How Mike Mandel Hypnosis Got Started

In 1965, a twelve-year-old boy in Toronto discovered that he could stick pins in his neighbor’s fingers without pain, using nothing more than suggestion. That boy was Mike Mandel, and that moment became the spark for a lifelong journey into hypnosis. Decades later, an eighteen-year-old engineering student named Chris Thompson would sit in the audience of one of Mike’s stage shows, stunned by how fast and authentic the hypnotic responses were. 

Neither of them knew it then, but together, they would go on to build a unique partnership that reshaped modern hypnosis training and created a global community of students eager to learn the art of influence and transformation.

The Beginning of Mike’s Journey: From Card Tricks to Hypnosis

Mike Mandel’s journey into the world of hypnosis began long before he ever heard of Milton Erickson or Dave Elman. Growing up in Toronto after moving from England at the age of four, Mike was often bullied as a child.

Being English, Mike was naturally good at soccer, but in search of a hobby that wasn’t sports-related, his family introduced him to magic. He quickly found out that he could impress people with fairly simple card tricks.

Some time later, his interest in magic led him to learn the art of mentalism, as well as Hellstromism, a form of muscle reading. By practicing Hellstromism, Mike honed the skill of reading micro-movements, sometimes feeling as though he could genuinely read other people’s minds. He was actually learning calibration, a foundational skill of what would later become his career.

In 1965, Mike, at just 12 years old, picked up The Key to Hypnotism by Walter Gibson, and it changed everything. He learned the basics of hypnosis and performed his first hypnotic feat on his neighbor, Wayne Gibbs, by sticking pins in his fingers without causing any pain. Wayne’s parents weren’t thrilled, but this event marked the official start of Mike’s lifelong journey into hypnosis.

Mike’s Breakthrough in Hypnosis

By the time Mike reached his late teens, hypnosis had become one of his major hobbies. He had a lot of fun playing with hypnosis in fun and unexpected ways, such as convincing his friends at a party to believe that Mick Jagger had just walked into the room. However, at this point, Mike had no clue that hypnosis would eventually become his career. He had no formal training yet, and didn’t know anything about therapeutic Ericksonian hypnosis and advanced hypnotic techniques such as embedded commands or double binds.

But everything changed for Mike in 1974, when, at 21, he attended a show by The Amazing Kreskin, the world’s most famous mentalist at the time. During the performance, he volunteered for the “power of suggestion” segment, where Kreskin created hypnotic phenomena on a group of around 50 people. Fascinated by the experience, it didn’t take long for Mike to realize that, with his background in magic, mentalism, and hypnosis, he could replicate many of Kreskin’s effects. He showcased his skills to a booking agent, officially launching his career as a professional entertainer.

Unfortunately, Mike’s first professional gig was a disaster. At a corporate Christmas party, the audience was too drunk to engage with his performance. But he didn’t let that setback stop him. By January 1975, Mike was invited to appear on a talk show in Edmonton, and his performance there opened the door to a string of new opportunities. He started performing at bars, high schools, and universities. From there, his career took off. With each show, Mike gained more success, eventually landing corporate gigs and even becoming a keynote speaker at corporate events.

Incorporating NLP and Formal Techniques

As the years went on, Mike’s hypnosis skills evolved, and in the early 1990s, he discovered the power of neurolinguistic programming (NLP). In 1992, a friend introduced Mike to the work of Tony Robbins. Although initially skeptical, Mike soon found himself engrossed in Robbins’ work. This sparked a new phase of his journey, leading him to pursue formal NLP training and later Ericksonian hypnosis certification. For the first time, Mike’s intuitive hypnosis techniques were given a formal structure, adding depth and precision to his work.

Chris Thompson’s Journey: From Engineer to Hypnosis Trainer

While Mike’s path into hypnosis had been shaped by childhood experiences and experimentation, Chris Thompson’s journey was one of curiosity and personal transformation. 

Chris first encountered Mike's hypnosis in 1992 while attending university in Ottawa. At 18, he was a first-year engineering student. After seeing Mike's stage hypnosis show, Chris was deeply impressed by the subjects' reactions. The following year, he attended Mike's Brain Software keynote at the same university and afterward approached him for a conversation.

Mike, using some of the techniques he had just taught, gave Chris a taste of the hypnotic influence he wielded. Chris was hooked, and Mike gave him a copy of the original Brain Software handout, which included an extensive reading list that piqued his interest in personal development. Soon after, he began reading Tony Robbins and applying these new principles to his own life and career.

Chris’s Escape Plan

After completing his engineering studies, Chris embarked on a corporate career, eager to use conversational hypnosis and personal development techniques to advance. And for most of the time, he did really well. However, as time passed, he grew disillusioned with the job, feeling he had sacrificed his time and happiness for a paycheck. Inspired by Tim Ferriss's The 4-Hour Workweek, Chris decided it was time to take action. He wanted out of the corporate world, and he wanted it on his own terms.

With guidance from Mike, Chris carefully crafted a “hypnotic intervention” to help him secure a severance package from his employer. By using principles of rapport-building and conversational hypnosis, Chris successfully negotiated a severance deal worth nine months of pay, allowing him to leave the corporate grind behind and focus on his dream of being an entrepreneur.

The Birth of the Mike Mandel Hypnosis Academy

In 2007, Chris proposed the idea of creating a website to promote Mike’s work. This led to the formation of Mike Mandel Hypnosis (MMH) in 2008, with Chris managing the website while still working his corporate job. The project began as a side hustle, but it quickly grew as they began selling Mike’s hypnosis CDs online.

In 2011, after Chris left his corporate job, he and Mike made the strategic decision to focus all their energy on one primary venture. Their shared vision led to the creation of the Mike Mandel Hypnosis Academy (MMHA) in 2013. This online, on-demand training platform was designed to teach students the core principles of hypnosis, advanced NLP, mind-body healing, and powerful communication strategies. The academy emphasizes a “no-scripts” approach, empowering students to learn the underlying principles of hypnosis rather than relying on rigid protocols.

Today, MMHA is recognized for its world-class training programs, which offers a comprehensive curriculum that takes students from novice to expert. The academy has transformed the way hypnosis is taught, offering flexibility, creativity, and effectiveness in real-world situations.

The MMH Style: Fun, Engaging, and Effective

Mike Mandel Hypnosis stands out not just for its content but for its ethos. The company’s motto, “having a blast while helping people,” captures the essence of its approach. Whether through online courses or live workshops, MMH has cultivated a learning environment where students are encouraged to engage, have fun, and explore their own potential.

Mike Mandel and Chris Thompson’s journey from childhood curiosity to global leaders in the field of hypnosis is a testament to the power of perseverance and personal growth. Through their work at MMHA, they’ve changed the lives of countless students, offering them the tools to unlock their potential and make lasting changes in their personal and professional lives. 

Whether you’re just starting in the field or looking to deepen your knowledge, the Mike Mandel Hypnosis Academy provides an unparalleled opportunity to learn from two of the most influential figures in the hypnosis community.