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.

The Sammy Project:

NAMI – National Alliance on Mental Illness (US-based)

Helping Parents Heal

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:

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:

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:

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

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:

Join Karina on Substack: https://kmachado.substack.com/

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

I acknowledge the Dharawal people who are the 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 my respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging.

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/

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 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.

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: Mysterious by MusicPond, from Audio Jungle

I acknowledge the Dharawal people, the Traditional Custodians of the land in NSW, Australia, where I live and record Spirit Sisters, and I recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and community. I pay my respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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:

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 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.

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 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 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.

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.

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.