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

    3D AGO

    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
  2. The Enneagram as a Mirror and a Map [S2 Ep12]

    APR 1

    The Enneagram as a Mirror and a Map [S2 Ep12]

    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 solo episode of The Work of You, Jen returns to one of her favorite topics — the Enneagram — with a fresh frame: the mirror and the map. She breaks down what your Enneagram type actually is (and isn't), how to make sense of your report, why your type doesn't change over time but you do, and what it looks like to move from self-awareness into real growth. This episode is part explainer, part invitation — and a great entry point for anyone who's recently received their Integrative9 report and isn't quite sure where to start. Because the Enneagram isn't a quiz. It's a strategy for becoming your most evolved, authentic self. In this episode, we explore: Why your Enneagram type doesn't change — but that doesn't mean you don'tThe mirror and the map: two distinct ways the Enneagram serves your growthEgo structure vs. core essence — and the invitation to lead from the latterHow to actually use your report without getting overwhelmed by itThe difference between behaviors and the deeper code running underneath themJen's personal Type 2 story: greeting cards, hidden expectations, and a real growth edgeThe Work of You Reflection: Spend a few moments reflecting on each of these questions. If you find yourself coming back to one or two in particular, block out about 30 minutes to really sit with the question and write about it in a journal: What in my Enneagram report immediately felt true — and what did I want to push back on?Where might my ego structure be quietly running the show in my leadership?What is one place I can see a familiar pattern playing out in my life right now?Am I using my results as a mirror yet? What would it mean to also use them as a map?What would it look like to lead more from my core essence this week?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 (coming soon) Free Download: Discover Your Hidden Layer of Leadership (coming soon) 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 Support the show

    29 min
  3. The Inner Work of Leadership [S2 Ep11]

    MAR 25

    The Inner Work of Leadership [S2 Ep11]

    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 of The Work of You, Jen synthesizes core themes from her recent conversations with tech leaders Tony Ross (formerly of Apple) and KG Treser (LinkedIn); two leaders who are actively leading themselves. Jen breaks down four insights that came from two interviews: identity shifts of being a leader, the strategy of emotional regulation, systems and the role of our inner beliefs, and inner work as an ongoing practice vs a singular breakthrough. This episode is a great reminder that even between two leaders in different life stages, what makes them effective isn’t their resumes, it’s their willingness to examine themselves. That’s the real work of you. In this episode, we explore: Navigating the identity shift from expert "doer" to leader of leadersThe strategy of emotional regulation: Gas vs. BrakesHow your inner beliefs create—or limit—the systems you buildThe "Swiss Army Knife" approach to personal developmentThe definition of a Leadership Brand as a "promise of an experience"The Work of You Resource  Spend a few moments reflecting on each of these questions. If you find yourself coming back to one or two in particular, block out about 30 minutes to really sit with the question and write about it in a journal: 1. Where am I still leading from an old identity? 2. What emotional pattern most disrupts my leadership? 3. Where do I need more clarity instead of more speed? 4. How does my energy land on others? 5. What is my current mantra? Resources | Links:  S2 Ep9 | Climbing What's in Front of You-- Interview with Tony Ross S2 Ep 10 | Being Strategic in Leading You – Interview with KG Treser, LinkedIn The Leadership Gap No One Talks About | Substack Center for Creative Leadership 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  Instagram | The Work of You Instagram | Grow Collective Website | The Work of You Website | Grow Collective Support the show

    24 min
  4. Being Strategic in Leading You – Interview with KG Treser, LinkedIn [S2 Ep10]

    MAR 18

    Being Strategic in Leading You – Interview with KG Treser, LinkedIn [S2 Ep10]

    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 week's episode, Jen has an open conversation with KG Treser, a Chief of Staff at LinkedIn, who is on a mission to democratize executive-level skills for everyone. We dive into the gritty reality of the “gear shift” required to move from being a high-performing doer to a strategic leader who leads with a point of view—even when you feel like you’re just making it up. KG opens up about her own “Swiss Army Knife” of inner work, exploring how everything from tarot cards to spot patterns to using AI for processing helps her navigate the high-pressure world of tech with authenticity and grace. In this episode, we explore: The pivotal "gear shift" from operator to strategistBreaking down strategy: goals, constraints, and the blend of IQ and EQUsing "clean systems" like the Enneagram and Tarot to identify blind spotsThe "Enneagram 2 Shadow" and the power of shifting worldviewsHow to use AI (Claude and Copilot) to navigate complex team dynamicsGrounding yourself in simple mantras to rewire core beliefsThe Work of You Resource- via KG Treser Come up with a simple and concise mantra to help you focus  and reground About the Guest:  KG is a Chief of Staff with over a decade of experience in strategy and operations, including nearly seven years at LinkedIn. She's also the creator of Chief of Staff School, a Substack newsletter and TikTok community with over 17,000 followers, where she breaks down strategy frameworks and workplace skills for professionals without an MBA. When she's not supporting senior leaders, she's helping other Chiefs of Staff and future executives level up through her coaching practice. Resources | Links:  Chief of Staff School | KG's Substack TikTok | Follow KG Instagram | Follow KG  The Work of You | Substack 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  Instagram | The Work of You Instagram | Grow Collective Website | The Work of You Website | Grow Collective Support the show

