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A compliment that makes your stomach drop is still a problem, even if the speaker “meant well.” We unpack microaggressions, those subtle comments and behaviors that communicate bias, and we explain why they’re called micro even though the impact can be anything but small. Along the way, we give real examples you’ve heard at work, in public, and online, like “you’re so articulate,” “you’re surprisingly confident,” “I don’t see color,” and the passive aggressive habit of not bothering to learn someone’s name.

We also talk about what repeated microaggressions do to your mental health. Think of them like paper cuts: one is annoying, but daily paper cuts create real pain. That buildup can lead to anxiety, self doubt, emotional fatigue, and the exhausting inner debate of “Did I imagine that?” We get into why this happens so often, including unconscious bias and learned mental shortcuts, and why good intentions don’t cancel the harm.

Then we turn it practical. If you’re on the receiving end, we walk through steps to pause, validate what you felt, and name the issue so a real conversation can happen. If you realize you’ve said something that landed wrong, we lay out a clean repair: listen without defensiveness, apologize without qualification, and learn and adjust. Plus, a winner of the week story about a guide dog named Jerry who helps detect a dangerous blood clot, and a quick spotlight on Rio who needs a home. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave us a review so more people can find the show.

Recorded 4-6-26

FIND ME:
My Website: https://motorcityhypnotist.com/podcast
My social media links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motorcityhypnotist/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCjjLNcNvSYzfeX0uHqe3gA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/motorcityhypno
Instagram: motorcityhypno
FREE HYPNOSIS GUIDE
https://detroithypnotist.convertri.com/podcast-free-hypnosis-guide
Please also subscribe to the show and leave a review.
(Stay with me as later in the podcast, I’ll be giving away a free gift to all listeners!)

Change your thinking, change your life!
Laugh hard, run fast, be kind.
David R. Wright MA, LPC, CHT
The Motor City Hypnotist

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Some Olympic controversies are loud for a week. Others echo for decades and make you question the whole idea of “the best athlete wins.” We sit down with pizza and a drink and build a Top 10 list of controversial United States Olympic moments, counting down the stories that still spark arguments at bars, in comment sections, and in living rooms during every Games.

We hit the headline-makers, like Ryan Lochte’s 2016 scandal, and the unforgettable Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan saga tied to the road to Lillehammer. Then we get into the moments that split public opinion right down the middle: Simone Biles stepping back in 2021 to protect her mental health, and Sha’Carri Richardson’s marijuana ban, which opens up a real conversation about Olympic drug rules, federal vs state legality, and what “fairness” is actually supposed to mean.

From there, we roll through judging and scoring chaos across eras, including Jordan Chiles and the podium-whiplash of a late inquiry, Marion Jones and the lasting stain of doping, the infamous 1972 USA vs USSR basketball finish, and why razor-thin timing debates like Michael Phelps’ 2008 butterfly can still feel unsettled. We also talk about why judged sports like boxing can become lightning rods, with Roy Jones Jr’s 1988 decision as the ultimate example of how a medal can be taken without ever being physically lost.

If you like sports history, Olympic scandals, and honest debate, hit play, then subscribe and share this with a friend who loves the Games. And if you want the free hypnosis guide, text the word hypnosis to 313-800-8510, then leave us a review so more people can find the show.

FIND ME:
My Website: https://motorcityhypnotist.com/podcast
My social media links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motorcityhypnotist/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCjjLNcNvSYzfeX0uHqe3gA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/motorcityhypno
Instagram: motorcityhypno
FREE HYPNOSIS GUIDE
https://detroithypnotist.convertri.com/podcast-free-hypnosis-guide
Please also subscribe to the show and leave a review.
(Stay with me as later in the podcast, I’ll be giving away a free gift to all listeners!)

Change your thinking, change your life!
Laugh hard, run fast, be kind.
David R. Wright MA, LPC, CHT
The Motor City Hypnotist

Send us Fan Mail

The Olympic moments we never forget are rarely just about the score. They are about nerves, timing, pressure, and the weird way one perfect run or one impossible upset can turn into a lifelong memory you can replay on demand.

