Spirit Sisters - the podcast

This month on the Spirit Sisters podcast, Carlos Vivas joins us to share the compelling story of his near-death experience and the life changes that followed. Swimming at Panama City Beach in 2015, Carlos was caught in a rip current, before eventually praying for help. What happened next was nothing short of a miracle … We also hear about the spiritually transformative experience that followed the rescue, and how Carlos connects this with his earlier healing from cancer as a teenager. Carlos also reflects on prayer, gratitude, and asking for help in daily life, and he shares other moments where he believes prayer helped him. He emphasises that love, gratitude, and service are central to living well on earth.   This is a story to lose yourself in – make sure you grab a tea or coffee and settle in!   Resources mentioned in the episode: Elian Gonzalez rescued by dolphins: https://iol.co.za/news/world/2000-03-27-elian-says-dolphins-saved-his-life/ Carlos’s interview with Anthony Chene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWgh8bRLCRk Watch Every Soul Knows: https://www.everysoulknows.com/watch   Connect with Carlos Vivas: www.carlosvivas.org   Buy Carlos’s book, Help From Heaven: www.helpfromheaven.org   Connect with me: Discover Karina's app, Reconnect & Create: https://studio.com/karina Join Karina on Substack: https://kmachado.substack.com/ Email Karina at [email protected] Learn more about Karina at https://karinamachado.com/ Connect with Karina on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarinaMachadoauthor Connect with Karina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karinamachadoauthor/ Find the audio versions of my three books — Spirit Sisters, Where Spirits Dwell and Love Never Dies – (all narrated by me) at Audible: https://www.audible.com.au/author/Karina-Machado/B004O93T9C   Show theme music: Mysterious by MusicPond, from Audio Jungle   Acknowledgment of Country: I acknowledge the Dharawal people, Traditional Custodians of the lands where I live and record Spirit Sisters, and I recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and community. I pay respect to Abo

My guest this month on the Spirit Sisters podcast is Rachel Stewart, co-founder of the Instagram page @for11_together, a space that has become a refuge for people navigating grief, love, and ongoing connection with a late loved one. Like many of the women I’ve had the privilege of speaking with on this podcast, Rachel's motherhood didn’t end with her daughter Kenadie’s passing, it changed form. Rachel’s evolving relationship with Kenadie comes through wondrous signs and synchronicities, and the comfort she received from these encounters inspired Rachel and her husband Shane to launch the For 11 community, which fosters community support and connections beyond loss, encouraging healing through shared experiences. In our conversation, we explore what it means to remain “together” beyond the veil. We talk about the early days of grief, the first moments of sensing that love was still present, and the ways Kenadie continues to remind her family that she’s with them. Like so many of the beautiful stories we explore on Spirit Sisters, this conversation invites us to consider that love may not be bound by the limits we once imagined.   Resources mentioned in the episode: Join me and special guests in my first Spirit Sisters Online Retreat: Gathering Around the Virtual Hearth May 16, 2026 AEST 10 am – 6 pm Sessions will be recorded! Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/gathering-around-the-virtual-hearth-a-one-day-spirit-sisters-online-retreat Connect with Rachel Stewart: Rachel and Shane’s Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/for11_together/   The For 11 Community online: https://for11together.com/   Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/AWp2gD1RoyM   Connect with me: Discover Karina's app, Reconnect & Create: https://studio.com/karina Join Karina on Substack: https://kmachado.substack.com/ Email Karina at [email protected] Learn more about Karina at https://karinamachado.com/ Connect with Karina on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarinaMachadoauthor Connect with Karina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karinamachadoauthor/ Find the audio versions of my three books — Spirit Sisters, Where Spirits Dwell and Love Never Dies – (all narrated by me) at Audible: <a href='https://www.

Welcome to the Spirit Sisters Podcast, where we gather around the virtual hearth to share our life journeys and the spiritual encounters that shape us. My guest today is Dr. Adam Rizvi—a critical care physician whose personal journey with grief opened the door to experiences his scientific training couldn’t explain. Adam shares many of these astounding moments at the bedside of patients in his beautiful book, Love Does Not Know Death. He recounts some of these in our conversation, which I hope you’ll love. Adam has come to see death as “an initiation” that can open us to love, to forgiveness, and to eternal connection. Some of the highlights of our conversation include the transformative power of afterlife encounters, about what it means to face death, and about how love doesn’t end when someone dies. At the end, he shared insights about how love continues and communication continues, that I found extraordinarily beautiful and supportive. If you’re listening while missing someone you love, you’re especially in my heart, and I hope there’s something nourishing here for you.   Connect with Adam and learn more about his book here: https://lovedoesnotknowdeath.com/ Read more of Adam’s writing on Substack: https://adamrizvi.substack.com/   Connect with me: Discover Karina's app, Reconnect and to Elders past, present and emerging.

Thank you for tuning into the Spirit Sisters podcast, where we gather around the virtual hearth to share sacred stories about our spiritual and life journeys. Today, I’m honoured to welcome a very special guest: spiritual teacher and best-selling author Panache Desai. Panache is known worldwide for his heart-centered wisdom and his gift for guiding people back to the truth of who they really are. Through his teachings on presence, authenticity, and vibrational alignment, Panache reminds us that transformation isn’t about becoming someone new, but about remembering our innate wholeness. In our conversation, Panache shares his perspective of “powerlessness as an entry point into peace” (there’s a profound, personal story he tells about that) and he recounts his “direct experience of God” in 2002 that upended his life and formed the foundation of all of his teachings that followed. We also explore the ultimate truth about the Light that we are, the beauty and challenge of embracing our true selves, how to cultivate resilience in uncertain times, and how each of us can live more fully aligned with the love at our core… and so much more! This is a very rich conversation that I feel will yield more with every listen. Thanks for tuning in! Connect with Desai at his website and register for his free Call to Calm Meditation Zoom call: https://www.panachedesai.com/   Connect with me: Discover Karina's app, Reconnect and to Elders past, present and emerging.

In this episode, I’m honoured to speak with Whitney, a Spirit Sisters listener from Colorado who shares her heart-wrenching journey of grief following the loss of her son, Sam, 23, to cannabis-induced psychosis. She reflects on the emotional complexities of grief and her experiences of spirit communication that provide comfort (to Whitney, each sign is “like a hug”). Whitney discusses her advocacy with "One Chance to Grow Up," focusing on educating others about the risks of cannabis use. Through her story, she conveys the enduring nature of love and the importance of finding purpose in pain. I walked away from my conversation with Whitney feeling in awe of her strength and grateful for the wisdom she shared. Whitney offers us all a powerful reminder to live with love and joy amidst heartache. Please note that this episode includes references to mental-health breakdown and suicide. If you need support and you’re in Australia, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you are elsewhere in the world, please seek resources in your community.   Resources mentioned in this episode: The documentary about cannabis-induced psychosis (CIP) featuring Sam. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cCSy2eYIWQ   The Sammy Project: https://www.thesammyproject.com/   NAMI – National Alliance on Mental Illness (US-based) https://www.nami.org/support-groups/   Helping Parents Heal https://www.helpingparentsheal.org/   The nonprofit organisation Whitney works for, whose aim is to develop educational campaigns and spread awareness about Cannabis-induced Psychosis (CIP). https://onechancetogrowup.org/   Psychic-medium David Gammal: https://yourmessagesfrombeyond.com/   Listen to my Spirit Sisters interview with David Gammal: https://spiritsistersthepodcast.podbean.com/e/we-don-t-die-the-only-thing-that-ends-is-our-body-%E2%80%93-meet-psychic-medium-david-gammal/   Contact Whitney: [email protected]   Connect with me: Discover Karina's app, Reconnect & Create: https://studio.com/karina Join Karina on Substack: https://kmachado.substack.com/ Email Karina at [email protected] Learn more about Karina at <a hr

Welcome to the final episode of the Spirit Sisters podcast for 2025! I’ve been saving this conversation for this moment, as it’s such an uplifting reminder, at the close of yet another challenging year, that there’s much more to life than we can understand from our earthly perspective. My guest is Philip Hasheider, a farmer and family man who’s had a remarkable near-death experience (NDE). Our discussion revolves around the profound insights he gained during this life-altering event, which speaks to the interconnectedness and ineffable love that permeates our existence beyond the physical realm. Philip recounts his journey into an “eternal dimension,” where he discovered a pulsing sphere of love—an essence that reflects the divine Creator and the source of all knowledge … and so much more. After he’d returned to his body, it was communicated to Philip that he was to share his story and become “a conduit of hope”. By recounting his extraordinary NDE and subsequent realisations, Philip inspires us all to contemplate our own lives and seek a deeper connection with ourselves, and others. I know that I’m changed, after speaking with this deeply intelligent and humble man. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@karinamachado1312 Resources mentioned in this episode: My app, Reconnect & Create, is discounted until 2 January! I’m inviting you to journey through the app with me in 2026 as we complete our creative projects (I’ll be working on my novel!) I’m starting on 1 January, and will create an intimate community where we can support and learn from each other. Learn more here: https://studio.com/karina   Contact Philip via his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/phasheiderbooks/   Read Philip’s memoir, "Six Minutes in Eternity”: https://www.amazon.com.au/Six-Minutes-Eternity-Philip-Hasheider/dp/1945962534   Connect with me: Discover Karina's app, Reconnect & Create: https://studio.com/karina Join Karina on Substack: https://kmacha

Welcome back to Spirit Sisters! If you’re new to the channel, thank you for joining the family. In this bonus episode of the Spirit Sisters podcast, I interview Noela McBlane, a seasoned Australian psychic medium with 60 years of experience in helping others connect with lost loved ones and navigate their grief. We discuss Noela's early encounters with the spirit world, including her childhood visions and the comforting presence of spirits during difficult times. With the support of her dear friend Kate, Noela has published a memoir called The Unexpected Clairvoyant (learn more about it here: https://www.amazon.com.au/Unexpected-Clairvoyant-Stories-Noela-McBlane/dp/B0CGG2NQ2T). It’s full of eye-opening stories about her experiences with the spirit world. Noela shares lots of her stories in our conversation. She reflects on her journey to acceptance of her clairvoyance, detailing her transition to reading tarot and her ongoing commitment to providing holistic support as a medium. Throughout, she shares transformative stories of healing and emphasises the enduring love of our guides and departed loved ones. I hope you’ll be inspired by Noela's insights and compassionate approach to her work. Enjoy this bonus December episode! At the end of the month, I’ll release the final episode for the year, and I know you’re going to LOVE IT! Coming soon...   Connect with Noela on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/noela.mcblane   If you missed my popular interview with Jodi Keane last month, catch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pBFvkNzt-g&t=2297s   Connect with me: Discover Karina's app, Reconnect & Create: https://studio.com/karina Join Karina on Substack: https://kmachado.substack.com/ Email Karina at [email protected] Learn more about Karina at <a href='https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbkV3cFJFdzdHS0t4OF9BOGtoTWdDZ2lSX1RTd3xBQ3Jtc0tsYmtudmp6MUVoU3dEMWExbmthQzI1WWxsM2tTZkllNERPaTJ4SWV2Ml

