Matt dives into the world of hypnosis with the psychiatrist Dr David Spiegel.

In this episode, Matt finds out just how susceptible he is to hypnosis, with results that truly blow him away, and he gets some practical tips on how to reduce anxiety.

Dr Spiegel is the Director of the Center on Stress and Health at Stanford University School of Medicine and a leading authority on hypnosis. He has 50 years experience in this field and he uses hypnosis as a problem-solving tool to treat physical and mental issues - including pain, addiction, anxiety and trauma.

He talks to Matt about this fascinating therapeutic tool and how he’s giving more people the opportunity to use self-hypnosis, to better manage their minds and bodies, through his Reveri app.

Related links:

The Reveri app use the code MATT20 for a 20% discount

More on Dr David Spiegel

Cyclic Sighing

Dr Andrew Huberman

Dr Gabor Maté 

Dopamine Nation by Dr Anna Lembke

(01:46 ) Dr Herbert Spiegel (David’s father and a pioneer in hypnosis)

(04:38 ) What is hypnosis and how does it work?

(05:46 ) Dr Spiegel’s first experience of using hypnosis 

(09:41 ) Is hypnosis safe?

(11:54 ) How cyclic sighing calms your body and improves your mood

(15:56 ) The many conditions hypnosis can help (including migraines and phobias)

(19:52 ) Differing levels of hypnotisability

(21:44 ) Dr Spiegel tests Matt’s hypnotisability

(27:40 ) Hypnosis and addiction (including smoking)

(30:00 ) Hypnosis and trauma

(40:18 ) Relapse prevention (and the role of dopamine in addiction)

(42:08 ) The Reveri hypnosis app

(45:09 ) Hypnosis and anxiety (including practical tips for performers like Matt)

(53:01 ) Matt’s outro (he’s both amazed and more relaxed)