
Practical NLP Podcast
The Practical NLP Podcast is hosted by Andy Smith, an English NLP trainer. It shares useful tips and principles from NLP that listeners can apply in everyday life. The show focuses on getting clear about what you really want, accelerating success, and being more effective at work, in life, and in relationships. Episodes offer practical guidance rather than abstract theory.
Episodes

Core Transformation with Mark Andreas: Practical NLP Podcast 93
Andy Smith interviews NLP trainer and coach Mark Andreas about the Core Transformation method and published research into its effectiveness

Using Logical Levels in Coaching: Interview with Sarah Makinde (Practical NLP Podcast 92)
Interview with psychologist and NLP Trainer Sarah Makinde about using the Logical Levels model in coaching, how she blends psychology and NLP, how she grew a successful Facebook community, and more

Pattern-Interrupting Money Fears: Interview With Duff McDuffee (Practical NLP Podcast Episode 91)
In this episode of the Practical NLP Podcast I interview Duff McDuffee, one of the most thoughtful people in modern NLP. He specialises in helping creative and neurodivergent people who ‘think different’, as that classic Apple ad used to say.
In our wide-ranging conversation we talk about:
Duff's first introduction to NLP - as for many people, it was via Tony Robbins
What it was like wor

How NLP Can Help With the Amygdala Hijack (Practical NLP Podcast Episode 90)
NLP has a number of ways to help people get over traumatic incidents. Let's delve into them to see how they work.

Finding Your Direction and Connecting With Your Values – Interview with Andy Smith (Practical NLP Podcast 89)
Everyone wants tips on how to get what they want, but it's more important to find your direction so you get to the right place. This interview with Andy Smith tells you how!

Improve Your Performance With Self-Modelling: Interview With Margaret Nash
https://youtu.be/6aYnXIGWpPk
This is the video version - listen / subscribe to the podcast version below
Andy Smith in conversation with NLP Trainer, coach and author Margaret Nash.
Here are some of the things we talk about:
Why smoking cessation or maybe weight loss is the thing to specialise in if you want to make money as a hypnotherapist, and helping people with deeper problems is pr

The Only Advice You’ll Ever Need For Helping Clients Solve Their Problems – Practical NLP Podcast Episode 87
https://youtu.be/4LEQl3Mu7jU
A bit of a rant this week, inspired by the many, many posts I've seen on NLP forums from rookie NLP practitioners who ask what technique they should be using with a particular client problem.
They're going about it all wrong, and their NLP trainers should have showed them the right way!
Here's how to approach any client problem so you'll know what to do...

NLP In Corporates And Submodalities: Interview with Debra Heslin – Practical NLP Podcast 86
Andy Smith in conversation with Debra Heslin, NLP Trainer, High Performance Coach, and Yoga teacher.
Here are some of the things we talk about:
Jack Canfield's work (you may know him as the Chicken Soup For The Soul guy) is mostly based on NLP
Corporates can benefit from NLP (even something as simple as a representational systems test)
There's some interesting real-time interactive te

Havening, Modelling, And Why Today’s NLP Practitioner Courses Are Too Short – Interview With Doug O’Brien: Practical NLP Podcast 85
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRQQA5StB1M&list=PLTPfitvHf-yqV6P9F4Lq2TrwiS-yGbBJW
Andy Smith interviews coaching specialist and NLP and Ericksonian hypnosis trainer Doug O'Brien.
In this interview:
Doug tells us about NLP Practitioner training with Tony Robbins in the eighties
Takes a dig at the shortness of most NLP Practitioner courses these days (compared to the 28 days they orig

Respect For The Other Person’s Map Of The World – Interview With Andy Smith part 2: Practical NLP Podcast 84
This week we have the second half of an interview that we did about how to apply the principles or ‘presuppositions’ of NLP to improve your life and work.
In the first half we explored the principle that “The map is not the territory”. In this interview we look at another principle that flows naturally from that one: “Respect for the other person’s map of the world”.
Among other things, we talk

The Map Is Not The Territory – Interview With Andy Smith: Practical NLP Podcast Episode 83
This week’s episode is something a bit different. Instead of me interviewing a prominent member of the NLP community, it’s someone interviewing me – about the principles or ‘presuppositions’ of NLP and how you can use them to be more effective in your life and work, even if you’re not NLP trained.
My interviewer is Deb Johnstone, an NLP coach based in Cairns City, Australia. Deb specialises in he

