Vault: Hypnosis Smoking Update: Did it work?

Summary

The Bert Show – "Vault: Hypnosis Smoking Update: Did it work?"

Air date: June 12, 2026

---

Episode Overview

In this candid and relatable segment, the Bert Show crew checks in with Jen Hobby about her recent attempt to quit smoking through hypnosis. Listeners get an honest, real-world update on whether hypnosis helped Jen put down cigarettes, complete with stories of withdrawal, everyday temptations, and the psychological battle of quitting. The discussion veers into different approaches to quitting, the science behind cravings, and how mindset and timing play key roles in breaking free from any habit.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Jen’s Hypnosis Journey: Did It Work?

[01:30 – 02:50]

• Jen attended a hypnosis session five or six days prior to the recording to help her stop smoking.
  • Jen: “I haven’t had a cigarette since.” (01:39)
  • She’s realistic about hypnosis: it's not a “light switch quick fix,” but it gave her a crucial “launching pad” to start fresh.
• She avoids preaching:
  • Jen: “For those of you who are having your coffee and your cigarette right now, enjoy it. I get it. I’m not going to preach to you... You’re not gonna quit until…you’re absolutely ready.” (02:07)
  • The guilt and internal conflict for smokers are acknowledged, but Jen emphasizes readiness and timing are personal.

Is It Hypnosis or Mindset?

[03:03 – 03:55]

• Bert (Host) asks if Jen attributes her success more to hypnosis or her own determination:
  • Jen: “Both. I think you’ve got to be really ready to do it and really committed…After the hypnosis, you’re still gonna have cravings. I still have cravings for it.” (03:11)
• Withdrawal symptoms (cravings, headaches, thirst) are very real, regardless of the method used.
  • Jen: “You’re gonna have those regardless to me of what you do.” (03:23)
• She mentions varying experiences with other methods like Chantix and self-help books (e.g., "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking").

Coping with Cravings: What the Hypnotist Taught

[04:11 – 06:01]

• Cravings last for about 10 seconds; the trick is to ride them out:
  • Jen: “First of all, he told me a craving lasts for 10 seconds, which seems so insignificant, doesn’t it?” (04:15)
  • The mental dialogue she picked up in hypnosis: “Oh, that stinks. But that’s okay because you don’t smoke anymore.” (04:45)
  • She uses this phrase when cravings hit, imagining future scenarios and reinforcing that she's now a non-smoker.
  • Distraction strategies include drinking water, listening to music, and “getting into a different conversation.”

Social & Situational Temptations

[06:01 – 07:35]

• Jen avoided typical triggers by staying in situations without smokers, particularly while drinking wine in North Georgia.
  • Smell was a strong trigger: “I hadn’t even thought of it all day until I smelled it. And then I was like, oh, I don’t like you, lady.” (06:53)
  • The smell wasn’t enticing, just a reminder of her habit.
• Old habits, like smoking after the show, have become manageable by repeating the mental mantra learned from hypnosis.

Hypnosis Details & Broader Applications

[07:51 – 09:07]

• Jen credits hypnotist Shawn Wheeler and “Pure Hypnosis.”
  • He specializes in everything from smoking cessation to phobias (e.g., fear of flying, even Mountain Dew addiction).
    • “She never had a Mountain Dew again after that session. It just changes your mind and changes the way that you think about yourself and who you want to be.” (07:51)
• The crew discusses whether hypnosis could help others on the show, possibly even as a shared experience.
  • “I don’t know if he can hypnotize two people at once…But if it can change your mind about it and change—change your life and sort of give you some freedom, why not?” (08:55)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jen on readiness and respect:
  “For those of you who are having your coffee and your cigarette right now, enjoy it. I get it. I’m not going to preach to you… You’re not gonna quit until…you’re absolutely ready.” (02:07)

• On cravings:
  “The dialogue in my mind that I keep going back to is it’s like, ‘Oh, you’re having a craving right now. It’s like, oh, that stinks. But that’s okay because you don’t smoke anymore.’” (04:45)

• On the experience of hypnosis:
  “It’s the best sleep you’ve ever gotten. It’s a two-hour session. And if it works, hey, why not?” (08:37)

• On changing habits and identity:
  “It just changes your mind and changes the way that you think about yourself and who you want to be.” (07:51)

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:30] – Update on Jen’s progress after hypnosis.
• [03:03] – Discussion of willpower vs. hypnosis.
• [04:15] – Coping with cravings.
• [06:01] – Handling triggers, alcohol, and social situations.
• [07:51] – Details about Shawn Wheeler and success stories with hypnosis.
• [08:37] – Considering hypnosis for fellow cast members.

---

Conclusion

This episode offers an honest, stigma-free look at quitting smoking via hypnosis. Jen’s experience—complete with ups, downs, and practical advice—highlights that success often comes from a combination of timing, readiness, support, and mindset shifts catalyzed by hypnosis. The tone is supportive and shame-free, embracing the idea that everyone’s quit journey is unique and worthy of respect.

