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

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

Are you a coach, hypnotist, or course creator trying to do everything yourself? Doug O’Brien sits down with his longtime virtual assistant and content manager, Linah Macharia, to talk about what a VA really does—and how the right support can help you grow your business without burning out. In this episode: Why every coach should consider hiring a virtual assistant What to delegate first (and what to keep) How Doug's content strategy transformed when he handed off key tasks Tips for finding a reliable VA who understands the coaching world How AI and assistants can work together to make your business more powerful Whether you're still doing your own emails and YouTube thumbnails or wondering how to find someone you can trust, this episode is packed with practical advice and stories from behind the scenes of Doug’s business. Connect with Linah on LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/linah-macharia/ Book a call with Linah: linahmacharia.bloom.io/schedule Submit your project request/support here: linahmacharia.bloom.io/lead-capture 00:00 – Introduction: Meet Doug’s virtual assistant, Linah 02:40 – What a virtual assistant actually does 06:35 – Doug's story: building his first website & realizing the value of outsourcing 11:58 – What to outsource and when to do it 16:15 – How Doug and Linah work together (newsletters, YouTube, podcast) 20:01 – Why outsourcing content tasks grows your business faster 24:14 – Common fears about hiring a VA—and how to overcome them 27:22 – Key questions to ask when hiring your first VA 30:40 – Examples of what coaches can delegate to a VA  

Harlan Kilstein, an NLP expert and copywriting master, joins Doug O’Brien to dive into the intriguing hypnotic tool known as The Subjective Reversal. They explore how this technique helps shift limiting beliefs by altering internal anchors. Harlan shares real-world examples of its application in coaching, emphasizing its role in high-impact persuasion and personal transformation. Listeners will discover the importance of nonverbal communication and how humor can change negative thought patterns. This discussion is a goldmine for coaches and language enthusiasts alike!

Is Poetry really Hypnosis? Why Poetry and Hypnotic Language are so very much the same thing. In today's episode we look at and listen closely to video-taped Hypnosis as done by one of the greatest ever, Milton Erickson AND we at some Poetry as done by some of the greats, including poetry readings by Robert Frost, e.e. cummings, David Whyte, Mary Oliver and Julie Flanders. Also - April is Poetry month and our friends at October Project Music are holding their Annual Poetry Contest! You can enter up to three poems! But hurry - you only have ti the end of the month. https://www.octoberprojectmusic.com/poetry-contest/annual-poetry-contest

Surgery with no Anesthesia? Yes! And with no pain either, by the way. (Something we have in common - except she can teach you how to do it.) Founder and director of the Academy for Hypnosis and co-founder of the renowned Institute of Hypnotherapy for Medical and Dental Practice (IHMDP), Sharon Waxkirsh is one of the few trainers licenced to teach the works of Gil Boyne's Transforming Therapy™. Sharon is highly regarded for her training of hundreds of dentists, doctors, surgeons and hypnotherapists around the world, in the use of hypnosis in medical and dental settings. For more information on Sharon and her offerings, go to: www.academyforhypnosis.com info@academyforhypnosis.com

🚀 How does your self-concept shape your success? In this episode of The Essential Coaching Skills Podcast, Doug O’Brien sits down with Damon Cart, one of the few people personally certified by NLP legend Steve Andreas to teach the Self-Concept Model. Damon shares how self-beliefs influence confidence, mindset, and personal transformation—and how you can rewire yours for lasting success. 🔹 Topics Covered: ✔️ What is self-concept & why does it matter? ✔️ How self-beliefs impact all areas of life ✔️ The connection between self-concept & self-esteem ✔️ Damon Cart’s insights on NLP, identity, and transformation ✔️ Practical strategies to reshape your self-perception & success mindset

In this episode, my colleague, Feather Windwalker, asks me about the use of The Havening Techniques® in my coaching practice.  What is Havening anyway? Why bother? Why did I feel a need to add it to my NLP and Hypnosis practice 10 years ago? She also asked me about whether Havening, like Sleight of Mouth, NLP, and Neo-Ericksonian Hypnosis, can be considered an Essential Coaching Skill. To learn more about being trained in The Havening Techniques®, go to www.Ericksonian.com/Training Meet Feather Sunday 23 March in Warwick RI RI Holistic Healing Association EXPODIY Workshop Experience: Havening for Emotional First-Aid and Self-Care LIVE Online NeurosensoryMentalHealth.com FeatherWindWisdom.org  

The latest episode of the Essential Coaching Skills Podcast features the incredible Stephen Gilligan, a pioneer in Ericksonian hypnosis and a mentor to many. You can find out more about him and his work at www.stephengilligan.com #Coaching #Hypnosis #trance [ 00:04:26-00:04:37] Evolution of Stephen Gilligan's work. [00:09:19] Connection to living consciousness. [00:11:31] Dissociation and persistent suffering. [00:15:35] Differentiation in therapeutic trance. [00:22:49] Overcoming suicidal thoughts. [00:25:23] Political economy of the United States. [00:30:21] Creative unconscious and perspective. [00:38:11] Therapeutic conversation dynamics. [00:42:01] Life changes and personal growth. [00:48:15] Aikido and energy flow. [00:54:01] True nature of yourself. [00:59:20] Irish culture's beauty and pain. [01:00:10] Magical realism in life.