The Hypnosis Nerd

By The Morpheus Clinic for HypnosisAlternative Health Health & Fitness Mental Health

The Hypnosis Nerd episodes

December 19, 2025How to Overcome Impostor Syndrome (Ep. 30)
If you’ve accomplished enough with your life, and you’re very self-critical at the same time, you will probably feel at some point that you’re an impostor or a fraud. This is a pretty good sign that you aren’t. In today’s episode, we’ll explore why, and what to do about that awful feeling:
Imposter syndrome is common among intelligent, high-achieving individuals who feel like frauds despite their accomplishments.
This feeling often arises because our self-concept, formed in childhood, may not be updated to reflect our current adult selves and capabilities.
Adult life involves operating at the “edge of knowledge,” where problems lack definitive answers and require judgment, unlike the “known problems” of earlier education.
Perfection is achievable in simple tasks but not in complex adult endeavors; striving for “good enough” and conforming to best practices is often more appropriate.
Comparing oneself to others, especially based on curated online personas, is misleading, as everyone has inner complexities and limitations.
Developing self-validation is crucial, meaning trusting one’s own educated mind and experienced judgment rather than solely seeking external approval.
Recognizing the entire journey of learning and development up to the present moment builds confidence and validates current accomplishments.
Mistakes are a natural part of operating at the edge of knowledge and expanding capabilities, not an indication of being a fraud.
Peers operating at the same “edge of knowledge” often possess intellectual humility and are unlikely to judge others for not knowing everything.
Addressing impostor syndrome involves understanding its origins, recognizing peers are in similar situations, acknowledging one’s journey, and practicing self-validation and realistic standards.
Table of Contents:
0:00 – Intro
1:01 – Who gets impostor syndrome?
3:49 – “Edge of knowledge” problems
9:33 – You are the real deal
10:58 – Complex situations do not have neat answers
13:53 – Update your self-concept
16:30 – #1: Understand the situation
19:34 – #2: Recognize the journey that got you here
22:33 – #3: Stop comparing yourself to others
24:48 – #4: Become self-validating
26:38 – #5: Stop being a perfectionist
29:48 – #6: Making a mistake doesn’t make you a fraud
31:49 – Summary
Listen above, on Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, or watch the full video on YouTube. Remember to like, subscribe and share!
The post How to Overcome Impostor Syndrome (Ep. 30) appeared first on The Morpheus Clinic for Hypnosis.
35 min
February 14, 2025How to Forgive Yourself (Ep. 22)
We all know that we should forgive ourselves for our mistakes, but until somebody teaches you how, the path to redemption isn’t always obvious. In this episode, I’m going to break down what it means when you’re feeling guilty or ashamed, and what to do about it.:
Remorse serves to reflect and improve oneself to avoid repeating past mistakes.
Guilt arises from specific wrongful actions, while shame is a deeper feeling of being a bad person.
When you recognize your position in your redemption arc, you can make amends and grow as a person.
Continuous self-reflection and learning from past actions are essential for personal development and need not lead to perpetual guilt or shame.
Unlike manufactured objects that degrade over time, humans grow and evolve throughout life, and past mistakes do not define one’s current worth.
Individuals should assess their behaviors with kindness and understanding, similar to how a good parent or teacher would guide a child, rather than harshly criticizing themselves.
Many people hold themselves to harsher standards than they would apply to friends; recognizing this double standard can foster self-compassion.
Everyone deserves moments of joy and forgiveness, regardless of past transgressions, and self-compassion is integral to healing.
Instead of asking self-deprecating questions, individuals should focus on what kind of person they want to be and the values they wish to uphold moving forward.
0:00 – Intro
0:54 – The difference between guilt and shame
1:43 – Guilt means a good thing
2:21 – Life is a redemption arc
3:42 – Everyone has regrets
5:35 – The utility of remorse
6:07 – What it means to be a lifelong learner
7:16 – Humans get better with time, not worse
9:33 – How to learn from your mistakes
11:25 – When to stop of punishing yourself
13:25 – Everyone deserves a second chance (to know better next time)
16:27 – Treat yourself as a friend
18:21 – Who do you want to be tomorrow?
20:12 – Outro
Listen above, on Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, or watch the full video on YouTube, free of third-party advertising. Remember to like, subscribe and share!
The post How to Forgive Yourself (Ep. 22) appeared first on The Morpheus Clinic for Hypnosis.
23 min
December 23, 2020 2020 Retrospective (The Hypnosis Nerd, Ep. 10)
This year-end episode allows you to hear about the goings-on inside The Morpheus Clinic for Hypnosis during this highly unusual year. We’ve had to make a number of adaptations to serve our clients during a global pandemic, and not all of the changes are temporary or detrimental. Hear how we’re using technology to deliver high-quality hypnosis straight into your home.
The post 2020 Retrospective (The Hypnosis Nerd, Ep. 10) appeared first on The Morpheus Clinic for Hypnosis.
44 min
October 06, 2020 Meditation vs. Hypnosis (The Hypnosis Nerd, Ep. 9)
In this episode, we introduce Nicole Druken as the new co-host of The Hypnosis Nerd, and we have a conversation about how meditation relates to and differs from hypnosis.
The post Meditation vs. Hypnosis (The Hypnosis Nerd, Ep. 9) appeared first on The Morpheus Clinic for Hypnosis.
31 min
