Episodes

  • In this episode we discuss Type 5 through the films The Imitation Game and Annihilation. While both have some great Type 5 moments and characters, they portray very different aspects of what 5s are all about.

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  • We discuss Type 7, "Striving to Feel Excited", through the films Beverly Hills Cop and Trainwreck. One shows the lighter, more carefree side of the 7, and one takes a more realistic look at the downside of "too much of a good thing." Join us for some fun!

  • In this episode we look at Type 9, "Striving to Feel Peaceful". Wonder Boys (the box office bomb but surprising great film) and Four Weddings and a Funeral have some great Type 9 characters (and energy) going on. Join us!

  • In this episode we explore Type 3, "Striving to Feel Outstanding, through the films Edge of Tomorrow and Molly's Game. Tom Cruise... the Three-est Three ever to Three... plays a different kind of Three than he normally does, and Molly Bloom pushes herself to the limit. Both films are a good example of the "growth journey" of Type 3, albeit in different ways.

  • In this episode we talk about those who are Striving to Feel Perfect... Type 1. Sicario and Chocolat are both great examples of the "The Journey of Type 1", although in very different ways.

  • In this episode we explore the depths of those striving to feel unique... Type Four. We look at the films "Withnail and I" and "Pitch Perfect" to see different sides and levels of health.

  • In this episode we switch from the Instinctual Biases and begin talking about the strategies. First up... Type 8 (the best Type according to Mario, although he might be biased).

  • In this episode we discuss the Preserving Instinctual Bias through the films Father of the Bride and No Reservations. TJ Ingrassia forced Mario and TJ Dawe to sit through them in order to exact his revenge after being tortured through Grease and Purple Rain. Regardless, they're great examples of what Preservers are all about!

  • In this episode we discuss the Navigating Instinctual Bias through the films Mean Girls and Goodfellas, two movies that have surely never been discussed as having anything to do with each other. Listen to find out why we think they're a perfect match!

  • In this episode we discuss the Transmitting Instinctual Bias through the films Purple Rain and Moana. They demonstrate two sides of Transmitting that, at first glance, appear to be very different from each other.

  • In the final episode of Season Three, Mario Sikora, TJ Dawe, TJ Ingrassia and special guest Seth “Creek” Creekmore talk about “Interstellar,” directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Matthew McConaughey. Seth shares what inspired him to choose this film to discuss and why he thought the musical score by Composer Hans Zimmer was a beautiful contrast to the film.  In typical fashion, the four hosts explore the Enneagram types of the characters as well as the  themes of the film, which includes the value of human life.

    “It just feels like a Four inner journey for me. Like just the sweeping, large, expansive, but organic, dark and longing and uncertain. It’s just, I dunno. I think it just mirrors some part of myself back to me.” - Seth Creekmore [07:57]

    “My guess is that Christopher Nolan is a Five, and it seemed like a pretty big Five-ish framing of love. Love is something that we can quantify, or even if there’s something mysterious about it, it’s a signifier of something we don’t get yet, implying that love is something that we can and should factor into our calculations.” - TJ Dawe [24:49]

    “The script feels kind of Five-ish, but it’s being played by this guy who’s got this cool, chill Nine-ish vibe with some Seven-ish excitement and wonder.” - TJ Ingrassia [39:56]

    “The whole movie was about Three stuff in my mind, because it was about aspiration.” - Mario Sikora [43:05]

    TIMESTAMPS

    [00:01] Intro

    [01:14] This week’s guest: Seth Creekmore

    [05:55] This week’s movie: “Interstellar”

    [08:28] Hosts’ history with the movie

    [13:50] About the film

    [17:14] Hosts’ thoughts on the film

    [22:12] The is-ought argument

    [23:59] Selling love

    [30:08] The movie’s score

    [32:53] Mann’s Enneagram Type

    [36:12] Matthew McConaughey’s and Cooper’s Enneagram Type

    [42:47] The movie’s Type Three themes

    [45:24] Tension between transmitting and preserving

    [50:44] Brand’s and Romilly’s Enneagram Type

    [54:04] TARS’ and Murph’s Enneagram Type

    [58:03] The value of human life

    [1:03:18] Final thoughts on the film

    [1:11:53] Outro

    Connect with us:

    Awareness to Action

    Enneagram on Demand 

    The Awareness to Action Enneagram Podcast

    Mario Sikora: 

