freedom and agency. With 14 books—including four New York Times bestsellers—along with her beloved For the Love podcast, Jen Hatmaker Book Club, and more, she reaches millions with her signature mix of humor, vulnerability, and wisdom. Her newest book, AWAKE: A Memoir, (released on September 23, 2025), chronicles her raw, real-time journey through the shocking end of her 26-year marriage and surprising reinvention. She lives in a creaky old farmhouse, loves 90s country, and drinks Almond Joy creamer like it's a personality trait. Find her at JenHatmaker.com. CONNECT WITH IAN Follow Ian on Facebook or Instagram at @ianmorgancron and @typologypodcast. Check out Ian's website at www.ianmorgancron.com **Interested in a 30-minute one-on-one virtual coaching session with Ian?  Fill out this intake form and we'll be in touch.     

Hillary Rector and Andy Gullahorn share an honest, thoughtful look at what it's like to move through the world—and parent—as Enneagram Nines. They discuss the genuine ease, adaptability, and steady presence that come naturally to them, along with the quieter struggles: delayed emotions, difficulty voicing desires, and the instinct to “smooth the ice” for everyone around them. Their stories highlight both the gentleness and complexity of this peaceful number. Hillary and Andy reflect on how their nine-ness shapes their parenting—helping them create a calm, grounded environment, while also challenging them to build clearer boundaries, name their needs, and show their kids a more defined sense of self. They offer practical insight for supporting nine children, encouraging parents to give them time, space, and gentle opportunities to speak up and step in. It's a compassionate, warm conversation for anyone who loves a nine or is raising one. If you liked this episode, we think you'll probably like: Episode 121: Storing Up Good Memories for Your Kids with Hillary and Ben Rector Episode 18: Using the Enneagram to Understand and Parent Kids and Adolescents . . . . . .  Sign up to receive the⁠ bi-⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠monthly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to keep up to date with where David and Sissy are speaking, where they are taco'ing, PLUS conversation starters for you and your family to share! Access Raising Boys and Girls courses here! Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠raisingboysandgirls.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Owen Learns He Has What it Takes: A Lesson in Resilience⁠ ⁠Lucy Learns to Be Brave: A Lesson in Courage⁠⁠ . . . . . .  If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Advertise With Us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ form. A special thank you to our sponsors: QUINCE: Go to ⁠Quince.com/rbg⁠ for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns. THRIVE MARKET: Head over to ⁠ThriveMarket.com/rbg⁠ to get 30% off your first order and a FREE $60 gift.  NIV APPLICATION BIBLE: Save an additional 10% on any NIV Application Bible and NIV Application Commentary Resources by visiting faithgateway.com/nivab and using promo code RBG. MERCY SHIPS: Please donate today at MercyShips.org/podcast. OMAHA STEAKS: Visit OmahaSteaks.com for 50% off sitewide during their Sizzle All the Way Sale. And for an extra $35 off, use promo code FUN at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the International Enneagram Association podcast, we listen to story booth conversations with Sam Michel Kopterski, Doug Lyman and Hillary Stark. These brief interviews explore their introduction to the Enneagram and how it has played in their professional and personal life. Sam discusses how the Enneagram helped her see her type patterns more clearly while Hillary shares how it brought some healing to her and her husband. We also hear how Doug went from the Marine Corps to becoming a monk to then becoming an investment advisor and author of the book, “Taming Your Money Monster: 9 Paths to Money Mastery with the Enneagram.”Connect with us:Web: internationalenneagram.orgIEA Enneagram Experience 2025: ieaexperience.comJoin the email list: administration@internationalenneagram.orgDoug Lyman:Web: douglynam.comEmail: doug@douglynam.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/doug-lynamYouTube: youtube.com/@douglynamFacebook: facebook.com/monktomoneymanagerBook: Taming Your Money Monster: 9 Paths to Money Mastery with the EnneagramSeth "Creek" Creekmore: IG: @_creekmorePod: Fathoms | An Enneagram PodcastPod: Awareness to Action Enneagram PodcastPod: Delusional Optimism with Dr. BLindsey Marks:IG: @lindseyfaithdmPod: Fathoms | An Enneagram PodcastLee Fields:Web: enneagrammatic.comIG: @enneagrammaticSeth Abram:IG: @integratedenneagramPod: Fathoms | An Enneagram PodcastFlemming Christensen:Web: flemmingchristensen.comTrainings: flemmingchristensen.com/trainingThe Enneagram Life Theme:

Once again, Angie and I wrestle over something we both love and come at from different places. The Enneagram as I come to it is more a lens that helps me see myself. And yes, maybe help me be a better version of myself. This is what it is for me, at this point in my life and development. And it's how I introduce it to my clients.For Angie, the Enneagram provides a means for personal transformation that enables us to be in better relationship with people we love, and with the world. It's a spiritual thing for her, a sacred teaching that life is a gift. The Enneagram enables presence, and in this way, serves us in our relationships, both 1:1 and in larger communities. No wonder this is her approach, given she is “Reverend.” You'll hear this difference as we meander. No matter how we approach it, the Enneagram gives us an opening, the beginning of a deep conversation about who we are, and that is just what we offer today.We also dig into Hope. December is the season for hope, as dark turns to light and the year begins again. And, I do think we need to remember hope as our world changes in ways I, we, may not like so much.Please drop me a line if anything piqued your interest at meanderingswithtrudy@gmail.com. And share this episode around, it matters. If you're of a mind, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.Episode links:Angie's newly renovated website: Big Stone HouseFor background about the, visit the Enneagram Institute As always, this podcast is sponsored by the guests who give of their time, and by my company, Chapman Coaching Inc.Royalty free music is gratefully received and is called Sunday Stroll – by Huma-HumaLive life joyfully, and always let kindness guide you.

Find out more about The Art of GrowthTake a free Enneagram Test HERE.Sign up for the “Your Enneagram Starting Point” course HERE. Get Enneagram Certified HERE.Find out more about Teams Training HERE.Order our book on the Instincts: HERESet up One-on-One coaching HERE.www.theartofgrowth.org Email us your thoughts and questions!  Follow us on Instagram at ArtofGrowth for more on this subject this month and let us know what you are doing.© The Art of Growth ™ 2025Support the showhttps://www.theartofgrowth.org/