We’re back with one of our favorite formats: a Top 10 countdown of the most iconic U.S. Olympic moments in history. We go sport by sport and era by era, from Mary Lou Retton’s trailblazing gymnastics gold to Simone Biles’ dominance, from Florence Griffith Joyner’s still-unbroken sprint records to Michael Phelps rewriting what “greatest swimming performance” even means. We also dig into track and field greatness like Alison Felix and Carl Lewis, then step into Olympic history with Jesse Owens in Berlin and why that moment still carries weight far beyond medals.

Of course, we argue about the order, because you can’t talk Olympics without debate. We break down why the Miracle on Ice remains the gold standard for underdog stories, then hit honorable mentions like Kerri Strug’s 1996 vault and Muhammad Ali lighting the Atlanta torch. Matt also brings in winter Olympic takes, including a heartfelt nod to Mikaela Shiffrin, plus a very opinionated skiing vs snowboarding etiquette segment that every mountain regular will recognize.

We also share a quick community “winner of the week” story that hits the same theme of people showing up for each other, and we spotlight Buddy from Detroit Dog Rescue who needs a home. If you like Olympic highlights, U.S. Olympic history, and the stories behind iconic gold medal moments, you’ll have your own list by the end. Subscribe, share this with a sports fan, and leave us a review wherever you listen.

FIND ME:
My Website: https://motorcityhypnotist.com/podcast
My social media links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motorcityhypnotist/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCjjLNcNvSYzfeX0uHqe3gA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/motorcityhypno
Instagram: motorcityhypno
FREE HYPNOSIS GUIDE
https://detroithypnotist.convertri.com/podcast-free-hypnosis-guide
Please also subscribe to the show and leave a review.
(Stay with me as later in the podcast, I’ll be giving away a free gift to all listeners!)

Change your thinking, change your life!
Laugh hard, run fast, be kind.
David R. Wright MA, LPC, CHT
The Motor City Hypnotist

Send us Fan Mail

Loneliness doesn’t always look like being alone. Sometimes it looks like scrolling, posting, and still feeling invisible. We get real about the loneliness epidemic and the traps that make it worse, especially the way social media trains us to crave quick validation while offering very little true connection. We also share a mindset shift that helps immediately: online interaction is often surface-level, and your worth can’t be measured by comments, likes, or whether someone “responds.”

From there, we dig into the practical side of building adult friendships and why it feels so much harder than it did in school. As kids, proximity does the work for us. As adults, work schedules, family obligations, commuting, and fear of rejection can quietly shrink our social world. We talk about what actually grows friendship over time: repeated contact, shared experiences, and emotional openness. We also discuss a helpful benchmark many studies point to, around 50 hours together before a bond starts to feel real, which can take the pressure off if you’re expecting instant best-friend energy.

We wrap with specific, doable steps to fight social isolation: treat friendship like a priority, be the initiator, plan time together, accept that not every connection becomes close, and watch for red flags when effort is one-sided. We also talk about empathy as the foundation of real support, showing up, listening, and resisting the urge to “fix” people. If this hits home, share it with someone who might need it, subscribe for more mental health and real-life connection tools, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

Recorded 03-09-26

FIND ME:
My Website: https://motorcityhypnotist.com/podcast
My social media links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motorcityhypnotist/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCjjLNcNvSYzfeX0uHqe3gA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/motorcityhypno
Instagram: motorcityhypno
FREE HYPNOSIS GUIDE
https://detroithypnotist.convertri.com/podcast-free-hypnosis-guide
Please also subscribe to the show and leave a review.
(Stay with me as later in the podcast, I’ll be giving away a free gift to all listeners!)

Change your thinking, change your life!
Laugh hard, run fast, be kind.
David R. Wright MA, LPC, CHT
The Motor City Hypnotist

Send us Fan Mail

Loneliness can be brutal because it doesn’t always look like isolation. You can have a relationship, coworkers, family dinners, even hundreds of social media friends and still feel that hollow disconnect that nobody really sees you. We get honest about why that happens, why it’s becoming more common, and what your brain is actually doing when you start pulling away from people.

