Feel Known & Be Known: identity, relationships, growth, and the space between

Katrina Perera

Discover yourself through the lens of the Enneagram. Join hosts Katrina and Laurel for honest, relatable conversations about personality, relationships, and personal growth. 🎙️ What You'll Explore: • Enneagram types and personality insights • What parenting reveals about you • Self-awareness and emotional intelligence • Communication styles and relationship dynamics • Personal development and mindful growth Perfect for anyone seeking deeper self-understanding, better relationships, upgraded patterns, and meaningful personal transformation. New episodes every other Thursday.

Episodes

  1. Jun 18

    The Cost of Being a Good Person: Flipping over the hidden price tags of integrity, connection, achievement, wisdom, strength, and peace

    Most of us assume our greatest strengths are purely gifts. Integrity. Care. Achievement. Authenticity. Wisdom. Loyalty. Possibility. Strength. Peace. These qualities help us belong. They help us contribute. They help us matter. They have helped us then, surely they must help us now. But what if every strength comes with a hidden price tag? In this episode, we explore the social instinct through the lens of the Enneagram and the nervous system. Together, we'll examine how each personality type searches for belonging, significance, and stewardship—and what happens when a healthy strategy slowly becomes an identity. Type One flips over integrity and discovers perfectionism—and eventually, the feeling of never being enough. Type Two flips over connection and discovers people-pleasing—until they become invisible to themselves. Type Three flips over significance and discovers performance—until proving replaces simply being. Type Four flips over authenticity and discovers comparison—until uniqueness becomes loneliness. Type Five flips over understanding and discovers withdrawal—until observation replaces participation. Type Six flips over safety and discovers vigilance—until preparation becomes worry. Type Seven flips over freedom and discovers avoidance—until possibility becomes escapism. Type Eight flips over strength and discovers control—until protection becomes burden. Type Nine flips over peace and discovers self-forgetting—until harmony costs them their own voice. The goal isn't to stop improving, helping, achieving, creating, understanding, protecting, inspiring, strengthening, or harmonizing. The goal is to become conscious of the hidden transaction. Because once we see the price tag, we finally have a choice. And that is where transformation begins. Join me as we explore the gifts, the costs, and the deeper invitation beneath them all: discovering that belonging was never something we had to earn in the first place.

    18 min
  2. Jun 9

    Self-Preservation: Conservation in Transformation through the safety, security, and sustainability

    In this episode of Feel Known, Be Known, we explore the Self-Preservation Instinct through the lens of safety, security, and sustainability—the three foundational forces that shape how we survive, conserve energy, manage resources, and create stability in our lives. Why do some people constantly prepare for worst-case scenarios? Why do others struggle to rest until every responsibility is handled? And how does our nervous system influence the way we seek comfort, predictability, and control? Drawing from the Enneagram, attachment patterns, neuroscience, and lived experience, we'll uncover how the self-preservation instinct shows up in each of the nine Enneagram types. You'll learn how this instinct can be a powerful gift that helps us build healthy rhythms, steward our resources, and care for ourselves and others. You'll also discover how it can become overactive, leading to anxiety, scarcity thinking, hyper-independence, burnout, or resistance to change. Most importantly, we'll explore the tension between conservation and transformation—how growth requires enough safety to risk change, and how true sustainability involves more than simply maintaining the status quo. Whether you're new to the Enneagram or a seasoned student of personality and personal growth, this conversation will help you better understand your survival strategies, your relationship with security, and the path toward greater freedom, resilience, and trust. Topics covered:• The Self-Preservation Instinct and the Enneagram• Safety, Security, and Sustainability• Nervous System Responses and Survival Strategies• Resource Management and Energy Conservation• How Self-Preservation Shows Up in All Nine Types• Scarcity, Control, and Over-Preparation• Personal Growth, Transformation, and Trust• Faith, Resilience, and Human Flourishing #Enneagram #SelfPreservation #PersonalGrowth #NervousSystem #AttachmentTheory #PersonalityTypes #SpiritualGrowth #MentalHealth #SelfAwareness #Transformation #FeelKnownBeKnown

    19 min
  3. May 23

    Common Sense Isn't So Common: through the Enneagram instinct lens

    Why is it that one person packs all the snacks, sunscreen, electrolyte packets, backup outfits, and a roadside emergency kit for a 14-minute drive… while another person forgets- rather doesn't consider bringing- the diaper bag entirely and says, “It’ll probably be fine”? And why do both people genuinely believe they are the reasonable one? In this episode, we’re talking about why common sense isn’t actually common — through the lens of the Enneagram instincts. Because most conflict is not logic versus logic.It’s instinct versus instinct. One person’s internal system is asking:“Am I safe?” Another is asking:“Do I belong?” And another is asking:“What/where is the meaning of all this?” Welcome to the intriguing and deeply revealing world of the self-preservation, social, and sexual (one-to-one) instincts — the unconscious operating systems quietly- and not so quietly- shaping your marriage, parenting, friendships, finances, vacations, career choices, and FB comments. This episode is part neuroscience, part relationship therapy, part spiritual formation, and part:“oh no… this explains every argument my spouse and I have ever had on a road trip.” We cover: Why some people prepare for every possible disaster Why some people need meaning and intensity like oxygen Why others instinctively track group dynamics everywhere they go Why emotionally healthy conflict requires understanding different instinctive realities And why your neglected instinct or your 'blindspot' is probably where you experience the most dysregulation Also discussed:feral motherhood lunches,naked diaper babies,vacation planning warfare,the psychology of “good vibes,”and why stability may currently be filing a restraining order against your personality. Painfully accurate. Slightly exposing. Deeply practical. Because once you realize people are not seeing the same reality you are…you stop asking:“How could they possibly think that?” And you start asking:“What instinct are they protecting?” Trust me, this will absolutely change your relationships. Send this to the one who doesn't share your sense of common sense;)