Anna Rollins, author of "Famished," joins us for an honest conversation about the intersection of purity culture, eating, body image, and sexual intimacy in marriage in general and especially Christian marriage. We explore what happened in the Christian movement around weight and body image that went beyond general cultural dysfunction and became particularly harmful in church spaces, such as Anna's church creating an eating based programs as she talks about here in and in her book. Drawing on research from Sheila Wray Gregoire's survey of 20,000 women (one of our favorite past guests), Anna unpacks the connection between body shame and sexual intimacy, including the often-hidden correlation between body shame and painful sex that many women don't realize exists. She shares her personal journey of moving from controlling her body through over-exercising to actually caring for and stewarding it well, how she's parenting with intention, and how her relationship with her body has drawn her at first farther but ultimately closer, ultimately, back to God. This conversation is essential for anyone navigating body image in marriage or raising children in the intersection of faith and culture. Find "Famished" wherever books are sold and connect with Anna's work. Listen here on YouTube! Get Anna's book Famished: On Food, Sex, and Growing up a Good Girl here! https://a.co/d/eO5BbMa Follow Anna Rollins'Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/annajrollins/?hl=en Find more about your type, the pod, freebies, and SO much more at our website right here! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.EnneagramandMarriage.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Love what you're learning on E + M? Make sure you leave us a podcast review so others can find us, too⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Get Christa's Best-Selling Book, The Enneagram in Marriage, here! ⁠⁠https://a.co/d/df8SxVx Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you've ever felt stretched too thin, this episode is for you. In Part 1 of my series, 12 Things I've Learned About Homeschool Moms, I share the first six insights I've gathered over my years as a homeschool mom, coach, and guide for women just like you. These self-care tips for overwhelmed homeschool moms aren't rules or prescriptions—they're real-life reflections from someone who's walked this path, experienced the overwhelm, and learned how to reclaim herself without abandoning her homeschool dreams. Join the 12-Day Self-Care Challenge for Homeschool Moms What You'll Learn: Self-Care Tips for Overwhelmed Homeschool Moms Every homeschool mom faces invisible challenges, even when things look “perfect” from the outside. In this episode, I dive into the first six things I've learned about the homeschool mom experience: You feel like you never get a moment to yourself – The constant “on” mode can leave you disconnected from your own body and needs. No one sees everything you do – From teaching to caregiving to emotional labor, the invisible load is real. You say yes because it feels easier than dealing with disappointment – Learning to say no is a radical act of self-care. You're emotionally depleted – The overwhelm is rarely about homeschooling itself—it's about carrying too much without space to reset. You feel guilty resting – Rest isn't optional; it's essential for your health, your energy, and your presence in your family. You don't even know who you are anymore outside motherhood – Reconnecting with yourself is foundational to leading a confident, aligned homeschool life. Every one of these six things isn't a sign that you're doing homeschooling wrong—they're signs that you're human and have been carrying more than anyone was meant to carry alone. Why These Self-Care Tips for Overwhelmed Homeschool Moms Matter If any part of this episode made you exhale or think, “oh… that's me,” consider this your gentle invitation to start tending to yourself with the same care you offer everyone else in your home. Emotional overfunctioning and people-pleasing can follow you into homeschooling, and slowly, you lose not just your energy, but your sense of self. Reclaiming yourself isn't selfish—it's foundational. Your kids feel safest when you feel safe. Join the 12-Day Homeschool Mom Self-Care Challenge This is exactly why I created the 12-Day Homeschool Mom Self-Care Challenge. It's not another checklist or performance-based challenge. Instead, it's twelve small, doable shifts designed to help you come back to yourself with compassion, not pressure. Daily Letters – Thoughtful reflections to help you see your needs clearly. Gentle Reflection Prompts – Uncover the stories you've been carrying. Tiny, Doable Practices – Small actions to create real emotional space. As one mom said: “Your work has ripple effects because you're nurturing the nurturers.” You deserve that same nurture too. Click here to join the 12-Day Self-Care Challenge and start making your own 1% shifts away from overwhelm and toward a homeschool life that feels good from the inside out. What's Next for Overwhelmed Homeschool Moms Next week, we'll continue with Part 2 of this series, where I share six more things I've learned about homeschool moms. They go even deeper, and I think you'll feel just as held, understood, and equipped to make your homeschool life feel lighter and more aligned. Until then, take one moment today just for you—not because it's earned, but because you need it and you deserve it. Join the 12-Day Self-Care Challenge for Homeschool Moms To the Woman Reading This… If any part of this resonates — if you recognize your own patterns of over-functioning, self-forgetting, or carrying too much — please know you don't have to walk this alone. Maybe safety felt conditional, or you learned to earn love by meeting everyone else's needs.Or maybe you're carrying grief or stories that were never yours to carry. I've walked this path too — from losing myself to returning to myself. If you're ready to step into who you truly are, I'd be honoured to walk beside you. ➤ Learn more about coaching with Teresa here. Bolster Boundaries at the Holidays for Homeschool MomsIntroducing the ultimate guide for homeschool moms navigating the holiday whirlwind: the ‘Boundary Bolstering Journaling Workbook.’ Crafted to help you thrive amidst unique seasonal challenges, this 31-page gem offers strategies and thought-provoking journal prompts. Discover how to establish boundaries, clarify needs, and embrace your true self. Make this holiday a time of internal empowerment and joy on your terms! $9.99 Original price was: $9.99.$5.99Current price is: $5.99. Shop now People also ask: Create a Practical Plan for your Self-Care so you can Thrive in your Homeschool 12-Day Homeschool Mom Self-Care Challenge to Come Back to Yourself How to Incorporate Ten Basic Self-Care Tips for the Homeschool Mama Gentle Self-Care Practices for Homeschool Moms: A Way Back to Yourself Check out the Homeschool Mama Self-Care: Nurturing the Nurturer book How do I get a virtual homeschool mama retreat? a simple guide to unschooling your holiday homeschool Access the Toolbox for Big Emotions Journaling Workbook Join the 2024 Homeschool Challenge for Clarity, Confidence & Vision Homeschool Mom's Guide to Holiday Boundaries in 5 Steps Antidote for Holiday Homeschool Overwhelm & Expectations A Vulnerable Story of an Overwhelmed Homeschool Mom Journey Introducing the 12 Day Self-Care Strategies for Homeschool Moms Teresa Wiedrick I help overwhelmed homeschool mamas shed what's not working in their homeschool & life, so they can show up authentically, purposefully, and confidently in their homeschool & life. Book your free Aligned Homeschool Reset session Latest episodes 12 Things I've Learned About Homeschool Moms: Self-Care Tips for Overwhelmed Homeschool Moms December 10, 2025 12-Day Homeschool Mom Self-Care Challenge to Come Back to Yourself December 2, 2025 What is the Reimagine Your Homeschool Group Coaching? November 18, 2025 Not Just a Homeschool Mom — Why You’re Disappearing (And How to Come Back) November 11, 2025 Teaching World War to a Homeschooled Eight Year Old November 10, 2025 Reimagine Your Homeschool: Feel Free, Inspire Curiosity and Do What Works November 5, 2025 the role of imagination in a home education November 4, 2025 Helping Our Kids Live Their Lives on Purpose: A Practical Guide for Homeschool Moms October 28, 2025 Human Development for Homeschool Moms: Realistic High School Expectations October 20, 2025 How to Build Homeschool Routines that Support YOU October 14, 2025 Why Deschooling? To Feel Confident, Certain & Good Enough October 7, 2025 The Ultimate Guide to Building Boundaries and Healthy Relationships for Homeschool Moms September 23, 2025 Ultimate Homeschool Overwhelm Quiz That Reveals Your Hidden Stress Triggers in 5 Minutes September 15, 2025 Start Homeschooling in British Columbia: How to Decide September 9, 2025 How to Create an Effective Homeschool Routine that Works for You September 2, 2025 Interest-Led Homeschool for Confident Moms: An Enneagram 8 Mom's Story of Growth August 28, 2025 How Do I Unschool My Child? 5 Simple Steps to Spark Natural Learning August 19, 2025 9 Mistakes That Make Your 1st Homeschool Year Stressful (& How to Avoid Them) August 13, 2025 Top Tips for New Homeschool Moms in Season 3 August 11, 2025 5 Challenges Working Homeschool Moms Face—And How to Overcome Them August 5, 2025 How to Manage Overstimulation as a Homeschool Mom July 30, 2025 Reclaim You: Rediscover Life Beyond the Homeschool Mom Role July 22, 2025 A Summer Reset for Homeschool Moms: The Secret to a More Peaceful Year Ahead July 15, 2025 How to Help Reluctant Writers: Julie Bogart on Homeschool Writing July 7, 2025 7 Ways Brené Rescued Me from One of those Homeschool Days June 30, 2025 Morning Affirmations for Homeschool Mama: A Simple Practice for You to Parent with Intention June 24, 2025 5 Overlooked Mistakes That Are Stressing You Out as a Homeschool Mom (& How to Fix Them) June 18, 2025 The Soul School Way: Books as Mirrors, Windows, and Voices for Homeschool Families June 3, 2025 Sibling Bickering in Homeschool Families: What's Normal & How to Handle It May 27, 2025 Homeschool Mom Boundaries: 6 Truths That Will Set You Free May 20, 2025 How the Mother Wound Affects Homeschool Moms—and How to Break Free May 12, 2025 Homeschool Mom Boundary Issues? You’re Not Doing This… May 6, 2025 How to Deschool as a Homeschool Mom and Rediscover Your Identity April 30, 2025 How my story of deschooling brought more freedom & purpose April 22, 2025 How to Know if Deschooling is Right for You: 7 Signs you Need to Deschool April 13, 2025 Why Do You Want to Deschool? Understanding Why it Matters April 11, 2025 Is My Homeschooler Behind? The Truth About Learning at Their Own Pace April 1, 2025 A Homeschool Mom’s Guide to Purposeful Living March 25, 2025 10 Simple Steps to the Homeschool Life (& Live it on Purpose) March 17, 2025 The Three Lies Homeschool Moms Tell Themselves March 11, 2025 The Myth of the Perfect Homeschool: 3 Common Challenges March 5, 2025 Tired of Homeschool Sibling Fights? Try These 3 Simple Strategies! March 4, 2025 11 Powerful Affirmations Every Homeschool Mom Needs to Hear February 25, 2025 6 Homeschool Burnout Signs that Suggest You Need to Try Something New February 18, 2025 7 Red Flags That Say You Need Homeschool Wellness Coaching—Before Burnout Hits February 12, 2025 How to Motivate Your Homeschool Child toward Curiosity & Independence February 4, 2025 How I Learned to Build Healthy Relationships in My Homeschool Family (And How You Can Too) January 27, 2025 Reignite Your Spark as a Homeschool Mom in 10 Powerful Ways January 21, 2025 Fed Up with Homeschool? 18 Strategies to Regain Joy January 13, 2025 6 Challenges Every Struggling Homeschool Mom Faces — and How to Transform Them January 7, 2025 Re-Envision Your 2025 Homeschool: A 5-Day Vision Challenge Homeschool Moms December 31, 2024 What 2024 Taught Me About Supporting Homeschool Moms December 17, 2024 Write Your Truth: How Vulnerability Shapes Homeschool Wellness & Mindset December 10, 2024 11 Practical Tips How Homeschool Moms Can Let Go of Unrealistic Expectations December 3, 2024 Foster Strong Relationships in Your Homeschool Family November 26, 2024 Finding Healing & Purpose When Life is Life-ing November 19, 2024 Awakened Homeschool Family: Living with Purpose, Learning from Heart November 12, 2024 Declutter Your Homeschool Mama Mind: Overwhelm to On Purpose October 31, 2024 Why you Don’t Need a Perfectly Decluttered Homeschool (and How a Little Decluttering Can Bring Big Calm) October 28, 2024 The Heart Of Homeschooling: Essential Lessons From Two Experienced Moms October 22, 2024 The Helpful Homeschool Mom’s Guide To Intentional Living October 15, 2024 Need Change in Life? Discover Balance as a Homeschool Mom October 8, 2024 7 Remarkable Lessons from a Weekend Away: Homeschool Realities October 1, 2024 Rethinking Homeschooling: It’s About the Child, Not the Method September 23, 2024 Discover Your Unique Voice: Beyond your Homeschool Mama Identity September 17, 2024 Homeschool with Integrity: How to Stay True to Your Values September 10, 2024 15 Fun Activities for First Day of Homeschool Party September 3, 2024 Finding Her True Self: From Anxious to Authentic Homeschool Life August 26, 2024 7 Easy Ways to Incorporate Writing into Your Homeschool Mom Life August 21, 2024 The Joy of Slow: Homeschool & Wellness with Leslie Martino August 13, 2024 Why I Homeschool, Unexpected Challenges & My Transformation August 3, 2024 John Holt & Pat Farenga Teach Homeschoolers How to Learn July 29, 2024 Empowering words for your new homeschool year July 22, 2024 Crush 1st-Year Homeschool Frustrations and Plan a Smooth Year 2 July 17, 2024 9 Steps to Thrive: Confident Homeschool Mom in Year 1 July 11, 2024 Can I Homeschool in Canada? Your Ultimate Guide to Support & Resources July 2, 2024 Dive into 10 Helpful Books for Homeschooling Moms! June 17, 2024 7 Important Reasons for Project-Based Homeschooling June 10, 2024 The