In this episode of AWAKEN with Ryan DeJonghe, I sit down with a true hero of mine in the hypnosis world, Chris Thompson. Chris is the engine behind the world-renowned Mike Mandel Hypnosis Academy and a master at distilling complex psychological concepts into actionable steps for personal and professional growth.

We trace Chris’s journey from a shy engineering student who first saw Mike Mandel perform on a university stage to becoming a business strategist and professional hypnotist. Chris shares the "hidden secrets" of the Academy, including the 24/7 practice rooms that have revolutionized how students learn hypnosis.

We also dive into:

• The "Pykthos" Origin Story: The hilarious, accidental way Chris and Timothy September named their business mastermind.
• Hypnosis for Parents: How Chris used Ericksonian language patterns to navigate the "terrible twos" and help his children through emotional outbursts.
• Business Mastery: Why Chris believes you can learn anything and why he refuses to ever quit.
• Relationship Interventions: How everything in a relationship is an "ego state" problem and how to use inquisitive curiosity to de-escalate conflict.

Stay tuned until the end for a powerful guided hypnotic induction led by Chris, designed to help you take ownership of your personal change and identify your next logical baby step toward the life you want.

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Welcome Chris Thompson: Hypnosis certifications and the deck of cards that changed everything.
• 01:05 – The "Hidden Secret" of MMHA: The power of the 24/7 Practice Rooms.
• 02:18 – How Chris got into hypnosis: From shy engineering student to witnessing Mike Mandel’s stage show.
• 06:55 – Transitioning from Stock Analyst to Hypnosis Entrepreneur.
• 14:12 – Talking to Toddlers: Applying hypnotic language patterns to parenting.
• 18:59 – Everything is an Ego State: Solving relationship conflict with hypnosis.
• 21:12 – "Sharpening the Blade": Why the best hypnosis trainers never stop studying.
• 34:00 – Ryan’s personal success story: Using a practice room session to stay consistent with workouts.
• 40:51 – The story behind Pykthos and the "Strategy Cafe."
• 47:00 – How to build a business by "Greasing the Chute."
• 1:03:00 – Guided Hypnotic Induction: Taking ownership of your change with Chris Thompson.

Key Links Mentioned

• Mike Mandel Hypnosis Academy: Get the Digital Cards and training at MikeMandelHypnosis.com/digital-cards
• Pykthos Strategy Cafe: Join Chris and Timothy for a virtual coffee every second Friday at Pykthos.com/cafe

In this episode of AWAKEN with Ryan DeJonghe, Ryan sits down with the prolific author and psychotherapist Bill O’Hanlon for an enlightening discussion on the legacy of Milton Erickson, the mechanics of change, and the power of the creative unconscious.

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**Episode Summary**

The conversation centers on O'Hanlon's unique journey from being Milton Erickson’s gardener to becoming one of the primary disseminators of Ericksonian hypnosis. Bill shares legendary stories of Erickson’s unconventional "shaman-like" therapy and explains how he transformed his own life from a "painfully shy" student into a world-renowned workshop presenter.

The episode concludes with a special musical performance by Bill and a guided hypnotic gift designed to help listeners tap into their own inner resources.

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Key Discussion Points

**The "Inside-Out" Model of Change**

Resource Utilization: Unlike traditional therapies that view symptoms as liabilities to be removed, Bill explains how Erickson viewed them as unused resources.

Evocation vs. Reprogramming: Bill differentiates Ericksonian work by its focus on evoking a person's existing strengths rather than trying to "reprogram" them from the outside.

Psychotic Optimism: Bill discusses his transition to a state of "psychotic optimism," believing that no one is truly hopeless regardless of their history.

**The "Unconscious" Mind**

Benevolent View: Following Erickson, Bill describes the unconscious not as a "Freudian cauldron" of dark urges, but as a warehouse of abilities, memories, and wisdom.

The Four Categories of the Unconscious: Bill breaks down how the unconscious can be smart (playing guitar automatically), dumb (not knowing a new skill), or "smart about things it’s dumb to be smart about" (deeply ingrained trauma flinches).

**Legends of Milton Erickson**

The Suicidal Woman: How Erickson used a "gap in the teeth" and a mouthful of water to break a woman’s suicidal trance.

The African Violet Queen: A story of how a depressed, isolated woman in a wheelchair became a community legend through a simple "Christian duty" involving plants.

Psychological Shock Therapy: The dramatic account of how Erickson used anger to help a "hopeless" stroke victim walk again.

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**About Bill O'Hanlon**

Bill O'Hanlon is a psychotherapist, songwriter, and the author of **43 books**, including the bestseller *Do One Thing Different*. He has spent over 30 years traveling the world teaching "Possibility Therapy" and Ericksonian methods.

Website: https://www.billohanlon.org/

Free Resource: Bill mentions his book, A Lazy Man's Guide to Success, as a great starting point for those looking to change their lives.

**Featured Books**


Do One Thing Different: The book that landed Bill on Oprah.

A Remarkable Man: Bill’s accounts of his encounters with Milton Erickson.

Change 101: A foundational guide on the mechanics of how change actually happens.

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In this episode of AWAKEN with Ryan DeJonghe, I’m joined by Dr. Cameron Alldredge, a clinical psychologist and researcher at Baylor University. We move beyond the "woo-woo" and stage entertainment to explore the hard science of clinical hypnosis. Dr. Alldredge explains how hypnosis functions as a powerful tool for neuroplasticity, its effectiveness in treating physical symptoms like hot flashes, and how it is being used to facilitate mystical experiences traditionally associated with psychedelics.

Key Takeaways & Discussion Points

• From Entertainment to Clinical Science: Dr. Alldredge shares his journey from performing stage hypnosis as a teenager to earning a PhD in clinical psychology and conducting rigorous research at the Baylor Mind-Body Medicine Research Laboratory.
• Hypnosis vs. Traditional Therapy: A look at how hypnotherapy "kicks therapy into high gear" by making positive changes feel more tangible and immediate compared to standard talk therapy.
• The Neuroscience of the "Trance": We discuss what actually happens in the brain during hypnosis, including decreased activity in the Default Mode Network, which allows for a raw, immersive experience without constant self-monitoring.
• Clinical Success with Hot Flashes and Smoking: Insights from a massive seven-year JAMA study that proved standardized hypnosis audio sessions can significantly reduce postmenopausal hot flashes. We also touch on the "Finito" app and its success in smoking cessation.
• Hypnosis as a Non-Drug "Psychedelic": Dr. Alldredge discusses his current $500,000 research project exploring how hypnosis can induce profound, mystical experiences—measured by the MEQ30—without the logistical hurdles or side effects of mind-altering substances.
• The Mind-Body Connection: A fascinating look at "functional" issues, such as blindness or physical reactions that occur entirely within the brain’s processing, and how hypnosis can address these at the source.

Episode Resources

• Access the Studies: Explore the research papers and JAMA article mentioned in this episode here.

Live Guided Experience

The episode concludes with a short, safe guided hypnosis session focused on goal visualization and "stepping into" the version of yourself you want to become 5-6 months from now.