Ep 353: Habits of a Whole Heart with Arnie Herz and guest Julie Mayer P2 on hmTv

Ep. 353 (Part 2): Habits of a Whole Heart with Arnie Herz & Julie Mayer

In this transformative follow-up episode, host Arnie Herz and healer/hypnotherapist Julie Mayer take listeners on a rare and powerful journey into the world of hypnosis.

Julie begins by demystifying hypnosis—what it is, why it works, and how it gives us access to the subconscious patterns that shape our beliefs, behaviors, and emotional responses. She clears up common misconceptions, explains the difference between entertainment hypnosis and therapeutic hypnosis, and reveals how this gentle, focused state can help people release fears, stuck emotions, and long-held limitations.

Then Julie leads Arnie—and listeners—through a live, guided hypnosis session designed to cultivate deep relaxation. Set on a peaceful beach, the visualization helps anchor calm into the body, creating a tool listeners can access anytime through a simple physical cue.

Arnie emerges from the session surprised by how profound and timeless the experience feels, and together they reflect on what hypnosis can unlock for people seeking clarity, peace, and a fuller expression of themselves.

This episode offers:

• A clear explanation of how hypnosis works
• Why the subconscious mind influences so much of our daily life
• A safe, soothing guided hypnosis experience
• Tools to integrate peace into everyday moments
• Insights into how hypnosis differs from meditation—and how it enhances it

A restorative, eye-opening episode for anyone yearning for greater calm, self-understanding, and inner alignment.

Transcript

Episode 353 (Part 2)

Host: Arnie Herz
Guest: Julie Mayer
hmTv / Humanity Matters Podcast Series

Arnie: Welcome. My name is Arnie Herz, and this is the Habits of a Whole Heart podcast, part of the Humanity Matters series on HMTV.

This is my second episode with my old college friend, Julie Mayer, who has become a healer and a certified hypnotist. In our first episode, we talked about healing, energy work, groundedness, and the tools that help us move from being the effect of life to becoming the cause—so we can show up centered, empowered, and present for ourselves and for others.

Today, Julie is back, and we’re breaking this episode into three parts.
 First, we’ll talk about hypnosis—what it is and why it’s powerful.
 Second, Julie will take us through an actual hypnosis experience.
 Third, we’ll do a debrief and talk about what happened.

And just as an important reminder: Do NOT listen to the hypnosis portion while driving, cooking, or doing anything that requires your full attention. It needs to be done only when you’re sitting quietly at home, able to focus completely and safely.

Julie, welcome back.

Julie: Thank you, Arnie. Thank you so much for having me. I’m really enjoying this so much.

Arnie: Thank you. I’ve done many healing modalities—but I’ve never gone through hypnosis. So let’s start right at the top: What is hypnosis?

Julie: Hypnosis is a state of deep relaxation—both of the body and the mind. It’s a focused, calm state in which the conscious mind quiets down, and the subconscious becomes more accessible.

What many people don’t realize is that we enter hypnotic states naturally throughout our day. When we daydream… when we’re absorbed in a movie or a book… or even when we drive somewhere and suddenly realize we don’t remember every turn—that’s a trance state. Hypnosis simply guides you intentionally into that state so you can work with the subconscious mind.

The subconscious holds our long-held beliefs, habits, patterns, automatic reactions. In hypnosis, we make the unconscious more conscious—gently, safely—so we can work with what’s holding us back.

Arnie: So what’s the benefit of making the unconscious conscious? Maybe things are unconscious for a reason. Maybe they’re best left alone.

Julie: And sometimes they are. Sometimes not looking at something is exactly what we need to survive or cope.

But often, as we go through life, the things we’ve tucked away begin to hold us back. We feel something is stopping us—but we don’t know what it is.

Hypnosis lets us explore that safely. Not to relive trauma—not at all—but to gently touch the experience from a distance, extract the wisdom, and release the emotional charge. That wisdom becomes nourishment for our growth. The charge that once controlled us loses its power.

Arnie: So it’s like taking a past experience that created fear, inhibition, or anger—and letting go of the part that’s holding us back, so we can show up more fully. For example, someone who wants to finish a book but fears no one will read it may hold back because of fear of failure or invisibility.

(I'm smiling because this came up in earlier episodes I recorded today with a prior guest.)

But once we clear the fear, we can move forward.

Is that what you're saying?

Julie: Exactly. By clearing the patterns that hold us back, we step into the fullness of who we are meant to be.

Arnie: Is there anything else you want to share before we go into the hypnosis demo?

Julie: Yes—hypnosis is like exercise for the mind. You can safely practice new ways of being. You get the experience without the real-world risk, which helps the mind become more flexible.