Welcome back to Spirit Sisters! If you’re new to the channel, thank you for joining the family. Before I launch into our episode, I share a special announcement about my new creation – the Reconnect & Create app, which is available now at studio.com/karina. My app is designed to support my fellow spirit sisters on the midlife journey to reconnect with their spirituality and creative passions. I’ve poured my heart and soul into this app because I passionately believe that midlife is a sacred threshold, that we can re-enchant our lives and meet our authentic selves through reconnecting with our spirituality and our creativity. The app is 20 percent off until November 28. Check it out at studio.com/karina. I’m excited to hear what you think! Did you know that there exists in our midst a kind of secret society of mediums with incredible gifts quietly going about their day-to-day lives in suburbia, or in regional towns? I found out about that when I was writing Spirit Sisters and the idea captivated me. My interview today is with just such a lady: Jodi Keane is an Australian former chef who was born with the gift of seeing and connecting to spirit. Spirits seek her out and, lately, she’s understood that her role is to help them move on to the next plane. Enjoy Jodi's stories about the spirits she's encountered over the years. It’s fascinating stuff! Watch this episode on Youtube.   Connect with me: Discover Karina's newly released app at studio.com/karina Join Karina on Substack: https://kmachado.substack.com/ Email Karina at [email protected] Learn more about Karina at karinamachado.com Connect with Karina on Facebook. Connect with Karina on Instagram.   Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters on Amazon or Kobo. Find the audio versions of my three books — Spirit Sisters, Where Spirits Dwell and Love Never Dies – (all narrated by me) at Audible.     Show theme music: Mysteri

Thank you for joining me around the virtual hearth today for a special Halloween episode. The veil is thin this week, friends, in the lead up to All Hallow's Eve, or Halloween. Perhaps you know that what we call Halloween has its roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which celebrates the end of summer on November 1 and the Celtic New Year. In the Celtic tradition, departed loved ones were expected and welcomed with offerings of their favourite foods. The Day of the Dead, famously celebrated in Mexico on November 1 and 2, picks up on this idea. In Spain on November 2, there is a tradition for families to visit the cemetery to honour their late loved ones and attend to their grave sites. Yet the story I am about to tell today is not a story about a gentle partnership between the living and the dead. It’s about the myriad ways a house can be haunted, and about how those who dwell in a house may themselves be a haunted house made of flesh and bones. I’m grateful to Sarah, the dear member of the Spirit Sisters community who meticulously documented her story, and so graciously shared it with me. I’m in awe of her courage and generosity in doing so. I only received Sarah’s ok to use her name after I’d recorded the episode, which is why you won’t hear me use it in the episode. Please note that this episode references sexual abuse. If you need support, contact 1800 Respect. You can call them on 1800 737 732 in Australia. If you’re elsewhere, please seek out support services in your area. At the end of the story, Sarah invites me to share my thoughts, so I’ll offer a reflection at the close of the reading. For now, I hope you have a cup of your favourite tea nestled warm between your palms as you settle in for a story which reminds us that even in the depths of the darkest, longest night, strength of spirit and bonds of love and sisterhood shine through.   Episode resources Read more haunted-house stories in my books Spirit Sisters and Where Spirits Dwell.

Welcome to the Spirit Sisters Podcast. In this bonus episode, we’re diving into an exploration of life’s sacred journeys, inspired by the magic of the Camino de Santiago. I have the honour of welcoming my dear friend, Simon Keenan, a passionate soul and visionary who embodies the spirit of service and healing in the enchanted forests of Galicia, Spain, where he co-created the enchanting sanctuary known as Terra de Luz (Land of Light). Simon joins me to share some of the extraordinary experiences that happen on the Camino (and I also share a little about my experience of Camino magic). He recounts the mystical vision that led to the creation of Terra de Luz, following formative experiences with Indigenous communities in Australia and his quest to deepen his understanding of his ancestral story. I love his sharing on the vibrant community of Terra de Luz, where stories and healing intertwine, a theme he explores in interviews on his podcast, Wisdom of the Way. Whether you’re a seasoned pilgrim or one who’s just heard the Camino’s call, this episode will invite you to reflect on your own inner journey of self-love and connection. Settle in with a cuppa and immerse yourself in this rich tapestry of stories that remind us of the Light of our shared humanity and interconnectedness. Episode resources: https://wisdomoftheway.com/ Join Simon on pilgrimage in India: https://www.wisdomoftheway.com/indiapilgrimage Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wisdomoftheway_ Wisdom of the Way podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@wisdomoftheway Simon’s back story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXR8uWA8ZOo&t=592s   Connect with me: Join Karina on Substack: https://kmachado.substack.com/ Email Karina at [email protected] Learn more about Karina at karinamachado.com Connect with Karina on Facebook. Connect with Karina on Instagram.   Listen to Soul2Soul Conversations – my podcast collaboration with my soul sister Sara Jayne: https://soul2soulconversations.podbean.com/   Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition o

Welcome to Spirit Sisters! This month, I explore personal transformation and mystical experiences with astrologer Luke Bayley, a Certified Practicing Astrologer and CEO of Astrocollege/International Academy of Astrology. We dive into his journey from skepticism to self-discovery in astrology, enriched by his encounters with spirit guides and psychic phenomena. Luke is a wonderful storyteller. He shares profound experiences, including memories of being in utero and a past life in Nazi Germany, shedding light on how these experiences shape present-day lessons about trust and spiritual growth. (Please note, the past-life recollection contains graphic details, audience discretion advised). We discuss the intertwining of astrology with personal guidance systems and the importance of understanding cosmic patterns as we navigate the big shifts of 2025. I especially loved Luke’s insights into the energetic connection between the planets and our spiritual selves. There’s something for everyone in this multi-layered conversation. Enjoy! Episode resources: Luke’s online Astrology college: https://astrocollege.com/   Luke’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LukeBayley-astrologer     Connect with me: Join Karina on Substack: https://kmachado.substack.com/ Email Karina at [email protected] Learn more about Karina at karinamachado.com Connect with Karina on Facebook. Connect with Karina on Instagram.   Listen to Soul2Soul Conversations – my podcast collaboration with my soul sister Sara Jayne: https://soul2soulconversations.podbean.com/   Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters on Amazon or Kobo. Find the audio versions of my three books — Spirit Sisters, Where Spirits Dwell and Love Never Dies – (all narrated by me) at Audible.   Show theme music: Mysterious by MusicPond, from Audio Jung

Welcome to Spirit Sisters! This month, my guest is Katische Haberfield. Katische is a spirit releasement therapist and spiritual regression therapist, which means she identifies ghosts who are present in a client’s past-life regression, finds out how they are linked to her client and supports them to cross over. This is a robust and fascinating conversation touching on a range of topics, including ghosts, how regrets keep ghosts stuck between worlds and how most ghosts don’t know they’ve passed on from the physical. Katische also generously shares her life story and rich history of spiritual experiences, which leads us to explore the intersection of spiritual crisis and spiritual awakening, among many other topics. We still have a lot to discuss, so I’ve invited Katische to return for part 2. If you’d like to suggest questions and topics, please share your ideas in the comments. Thanks for spending time with us today on Spirit Sisters. If you enjoy the episode, I’d love if you could like, share, subscribe and leave comments. That’s the best way for these stories to reach and support more people. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0sPRXkqq14   Connect with my guest, Katische Haberfield: katische.com https://www.youtube.com/KatischeHaberfield   Connect with me: Join Karina on Substack: https://kmachado.substack.com/ Email Karina at [email protected] Learn more about Karina at karinamachado.com Connect with Karina on Facebook. Connect with Karina on Instagram.   Listen to Soul2Soul Conversations – my podcast collaboration with my soul sister Sara Jayne: https://soul2soulconversations.podbean.com/   Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters on Amazon or Kobo. Find the audio versions of my three books — Spirit Sisters, Where Spirits Dwell and Love Never Dies – (all narrated by me) at <a href='https://www.audible.com.au/search?keywords=Karina+Machado&k=Karina+Machado&sprefix=%2Cfe-audible-au%2C488&i=fe-audible-au&url=se

Welcome to Spirit Sisters! This month, my guest is Elli Milan, an artist based in Florida. Elli shares her harrowing near-death experience at age 15, which ignited her calling as an artist, and eventually her mission to inspire other artists. Today, Elli paints sublime artworks often set underwater and imbued with an otherworldly light. As the founder of the Milan Art Institute, Elli empowers artists to illuminate and impact the world through art. In our conversation, Elli shares how her NDE shifted her perspective on life, faith, and creativity, and we take a deep dive into the connection between artistic expression and healing. Elli passionately believes that each of us is here with a purpose and a destiny, which we can access if we harness the courage to explore possibilities beyond the comfort zone of our “one track” life. Elli's journey from the brink of death to becoming a visionary artist and mentor highlights the power of surrender, divine intervention, and the gift of art to not only move and inspire others emotionally and spiritually, but also as a vehicle to express our divine purpose. I LOVED this conversation, hope you do, too.   Resources mentioned in the episode: Learn more about Elli Milan at her website (and find links to all her social media): https://www.ellimilan.com/ Elli’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ElliMilan Elli’s video on YouTube describing her NDE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02eLHsn3uYk Elli’s blog where she writes about her NDE: https://www.ellimilan.com/blogs/artist-odyssey/the-dream-that-changed-my-life-eternity The Milan Art Institute: https://www.milanartinstitute.com/   The book Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, by Betty Edwards: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/310367/drawing-on-the-right-side-of-the-brain-by-betty-edwards/     Spirit Sisters is on YouTube! Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/@karinamachado1312 Join Karina on Substack: https://kmachado.substack.com/ Email Karina at [email protected] Learn more about Karina at karinamachado.com Connect with Karina on Facebook. Connect with Karina on <a href='https://www.instagram.com/kari

