In this episode of the TranceWell podcast, Ryan DeJonghe sits down with James Tripp for a deep dive into the evolution of hypnotic practice and the "deeper reality" of change work. James shares how he transitioned from a "rookie" NLP coach to a world-renowned hypnotist, eventually transcending his own famous models to embrace a more fluid, Taoist approach to human transformation.

Key Discussion Points
The Evolution of the Hypnotic Loop: James reflects on the origins of the "hypnotic loop" model and explains why he now views hypnosis less as a set of "illusions" and more as a process of connecting into deeper realities.

Hypnosis vs. Trance: A look back at the controversy surrounding "Hypnosis Without Trance" and James’s current perspective on how trance work functions—not as a tool for suggestibility, but as a co-created, dynamic reality.

The Tao of Erickson: Exploring the profound parallels between the work of Milton Erickson and Taoist principles like Wu Wei (doing without doing) and the balance of Yin and Yang in the therapeutic dance.

The "Picnic Principle" and Marketing: James discusses the challenges of the "elevator pitch" and why he encourages practitioners to be "creators" rather than "service providers" to attract resonant clients.

Breaking the Rules: Why "stock techniques" often fail in the face of human complexity and how the best change work happens when the plan breaks and the "dance" begins.

Archetypes of Change: Using the King, Warrior, Magician, and Lover archetypes to understand the "declarative decision" and the role of playfulness in transformation.

Memorable Quotes
"The enemy of change is certainty... nobody learns until they really enter the realm of possibility."

"All change work is creative work... we are bringing our joint creative intelligence to it."

"Be careful what you take to the picnic, because you may well end up eating it."

Special Segment: Hypnotic Gift
Stay tuned until the very end of the episode for a special hypnotic gift. James leads a guided hypnosis session designed to help you connect more deeply to the "flow" of experience and the greater body of life.

Connect with James Tripp
Client Shifts: James’s mentoring and coaching group for developing uniqueness as a change worker.
https://www.clientshiftsacademy.com/

00:03:09 – Deconstructing the "Special State" Model of Trance
00:03:54 – James’s Origins: From NLP Coaching to the Yellow Pages
00:09:59 – The Famous "Hand Stick" Experiment (Hypnosis without Inductions)
00:14:11 – Controversy and the Shift in the Hypnosis Community
00:17:12 – Moving Beyond Illusions: Connecting to a Deeper Reality
00:20:50 – The Tao of Erickson: Wu Wei and the Art of Allowing
00:27:24 – The Generative Conversation: Marketing as a Creator, Not a Service Provider
00:33:32 – The "Rookie" Archetype: Power in Professional Vulnerability
00:44:45 – The Certainty of "I Don't Know"
00:52:47 – The Energetic Dimension of Hypnotic Work
00:54:15 – "They Took the Shell, but Left the Nut": NLP’s Relationship to Erickson
01:05:54 – How to Practice: Feedback Loops and Breaking the Rules
01:10:35 – Clean Language and Tracking the Client’s Reality
01:23:01 – Taking Risks in Sessions: The Enemy of Change is Certainty
01:30:07 – Spiritual Dimensions: Surrender and the Higher (or Deeper) Power
01:43:04 – A Masterclass in Ritual: The "Bury the Wine" Prescription
01:48:05 – The Four Archetypes: King, Warrior, Magician, and Lover
01:51:38 – Playing with Mystery: The "Clean Start" and Novel States
01:58:53 – Rigidity as the Root of All Human Problems
02:08:35 – Hypnotic Gift: A Guided Journey into Connection and Flow
02:20:15 – Closing Remarks and Where to Find Client Shifts

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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