Shelle Rose Charvet And The LAB Profile®: Practical NLP Podcast 82
This week's episode is an interview with LAB Profile® queen Shelle Rose Charvet - with a very special offer included!
One of the most respected figures in NLP, (and probably the most entertaining speaker), and bestselling author, Shelle has been researching and using the LAB Profile® (a more user-friendly development of metaprograms) for over 25 years.
In our conversation, we discover:
how Sh

NLP For Kids And Starting An NLP-Based Business With Gemma Bailey: Practical NLP Podcast 81
This week's guest is the inspirational Gemma Bailey!
Gemma is an NLP trainer and director of NLP4Kids - a company which specialises in bringing NLP to children, their families and schools to help them with mild to moderate mental health and emotional challenges.
With a background in childcare Gemma has translated NLP into child friendly language for delivery by over 20 NLP4Kids practitioners who

Jonathan Altfeld On Inductive And Deductive Thinking: Practical NLP Podcast Episode 80
This week's interview is with a real innovator in NLP, my old friend and occasional mentor Jonathan Altfeld, international NLP trainer and developer of Genius Mapping and many other useful tools and patterns.
In the interview, Jonathan shares with us an important distinction that will make you a better coach, therapist or even mechanic: the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning,

James Tsakalos Interview: Practical NLP Podcast 79
This episode marks a new direction for the Practical NLP Podcast! Up to now we've been talking you through various aspects of NLP in a structured way - essentially the episodes build up into an audio home study pack for an NLP Practitioner course (contact me if you'd like to license them for your own Practitioner courses).
From now on, I'll be interviewing various stars of the NLP field - people I

The SCORE Model: Practical NLP Podcast 78
The SCORE model is not taught on that many NLP Practitioner courses, which is a shame as it's very useful in coaching and problem solving and doesn't require superhuman sensory acuity to use (although that helps of course).
This episode introduces the model and gives some sample questions and tips on how to use it successfully when coaching individuals.
In this week's podcast:
How Robert Dilt

How To Clear Anxiety Using Your Timeline: Practical NLP Podcast 77
This week, the end of an era as we come to the end of the 'scripted' Practical NLP Podcast episodes. From next episode we'll be switching to a longer format where I interview thought leaders and practitioners applying NLP in original ways to solve real-world problems.
So, a short and sweet episode in two parts. I show you a process you can use on the timeline to clear anxiety about an upcoming eve

How To Test-Drive Your Timeline: Practical NLP Podcast 76
Having elicited the timeline in the previous episode, this week we take it for a 'test drive'.
In this week's episode:
Two ways people may experience their timeline - as moving or static
Step by step instructions for how to guide people through this exercise (also see the show notes below)
Why this also works as an instant relaxation and clarity exercise
... and much more!
If y

Eliciting Your Timeline: Practical NLP Podcast 75
We use spatial, linear metaphors to think about time (e.g. time is like a road, or like a river) without even thinking about it. How your unconscious mind represents time has a big effect on how you experience life - and that's what this week's podcast is about.
Including:
How to elicit the timeline
"In Time" and "Through Time", and their effects on how you think and behave
Why time m

Two Ways To Install A Goal On Your Timeline: Practical NLP Podcast 74
This week's podcast shows you two ways to install goals into your future, plus (if you're using this for coaching or facilitating other individuals or groups) when you would use each method.
Includes:
How to discover your unconscious mind's typical way of thinking about time
How to make the image of your goal as compelling as possible
The difference between goal setting and daydreamin

What’s Missing From S.M.A.R.T. Goals: Practical NLP Podcast 73
This week's podcast exposes the missing piece from the SMART goals model, and gives you a better model that takes account of your motivations and how you feel about the goal. Forget SMART, meet SYDER!
Including:
Why you don't have to achieve every goal entirely by your own efforts
Why you need to put a date on your goal, and what will happen if you don't
What the Treaty of Versailles has t

Why You Need ‘Towards’ Motivation In Goal Setting: Practical NLP Podcast 72
In this episode we look at the different effects of 'towards' and 'away-from' motivation, and which is better for achieving your goals

Prioritising Values And Resolving Conflicts: Practical NLP Podcast 71
Prioritising your values list and checking for conflicts - do this before you set any goals! Practical NLP Podcast with Andy Smith episode 71

How To Elicit Values: Practical NLP Podcast 70
In this week's episode we learn how to elicit values the NLP way, and why values are important for motivation. This is useful for coaching and for personal development, and essential for successful goal-setting.