---

Transcript

[A]

Okay, can we talk about how confusing weight loss has become? Like one minute it's carbs are bad and then the next it's no, actually carbs are fine, but only if you walk 10,000 steps and drink a green juice. And honestly, it's just a lot. And then even if you do lose the weight, keeping it off is a whole different story. If you're struggling and want something that fits your real life, hers can help. It's designed to support you in reaching your goals in a way that actually fits your life. That's why weight loss by hers is getting so much attention right now. Hers connects you with licensed medical providers who create doctor developed treatment plans tailored to you. They offer access to an affordable range of FDA approved GLP1 medications, including the Wegovy pill and the Wegovy pen. It helps regulate your appetite so you eat less and keep the weight off. If you're ready to reach your goals and want to try something new, visit for hers.combert to get personalized affordable care that gets you. That's F O R h e r s.comb for hers.com Bert Weightliftsbyhurst is not available in all 50 states, but go via registered trademark of Novo Nordisk A S to get started and learn more, including important safety information with Gobi clinical study information and restrictions, visit borhears.com hey everybody.

[B]

Lady luck here and we're celebrating America's 250th birthday. Now all summer long I'm going to be celebrating by playing on spinquest.com which is an American owned social casino. It obviously features over a thousand slot games and live blackjack, live craps, live bubble craps. Head on over to spinquest.com get yourself a $30 coin pack for just 10 bucks.

[C]

Spinquest is a free to play social casino void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details.

[D]

THE Burt show so Jen Hobby went to hypnosis what, five or six days ago?

[E]

On Wednesday of last week? Yep.

[D]

And how's it going?

[E]

I went to hypnosis to stop smoking and I haven't had a cigarette since.

[F]

Congratulations.

[E]

I think that's fantastic. It's kind of crazy, you know, because I don't think it's like this like light switch quick fix thing. Like, you know, I don't really believe in anything in your life that, you know, taking a pill or doing one thing like changes a habit or makes you different forever. I think everything takes a lot of effort. But I would definitely recommend it. And you know, after, you know, I've Struggled with cigarettes and smoking and back and forth in my life for a long time. And I know that anytime I ever heard anybody on the radio talking about it, I thought they were going to get on some sort of pedestal and preach to me. So for those of you who are having your coffee and your cigarette right now, enjoy it. I get it. I'm not going to preach to you. I am not going to stand on this pedestal and shake my finger at you. And I don't. You know, I just. I was over it. I was sick of it. And I know that everybody who smokes has been in that place before. And hypnosis sort of gave me that launching pad to start a fresh new life and being free from it. So, anyway, I just kind of wanted to say that at the beginning. Because I know there's a lot of guilt that comes with smoking cigarettes. There's a lot of. You feel badly about yourself, but you're not gonna quit until. Excuse me. Until you're absolutely ready. Until it's your time and you've made up your mind and that kind of thing. So until then, do your thing. But when you're ready to. I think that hypnosis is a great option.

[D]

Do you attribute the success you've had for these five days to you being mentally ready to do it or the hypnosis?

[E]

Both. I think you've got to be really ready to do it and really committed to doing it. Because after the hypnosis, you're still gonna have cravings. I still have cravings for it. I told you guys last week. I felt really thirsty, like, really dehydrated for some reason, a lot. So I've been, like, drinking lots and lots of water and, like, you know, and the cravings definitely come back, or the headaches, those kind of withdrawal symptoms. You're gonna have those regardless to me of what you do. Now. I've heard from some people that did the Chantix route and had a lot of success with that. And they said they had no side effects. Other people had really terrible side effects. So I think anything that helps you launch into a place where you're not smoking anymore is great. And whatever it is that works for you, great. There's a couple of books out there. One of them called the Easy Way to Stop Smoking. It's been around since, like, the. A lot of people have success with that. So I really think it's like anything that sort of changes your mind about how you want to function inside of your own demons and your own habits and your own addictions. You know.

[D]

So in the last five days, have you gone back to the hypnosis in your mind when you.

[E]

Yeah, a lot of different times. First of all, he told me a craving lasts for 10 seconds, which seems so insignificant, doesn't it? It is very short period, but when it hits you, it hits you like a ton of bricks. Like, I gotta have one right now.

[D]

Somebody said that the craving, like the chemical or whatever, maybe this is what he's talking about. Like the thing in your brain that makes you want something is instant, which is probably the 10 seconds. And then what people have to deal with is it goes into the thought process of the brain and then they think they're craving it when they're not really craving it.

