Honor Your Heart: A Compassionate Approach to Quit Smoking

If you’ve ever tried to quit smoking or quit vaping and realized willpower alone is not enough, this episode is for you. I’m joined by Jessi Hartnett, a former smoker, author of Honor Your Heart and creator of the You Can Quit Smoking podcast, to break down a more sustainable way to overcome nicotine addiction - without spiraling into shame. In this conversation, we unpack the difference between the willpower route (White-knuckling cravings) and the mindset route (Changing the beliefs and needs that keep pulling you back). In this episode, we discuss:Why smoking/vaping is often a psychological dependency, not just a physical habit How media and marketing shape cravings and identity (from classic TV culture to social media)The hidden needs smoking can be meeting (stress relief, control, belonging) - and healthier replacements How perfectionism and hustle culture can turn quitting into a self-bullying loop A healthier way to handle relapse (as data and practice, not seeing it as failure)The identity shift phase: That weird liminal in-between when trying to quit and how to move through itTools and resources Jessi shares for cravings (including breathing and grounding practices)Whether you’re trying to quit cigarettes, quit e-cigs, or support someone you love, this is a real-world, compassionate roadmap.Note: This episode is educational and not medical advice.You can find Honor Your Heart on their website (honoryourheart.net) and on social media (@_honoryourheart on Instagram, @JessiHartnett on YouTube, and @honoryourheart on TikTok). Jessi's podcast is called You Can Quit Smoking and is available on all major platforms.If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating to be notified of future episodes. You can subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow us on Instagram @⁠letstalkmediava.