NLP For Leadership: Episode 69
Discover some uses of NLP for leadership. Includes the importance of congruence (and some pointers to achieving it) + how to lead by example

NLP For Sales And Influencing – The CRAFT Model: Episode 68
Ideas on how to use NLP for selling and influencing, plus the CRAFT model for influence and sales.

How To Negotiate Better: Practical NLP Podcast 67
Follow the steps in the 123-XL Model to be a better negotiator. With some tips on how you can use your NLP skills to get better results in negotiation

Run Better Meetings With NLP: Practical NLP Podcast 66
Tips from NLP (and a few other areas like Emotional Intelligence and Appreciative Inquiry) to run more effective meetings

Emotional States And Persuasion: Practical NLP Podcast 65
This week on the Practical NLP Podcast, the most important thing you need to know about changing people's minds - something that many of those 'Influence with NLP' and 'Get anyone to do anything you want' courses out there don't tell you.

Dealing With Difficult People Using The ‘Satir Categories’: Practical NLP Podcast 64
NLP has a useful set of classifications for the behaviour patterns of 'difficult' people, known as the 'Satir Categories'. Learn how to recognise them...

Effective Feedback: Practical NLP Podcast 63
Ideas from NLP for giving effective feedback (and what not to do) - plus how to learn from criticism while maintaining a good emotional state

Perceptual Positions: Practical NLP Podcast 62
Perceptual Positions is one of the most useful NLP patterns. It looks at any interpersonal problem from 3 viewpoints for new insights

Metaprograms Part 3: Practical NLP Podcast 61
In this episode, some of the most useful metaprograms for business, covering 'Sameness/Difference' and 'Options/Procedures'

Metaprograms Part 2: Practical NLP Podcast Episode 60
In this episode of the Practical NLP Podcast we look at the General/Specific, Proactive/Reactive and Internal/External Frame of Reference metaprograms

Metaprograms Part 1: Practical NLP Podcast 59
Metaprograms in NLP are one of the sets of filters we use to create our map of the world. They run 'in the background' so we are usually not consciously aware of them.
They drive:
what we pay attention to
what we respond to
what motivates us
how we interact with the people around us
the kind of language that will influence us
This podcast introduces metaprograms (and five re

Levels Of Change: Practical NLP Podcast 58
This week's podcast covers one of the most useful models in NLP - the 'Logical Levels' or 'Neuro-Logical Levels' model developed by Robert Dilts. This is a powerful map for coaching individuals, and is also a useful way to analyse change in a team or organisation. It's even applicable in the field of branding.
The podcast includes:
Why moving house may not be enough on its own to solve your n

Parts Integration: Practical NLP Podcast 57
Parts Integration (also known as the 'Visual Squash') is one of the most powerful changework techniques in NLP. In this episode we guide you through it...

Recognising And Dealing With Incongruence: Practical NLP Podcast 56
'Incongruence' is when someone is in two minds about something, or when their behaviour doesn't match their words.

The Six Step Reframe: Practical NLP Podcast 55
A useful way to look at 'problem' behaviours is to remember there is a positive intention behind them. Separating the intention from the results (which may be unwanted) opens up the possibility of change without 'resistance'. John Grinder's 'Six Step Reframe' process is an elegant format that uses this principle.
You can use this format to change your own habits - or if you're a therapist, add

Reframing and Preframing: Practical NLP Podcast 54
All meaning is context-dependent - so when we place events, things or qualities in a different frame, our emotional responses and probably behavioural responses can also change to something more helpful. This podcast explains the two types of 'standard' reframing in NLP (context and meaning reframes) and adds a third, the 'figure-ground' reframe. It also shows how preframing can save you a lot of

Frames: Practical NLP Podcast 53
A new topic for the next series of podcasts: frames! The meaning we attach to what we perceive, and even what we notice versus what we don't notice, is strongly influenced by which 'frames' we are using. This podcast introduces the topic, and explains some commonly used frames in NLP and when they may be useful in a business, training or coaching context.
The frames mentioned in this podcast ar