    IG: @mariosikora

    Web: mariosikora.com

    TJ Dawe:

    Web: tjdawe.ca

    TJ Ingrassia:

    Web: tjingrassia.com

    YouTube: @TypeCast

    Seth "Creek" Creekmore: 

    IG: @creekmoremusic

    Pod: Fathoms | An Enneagram Podcast

    Pod: Delusional Optimism

  • In this episode, Mario Sikora, TJ Dawe and TJ Ingrassia are joined by Russ Hudson to discuss Mario’s all-time favorite movie, “The Thin Red Line.” The 1998 war film marked the return of director Terrence Malick, after 20 years from his last film. The four hosts discuss the higher Enneagram themes at play in the film as well as the Enneagram types of some of the characters.

    “I think we’re meant not to see these people as individual hermetically-sealed identities moving against a static background, but there’s a certain fluidity. And I think the reason for the casting that way and not dwelling a long time on any single character was meant to put us into this framework of how we’re all kind of connected in all of this.” - Russ Hudson [29:04]

    “I think there’s a very Four-ish theme in the film, is that there’s depth and beauty in every single person, regardless of the fact that many of them look alike, that they’re dressed alike, that they have to do the same thing.” - TJ Dawe [45:26]

    “Step away from the judgment, because the judgment keeps us separated. But once we let go of the judgment, then we can find unity again.” - Mario Sikora [1:09:36]

    “The first time I watched it, I was trying to decide if I thought Witt has some Four-ish stuff going on, because a lot of this feeling and affect from him honestly feels a lot like my wife who’s a Four. Just sort of this acception of the reality of what’s going on, and a deep empathy of humanity. Sort of a closeness to death, not even in a dark morose kind of way. Just a transcendence acceptance of the reality of death.” - TJ Ingrassia [1:31:16]

    TIMESTAMPS

    [00:01] Intro

    [01:48] This week’s guest: Russ Hudson

    [02:59] This week’s movie: “The Thin Red Line”

    [03:38] Host’s general thoughts on the movie

    [12:43] About the movie

    [16:46] Where it stands among war movies

    [27:30] The director, Terrence Malick

    [28:44] Thoughts about the casting

    [32:55] Witt as a Type Nine

    [39:32] Wrestling with faith

    [43:12] Bell’s Enneagram Type

    [48:18] Sean Penn and Welsh as Type Eight

    [53:58] Staros: Type Six or Nine?

    [57:07] John Cusack, a classic Seven

    [1:00:11] Higher aspects of Point Nine

    [1:06:29] The Holy Ideas

    [1:13:42] Six and Three themes in the film

    [1:19:29] Four and Eight themes

    [1:30:55] Final thoughts

    [1:38:54] Outro

    Connect with us:

    Awareness to Action

    Enneagram on Demand 

    The Awareness to Action Enneagram Podcast

    Mario Sikora: 

    IG: @mariosikora

    Web: mariosikora.com

    TJ Dawe:

    Web: tjdawe.ca

    TJ Ingrassia:

    Web: tjingrassia.com

    YouTube: @TypeCast

    Russ Hudson:

    Web: russhudson.com

  • In this episode, María José Munita returns to the podcast to talk with Mario Sikora, TJ Dawe and TJ Ingrassia about their favorite movie, “Groundhog Day.” The four discuss the psychospiritual elements and philosophical themes in the film as well as the Enneagram types for the main characters. They also talk about how the film illustrates the process of growth.

    “Without the explanation, he’s sort of protagonist and antagonist at the same time, and so it just focuses on him and his experience. I think it’s much for the better that they didn’t go down that road.” - TJ Ingrassia [17:24]

    “That’s what happens with Nines. They can say the worst thing to you and they will sound nice anyways most times.” - María José Munita [28:45]

    “The thought that came with that is the dawning of curiosity comes after you’ve hit the wall. And so much personal work comes, not when somebody else tells us that we should do it or you see a list online or something like that, but when you reach a point where you just have to have that moment of clarity, that conversation with yourself of like what’s going on?” - TJ Dawe [1:03:45]

    “María José was talking about how change feels uncomfortable and unnatural. I like to use the analogy of wearing someone else’s clothes. It’s just doesn’t feel quite right.” - Mario Sikora [1:05:32]

    TIMESTAMPS

    [00:00] Intro

    [00:34] This week’s guest: María José Munita

    [01:40] This week’s movie: “Groundhog Day”

