The Work of You

Jen Ostrich
  • 5.0 (22)
  • Self-Improvement

This is a podcast about the leadership that matters most — the kind that starts from within.   Hosted by certified behavioral coach and Enneagram expert Jen Ostrich, The Work of You is for high-achieving humans ready to stop repeating patterns and start leading themselves differently.   Through insights from coaching, the Enneagram, and her own personal inner overhaul, Jen brings honesty, humor, and sharp emotional clarity to the table. With real talk, self-awareness tools, and a healthy dose of tough love, she helps you uncover what’s driving you, shift what’s no longer serving you, and ultimately do the work of you — one honest episode at a time.   This isn’t about fixing yourself. It’s about finally understanding yourself — so your choices, relationships, and leadership can actually align with who you truly are.

  1. The Gift Hidden Inside Your Enneagram Type — with Diane Ring [S2 Ep 20]

    3d ago

    The Gift Hidden Inside Your Enneagram Type — with Diane Ring [S2 Ep 20]

    Send some fan mail Click Here to Support: *If you're able to support this free independently produced podcast it would mean so much to me * In this milestone 50th episode, Jen is joined by her original Enneagram teacher and mentor, Diane Ring, for a full-circle conversation about the deep architecture of inner work. Diane brings three decades of experience coaching senior leaders to the discussion. They examine the Enneagram not just as a categorization tool, but as a "sense-making" GPS that can help accurately locate where someone is and provide a specific growth path to help move the "edges of a proverbial box". The conversation also dives into the "Core Gift" bridge, a framework that helps  distinguish between defensive personality strategies and the deeper "why" for being in the world. From real-world stories on shifting leader intensity to the introduction of EnneaEdge—an AI-supported Enneagram coaching experience designed for the "moments that matter"—this episode is an invitation to get out of your own echo chamber and engage with a professional mirror. In this episode, we explore: The Enneagram as a Leadership GPS: Understanding the framework as a map that points to where you currently are and provides a specific growth path to help you break out of automatic identities. Shifting from Intensity to Grounded Presence: By recognizing an automatic pattern of "intensity," a leader can experiment with "downshifting" to find a calmer, more productive way of engaging with their team.The Distinction Between Personality and Core Gift: While personality is a strategy system for self-protection, your core gift (such as attunement) is what you are uniquely called to give to the world.EnneaEdge | AI-Supported Enneagram Coaching: To solve the problem of "fall off" after leadership workshops, Diane created an AI coach designed to help professionals apply Enneagram insights when they are most likely to succumb to autopilot default patterns.The Work of You via Diane Ring: Find somebody with professional capabilities, a coach, mentor, or peer-support group, that can help you recognize and reflect on your patterns, motivations, and blind spots. The goal is to intentionally step outside your own echo chamber and build self-awareness through guided reflection.About the Guest:  Diane Ring is an executive coach who has been bringing the Enneagram into the real work of leadership for 30 years. Through her company, Ring Results, she helps senior leaders and teams understand the deeper patterns that shape how they communicate, make decisions, handle pressure, and relate to others. Diane is known for making the Enneagram practical, relevant, and deeply useful—helping leaders see not only why they do what they do, but also the core gifts they are here to bring forward. She serves on the faculty of Integrative Enneagram Solutions and has presented several times at global Enneagram conferences. Diane is also the creator of EnneaEdge™, an AI-supported Enneagram coaching experience designed to help leaders apply insight in the moments that matter. Resources | Links: Download this Free Resource: Discover Your Hidden Layer of Leadership Get Your Enneagram Report Here Diane's Company | Ring Results LinkedIn | Diane Ring The Work of You on Substack Instagram | The Work of You Website | The Work of You Instagram | Grow Collective Website | Grow Collective Support the show

    44 min
  2. Permission to Own What You Want [S2 Ep19]

    May 20

    Permission to Own What You Want [S2 Ep19]