The New Behaviour Generator: Practical NLP Podcast 52
In the last few episodes we’ve been talking about strategies. I'd like to round off this section by mentioning a powerful NLP technique for doing things better or installing new strategies - the New Behaviour Generator.
As far as I know, this method was developed by Richard Bandler. It's like positive mental rehearsal on steroids!
These are the steps:
Describe a behaviour you would like

The Disney Strategy For Creativity: Practical NLP Podcast 51
This week's episode features a format you can use to get lots of viable creative ideas from even the most unpromising groups, or that you can use to generate ideas yourself even if you don't regard yourself as 'creative' - it's the 'Disney Strategy for Creativity', modelled and developed by Robert Dilts.
Includes:00.40: How I helped people from the world's least creative professions to generate

Improve Your Spelling With The NLP Spelling Strategy: Practical NLP Podcast 50
Lots of people who thought they were just 'naturally bad spellers' have improved their spelling with the NLP Spelling Strategy. It turns out they weren't naturally bad at all, they were just using a strategy that didn't work very well. Find out the strategy that works in this week's podcast!

Chunking Down On The Buying Strategy: Practical NLP Podcast 49
This week's podcast looks in detail at our buying strategies. These can be 'chunked down' into four elements - motivation, decision, convincer and reassurance strategies. In particular, we consider some typical problems in decision strategies, and how convincer strategies work.

Motivation Strategies That Work! – Practical NLP Podcast 48
Motivation can be 'towards' what you want or 'away from' what you don't want - but which is more effective in achieving your goals, and why? Find out in this week's Practical NLP Podcast.

Utilising and Changing Strategies: Practical NLP Podcast 47
This week in the Practical NLP Podcast, how to use a strategy that you have elicited - or change it so it works better!

How To Elicit A Strategy: Practical NLP Podcast 46
How to use the NLP TOTE Model to elicit a client's strategy - useful in modelling excellence, and also in therapy and coaching

Strategies And The TOTE Model: Practical NLP Podcast 45
In this episode we start to get to grips with ‘Strategies’ - our internal ‘programs’ for doing what we do, both problems and the things we’re good at - and the TOTE Model, the standard model used in NLP to make sense of them.

Metaphors: Practical NLP Podcast 44
A quick guide to how metaphors are used in NLP and how to create them

Practical NLP Podcast 43: Milton Model part 5
Milton Model part 5 - Switching Referential Index, Selection Restriction Violations, Tag Questions

Practical NLP Podcast 42: Milton Model 4 – Embedded Suggestions
Continuing the exploration of the NLP Milton Model - Embedded Suggestions! How to embed a word or phrase in a longer sentence so the unconscious mind takes it as a suggestion

Practical NLP Podcast 41 – NLP, Blogging and Social Media
Social media expert Sarah Arrow interviews Andy Smith about how NLP can help bloggers and people using social media in their marketing.

Practical NLP Podcast 40: Milton Model part 3 – Ambiguities
Practical NLP Podcast episode 40: The Milton Model part 3 - Pacing, Utilisation and Four Kinds of Ambiguities

Practical NLP Podcast 39: Milton Model part 2
Milton Model part 2: This episode covers language patterns that can be classed as Generalisations and Deletions, with practical examples for business

Practical NLP Podcast 38: The Milton Model part 1
If you want to influence people in any way, you need to know about the language patterns in NLP's 'Milton Model'. Part 1: Distortions

Practical NLP Podcast 37: The Meta Model part 3 – Deletions, And How To Use The Meta Model In Practice
This episode covers the Meta Model with the group of patterns we can class as Deletions, and the associated questions to recover the missing information.
We also include some vital tips for using the Meta Model in practice, so you don't become a 'Meta Model Monster' and annoy everyone around you.

Practical NLP Podcast 36: The Meta Model part 2 – Generalisations
This episode covers the Meta Model Generalisations language patterns - universal quantifiers and modal operators, plus questions that go with them

Practical NLP Podcast 35: The Meta Model part 1 – Distortions
This episode explains the 'distortion' patterns in the NLP Meta Model: Mind-reads, value judgments, cause and effect, complex equivalences, & presuppositions

Practical NLP Podcast 34: The Hierarchy of Ideas (or ‘Chunking’)
Practical NLP Podcast 34: chunking up, chunking down, the ladder of abstraction, or 'Hierarchy of Ideas', from big picture to details, and creativity

Practical NLP Podcast 33: Presuppositions in Language part 2
Presuppositions in language part 2, including Awareness, Time, Adverb/Adjective, Inclusive and exclusive Or, and Ordinal

Practical NLP Podcast episode 32: Presuppositions in Language part 1
A guide to linguistic presuppositions - unspoken assumptions that you have to take as true ('presupposed') in order to understand a statement or question. Part 1 - more next time!