    [04:56] Movie as memes

    [07:16] About the movie

    [11:39] Thoughts on the philosophical themes 

    [19:46] Interesting casting ideas

    [20:38] Rita as a Type Nine

    [32:54] Phil’s Enneagram Type

    [55:55] Bill Murray as a Type Four

    [1:00:43] The path to growth

    [1:09:42] Phil as a One, Four and an Eight

    [1:13:39] Outro

    Connect with us:

    Awareness to Action

    Enneagram on Demand 

    The Awareness to Action Enneagram Podcast

    Mario Sikora: 

    IG: @mariosikora

    Web: mariosikora.com

    TJ Dawe:

    Web: tjdawe.ca

    TJ Ingrassia:

    Web: tjingrassia.com

    YouTube: @TypeCast

    Maria Jose Munita: 

    IG: @mjmunita

    Web: mjmunita.com

  • In this episode, Mario Sikora, TJ Dawe and TJ Ingrassia are joined by special guests, Clay Tumey, author of “The Blue Chip Store: How Bank Robbery Changed My Life,” and Susan Olesek, founder of Enneagram Prison Project. The panel of five discuss the 1994 drama, “The Shawshank Redemption,” starring Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins. With the film set in a prison, Clay draws from his experience in prison while Susan explores her work with incarcerated people and the Enneagram to not only look at the movie about a man who is wrongfully accused of murder, but to also examine it as a story of a person who’s trapped in a personality.

    “I also thought that with this character captured better than almost anything I’ve seen about the Fives is the tenderness at the heart of the Type Five. This sweetness, this kindness that most people don’t get to see because what they see is the detached piece.” - Mario Sikora [35:36]

    “There’s so much generosity in the Five, and I love that you’re highlighting it because I think that’s why we love the Five so much.” - Susan Olesek [38:21]

    “I just didn’t buy it from him in terms of feeling like he really meant it. It almost felt like he was more using that as a cover to just have power over people. But that could speak to his unhealthier… That’s a way an unhealthy one would use some of that is they don’t really believe it for themselves. They just believe it for other people or something.” - TJ Ingrassia [1:01:40]

    “Captain Hadley, he embodies everything that I appreciate about Type Eight, even when he’s beating the hell out of people. The thing that I appreciate is I never have to wonder, almost never have to wonder where I stand with the Type Eight.” - Clay Tumey [1:08:07]

    “That got me thinking, this movie works as a metaphor for being in any life situation that you believe you’re stuck in, and there’s a better life somewhere on the horizon. How do I get there? And one of the ways, certainly not the only way, but the Andy Dufresne way, is a little bit at a time.” - TJ Dawe [1:21:46]

     

    TIMESTAMPS

    [00:01] Intro

    [00:47] Our special guests, Clay Tumey and Susan Olesek

    [07:26] Why this week’s movie:  “The Shawshank Redemption”

    [14:03] About the movie

    [19:26] Hosts’ reactions to the film

    [21:15] The casting

    [23:18] Andy Dufresne as Type Five

    [35:??] Generosity in Type Five

    [38:29] “If I Didn't Care” by Ink Spots

    [40:43] Chip’s book, “The Blue Chip Store”

    [44:00] Red’s Enneagram Type

    [49:27] Brooks as Type Nine

    [50:17] Warden Norton’s Enneagram Type

    [1:02:00] It’s about feeling perfect

    [1:05:15] Captain Hadley as Type Eight

    [1:11:00] Tommy’s Enneagram Type

    [1:21:04] Why is this movie universally beloved?

    [1:24:41] Outro

    Connect with us:

    Awareness to Action

    Enneagram on Demand 

    The Awareness to Action Enneagram Podcast

    Mario Sikora: 

    IG: @mariosikora

    Web: mariosikora.com

    TJ Dawe:

    Web: tjdawe.ca

    TJ Ingrassia:

    Web: tjingrassia.com

    YouTube: @TypeCast

    Susan Olesek:

    Web:

  • In this episode, Mario Sikora, TJ Dawe, and TJ Ingrassia are joined by special guest Nhien Vuong to discuss the 1993 film, “Fearless, directed by Peter Weir and starring Jeff Bridges, Rosie Perez and Isabella Rossellini. While the four hosts discuss the character’s Enneagram Types, they also explore the themes in the film, such as managing change based on trauma, and what the Enneagram teaches about the fundamental human dynamics. They look into the inner triangle of the Enneagram, particularly the Core Qualities.