    Send some fan mail Click Here to Support: **If you're able and willing to support this free independently produced podcast it would mean so much to me * In this episode, Jen shares a vulnerable personal moment of "standing in her personal power" by handing her book proposal to a New York Times bestselling author—an act that required overcoming her own inner code of playing it small. She explores the "cost of silence" and why declaring a vision is not a jinx, but rather a way to recruit the support and accountability needed to turn ideas into realized reality. Whether you are a high-achiever hiding a dream until success is guaranteed or a perfectionist waiting for the right moment, this conversation is for you. Jen breaks down how different Enneagram types uniquely self-sabotage by keeping their goals invisible and offers practical prompts to help you name your "meaty goals" loudly and proudly. This episode is for any leader ready to stop "building in the background" and start inviting others to walk alongside them in the work of you. In this episode, we explore: Declaring vs. Jinxing: Declaring a goal doesn't jinx it; it recruits others onto your "sidelines" to act as cheerleaders, coaches, or accountability buddies.The Power of "Naming It": Growth comes to those who learn to say the thing out loud—whether it is an observation, a vision, or a dream—even when it feels risky.Listening to the "Tiny Voice": Identifying the instinctual visions that have become difficult to ignore and moving them from your head onto paper.The Work of You - Reflective Prompts:  I would encourage you to sit down for 30 minutes and journal with a couple of these prompts, feel free to come back to them and reflect as needed. 1. What's one thing you've been working on quietly in the background, maybe just in your head, maybe you haven't even written it down yet? What would change if you said it out loud this week? 2. What is something that makes you a little uncomfortable to even think about, but also feels so instinctually on point that it's really become difficult to ignore?  3. Once you've identified a few examples, just name it. You could give it a code name or just write it out in terms of a goal. See what happens once you allowed yourself to lean into this vision or allowed yourself to actually want this for yourself. Resources | Links: Download this Free Resource: Discover Your Hidden Layer of Leadership Sign Up for The Work of You MasterClass on 5/27 Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I've Cried About by Isabel Klee The Work of You on Substack Instagram | The Work of You Website | The Work of You Instagram | Grow Collective Website | Grow Collective Support the show

    25 min
  3. The Advice You Give vs. The Life You Live -- with CCO Jason Sperling [S2 Ep 18]

    May 13

    The Advice You Give vs. The Life You Live -- with CCO Jason Sperling [S2 Ep 18]

    Send some fan mail Click Here to Support: *If you're able to support this free independently produced podcast it would mean so much to me * In this episode, Jen is joined by Jason Sperling, Chief Creative Officer at INNOCEAN and author of Creative Directions, to discuss the messy, often terrifying transition from being a "man-child" creative to a responsible leader. They explore the unique architecture of those wired for commercial creativity: the outliers who find themselves suddenly responsible for the careers of others while navigating their own imposter syndrome. Jason shares some of his most vulnerable "growth moments," from a high-stakes DEI mistake at Meta Reality Labs to the "periodic peril" of launching the iPad under Steve Jobs. We dive deep into why "candor is kindness" and how the hardest part of leadership is often managing the unrealistic expectations we set for ourselves versus the realistic ones we must set for our teams.  In this episode, we explore: The Transition from Talent to Leader: Why being great at your craft doesn't automatically make you great at managing people, and the emotional maturity required to bridge that gap.Managing Self-Expectations: Learning to separate the perfectionism you demand of yourself from the standards required to lead a healthy, functioning team.The Work of You via Jason Sperling:  "Self-reflection helps build self awareness.""Continue to push and find areas where you can improve. It's very easy to fall into the things that you're talented in and that come naturally to you, but push on those areas where you feel you're deficient with the hope that when you do it long enough it does start to come natural or feel less uncomfortable."About the Guest: Jason Sperling joined INNOCEAN in February 2023 as the Chief Creative Officer, and has helped transform the global agency’s creative vision and leveled up the work. And for the first time in the agency's history they've been included on Ad Age's A-List. Prior to this he served as Global Executive Creative Director for Meta Reality Labs, overseeing the global marketing for VR, AR and Metaverse. During his career he’s developed iconic work for brands like Apple, Honda, TikTok, Amazon, Disney Pixar and UNICEF Worldwide. His work has put him on several industry best lists, including Adweek’s Top 30 Creative Directors and Campaign’s 40 over 40 Best Digital Creatives. And his commitment to culture recently landed him on AdWeek's list of Architects of Culture list. Jason’s most recent book, Creative Directions: Making the Move from Talent to Leader (HarperCollins Leadership, 2021) provides creative people with the tools to become effective creative leaders.  Resources | Links: Jason's Book | Creative Directions Jason's LinkedIn The Work of You Masterclass Free Download: Discover Your Hidden Layer of Leadership The Work of You on Substack Instagram | The Work of You Website | The Work of You Website | Grow Collective Support the show