    29 min
  4. Mar 19

    Why Your Parenting Feels so Hard (it's not what you think)- Enneagram Types 1-9 Explained

    “I’ve given you everything… am I just chopped liver?!” 😅 If you’ve ever felt unseen, overextended, or just plain confused in your parenting—this episode is going to hit home. Because what if the problem isn’t your kids…or your capacity……but the lens you’re parenting through? In this episode of Feel Known & Be Known, we break down how each Enneagram type shows up in parenting—from the perfectionist who craves order, to the helper who gives everything, to the challenger learning the difference between protection and control. You’ll hear real-life, honest (and sometimes hilarious) moments like: The mom who refused to fix her calendar because it would look “messy” The inner dialogue of “I’ve poured out my life for you…” The tension between raising successful kids vs. letting them choose their own path Why some parents need structure… and others need escape And the truth every child is actually longing for (hint: it’s not perfection) Whether you’re a Type 1, 2, 3… or still figuring it out—this episode will help you:✨ Understand your parenting triggers✨ Build compassion for yourself and your kids✨ Stop taking things so personally✨ And start showing up in a way that actually connects Because your child doesn’t need a perfect parent—they need a present one. If you saw yourself in this episode, share it with another mom who needs to hear: “It’s not just you.” Then hit follow + leave a review—it helps more families feel known instead of alone. And come find us on Instagram—tell us your Enneagram type and the moment that made you say, “okay wow… that’s me.” 👀

    32 min
  5. Mar 5

    Is it Control or is it Letting Go? Real Parenting Talks

    In this episode of Feel Known and Be Known: An Enneagram Conversation, hosts Laurel and Katrina explore one of the most relatable parenting questions: Are we protecting our kids… or trying to control them? Through the lens of the Enneagram, this conversation dives into the emotional triggers, parenting patterns, and inner motivations that shape how we respond to our children. Katrina shares the reality of parenting in the trenches — raising a 4-year-old starting school and a sleep-resistant 10-month-old. From the daily 5 PM parenting chaos to the exhaustion of trying to get a baby to sleep, she reflects on the moments that trigger frustration, overwhelm, and the deep desire to control outcomes as a Type 8 personality. Laurel offers the perspective of a mother with adult children, reflecting on the long arc of parenting — the gradual and sometimes painful process of letting go. As an Enneagram Type 9, she shares how connection, belonging, and attachment shaped her experience raising her kids and how those dynamics evolve as children grow into independent adults. Together, they unpack the subtle line between healthy protection and unconscious control, exploring real-life dilemmas like: • When should parents step in — and when should they step back?• How does your Enneagram type influence your parenting style?• What role do triggers, stress, and emotional regulation play in family dynamics?• How do we handle mom guilt, comparison, and parenting pressure? The conversation also moves into the powerful practice of somatic awareness — learning to notice what is happening in your body when parenting stress rises. From tight shoulders to a clenched gut, Laurel and Katrina explore how body awareness, emotional intelligence, and self-reflection can transform the way we respond to our kids. Along the way, they discuss cultural differences in parenting, the shift from raising independent children versus multigenerational family life, and why modern parents often feel isolated without the “village” support system previous generations relied on. If you’ve ever wondered: • Am I being too controlling as a parent?• How do I protect my kids without limiting their growth?• How does my personality influence the way I parent? — this episode will help you feel seen, understood, and less alone. Whether you’re parenting toddlers, teenagers, or adult children, this conversation offers insight into Enneagram parenting, emotional growth, self-awareness, and healthier family relationships. 🎧 Join us for a thoughtful discussion on control, protection, parenting triggers, and the lifelong process of letting go. And if this episode resonates with you, share your story — because every parent is learning as they go.

    22 min

About

Discover yourself through the lens of the Enneagram. Join hosts Katrina and Laurel for honest, relatable conversations about personality, relationships, and personal growth. 🎙️ What You'll Explore: • Enneagram types and personality insights • What parenting reveals about you • Self-awareness and emotional intelligence • Communication styles and relationship dynamics • Personal development and mindful growth Perfect for anyone seeking deeper self-understanding, better relationships, upgraded patterns, and meaningful personal transformation. New episodes every other Thursday.