    “This is not a movie that has a logic to it. It is an experience.” - Mario Sikora [11:50]

    “I think by your definition that this movie is a poem. Nobody speaks in poetic language, but it isn’t a linear narrative. It is a linear narrative, although there’s a number of flashbacks. It is about something that happens to a person, but it’s more a meditation on or an exploration of a theme or any number of themes.” - TJ Dawe [42:29]

    “Actually, as you were sharing about interdependence, I really touched to hear you and both of the TJs share. It is striking how this conversation is so beyond the movie itself, but what touched you is a window into you.” - Nhien Vuong [54:28]

    “It’s like he survived the crash and woke up in this dimension where he has access to these newer insights. He doesn’t want to live like a coward anymore. He doesn’t want to be ruled by fear anymore, but I think there’s a big tie in humanity in general between genius and madness. If you want the genius component, there’s going to be some madness that goes along with it.” - TJ Ingrassia [18:09]

    TIMESTAMPS

    [00:01] Intro

    [00:52] Our special guest, Nhien Vuong

    [02:54] Hosts’ background with Peter Weir’s films

    [04:19] This week’s movie: “Fearless”

    [08:05] Hosts’ reactions to the movie

    [13:07] Real lasting change based on trauma

    [19:33] Christian references in the film

    [22:06] The characters’ Enneagram types

    [25:26] John Turturro as Dr. Bill Perlman

    [26:05] The inner triangle of the enneagram

    [27:38] Jeff Bridges’ and Max’s Enneagram Type

    [33:17] Key themes of this movie

    [42:07] This movie is a poem

    [44:09] Rosie Perez as Carla

    [51:55] The interdependence of love

    [56:52] Theme of death and rebirth

    [1:06:38] Max as a Three, an One, a Four and an Eight

    [1:11:46] How to contact Nhien

    [1:12:23] Outro

    Connect with us:

    Awareness to Action

    Enneagram on Demand 

    The Awareness to Action Enneagram Podcast

    Mario Sikora: 

    IG: @mariosikora

    Web: mariosikora.com

    TJ Dawe:

    Web: tjdawe.ca

    TJ Ingrassia:

    Web: tjingrassia.com

    YouTube: @TypeCast

    Nhien Vuong:

    Web: evolvingenneagram.com

  • In this episode, Mario Sikora, TJ Dawe and TJ Ingrassia discuss the 1987 film, “The Princess Bride,” and reveal how easy it can be to look at a film and  interpret it differently. The hosts examine the Enneagram Types for each character, at times not agreeing. Is Iñigo Montoya a Type Three or Type Four? What Enneagram Type do they see for Wallace Shawn’s Vizzini? Why was Andre the Giant’s character, Fezzik, the perfect Type Nine? Listen as the hosts share their thoughts on these and other characters.

    “I thought Count Rugen was maybe the one of the best Fives I’ve ever seen in a movie. Talk about detached.” - TJ Dawe [29:18]

    “The Navigating One, I think, is a subtype that’s often misunderstood. Other people call this the Social One, and people have a tendency to think the so-called Social One is a reformer. Somebody who wants to change the world. That’s not what’s going on here.” - Mario Sikora [33:24]

    “If I had a thousand years with this movie, I never would have guessed One. I had her as a Four all day long, and maybe part of this is because… I might be biased, because my wife is a Four. And I felt like I was watching my wife through the course of this film.” - TJ Ingrassia [35:53]

    TIMESTAMPS

    [00:01] Intro

    [00:29] This week’s movie: “The Princess Bride”

    [07:52] About the movie

    [12:44] The director, Rob Reiner, and the casting

    [19:01] Andre the Giant as Fezzik, a Type Nine

    [23:10] Wallace Shawn as Vizzini

    [29:15] Count Rugen as Type Five

    [32:04] Robin Wright as Buttercup

    [39:55] Westley’s Enneagram Type

    [44:26] Iñigo Montoya: Type Three or Type Four?

    [51:59] Miracle Max’s Enneagram Type

    [52:41] Overall tone of the movie

    [55:42] William Goldman and his Enneagram Type

    [57:57] Westley and Buttercup as a One, a Four, or an Eight?