    40 min
  4. Your Hidden Layers — What I Learned About Mine [S2 Ep17]

    May 6

    Your Hidden Layers — What I Learned About Mine [S2 Ep17]

    Send some fan mail Click Here to Support: **If you're able and willing to support this free independently produced podcast it would mean so much to me * Leadership training often fails because it stays above the waterline, coaching the 10–20% of ourselves that is visible while ignoring the vast architecture running beneath. In this solo episode, Jen explores the Hidden Layer: the subconscious "inner code" of beliefs and core fears that act as the true drivers for how you show up. Using the human iceberg model, she shares why behaviors are usually just symptoms and how sustainable change requires working with the layers sitting deep below the surface. Jen also share a vulnerable letter to her 30-something self—a version of her who used "giving" as a strategy to feel lovable while remaining blind to the patterns that were exhausting her. By mapping Jen's own journey as an Enneagram 2, she shows  how naming your hidden layers creates the distance needed to move from automatic ego reactions back to your authentic essence. In this episode, we explore: The Human Iceberg: Why behaviors are symptoms of the subconscious architecture beneath the waterline.The Hidden Layer: A walkthrough of defense mechanisms, beliefs, motivations, and core fears.Transactional vs. Transformational Change: Why working only at the behavior level leads to temporary shifts.Ego vs. Essence: Shifting from automatic survival patterns to intentional self-leadership.The Work of You - Reflective Prompts:  1. Think of a challenging behavior you've been trying to change—if that behavior is just a symptom, what belief is sitting at the bottom of your iceberg driving it? 2. Where is your "inner code" currently running the show without your awareness? 3. If you could name the core fear your ego is trying to protect today, how would that awareness change your next move? Resources | Links: The Work of You Masterclass Free Download: Discover Your Hidden Layer of Leadership Get Your Enneagram Report Here The Work of You on Substack Instagram | The Work of You Website | The Work of You Instagram | Grow Collective Website | Grow Collective Support the show

    29 min
  5. The Real Work of Self Care - with Dr Anna Teerlinck [S2 Ep16]

    Apr 29

    The Real Work of Self Care - with Dr Anna Teerlinck [S2 Ep16]

    Send some fan mail Click Here to Support: **If you're able to support this free independently produced podcast it would mean so much to me * In this episode, Jen sits down with Dr. Anna Teerlinck — doctor of physical therapy, strength coach, and owner of Austin-based FemPower Physio — at 37 weeks pregnant and fully in motion. Anna works at the intersection of rehab and performance for women, and she brings the same unflinching honesty to this conversation that she brings to her clinical work. Together, they explore what it looks like to take care of yourself when life is full — not as a luxury, but as a non-negotiable. From the "glass balls vs. rubber balls" framework for managing competing roles, to ADHD and the 90-second rule, to why your physical body isn't a separate track from your inner work, this episode is warm, real, and quietly clarifying. In this episode, we explore: The "glass balls vs. rubber balls" framework — and why knowing the difference changes everythingWhy discipline is more sustainable than motivation when it comes to caring for your bodyHow ADHD shaped Anna's self-awareness and her ability to hold space for hard conversationsThe Work of You via Dr. Anna Teerlinck Anna's closing invitation was simple: stop seeing mistakes as failures.  Is there an area of your life where you've "fallen off the wagon" and been hard on yourself about it? What would grace look like there?What's one small thing you can return to today — not perfectly, just intentionally?About the Guest: Dr. Anna Teerlinck is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, strength and conditioning coach, and weightlifting coach dedicated to helping women build resilient, high-performing bodies. She is the owner of Austin-based pelvic floor PT practice, Fempower Physio, where she blends clinical expertise with performance-focused training to support clients from rehab through return to sport and motherhood. As a wife and mom of two, Anna brings both professional insight and lived experience to her work, which has coincided with and is heavily influenced by her neurodivergence and past history of sexual trauma.  Resources | Links: FemPower Physio — Dr. Anna Teerlinck's Austin-based pelvic floor PT practice FemPower Physio Resources (Birth Prep Course coming soon) Anna's ADHD/Subtypes Book Rec  Anna's ADHD/Relationship Book Rec S2 Ep[13] | Interview with Heidi The Work of You | Substack Website | The Work of You Instagram | The Work of You Support the show