Ultimate Homeschool Burnout Prevention Plan June 3, 2024 “Should I Homeschool My Child?” Here’s What You Need to Know May 31, 2024 5 Reasons Why Self-Care is Essential for Homeschool Moms May 27, 2024 Own Your Learning, Own Your Life with Stephanie Sewell May 21, 2024 Customized Homeschool Help for Parents that Can Transform your Life May 14, 2024 Get Started Homeschooling in 2024: A Guide for a Successful & Satisfying Journey! May 7, 2024 Unraveling the Art of Learning with Andrew Pudewa April 30, 2024 Counseling 101: a Homeschool Parent’s Most Important Skill April 22, 2024 How Can You Live a Charged Homeschool Mom Life? April 15, 2024 how to become more you as a homeschool mama April 9, 2024 An Energizing Homeschool Mom Retreat for your Heart April 2, 2024 Becoming Authentically You with Britt Acciavatti March 26, 2024 how to deal with homeschool mama guilt (in no easy steps) March 18, 2024 16 Practical Self-Compassion Tools to Help for Homeschool Moms March 12, 2024 How to homeschool without losing your mind in 11 Steps March 4, 2024 10 Declutter Tips for Homeschool Moms with Simple by Emmy February 27, 2024 Self-Care & Deschooling: Is there a Helpful Connection? February 21, 2024 Crack the Loneliness Code: How to Find Homeschool Community February 12, 2024 how to deschool 101: Embrace Freedom and Individualization February 5, 2024 Breaking Free: How Deschooling Helps You Live a Purposeful Life January 30, 2024 The Readaloud Revival Podcast: A Homeschool Mom's Vision That Sparked a Literary Movement January 23, 2024 How to Develop Boundaries in your Homeschool Life January 16, 2024 Find a Vision for your Homeschool Family in the 2024 New Year January 9, 2024 Join the 2024 Homeschool Challenge for Clarity, Confidence & Vision December 21, 2023 Tis the Season: 10 Steps to Simplify Homeschool Christmas December 12, 2023 Encouragement for Homeschool Moms in the 1st Year December 4, 2023 50 ways I nurture myself as a homeschool mama November 28, 2023 A Homeschool Mom Podcast for Boundary Breakthrough November 21, 2023 Healing the Mother Wound for Homeschool Moms November 14, 2023 A Candid Conversation with Unschooler at Virtual Kitchen Table November 7, 2023 13 Ways Taylor Swift can Inspire your Homeschool Life October 24, 2023 Grow Yourself Up: A Guide for Homeschool Mom Personal Growth October 16, 2023 Nurture Resilience & Big Emotions with Lindsey Casselman of Schoolio Learning October 10, 2023 The Homeschooling Option: How to Decide When It’s Right October 3, 2023 6 Hidden Challenges of the Homeschool: Support for Parents September 26, 2023 Unshackle Homeschool Mom Frustration: Unleash for Growth in 5 Ways September 19, 2023 5 Creative Ways to Design a Homeschool Mom Personal Vision September 11, 2023 6 Game-Changing Ways to Streamline your Homeschool Routines September 5, 2023 Child-Led Learning Benefits Your Kids (& You) Will Love August 28, 2023 Crafting a Simple Homeschool Vision Statement with Your Family Values August 24, 2023 How to Plan for Your Homeschool if You Don’t Want to Continue August 14, 2023 Unique Homeschool Help to Reimagine your Homeschool August 8, 2023 6 Fresh Ideas on How to Homeschool Plan August 1, 2023 How to Plan Homeschool: What I Want My Kids To Know July 25, 2023 Why you Might Want to Incorporate a Project-Based Homeschool July 18, 2023 What It’s Like: Homeschool to High School Transition July 11, 2023 How to Do Kindergarten in Your Homeschool: A Fun & Effective Guide June 27, 2023 Navigate the 2nd-5th Homeschool Years: Challenges and Insights June 22, 2023 Can I Homeschool My Child? 9 Simple Steps to Confidently Start the Journey June 20, 2023 How to Reimagine Your Homeschool Support: 7 Essential Lessons June 12, 2023 Teach Your Own: Homeschool Confidently Without Being a Certified Teacher June 6, 2023 Raising Wildflower Kids: Embrace an Authentic & Customized Homeschool June 2, 2023 Homeschool with Purpose: Honouring our Values & Priorities May 25, 2023 Planning for Your Upcoming Homeschool in 11 Important Steps May 23, 2023 What should success look like in our homeschools? May 18, 2023 Reimagine Homeschool: Nine Simple Steps to Plan for Confidence & Clarity May 16, 2023 6 ways to live your homeschool life on purpose April 23, 2023 7 Ways to Live your Best Life: Self-Care for Homeschool Moms April 17, 2023 A 2023 High School Graduate’s Thoughts on her Homeschool Life April 11, 2023 How to Use Internal Family Systems for Homeschool Moms April 3, 2023 How to Help your Kids Read with Confidence March 22, 2023 How to Show Up for You (& your Kids) as you are a Working Homeschool Mom with Charlotte Jones March 13, 2023 How to Celebrate Diversity & Kinship with Amber O’Neal Johnston March 6, 2023 How to Encourage Happiness in Our Homeschools? March 3, 2023 How Marie Forleo Informs my Homeschool (& makes it figureoutable) February 20, 2023 John Taylor Gatto Informs your Homeschool in 7 Freedom-Loving Ways February 13, 2023 How Rachel Gathercole Clarifies Concerns on the Homeschool Socialization Question February 6, 2023 A Journey of Self-Nurturing for the Homeschool Mama’s Heart January 30, 2023 How Elizabeth Gilbert infuses our Homeschools with Big Magic January 24, 2023 5 Ways We Can Include Self-Compassion for Homeschool Moms January 17, 2023 How Brene Brown’s Atlas of the Heart Influences our Homeschools January 10, 2023 Homeschool Help Podcast for Your (Real) Homeschool Mom Life January 3, 2023 Tackling Homeschool Mom Overwhelm in the Homeschool Mom Podcast December 12, 2022 How Charlotte Mason Can Help you Change & Grow with Modern Miss Mason November 28, 2022 how to build and create community as a homeschool mom November 16, 2022 Journaling for the Homeschool Mom to Overcome Overwhelm November 7, 2022 Intuitively Grow your Fearless Homeschool Flow with Vanessa Wright October 31, 2022 The Art of Talking with our Homeschool Children October 17, 2022 More than Enough: How Kara S. Anderson Informs my Homeschool October 11, 2022 Making our Homeschool A Little More Beautiful with Sarah Mackenzie Readaloud Revival Podcast October 5, 2022 Understanding the Enneagram for Homeschoolers September 19, 2022 Are you homeschooling good enough? September 14, 2022 Unleash Homeschool Potential: Embrace Flexibility & Growth with Aimee Otto September 5, 2022 Time Audit to Address Unrealistic Expectations in your Homeschool August 31, 2022 How to manage unrealistic expectations in our homeschool August 19, 2022 Growth Mindset for Homeschoolers with Jenny Mouse August 12, 2022 How to Handle Homeschool Overwhelm August 2, 2022 Supporting the Overwhelmed Homeschool Mama on the Podcast July 25, 2022 when you buy new homeschool curriculum: 5 clever suggestions July 5, 2022 why kids don’t need school socialization & why they need you instead June 28, 2022 why homeschool your child? 8 reasons my family homeschools June 20, 2022 How to Facilitate Child-Led Learning in your Homeschool June 14, 2022 curiosity and education: how to facilitate it June 8, 2022 What about gaps in my child’s home education? June 2, 2022 the surprising transition from school to homeschool May 24, 2022 A Beginner’s Guide to Your First Year of Homeschool May 17, 2022 A Homeschool Mama Will Benefit from Coaching for Homeschool (& Life) April 20, 2022 How to Deal with our Stuff so We Can Help our Kids with Jenn Dean April 11, 2022 Homeschool Mama Big Emotions Toolbox Part 3 April 5, 2022 Confidently Homeschool Differently-Wired Kids with Colleen Kessler March 28, 2022 Deal with Your Homeschool Mom’s Big Emotions: Taming Thoughts March 23, 2022 Overcoming Frustrations with Jennifer Bryant, Practical Family Podcast March 14, 2022 Homeschool Mama’s Big Emotions & How to Address Them March 8, 2022 Bust Confusing Homeschool Myths with Alison Morrow February 28, 2022 How Listening to our Trauma Stories can Enable our Homeschool Families with Norm Quantz February 14, 2022 How to Love Myself as a Homeschool Mama February 8, 2022 Why Homeschool High School is Better with Mary Hanna Wilson January 31, 2022 Homeschooling in a Pandemic: 14 Approaches to Address Overwhelm January 27, 2022 How Gordon Neufeld Informs my Homeschool January 19, 2022 How to Deschool with Kelly Edwards from 90-Minute Day January 18, 2022 A Meaningful Step-by-Step Guide to Plan your Homeschool Year January 4, 2022 how to naturally care while homeschooling special needs with Julie Polanco December 7, 2021 Manage Impatience in your Homeschool: 14 Strategies to Freedom December 1, 2021 4 ways essential oils contribute to homeschools with Kristin Mercer November 24, 2021 A Parent’s Guide to Raising Critical Thinkers with Julie Bogart November 9, 2021 the truth behind homeschool socialization: 10 secrets that surprise November 3, 2021 Freedoms of Self-Directed Education with Robyn Robertson October 26, 2021 Should you be a homeschool mom: how do you know you’ve got what it takes? October 12, 2021 How to Address Your Big Emotions with Christine Dixon October 12, 2021 How to Keep Sane as a Homeschool Mom: 5 Simple Principles October 5, 2021 How to Address Worry & Overthinking for the Homeschool Mama September 28, 2021 how to live your simple homeschool life on purpose September 22, 2021 How to Maintain Authenticity in our Homeschool with Betsy Jenkins September 14, 2021 a Letter to My Homeschool High School Daughter September 8, 2021 3 Things You Need to Know Before You Homeschool August 24, 2021 How to Plan for your Upcoming Homeschool August 18, 2021 The Not So Big Life with Sarah Susanka June 29, 2021 Homeschool Teens Perspective: How to Homeschool High School June 23, 2021 a Perspective Shift on the Art and Science of an Education June 21, 2021 A Homeschool Dad’s Thoughts on How to Homeschool June 14, 2021 How Homeschooling Requires us to Face our Shortcomings June 11, 2021 How to Be Conscious in Your Homeschool with Erica Kesilman June 8, 2021 How to Marie Kondo your Homeschool June 7, 2021 Grow your Confidence & Banish Burnout with Kara S. Anderson June 1, 2021 How to Journal to Process Stress, Anxiety & Trauma with Nicolle Nattrass May 25, 2021 How to Use Nonviolent Communication in our Homeschools May 18, 2021 How to Survive the Pandemic when you Homeschool May 3, 2021 How to Deal with our Traumas as Homeschool Parents April 28, 2021 How to Tackle Unhealthy Habits for the Homeschool Mom April 20, 2021 A Love of Learning, Despite Challenges with Diane Geerlinks April 13, 2021 How to Care for Mama’s Six Selves with the Homeschool Genius April 7, 2021 How to Influence Your Homeschool with Self-Awareness March 31, 2021 How to Be a Stay-At-Home Mom & Stay Inspired with the Kids March 22, 2021 How to Create a Simple Homeschool Routine with Kelly Briggs March 15, 2021 Incorporate your Interests in your Homeschool with Kimberly Charron February 9, 2021 Let’s Chat with Vicki Tillman of Homeschool High School Podcast February 2, 2021 Thriving, not just Surviving Homeschooling after Pregnancy January 26, 2021 How to Incorporate Ten Self-Care Tips for Homeschool Moms January 18, 2021 How to Create a Fresh Start to Unhappy Homeschool Days January 12, 2021 A Proactive Guide for Planning Your Homeschool in the New Year December 29, 2020 Introducing the 12 Day Self-Care Strategies for Homeschool Moms December 8, 2020 7 Effective Tools to Build Boundaries (& Why You Require Them) December 3, 2020 How to successfully balance working while homeschooling December 1, 2020 Building Boundaries and Requiring Time Outs with Stacy Wilson November 25, 2020 How to Address Doubt in your Homeschool Choice with Confidence November 17, 2020 How to Develop Self-Confidence as a Homeschool Mom with Sarah Gorner November 11, 2020 Encouraging Words for Homeschool Mom October 28, 2020 Building Connection with Tamara Strijack of the Neufeld Institute October 14, 2020 How to Homeschool & Find Your Thing with Julie Bogart October 7, 2020 How to Help Homeschool Mom when she’s Frustrated September 30, 2020 How to Deal with Anger in Your Homeschool with Judy Arnall September 23, 2020 How to Get Quiet Time as a Homeschool Mom with Rachel Le September 16, 2020 How to Homeschool During a Crisis with Lynda Puleio September 9, 2020 How to Work from home While Homeschooling with Meaghan Jackson September 2, 2020 Debunking the Myth of Balance with the Canadian Homeschooler August 26, 2020 7 Things to Structure a Grade 1 Homeschool Curriculum August 19, 2020 Self-Care from 30 Years of Homeschooling with Bonnie Landry August 12, 2020 Creating Learning Opportunities, not Recreating School Subjects August 5, 2020 How to Do Unschooling with Robyn Robertson July 29, 2020 If You’re Planning for your Homeschool Year: 10 Lessons in 10 Years July 22, 2020 How to Homeschool as a Single Mom with with Sarah Wall July 15, 2020 A Day in the Life of Homeschooling: 18 Years with my Kids July 6, 2020 Unveil Education Insights: Your Guide to Homeschooling Success July 2, 2020 What about homeschool socialization? June 22, 2020 Exploring Your Identity with Pat Fenner June 18, 2020 Homeschool Mama, Are you Living a Life Worth Living? April 14, 2020 How Changing your Perspective Shifts your Homeschool with Sarah Scott April 6, 2020 Homeschooling Little Kids & Taking Care of Yourself with Isis Loran March 4, 2020 Welcome to the Homeschool Mama Self-Care Podcast (& Why I Homeschool) February 19, 2020 The Mistake of Multitasking in our Homeschools: 5 Tips to Be More Present September 16, 2013 Subscribe to the Homeschool Mama Self-Care podcast YouTube Apple Audible Spotify (function(m,a,i,l,e,r){ m['MailerLiteObject']=e;function f(){ var c={ a:arguments,q:[]};var r=this.push(c);return "number"!=typeof r?r:f.bind(c.q);} f.q=f.q||[];m[e]=m[e]||f.bind(f.q);m[e].q=m[e].q||f.q;r=a.createElement(i); var _=a.getElementsByTagName(i)[0];r.async=1;r.src=l+'?v'+(~~(new Date().getTime()/1000000)); _.parentNode.insertBefore(r,_);})(window, document, 'script', 'https://static.mailerlite.com/js/universal.js', 'ml'); var ml_account = ml('accounts', '1815912', 'p9n9c0c7s5', 'load'); The post 12 Things I've Learned About Homeschool Moms: Self-Care Tips for Overwhelmed Homeschool Moms appeared first on Capturing the Charmed Life.