    30 min
  5. Climbing What's in Front of You-- Interview with Tony Ross [S2 Ep9]

    MAR 11

    Climbing What's in Front of You-- Interview with Tony Ross [S2 Ep9]

    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.** In this Season Two conversation of The Work of You, Jen sits down with (now retired) executive leader Tony Ross to explore the inner growth behind a 20+ year career at Apple. Tony reflects on the pivotal transitions from individual contributor to manager to leader of leaders, sharing candid lessons on delegation, strategy, culture-building, and leading across global teams. From navigating cultural differences in China to hosting “gelato with Tony” sessions to become more approachable, he offers practical insight into the mindset shifts that elevate good leaders into impactful ones. The conversation also highlights the role of self-awareness and continuous development—both personally and organizationally—including how tools like the Enneagram can strengthen team dynamics. Now in retirement, Tony shares how witnessing his parents’ health journeys inspired him to prioritize adventure and meaning, leading him to climb Denali—twice. His closing message is simple and powerful (see below for his The Work of You advice) -- this is a must watch episode.  In this episode, we explore: Why moving from individual contributor to manager requires a complete mindset overhaul, not just a promotionHow Tony reshaped team norms and built connections at scale to humanize executive leadership Using tools like the Enneagram and intentional development plans to fuel both personal growth and stronger team dynamicsWhat summiting Denali taught Tony about mindset, resilience, and taking bold steps before “someday” slips awayThe Work of You Resources -- via Tony Ross Stay Curious -- question things, take on new challenges, push yourself out of your comfort zone and set concrete goals each yearKeep Growing!About the Guest: With over 20 years of operational leadership at Apple, Tony brings deep expertise in global supply chain, planning, and product operations. He currently advises mission-driven startups like Crowdstake and serves on nonprofit boards focused on health and economic growth. His career began as a Navy engineering officer and continued through senior roles in the tech sector, supported by degrees from Cornell and Stanford GSB. Today Tony is dedicated to mentorship, community engagement, and amplifying organizations that create positive impact. Resources | Links:  Simon Sinek Video  [where one of Tony's favoriate quotes lives] Enneagram for Teams  The Work of You on Substack The Grow Effect Coaching Model  Instagram | The Work of You Instagram | Grow Collective Website | The Work of You Website | Grow Collective Support the show

    31 min
  6. Two Things Can Be True – Your Enneagram Type as a Strategy [S2 E8]

    MAR 4

    Two Things Can Be True – Your Enneagram Type as a Strategy [S2 E8]

    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 of The Work of You, Jen explores the idea that “two things can be true” and how the Enneagram can help us hold tension instead of collapsing into either-or thinking. She discusses how your Enneagram type reflects both strengths and shadow sides—and how awareness of both can expand your leadership and personal growth. Jen reframes your type not as a fixed identity or flaw, but as a strategy developed early in life. She shows how integrating new ways of being—balancing opposites like decisiveness and collaboration, ambition and inclusivity, or high standards and grace—can widen your emotional, behavioral, and relational bandwidth. Whether you’re new to the Enneagram or a seasoned enthusiast, this episode offers practical insights and reflective prompts to notice where your natural tendencies may limit impact and how to cultivate growth. In this episode, we explore: The importance of embracing two truths at onceHow to recognize strengths and shadow sidesUsing the Enneagram to expand capacityIntegrating new ways of being for growthThe Work of You Reflective Prompts: 1. Who are you becoming as you loosen your grip on your strategy/Enneagram type? 2. What is one area that you may be overusing or doubling down on (even if it's a strength)? Where might that be limiting the impact that you're having? 3. What would it look like to integrate yourself towards one of these new ways of being? How can you play around with finding balance between your natural way of being? Resources | Links:  S2 Ep7 | The Work of Holding Both - Interview with Nikki Shultz  Follow The Work of You on Substack   GET YOUR ENNEAGRAM TYPE -- includes the Instinct data; most ideal for professional use: leaders and teams ALT OPTION FOR TYPING - also includes the Instincts  Follow The Work of You on Substack   The Grow Effect Coaching Model  Instagram | The Work of You Instagram | Grow Collective Website | The Work of You Website | Grow Collective Support the show