    34 min
  6. Why Uncertainty Hits You the Way It Does [S2 Ep15]

    Apr 22

    Why Uncertainty Hits You the Way It Does [S2 Ep15]

    Send some fan mail Click Here to Support: **If you're able and willing to support this free independently produced podcast it would mean so much to me * Uncertainty is everywhere—from AI upending industries to the constant noise of a volatile world—and it is easy for your system to feel like it’s under attack. In this solo episode, Jen explores why our brains react to instability with the same physiological intensity as physical danger by revisiting the SCARF model: status, certainty, autonomy, relatedness, and fairness. When these domains feel threatened, our cognitive capacity drops and collaboration feels impossible—shifting us from leading with intention to merely trying to survive. The work of you through instability requires understanding your "invisible operating system"—the Enneagram instincts that drive your specific triggers and blind spots. This conversation is an invitation to move from a reactive threat state back to your authentic essence by naming triggers, using grounding mantras, and focusing on the few things you can actually control. In this episode, we explore: The SCARF Model revisited: Why your brain treats a threat to your status, certainty, autonomy, relatedness, or fairness with the same physiological intensity as physical danger.The cost of a threat response: How being triggered narrows your cognitive focus, kills creativity, and makes collaboration feel impossible.Enneagram instincts as a lens: Understanding how your dominant and repressed instincts shape your specific "hot buttons" during times of crisis.The invisible operating system: A look at how your instinct stacking can unintentionally trigger threat states in the people you lead.The power of a mantra: Shifting your focus toward what you can control when the world feels out of your handsThe Work of You - Reflective Prompts:  Which of these five areas on the scarf model do you sense showing up for you a lot lately [Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness, or Fairness]? What happens when one feels like it's threatened, how are you responding and what does that look like?Where do you notice that your repressed instinct maybe is creating some blindspots for you in yourself or how you lead?Which of the scarf domains is it activating in your dominant instinct the hardest?When the world feels uncertain, what is one small thing you can do to resource yourself before you react? Resources | Links: Podcast |Season 1 Episode 10 Podcast | Season 1 Episode 14  Substack Article | Leading in Uncertainty Without Losing Yourself  GET YOUR ENNEAGRAM TYPE for $60 -- Use this link and Jen will have access to work with you on your behind the scenes data should you choose. The Work of You Masterclass Free Download: Discover Your Hidden Layer of Leadership Instagram | The Work of You Website | The Work of You Substack | The Work of You Support the show

    27 min
  7. The Work of Showing Up — with Brannan Sirratt [S2 Ep14]

    Apr 15

    The Work of Showing Up — with Brannan Sirratt [S2 Ep14]

    Send some fan mail Click Here to Support: **If you're able and willing to support this free independently produced podcast it would mean so much to me * In this episode, Jen sits down with Brannan Sirratt — book developer, coach, and owner of DevelopYourBook.com — for a conversation that starts with manuscripts and ends somewhere much deeper. Brannan spent two decades helping authors find the real book underneath the one they thought they were writing, and it turns out that process has a lot to teach the rest of us about self-awareness, creative courage, and what it actually means to show up. Brannan and Jen geek out over Enneagram types, swap notes on ADHD and neurodivergence, and dig into why writing — or any form of honest communication — might be one of the most underrated tools for personal growth. Brannan's closing challenge to listeners is simple and quietly profound: don't write yourself off. Just show up and see what happens. In this episode, we explore: How Brannan's late ADHD and autism-adjacent diagnoses became the missing puzzle piece in her own self-understandingThe Enneagram Type 5 with a social instinct — and what that looks like in a career built on helping others tell their storiesThe two questions that unlock any writing project (and any LinkedIn post)How showing up fully to your creative work opens you up in ways no personal growth framework can replicateThe Work of You via Brannan Sirratt Brannan's closing invitation was to just show up — fully, imperfectly, and without waiting until you feel ready. Here are a few questions to sit with: Where in your life are you waiting to feel ready before you show up?Is there a form of creative expression — writing, speaking, making something — you've written yourself off from? What would it look like to try anyway?What do you want to communicate right now, and who is it really for?About the Guest: Brannan Sirratt is a book developer who makes sure both the author and the book have what they need to reach their most impacted reader. She's spent two decades working with hundreds of authors and collaborators across all levels of content creation. That's long enough to know that not all ideas take the same shape—and she believes that's a good thing. Her book development work begins with the Clarity Spectrum, an intention-first genre framework (that's been called "the Enneagram for Books"), then expands as needed to carry deep thinkers and changemakers through their own unique process—until both the author and their book have emerged. Resources | Links: Develop Your Book — Brannan's new site including the two-question quiz Brannan Sirratt Substack  GET YOUR ENNEAGRAM TYPE for $60 -- Use this link and Jen will have access to work with you on your behind the scenes data should you choose. The Work of You Masterclass Free Download: Discover Your Hidden Layer of Leadership The Work of You on Substack Website | The Work of You Instagram | The Work of You Instagram | Grow Collective Support the show

