July 31, 2026

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Could someone else actually take control of your mind through hypnosis, or is that just something movies made up? We get into the real history of hypnosis, starting with Franz Mesmer's animal magnetism theory in the 1770s and the scientific investigation that debunked it, through James Braid coining the term in 1841. You'll also learn what brain imaging research reveals about suggestibility, why medical hypnosis is now used for real pain management, and what psychologists mean by the hidden observer inside your own mind. Whether your free will actually stays intact turns out to depend on a part of your brain nobody talks about.

────────────────

Enjoying the show? Follow Fool's FAQ and drop a 5-star rating & review - it's hands-down the best way to help other curious people find us.

Want to support the show? Toss a few bucks in the tip jar → Buy me a coffee ☕️

Hunter's Socials: X | Letterboxd

Sponsorships, collaborations, or general inquiries → hello@foolsfaq.com

- Music by The Mysterious Breakmaster Cylinder.

Stay curious.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Education

History

Science

English

United States

Use API to fetch this episode in JSON

IN THIS EPISODE

# james braid

franz mesmer

Edit these tags

TRANSCRIPT 🔗

Are you the producer of this podcast? Add a podcast transcript

Need Audio-to-Text? Transcribe with Listen411 in Just 60 Seconds

SEARCH PAST EPISODES

Search past episodes of Fool's FAQ.

Embed this search bar to your website

OTHER EPISODES IN THIS PODCAST

Does 11:11 Actually Do Anything?

Sept. 15, 2026

You reach for your phone and the screen says 11:11. Later a receipt totals $11.11. Then it appears again the next night, right as you're thinking about something you badly want to happen. So why that particular minute, and does anything actually happen when you stop and make the wish? ─────────────…

00:13:07

SAVE

CLIP

Are You Actually Supposed to Wait 24 Hours to File a Missing Person Report?

Sept. 22, 2026

A family member misses dinner. A friend stops answering. And somewhere in the back of your head is the line you have heard on television a hundred times: nobody can do anything until they have been gone 24 hours. So what actually happens if you call before then? ──────────────── Enjoying the show? …

00:13:08

SAVE

CLIP

Are Sharks Actually Older Than Trees? (Espresso)

Sept. 16, 2026

Somebody will eventually tell you that sharks are older than trees. It sounds like a fact invented at 2am to win an argument. So is it true? We find out.. ──────────────── Enjoying the show? Follow Fool's FAQ and drop a 5-star rating & review - it's hands-down the best way to help other curious…

00:06:56

SAVE

CLIP

Is The Great Wall Of China Actually Visible From Space? (Refresher)

Sept. 20, 2026

Somebody will eventually tell you the Great Wall of China is the only human-made thing visible from space. It gets repeated so confidently that nobody stops to ask who actually checked. So can you see it or not? We find out. ──────────────── Enjoying the show? Follow Fool's FAQ and drop a 5-star ra…

00:08:15

SAVE

CLIP

Do Exorcisms Actually Work?

Sept. 18, 2026

The movie version is always the same. A priest, an old book, a dark room, furniture that will not stay put, and a clear verdict inside two hours. The real cases are far less tidy. So when an exorcism appears to work, what has actually been proven? ──────────────── Enjoying the show? Follow Fool's F…

00:14:54

SAVE

CLIP

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Fool's FAQ, which is the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Listen Notes, Inc.