    [1:02:21] Outro

    Connect with us:

    Awareness to Action

    Enneagram on Demand 

    The Awareness to Action Enneagram Podcast

    Mario Sikora: 

    IG: @mariosikora

    Web: mariosikora.com

    TJ Dawe:

    Web: tjdawe.ca

    TJ Ingrassia:

    Web: tjingrassia.com

    YouTube: @TypeCast

  • In this episode, Mario Sikora, TJ Dawe and TJ Ingrassia discuss the 2011 movie, “Bridesmaids,” starring Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph and Rose Byrne. The three hosts explore the film about status and friendships and examine the characters’ Enneagram Types. Listen as they debate which Enneagram Type is Wiig’s character, Annie. Is she a Type Six or a Type Two? Mario also introduces new categories to discuss the Enneagram themes in the movie.

    “This is what’s so interesting about the Enneagram is the external traits can look so similar. It’s a fictional film and so different types can be reacting exactly the same way. We don’t necessarily have access to her internal drives and childhood traumas and all this kind of stuff, so it could just be a… It’s a bit of a Rorschach test.” - TJ Ingrassia [14:27]

    “I think Nine-ish characters are very common as the heroes in Judd Apatow flicks, because they’re just these easygoing, unambitious, salt-of-the-earth kind of guys that you just can’t help but like.” - Mario Sikora [36:49]

    “That’s another side of Eights that people don’t often see because Eights present themselves as so tough. That they didn’t necessarily just stride through life like Conan the Barbarian smashing down obstacles with their club at every turn. Eights can be bullied.” - TJ Dawe [45:48]

    TIMESTAMPS

    [00:01] Intro 

    [00:28] This week’s movie: “Bridesmaids”

    [02:17] About the movie

    [05:08] Hosts’ reactions to the movie

    [11:05] Annie’s Enneagram Type

    [20:15] Helen’s Enneagram Type

    [26:13] Ted as Type Three

    [30:15] Officer Rhodes’ Enneagram Type

    [38:59] Judd Apatow: A Type Six and a Navigating Type

    [40:17] Rebel Wilson as Brynn, the roommate

    [42:29] Megan’s Enneagram Type

    [47:42] Introducing categories to the podcast

    [57:57] Lillian’s Enneagram Type

    [58:27] Overall theme of bonding and friendship

    [1:02:30] Outro

    Connect with us:

    Awareness to Action

    Enneagram on Demand 

    The Awareness to Action Enneagram Podcast

    Mario Sikora: 

    IG: @mariosikora

    Web: mariosikora.com

    TJ Dawe:

    Web: tjdawe.ca

    TJ Ingrassia:

    Web: tjingrassia.com

    YouTube: @TypeCast

  • In this episode, Mario Sikora, TJ Dawe and TJ Ingrassia discuss “About a Boy,” starring Hugh Grant, Nicholas Hoult and Toni Collette. The three hosts explore the questions, “Does the pursuit of pleasure lead to happiness? Can any man or woman truly be an island?” They also examine the characters, Will, Marcus, Fiona and Ellie, and their Enneagram Types.

    “As much a pursuit of happiness is part of the wiring of the Seven, the avoidance of unhappiness is just as critical.” - Mario Sikora [23:25]

    “Sevens tend to be pretty good improvisers. They think quickly. They think on their feet, and they pull the answer out of thin air and get the golden fleece... until they can’t.” - TJ Dawe [25:53]

    “It’s not super on the surface in the film, but it’s sort of implies a little bit that maybe Will has some unresolved daddy issues.” - TJ Ingrassia [55:26]

    TIMESTAMPS

    [00:00] Intro 

    [00:29] This week’s movie: “About a Boy”

    [02:55] About the movie

    [06:40] Roger Ebert’s summary of the movie

    [14:59] Mario’s hypothesis regarding Will

    [23:02] Pursuit of pleasure

    [26:06] The good intention of the Seven

    [29:12] Distinguishing the Preserving Seven and the Five

    [36:36] “I Love You, Man” and “Knocked Up”

    [38:04] Marcus’s Enneagram Type

    [46:43] Fiona’s Enneagram Type

    [50:07] Ellie as a Type Eight

    [53:11] The power of empathy

    [56:52] The overall theme of the movie

    [1:00:59] Outro

    Connect with us:

    Awareness to Action

    Enneagram on Demand 

    The Awareness to Action Enneagram Podcast

    Mario Sikora: 

    IG: @mariosikora

    Web: mariosikora.com

    TJ Dawe:

    Web: tjdawe.ca

    TJ Ingrassia:

    Web: tjingrassia.com

    YouTube: @TypeCast