I’m so happy to be back with the Spirit Sisters podcast! In this episode, I share a personal story about my own journey of grief over the last few years, and how I’m taking solace in creative projects. These include relaunching this podcast, writing my novel, and sharing (for the first time), spiritual writings on my Substack page, Words Along the Way (find out more at this link).   This week, Annie Wilson joins us around the virtual hearth, from her home on the ruggedly beautiful far south coast of NSW.   Annie is a certified meditation teacher specialising in Yoga Nidra and a Reiki Practitioner who combines her diverse qualifications to offer personalised one-on-one sessions. Drawing from her lived experience of losing her son to suicide, she serves as an intuitive guide and mentor, providing compassionate support for those navigating their own journeys of grief and healing. In her book, Goddess Walking, she invites readers to recognise their intrinsic value, sharing practical steps, exercises, and tools to empower the person within. Through her work, Annie inspires hope and resilience, fostering a community of healing and personal growth.   In 2022, Annie’s 24-year-old son Matthew, passed away, launching Annie into a profound journey of grief woven with hope, as moments of connection with Matthew’s spirit illuminated and affirmed a knowing she’d carried since childhood: that there is life after death.   Before we move into our conversation, I want to share something curious I picked up as I was editing the episode. Are you familiar with EVP, or Electronic Voice Phenomena? Listening back to the interview, I noticed a male voice interjects. The voice was unfamiliar to me and Annie and neither of us could work out what he says. Can you? Let me know if you too pick this up.   For now, enjoy my conversation with Annie Wilson.   (Please note, this episode references suicide. If you need support and you’re in Australia, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14).     Learn more about Annie Wilson at her website Anniewilson.net. Email Annie at [email protected] Learn more about Standby, an Australian organisation which supports people impacted by suicide, at their website: https://standbysupport.com.au/     Join Karina on Substack: https://kmachado.substack.com/ Email Karina at [email protected] Connect with Karina at karinamachado.com Connect with Karina on Facebook

I’m so happy you can join me around the virtual hearth today for an insight into the astonishing gifts of one of the 20th century’s greatest psychic mediums. I'm reading from Sunrise: A Book of Knowledge and Comfort for the Bereaved by White Eagle, first published in 1958. It’s the introduction by psychic-medium Grace Cooke, who from the 1930s onward channelled the spiritual teacher known as White Eagle. Online, you can find a long list of the many books they published together. (My gratitude to the copyright holder White Eagle Lodge for their kind permission to read this excerpt). Before I launch into today’s story, I want to share an exciting announcement with you. I’ve launched a new offering on Substack. Inspired by Ram Dass’ quote that, “We’re all just walking each other home,” Words Along the Way is my love song to words that heal as we journey down the path together, a space to share reflections on my life as a pilgrim of the soul. For the first time, I’m opening up my journals to share private writings and poetry, in the hope that these words may meet and support you wherever you are, especially if you’re navigating the transformative crossing into midlife. In newsletters delivered to your inbox, I’ll explore all of that, and share how I learnt to heal with my pen, my passion for celebrating Gentle Voices in a screeching world and I’ll delve into how astrology and tarot became friends to lean on when my crossing hit rough seas. Paid subscribers will receive my gift of a bespoke poem handwritten for you about a loved one who’s crossed over (or a subject of your choice). There’ll also be online gatherings with a special guest around ‘the virtual hearth,’ to exchange sacred stories to hold our hearts in these turbulent times. It would be my honour if you’d join me on Substack, the link is below in the show notes.   Excerpt from Sunrise, published by the White Eagle Lodge: https://whiteeaglelodge.org.au/   Join Karina on Substack: https://substack.com/@karinamachado1 Email Karina at [email protected] Connect with Karina at karinamachado.com Connect with Karina on Facebook. Connect with Karina on Instagram. Find Karina on YouTube.   Listen to Soul2Soul Conversations – my podcast collaboration with my soul friend Sara Jayne: https://soul2soulconversations.podbean.com/   Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at

I have the great pleasure of sharing a sweet and moving festive-season story with you today, a true story penned by my friend and past guest, Danielle, who calls it “a Christmas story with a twist”. This is a story about heavenly intervention and synchronicity... Before I read it out, I’d like to wish you and your loved ones a joyful and restful Christmas and a peaceful new year. May peace dawn on earth, may every child be safe. May love prevail. Thank you for listening to Spirit Sisters this year, and for your support and patience as I navigate life and attend to other expressions of my creativity. Spirit Sisters remains important to me. You’re all important to me – our stories matter more than ever – and so I’ll keep going in 2025. On that note, I already have a fabulous guest lined up to interview in the new year, and so from time to time, you can look forward to interviews resuming. With so many fascinating people with captivating stories out there, it had to be. For now, grab a hot drink, sit back, and let me tell you a story about angels, about Christmas, about love and loss and enchantment and hope. Enjoy Danielle’s story, Waiting in the Wings.   Do you have a story to share? Email Karina at [email protected] Connect with Karina at karinamachado.com Connect with Karina on Facebook. Connect with Karina on Instagram. Find Karina on YouTube.   Listen to Soul2Soul Conversations – my podcast collaboration with my soul friend Sara Jayne: https://soul2soulconversations.podbean.com/   Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters on Amazon or Kobo. Find the audio versions of my three books — Spirit Sisters, Where Spirits Dwell and Love Never Dies – (all narrated by me) at Audible.     Show theme music: Mysterious by MusicPond, from Audio Jungle   I acknowledge the Dharawal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the land of Sutherland Shire, in NSW, Australia, where I live and record Spirit Siste

Happy Halloween, friends! Welcome to the first episode of the new storytelling format of the Spirit Sisters podcast that I recently announced. In honour of Halloween, or Samhain, as it’s known in the Celtic tradition, we’re gathering around the virtual hearth today to listen to four true-life spooky-season stories listeners have sent in. Do you have a story about the unexplained, or a spiritual experience that’s transformed your life that you’d like to share? If you’d like me to read it out on your show email me at [email protected]. Settle in, grab a mug of something warm and let me tell you a story… Happy Halloween, friends, Samhain blessings to you all.   Email Karina at [email protected] Connect with Karina at karinamachado.com Connect with Karina on Facebook. Connect with Karina on Instagram. Find Karina on YouTube.   Listen to Soul2Soul Conversations – my podcast collaboration with my soul friend Sara Jayne: https://soul2soulconversations.podbean.com/   Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters on Amazon or Kobo. Find the audio versions of my three books — Spirit Sisters, Where Spirits Dwell and Love Never Dies – (all narrated by me) at Audible.     Show theme music: Mysterious by MusicPond, from Audio Jungle   I acknowledge the Dharawal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the land of Sutherland Shire, in NSW, Australia, where I live and record Spirit Sisters, and I recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and community. I pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging.

Karina Machado shares news about a fresh direction for the Spirit Sisters podcast, and extends an invitation to you. All of us are going through personal challenges and experiencing the reverberating grief of the horror and violence being inflicted on innocent people in world conflicts. Let’s carve out a little corner of the internet where we can all take shelter around the glow of the story hearth …   Also, Sydney listeners, I’m offering an in-person writing workshop in a glorious private garden in the Southern Highlands to raise money for Welby Garden Centre’s employment program for people with disability. You can bid for the workshop at a silent auction until October 18. Visit Welbyauction.com. Click here to bid on a personal writing workshop writing with me. Ways to share your stories with Karina: Email [email protected] Visit my website karinamachado.com Connect on Facebook. Connect on Instagram. Click here to listen on Apple podcasts to the Ghost Files episode referenced in this episode.   Find Karina on YouTube. Listen to Soul2Soul Conversations – my podcast collaboration with my soul friend Sara Jayne: https://soul2soulconversations.podbean.com/ Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters on Amazon or Kobo. Find the audio versions of my three books — Spirit Sisters, Where Spirits Dwell and Love Never Dies – (all narrated by me) at Audible.     Show theme music: Mysterious by MusicPond, from Audio Jungle   I acknowledge the Dharawal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the land of Sutherland Shire, in NSW, Australia, where I live and record Spirit Sisters, and I recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and community. I pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander c

Hi friends, it’s lovely to be back with you after such a long time, thanks for joining us around the virtual hearth today to warm yourself with a story.   I’ve been working on my novel, integrating my 2023 Camino, and completing a second, shorter Camino in May this year. This time we started from the beautiful Spanish city of Leon. I’ll share more in an upcoming episode about the return to the Camino and how that journey continues to so deeply move me in an upcoming episode, but for now, I want to introduce a shining star of a return guest.   Michelle Clare is a psychic-medium and near-death experiencer who I welcomed onto the podcast in an episode that aired on the 15th of November, 2021 (I’ll link to it in the description).   This time, Michelle is back to primarily share about her journey of grief following the recent passing of her partner, Gary. This is a good time to let you know that today’s episode deals with suicide – if you find this challenging, please reach out for support. In Australia you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 but please do seek out services appropriate for where you are.   I know that many of you have gone through the shock and grief of the kind of loss Michelle describes, so it’s my sincere hope that her story supports you as you navigate your grief in your own way.   I love Michelle’s generosity of spirit in sharing her very personal experience of loss, which as she poignantly states, is not bypassed by her calling as a psychic-medium. However, there are aspects of her vocation and experience of multiple NDEs which do offer a perspective that invites in the light and may hopefully support you today if you are grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide.   On that note of offering healing and support, I send you my love and gratitude from a sunshiney Sydney winter’s day, as well as “un abrazo infinito” – a never-ending hug.   Enjoy my conversation with Michelle Clare.   Learn more about Michelle and contact her here: https://www.michelleclare.net/   Listen to our previous conversation on the Spirit Sisters podcast: https://spiritsistersthepodcast.podbean.com/e/would-youliketo-stay-or-would-you-like-togo%E2%80%93-thechoice-that-propelled-michelle-clare-back-tolifefromherthirdndeandintoan-acceptance-of-hermedi/       Connect with Karina Machado at karinamachado.com Find Karina on YouTube. Listen to Soul2Soul Conversations – my podcast collaboration with my soul friend Sara Jayne: <a href='https://soul2soul