This episode about Enneagram 1 arrows takes us deeper into the Enneagram transformation. This is NOT a shallow episode. With the next step of arrows, you are going to see a side of yourself that is SO illuminating! Check out The Coven Try the Free Enneagram Quiz!!!! Message me on Instagram @Angie.Alchemist and ask all your Enneagram questions! OR email me at angiealchemy@gmail.com Check out more at AngieAlchemist.com Link to the episode all about stress and growth arrows #120

Linda Schiller, December 10th, Wednesday, 410 PM EST Topic: Ancestral Dreaming: Heal Generational Wounds Through Dreamwork Bio: Linda Yael Schiller, MSW, LICSW is an international speaker, dreamwork and trauma treatment expert, and author of Ancestral Dreaming: Healing Generational Wounds with Dreamwork (Llewellyn 2025), PTSDreams: Transform Your Nightmares from Trauma through Healing Dreamwork (Llaewellyn, 2022), Modern Dreamwork: New Tools for Decoding Your Soul's Wisdom (Llewellyn, 2019 and Comprehensive and Integrative Trauma Treatment (Western Schools, 2010), as well as numerous articles and book chapters. She is an integrative mind/body/spiritual psychotherapist and consultant with over 40 years' experience, and a long-term member of IASD, (the International Association for the Study of Dreams). Linda is also trained in the body/mind methodologies of EMDR, EFT, TAT, HBLU, Kabbalah healing, Enneagram, hypnotherapy, Somatic Experiencing, Focusing, and Reiki. Professor Emeritus at Boston University School of Social Work, she has received awards for her original theory of relational group work, and recognition worldwide for her teaching excellence. Linda regularly teaches dreamwork and facilitates dream groups for the public and professional audiences on her original dreamwork methods which include her “Integrated Embodied Dreamwork” approach, her unique “Dreamwork through the Lens of Kabbalah” which includes the Pardes Method of layers of dream meaning, and her nightmare protocol based on best practice trauma treatment and Jungian active imagination called “The GAIA Method: A Guided Active Imagination Approach”. She is a vibrant, warm, and dynamic speaker and has been described as … “engaging, articulate, and inspiring”, and has been a member of her own dream circle for over 40 years. Ancestral Dreaming: Heal Generational Wounds through Dreamwork, 2025 Llewellyn Worldwide Publishers http://www.ancestral-dreaming.com "PTSDreams: Transform your Nightmares from Trauma Through Healing Dreamwork", 2022 Llewellyn Worldwide Publishers http://www.ptsdreams.com "Modern Dreamwork: New Tools for Decoding your Soul's Wisdom", 2019 Llewellyn Worldwide Publishers http://www.moderndreamwork.com www.lindayaelschiller.com lindayschiller@gmail.com facebook.com/linda.schiller.9461 https://www.linkedin.com/feed/ https://www.instagram.com/lindayschiller22/

Find out more about The Art of GrowthTake a free Enneagram Test HERE.Sign up for the “Your Enneagram Starting Point” course HERE. Get Enneagram Certified HERE.Find out more about Teams Training HERE.Order our book on the Instincts: HERESet up One-on-One coaching HERE.www.theartofgrowth.org Email us your thoughts and questions!  Follow us on Instagram at ArtofGrowth for more on this subject this month and let us know what you are doing.© The Art of Growth ™ 2025Support the showhttps://www.theartofgrowth.org/

Send us a textThis guided Advent Examen is a calm, soul-settling space to pause before a new story begins.Amy leads you through releasing what you've been carrying, remembering the threads of grace in your year, and receiving the hope God is writing into your next chapter.Consider listening once while multitasking, and again with a pen and paper in hand.This reflection gently prepares your heart for the Christmas fiction stories to release in the weeks ahead and for the wholehearted narratives woven into Amy's new book (April 2026!).Let this be the quiet shift before your page turns.Get Your Enneagram Gift Guide and Advent Podcast Playlist- https://www.simplywholehearted.com/enneagram-gift-guideRESOURCES FOR YOU: Book a High-Value Clarity Call with Amy Wicks https://www.simplywholehearted.com/callamywicks Not sure about your Enneagram Type? Start here: https://www.simplywholehearted.com/enneagramquiz Wholehearted Enneagram Coachinghttps://bit.ly/SWcoachingcollectiveEnnea-what? The Beginners Guide to the Enneagram(free course + printables)https://bit.ly/Enneagram101GuideThe Real History of the Enneagram Course(use code AMY for 40% OFF)https://bit.ly/EnneagramHistoryShould Christians Use the Enneagram? (Amy's book)https://amzn.to/3VB9PrxConnect with Amy:IGWebsite

In this episode, we unpack neurodiversity and the Enneagram. Neurotype interacts with personality type and can lead to some interesting mistypings. We discuss why 7 and ADHD aren't the same thing, why autism can run in any type (not just 5s), and why sensory sensitivities can be false positives. We also gripe a little bit about how people misunderstand the lines of connection and type themselves based on their “line to x”. Join us in this episode of Do You Know You for some good ol' fashioned rapid fire AuDHD info dumping. And yes…there's a whole thing about Wario in this episode.Mentioned in the episode:If you're interested in attending our When Instincts Collide class on 12/13, you can register for the course here. To make sure you're in the loop regarding our upcoming courses, make sure you're on our email list!We love you all. Thank you for listening!Want to say hi, ask us a question, or submit a topic you'd love to hear more about? We want to hear from you!Other resources:* For more content, you can also find us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube* To learn more about the Enneagram from us, browse some of our courses* Check out our website links for other information and resources, or to sign up for our mailing list!Support the Show.Credits:Hosts: Sterlin Mosley, PhD & Aaron Addonizio, MHR, MPATheme Song: Royalty free LoFi edited by us, at least until we're fancy enough to have someone write us our own intro!Disclaimer:The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate. Any and all views and opinions expressed on the Do You Know You? Podcast are expressly our own. At times we may cover sensitive topics or areas of discussion, including subjects that are either directly or indirectly related to psychology and mental health, however, it is vital to remember that nothing shared on this podcast is ever a substitute for counseling or medical care. Please seek out a qualified individual to discuss any concerns you may have about your own health. Commentary by our podcast is never intended to malign any particular individual, organization, group, club, or business. Confidentiality is paramount to us, so all people, places, and scenarios mentioned in the podcast have been altered to protect the individual's privacy. Get full access to Empathy Architects: An Enneagram Substack at empathyarchitects.substack.com/subscribe

Find out more about The Art of GrowthTake a free Enneagram Test HERE.Sign up for the “Your Enneagram Starting Point” course HERE. Get Enneagram Certified HERE.Find out more about Teams Training HERE.Order our book on the Instincts: HERESet up One-on-One coaching HERE.www.theartofgrowth.org Email us your thoughts and questions!  Follow us on Instagram at ArtofGrowth for more on this subject this month and let us know what you are doing.© The Art of Growth ™ 2025Support the showhttps://www.theartofgrowth.org/

Get on our Advent adventure together too where we'll discuss hope, love, and joy starting December 1st at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.EnneagramandMarriage.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Mark your calendars for Dec 9 as we meet over Zoom 1PM EST to discuss how to keep you from fighting all season long, too! Sign up for emails to get your link. Find more about your type, the pod, freebies, and SO much more at our website right here! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.EnneagramandMarriage.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Love what you're learning on E + M? Make sure you leave us a podcast review so others can find us, too⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Get Christa's Best-Selling Book, The Enneagram in Marriage, here! ⁠https://a.co/d/df8SxVx Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the The Achievers Podcast. I'm your host, Amber Deibert, Performance Coach. I help enterprise sellers unlock their full potential by aligning their work with how they workout and cleaning up mindset trash, so they can sell more, stress less, and take back control of their time and success. If you've ever taken the Enneagram and discovered you're a Type 3 (The Achiever) or if you simply act like one, this episode will feel like someone finally put words to your inner world. Achievers push themselves relentlessly. They hit goal after goal. They look wildly successful from the outside… …while quietly feeling like they're only as good as their last accomplishment. In this episode, I break down what drives Enneagram 3s, why achievement becomes tied to self-worth, and how to break out of the "always chasing, never satisfied" cycle without losing your ambition. You'll walk away with practical tools to feel more grounded, worthy, and whole, without losing the part of you that loves to grow.     

We've all heard of the Enneagram, but what if this powerful personality system held the key to unlocking your best financial future? In this riveting conversation, we welcome Doug Lynam, a man whose life path defies simple categorization: Marine Corps officer candidate, Benedictine monk, and now, a respected wealth manager. Doug brings his unique perspective […]

Send us a textIf people can't read your value, they can't reward it. We sit down with brand strategist Jen Dalton to turn personal branding from a fuzzy idea into a practical plan you can execute, one small step at a time. Our conversation starts with a simple truth—telepathy isn't a strategy—and builds toward a reputation roadmap that helps you define your strengths, choose the right words, and create monthly evidence that moves you closer to the work you want.We break down the crucial difference between business branding and personal branding, then focus on what actually builds trust: authenticity, vulnerability, and stories with real lessons. Jen shares how to stop confusing personal branding with bragging and start sharing useful insights, mistakes, and wins that help your audience. We talk about finding your niche, making your reputation visible on LinkedIn and video, and why Gen Z rewards leaders who are genuine and clear. You'll hear practical tools—DiSC, StrengthsFinder, Enneagram—for surfacing blind spots, plus a simple exercise to pick three strengths, write a mission statement, and align your language so people perceive you the way you intend.From there, we get tactical. Learn how to build a 12–24 month reputation roadmap, create one proof point each month, and use platforms strategically to show your value without shouting. We discuss leadership branding, aligning actions with words, and building four networks—peers, prospects, giving back, and fun—to stay relevant and resilient. Grant shares his AI Business Accelerator as a live example of building evidence for a future-focused brand, and we explore creative ways to upskill, serve, and stand out without trying to be “an influencer.”Ready to own your story and make your value visible? Listen, take notes, and then pick one action to ship this week. If this conversation helped you, follow the show, share it with a friend who's ready for a pivot, and leave a quick review so more builders can find us.Thanks for tuning in to this episode of Follow The Brand! We hope you enjoyed learning about the latest trends and strategies in Personal Branding, Business and Career Development, Financial Empowerment, Technology Innovation, and Executive Presence. To keep up with the latest insights and updates, visit 5starbdm.com. And don't miss Grant McGaugh's new book, First Light — a powerful guide to igniting your purpose and building a BRAVE brand that stands out in a changing world. - https://5starbdm.com/brave-masterclass/ See you next time on Follow The Brand!

This episode is sponsored by DigiCoachMake walkthroughs meaningful. Simplify your coaching culture. Visit digiCOACH.com and mention Darrin for special partner pricing.If you've followed high-level high school athletics—especially in Colorado—you've probably heard of Valor Christian High School. From state titles to nationally ranked teams, Valor has built a reputation for excellence. But what most people don't see is the intentional culture, systems, and faith-driven leadership behind the wins.In this episode, Darrin sits down with Keith Wahl, longtime coach and now Athletic Director at Valor Christian, to talk about building a mission-centered athletic program in the middle of NIL, transfer portals, club sports pressure, and sky-high parent expectations.Keith shares how Valor has stayed anchored to its founding mission and culture documents, how they rebuilt systems after a difficult season, and why he believes sports don't teach life lessons—people do.In this episode, you'll hear:Keith's journey into leadership at Valor ChristianFrom opening Mountain Vista High School as its first head baseball coach… to a “divine nudge” text from his wife… to becoming Valor's first head baseball coach and eventually Athletic Director.From “pioneer” to nationally respected athletics programHow Valor went from a brand-new school with a bold Christian mission to a MaxPreps Top 50-level athletic department—without abandoning its original vision and purpose.Culture documents, team plans, and the power of clarityWhy written team plans and an athletic handbook became game changers for culture, communication, and peace—and what happened when those systems disappeared (and then had to be rebuilt).Leading in the NIL and transfer eraHow NIL, club sports, and transfer rules have reshaped high school athletics—and what leaders can do to stay mission-focused instead of becoming purely transactional.Youth sports pressure and parent expectationsWhy today's parents often have less trust and higher expectations, and how schools can respond with value, transparency, and a holistic vision of sport.Faith, sport, and deeper meaning beyond the scoreboardKeith's work with Baylor's Faith & Sport Institute, their “Away Game” cohort, and what it looks like to build an athletic experience that forms character—not just winners.The trust triangle & the athletic leadership teamHow Keith uses the “trust triangle” (with authentic vulnerability at the base) to lead his internal team and create a second-family culture among his staff.Knowing your people: Enneagram, Working Genius & AIHow Keith uses tools like the Enneagram, Working Genius—and yes, even ChatGPT—to better understand his team and tailor his communication to each person.A powerful tribute to Coach Janie McHughThe story of longtime Valor volleyball coach Janie McHugh, her fourth straight state title, and why Keith believes deeply that knowing your people is one of the greatest gifts of leadership.Connect with Keith WahlValor Athletics: valoreagles.comSocial: @CoachWahl22 on all major platforms

In this episode of Enneagram at Work, we continue the 9 Types Overview Series with a focused look at Type 5: Striving to Feel Detached, as described in the Awareness to Action framework.We'll'll explore how Type 5s bring clarity, analysis, and innovation to the workplace, and how their need for independence, energy conservation, and mastery can shape communication and collaboration on a team.Whether you are a Type 5 or work closely with deep thinkers who prefer a bit more space and autonomy, this episode offers practical ways to support their strengths and growth in real-world work environments.What You'll Learn When You Listen In:The core motivation behind Type 5's drive to feel detachedHow Type 5s process information and determine when they're “ready”Why they avoid emotional pressure and interruptionsThe strengths they bring to teams: expertise, curiosity, and clear analysisOverused strengths that become withdrawal or over-observingThe role of The Strategist as a leaderHow instinctual biases create different expressions of Type 5Growth practices through their arrows to Type 8 and Type 7How to give feedback in a way that feels respectful and empoweringTry This at Work: ExperimentsIf you're a Type 5: Share ideas sooner, perfection isn't required to be valuable. Connect even when you'd prefer to retreat.If you work with a Type 5: Give advance notice before asking for input. Respect their need for boundaries and solo focus time.For Teams & LeadersType 5s bring wisdom and vision that help teams make smarter decisions and avoid risks others overlook. They are steady under pressure and masterful at breaking down complex information.But when energy feels scarce or expectations feel intrusive, they may retreat into their minds, leaving teammates unsure how to engage.Teams thrive when they invite Type 5s in without demanding too much too fast.Have a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!

