NLP and Hypnosis Coaching Podcast | Personal Development, Success Stories, and Expert Advice

In this week’s episode of the *Essential Coaching Skills Podcast*, Doug O’Brien sits down with transformational storyteller **Jim Brulé**, whose life’s work weaves stories from around the world into paths for healing, spiritual growth, and transformation. @woodstockstoryfestival and #woodstockstoryfestival From Ericksonian hypnosis to AI, healthcare, and his role as a **death doula**, Jim has lived many stories of his own—and now teaches others how to tell stories that awaken, heal, and connect. Together, Doug and Jim explore: * Why transformational storytelling is about **questions, not answers**. * The difference between *telling a story* and *writing one down*. * How Jim’s work as a **death doula** uses story to help people and families navigate grief. * Ancient tales like **Madam Whitesnake**, Jewish folktales, and myths of healing monsters. * The importance of lineage, source, and permission in storytelling. * What to expect at the upcoming **Woodstock Storytelling Festival** (October 2025).   Plus, Jim shares a powerful Jewish folktale about a thief-turned-fake-rabbi who discovers the transformative power of authentic prayer. This is a conversation about the heart of storytelling—not just performance, but presence, healing, and compassion. 00:00 – Welcome & intro to Jim Brulé, transformational storyteller 02:06 – Woodstock Storytelling Festival & global storytelling traditions 04:57 – From therapist & AI pioneer to spiritual storyteller 07:16 – Ordained as a Jewish storyteller & teaching worldwide 08:15 – Why transformational storytelling opens questions, not answers 11:01 – Death doula work & using stories at end of life 16:19 – Strong women & “healing monsters” as storytelling themes 22:05 – Ghost story: a gift from a dead sister 23:29 – The story of Yitzhak, the incompetent thief turned rabbi 42:02 – How to connect with Jim + Woodstock Storytelling Festival details **Resources & Links:** * Jim Brulé: [TransformationalStorytelling.org](https://transformationalstorytelling.org) | [jimbrule@gmail.com](mailto:jimbrule@gmail.com) * His book *Stories of the Heart* (with colleague in Spain) * Woodstock Storytelling Festival: [woodstockstoryfestival.com](https://woodstockstoryfestival.com) * Essential Coaching Skills Podcast: [essentialcoachingskills.com](http://essentialcoachingskills.com) Jim Brulé is a transformational storyteller, death doula, teacher, and mentor, drawing on a unique background that encompasses advanced degrees in both clinical psychology and artificial intelligence. For the past seven years, he has directed Transformational Storytelling, an online school accredited by the National Storytelling Network. This global community trains spiritual storytellers from diverse traditions to craft narratives that inspire healing and foster spiritual growth. Co-authored with Rebecca Lemaire, his book 'Stories of the Heart' presents 18 global tales for navigating life and death. https://StoriesOfTheHeartBook.com/ He is the founder of Transformational Storytelling Community, a 501(c)(3) devoted to using storytelling with communities to heal wounds and build new resilience - and resistance. You can learn more about his current project at https://transformationalstorycommunity.org/a-new-story-for-syracuse/ Jim is the recipient of the 2025 Oracle Regional Service & Leadership Award (Northeast Region), and participated in setting the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous oral storytelling at the 2025 Marrakech International Storytelling Festival. Jim's classes, workshops, and communities embody his dedication to multicultural wisdom, grounded in the belief that true abundance arises from interconnected generosity and gratitude. You can learn more here: https://TransformationalStorytelling.org/

LAURA SIMMS is an internationally acclaimed storyteller, writer, and educator, advocating engaged storytelling as compassionate action for personal and community transformation. In these unprecedented times of Covid, climate change and increased aggression, she offers in-depth classes coaching, and powerful performances of stories that address the most pressing issues of our times with dignity, and joy. https://www.laurasimms.com/