You’re listening to Spirit Sisters, I’m your host Karina Machado. I’m thrilled to be back with you all. I promised that I’d be popping in with powerful conversations that I hand pick, and here’s one. Today, I’m introducing Ben Medhurst. Ben is a husband, dad and tradesman who lives in Queensland. He also happens to be a full-body channel for a discarnate collective who share profound wisdom through him. As Ben shares in his first ever interview, he’s been primed for this his entire life. From his childhood growing up amidst the beauty of nature, Ben learnt to connect with a source beyond his physical dimension. Always curious about life’s big questions, as a teen, Ben was catapulted into a spiritual world he struggled to comprehend after the death of his elder brother blew open his psychic faculties. A few years later, a profoundly mystical dream paved the way for his apprenticeship with a famous Indian guru, and, eventually, the arrival of the collective who work through him today at this pivotal point in history which the collective calls “the dawning of a new age of truth.” There’s so much to Ben’s story, I encourage you to listen in for all the extraordinary details and, towards the end, a direct channelling from the group who speaks through Ben. I’m going to welcome Ben back onto the show later on in the year, we’d love you to send questions you’d like me to ask the beings who speak through him. If you’re on YouTube, you can drop a comment, or send your questions through my website or social media, all the links are in the show notes. In the meanwhile, enjoy my conversation with Ben Medhurst, sharing his story publicly for the first time.   Connect with Ben Medhurst: Ben’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SoulChannelingofficial Ben’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SoulChannelingOfficial     Connect with Karina Machado at karinamachado.com Find Karina on YouTube. Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters on Amazon or Kobo. Find the audio versions of my three books — Spirit Sisters, Where Spirits Dwell and Love Never Dies – (all narrated by me) at <a href='https://www.audible.com.au/search?keywords=Karina+Machado&k=Karina+Machado&sprefix=%2Cfe-audible-au%2C488&i=fe-audible-au&url=search-alias%3Dfe-audible-

Tune in for my conversation with Queensland-based artist Lynda Deans, whose profound spiritual experience at Uluru three years ago inspired her to begin creating unique and extraordinary art. Lynda, who describes the experience at Uluru as “a birthing”, has always been in touch with the mystical dimension of life. In our conversation, Lynda shares about many spiritual encounters and moments of synchronicity she’s experienced, including seeing “a fully-fledged angel”, the mysterious meeting in a bookstore on the day of her husband’s sudden passing, her memories of a past life in Jesus’s time, and much more. Enjoy!   Referenced in our interview: The Isle of Erraid in Scotland: https://www.erraid.com/ Author Robert Louis Stevenson and his connection to Erraid: https://www.erraid.com/history/ The Grandmothers’ “Water Song” which Lynda sings to the water: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDGWuPUH5_A Connect with Lynda and view her beautiful art on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/recordecor/?hl=en   Connect with Karina Machado at karinamachado.com Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters on Amazon or Kobo. Find the audio versions of my three books — Spirit Sisters, Where Spirits Dwell and Love Never Dies – (all narrated by me) at Audible. Connect with Karina on Facebook. Connect with Karina on Instagram.     Show theme music: Mysterious by MusicPond, from Audio Jungle   I acknowledge the Dharawal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the land of Sutherland Shire, in NSW, Australia, where I live and record Spirit Sisters, and I recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and community. I pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging.

As some of you may know, I had a life-changing experience in June and early July of this year. I walked the Camino de Santiago – the Way of St James – an ancient pilgrimage across Spain. On the full moon morning of July 4, I arrived at the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, the capital of the beautiful, mist-shrouded Galicia region, which, as you’re about to hear, stole my heart. With her rich heritage of Celtic legends, lore and music, Galicia reunited me with a part of myself I hadn’t known was missing.    And so, this episode is different to usual programming; what follows is my reflection on the pilgrimage, specifically, five sacred truths the Camino revealed to me. The path winds, and I follow, friends. I hope this serves. Enjoy.   Connect with Karina Machado at karinamachado.com Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters at Kobo. Buy the audio book of the original Spirit Sisters (narrated by me) at Audible. Connect with Karina on Facebook. Connect with Karina on Instagram.   Music in this episode: Celtic Impulse - Celtic by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100297 Artist: http://incompetech.com/     Show theme music: Mysterious by MusicPond, from Audio Jungle   I acknowledge the Dharawal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the land of Sutherland Shire, in NSW, Australia, where I live and record Spirit Sisters, and I recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and community. I pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging.

You’re listening to Spirit Sisters. I’m your host, Karina Machado. As always, I’m delighted that you’re joining me around the virtual fireside today. And we have quite the story for you to warm yourself by tonight. I was on the train this morning, Spanish guitar playing softly in my earbuds, thinking about what to say in the introduction to this very special episode. This week, I welcome my dear friend Sara back to the podcast. I first interviewed Sara in the early days of the show, in 2019. We recorded a double episode, which I published in September and October of that year, and I’ve included those links below. Sara has a riveting story to tell. Hers is one of the most profound NDEs I’ve ever encountered, not just because of the beauty and richness of the experience itself, but also because of the profound repercussions it had on her life, the way it transformed every aspect of her being. Suffice to say that today, she considers herself Sara 2.0, as she shares in our conversation. From a cardiac diagnostic imaging specialist who gave her all to her patients – a rewarding and very demanding career that she adored, though it ran her ragged – to the survivor of a rare auto-immune condition who, post NDE, is driven to heal hearts in a new way. Today, Sara is devoted to sharing the message of her NDE – that love is the essence of who we are and that living true to our soul’s purpose is how we ultimately heal. She talks about the Soul Seed planted within each of us and of finding the courage to let it flourish. She also shares her life review in great detail and you’ll hear why this was a highlight of her NDE, and how it’s still rippling out powerfully in her life today. Keep listening to hear about the Healing Chamber, seeing her beloved father and mentor and other loved ones forming part of a jubilant gathering Sara calls the Welcoming Party, and all about the extraordinary downloads she received about the time and space continuum. This is the story of a woman who’s had to find a fresh way to honour her training in medicine as she navigates a new path that’s aligned, at last, to her soul purpose. Speaking of taking new paths, tomorrow Sara and I are flying to Spain to walk El Camino de Santiago, the Way of St James. As we head out together with open hearts and faith that the Camino delivers, I will also be cherishing the opportunity to walk towards and through Galicia, mystical land of my great-grandparents. I’m finally walking towards my story, and I have the deep honour of doing that with a soul friend by my side.   At the end of the show, we have some exciting news to share about a collaboration that we trust will water the little Soul Seeds within us. You’ll find links below to our new venture, as well as links to Sara’s charity The Autoimmune Project. We hope you’ll come and walk with us. Until then, Buen Camino. Follow Soul2Soul Conversations on Instagram: <a href

Karina Machado welcomes psychic-medium Debbie Malone to the podcast. Debbie and I have known each other for many years – I first told her story in my 2009 book Spirit Sisters, and she made another appearance in the follow-up, Where Spirits Dwell. As an internationally acclaimed psychic medium, author, psychic detective and spiritual teacher, Debbie has spent the last 30 years assisting police departments around the globe with high-profile missing persons and murder investigations. A student of the prestigious Arthur Findlay College, Debbie often features in the media and is in high demand for speaking engagements and other appearances. In our interview today, Debbie shares the near-death experience that ignited her psychic gifts and casts back to when her dreams were taken over by two victims of the notorious Backpacker Murders, and how this confronting situation catapulted her into her work as a psychic detective. For listeners who may not be familiar the Backpacker Murders, this refers to Australian serial killer Ivan Milat, who murdered seven young backpackers in NSW between 1989 and 1992. Debbie is certain there are more victims, as she tells us on the show. Aside from her fascinating work as a Psychic-detective, we delve into Debbie’s recent foray into channelling, her book Awaken Your Psychic Ability, her thoughts on the current shift in consciousness, and a lot more. Enjoy my conversation with my lovely friend, Debbie Malone. Connect with Debbie Malone, learn about her books and view her spirit photography at her website: https://www.debbiemalone.com/   Connect with Karina Machado at karinamachado.com Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters at Kobo. Buy the audio book of the original Spirit Sisters (narrated by me) at Audible. Connect with Karina on Facebook. Connect with Karina on Instagram.   Theme music: Mysterious by MusicPond, from Audio Jungle I acknowledge the Dharawal people who are the Traditional Custo

Karina Machado speaks with Jacob King, who’s 33 and lives in Melbourne. In October 2021, Jacob had a near-death experience that profoundly transformed his world. Up until that point, Jacob was doing his best to cope with the effects of a traumatic childhood and subsequent drug addiction. “I couldn't understand how all these things could exist side by side,” he says. “Was I a depressed, violent addict, or a spiritual and loving person? Could I ever heal from my trauma, or was I always going to be damaged and dysfunctional? Am I just a victim of circumstances, or something else? Who am I? These questions baffled me until the age of 32, where I had my NDE and met God in person. I took the opportunity to ask these questions to his face. His answers changed my life.” Jacob is still integrating his recent NDE but is now committed to a life of service through sharing his story. In our conversation, we talk about moments when he realised how his story had a healing effect on others. “I feel as though my life plan is to help a lot of people through speaking about what I've learned, and the things I continue to learn. But this plan isn't mine. I've surrendered my life to a higher power, so I just want to be an open vessel to be used as needed. So far, the results have been better than anything I could have planned on my own.” Please note, Jacob’s story references suicidal thoughts. If this brings up anything for you, please contact Lifeline in Australia on 13 11 14, or seek local support outside Australia. Enjoy my conversation with Jacob King.   Subscribe to Jacob’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@jacobking369   Connect with Karina Machado at karinamachado.com Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters at Kobo. Buy the audio book of the original Spirit Sisters (narrated by me) at Audible. Connect with Karina on Facebook. Connect with Karina on Instagram.   Theme music: Mysterious by MusicPond, from Audio Jungle I acknowledge the Dharawal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the land of Sutherland Shire, in NSW, Australia, where I live and record Spirit Sisters, and I recognise their continuing connection to la

You’re listening to Spirit Sisters, I’m your host, Karina Machado. I’m back after a long break, grateful for your patience and lovely messages. I experienced a challenging time towards the end of last year and I felt I had to press pause on the podcast and a few other things in order to look after myself.  And so, in the spirit of creating and healing, I’m so happy to share this episode with you this week. My guest is Chrissy, a teacher specialising in wellbeing who lives in Victoria. Chrissy has had a lifetime of fascinating encounters with the spirit world, and we’re concentrating on three key stories in this episode. From a heart-stopping brush with a spirit man when she was a little girl, to the chilling, yet poignant experiences of her adult years, Chrissy draws us close around the virtual fireside today as she explores the defining spiritual encounters of her life. Of these, there’s one in particular that Chrissy will never forget, involving a pair of siblings searching for their parents in Victoria’s historic Ballarat region. There’s an intriguing postscript to this story which offers clues as to the identity of the children Chrissy saw. She recently discovered that there had been an orphanage built in 1865 just minutes away from where Chrissy was staying when she met the children… I’ll be posting about this on social media, so check out my Facebook and Instagram pages for that.   For now, enjoy my conversation with Chrissy, telling the story of spirits who dwell in the threshold between worlds.   Listen to the interview with previous podcast guest Danielle, which I mention in the episode: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-rhjnq-f7c9bc   Listen to the interview with previous guest Rhonda, who also saw “the visitors”: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-mis77-1201e31   Listen to my book Where Spirits Dwell on Audible: https://www.audible.com.au/pd/Where-Spirits-Dwell-Audiobook/1489357823?source_code=SEMPP30DTRIAL4510830220001&ipRedirectOverride=true&gclid=CjwKCAjw5P2aBhAlEiwAAdY7dF4YCw2Rgfgl32Ywb7CUknFyRqC74411hHydi_vfs5nFtNzDjH0PPRoC_gwQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds     Connect with Karina Machado at karinamachado.com Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters at <a href='https://www.kobo.com/au/en/ebook/spirit-siste

