Episodes

  • 04: Living as an Enneagram One: Parenting, Leadership, and Overcoming Perfectionism

    04: Living as an Enneagram One: Parenting, Leadership, and Overcoming Perfectionism
    Oct 9 2025

    04:

    In this episode of Why Do I Do What I Do? Exploring the Enneagram, Paul sits down with Sarah Davidson, Executive Pastor of Ministries at Preston Trail Community Church, to unpack the gifts and challenges of being an Enneagram One. Known as the Perfectionist or the Improver, Ones are motivated by a deep desire to do what’s right, live with integrity, and make the world a better place. Sarah shares candidly about how her Enneagram type shapes her marriage, parenting three boys, and leadership of a large church staff. From the high standards and reliability that make her a trusted leader, to the inner critic and critical eye that can sometimes create tension, Sarah opens up about the real-life experience of being a One at work and at home. Together, Paul and Sarah explore: The strengths of a One: integrity, clarity, reliability, and consistency. The shadow side of a One: perfectionism, criticism, and the struggle to rest. How Sarah has learned to pursue excellence over perfection and lean into grace. Practical wisdom for Ones learning to silence the inner critic, embrace rest, and lead with encouragement instead of judgment. Whether you’re an Enneagram One yourself or love someone who is, this conversation offers rich insight into how Ones can move from criticism to compassion, and from perfectionism to peace.
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    36 mins
  • 03: Going Deeper with the Enneagram: Exploring Triads, Centers, and Spiritual Growth

    03: Going Deeper with the Enneagram: Exploring Triads, Centers, and Spiritual Growth
    Oct 2 2025

    03: Knowing your Enneagram number is just the beginning. In this episode, host Paul Basden dives deeper into the Enneagram to uncover the layers that reveal not only your type, but also your habits, motivations, and path toward transformation.

    You’ll unpack: Virtues and Vices: How your greatest strengths can also become your biggest struggles, and why choosing virtue over vice leads to growth. Centers of Intelligence (Triads): The Heart (2-3-4), Head (5-6-7), and Gut (8-9-1) triads that shape how we feel, think, and act. Paul shares how Christian faith intersects with the Enneagram, showing how prayer, confession, and the Holy Spirit help us move from vice to virtue—becoming more of who God created us to be. Whether you’re just beginning with the Enneagram or you’ve studied it for years, this episode will give you practical tools and spiritual insights to deepen your journey of self-awareness and discipleship. Additional Resources:

    • The Enneagram Made Easy by Elizabeth Wagele & Renee Baron

    • The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron & Suzanne Stabile

    • The Story of You by Ian Morgan Cron

    • The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence by Scott Allender
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    17 mins
  • 02: Discovering the 9 Enneagram Types: Strengths, Struggles, and Faith

    02: Discovering the 9 Enneagram Types: Strengths, Struggles, and Faith
    Sep 25 2025

    02: In this episode, Paul takes a deep dive into all nine Enneagram types—revealing how each type’s core motivations, strengths, and struggles can shape the way we live, love, and follow God. From the Perfectionist’s drive to do things right, to the Peacemaker’s longing for harmony, each number offers both unique gifts and unique challenges.

    Paul unpacks: The defining traits, mottos, and anxieties of each type (1–9). Why people with the same Enneagram number can look very different depending on wings, social preferences, spiritual gifts, and emotional health. How the Enneagram can help you name your gifts, confront your struggles, and surrender your vices to God. Whether you identify as a Perfectionist, Helper, Achiever, Artist, Thinker, Loyalist, Enthusiast, Challenger, or Peacemaker, this conversation shows how the Enneagram is not a magic formula but a trusted framework for self-knowledge, discipleship, and transformation. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to understand the Enneagram more deeply and apply it as a tool for spiritual growth.

    Additional Resources:

    • The Enneagram Made Easy by Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele

    • The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron & Suzanne Stabile

    • The Story of You by Ian Morgan Cron

    • The Path Between Us by Suzanne Stabile

    • The Journey Toward Wholeness by Suzanne Stabile

    • The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective by Richard Rohr & Andreas Ebbert

    • The Sacred Enneagram by Christopher Heuertz

    • Personality Types by Don Richard Riso & Russ Hudson

    • The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence by Scott Allender
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    14 mins
  • 01: Who Am I? Exploring the Enneagram Through a Biblical Lens

    01: Who Am I? Exploring the Enneagram Through a Biblical Lens
    Sep 18 2025
    01: In this opening episode of Why Do I Do What I Do? Exploring the Enneagram, host Paul Basden unpacks one of today’s most popular tools for self-discovery and spiritual growth: the Enneagram. If you’ve ever asked, “Who am I?” or wondered why you keep repeating certain patterns, this conversation will help you understand the Enneagram as more than a personality test—it’s a map of motivations, fears, and desires that can lead to both transformation and healing. Paul tackles five big questions: Who am I? What is the Enneagram? How does it work? How do I use it? And where can I learn more? Along the way, he draws from Christian wisdom, Scripture, and his own counseling journey to explain how the Enneagram connects our worldview, our childhood wounds, and the vows we make that shape our behavior. He also highlights how this tool can deepen discipleship, helping us die to self and live more fully in the way of Jesus. Whether you’re brand new to the Enneagram or a longtime learner, this episode offers a clear, practical introduction that blends psychology, theology, and spiritual practice. It’s the perfect place to begin your journey of asking, “Why do I do what I do?” Books mentioned in this episode:

    • The Enneagram Made Easy by Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele

    • The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron & Suzanne Stabile

    • The Story of You by Ian Morgan Cron

    • The Path Between Us by Suzanne Stabile

    • The Journey Toward Wholeness by Suzanne Stabile

    • The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective by Richard Rohr & Andreas Ebbert

    • The Sacred Enneagram by Christopher Heuertz

    • Personality Types by Don Richard Riso & Russ Hudson

    • The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence by Scott Allender
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    17 mins
  • Why Do I Do What I Do? Exploring the Enneagram

    Why Do I Do What I Do? Exploring the Enneagram
    Sep 14 2025

    What is the Enneagram, and why does it matter for your faith and personal growth? In this teaser episode, Paul introduces his new podcast season, Why Do I Do What I Do? Exploring the Enneagram. After months of conversations on faith, culture, and tough topics, Paul shifts the focus inward—showing how the Enneagram can be a powerful tool for self-awareness, spiritual formation, and transformation.

    Drawing from ancient wisdom, modern psychology, and Scripture, Paul shares how knowing yourself is the first step toward living with integrity and experiencing God’s love more deeply. This episode sets the stage for what’s ahead: an introduction to the Enneagram system, in-depth interviews with all nine Enneagram types, and reflections on how self-knowledge leads to lasting change.

    If you’ve ever wondered “Why do I do what I do?”—this season is for you.
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    7 mins
  • How to Talk About Faith, Politics, and Sexuality Without Losing A Friend

    How to Talk About Faith, Politics, and Sexuality Without Losing A Friend
    Aug 7 2025

    #40 Over the past 10 months, we’ve tackled some of the most polarizing topics in culture—faith, politics, sexuality, justice, and more—not to divide, but to unite.

    In this heartfelt finale of Uncomfortable Conversations with Christians, host Paul Basden revisits the core question: How can we have hard conversations that actually bring healing?

    Join us as we explore: 🔹 The power of words to divide or unite (Proverbs 12:18, Ephesians 4:29) 🔹 How to be known for love—even in disagreement (John 13:34-35) 🔹 Practical wisdom for families, churches, and public discourse 🔹 Why unity, not uniformity, is the goal of gospel conversations

    Whether you’ve felt misunderstood, wrestled with opposing beliefs, or simply long for a better way to talk across divides, this episode offers both challenge and hope.

    May our conversations be honest, humble, and healing. And may they always begin—and end—in love.

    🎧 Listen now to the season finale, and stay tuned next week for a brand-new season: Why Do I Do What I Do? Exploring the Enneagram.
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    7 mins
  • Guns & God: Where Faith Meets the Second Amendment Pt. 2 with guests Greg and Mike

    Guns & God: Where Faith Meets the Second Amendment Pt. 2 with guests Greg and Mike
    Jul 31 2025

    #39 In Part 2 of our series on gun control, host Paul Basden is joined by Greg, a long-time gun owner, and Mike, an active-duty police officer. Together, they tackle one of the most polarizing topics in America—firearms—through the lens of faith, public safety, and personal responsibility.

    Join us as we explore: Why Christians feel conflicted about gun ownership How personal experience shapes beliefs about gun laws The tension between the right to bear arms and the call to peacemaking What it means to prioritize both safety and compassion in a divided culture

    Whether you're a Second Amendment supporter, an advocate for reform, or somewhere in between, this episode offers a grounded and thoughtful dialogue on one of today's most pressing issues.
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    34 mins
  • The Gospel and the Gun: A Christian Take on Gun Control

    The Gospel and the Gun: A Christian Take on Gun Control
    Jul 25 2025

    #38 The gun control debate is more than political—it's personal, moral, and spiritual. In this episode of Uncomfortable Conversations with Christians, Paul Basden takes us to the epicenter of the controversy: the right to bear arms.

    Before diving into interviews and expert opinions next week, this Part 1 episode explores the spiritual tension many Christians feel when trying to balance personal freedom with public safety.

    Join us as we explore:

    • Four foundational beliefs that shape American attitudes on guns—sacredness of life, human sinfulness, the instinct to defend, and the constitutional right to bear arms
    • What Scripture says about valuing life and community
    • How churches can step into the gap with radical acceptance and relational rescue

    This episode challenges both extremes of the debate and asks deeper questions:

    What kind of person are you becoming? What kind of society are we building?

    Whether you’re a gun owner, an advocate for reform, or somewhere in between, this conversation invites reflection, not reaction. Listen now and prepare to be both convicted and comforted. Subscribe wherever you stream podcasts. Tune in next week for Part 2 featuring expert interviews.
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    13 mins