If you've ever tried to break a habit and failed — not because you weren't trying hard enough, but because something deeper kept pulling you back — this episode is going to make a lot of things click.
Joanna Zajusz is a hypnotherapist and transformational coach who left a burnout career in sales, had what she calls a full spiritual download, and completely rebuilt her life around helping people rewire their minds. She calls her approach "positively rebellious" — and once she explains it, you'll understand exactly why.
This is not the hypnotherapy you've seen on stage. This is the quiet, targeted, surprisingly logical version that works on the part of your brain where habits actually live.
We talk about overeating, sugar addiction, emotional cravings, Yo-Yo dieting, and why most people keep failing at change — not because they lack discipline, but because they're trying to fix a deep problem with a surface solution.
If you've been stuck in the same loop for years, this one is worth your full attention.
In this episode: — What "positively rebellious" actually means and why rebellion is the starting point for real change — How Joanna went from burned out in sales to hypnotherapist — including the moment that changed everything — The real difference between hypnotherapy and stage hypnosis (they are nothing alike) — Why you never lose control during a session — and what's actually happening in your brain — How hypnotherapy rewired one client's overeating habit in a single session — The truth about quitting sugar — and why one session is sometimes all it takes — Why Yo-Yo dieting is a mind problem, not a food problem — How to find a hypnotherapist you can actually trust — The difference between a quick fix and a change that actually sticks
Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Joanna: the hypnotherapist who calls herself a rebel
00:21 — What "Positively Rebellious" means and why it matters
00:33 — How rebellion against your own programming becomes a catalyst for change
01:24 — From real estate burnout to healing arts — Joanna's full story
02:24 — The spiritual download that shifted everything
03:04 — How hypnotherapy actually works — no, not like that
04:54 — Stage hypnosis vs. real hypnotherapy: setting the record straight
07:45 — Do you lose control during a session? The honest answer
09:02 — What the relaxed hypnotic state actually feels like
10:49 — Real example: how hypnosis rewired one client's overeating for good
12:38 — Cravings, emotional eating, and the tools that actually work
13:39 — Is quitting sugar through hypnosis always permanent?
14:05 — Why skill-building and emotional awareness matter more than willpower
15:33 — How awareness becomes action — and why most people skip this step
16:50 — The extremes of dieting and how to stop the emotional rollercoaster
18:14 — How to sit with discomfort without reaching for food
19:39 — Slowly reducing addictive foods without feeling deprived
Connect with Joanna Zajusz: https://positivelyrebellious.com/
What is The Zhen Podcast ?
You’re listening to The Zhen Podcast - a show focused on mental health, physical health, relationship health, and the daily practices that support real, lasting change.
Each episode features thoughtful conversations with guests who share real-life experiences — from their own journeys to the work they’ve done with clients - offering practical examples of healing, learning, and growth. We explore what actually helps people move forward, whether that comes from science, health, psychology, spirituality, or simple habits that make a meaningful difference.
The goal is clarity, self-awareness, and tools you can apply to your own life — now let's begin the conversation
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