July 24, 2020 History of Hypnosis (The Hypnosis Nerd, Ep. 8)
Although the word “hypnosis” was only coined in the 1800s, the use of verbal and non-verbal suggestion dates back much further than that. Many hypnotists claim that Egyptian sleep temples, for example, were early examples of hypnosis.
In this episode, Luke is joined by Daniel, a moderator on the /r/hypnosis community on Reddit, who has investigated these claims by reviewing original sources. Daniel is an amateur recreational hypnotist, which affords him a perspective that’s free from the commercialism and seriousness of professional hypnotherapy.
We discuss reasons why hypnotists are often considered disreputable today, different eras in the history of hypnosis, the origins of common misconceptions and much more.
The post History of Hypnosis (The Hypnosis Nerd, Ep. 8) appeared first on The Morpheus Clinic for Hypnosis.
1 hr 30 min
May 03, 2020 Erotic Hypnosis with Bruce Anderson (The Hypnosis Nerd, Ep. 7)
In this candid (but tasteful) conversation about erotic hypnosis, Luke Chao interviews Bruce Anderson about his personal and professional experiences using hypnosis to elicit erotic pleasure, especially with female subjects.
We discuss erotic hypnosis as a little-recognized “third genre” of hypnosis, consensual power exchange, better orgasms, healthy (as opposed to toxic) masculinity, benefits and methods of overcoming shame, and much more. This is the longest Hypnosis Nerd episode yet, but the content makes it absolutely worth a listen (if you’re over 18).
The post Erotic Hypnosis with Bruce Anderson (The Hypnosis Nerd, Ep. 7) appeared first on The Morpheus Clinic for Hypnosis.
1 hr 32 min
April 19, 2020 Stage Hypnosis with Fernandez (The Hypnosis Nerd, Ep. 6)
In this episode, Luke Chao interviews Ed Fernandez, a stage hypnotist and certified consulting hypnotist, about his long and storied career. A mainstay of the Canadian hypnosis scene, Fernandez has been performing shows around the world for decades, often with well-known names in entertainment.
In this hour-long episode, we discuss the differences between stage hypnosis and hypnotherapy, whether volunteers on stage are faking their performance, hypnotic phenomena, emergency hypnosis, Fernandez’s wildest story, and much more!
For more information, visit his website.
The post Stage Hypnosis with Fernandez (The Hypnosis Nerd, Ep. 6) appeared first on The Morpheus Clinic for Hypnosis.
1 hr 10 min
April 16, 2020 Psychotherapy and Hypnosis, with Charlotte Brammer (The Hypnosis Nerd, Ep. 5)
While the world’s quarantined during the pandemic, we’re filming The Hypnosis Nerd episodes through online videoconferencing, featuring dialogues between Luke and a selection of outside guests.
The first of these guests is Charlotte Brammer, a registered psychotherapist and certified hypnotherapist based in Toronto. She specializes in trauma and anxiety disorders, using modalities such as hypnotherapy, EMDR and equine-assisted therapy.
In this hour-long episode, we discuss the state of the world today, trauma, bad therapy, hypnosis, personal lessons, animals, the future of mental health and much more.
You can contact Charlotte through her practice, Living Clarity.
The post Psychotherapy and Hypnosis, with Charlotte Brammer (The Hypnosis Nerd, Ep. 5) appeared first on The Morpheus Clinic for Hypnosis.
1 hr 8 min
March 16, 2020When Tele-Hypnosis Makes Sense: The Coronavirus Episode (The Hypnosis Nerd, Ep. 4)
We rushed this special episode to keep our clients informed about how to safely continue with their sessions during the current pandemic scare. Even though your next concert or vacation might be cancelled, your hypnosis sessions don’t need to be. Here’s a summary of the episode, which answers your questions about tele-hypnosis:
Socially distancing and “flattening the curve” is critical at this time. Staying at home will save lives.
Hypnosis essentially works through higher-quality thinking, applied to your problems and communicated effectively. There is no reason to physically come into our office, since tele-hypnosis is completely safe and effective.
The National Guild of Hypnotists approves of tele-hypnosis.
To engage in hypnosis at home, you will need privacy, comfortable seating and the phone or computer that you’re already using. It helps to have a headset, such as the earbud/microphone combination that comes with your cell phone.
For some people, tele-hypnosis will produce a superior experience. For most people, it’s the currently the best option given the circumstances.
For all our clients, we will uphold all of our standard policies, including our unconditional refund policy, during this time.
As a proactive measure, we are planning to temporarily close our office by the end of the week. During the next few weeks, we fully plan to stay productive as we work from home.
The post When Tele-Hypnosis Makes Sense: The Coronavirus Episode (The Hypnosis Nerd, Ep. 4) appeared first on The Morpheus Clinic for Hypnosis.
22 min
March 14, 2020 Does Hypnosis Work? (The Hypnosis Nerd, Ep. 3)
Answering the question of “Does hypnosis work?” is more complicated than answering whether a drug or operation works, because of the client’s active involvement in the process. The short answer is yes, but in this episode, we attempt to answer the question more thoroughly.
In other news, The Hypnosis Nerd is now on iTunes, Google Podcasts and Spotify. For regular updates, subscribe using your favourite podcast aggregator!
The post Does Hypnosis Work? (The Hypnosis Nerd, Ep. 3) appeared first on The Morpheus Clinic for Hypnosis.
47 min

About The Hypnosis Nerd

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The Hypnosis Nerd is Luke Chao from The Morpheus Clinic for Hypnosis in Toronto, Canada, where we make hypnosis makes sense. Please also check out my sister podcast, How to Be an Adult, which we…

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