In today's conversation, I sit down with Ian Cron — a psychotherapist, priest, bestselling author of The Road Back to You, and one of the world's leading experts on the Enneagram. This episode hit me far harder than I expected. Ian doesn't just explain the Enneagram… he helps us understand how our personality type shapes our marriage, our parenting, our leadership, and even the stories we tell ourselves.   But things get incredibly real when Ian puts me through a live guided inner-work exercise. Within minutes, he led me straight into one of the deepest beliefs I carry about success, provision, and worth — taking me face-to-face with the 12-year-old version of myself who still drives far more than I realized. It was raw, vulnerable, uncomfortable… and one of the most powerful moments I've had behind this microphone. If you've ever wondered why you do what you do, why you push so hard, or why your strengths sometimes undermine you, this conversation will stop you in your tracks.     Timeline Summary: [0:00] – Introducing the episode and why today's conversation hit harder than expected. [1:27] – Ian Cron's background as a psychotherapist, priest, and Enneagram expert. [2:12] – Ian explains the nine personality types in plain language. [2:42] – Why I chose to get vulnerable and let Ian guide me through inner work. [3:25] – A moment of intense authenticity as I sit face-to-face with my younger self. [11:51] – Nature vs. nurture — where personality comes from. [13:34] – Why self-awareness is essential for good living, marriage, and parenting. [15:31] – Applying Enneagram wisdom to understanding kids and their inner worlds. [17:22] – How knowing my wife's type changed our marriage. [18:27] – "What's best about you is also what's worst about you." [19:59] – Ian analyzes my type (3w2) and explains why he knew so much about me instantly. [21:42] – How threes may unintentionally run over people while chasing goals. [22:50] – Parenting kids who aren't wired like you — and avoiding making them copies. [24:12] – Why every type has strengths, weaknesses, and a path toward health. [26:32] – Understanding your kids' Enneagram types and customizing your parenting. [27:48] – When kids should take the Enneagram test. [29:03] – My own reflections on turning 50 and becoming more self-aware. [30:19] – How to begin inner work and understand your type's shadow side. [31:21] – The shift from first-half-of-life achievement to second-half-of-life meaning. [32:36] – Do Enneagram types change over time? [33:58] – Ian shares the hard truths about being a Type 4 and the work it required. [35:51] – What makes the Enneagram "painfully accurate" — and why it stings at first. [43:03] – Why dating app "compatibility" algorithms may be misleading. [46:16] – The danger of being married to someone exactly like you. [47:15] – Why I talk to the "achiever" part of myself and how Ian explains this phenomenon. [49:21] – Understanding internal "parts" and learning to lead them well. [52:06] – The moment my 12-year-old self emerges during the guided exercise. [1:02:14] – Why self-knowledge is the beginning of wisdom. [1:03:27] – Ian's resources: assessments, coaching, books, and his Typology podcast. [1:04:45] – Final reflections and directing listeners to the show notes.     Five Key Takeaways   The Enneagram reveals core motivations, not just behaviors. Understanding your type gives you a mirror into why you act, think, and feel the way you do.  Self-awareness is foundational to healthy marriage and parenting. When you understand your patterns, blind spots, and triggers, you show up more intentionally for the people you love.  Your strengths also contain your shadow. "What's best about you is also what's worst about you" — and growth requires facing both sides honestly.  Inner-work exposes old parts still running your life. The guided exercise revealed a wounded 12-year-old part of me still driving my need to achieve and provide.  Your type doesn't change, but you evolve within it. True maturity comes from learning to lead your personality, not letting it lead you.      Links & Resources: Ian's website & resources: https://www.ianmorgancron.com Ian's book: The Road Back to You: https://www.amazon.com/Road-Back-You-Enneagram-Self-Discovery/dp/0830846190 Bark x The Dad Edge: http://thedadedge.com/bark Show notes: https://thedadedge.com/1410     Closing Remark   If this episode gave you a moment of clarity, helped you understand yourself better, or challenged you to grow, please rate, review, follow, and share the podcast. From my heart to yours, thank you for listening — now go out and live legendary.

This week on Typology, we welcomed the incomparable Lynn Smith—former national news anchor turned communications strategist, executive coach, and proud (and newly discovered) Enneagram Three with a Two wing. And friends… buckle up. This conversation is a masterclass in emotional intelligence, presence, and what it means to pursue success without losing yourself in the chase. Fresh off taking the Typology Assessment, Lynn joined us in that familiar Three-ish blend of humor, candor, and high-octane energy, joking that the results made her want to immediately call her therapist. What unfolded from there was a remarkably vulnerable exploration of people-pleasing, approval-seeking, identity, and the hidden costs of a lifetime spent earning applause. Lynn pulled back the curtain on her years in broadcast news—an industry where worth is measured in seconds, headlines, and flawless delivery—and revealed the deeper story beneath her polished exterior: a lifelong drive to achieve, a tenderness inherited from her family's immigrant narrative, and a powerful desire to help others communicate with confidence and authenticity. But the real gem of this episode is Lynn's groundbreaking work on what she calls "the brain bully." That inner critic. That saboteur whispering that you're one misstep away from failure. That internal voice Threes know far too well. Lynn not only names it—she teaches you how to outsmart it. Her framework for dismantling fear and building resilient confidence is practical, empowering, and deeply human. And when she reveals her own brain bully's name—"Bob"—you can't help but laugh and exhale. Sometimes the most powerful breakthroughs come with a wink. We also wandered into a juicy conversation about magnetism versus authenticity, why your energy enters a room a full tenth of a second before you do, and how the Enneagram can radically improve communication across teams, industries, and families.   Connect with Lynn Smith at www.lynnsmith.com or on socials at @lynnsmithtv   CONNECT WITH IAN Learn more about the Enneagram at www.ianmorgancron.com or follow Ian at @ianmorgancron and @typologypodcast on Instagram and Facebook P.S. Interested in a 30-minute one-on-one virtual coaching session with Ian? Fill out our interest form here.

In this Enneagram 8 episode, Sissy and David sit down with longtime friends (and parents of six young adults between them) Amy Fenton and Brian Camp. They share how their “eightness” showed up early—taking charge in childhood, pushing back on authority, and feeling fiercely independent—and how those same traits now benefit their kids through strength, decisiveness, advocacy, and protection that help children feel deeply safe and supported. Amy and Brian also talk honestly about the harder parts of being an eight parent: quick overreactions, bulldozing with intensity, needing to be heard and “right,” and how fear can sit underneath their need to control. With stories from tossed Xboxes to “conversations about the conversation,” they share practical tools they're using now—walking away, pausing, asking “Do you want to try that again?”, owning their mistakes, and choosing presence over certainty—so their kids experience them as strong, honest, deeply loyal parents who always have their back. Resources mentioned: Christian Sexuality: Raising Kids Amy's Cream of Taco 1 lb of browned ground beef1 half pint of whipping cream (yes, I did say whipping cream)1 lb Velveeta cubed2 cans of Chili with no beans2 can of chili hot beans - found in the bean section, not the chili section1 can of RotelPut all ingredients in a crock-pot for a few hours on low, allowing the cream to heat and thicken the mixture. Place in a bowl and put the Chili Cheese Frito's on top. You can top with sour cream, shredded cheese, pico, lettuce, etc. It is even better reheated, and it is a fall favorite at our house. Makes enough to share with all the neighbors. . . . . . .  Sign up to receive the⁠ bi-⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠monthly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to keep up to date with where David and Sissy are speaking, where they are taco'ing, PLUS conversation starters for you and your family to share! Access Raising Boys and Girls courses here! Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠raisingboysandgirls.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Owen Learns He Has What it Takes: A Lesson in Resilience⁠ ⁠Lucy Learns to Be Brave: A Lesson in Courage⁠⁠ . . . . . .  If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Advertise With Us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ form. A special thank you to our sponsors: QUINCE: Go to ⁠Quince.com/rbg⁠ for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns. THRIVE MARKET: Head over to ⁠ThriveMarket.com/rbg⁠ to get 30% off your first order and a FREE $60 gift.  NIV APPLICATION BIBLE: Save an additional 10% on any NIV Application Bible and NIV Application Commentary Resources by visiting faithgateway.com/nivab and using promo code RBG. ​​EVERYDAY DOSE: Get 45% off your first subscription order of 30-servings of Coffee+ or Bold+. You'll also receive a starter kit with over $100 in free gifts including a rechargeable frother and gunmetal serving spoon by going to everydaydose.com/RGB or entering RGB at checkout. You'll also get FREE gifts throughout the year! JOLIE: Jolie will give you your best skin & hair guaranteed. Head to jolieskinco.com/RBG to try it out for yourself with FREE shipping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, I interview Manya Gittel who lost her voice during a stroke and woke up to something far more unexpected than the crisis itself. She describes that moment as an inner awakening she didn't see coming, one that shifted her sense of who she was and how her voice lived inside her.Manya shares parts of her early life, shaped by her parents' history and the roles she learned to carry as a child. These patterns became so natural to her that she never questioned them, even as they influenced how she showed up in the world.What changed after the stroke is something she explains in a way that feels both surprising and deeply human. The way she describes that shift invites you to listen closely and wonder about the places where you too might be living from habit instead of truth.Today, Manya reflects on how that experience continues to shape her voice and her presence. Her story opens a rare conversation about authenticity, connection, and the moment a person realizes they have been further from themselves than they knew. It is an invitation to explore what happens when someone finally hears the voice they didn't know they lost.__________________Manya Gittel is a coach and trainer from South Africa who works with people around the world. Her background spans decades of facilitation, education, training programs, coaching, participatory theatre, and deep study of the Enneagram. She is known for helping people explore truth through voice, presence, and honest connection.Manya's work is rooted in meaningful engagement, both with oneself and with others. She brings a unique blend of insight and experience, shaped by training in both formal and informal settings and by the recognitions she has received for her commitment to personal growth and awareness.Recent life events have opened new layers in her understanding of authenticity and expression, and she now weaves those insights into her coaching. She continues to guide people toward a more grounded, truthful relationship with themselves and with the world around them.__________________Find Manya here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manyagittel/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KnocKnockCoaching/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/masteryofselfandrelationshipsLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/manyagittelSupport the showI'm Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.