People often fear hypnosis because of stage performances, but clinical hypnosis is different. In hypnosis, you are in control the entire time—more so than usual. You’re not handing over your agency. You’re simply accessing the subconscious with intention.

And yes, it’s important to work with a certified hypnotist—someone who is trained and whose intention is healing.

Arnie: Beautiful. Okay, let’s dive in.

For those of you joining us mid-episode: Julie is about to take us through a hypnosis experience. Do not continue unless you are seated in a quiet place with no responsibilities requiring your attention.

This is powerful work that shifts your state of consciousness.

Julie, the floor is yours.

THE HYPNOSIS EXPERIENCE (Guided by Julie)

Julie: Thank you, Arnie. For this session, we’re doing a hypnosis for deep relaxation—something everyone needs right now. Hypnosis is an enhanced learning state, so one thing you’ll learn in any session is how to go into hypnosis more easily and more deeply.

Let’s begin by getting comfortable… good… settle into your body… allowing your awareness to move inward and downward.

Just become aware of your breath…
 gently moving in…
 gently moving out…
 breath flowing in…
 breath flowing out…

See if you can feel a sense of expansion as you breathe in… and letting go as you breathe out.

I don’t know whether you relax more easily from the top of your head down to your feet… or from the bottoms of your feet up through the top of your head… but just invite a flow of softening through your body.

Allow your forehead to soften… your eyes… your jaw… your shoulders…

Let your arms become heavy…
 and as each area relaxes, you drift even deeper…

With each breath, relaxation doubles… flowing further inside…

Feel yourself sinking deeper and deeper into this calm, peaceful state.

Now imagine a staircase with ten steps. With each step, you relax more deeply.

Ten… drifting…
 Nine… deeper still…
 Eight… softening…
 Seven… deeper inside…
 Six…
 Five… halfway down…
 Four… heavy…
 Three… so deeply relaxed…
 Two… almost there…
 And one… all the way down…

And now you find yourself on a beautiful quiet beach.
 The sand is warm under your feet…
 The sun rests on your skin…
 A soft breeze moves around you…

The light dances on the water…
 Waves gently flow…
 matching the rhythm of your breath…

You feel a profound relaxation through your entire body—
 every muscle loosening…
 every breath deepening…

Now let’s anchor this peace.

Lightly touch your thumbs and index fingers together…
 locking in the calm…
 Good…
 And release.

Let’s do it again…
 Thumb and index finger…
 and release.

And once more…
 Press gently…
 and release.

This anchor allows you to return to this peaceful place anytime—
 either by recalling it…
 or by simply touching your thumbs and index fingers together.

Now it’s time to come back…
 Back to the staircase…
 And with each upward step, you return fully awake.

One… gently rising…
 Two… awareness returning…
 Three… grounding…
 Four… breath expanding…
 Five… integrating relaxation…
 Six… becoming more awake…
 Seven… feeling whole…
 Eight… rejuvenated…
 Nine… almost back…
 And ten… eyes open, fully awake, feeling complete and deeply relaxed.

POST-HYPNOSIS DEBRIEF

Arnie: Coming back slowly… feeling my feet on the floor… opening my eyes when ready…

Wow. That was extraordinary. I thought it was two minutes—it was thirteen. It felt like meditation but with purpose. Very calming and powerful.

Julie: You did beautifully. I could see you sinking into a deep state. Hypnosis is similar to meditation—just with more intention behind it. You’ll continue integrating this experience over the next few days, even in sleep.

Arnie: Two quick questions.

First, can someone do this every day?

Julie: Yes. For relaxation, absolutely. It’s like a deep meditation. That’s why I chose this general session—for listeners to use anytime.

Arnie: And my second question: in other forms of hypnosis—not just relaxation—are you speaking more? Processing things consciously?

Julie: Yes. Even in deep hypnosis, you can talk. In those sessions, there’s more dialogue while still deeply relaxed.

Arnie: Beautiful. Julie, thank you so much. I feel incredibly calm, and I plan to practice this regularly.

To our listeners, Julie’s contact information is in the notes:
 Julie@JulieMayerCoaching.com

JulieMayerCoaching.com
(Mayer spelled M-A-Y-E-R.)

Julie, thank you for your expertise, your warmth, and this profound experience—something the world truly needs today.

And thank you to all our listeners for tuning in to Habits of a Whole Heart on HMTV through the Humanity Matters series. We’d love for you to follow us and share the podcast with others.

You can follow me, Arnie Herz, on Facebook, Instagram, X, or my website HabitsofaWholeHeart.com.

Thank you, and have a great day, everyone.