Welcome to our special Halloween episode on Spirit Sisters with Karina Machado. I thought it only fitting that I share a haunted house story today. What makes it extra special is that I had the opportunity to catch up with Nell Jones, whose story features in my book Where Spirits Dwell. Nell is a retired teacher and writer who lives in Stockton, an historic beachside suburb in the NSW city of Newcastle. The traditional custodians of these lands and waters are the Awabakal and Worimi Peoples. In 2000, Nell bought a derelict, century-old cottage that had once been a general store. The home signified a fresh start for Nell and her then teenaged daughter, but as they would come to discover, they’d have to share it with a cast of spirit visitors. From a vintage dame in a stylish frock, to a smelly coal miner and little girls playing in the backyard, the place “was packed with ghosts,” as a paranormal investigator declared. At the height of the haunting, Nell called in the investigator from the Australian Institute of Parapsychological Research; his name is Robb Tilley and there’s a chapter about his case files in Where Spirits Dwell. As Nell shares in our conversation, Robb performed a house clearing but even all these years later, Nell still has a sense that she has company in the house.   Enjoy Nell’s story about her beloved home, portal to the past.   Listen to my book Where Spirits Dwell on Audible: https://www.audible.com.au/pd/Where-Spirits-Dwell-Audiobook/1489357823?source_code=SEMPP30DTRIAL4510830220001&ipRedirectOverride=true&gclid=CjwKCAjw5P2aBhAlEiwAAdY7dF4YCw2Rgfgl32Ywb7CUknFyRqC74411hHydi_vfs5nFtNzDjH0PPRoC_gwQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds   Connect with Karina Machado at karinamachado.com Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters at Kobo. Buy the audio book of the original Spirit Sisters (narrated by me) at Audible. Connect with Karina on Facebook. Connect with Karina on Instagram.   Theme music: Mysterious by MusicPond, from A

Karina Machado presents the second episode in the Psychic September mini-series. These are conversations with a diverse group of psychic-mediums, people of different ages, genders and at varying stages in their journey of their lives and of their calling as one who links the living with loved ones beyond the veil. (This is all about sharing life experiences, not endorsing a business, as I haven’t had readings with any of them. I might do so one day, but I haven’t yet. As always, this is all about speaking from the heart as we build bridges of connection to each other through our stories.) It's my pleasure to introduce you today to David Gammal, who’s based in Sydney’s inner-west. Dave has always known that he had a psychic ability, but didn’t know what that meant. Going through life-changing challenges throughout his 20s taught Dave to embrace his ability and use it to give back to others. Service is a theme in Dave’s life, as you’re about to hear. Dave actually honed his abilities as a support worker for people with disabilities, which I found fascinating. I really enjoyed Dave’s warmth and candour as he shared his story with me. Dave talks about his struggles to try and fit in as a young person, battling low self-esteem, people-pleasing tendencies and of the gifts he’s come to recognise were in the darkest moments. He shares about his mentor, psychic-medium Debbie Malone, and how her book helped put him on the right path. He takes us through the nuts and bolts of a reading and about how to avoid connecting with low-frequency spirits. At the end, he shares a beautiful message of hope for anyone who’s grieving a loved one. There’s a lot we cover in an hour. I really enjoyed my conversation with David Gammal, I hope you do too. Please note, this episode references suicide and a violent assault. If you need support, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. Outside of Australia, please reach out to your appropriate local support services. For now, settle in as Dave Gammal takes us inside the life of a professional psychic-medium.   Connect with Dave at his website: https://yourmessagesfrombeyond.com/ Connect with Dave on Instagram. Dave references Awaken Your Psychic Ability by Debbie Malone. You can find the updated edition here.   Connect with Karina Machado at karinamachado.com Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary

You’re listening to Spirit Sisters. I’m your host, Karina Machado. Thank you for tuning in. I have something a little different today: the first conversation in a mini-series I’m calling ‘Psychic September.’ Throughout the month of September, I’m bringing you conversations with a diverse group of psychic-mediums. Before we launch into the series, I’d like to point out that this is about sharing the life experiences of psychic-mediums, I’m not endorsing their businesses, as I haven’t had readings with any of them. As always, this is all about speaking from the heart as we share our stories. We’re starting today with Kate Lowe, who lives in Victoria. Kate had a thriving career in PR and marketing but her soul always called her to live her spiritual truth. During Covid, she channelled an idea to support children learning at home and its success gave her the impetus to launch out on her own, finally doing the work she loves – being a psychic-medium – full-time, on her own terms. As she says, “I just decided that I wanted to be me; I wanted to be all of me.” Today, Kate shares the astounding story of Amelia, a spirit child who reached out to her in a dream, and that proved to be just the beginning of an extraordinary sequence of events, as you’re about to hear from Kate. Please note, this episode references sexual assault. If you need support, please call 1800RESPECT in Australia. That’s 1800 737 732. If you’re elsewhere, please reach out to your appropriate local support services. Settle in as Kate Lowe tells us about her life-changing encounter with a little spirit called Amelia.   Connect with Kate at her website: https://www.spiritualbusiness.com.au/ Connect with Kate on Instagram   Connect with Karina Machado at karinamachado.com Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters at Kobo. Buy the audio book of the original Spirit Sisters (narrated by me) at Audible. Connect with Karina on Facebook. Connect with Karina on Instagram.   Theme music: Mysterious by MusicPond, from Audio Jungle I acknowledge the Dharawal people

Karina Machado welcomes Ash Perrow. Ash is an Australian musician, and creative freedom coach. In 2016, Ash had a near death experience (NDE) following complications from back surgery. He experienced leaving his body and returned to it with the awareness that he was permitted to stay ‘for the work that he does and to walk the planet from his heart’. Since then, he has been exploring the barriers to being our truest version of ourselves and helping others to do the same. Along this path, he left his teaching job and returned to writing, sharing and performing music, as well as engaging in deep personal work to discover what prevents us from living a life from the heart. Ash is passionate about helping people to create a life they love, as you’re about to discover. As Ash unspooled his story, our conversation branched out in a number of fruitful directions, and I’ve included links in the show notes to everything we discussed, in case you’d like to explore further. Also, for the first time on the Spirit Sisters podcast, I’ve included a musical interlude! Ash kindly contributed one of his beautiful songs, called “I’m moving on,” featuring Naomi Connell. Music is such a big piece of Ash’s life, so this seems another meaningful way for Ash to share his story – and his heart – with us all on the show today. Listen out for the song around halfway through our conversation, and I invite you to pay close attention to the lyrics. There might be a shining jewel of an invitation there for you. Connect with Ash (and learn more about his music and coaching) at his website: https://ashperrow.com/ Connect with Ash on Facebook Connect with Ash on YouTube (and watch the film clip of “I’m Moving On,” as played during our conversation). Connect with Ash on Instagram Referenced in our conversation: here is the video where Ash describes in detail the after-effects of his NDE Click here to read or listen to the poem The Guest House, by Rumi Learn more about the late author/spiritual teacher Wayne Dyer here Read about Anita Moorjani’s near-death experience here Learn more about the Path of Love Retreat here Click her

You’re listening to Spirit Sisters. I’m your host, Karina Machado, thank you for joining us today, for part two of my conversation with Australian spiritual teacher and author Tash McKenna. What does forgiveness mean to you? As I publish this podcast, mainstream news sites tell of the Abdallah family from the Sydney suburb of Oatlands, who were invited to share their extraordinary story of forgiveness with the Vatican. On a summer’s day in 2020, the Abdallahs lost three of their six children – Sienna, Angelina and Antony – to a driver affected by drugs and alcohol. The kids were on a walk to buy ice-cream, and their cousin, Veronique, also died. What caught the world’s attention was the way Danny and Leila Abdallah publicly forgave the driver. They talk about forgiveness as a means to heal and “not retreat into hatred”. As I honour the Abdallahs and their immense courage, I think of what forgiveness has meant to me over the years. What I’ve found is that where there is unforgiveness, there is no growth or life or flourishing of creativity. There is no progress or joy. We cannot access love from a space of unforgiveness and that must always be to everyone’s detriment. In part two of our conversation today, Tash McKenna shares how she arrived at her teaching of "Truforgiveness," a tool that she has discovered to be utterly transformational in her journey of trauma to peace.  If you haven’t listened to part one with Tash, please scroll down and listen to that first so that you can follow on. In the first episode, Tash told us about how, as an eight-year-old trauma survivor, she heard the audible voice of God, an encounter which sparked the beginning of a 40-year spiritual odyssey that led her into deepest suffering. Today, Tash shares how receiving the teachings of The Treasure Map of Truforgiveness, FAITH & the ‘I Forgive’ Principle, lit a way out of the darkness for her, and her hopes that they may also support others who are struggling. In this episode, Tash also shares more about her understanding of time, about dreams she had two decades ago that planted the seed for her work today, and about the ways we constantly project our turmoil outwardly unless we awaken from ego identification. As Tash says, “What’s inside of you is what you experience outside of yourself in time.” We also discuss how the work of healing ourselves is essentially what heals us all. Editing the podcast, it struck me that Tash’s teachings echo the Hawaiian spiritual tradition of Ho’oponopono, which some of you might already know. It too lays out forgiveness as a path to inner peace and teaches that we must forgive within in order to see results without. In the practice of Ho’oponopono we’re encouraged to rep