Find out more about The Art of GrowthTake a free Enneagram Test HERE.Sign up for the “Your Enneagram Starting Point” course HERE. Get Enneagram Certified HERE.Find out more about Teams Training HERE.Order our book on the Instincts: HERESet up One-on-One coaching HERE.www.theartofgrowth.org Email us your thoughts and questions!  Follow us on Instagram at ArtofGrowth for more on this subject this month and let us know what you are doing.© The Art of Growth ™ 2025Support the showhttps://www.theartofgrowth.org/

In this episode, Christa sits down with men's marriage coach Eric MacDougall, an Enneagram 4 with 8 tendencies (4-3 pairing), to talk honestly about why so many men unknowingly disconnect emotionally, even while trying to “do everything right.” Eric shares the breaking-point moment when his Enneagram 3 (with-9) tendencies wife told him she loved him but wasn't in love anymore, and how that revelation pushed him to confront his patterns of overworking, performing, and using sex or productivity as substitutes for true intimacy. Together, they explore why men often rely on sexual touch to soothe deeper loneliness, and how emotional leadership creates the connection they're really longing for. Christa and Eric dive into differentiation, attunement, and how to become a safe, grounded presence instead of a fixer or withdrawer. Eric offers practical tools for rebuilding trust, cultivating intimacy that lasts, and leading with steadiness instead of intensity. This conversation is vulnerable, creative, and deeply hopeful for any couple wanting more connection and passion in their marriage. Listen here and ⁠watch on YouTube here!⁠ ⁠Find Eric's podcast at Evolved Marriage:⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-evolved-marriage-podcast/id1564452959 ⁠Find The Evolved Marriage website and men's coaching groups:⁠ https://www.evolvedmarriage.com/ ⁠Find Evolved Marriage on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/evolved_marriage/?hl=en Get on our Advent adventure together too where we'll discuss hope, love, and joy starting December 1st at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.EnneagramandMarriage.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Mark your calendars for Dec 9 as we meet over Zoom 1PM EST to discuss how to keep you from fighting all season long, too! Sign up for emails to get your link. Find more about your type, the pod, freebies, and SO much more at our website right here! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.EnneagramandMarriage.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Love what you're learning on E + M? Make sure you leave us a podcast review so others can find us, too⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get Christa's Best-Selling Book, The Enneagram in Marriage, here! https://a.co/d/df8SxVx Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sissy and David explore the bold, protective world of Enneagram 8s, celebrating their fierce loyalty, honesty, and justice‑driven strength while also naming common struggles like intensity, difficulty showing vulnerability, and quick reactions. They offer practical guidance for eight parents and caregivers—soften tone, stay calm, practice vulnerability and repair—and ideas to help eight kids use their power for good, feel respected, and grow into balanced leaders. Resources mentioned: The Enneagram Made Easy by Elizabeth Wagele and Renee Baron – used as a simple tool to help kids identify their number. The Road Back to You by Suzanne Stabile Love And Logic Series – multiple books for different ages, educators, and grandparents; recommended especially for parents raising potential eights because of its focus on getting out of power struggles. . . . . . .  Sign up to receive the⁠ bi-⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠monthly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to keep up to date with where David and Sissy are speaking, where they are taco'ing, PLUS conversation starters for you and your family to share! Access Raising Boys and Girls courses here! Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠raisingboysandgirls.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Owen Learns He Has What it Takes: A Lesson in Resilience⁠ ⁠Lucy Learns to Be Brave: A Lesson in Courage⁠⁠ . . . . . .  If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Advertise With Us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ form. A special thank you to our sponsors: QUINCE: Go to ⁠Quince.com/rbg⁠ for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns. THRIVE MARKET: Head over to ⁠ThriveMarket.com/rbg⁠ to get 30% off your first order and a FREE $60 gift.  NIV APPLICATION BIBLE: Save an additional 10% on any NIV Application Bible and NIV Application Commentary Resources by visiting faithgateway.com/nivab and using promo code RBG. OUR PLACE: Stop cooking with toxic cookware, and upgrade to Our Place today. Visit fromourplace.com/RBG and use code RBG for 10% off sitewide. HIYA: Visit hiyahealth.com/RBG to get 50% off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, you'll discover:How your soul aura reveals gifts, wounds, and lessons you're here to integrateWhy enlightenment is literally about radiating all colors of lightWhat quantum healing looks like when you work with energy directlyWhat if you're not actually a body with a soul, but light energy that temporarily took physical form?I know how that sounds. But stay with me.Most personality systems tell you what box you fit into. Myers-Briggs. Enneagram. Human Design. They're all trying to explain who you are based on behavior patterns. But Helen Plehn's Aura Color Wheel system starts with a complet ely different premise. You're not solid matter trying to be more spiritual. You're literally made of light.Modern physics backs this up. At the quantum level, everything is light, sound, vibration, frequency, and wavelength. Your body isn't solid. It's condensed light moving at different speeds. When you zoom in far enough, there's no "you" in the way you think there is. Just energy pulsing in patterns.Today our guest is Helen Plehn, creator of the Aura Color Wheel system and author of a book mapping the seven soul archetypes and their corresponding aura colors. She teaches people how to read their own energetic blueprint and consciously evolve their frequency.Links from the episode:Show Notes: mindlove.com/430Join the Mind Love Collective here: https://mindlove.com/joinSign up for The Morning Mind Love for short daily notes to wake up inspiredSupport Mind Love SponsorsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Find out more about The Art of GrowthTake a free Enneagram Test HERE.Sign up for the “Your Enneagram Starting Point” course HERE. Get Enneagram Certified HERE.Find out more about Teams Training HERE.Order our book on the Instincts: HERESet up One-on-One coaching HERE.www.theartofgrowth.org Email us your thoughts and questions!  Follow us on Instagram at ArtofGrowth for more on this subject this month and let us know what you are doing.© The Art of Growth ™ 2025Support the showhttps://www.theartofgrowth.org/

Enneagram 2.0 on a Tuesday? You heard that right! Our hosts have some exciting news to share!In this very special episode, Urânio Paes and Beatrice Chestnut dive into energy, energetic work, and the Spiritual Dimension of the Enneagram. They explore how everything in the universe is energy, and how each type expresses distinct energetic patterns that shape emotions, behavior, and inner development.Urânio and Bea also discuss how accessing subtle levels of energy, including intuition, energy fields, and subtle bodies, is essential for advancing into deeper psychological and spiritual work.And there's more: they invite you to a free Discovery Session and introduce their new course on intuitive development, energy management, and expanding consciousness, designed to help you awaken your spiritual gifts and integrate the Enneagram at higher levels of awareness.Join the Discovery Session: https://cpenneagram.com/beyond-the-physical-you-discovery-sessionLearn All About The Course: https://cpenneagram.com/beyond-the-physical-youLike learning about the Enneagram from Bea and Uranio? Join a community of Enneagram enthusiasts and participate in live monthly webinars and Q&As with Bea and Uranio. Sign up for a FREE trial of CP Online membership at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://learn.cpenneagram.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Want to discover which Enneagram type you could be? Visit our webpage ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://enneagramcompass.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn about the Enneagram test they created, Enneagram Compass.Please subscribe and share this podcast with others. It will help us out a lot!Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ChestnutPaesEnneagramAcademyFollow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/cpenneagramSign up for our newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://cpenneagram.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠Questions? ⁠hello@cpenneagram.com

