On this week’s episode of Enneagram IRL, we meet with Amanda Steed. Amanda is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) serving Texas, Colorado, and Washington through her private practice - Unfolding Collective - Therapy & Consulting. With a mission to facilitate healing and wholeness, Amanda believes in the power of establishing trusting relationships as the cornerstone of therapy.

On this week’s episode of Enneagram IRL, Steph is breaking down the relationship dealbreakers of each Enneagram type. In the spirit of Parks and Rec’s Tom Haverford’s “Oh No No” list, join us as Steph shares responses collected from hundreds of individuals on Instagram!

On this week’s episode of Enneagram IRL, we meet with Dr. Jerome Lubbe. Dr. Jerome is referred to as the “Patient Doctor” because it was his own quest for neurological well-being that led him to specialize in complex, unresolved neurological cases. His practice explores how functional neurology, neuroplasticity, and tools like the Enneagram can improve holistic well-being. Dr. Jerome created and released the first-ever neuroscience-based model of the Enneagram in his book, The Brain-Based Enneagram. Being a functional neurologist has shown him that the healing we once thought was impossible is actually possible. Neuroplasticity tells us that we are capable of change. If we understand the function of the brain, we can improve our way of life.

On this week’s episode of Enneagram IRL, we meet with Tori Dunlap, an internationally-recognized money and career expert, and podcast host. After saving $100,000 at age 25, Tori quit her corporate job in marketing and founded Her First $100K to fight financial inequality by giving women actionable resources to better their money. She has helped over three million women negotiate salary, pay off debt, build savings, and invest. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Tori now travels the world writing and speaking about personal finance, online businesses, and confidence for women. We discuss Tori’s journey with her business, the Enneagram, and everything in between. Tori also gives us a little sneak peek into her new book, Financial Feminist.

On this week’s episode of Enneagram IRL, we meet with Gina Gomez, a Conscious Breakup & Relationship coach, and author of the book, The Enneagram & You. She specializes in mentoring women going through breakups or divorce, and she helps them to feel hopeful again, regain their sense of identity, find new and healthy love, and feel empowered and whole. We discuss Gina’s passion of working with people as they heal and grieve a breakup, and dissect what that really means. Gina shares her experience as a coach while also giving insight into her life as a self-preservation Two.

On this week’s episode of Enneagram IRL, we meet with Dr. Shelley Prevost, Co-founder of Big Self School, a personal development studio focused on supporting the mental and emotional well-being of leaders, teams, and organizations. She is a licensed therapist, educational psychologist, leadership coach, and Enneagram practitioner. She has 25 years of clinical and coaching experience combined with 10+ years as an early-stage investor and startup executive to help create workplaces where everyone can thrive. In this episode, she shares fascinating insights into her experience as an Enneagram Two and how she approaches inner work for herself and professionally with others.

When I think about communication, I think about more than just talking: it’s how we express ourselves (even silence is a form of self-expression), it’s how we connect (or don’t), it’s how we build relationships and cultivate our lives. It’s everything! And this is one of THE most important ways I think we can use the Enneagram. How do you communicate with yourself? (Yes, it’s a thing!) And how do you communicate with others?

If you’ve been curious about using the Enneagram for growth, improving your relationships, and deepening self-awareness, I have good news for you!

One aspect of the Enneagram that I think is often overlooked is how buried a lot of our patterns are. We don’t have these patterns because we can’t see another way - we have them because we’ve needed them to make it through life. Twos are no different! So when we say, “have boundaries” - it’s not like they don’t know that! It’s more like they need to reimagine how one can find a deep, sustaining sense of being loved and worthy while ALSO having boundaries.

Also, if you’re a Two, you don’t have to give all the credit to your wings for the aspects of you that are career-driven. Twos can be very driven and ambitious, too!

In relationships, Twos value warmth and heartfelt connection. Twos give themselves freely in relationships, and they desire to cultivate a fun, passionate, and happy partnership. When less aware, they are unable to articulate their own feelings and may more readily feel their significant others’ feelings. They may get frustrated with giving so much without any reciprocity. Twos are helpful and generous, yet underneath their affection is a focus on cultivating genuine love.