    36 min
  8. Consistency Over Complication -- with Heidi Jones [S2 Ep13]

    Apr 8

    Consistency Over Complication -- with Heidi Jones [S2 Ep13]

    Send some fan mail Click Here to Support: **If you’re able and willing to support this free independently produced podcast it would mean so much to me * How we take care of our bodies is a direct reflection of how we lead ourselves. In this episode, Jen is joined by strength coach and close friend Heidi Jones to discuss why consistency—not complication—is the key to long-term wellness. They discuss the "outer work" of physical wellness and how it mirrors the leadership of self, while exploring the dangers of tying worth to productivity. From navigating early menopause to surviving childhood trauma, Heidi shares how staying adaptable and simplifying the basics allows us to thrive through every season of life. Heidi offers a refreshingly grounded philosophy: start simple, stay consistent, and let your habits mold around your life — not the other way around. Whether it’s movement, nutrition, sleep, or stress, the goal isn’t perfection. It’s building small, sustainable anchors that keep you steady through life’s inevitable seasons of change.  In this episode, we explore: Shifting from corporate productivity to passion-driven wellnessThe "Big Boulders" of health: Movement, Nutrition, Sleep, and StressNavigating the seasons of life: Grief, motherhood, and hormonal changesThe Enneagram Type 2 journey: Managing people-pleasing and the pride/humility balanceThe importance of simple, repeatable habits for seismic impactThe Work of You Resource – via Heidi Jones Pick one thing from one of the four wellness columns (Movement, Nutrition, Sleep, or Stress) and commit to doing it consistently for one week. Whether it’s hitting a step count, tracking water, or a set bedtime—let it "marinate" before adding more. About the Guest: Heidi is a strength and mobility coach and massage therapist in Austin, Texas. She began her career in advertising, moving to Chicago directly out of college, but a quarter-life crisis led her to leave agency life after a few years and begin exploring movement and healing through personal training and massage therapy. Her path wasn’t linear — she returned to corporate advertising for stability, eventually moved back to Texas, and didn’t fully leave the corporate world until after becoming a mother. Today, Heidi helps others build strength from the inside out, believing that physical health and fitness must be flexible, adaptable, and able to move with you through life’s seasons. Her approach isn’t rigid or flashy; she meets people where they are, offers practical tools, and leads with compassion, grace, and respect for the body’s wisdom. Resources | Links:  Flow Birth & Body | Heidi's Company  Instagram | Heidi Jones GET YOUR ENNEAGRAM TYPE -- includes the Instinct data; most ideal for professional use: leaders and teams ALT OPTION FOR TYPING - also includes the Instincts  The Grow Effect Coaching Model  The Work of You on Substack Instagram | The Work of You Instagram | Grow Collective Website | The Work of You Support the show

    33 min
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About

This is a podcast about the leadership that matters most — the kind that starts from within.   Hosted by certified behavioral coach and Enneagram expert Jen Ostrich, The Work of You is for high-achieving humans ready to stop repeating patterns and start leading themselves differently.   Through insights from coaching, the Enneagram, and her own personal inner overhaul, Jen brings honesty, humor, and sharp emotional clarity to the table. With real talk, self-awareness tools, and a healthy dose of tough love, she helps you uncover what’s driving you, shift what’s no longer serving you, and ultimately do the work of you — one honest episode at a time.   This isn’t about fixing yourself. It’s about finally understanding yourself — so your choices, relationships, and leadership can actually align with who you truly are.

Information

  • Creator
    Jen Ostrich
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    54
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Work of You
  • Show Website
    The Work of You