Practical NLP Podcast 31: Language – Deep Structure and Surface Structure
To use NLP language patterns well, you need to understand the difference between between 'Deep Structure' (what we mean to say) and 'Surface Structure' (what actually comes out of our mouths).

Practical NLP 30: Chaining Anchors and Practical Applications of Anchoring
A step by step guide to chaining anchors, suggest some real-life practical applications for anchoring in business and elsewhere, review the material about anchoring covered in the last few podcasts, and suggest some ways that you can practice and sharpen your anchoring skills.

Practical NLP 29: State Elicitation For Anchoring – the How-To
When NLP anchoring fails, most often it's because you haven't elicited a strong enough state. Here's how to do state elicitation

Practical NLP 28: How To Set Up Your Circle of Excellence
With this NLP technique called "The Circle of Excellence", you can feel at your best whenever you need to. This episode talks you through how to have your personal resources ready to access, just one step away.

Practical NLP 27: Five Keys to Successful Anchoring
This episode goes under the hood to find out why NLP anchoring works

Practical NLP 26: Give Yourself A Resource Anchor
A simple NLP exercise to set yourself up with a resource anchor so you can feel more resourceful any time you want.

Practical NLP 25: Emotional Intelligence
How NLP can help you develop emotional intelligence, including a focusing exercise to help you increase your self-awareness

Practical NLP Podcast 24: What Is ‘Genius’?
The idea of 'genius' approached from an NLP perspective. This is an extract from an NLP Master Practitioner course that I ran in Manchester in about 2009. It starts to introduce the concept of 'modelling' (or 'modeling' in American English) in NLP - a way of rapidly learning some ability from a person who is good at it and stripping that reproduction down to a 'model' that contains the essentials,

Practical NLP 23: Unpacking The Swish Pattern
This week we unpack the NLP Swish Pattern to see the nuts and bolts that you need to get right to make it work

Practical NLP 22: The Swish Pattern
The NLP Swish Pattern is great for defusing the triggers for unwanted behaviours or emotional responses. Here's how to do it, step by step

Practical NLP 21: Mapping Across Submodalities
Mapping Across is a simple NLP submodality technique that will help if you like a particular food too much and want to be able to leave it alone - or, more generally, if you want to move from a particular state to something more resourceful (e.g. confusion to confidence that you will understand).

Practical NLP Podcast 20: Dealing With The Inner Critic
This week's podcast looks at, or rather listens to, 'auditory submodalities', and shows you a powerful and easy way to apply them to defuse an inner critical voice (also known as the 'chatterbox', 'Self 1', or 'the monkey mind', depending on which school of coaching you went to or which self-help books you've read).
Featuring Donald Duck, a gremlin, and what people might say to themselves about in

Practical NLP Podcast 19: How to Enhance a Pleasant Memory With Visual Submodalities
In this week's episode we start looking at changework interventions, beginning with visual submodalities

Practical NLP Podcast 18: Eye Accessing Cues
This week's episode of the Practical NLP Podcast is all about one of the most controversial ideas in NLP, eye accessing cues. Includes questions to elicit them and some subtleties that most descriptions don't mention (ignorance of which probably accounts for some of the skepticism)

Practical NLP podcast 17: “Predicates”
'Predicates' is the NLP term for the sensory (visual, auditory, feeling etc) words we use that give a clue to our thought processes - that's what this episode is all about

Representational Systems: Practical NLP Podcast 16
This week's episode covers representational systems, the difference between 'analogue' and 'digital', and why you should never label anyone (especially yourself) as 'visual', 'auditory', or 'kinesthetic'

Applying Pacing and Leading: Practical NLP Podcast 15
Real-world applications of pacing and leading, when to break rapport, and influencing with integrity - Practical NLP Podcast 15

Crossover Matching and Pacing and Leading: Practical NLP Podcast 14
How to achieve rapport the NLP way - and how to blow it! Plus crossover matching, pacing and leading, the easy way to achieve rapport, and how to practice your rapport and sensory acuity skills. Practical NLP Podcast 14
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