[E]

Yeah. So if you just kind of let it go when that 10 second craving happens and think about something else or just the one thing I've been thinking about in my mind, the thing I sort of. The dialogue in my mind that I keep going back to is it's like, oh, you're having a craving right now. It's like, oh, that stinks. But that's okay because you don't smoke anymore. And I don't know why, but that is the dialogue I keep telling myself, yeah, and it came from hypnosis. Like, well, that's okay because you just don't smoke anymore. Or I'll come up with scenarios where I'll think, like, in the future, oh, I'm gonna go out with my girlfriends on such. And this day that I have on the calendar coming up soon, I'm like, yeah, that's gonna really stink that I can't smoke. And I'm like, yeah, but that's okay because you don't smoke anymore. I don't know why that's the dialogue in my mind, if it works. But it's. Yeah, it's been what's working. And so that was something that he had said, I think, or something close to that in the hypnosis. It's like, but that's okay because I don't smoke anymore. Like, yeah, you know what, that might suck for about 10 seconds. Maybe that's gonna suck for about five minutes. But I'll have a sip of water, I'll think about something else and get into a different conversation or turn up the radio and listen to a song or whatever it is, and then it's gone. And then it's another couple of hours before that happens again. So it's just being willing to go through those moments without giving in and without having that instant Gratification. Gratification of having one, because I know

[D]

you hid out in the woods a good distance away from any packs of cigarettes this weekend.

[E]

I did.

[D]

Did you drink at all?

[E]

I did.

[D]

And did you feel any weaker when you were.

[E]

No, because I wasn't around anybody who smoked, and there was no temptation of it even being around. So I guess. I guess I thought of it, but not any more often than I thought of it when I wasn't having.

[D]

I just had a little bit of

[E]

wine because I went to some wine tastings at the wineries in North Georgia, and so I thought about.

[D]

You never drank a little bit of wine?

[E]

No, I did.

[D]

Because my concerns.

[E]

You didn't spit out, though, like, they asked you. I didn't do the spittoon thing. No, because you're like, why am I going. Why is good wine.

[D]

Because they. Generally part of what you said beforehand was. And it's happened in the past, that when you go out drinking, you would quit for a while. And that's how it started up again. You go out, have some drinks, light

[E]

up the cigarette, then it's much more available if you don't even think about it until something's around. Like the other thing I did this week, I was doing a little shopping at the North Georgia outlets, the premium outlets up there, and somebody was sitting on the bench having a cigarette. And I was like. I hadn't even thought of it all day until I smelled it. And then I was like, oh, I don't like you, lady. You know? Cause I was like. It was just like. That reminds me.

[D]

Does it really smell good?

[E]

No, it's just a reminder.

[D]

So it's not like the most delicious pizza you've ever eaten?

[E]

Not at all. It's just a reminder. It's like, oh, I wasn't even thinking about that until I walked by you.

[D]

And what about the habits and stuff? Like, after the show, you always went down and.

[E]

Well, actually, I kind of stopped that habit for a while. I wasn't smoking here at the office very often, and it's just one of those things where I just kind of keep going back to that. It's like, oh, well, that's gonna stink for a second. But that's okay because I don't smoke anymore.

[F]

Good for you.

[D]

I am fascinated by the.

[E]

But I wanted to mention the hypnosis. I wanted to mention Shawn Wheeler is his name, and it's called pure hypnosis. And he can help anything from smoking cessation to fear of flying to all kinds of different phobias Those are his specialties. So if you have a strange phobia, I think I said last week he helped one woman with her Mountain Dew addiction, that she had been drinking 8 to 12 Mountain Dews a day for like 10 years straight or something crazy like that. And she never had a Mountain Dew again after that session. It just changes your mind and changes the way that you think about yourself and who you want to be. And you can sort of rely on those things when it. When those more difficult times come up and when those cravings come up.

[D]

So I almost wonder if Melissa should go talk to him before Birch. Big adventure.

[E]

I think you would enjoy it.

[D]

I mean, it's the best sleep you've ever gotten.

[E]

It's a two hour session. And if it works, hey, why not? Yeah. And then. And for Katie too. Yeah, she's worse than I am. I mean, you guys could even ask him about going in together maybe. That may be kind of a cool experience to have together. Both get hypnotized. I don't know if he can hypnotize two people at once.

[D]

Like that Britney Spears song, the three of you.

[F]

Yeah, threesome.

[E]

Yeah, just like that, Jeff. But if it can change your mind about it and change. Change your life and sort of give you some freedom, why not?

[D]

You know the bird show.

[E]

Oh, I have had no luck lately.

[C]

Wait.

[A]

Lady Luck Ritzky. I got you.

[B]

I've had so much luck on spinquest.com they have all of my favorite games. Slot games, live blackjack, craps and bubble craps. You can even get a 30 coin pack for just 10 bucks.

[E]

10 bucks for 30.

[C]

I'm headed over to spinquest.com right now.

[A]

Spin.

[C]

Spinquest is a free to play social casino void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details.

[F]

Grainger knows. When you're a procurement manager for an office park, you're not managing one building, you're managing all of them. And to stay ahead, you need to see through walls and around corners. Lights about to fail. Filters ready to clog H Vac on its last leg. If you wait until something breaks, you're already behind. Count on Grainger for quality products, easy reordering and 24. 7 support. Call 1-800-GRAINGER click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.

[G]

Your next unforgettable experience can happen anytime. Take an Amex card with you for rewards wherever you go. Morning coffee run with an old friend. Earn cash back. Weekend getaway. Earn miles. AMEX rewards your inner explorer. Learn [e-mail] terms apply.