In 1982, Michael Jackson released his Thriller album; the Australian Prime Minister was Malcolm Fraser, Prince William was born and E.T. The Extra Terrestrial premiered in cinemas … and, in her bedroom in a beachside suburb east of Sydney, an 8-year-old called Natasha McKenna received a visit from God. Tash, as she’s known, is my guest today on Spirit Sisters, in part one of a two-part conversation. Tash is a spiritual teacher and Truforgiveness healer. As an eight-year-old trauma survivor, hearing the audible voice of God make her a promise sparked the beginning of a 40-year spiritual odyssey that pushed her to the depths of despair. Throughout her life, with a Commerce Degree to lean on, Tash has worked a myriad of roles, including talent booker and marketing manager before being guided to dedicate her life entirely to bringing through the teachings she’s received. Tash is the author of The Treasure Map of Truforgiveness, FAITH & the ‘I Forgive’ Principle. In Tash’s words, “this is the true way to forgive that has been gifted by God. It is how you change your mind from the wrong mind of judgment and attack to the right mind of peace and love that precedes spiritual awakening. It is how you truly heal and make miracles your own.” As you’ll hear in the opening minutes, Tash and I are friends, having met in unlikely circumstances years ago. We also found out we were both students of the spiritual self-study text, A Course in Miracles, a channelled work which teaches forgiveness as a path to healing and inner peace. What Tash teaches is a kind of corollary to A Course in Miracles, or ACIM, in that she offers how to actually forgive from the Right Mind – you’ll hear her refer to that a lot – and not the ego mind, which only brings about a false forgiveness. Tash was instructed to call her process, “Truforgiveness,” and she shares a fascinating story about how that unfolded. She also reveals her near-death experience and other mystical experiences, including a profound journey “outside of time.” This is a challenging episode, and an advanced teaching, so I invite you to open wide your heart and mind to it and take your time. Tash, who was raised in a non-religious setting, uses traditional Christian terms in fresh and surprising ways, much like ACIM. For instance, her definition of God is “the Wholeness of Perfect Love … beingness over bodily identification.” Before we begin, please note that this episode references suicide, eating disorders, substance abuse and PTSD. If you need support, and you're in Australia, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Outside of Australia, please search for local support services. Enjoy my conversation with Tash McKenna, sharing her full story publicly for the first time.   Connect with Tash and access free resources at her website: https://www.tashmckenna.com/  </p

Thanks for joining me around the virtual fireside for another uplifting story. I’m recording this intro on a full moon and eclipse. This isn’t my area of expertise but I have it on good authority that this is significant, and certainly I can feel it. Individually and collectively, we are all going through so much. For me, this is a time of profound shifts and a reckoning. I wonder how many of you can relate to that? I feel very guided through this by various disincarnate loving beings, including my ancestors. I’m feeling the calling to write a new book very intensely. While I’m very drawn to fiction, there are also non-fiction ideas brewing around the topics and stories we discuss on the Spirit Sisters podcast. I was prodded to share this with you today because I know that so many of you will relate to the pull to do something that truly honours your soul. Tell me about it, I’d love to hear. I actually had to discard two earlier versions of this intro because it didn’t say what my heart wanted to say.  None of this is to say that I’m going to turn away from the podcast, but I hope that you can be patient with me as I navigate this terrain. I know how much these stories mean to you all so I’ll keep putting them out there and growing this lovely community. You all feel like family to me and I treasure the words you write to me about how the episodes lift your heart when little else will. So thank you. Now that I’ve shared that, and speaking of heart-lifting stories, let me tell you about today’s episode. My guest is Paula Lenz. Paula had a truly extraordinary spiritual experience in 1983, days after her beloved brother Donnie died in an accident. Amazingly enough, her out of body experience happened while she was driving his car. While her spirit was reunited with Donnie, her body safely steered the car to its destination. Fascinating. In our conversation today, Paula shares in detail about her spiritually transformative experience, about the blissful wonder of hanging out in the “oneness” with her beloved Donnie, and and the many ways he continues to reach out to her. She also offers a message for anyone who’s grieving someone they love, and she tells us about the technique she’s created called M.I.S.T, MIST, which stands for Meld Into Spirit Technique, a simple way, she says, to enable our connection with the world beyond our physical senses. There’s a lot more, of course. Enjoy my conversation with Paula Lenz. And if you love Spirit Sisters, please subscribe, rate and review the show. It helps others to find their way to these stories and that, after all, it’s what it’s all about.   Connect with Paula at https://paulalenz.wixsite.com/paulalenz Click <a href='https://

Karina Machado presents an original voice from her 2009 book Spirit Sisters. Rhonda Rice, a scripture teacher from Sydney, tells a story that encompasses various spiritual and paranormal threads. Rhonda has experienced otherworldly encounters since she was a little girl doing her best to cope with the tragic loss of her baby sister, Laurel. In the wake of that devastating day, an angelic encounter paved the way for a lifetime of mystical encounters.  In her 30s, Rhonda had a near-death experience and in her 50s, she began to see “the visitors,” as she calls them, strangers who look absolutely alive who materialise beside her bed. Today, in her 80s, Rhonda continues to have spiritually transformative experiences. At the beginning of our conversation, Rhonda shared a story about being on a cruise just before Covid, and having an accident that should have seen her seriously injured or worse. Instead, she felt herself supernaturally lifted “in a whoosh,” as she described it, to safety onto the bed. Earlier, Rhonda’s partner had insisted she come and see an artwork onboard the ship. As it happened, the piece depicted a beautiful angel. Later, Rhonda reflected on that as she came through her mishap unscathed. She believes it’s the same guardian angel she met as a child. Angels figure prominently in Rhonda’s story, especially when she describes the aftermath of the unfathomable family tragedy. I wrote in my book Love Never Dies that stories are “memorials built of words and hewn with love, not cold stone or marble,” and Rhonda’s story reminds me of that. Yes, it’s a slice of Australian history, a first-hand account of days gone by, but beyond that, it ensures that a precious toddler called Laurel will never be forgotten. Rhonda's story appears as "Faith's Envoy" in Spirit Sisters (Hachette Australia 2009). Her account of seeing the visitors is included in Chapter 1.   Connect with Karina Machado at karinamachado.com Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters at Kobo. Buy the audio book of the original Spirit Sisters (narrated by me) at Audible. Connect with Karina on Facebook. Connect with Karina on <a href='https://www.instagram.com/karinamachadoauthor/?h

Karina Machado welcomes a special guest with a wondrous story, or three, to share. My guest is Leesa Anderson and she’s a storyteller extraordinaire. Leesa has a background in the corporate world and lives in beautiful Montana, USA, with her family. She has a lifetime of mystical experiences behind her, stretching back to her childhood growing up on a ranch feeling very close to God amid spectacular natural surrounds, but she’s only recently decided it’s the right time to begin sharing these stories with the world. As Leesa told me after we’d stopped recording this episode, “These stories are not about me, they’re about the Truth behind me.” Leesa says that what’s important right now is to share the hope that these stories offer to whoever is in need. Today, this was me. Perhaps it’s you, too. “What’s welling up in me is to release the sense of love in these stories,” she says. Yes, love abounds in these yarns, as you’re about to here. In fact, it’s the very agent of the miracles Leesa describes. Get ready for a captivating 90 minutes around the virtual fireside with the lovely Leesa Anderson, and you can be certain she’ll be back on the show very soon to share more experiences to enrich your heart and soul. Enjoy.   Connect with Karina Machado at karinamachado.com Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters at Kobo. Buy the audio book of the original Spirit Sisters (narrated by me) at Audible. Connect with Karina on Facebook. Connect with Karina on Instagram.   Theme music: Mysterious by MusicPond, from Audio Jungle I acknowledge the Dharawal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the land of Sutherland Shire, in NSW, Australia, where I live and record Spirit Sisters, and I recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and community. I pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging.

Near-death experiencer Susan Dyer joins Karina Machado for part two of our conversation. If you haven’t listened to part one yet, I encourage you to scroll down to the episode below and tune in to that first so that you have the full context for today’s episode. In this one, we pick up where we left off, as Susan shares all about the physical healing following her 2017 NDE that confounded her medical specialists. Yet this was no fairytale happy ending. Next, Susan found herself on an emotional roller coaster that saw her lose friends and once again fall seriously ill. This conversation is a deep dive. As she did in part one, Susan shares very openly, offering wisdom, gleaned from her experiences, about the nature of reality, her understanding of God as ultimate Liberation, and empowerment. She also shares simple practices to help identify your purpose and connect with your spirit guides. As Susan says, “If you were to swing your arm you would knock down several celestial beings… you are surrounded by help at all times.” Enjoy part two of my conversation with Susan Dyer. Connect with Susan at her website: susandyer.com  Enjoy metaphysical how-tos and channelled messages on her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/SusanDyer1111 Join Susan’s Facebook Group, Divining Women https://www.facebook.com/groups/DiviningWomen   Connect with Karina Machado at karinamachado.com Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters at Kobo. Buy the audio book of the original Spirit Sisters (narrated by me) at Audible. Connect with Karina on Facebook. Connect with Karina on Instagram.   Theme music: Mysterious by MusicPond, from Audio Jungle I acknowledge the Dharawal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the land of Sutherland Shire, in NSW, Australia, where I live and record Spirit Sisters, and I recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and commu

Welcome to Spirit Sisters. Today, my guest is Susan Dyer. Susan, who lives just outside Washington DC, is a survivor and a champion of women's spirituality. Susan was born clairvoyant—and raised by baffled, Catholic parents who couldn’t understand what she was seeing and experiencing. She hated herself by kindergarten, she says, and doubted her sanity, until merging with what she describes as “unnamable God” in a near-death experience in 2017.  Susan’s NDE is unusual, in that it contains aspects you might not have heard before in an NDE account. Her fascinating experience raises questions, for me at least, about the role we play in co-creating our experiences, whether that be an NDE or as part of our everyday life in the quote unquote real world… Susan holds bachelor’s degrees in creative writing and cultural anthropology, which makes sense, as it was an excerpt of her beautifully expressed NDE that I read online that led me to invite Susan onto Spirit Sisters.  Her story is multi-layered and extensive, so we recorded it in two parts. Enjoy part one of my conversation with Susan Dyer.  Connect with Susan at her website: susandyer.com  Enjoy metaphysical how-tos and channelled messages on her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/SusanDyer1111 Join Susan’s Facebook Group, Divining Women https://www.facebook.com/groups/DiviningWomen   Connect with Karina Machado at karinamachado.com Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters at Kobo. Buy the audio book of the original Spirit Sisters (narrated by me) at Audible. Connect with Karina on Facebook. Connect with Karina on Instagram.   Theme music: Mysterious by MusicPond, from Audio Jungle I acknowledge the Dharawal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the land of Sutherland Shire, in NSW, Australia, where I live and record Spirit Sisters, and I recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and communi