    25 min
  7. The Work of Holding Both - Interview with Nikki Shultz [S2 Ep 7]

    FEB 25

    The Work of Holding Both - Interview with Nikki Shultz [S2 Ep 7]

    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.** In this personal conversation, Jen speaks with executive coach Nikki Shultz about the transformative power of the Enneagram and the importance of ongoing inner work. A certified teacher with CP Enneagram and former speaker at the International Enneagram Association Global Conference, Nikki shares how the system has shaped her leadership, marriage, and parenting. She emphasizes that real impact comes not from “adding value,” but from embodied presence and balanced growth—integrating head, heart, and body, as well as psychological and spiritual development. Reflecting as a Type Seven, Nikki shares how she once bypassed grief during a corporate layoff by defaulting to positivity, and how years later she allowed herself to fully process that loss. She contrasts this with a recent parenting moment where she stayed grounded and emotionally present with her son’s anger, choosing connection over control—evidence of her shift from living in her head to leading with heart and body. She closes with practical wisdom: question your assumptions (head), engage creativity to access emotion (heart), and invite honest feedback (body). True transformation, she reminds us, requires embracing both psychological and spiritual growth. In this episode, we explore: How lasting impact comes from embodied presence, not over-functioningActively engaging your own psychological and spiritual growth to truly support othersHow growth happens through integrating all three centers of intelligence and holding polarities rather than defaulting to one dominant patternPersonal transformation often requires confronting avoided emotionsThe importance of questioning your assumptions, engaging creativity to access the heart, and seeking honest feedback about how others experience you to support embodied, ongoing developmentAbout the Guest: Nikki Shultz is an executive coach and leadership development consultant working at the intersection of the Enneagram and adult development. She helps leaders see how personality both supports and limits growth, and builds the capacity to widen perspective and hold tension. Nikki is professionally certified with CP Enneagram, has spent over a decade in deep study of the Enneagram, and has been a speaker at the International Enneagram Association Global Conference. Nikki was introduced to The Work of You community through host Jen. They first met when Jen was co-leading a Shift Positive training and stayed in touch, becoming colleagues through Grow Collective, and now good friends through their shared love of the Enneagram. Resources | Links:  Nikki's Website Nikki's LinkedIn  GET YOUR ENNEAGRAM TYPE -- includes the Instinct data; most ideal for professional use: leaders and teams ALT OPTION FOR TYPING - also includes the Instincts  Follow on Substack  The Grow Effect Coaching Model  Instagram | The Work of You Instagram | Grow Collective Support the show

    34 min
  8. A Year of Becoming: Fire Horse Energy [S2 Ep6]

    FEB 18

    A Year of Becoming: Fire Horse Energy [S2 Ep6]

    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.** What if this is the year you lead yourself?  In this solo episode, I explore the powerful overlap between Chinese astrology and numerology as we move from a Year 9 of completion into a Year 1 of beginnings — and from the reflective energy of the Wood Snake into the bold momentum of the Fire Horse. This is about shifting from internal calibration and external expansion.  I share a simple, grounded explanation of both systems and reflect on what it means to close a chapter well — and then consciously step into initiation, identity, and leadership. If last year asked you to release, refine, and shed old skin, this year may be inviting you to move with bold action. We talk about endings, courage, momentum, self-leadership, and what it really means to trust your own fire. If you’ve felt the shift from reflection to readiness… this episode is for you. Episode Topics •A simple explanation of Chinese astrology (animal + element) •What the Wood Snake symbolized and why 2025 was about refinement and release •The themes of a Numerology Year 9: completion, closure, and integration •How Year 9 prepares the ground for what’s next •Entering a Numerology Year 1: initiation, identity, and new beginnings •Fire Horse energy: momentum, visibility, courage, and self-trust •The shadow side of fire (burnout, reactivity, isolation) •Moving from shedding to starting •What it means to lead yourself this year •Reflective questions to help you identify what you’re ready to initiate The Work of You Reflective Prompts:  What is one dream big or small that I've been ignoring for far too long?Where am I ready to take initiative in work or in life?What is one forward step I'm ready to take right now?Resources | Links:  S1 Ep1: Living in Alignment: The First Step to Leading You Substack: The Year of Becoming  The Grow Effect Coaching Model  Instagram | The Work of You Instagram | Grow Collective Website | The Work of You Website | Grow Collective Support the show Support the show

    24 min
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Trailers

5
out of 5
22 Ratings

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
    47
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Work of You
  • Show Website
    The Work of You

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