We also offer a clearer definition that cuts through the confusion: loneliness is the gap between the connection you want and the connection you feel. That framing matters, because it turns loneliness into useful information instead of a label you wear. We talk about the social media illusion of connection, how scrolling replaces real conversations, and why comparison makes disconnection worse. Then we zoom out to the real-life reasons adult friendship is harder than it used to be: schedules, distance, family responsibilities, career changes, and moving to a new place.

From there, we dig into the psychology of chronic loneliness, including the shift into social threat mode where you assume rejection before it happens. A late reply or a cancelled plan can feel personal, and that perception can lock you into a cycle of reaching out less and feeling worse. We close with practical first steps you can take now: focus on depth over quantity, initiate more than your fear wants you to, and find shared-interest spaces like volunteering, community classes, community centers, and local groups. We also preview Loneliness Part Two and spotlight Seamus from Detroit Dog Rescue.

Subscribe for the next part, share this with someone who needs it, and leave us a review on your podcast app so more people can find the show.

Recorded 03-09-26

FIND ME:
My Website: https://motorcityhypnotist.com/podcast
My social media links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motorcityhypnotist/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCjjLNcNvSYzfeX0uHqe3gA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/motorcityhypno
Instagram: motorcityhypno
FREE HYPNOSIS GUIDE
https://detroithypnotist.convertri.com/podcast-free-hypnosis-guide
Please also subscribe to the show and leave a review.
(Stay with me as later in the podcast, I’ll be giving away a free gift to all listeners!)

Change your thinking, change your life!
Laugh hard, run fast, be kind.
David R. Wright MA, LPC, CHT
The Motor City Hypnotist

Send a text

Anxiety can feel like an engine stuck at redline—your thoughts race, your chest tightens, and logic gets drowned out by adrenaline. We’re breaking down what actually helps. From fast-acting benzodiazepines for crisis moments to long-term SSRIs that lower your baseline anxiety, we talk about what these medications do in the brain, how they differ, and why the right plan can mean real sleep, clearer thinking, and the freedom to do things you’ve been avoiding.

We also get honest about risks and stigma. Dependence and withdrawal make benzos a short-term tool that needs guardrails and a thoughtful taper. SSRIs come with an adjustment period and possible side effects like emotional blunting or sexual changes. The key is personalization: track how you feel, meet your prescriber regularly, and adjust dosage or switch medications when needed. When medication reduces panic and calms your nervous system, therapy starts working better—exposure gets easier, mindfulness sticks, and daily life stops feeling like a series of alarms.

Tools matter too. We share simple, proven techniques you can use tonight: tactile grounding like finger-to-thumb tapping and rhythmic clapping, guided apps with noise colors to quiet rumination, and light-based practices that use visual fixation to downshift arousal—similar in principle to classic hypnosis methods. We cover when beta blockers shine for public speaking or high-stakes events, and how to decide if meds belong in your plan by asking whether anxiety is disrupting work, relationships, or sleep, and how often panic strikes.

If you’ve wondered “Will meds change who I am?” or “Does needing help mean I’m weak?” this conversation reframes relief as strategy, not surrender. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs clarity, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Your question might shape our next episode.

Recorded 3-2-26

Episode 329

FIND ME:
My Website: https://motorcityhypnotist.com/podcast
My social media links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motorcityhypnotist/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCjjLNcNvSYzfeX0uHqe3gA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/motorcityhypno
Instagram: motorcityhypno
FREE HYPNOSIS GUIDE
https://detroithypnotist.convertri.com/podcast-free-hypnosis-guide
Please also subscribe to the show and leave a review.
(Stay with me as later in the podcast, I’ll be giving away a free gift to all listeners!)

Change your thinking, change your life!
Laugh hard, run fast, be kind.
David R. Wright MA, LPC, CHT
The Motor City Hypnotist

Send a text

Anxiety can feel like a siren that never shuts off—racing heart, shaky hands, spinning thoughts. We break down the tools that can turn down the noise, from fast-acting benzodiazepines to longer-term SSRIs and SNRIs, and we get real about benefits, risks, and how to use meds without letting them use you. You’ll hear why benzos act like a fire extinguisher in a panic, how SSRIs and SNRIs rewire emotional regulation over weeks, and where buspirone and beta blockers help when worry is more cognitive or when the body symptoms take the lead.