Welcome back to Spirit Sisters! It feels a little late to be wishing you a happy new year, but I really do hope that 2022 has started on a positive note for you and yours. I’ve taken an extended break, but am back now and have some fascinating guests to introduce you to in the coming months, including some fresh Australian voices.  Now to today’s episode. My guest is Mariel Forde Clarke, who lives in the historic harbour city of Galway, Ireland. Mariel has dedicated her life to exploring the mystery of life and death, and is the author of Whereafter: Where Do Our Loved Ones Go After They Die; she’s also a near-death experiencer and a lifelong experiencer of the spirit world.  In our conversation, you’ll hear about the “whirlpool of beautiful light” Mariel was absorbed into during her 1992 NDE, as well as her mystical encounters with Mother Mary and the life-affirming after-death contact from her father, some very moving moments there. We also discuss her healing journey through cancer, the living power of the words we speak, Mariel’s calling as a “spirit midwife” assisting people who are close to passing, her own shared-death experience with her beloved mum, her passion to help children navigate grief and so much more.  I hope you’ll be captivated until the end, when Mariel closes with a very beautiful blessing for you to take into your day or evening… A warning before we start, this episode references suicide. If this is upsetting, please contact Lifeline in Australia on 13 11 14, or the appropriate services in your country. Enjoy my conversation with Mariel Forde Clarke.   Connect with Mariel at her website; http://marielfordeclarke.com/ Buy Mariel’s book, Whereafter: https://www.johnhuntpublishing.com/6th-books/our-books/where-after Connect with Karina Machado at karinamachado.com Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters at Kobo. Buy the audio book of the original Spirit Sisters (narrated by me) at Audible. Connect with Karina on <a href='https://www.facebook.com/KarinaMachad

Karina Machado speaks to near-death experiencer Yvonne Sneeden. Yvonne hails from Belgium and ives in North Carolina, where she works in IT. She’s had two near-death experiences, but the one she’s sharing today is “the big one,” as she calls it. In 2008, Yvonne was diagnosed with arrhythmia during an extremely stressful stage of her life. As a single mother living in a new country, she was working herself to the bone to provide for her daughter and she was utterly depleted. An involuntary overdose of powerful medication she’d been prescribed to treat the arrhythmia propelled Yvonne into an exquisite Light.  Listen in as Yvonne shares the healing moments that ensued - for she WAS healed, in body and spirit - in her own beautiful words.  Once you’ve listened to Yvonne tell her story you’ll know why I purposefully sought her out to be my final guest of the year. I wanted a story that could transport, uplift, soothe and encourage. A story to remind us all, at the close of another challenging year, of what really matters. As Yvonne says, in that magnificent light, “I had no fear, no anxiety, no anger, no frustration. I was just basking in that everlasting light.” I want to say a huge thank you to all of you for tuning in to Spirit Sisters this year. I’ll be back in 2022 to share more heart-lifting conversations about mysteries and marvels. In the meantime, enjoy a safe and happy festive season with your loved ones. May your time together be full of peace, joy and unconditional love.   Connect with Yvonne at her website; www.liveheaven-now.com  Yvonne’s all-French YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcjKubKQGvOT0-A-YXgz9YQ The documentary Yvonne co-produced, Back From The Light, is available here. Click here for a beautiful NDE Journey Meditation, The World Beyond, which Yvonne put together for the 2020 International IANDS Conference.     Connect with Karina Machado at karinamachado.com Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters at Kobo. Buy the audio book of the original Spirit Sisters (narrated by me) at <a href='

You’re listening to Spirit Sisters, I’m your host, Karina Machado. I have such a wonderful conversation to share with you today, but before we launch into that, quick shout to thank all of you who’ve taken a moment to leave a review and rate the show. That really helps people find their way to the show, and as I know from the beautiful emails and Facebook messages I receive from listeners, the stories that we share here can make a profound difference to someone’s grieving journey. My guest today is Arizona-based medium and mother of three Michelle Clare. A decade ago, Michelle suffered a traumatic brain injury. A couple of months later, while recovering, she noticed her ability to commune with Spirit, which she’d had since childhood, had dramatically increased. She received an unexpected life-changing message for her son. Soon after, she began receiving life-altering messages for other people from loved ones who had transitioned, and an exciting journey began to unfold for her. We talk about all of that today, not to mention Michelle’s three near-death experiences, which she shares with us in fascinating detail. The accident which left Michelle with a head injury was actually her third and most transformative NDE. Michelle has learnt a lot from her NDEs and decades of spirit communication… there’s so much wisdom in the stories she humbly shares. Enjoy my conversation with Michelle Clare.   Visit Michelle Clare at her website https://www.michelleclare.net/   Connect with Michelle on Facebook   Connect with Michelle on Instagram   Connect with Karina Machado at karinamachado.com Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters at Kobo. Buy the audio book of the original Spirit Sisters (narrated by me) at Audible. Connect with Karina on Facebook. Connect with Karina on Instagram.

Karina Machado welcomes veteran Hollywood producer Stephen Simon, whose body of film-making includes Smokey and the Bandit, The Goodbye Girl, All the Right Moves, Somewhere in Time, and the Oscar-winning What Dreams May Come, starring Robin Williams. For 16 years, Stephen also ran the Spiritual Cinema Circle, dedicated to distributing spiritual films to a global audience in over 70 countries, and he’s also the producer and director of the film version of Conversations With God, based on Neale Donald Walsch’s best-selling book series. Stephen is joining me on the show today to share a profound message about hope and the indestructibility of love. On January 3, 2018, his lovely wife Lauren passed away in her sleep, aged only 54. It wasn’t long before Lauren began to communicate with Stephen, and in October 2018 they began to write a book together. It’s called What Dreams Have Come and it’s a stark and beautiful testament to the truth that love never dies. I want to thank my friend and fellow podcast host KAren Swain for introducing me to Stephen, who shares his story with such an open heart and enthusiasm to remind anyone whose loved ones have crossed to know that, “after life, there is more,” to quote the ad line for his beloved 1998 movie, What Dreams May Come. In our conversation, we discuss all the amazing parallels between Stephen’s key films, Somewhere in Time, starring Christopher Reeve, and What Dreams May Come - both of which focussed on enduring love between a couple on opposite sides of the veil – and his and Lauren’s own love story. You’re about to hear how his movies played a crucial part in making certain that Stephen and Lauren found each other. Theirs is such a beautiful love story, no doubt worthy of the silver screen. I’m so honoured that Stephen shared it with us today in a broad-ranging conversation that also touched on the dazzling days of the golden age of Hollywood cinema, Stephen’s early memories of seeing his father’s spirit, his mind-blowing first communication from Lauren after her transition, the life-changing advice his good friend Neale Donald Walsch gave him when Stephen was in the depths of grief, and the powerful sense of life purpose that drives him ever onward. There’s much more – wait til you hear who Stephen’s Godfather is! Lastly, please note that our conversation touches on themes about suicide. If you need support, call Lifeline in Australia on 13 11 14, or seek out services in your country. Contact Stephen and buy the book he cowrote with his wife Lauren, What Dreams Have Come, here. If you enjoyed this episode, you may also enjoy <a href='https://spiritsistersthepodcast.podbean.com/e/we-ne

Welcome to Spirit Sisters. My guest today is Jo Buchanan. Jo is the author of The Final Mystery, a memoir that explores the notion that we all have agency to create a life that’s aligned with our soul purpose. Jo, who lives in Melbourne, Australia, is a wise and warm soul with an illustrious spiritual heritage. In 1927, her father, Les Danby, joined a mediumship circle led by a quietly spoken fellow called Stan Walsh. The astonishing phenomena Les witnessed led him to write a book called The Certainty of Eternity. In our conversation, Jo shares more about being born into the understanding that consciousness survives death, and tells us about the incredible collection of apports she inherited from her father. Before we get into it, here’s a bit more about Jo: in the 1960s, she worked as a primary school teacher in Melbourne and Sydney schools until she married jazz musician Tony Buchanan and had children, Miles, Beth and Simone Buchanan. All three are actors who became familiar faces on Australian television. For fifteen years, Jo worked on film and television sets as chaperone and schoolteacher to child actors. Then, after studying psychotherapy and becoming a counsellor, Jo worked in mental health. At the same time, she cared for her sister and nephew, who both lived with schizophrenia. The year she turned 50, after a series of tragic personal losses, Jo sold her house in order to finance her lifelong dream of exploring the sacred sites of Egypt, the Mayan jungles in Mexico and the Native American Indian reservations in Arizona where she was invited to participate in ancient traditional ceremonies. These are the spiritual adventures we’re about to dive into, as Jo looks back on these sacred journeys and shares her life-changing spiritual experiences. Get ready for some wonderful stories, including an unforgettable encounter with the White Buffalo Calf Woman, a sacred figure for the Lakota people. Jo is a fascinating lady and it was such an honour to speak with her. I want to thank the Spirit Sisters listener who suggested I interview Jo. If there’s someone you’d love me to interview on the show, please drop me a line at the links below. For now, enjoy my conversation with Jo Buchanan. Buy Jo’s memoir The Final Mystery at her publisher's website  Buy Jo’s memoir on Amazon  Learn more about and buy The Certainty of Eternity, written by Jo’s Father, Les Danby      Connect with Karina Machado at karinamachado.com Buy the 10th anniversary ed

Welcome to Spirit Sisters, with Karina Machado. My guest today is intuitive and angel communicator, Kayt Raymond. Kayt studied piano, clarinet, voice and choral conducting at the Conservatorium in Newcastle, Australia, and later on scholarship at the University of Washington in Seattle, USA. It was here that she met Jean, a spiritual mentor who revealed that angels had told her about Kayt’s arrival a year earlier. Jean even showed Kayt the page in her spiritual journal where she’d documented the message. All a hint, perhaps, that the angels had great plans in store for the young Australian musician. Kayt went on to work as a corporate executive and later as a consultant based in Sydney. In 1996, Kayt met a group of Angels and her life was transformed. They invited her to connect with them and paint them. Though not an artist she began to paint with these beings and was taught how to commune and co-create with them as colleagues and friends. It’s such a fascinating story – a musician turned corporate high-flyer who accepts the Angels’ invitation, even if it means having to start from scratch learning how to paint as well as somehow making this new calling fit in with her everyday life. Enjoy my conversation with Kayt Raymond. At the end, Kayt shares a beautiful message from the angels that she received just for us. It’s very special.   Connect with Kayt at her website Follow Kayt on Instagram at @kaytraymond  Follow Kayt on Facebook at @kaytraymondofficial   Connect with Karina Machado at karinamachado.com Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters at Kobo. Buy the audio book of the original Spirit Sisters (narrated by me) at Audible. Connect with Karina on Facebook. Connect with Karina on Instagram.