This week on the Essential Coaching Skills Podcast, I sit down with Jamie Smart, the Sunday Times bestselling author of Clarity and Results. Jamie has an extraordinary gift for cutting through the noise and helping people access the peace of mind, resilience, and insight that are already within them. In our conversation, we explore: Why clarity isn’t something you achieve — it’s already built into you The difference between clarity, mindfulness, and mindset training How “inside-out” understanding changes the way you coach (and live) Why most problems dissolve once you see how your perception really works What the psychological immune system is — and how it helps us heal The difference between toxic goals and authentic desires If you’ve ever found yourself saying “I’ll be happy when…,” this conversation will shift the way you see yourself and your clients. Jamie doesn’t just talk about concepts—he brings them alive with stories, metaphors, and insights you can apply right away. 📘 Learn more about Jamie’s work at jamiesmart.com Timestamps / Episode Highlights 0:02 – Welcome & introduction to Jamie Smart 2:10 – From NLP trainer to discovering clarity 4:03 – Realizing everything you’re seeking is already within 6:23 – Flow states and innate clarity 9:26 – Why mindfulness and mindset aren’t the same as clarity 13:41 – How experience is created (controlled hallucination) 16:38 – Feelings as signals about perception, not reality 20:25 – Public speaking anxiety & the teddy bear factor 23:45 – The psychological immune system explained 27:52 – Trauma, resilience, and the power of thought 29:46 – Self-image vs. who we really are 30:40 – “One spiritual being, eight billion human experiences” 36:25 – Jamie’s three-step process for clarity 38:19 – Germ theory as a metaphor for psychology 41:42 – Why clarity matters now more than ever 42:09 – Where to find Jamie’s books, podcasts, and resources 43:38 – One step you can take today to access more clarity Jamie Smart is a Sunday Times bestselling author, educator, speaker and coach who presents regularly at major conferences worldwide. He shows individuals and organisations the unexpected keys to clarity, the ultimate leverage point for creating profound transformation and meaningful results. Jamie’s primary focus is in showing business leaders, entrepreneurs, coaches, therapists and other transformation professionals how to bring subtractive psychology and the principles behind clarity into their work with clients, into their own businesses and into every aspect of their lives. In addition, he works with a handful of 1:1 coaching clients and leads selected corporate programmes. Jamie has keynoted conferences for organisations ranging from the NATO Defense College to the mental health charity, Rethink Mental Illness and the Council of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. His corporate clients range from household names like Hewlett Packard and Dun & Bradstreet to The Specialist Works, an SME ranked as one of the Sunday Times’s 100 Best Small Companies to Work For. He has appeared on Sky TV and on the BBC, as well as in numerous publications including The Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Huffington Post and Psychologies Magazine. As well as CLARITY he is also the author of the books RESULTS: Think Less, Achieve More, The Little Book of Clarity and The Little Book of Results. Jamie lives in the UK. When he’s not working, he loves spending time with his family, travelling, walking, drinking coffee and exploring. You can connect with Jamie on the following social media sites: Instagram: @‌JamieSmartCom Twitter: @‌JamieSmartCom Facebook: Jamie Smart YouTube: Jamie Smart LinkedIn: / jamiesmartclarity You can read Jamie’s blog, get full contact details and find his podcasts at the link below or wherever you get your podcasts. Jamie Smart | CLARITY

Adam Cerra, Author and CEO of Done For You closing agency and Conversation to Client academy. Sales Expert & Trainer in the High ticket Coaching, Consulting, & Personal Development Industries since 2004. Has helped close over 40 million dollars in high ticket sales. Creator of the revolutionary Inverse Closing System™. Trained Hundreds of Remote closers & commission only High-ticket closers. Author of Conversation to Client: The Coach’s Playbook For Selling High-Ticket Offers

NLP That Works: Josh Davis on Science-Backed Change Tools for Coaches & Everyday Life In this episode of the Essential Coaching Skills Podcast, Doug O’Brien sits down with neuroscientist, author, and Master NLP Trainer Josh Davis, PhD. They dive deep into the heart of NLP—what works, what doesn’t, and why the field is overdue for a science-backed revival. Josh is the co-author of The Difference That Makes a Difference, a groundbreaking new book that blends practical NLP tools with modern research. If you’ve ever wondered whether NLP is more than just clever language tricks—or you’ve struggled to explain it to skeptics—this episode is for you. 👉 Topics we cover: ✔ The #1 NLP book Doug recommends now (goodbye, Unlimited Power?) ✔ Scientific evidence behind classic NLP techniques like disassociation ✔ The ethics of influence—how to use NLP responsibly ✔ Why Josh believes NLP is ready for a new generation ✔ Quick coaching prompts you can use right now ✔ Why the Meta Model still matters—and how to teach it better ✔ NLP for relationships, public speaking, and confidence 🧠 Whether you're a coach, therapist, speaker, or just NLP-curious—get ready to rethink how you think. 🔗 Resources: Get the book: https://nlpdifference.com Doug’s book: The User’s Guide to Sleight of Mouth Subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! 00:00 – Intro: Meet Josh Davis, PhD 01:55 – Why NLP needed a new book 05:15 – Is there real science behind NLP techniques? 08:44 – How Josh and his co-author made NLP practical 13:30 – What “The Difference That Makes a Difference” really means 17:55 – Why NLP can’t be a one-size-fits-all approach 21:30 – The ethics of influence and manipulation 28:40 – Coaching prompt: Reframing with positive intent 32:15 – NLP for confidence and public speaking 36:10 – Doug’s take on anchoring vs. authenticity 39:00 – NLP for relationships and emotional triggers 43:20 – How the Meta Model is taught differently in this book 48:00 – Who this book is really for 52:10 – Why storytelling is still a secret coaching superpower 55:30 – Final thoughts + where to find Josh online

What do coaching, martial arts, and leadership training at the Grand Ole Opry have in common? In this unforgettable episode, Doug O’Brien sits down with international keynote speaker and master coach Brad Waldron. From breaking his neck at 43 playing rugby, to coaching for Tony Robbins, to building a powerhouse training business across Europe, Brad shares the real stories—and hard-won lessons—that shaped his remarkable career. 🔑 Inside this episode: The #1 skill most coaches skip (but shouldn’t) Why hardship is often the greatest teacher The difference between “motivational speaker” and real coaching What Brad learned from Stephen Covey & Tony Robbins How to coach when you don’t have the answer This conversation is part masterclass, part memoir, and all heart. If you’re a coach, speaker, or leader ready to deepen your practice and move people—not just motivate them—this episode is for you. 🔗 Connect with Brad Waldron: https://this-is-brad.com 📖 Get Present Naked: https://www.presentnaked.com/ 🎧 Subscribe to the Essential Coaching Skills Podcast for weekly episodes. https://www.this-is-brad.com/ 00:00 – Intro: Meet Brad Waldron 01:43 – Living in a 1760s Schoolhouse with Tunnels to a Pub 05:02 – How Doug & Brad Met (Dan Millman, Tony Robbins, NLP Days) 07:26 – Breaking His Neck at 43 Playing Rugby 09:16 – From Dysfunctional Family to Global Coach 12:22 – Using NLP to Win Martial Arts Tournaments 16:12 – Why NLP Techniques Aren’t Enough 17:36 – Working with Stephen Covey & Launching Leadership Centers 20:29 – Why Every Coach Needs to Slay Their Inner Dragons 23:24 – The Real Goal: Self-Learning, Self-Leadership 24:48 – Coaching Teens (and Executives) with Covey’s Habits 28:24 – A Paradigm Shift You Can Use in Any Tough Conversation 36:47 – The Most Underrated Coaching Skill: Confirmation 43:03 – Labeling Emotions = Opening Doors 47:18 – Brad’s Most Memorable Coaching Moment 53:06 – From White Belt to Black Belt: Skill vs. Art in Coaching 54:28 – Presenting Naked: Brad’s Take on Speaking with Impact 56:27 – Why His Website is Called “This is Brad” 59:19 – How Doug Changed Brad’s Life (Back in 1990)

What if your to-do list wasn’t a source of stress… but a strategy for success? In this episode of the Essential Coaching Skills Podcast, Doug O’Brien sits down with leadership coach and longtime Tony Robbins trainer, Deborah Russell, to unpack one of the most underestimated coaching tools: how you manage your day. Deborah shares her journey from coaching for Robbins Research to creating her own leadership programs—and why mastering your mindset around time is the real key to peak performance. Whether you're a coach, leader, or solopreneur juggling 1,000 things, this episode will help you work smarter, not harder. 🧠 Learn: • How to structure your day for real results • Why time management is really self-management • How constraints unlock creativity • Why most people resist delegation—and how to fix it • Behind-the-scenes stories from Tony Robbins’ world 📚 Join Debra's amazing 90-minute game-changing, virtual workshop Wednesday, June 18, 2025 2:00 PM EDT for FREE by clicking here: https://www.debrarussell.com/structure-your-day-for-peak-performance-VIP 📚 Download her “52 Secrets” at: https://debrarussell.com 🎙 Subscribe to the podcast for weekly insights. 00:00 – Intro: Meet Deborah Russell 02:45 – Coaching for Tony Robbins (36 years of insights) 07:40 – Structuring your day for peak performance 13:10 – Why most people resist time management 19:35 – Shifting mindsets around time = more freedom 25:50 – How Deborah’s beliefs about structure evolved 30:15 – The surprising power of constraints 36:00 – Delegation: why most people do it wrong 42:20 – Strategic planning lessons from McDonald’s & the military