We dig into brain mechanics in plain language: GABA as the brake pedal, the amygdala’s overactivation, and stress hormones like cortisol that prime the fight-or-flight response. Then we connect the science to everyday life with a powerful reframe—your panic sensations can mirror a workout—so the body’s alarms feel less like danger and more like energy you can ride. That shift matters, because fear of the sensations often fuels the spiral more than the sensations themselves.

Most important, we treat medication as a tool, not a finish line. Pairing the right prescription with therapy creates space to do the real work: confronting avoidance, testing catastrophic predictions, and building new habits until calm becomes your baseline. We also share a moving “winner of the week” rescue and spotlight an adoptable dog, because hope and heart help too. If you’ve wondered whether anxiety meds are addictive, if they change your personality, or how to weigh side effects against relief, this is your guide to informed, compassionate choices.

Enjoyed the show? Subscribe, leave a review on your favorite app, and share this episode with someone who could use a clearer path through anxiety. Your questions shape part two—what should we tackle next?

Recorded 3-2-26

FIND ME:
My Website: https://motorcityhypnotist.com/podcast
My social media links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motorcityhypnotist/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCjjLNcNvSYzfeX0uHqe3gA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/motorcityhypno
Instagram: motorcityhypno
FREE HYPNOSIS GUIDE
https://detroithypnotist.convertri.com/podcast-free-hypnosis-guide
Please also subscribe to the show and leave a review.
(Stay with me as later in the podcast, I’ll be giving away a free gift to all listeners!)

Change your thinking, change your life!
Laugh hard, run fast, be kind.
David R. Wright MA, LPC, CHT
The Motor City Hypnotist

Send a text

What if the real power of antidepressants isn’t euphoria, but a clearer runway to heal? We close our four-part series by getting practical about how medication fits into a full recovery plan—and why stability, not shortcuts, is the win that unlocks change.

We dig into the biggest myths first: no, antidepressants don’t “change who you are,” and no, taking them isn’t a failure. They’re evidence-based tools that can reduce the intensity of depression so therapy, routines, and relationships can start working again. We walk through major classes—SSRIs, SNRIs, bupropion, and MAOIs—explain how they differ, and share how gene-guided testing can cut down the frustrating trial-and-error. Side effects like sexual issues and weight gain get honest airtime, along with practical counter-moves: consistent sleep, short daily movement, protein-forward meals, and small self-care anchors that keep you moving on low-energy days.

Safety stays front and center. We talk about black box warnings, what to watch during the first weeks, and how fast feedback between you, your prescriber, and your therapist prevents small problems from becoming big ones. From there, we zoom out: medication as a bridge to behavioral change, therapy as the engine that rewires habits and beliefs, and social support as the buffer against isolation. If your journey has felt cyclical—new pill, new drop-off, repeat—we offer a grounded framework for measuring progress, advocating for adjustments, and knowing when to taper or stay the course.

We also tee up what’s next: anxiety medications, including benzodiazepines and non-benzo options, and how they can complement or stand apart from antidepressants. Whether you’re weighing your first prescription or reassessing after a few misses, you’ll leave with clear steps, better language for your next appointment, and permission to treat depression like the medical condition it is. If this helped, follow, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show.

Recorded 2-23-26

FIND ME:
My Website: https://motorcityhypnotist.com/podcast
My social media links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motorcityhypnotist/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCjjLNcNvSYzfeX0uHqe3gA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/motorcityhypno
Instagram: motorcityhypno
FREE HYPNOSIS GUIDE
https://detroithypnotist.convertri.com/podcast-free-hypnosis-guide
Please also subscribe to the show and leave a review.
(Stay with me as later in the podcast, I’ll be giving away a free gift to all listeners!)

Change your thinking, change your life!
Laugh hard, run fast, be kind.
David R. Wright MA, LPC, CHT
The Motor City Hypnotist