Why do some romance authors build decades-long careers while others vanish after one breakout book? What really separates a throwaway pen name and rapid release strategy from a legacy brand and a body of work you're proud of? How can you diversify with trad, indie, non-fiction, and Kickstarter without burning out—or selling out your creative freedom? With Jennifer Probst. In the intro, digital ebook signing [BookFunnel]; how to check terms and conditions; Business for Authors 2026 webinars; Music industry and AI music [BBC; The New Publishing Standard]; The Golden Age of Weird. This podcast is sponsored by Kobo Writing Life, which helps authors self-publish and reach readers in global markets through the Kobo eco-system. You can also subscribe to the Kobo Writing Life podcast for interviews with successful indie authors. This show is also supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn Jennifer Probst is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over 60 books across different kinds of romance as well as non-fiction for writers. Her latest book is Write Free. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights, and the full transcript is below. Show Notes How Jennifer started writing at age 12, fell in love with romance, and persisted through decades of rejection A breakout success — and what happened when it moved to a traditional publisher Traditional vs indie publishing, diversification, and building a long-term, legacy-focused writing career Rapid-release pen names vs slow-burn author brands, and why Jennifer chooses quality and longevity Inspirational non-fiction for writers (Write Naked, Write True, Write Free) Using Kickstarter for special editions, re-releases, courses, and what she's learned from both successes and mistakes – plus what “writing free” really means in practice How can you ‘write free'? You can find Jennifer at JenniferProbst.com. Transcript of interview with Jennifer Probst Jo: Jennifer Probst is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over 60 books across different kinds of romance as well as non-fiction for writers. Her latest book is Write Free. So welcome, Jennifer. Jennifer: Thanks so much, Joanna. I am kind of fangirling. I'm really excited to be on The Creative Penn podcast. It's kind of a bucket list. Jo: Aw, that's exciting. I reached out to you after your recent Kickstarter, and we are going to come back to that in a minute. First up, take us back in time. Tell us a bit more about how you got into writing and publishing. Jennifer: This one is easy for me. I am one of those rarities. I think that I knew when I was seven that I was going to write. I just didn't know what I was going to write. At 12 years old, and now this will kind of date me in dinosaur era here, there was no internet, no information on how to be a writer, no connections out there. The only game in town was Writer's Digest. I would go to my library and pore over Writer's Digest to learn how to be a writer. At 12 years old, all I knew was, “Oh, if I want to be a famous writer, I have to write a book.” So I literally sat down at 12 and wrote my first young adult romance. Of course, I was the star, as we all are when we're young, and I have not stopped since. I always knew, since my dad came home from a library with a box of romance novels and got in trouble with my mum and said, basically, “She's reading everything anyway, just let her read these,” I was gone. From that moment on, I knew that my entire life was going to be about that. So for me, it wasn't the writing. I have written non-stop since I was 12 years old. For me, it was more about making this a career where I can make money, because I think there was a good 30 years where I wrote without a penny to my name. So it was more of a different journey for me. It was more about trying to find my way in the writing world, where everybody said it should be just a hobby, and I believed that it should be something more. Jo: I was literally just going back in my head there to the library I used to go to on my way home from school. Similar, probably early teens, maybe age 14. Going to that section and… I think it was Shirley Conran. Was that Lace? Yes, Lace books. That's literally how we all learned about sex back in the day. Jennifer: All from books. You didn't need parents, you didn't need friends. Amazing. Jo: Oh, those were the days. That must have been the eighties, right? Jennifer: It was the eighties. Yes. Seventies, eighties, but mostly right around in the eighties. Oh, it was so… Jo: I got lost about then because I was reminiscing. I was also the same one in the library, and people didn't really see what you were reading in the corner of the library. So I think that's quite funny. Tell us how you got into being an indie. Jennifer: What had happened is I had this manuscript and it had been shopped around New York for agents and for a bunch of publishers. I kept getting the same exact thing: “I love your voice.” I mean, Joanna, when you talk about papering your wall with rejections, I lived that. The only thing I can say is that when I got my first rejection, I looked at it as a rite of passage that created me as a writer, rather than taking the perspective that it meant I failed. To me, perspective is a really big thing in this career, how you look at things. So that really helped me. But after you get like 75 of them, you're like, “I don't know how much longer I can take of this.” What happened is, it was an interesting story, because I had gone to an RWA conference and I had shopped this everywhere, this book that I just kept coming back to. I kept saying, “I feel like this book could be big.” There was an indie publisher there. They had just started out, it was an indie publisher called Entangled. A lot of my friends were like, “What about Entangled? Why don't you try more digital things or more indie publishers coming up rather than the big traditional ones?” Lo and behold, I sent it out. They loved the book. They decided, in February of 2012, to launch it. It was their big debut. They were kind of competing with Harlequin, but it was going to be a new digital line. It was this new cutting-edge thing. The book went crazy. It went viral. The book was called The Marriage Bargain, and it put me on the map. All of a sudden I was inundated with agents, and the traditional publishers came knocking and they wanted to buy the series. It was everywhere. Then it hit USA Today, and then it spent 26 weeks on The New York Times. Everybody was like, “Wow, you're this overnight sensation.” And I'm like, “Not really!” That was kind of my leeway into everything. We ended up selling that series to Simon & Schuster because that was the smart move for then, because it kind of blew up and an indie publisher at that time knew it was a lot to take on. From then on, my goal was always to do both: to have a traditional contract, to work with indie publishers, and to do my own self-pub. I felt, even back then, the more diversified I am, the more control I have. If one bucket goes bad, I have two other buckets. Jo: Yes, I mean, I always say multiple streams of income. It's so surprising to me that people think that whatever it is that hits big is going to continue. So you obviously experienced there a massive high point, but it doesn't continue. You had all those weeks that were amazing, but then it drops off, right? Jennifer: Oh my goodness, yes. Great story about what happened. So 26 weeks on The New York Times, and it was selling like hotcakes. Then Simon & Schuster took it over and they bumped the price to their usual ebook price, which was, what, $12.99 or something? So it's going from $2.99. The day that they did it, I slid off all the bestseller lists. They were gone, and I lost a lot of control too. With indies, you have a little bit more control. But again, that kind of funnels me into a completely different kind of setup. Traditional is very different from indie. What you touched on, I think, is the biggest thing in the industry right now. When things are hot, it feels like forever. I learned a valuable lesson: it doesn't continue. It just doesn't. Maybe someone like Danielle Steel or some of the other big ones never had to pivot, but I feel like in romance it's very fluid. You have genres hitting big, you have niches hitting big, authors hitting big. Yes, I see some of them stay. I see Emily Henry still staying—maybe that will never pause—but I think for the majority, they find themselves saying, “Okay, that's done now. What's next?” It can either hit or not hit. Does that make sense to you? Do you feel the same? Jo: Yes, and I guess it's not just about the book. It's more about the tactic. You mentioned genres, and they do switch a lot in romance, a lot faster than other genres. In terms of how we do marketing… Now, as we record this, TikTok is still a thing, and we can see maybe generative AI search coming on the horizon and agentic buying. A decade ago it might have been different, more Facebook ads or whatever. Then before that it might have been something else. So there's always things changing along the way. Jennifer: Yes, there definitely is. It is a very oversaturated market. They talk about, I don't know, 2010 to 2016 maybe, as the gold rush, because that was where you could make a lot of money as an indie. Then we saw the total fallout of so many different things. I feel like I've gone through so many ups and downs in the industry. I do love it because the longer you're around, the more you learn how to pivot. If you want this career, you learn how to write differently or do whatever you need to do to keep going, in different aspects, with the changes. To me, that makes the industry exciting. Again, perspective is a big thing. But I have had to take a year to kind of rebuild when I was out of contract with a lot of things. I've had to say, “Okay, what do you see on the horizon now? Where is the new foundation? Where do you wanna restart?” Sometimes it takes a year or two of, “Maybe I won't be making big income and I cut back,” but then you're back in it, because it takes a while to write a few new books, or write under a pen name, or however you want to pivot your way back into the industry. Or, like you were saying, diversifying. I did a lot of non-fiction stuff because that's a big calling for me, so I put that into the primary for a while. I think it's important for authors to maybe not just have one thing. When that one thing goes away, you're scrambling. It's good to have a couple of different things like, “Well, okay, this genre is dead or this thing is dead or this isn't making money. Let me go to this for a little while until I see new things on the horizon.” Jo: Yes. There's a couple of things I want to come back to. You mentioned a pen name there, and one of the things I'm seeing a lot right now—I mean, it's always gone on, but it seems to be on overdrive—is people doing rapid-release, throwaway pen names. So there's a new sub-genre, they write the books really fast, they put them up under whatever pen name, and then when that goes away, they ditch that pen name altogether. Versus growing a name brand more slowly, like I think you and I have done. Under my J.F. Penn fiction brand, I put lots of different sub-genres. What are your thoughts on this throwaway pen name versus growing a name brand more slowly? Jennifer: Well, okay, the first thing I'm goign to say is: if that lights people up, if you love the idea of rapid release and just kind of shedding your skin and going on to the next one, I say go for it. As long as you're not pumping it out with AI so it's a complete AI book, but that's a different topic. I'm not saying using AI tools; I mean a completely AI-written book. That's the difference. If we're talking about an author going in and, every four weeks, writing a book and stuff like that, I do eventually think that anything in life that disturbs you, you're going to burn out eventually. That is a limited-time kind of thing, I believe. I don't know how long you can keep doing that and create decent enough books or make a living on it. But again, I really try not to judge, because I am very open to: if that gives you joy and that's working and it brings your family money, go for it. I have always wanted to be a writer for the long term. I want my work to be my legacy. I don't just pump out books. Every single book is my history. It's a marking of what I thought, what I put out in the world, what my beliefs are, what my story is. It marks different things, and I'm very proud of that. So I want a legacy of quality. As I got older, in my twenties and thirties, I was able to write books a lot faster. Then I had a family with two kids and I had to slow down a little bit. I also think life sometimes drives your career, and that's okay. If you're taking care of a sick parent or there's illness or whatever, maybe you need to slow down. I like the idea of a long-term backlist supporting me when I need to take a back seat and not do frontlist things. So that's how I feel. I will always say: choose a long, organic-growth type of career that will be there for you, where your backlist can support you. I also don't want to trash people who do it differently. If that is how you can do it, if you can write a book in a month and keep doing it and keep it quality, go for it. Jo: I do have the word “legacy” on my board next to me, but I also have “create a body of work I'm proud of.” I have that next to me, and I have “Have you made art today?” So I think about these things too. As you say, people feel differently about work, and I will do other work to make faster cash rather than do that with books. But as we said, that's all good. Interestingly, you mentioned non-fiction there. Write Free is your latest one, but you've got some other writing books. So maybe— Talk about the difference between non-fiction book income and marketing compared to fiction, and why you added that in. Jennifer: Yes, it's completely different. I mean, it's two new dinosaurs. I came to writing non-fiction in a very strange way. Literally, I woke up on New Year's Day and I was on a romance book deadline. I could not do it. I'll tell you, my brain was filled with passages of teaching writing, of things I wanted to share in my writing career. Because again, I've been writing since I was 12, I've been a non-stop writer for over 30 years. I got to my computer and I wrote like three chapters of Write Naked (which was the first book). It was just pouring out of me. So I contacted my agent and I said, “Look, I don't know, this is what I want to do. I want to write this non-fiction book.” She's like, “What are you talking about? You're a romance author. You're on a romance deadline. What do you want me to do with this?” She was so confused. I said, “Yes, how do you write a non-fiction book proposal?” And she was just like, “This is not good, Jen. What are you doing?” Anyway, the funny story was, she said, “Just send me chapters.” I mean, God bless her, she's this wonderful agent, but I know she didn't get it. So I sent her like four chapters of what I was writing and she called me. I'll never forget it. She called me on the phone and she goes, “This is some of the best stuff I have ever read in my life. It's raw and it's truthful, and we've got to find a publisher for this.” And I was like, “Yay.” What happened was, I believe this was one of the most beautiful full circles in my life: Writer's Digest actually made me an offer. It was not about the money. I found that non-fiction for me had a much lower advance and a different type of sales. For me, when I was a kid, that is exactly what I was reading in the library, Writer's Digest. I would save my allowance to get the magazine. I would say to myself, “One day, maybe I will have a book with Writer's Digest.” So for me, it was one of the biggest full-circle moments. I will never forget it. Being published by them was amazing. Then I thought I was one-and-done, but the book just completely touched so many writers. I have never gotten so many emails: “Thank you for saying the truth,” or “Thank you for being vulnerable.” Right before it published, I had a panic attack. I told my husband, “Now everybody's going to know that I am a mess and I'm not fabulous and the world is going to know my craziness.” By being vulnerable about the career, and also that it was specifically for romance authors, it caused a bond. I think it caused some trust. I had been writing about writing for years. After that, I thought it was one-and-done. Then two or three years later I was like, “No, I have more to say.” So I leaned into my non-fiction. It also gives my fiction brain a rest, because when you're doing non-fiction, you're using a different part of your brain. It's a way for me to cleanse my palate. I gather more experiences about what I want to share, and then that goes into the next book. Jo: Yes, I also use the phrase “palate cleanser” for non-fiction versus fiction. I feel like you write one and then you feel like, “Oh, I really need to write the other now.” Jennifer: Yes! Isn't it wonderful? I love that. I love having the two brains and just giving one a break and totally leaning into it. Again, it's another way of income. It's another way. I also believe that this industry has given me so much that it is automatic that I want to give back. I just want to give as much as possible back because I'm so passionate about writing and the industry field. Jo: Well, interestingly though, Writer's Digest—the publisher who published that magazine and other things—went bankrupt in 2019. You've been in publishing a long time. It is not uncommon for publishers to go out of business or to get bought. Things happen with publishers, right? Jennifer: Yes. Jo: So what then happened? Jennifer: So Penguin Random House bought it. All the Writer's Digest authors did not know what they were going to do. Then Penguin Random House bought it and kept Writer's Digest completely separate, as an imprint under the umbrella. So Writer's Digest really hasn't changed. They still have the magazine, they still have books. So it ended up being okay. But what I did do is—because I sold Write Naked and I have no regrets about that, it was the best thing for me to do, to go that route—the second and the third books were self-published. I decided I'm going to self-publish. That way I have the rights for audio, I have the rights for myself, I can do a whole bunch of different things. So Write True, the second one, was self-published. Writers Inspiring Writers I paired up with somebody, so we self-published that. And Write Free, my newest one, is self-published. So I've decided to go that route now with my non-fiction. Jo: Well, as I said, I noticed your Kickstarter. I don't write romance, so I'm not really in that community. I had kind of heard your name before, but then I bought the book and joined the Kickstarter. Then I discovered that you've been doing so much and I was like, “Oh, how, why haven't we connected before?” It's very cool. So tell us about the Kickstarters you've done and what you know, because you've done, I think, a fiction one as well. What are your thoughts and tips around Kickstarter? Jennifer: Yes. When I was taking that year, I found myself kind of… let's just say fired from a lot of different publishers at the time. That was okay because I had contracts that ran out, and when I looked to see, “Okay, do we want to go back?” it just wasn't looking good. I was like, “Well, I don't want to spend a year if I'm not gonna be making the money anyway.” So I looked at the landscape and I said, “It's time to really pull in and do a lot more things on my own, but I've got to build foundations.” Kickstarter was one of them. I took a course with Russell Nohelty and Monica Leonelle. They did a big course for Kickstarter, and they were really the ones going around to all the conferences and basically saying, “Hey guys, you're missing out on a lot of publishing opportunities here,” because Kickstarter publishing was getting good. I took the course because I like to dive into things, but I also want to know the foundation of it. I want to know what I'm doing. I'm not one to just wing it when it comes to tech. So what happened is, the first one, I had rights coming back from a book. After 10 years, my rights came back. It was an older book and I said, “You know what? I am going to dip my foot in and see what kind of base I can grow there. What can I do?” I was going to get a new cover, add new scenes, re-release it anyway, right? So I said, “Let's do a Kickstarter for it, because then I can get paid for all of that work.” It worked out so fantastically. It made just enough for my goal. I knew I didn't want to make a killing; I knew I wanted to make a fund. I made my $5,000, which I thought was wonderful, and I was able to re-release it with a new cover, a large print hardback, and I added some scenes. I did a 10-year anniversary re-release for my fans. So I made it very fan-friendly, grew my audience, and I was like, “This was great.” The next year, I did something completely different. I was doing Kindle Vella back in the day. That was where you dropped a chapter at a time. I said, “I want to do this completely different kind of thing.” It was very not my brand at all. It was very reality TV-ish: young college students living in the city, very sexy, very angsty, love triangles, messy—everything I was not known for. Again, I was like, “I'm not doing a pen name because this is just me,” and I funnelled my audience. I said, “What I'm going to do is I'm going to start doing a chapter a week through Kindle Vella and make money there. Then when it's done, I'm going to bundle it all up and make a book out of it.” So I did a year of Kindle Vella. It was the best decision I made because I just did two chapters a week, which I was able to do. By one year I had like 180,000 words. I had two to three books in there. I did it as a hardback deluxe—the only place you could get it in print. Then Vella closed, or at least it went way down. So I was like, “Great, I'm going to do this Kickstarter for this entire new thing.” I partnered with a company that helps with special editions, because that was a whole other… oh Joanna, that was a whole other thing you have to go into. Getting the books, getting the art, getting the swag. I felt like I needed some help for that. Again, I went in, I funded. I did not make a killing on that, but that was okay. I learned some things that I would have changed with my Kickstarter and I also built a new audience for that. I had a lot of extra books that I then sold in my store, and it was another place to make money. The third Kickstarter I used specifically because I had always wanted to do a writing course. I go all over the world, I do keynotes, I do workshops, I've done books, and I wanted to reach new writers, but I don't travel a lot anymore. So I came up with the concept that I was going to do my very first course, and it was going to be very personal, kind of like me talking to them almost like in a keynote, like you're in a room with me. I gathered a whole bunch of stuff and I used Kickstarter to help me A) fund it and B) make myself do it, because it was two years in the making and I always had, “Oh, I've got this other thing to do,” you know how we do that, right? We have big projects. So I used Kickstarter as a deadline and I decided to launch it in the summer. In addition to that, I took years of my posts from all over. I copied and pasted, did new posts, and I created Write Free, which was a very personal, essay-driven book. I took it all together. I took a couple of months to do this, filmed the course, and the Kickstarter did better than I had ever imagined. I got quadruple what I wanted, and it literally financed all the video editing, the books, everything that I needed, plus extra. I feel like I'm growing in Kickstarter. I hope I'm not ranting. I'm trying to go over things that can help people. Jo: Oh no, that is super useful. Jennifer: So you don't have to go all in and say, “If it doesn't fund it's over,” or “I need to make $20,000.” There are people making so much money, and there are people that will do a project a year or two projects a year and just get enough to fund a new thing that they want to do. So that's how I've done it. Jo: I've done quite a few now, and my non-fiction ones have been a lot bigger—I have a big audience there—and my fiction have been all over the place. What I like about Kickstarter is that you can do these different things. We can do these special editions. I've just done a sprayed-edge short story collection. Short story collections are not the biggest genre. Jennifer: Yes. I love short stories too. I've always wanted to do an anthology of all my short stories. Jo: There you go. Jennifer: Yes, I love that for your Kickstarter. Love it. Jo: When I turned 50 earlier this year, I realised the thing that isn't in print is my short stories. They are out there digitally, and that's why I wanted to do it. I feel like Kickstarter is a really good way to do these creative projects. As you say, you don't have to make a ton of money, but at the end of the day, the definition of success for us, I think for both of us, is just being able to continue doing this, right? Jennifer: Absolutely. This is funding a creative full-time career, and every single thing that you do with your content is like a funnel. The more funnels that you have, the bigger your base. Especially if you love it. It would be different if I was struggling and thinking, “Do I get an editor job?” I would hate being an editor. But if you look at something else like, “Oh yes, I could do this and that would light me up, like doing a course—wow, that sounds amazing,” then that's different. It's kind of finding your alternates that also light you up. Jo: Hmm. So were there any mistakes in your Kickstarters that you think are worth sharing? In case people are thinking about it. Jennifer: Oh my God, yes. So many. One big thing was that I felt like I was a failure if I didn't make a certain amount of money because my name is pretty well known. It's not like I'm brand new and looking. One of the big things was that I could not understand and I felt like I was banging my head against the wall about why my newsletter subscribers wouldn't support the Kickstarter. I'm like, “Why aren't you doing this? I'm supposed to have thousands of people that just back.” Your expectations can really mess with you. Then I started to learn, “Oh my God, my newsletter audience wants nothing to do with my Kickstarter.” Maybe I had a handful. So then I learned that I needed longer tails, like putting it up for pre-order way ahead of time, and also that you can't just announce it in your newsletter and feel like everybody's going to go there. You need to find your streams, your Kickstarter audience, which includes ads. I had never done ads either and I didn't know how to do that, so I did that all wrong. I joined the Facebook group for Kickstarter authors. I didn't do that for the first one and then I learned about it. You share backer updates, so every time you go into your audience with a backer update, there's this whole community where you can share with like-minded people with their projects, and you post it under your updates. It does cross-networking and sharing with a lot of authors in their newsletters. For the Write Free one, I leaned into my networking a lot, using my connections. I used other authors' newsletters and people in the industry to share my Kickstarter. That was better for me than just relying on my own fanbase. So definitely more networking, more sharing, getting it out on different platforms rather than just doing your own narrow channel. Because a lot of the time, you think your audience will follow you into certain things and they don't, and that needs to be okay. The other thing was the time and the backend. I think a lot of authors can get super excited about swag. I love that, but I learned that I could have pulled back a little bit and been smarter with my financials. I did things I was passionate about, but I probably spent much more money on swag than I needed to. So looking at different aspects to make it more efficient. I think each time you do one, you learn what works best. As usual, I try to be patient with myself. I don't get mad at myself for trying things and failing. I think failing is spectacular because I learn something. I know: do I want to do this again? Do I want to do it differently? If we weren't so afraid of failingqu “in public”, I think we would do more things. I'm not saying I never think, “Oh my God, that was so embarrassing, I barely funded and this person is getting a hundred thousand.” We're human. We compare. I have my own reset that I do, but I really try to say, “But no, for me, maybe I'll do this, and if it doesn't work, that's okay.” Jo: I really like that you shared about the email list there because I feel like too many people have spent years driving people to Kindle or KU, and they have built an email list of readers who like a particular format at a particular price. Then we are saying, “Oh, now come over here and buy a beautiful hardback that's like ten times the price.” And we're surprised when nobody does it. Is that what happened? Jennifer: Exactly. Also, that list was for a non-fiction project. So I had to funnel where my writers were in my newsletter, and I have mostly readers. So I was like, “Okay…” But I think you're exactly right. First of all, it's the platform. When you ask anybody to go off a platform, whether it's buy direct at your Shopify store or go to Kickstarter, you are going to lose the majority right there. People are like, “No, I want to click a button from your newsletter and go to a site that I know.” So you've got that, and you've got to train them. That can take some time. Then you've got this project where people are like, “I don't understand.” Even my mum was like, “I would love to support you, honey, but what the heck is this? Where's the buy button and where's my book?” My women's fiction books tend to have some older readers who are like, “Hell no, I don't know what this is.” So you have to know your audience. If it's not translating, train them. I did a couple of videos where I said, “Look, I want to show you how easy this is,” and I showed them directly how to go in and how to back. I did that with Kindle Vella too. I did a video from my newsletter and on social: “Hey, do you not know how to read this chapter? Here's how.” Sometimes there's a barrier. Like you said, Joanna, if I have a majority that just want sexy contemporary, and I'm dropping angsty, cheating, forbidden love, they're like, “Oh no, that's not for me.” So you have to know whether there's a crossover. I go into my business with that already baked into my expectations. I don't go in thinking I'm going to make a killing. Then I'm more surprised when it does well, and then I can build it. Jo: Yes, exactly. Also if you are, like both of us, writing across genres, then you are always going to split your audience. People do not necessarily buy everything because they have their preferences. So I think that's great. Now we are almost out of time, but this latest book is Write Free. I wondered if you would maybe say— What does Write Free mean to you, and what might it help the listeners with? Jennifer: Write Free is an extremely personal book for me, and the title was really important because it goes with Write Naked, Write True, and Write Free. These are the ways that I believe a writer should always show up to the page. Freedom is being able to write your truth in whatever day that is. You're going to be a different writer when you're young and maybe hormonal and passionate and having love affairs. You're going to write differently when you're a mum with kids in nappies. You're going to write differently when you are maybe in your forties and you're killing your career. Your perspective changes, your life changes. Write Free is literally a collection of essays all through my 30 years of life. It's very personal. There are essays like, “I'm writing my 53rd book right now,” and essays like, “My kids are in front of SpongeBob and I'm trying to write right now,” and “I got another rejection letter and I don't know how to survive.” It is literally an imprint of essays that you can dip in and dip out of. It's easy, short, inspirational, and it's just me showing up for my writing life. That's what I wish for everybody: that they can show up for their writing life in the best way that they can at the time, because that changes all the time. Jo: We can say “write free” because we've got a lot of experience at writing. I feel like when I started writing—I was an IT consultant—I literally couldn't write anything creative. I didn't believe I could. There'll be people listening who are just like, “Well, Jennifer, I can't write free. I'm not free. My mind is shackled by all these expectations and everything.” How can they release that and aim for more freedom? Jennifer: I love that question so much. The thing is, I've spent so many years working on that part. That doesn't come overnight. I think sometimes when you have more clarification of, “Okay, this is really limiting me,” then when you can see where something is limiting you, at least you can look for answers. My answers came in the form of meditation. Meditation is a very big thing in my life. Changing my perspective. Learning life mottos to help me deal with those kinds of limitations. Learning that when I write a sex scene, I can't care about my elderly aunt who tells my mother, “Dear God, she ruined the family name.” It is your responsibility to figure out where these limitations are, and then slowly see how you can remove them. I've been in therapy. I have read hundreds of self-help books. I take meditation courses. I take workshop courses. I've done CliftonStrengths with Becca Syme. I don't even know if that's therapy, but it feels like therapy to me as a writer. Knowing my personality traits. I've done Enneagram work with Claire Taylor, which has been huge. The more you know yourself and how your brain is showing up for yourself, the more you can grab tools to use. I wish I could say, “Yes, if everybody meditates 30 minutes a day, you're going to have all blocks removed,” but it's so personal that it's a trick question. If everybody started today and said, “Where is my biggest limitation?” and be real with yourself, there are answers out there. You just have to go slowly and find them, and then the writing more free will come. I hope that wasn't one of those woo-woo answers, but I really do believe it. Jo: I agree. It just takes time. Like our writing career, it just takes time. Keep working on it, keep writing. Jennifer: Yes. And bravery, right? A lot of bravery. Just show up for yourself however you can. If “write free” feels too big, journal for yourself and put it in a locked drawer. Any kind of writing, I think, is therapeutic too. Jo: Brilliant. So where can people find you and your books and everything you do online? Jennifer: The best place to go is my website. I treat it like my home. It's www.JenniferProbst.com. There is so much on it. Not just books, not just free content and free stories. There's an entire section just for writers. There are videos on there. There are a lot of resources. I keep it up to date and it is the place where you can find me. Of course I'm everywhere on social media as Author Jennifer Probst. You can find me anywhere. I always tell everybody: I answer my messages, I answer my emails. That is really important to me. So if you heard this podcast and you want to reach out on anything, please do. I will answer. Jo: Fantastic. Well, thanks so much for your time, Jennifer. That was great. Jennifer: Thanks for having me, Joanna.The post Writing Free: Romance Author Jennifer Probst On A Long-Term Author Career first appeared on The Creative Penn.

German-born spiritual teacher and self-help author Eckhart Tolle once wrote, "Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance."  I found this to be true in my life as well, and as it turns out, expressing gratitude isn't just a sound spiritual practice. It's essential to our emotional and physical well-being.  According to a recent study performed at Harvard Medical School, "Gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships."    How can you reap the benefits? While there are many beneficial exercises that can help you cultivate an attitude of gratitude, such as journaling, morning or evening reflections, and performing acts of kindness, many people focus their thoughts outward (Ex: I'm grateful for my children, a roof over my head, my job, etc.).It's easy to lose sight of the good in ourselves. Instead, let's focus inward. Tune in as Anthony and I share what we're grateful for about each Enneagram type and why you should be too.