It’s a joy to have you back for part two of my conversation with mystic, spiritual reader and counsellor María Lupita Gurulé, on the phone from New Mexico. If you haven’t yet had a chance to listen to part one, please scroll down to Episode 53 so that you can hear all about María Lupita’s remarkable near-death experience that transformed her life in the year 2000.  Today, María Lupita shares candidly about the after-effects of her NDE, including the first three very difficult years that followed it, her post-natal depression, sense of disorientation and the burgeoning psychic gifts which pointed the way to a new beginning. She also reminds us that “every single one of us is intuitive” and shares simple practices to help us reconnect with ourselves. María Lupita also tells us about her beautiful shared-death experience with her mother, and reveals the heartfelt story of her profound lifelong connection to Mexico’s Our Lady of Guadalupe. Towards the end, we discuss the importance of integrating and loving our shadow and why self-love is a crucial aspect of the Golden Rule. Plus, so much more. Subscribe to María Lupita’s YouTube channel Learn more about María Lupita at her website Join María Lupita on Facebook    Connect with Karina Machado at karinamachado.com Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters at Kobo. Buy the audio book of the original Spirit Sisters (narrated by me) at Audible. Connect with Karina on Facebook. Connect with Karina on Instagram.

I'm excited to present part one of my conversation with near-death experiencer María Lupita Gurulé, on the phone from New Mexico, USA. María Lupita is a mother of two young adults, ages 23 and 21. Both her pregnancies were life-threatening for mother and child. Birthing her first-born 10 weeks early, María Lupita had an out-of-body experience that sparked several miraculous events. Then two and a half years later, on June 5, 2000, on the day her second child was born, María Lupita died from complications of anaesthesia before surgery and was revived.  It's estimated that she was out for approximately 8 minutes "here", but it was as though she spent a lifetime on the other side. She returned, yet all of life as she knew it was different. In this episode, you’re going to hear about her NDE in exquisite detail, everything from the “golden” presence whose love and beauty is impossible to convey, the flame of fire in the Blessed Mother’s heart that María Lupita understood was the God centre of the omniverse, the major revelation in her life review and the “Pool of Liquid Light” she was immersed in to heal afterward, and so much more. At the end, María Lupita tells us about “The Grand Experiment” which is life, and the purpose of it. More than two decades have passed since her near-death experience, but only now does she finally feel ready to share with others what was shown and told to her on the other side.  Today, María Lupita has dedicated her life and energy to healing the Soul to help others create their best life. She is a T-Trainer for Stanford University's Self-Management Education Programs; holds certifications in a multitude of healing techniques and modalities, as well as in the arts of interpersonal communication, dispute mediation and medical-support hypnotherapy.  María Lupita also has eight years of training, initiations and apprenticeship in shamanic healing. She describes herself as a mystic, a spiritual reader and counsellor. Learn more about María Lupita at her website  Join Maria Lupita on Facebook    Connect with Karina Machado at karinamachado.com Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters at Kobo. Buy the audio book of the original Spirit Sisters (narrated by me) at Audible. Connect with Karina on <a href='https://www.faceb

Before I launch into this week’s episode, quick reminder that if you love Spirit Sisters, it would be wonderful if you could write a review and leave a five-star rating, this will ensure that others who may need to hear the stories of wonder, hope and healing we share here will find their way to the show. Now, this week is the conclusion of my conversation with Shayne Wallace, whose story I first told in my book Spirit Sisters more than a decade ago. Shayne’s son Jamie tragically died at age 16 in 2007. If you haven’t listened to part one, please scroll down to episode 50 and listen to that first. Today, in part two, Shayne takes us full circle, sharing more about the ways Jamie lets her and his loved ones know he’s with them, the way he’s taken on a “guardian” role for his family, including the day he saved Shayne from a terrifying would-be carjacker, that’s a cracker of a story, and, powerfully, Shayne talks candidly about the journey of healing she’s been on since losing her boy. Our conversation embraces what Shayne’s learned about self-forgiveness, the importance of being kinder to herself and what she’s come to understand about the pivotal role Jamie’s passing played in leading her to break the pattern of inter-generational trauma that had poisoned her family tree. Stick around until the end as Shayne, who’s considering becoming a grief counsellor, offers hard-learnt, heartfelt, words of wisdom for parents grieving the loss of a child. Enjoy my conversation with the generous, humble and insightful Shayne Wallace.   Connect with Karina Machado at karinamachado.com Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters at Kobo. Buy the audio book of the original Spirit Sisters (narrated by me) at Audible. Connect with Karina on Facebook. Connect with Karina on Instagram.

Today’s episode marks episode 50 of Spirit Sisters the Podcast, and I’m happy to say I have the perfect guest to mark the milestone. Shayne Wallace, who lives with her family in Perth, WA, is one of the original voices from Spirit Sisters, the book. On the frigid night of June 1, 2007, beneath a full moon, mother-of-three Shayne’s eldest son, Jamie, 16, was killed in a motorbike accident. It’s what happened in the hours that followed that makes Shayne’s story one of the most unforgettable in my body of work. Shayne’s story is heartbreaking, moving and tragic, yet ultimately uplifting, and it’s very gratifying for me to know that it’s only through interviewing Shayne again for this podcast, 12 years after the book’s release, that I was able to discover this last piece of her story – the piece about growth, healing and the altering of ancestral patterns. Shayne and I had so much to catch up on that we recorded two episodes. I’m honoured to present part one today of my reunion with Shayne, whose story featured in a chapter in Spirit Sisters called The Fiercest Loss. I named it that because I was so inspired by my conversations with these courageous mothers who’d survived the unbearable. And yet, while their pain is fierce, fiercer yet is their enduring love.     Connect with Karina Machado at karinamachado.com Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters at Kobo. Buy the audio book of the original Spirit Sisters (narrated by me) at Audible. Connect with Karina on Facebook. Connect with Karina on Instagram.

Today’s episode is a beautiful reminder of our interconnectedness, of bonds that can never be broken and of the ultimate indestructibility of love.   My guest today is Texas-based lawyer MaryAnn Jones. MaryAnn grew up in a bi-cultural family – her mum is an immigrant from Costa Rica and her dad is American with Italian, Swedish, and Anglo ancestry. MaryAnn says her mum's side “is the typical Latin family with lots of family parties where everyone dances and speaking of God and the supernatural was something that occurred in almost every conversation,” which is something I personally relate to. I present that as background to the story MaryAnn is sharing with us today, which hinges a lot on how her Catholic faith anchored her in the midst of deepest grief. MaryAnn and her husband, Timothy, are the parents of two beautiful daughters, Arya and Sapphire. Tragically, Sapphire, who struggled with depression and anxiety, passed away at the age of 19 in 2017. Today, you’re going to hear MaryAnn speak very candidly about the devastating loss of Sapphire, and about how leaning on her Catholic faith sustained her during the hardest moments. Amidst the pain, there were signs from Sapphire and amazing synchronicities, and MaryAnn talks all about these in our conversation. One moment in particular stands out: a couple of months after Sapphire’s death, something happened as the family gathered in their backyard to bury their beloved dog, Sparky. What took place defies rational explanation, and to MaryAnn, this precious event was a clear message from Sapphire that not only was she well and happy, but that she had Sparky with her, safe and sound. Keep an eye on my Facebook and Instagram pages, as I’ll be posting a picture of one of these miraculous feathers, as well as gorgeous pics of Sapphire and her family. MaryAnn has also sent me a very moving video that Arya put together to honour her sister’s birthday on June 15. It features Sapphire singing and is something very, very special, and I’m honoured to be able to share it with you. Please note that this episode references self-harm and suicide. If you are struggling with your mental health, please contact Lifeline in Australia on 13 11 14, and if you’re outside of Australia please do seek out support services in your area. Enjoy my conversation with MaryAnn Jones, sharing the story of how her lovely daughter, Sapphire, returned to her family on wings of love.   Connect with Karina Machado at karinamachado.com Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniver

Part two of my intriguing conversation with Canadian near-death experiencer Crisdon Chaisson. If you haven’t yet listened to part one of my conversation with Crisdon, you’ll want to scroll back and press play on that episode first, so that you can listen to Crisdon recount every fascinating detail of her 2003 NDE, a captivating story which, I’m honoured to say, she is sharing publicly for the first time.   In this episode, Crisdon talks about the challenges of integrating her experience upon her return to life, the gifts she came back with, her communication with plants and animals, astral travel and lucid dreaming, the “downloads” from the Collective that she continues to receive, and so much more. It’s a deep dive. As Crisdon says, the awakening of consciousness is not merely “a revolution, but the next evolution” of humanity. Now, without further ado, here’s part two of my conversation with near-death experiencer, mother of three, death doula and all round fabulous woman, Crisdon Chaisson. Connect with Crisdon on Instagram at @sin_crow_nice_eye_tea   Connect with Karina Machado at karinamachado.com Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters at Kobo. Buy the audio book of the original Spirit Sisters (narrated by me) at Audible. Connect with Karina on Facebook. Connect with Karina on Instagram.

I'm thrilled to present the first of a two-part interview with Crisdon Chaisson, who lives in Canada and, I’m very honoured to say, is sharing her near-death experience publicly for the first time.   Crisdon’s NDE took place in 2003, when she was receiving treatment for a rare form of cancer in the jaw. As you’re about to hear, Crisdon describes her NDE in exquisite detail, and in this conversation, she shares about peeling away from her body “like cheese from a pizza,” travelling to a realm of indescribable colour, being at one with The Collective, as Crisdon calls the state of consciousness she experienced, her life review, and much much more. Today, Crisdon is training to become a death doula, so that she can apply her unique skills and understanding in the field of end-of-life care. There’s much more to this warm, wise and feisty woman, and when I asked her to share a short bio, she cleverly asked her friends to chime in. It turned out to be such a valuable exercise, she suggests we all do it. Here are all their responses. “Crisdon is a tattooed, potion making, nature loving, spell casting, matrix glitching, animal communicating, spirit guiding, joke telling, barefoot walking, reiki giving, vegan kitchen witch.” “Crisdon is a spiritual gangStar. Warrior goddess. astral traveler, metaphysical explorer and lover of all.” “An effervescent soul with a smile to match.” “Vibrant” “Absolutelyfreakingspectacular” “A miracle” “Beautiful,magnificent,courageous,brave, adventurous, magickal, hippy, LOVING star soul sister” “A strong, independent woman with a fire spirit!” “Always in flux like an animated fractal unfoldment” “A strong, beautiful, courageous, generous survivor!” “A soul-fuelled endless dungeon, draped with insatiable cloaks of wildflowers, edges trimmed with shards of everlasting crystals, with a sea-filled charismatic aura” “Free” “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” (3 friends said that about their friendship with Crisdon) "Intelligent, compassionate, humble, and actual good person, completely trustworthy, organized, and absolutely hilarious!!” Sums up Crisdon: “As I said, every person should create a bio written by people who love them.”     Connect with Karina Machado at karinamachado.com Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia. Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters at Kobo. Buy the audio book of the original Spirit Sisters (narrated by me) at <a href='https: