Drew McManus learned the word that would become his band's name on a mountain pass in Nepal. It means sitting in the company of truth. He's built ten years and six records on it.

The new one is called Elohim, and he didn't pick the title. He was told to.

We talk about the revelatory experience that preceded it and the illness that followed, about a father who was a preacher and told a skateboarding punk rock kid he had a minister's heart, and about the question Drew asked for years growing up poor in a house he doesn't pretend was safe: why did all of this happen to me? The answer, when it arrived, had changed shape. Perhaps none of it happened to him. Perhaps it happened for him.

We also get into why he won't play two of his early songs anymore, what the music industry looks like from the inside when you've refused to play along, the one sentence a Buddhist said to him at a merch table that became a mantra, and a hidden Nipsey Hussle track that he heard on the Pacific Coast Highway beside a friend who'd been in federal prison three hundred days earlier.

Elohim is out now. Twenty seven minutes, built to be played start to finish. Satsang plays Garcia's Chicago on November 4th.

Every song Drew named, in the order he named them, 21 tracks from Jackson Browne to Nipsey Hussle. Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2lrJeDuNf7H8TIAMjd3lXY

Elohim: https://satsang.ffm.to/elohim
Satsang: https://satsangmovement.com
Instagram: @satsang
Chicago: Garcia's Chicago, 4 November 2026

Drew McManus is the founder and frontman of Satsang. He named the band after a word he learned on a mountain pass in Nepal in 2013, meaning to sit in the company of truth. Six records later he remains independent and owns all of his music. His new album, Elohim, released 4 September 2026, and the Elohim Tour runs through the autumn. Press photo credit: Drew Korf.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro
02:36 The word on a mountain pass in Nepal
13:18 How Elohim was made backward
28:27 Brian's voicemail as the album intro
31:03 A preacher father, and the phrase said most in the Bible
36:30 Being told to make a record called Elohim
40:25 Malachi, and the name he knew before his son was born
49:57 The music round: the songs that made him
59:04 Why Bob Marley's lyrics are scripture
1:01:17 The hidden Nipsey Hussle track, and the drive down the coast
1:08:56 Garcia's Chicago, November 4th

What if the sacred and the secular were never two different things to begin with?

Rev. Dr. Rob Zahn is a Lutheran pastor, a theologian, a semiotician, and a musician. He wears Converse under his liturgical robes. He also wrote a book about LSD, a drug smuggling ring, and the birth of contemporary Christian music.

To him, none of that is a contradiction. That is the whole point.

In this episode of The Drop the Needle Podcast, Jim Alstott sits down with Rob to trace a life that runs from a small town childhood with an absent father, through a doctorate in semiotics, to the hidden history behind his book, LSD to Galilee: Incarnation in the Psychedelic Subculture.

Rob explains why he does not frame his father's absence as a forgiveness issue, even after a reunion that surfaced anger, grief, and questions nobody answered. He walks Jim through the line that runs from the Brotherhood of Eternal Love to the Jesus People movement to Maranatha Music, and why Lonnie Frisbee got quietly written out of the cleaner version of that story.

Then there is the music. Mumford and Sons in a stadium full of strangers singing the same words. Dave Matthews Band. Meatloaf. Hamilton. Disney soundtracks he refuses to apologize for.

Can a pastor tell the truth about where his faith came from and still keep his pulpit?

✨ In this episode:

✅ Growing up in small town America, raised by a single mother

✅ Why forgiveness may be the wrong frame for an absent father

✅ The father he found through one mailed letter, and the Las Vegas hotel room

✅ What semiotics reveals about culture, congregations, and blind spots

✅ Why the sacred and secular divide does not hold

✅ Converse under the robes, and other small acts of resistance

✅ The Brotherhood of Eternal Love to the Jesus People to Maranatha Music

✅ How Lonnie Frisbee was written out of the story

✅ Psychedelics, sacrament, and music as portals to the divine

✅ Why the church has to keep being put in check by people, not power

Sound bites

"I'm not sure forgiveness is necessary."

"There's no division between the sacred and secular. I think that's a made up thing."

"I don't know if there's a more human experience than music."

"Which means he wasn't paranoid. He was still underground."

Chapters

00:00 Welcome: a pastor, a semiotician, a musician

01:24 Rob's childhood, music upbringing, and path into ministry

03:41 Questioning father absence through theology and identity

06:48 Why forgiveness may not be the right frame

12:07 The anger and grief that surfaced anyway

13:59 What semiotics reveals about signs, culture, and the church

19:35 Mumford and Sons, spirituality, and a stadium full of shared meaning

22:58 Why the sacred and secular divide doesn't hold

26:46 How psychedelic culture and Jesus music are historically connected

30:46 Why Lonnie Frisbee was written out of the cleaner church narrative

35:14 How Rob's congregation responds to his full story

39:42 The Chosen, outsiders, and meeting people where they are

46:53 Doubting certainty and embracing the unknown

56:43 Music, worship styles, and Rob's first ministry in Las Vegas

01:02:26 Rob's father, cancer, and the Brotherhood's underground history

01:08:01 Jim shares his own father story and reconnection

01:10:57 The music round begins: first radio song, road trip songs, high school anthem

01:15:15 Guilty pleasure soundtrack and Disney singalongs

01:16:55 A song that could change how people see the world

01:18:38 A song that feels written for Rob's life right now

01:22:12 Where to find Rob, and we drop the needle

Today's Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7C9T8To450S3f03qK4Gelq

💬 QUESTION FOR YOU
Where have you been told the sacred stops and the ordinary starts, and who decided that?

Share your story in the comments.
👍 Like, Subscribe, and Share to help others discover meaningful conversations about faith, music, and meaning.

🔗 MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
LSD to Galilee: Incarnation in the Psychedelic Subculture, by Rob Zahn
Zumbro Lutheran Church, Rochester, MN
The Brotherhood of Eternal Love, Lonnie Frisbee, Calvary Chapel and Maranatha Music

🌐 CONNECT WITH REV. DR. ROB ZAHN
Website: robzahn.com
Instagram: @rzahn001
Facebook: rob.zahn
LinkedIn: robzahn

🎙️ CONNECT WITH JIM ALSTOTT
📖 Did I Just Have a Spiritual Awakening, or Was It Something I Ate?
🌐 jimalstott.com
🎙️ dtnpodcast.com

#DropTheNeedlePodcast #RobZahn #LSDtoGalilee #JesusPeople #LonnieFrisbee #Semiotics #Faith #Deconstruction #ChristianMusic #Psychedelics #Lutheran #SacredAndSecular

What if walking away from the religion you were raised in isn't losing your faith — it's the first honest thing you ever did with it?

Sunshine Witchski was eleven years old when she noticed the contradictions in what she was being taught in Catholic school. She asked. Nobody had an answer she could live with.

What followed was decades of addiction, a rock bottom in Costa Rica, and a long walk back — not to the Church, but to something she could finally call her own.

Today she is a psychic medium, soul healer, Reiki master, high priestess, and the founder of Sunshine Readings. She calls herself the Sober Witch.

Can you lose your religion and keep your faith?

In this candid episode of The Drop the Needle Podcast, Jim Alstott sits down with Sunshine Witchski to talk about growing up Catholic in Detroit, the question at age eleven that started everything, the years she spent numbing what she couldn't name, and how she built a spiritual life on her own terms — one with room for tarot, recovery, shadow work, and every part of herself she was once told to hide.

Sunshine shares the moment she stopped performing belief, what rock bottom actually looked like, and the day she walked into a room full of strangers and heard the only thing that could have reached her: you are not alone, and there is hope.

Together, Jim and Sunshine get into the difference between prescribed religion and personal faith, why shadow work isn't optional, why receiving help is harder than giving it, and what changes when you decide the universe might be conspiring in your favor.

✨ In this episode:

✔️ Growing up Catholic in Detroit

✔️ The question at age eleven that changed everything

✔️ Rock bottom in Costa Rica

✔️ The room where hope came back

✔️ Prescribed religion vs. personal faith

✔️ Shadow work and healing old wounds

✔️ Why receiving is more vulnerable than giving

✔️ Personal sovereignty and self-acceptance

✔️ Pronoia — the opposite of paranoia

✔️ Music as the soundtrack of a life

"Walking into a room with other alcoholics told me I was not alone, there was hope."

Whether you're in recovery, quietly questioning what you were raised to believe, or just tired of carrying something by yourself, this conversation is an invitation to stop hiding and start showing up whole.

Playlist link:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5gLQWLHy75QE25XypLW2cW?si=71c4568692d94bc3

💬 QUESTION FOR YOU
What part of yourself were you told to hide — and what would change if you stopped?

Sound bites

"Walking into a room with other alcoholics told me I was not alone, there was hope."

"Receiving is a very vulnerable thing, showing emotion many are not comfortable with."

"Pro Noia is the opposite of paranoia, believing the universe is conspiring in your favor."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Sunshine's background and work

02:00 Growing up Catholic and questioning authority

06:28 Realization of religious contradictions at age 11

12:49 Transition from religion to personal spirituality

26:53 Rock bottom in Costa Rica and the path to sobriety

36:25 The power of community in overcoming addiction

45:28 Shadow work and healing past wounds

52:26 The vulnerability of receiving help

59:37 Music as a reflection of life and emotions

01:00:15 Closing remarks and contact information

Playlist link:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5gLQWLHy75QE25XypLW2cW?si=71c4568692d94bc3

Share your story in the comments.
👍 Like, Subscribe, and Share to help others discover meaningful conversations about spirituality, healing, and connection.

🌐 CONNECT WITH SUNSHINE WITCHSKI
Website: Sober Witch Life
Readings: Sunshine Readings
Instagram: @sunshine_readings
Illuminate: Sober Witch

🎙️ CONNECT WITH JIM ALSTOTT
📖 Did I Just Have a Spiritual Awakening, or Was It Something I Ate?
🌐 jimalstott.com
🎙️ dtnpodcast.com

#DropTheNeedlePodcast #SunshineWitchski #SoberWitch #Sobriety #Recovery #ShadowWork #SpiritualAwakening #PsychicMedium #Tarot #Deconstruction #PersonalSovereignty #Pronoia

What if the signs you've been asking for are already happening... but you're overlooking them?

Psychic medium Gina Versace, better known as The Inked Medium, believes our loved ones and even our pets, never truly leave us.

From repeating numbers and feathers to dreams and unexpected encounters, Spirit is constantly communicating. The key is learning how to recognize the messages.

Do our loved ones continue communicating after they pass away?

In this heartfelt episode of The Drop the Needle Podcast, Jim Alstott sits down with Gina Versace, internationally known as The Inked Medium, to explore spirit communication, intuitive development, pet communication, and the everyday signs that remind us we are never truly alone.

Gina shares remarkable stories from her own life, beginning with seeing spirits as a young child, through discovering her calling as a professional psychic medium, and building a life dedicated to helping people reconnect with loved ones on the other side.

Together, Jim and Gina discuss how Spirit communicates through numbers, dreams, symbols, animals, and emotional impressions, why setting energetic boundaries is essential, and how anyone can begin strengthening their own intuition.

✨ In this episode:

✔️ Childhood spirit encounters

✔️ How loved ones communicate after death

✔️ Pet communication and animal spirits

✔️ Why repeating numbers like 444 matter

✔️ Spirit guides and signs

✔️ Meditation and energetic protection

✔️ Developing intuitive gifts

✔️ Private vs. group mediumship readings

✔️ The importance of spiritual boundaries

✔️ Music, healing, and raising your vibration

"Spirit signs are in everyday things."

Whether you're curious about mediumship or you've experienced signs from someone you've lost, this conversation offers comfort, insight, and practical guidance for trusting your own spiritual connection.

Playlist link:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4mzHMk1ZHacW3XBCiYxiin?si=37e9376925b646e2

💬 QUESTION FOR YOU
Have you ever received a sign from a loved one or pet that made you stop in your tracks?

Sound bites

"Music lifts my spirits and helps me heal."

"My dad sends me 444"

"Spirit signs are in everyday things"

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Gina Versace and her background

01:22 Gina's childhood spirit sightings and family heritage

04:19 The influence of early childhood experiences on her gift

06:14 Connecting with spirit through signs and protection

08:12 The significance of asking for signs and guidance

10:07 The story behind the Inked Medium brand

12:48 Her Italian Sicilian heritage and spiritual upbringing

15:52 Transition from corporate career to full-time mediumship

17:29 How to recognize signs from spirit in everyday life

19:46 Meeting spirit guides and their presence

22:09 The message of never being alone from spirit

24:00 Gina's motorcycle accident and recovery story

27:01 The role of pets in spirit communication

30:18 How animals come through in readings and their surprises

33:31 Spirit orbs and sacred geometry in photos

36:00 Signs from loved ones and spirit guides in daily life

37:55 Family and friends on the other side and their connections

42:47 Differences between private and group readings

Playlist link:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4mzHMk1ZHacW3XBCiYxiin?si=37e9376925b646e2

Share your story in the comments.
👍 Like, Subscribe, and Share to help others discover meaningful conversations about spirituality, healing, and connection.

🌐 CONNECT WITH GINA VERSACE
Website: The Inked Medium
Instagram • Facebook • TikTok
(Charity work and social links in the description.)

🎙️ CONNECT WITH JIM ALSTOTT
📖 Did I Just Have a Spiritual Awakening, or Was It Something I Ate?
🌐 jimalstott.com
🏕️ The Listening Field Retreat

#DropTheNeedlePodcast
#GinaVersace
#TheInkedMedium
#Mediumship
#SpiritCommunication
#SignsFromSpirit
#SpiritGuides
#PetCommunication
#AnimalSpirit
#Intuition
#PsychicMedium
#SpiritualAwakening
---

🎙️ The Drop the Needle Podcast explores the intersection of spirituality, healing, personal growth, and the power of music through insightful conversations with thought leaders and intuitives.

🌐 Visit our website: dtnpodcast.com

📲 Follow us on social media: @thedtnpodcast

📧 Reach out to Jim: [email protected]

🔗 The Drop the Needle Podcast is on Apple and Spotify

Have you ever wondered if that "gut feeling" was actually Spirit trying to guide you?

In this enlightening episode of The Drop the Needle Podcast, Jim Alstott welcomes intuitive medium Cheryl Bradley for a heartfelt conversation about mediumship, dreams, spirit guides, intuition, and learning to trust your own inner wisdom.

Cheryl explains the difference between being born with intuitive gifts and experiencing a spiritual awakening later in life. She shares practical ways Spirit communicates through dreams, synchronicities, signs, and those subtle feelings we often dismiss.

More importantly, Cheryl reminds us that the goal isn't to become dependent on readings—it's to learn to trust our own connection with Spirit.

✨ In this episode:

✔️ How Spirit communicates through dreams and signs

✔️ The difference between intuition and fear

✔️ Born mediums vs. awakened mediums

✔️ Quieting the mind to hear guidance

✔️ Understanding spirit guides

✔️ Developing your intuitive abilities

✔️ The Yes-No Method for spiritual guidance

✔️ Learning to trust your own light

✔️ Overcoming ego and self-doubt

✔️ Why love and light are the best compass

"If it's light, it's right."

Whether you're beginning your spiritual journey or strengthening your intuition, this episode offers practical tools and gentle encouragement to trust the guidance already within you.

Sound Bites

“You do not walk alone.”

“Spirit gives you what you need.”

“If it's light, it's right.”

Chapters

00:00  Introduction to Cheryl Bradley and Her Spiritual Journey

01:48  The Difference Between Innate Mediumship and Awakening Later in Life

04:06  How Spirit Communicates Through Dreams and Signs

06:52  Recognizing and Trusting Your Intuitive Senses

10:01  The Importance of Quieting the Chatter to Hear Spirit

13:06  Outing Yourself as a Medium and Embracing Your Spiritual Gifts

14:56  Understanding the Soul's Journey and Pre-Birth Decisions

17:59  Dealing with Difficult Times and Trusting the Guidance of Spirit

20:57  The Concept of Right and Wrong in Spiritual Guidance

24:00  How to Trust Your Own Light and Graduate from Needing Readings

26:59  Practical Steps to Develop Your Intuitive Abilities

29:55  Using the Yes-No Method to Connect with Spirit

32:48  The Significance of Light and Love in Spiritual Guidance

35:59  Overcoming Ego and Fear to Access Your Spiritual Guidance

39:07  The Importance of Self-Love and Opening Your Heart

41:58  The Role of Music and Signs in Spiritual Communication

45:00  Final Thoughts on Trusting Your Own Light and Journey

💬 QUESTION FOR YOU

Have you ever received a sign, dream, or intuitive feeling that changed your life?

Share your experience in the comments—we'd love to hear your story.

👍 Like, Subscribe, and Share if you're ready to strengthen your intuition and deepen your spiritual connection.

#Mediumship #Intuition #SpiritualGuidance #Consciousness

#PersonalGrowth #MindBodySpirit #EnergyHealing #HigherSelf

Guest Links

Website — cherylbradley.com

Email — [email protected]

From Your Host

Mentioned in this episode or just want to go deeper?

📖 Get the book — Did I Just Have a Spiritual Awakening, or Was It Something I Ate?

🌐 Jim's author website — jimalstott.com

🏕️ The Listening Field Retreat — Registration & Details

Playlist Link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4110c93X6AQMSm1dG0bjEm?si=9c96229655884328

What do you do when the excitement is gone, nobody is watching, and you no longer feel motivated?

Dre Baldwin calls that moment “The Third Day.”

It's the point where most people stop and where professionals decide to keep going.

From riding the bench in high school to playing professional basketball for nine years, Dre built his career by learning how to perform regardless of how he felt. In this episode, he reveals why discipline, perception, confidence, and the unseen work matter far more than motivation.

What separates professionals from amateurs when talent isn't enough?

In this episode of The Drop the Needle Podcast, Jim Alstott sits down with former professional basketball player, author, speaker, and entrepreneur Dre Baldwin to explore the mental game behind high performance.

Dre's journey didn't begin as a star athlete. He went from riding the bench in high school to building a nine-year professional basketball career, delivering four TEDx talks, and creating Work On Your Game — a philosophy and business centered around discipline, confidence, mental toughness, and consistent execution.

At the heart of this conversation is Dre's concept of “The Third Day”: the moment when the excitement has worn off, motivation has disappeared, and you have to decide whether you're going to keep showing up.

Jim and Dre also explore the connection between discipline and the flow state, why perception can influence performance before talent ever enters the equation, and how the best performers make difficult things look effortless because of the work nobody sees.

✨ In this episode:

✔️ Why discipline matters more than motivation
✔️ The meaning of “The Third Day”
✔️ Dre's journey from benchwarmer to professional basketball
✔️ How to stay ready when opportunity hasn't arrived yet
✔️ Mental toughness and performing under pressure
✔️ Why consistency builds confidence
✔️ The connection between discipline and flow state
✔️ How perception shapes performance
✔️ The unseen work behind elite performance
✔️ Spirituality and the inner game of achievement
✔️ Music, mindset, and the songs that shaped Dre's journey

“Discipline is the doorway to the flow state.”

---
🎙️ The Drop the Needle Podcast explores the intersection of spirituality, healing, personal growth, and the power of music through insightful conversations with thought leaders and intuitives.

If you're an athlete, entrepreneur, creator, leader, or simply trying to become more consistent in your life, this conversation will challenge the way you think about motivation and success.

Sound Bites

“Discipline is the doorway to the flow state.”
“Ether by Nas is like he's fighting back.”
“Jay-Z's album came out on September 11th, 2001.”

Playlist Link:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/09NKTFGAgVWHrq2ncDNWyb?si=dcbb0de05942470d

💬 QUESTION FOR YOU:
When motivation disappears, what keeps you showing up?

Tell us in the comments.

👍 Like, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who needs the reminder to work on their game — especially when nobody is watching.

🔗 CONNECT WITH DRE BALDWIN

Website — DreAllDay.com
Work On Your Game — workonyourgame.com
Book — The Third Day: The Decision That Separates The Pros From The Amateurs
Instagram — @DreBaldwin
YouTube — Dre Baldwin
Facebook — Work On Your Game
LinkedIn — Dre Baldwin
X — @DreAllDay

#DropTheNeedlePodcast #DreBaldwin #Discipline #MentalToughness #Mindset #Motivation #WorkOnYourGame #HighPerformance

🎙️ CONNECT WITH JIM ALSTOTT

📖 Get the book — Did I Just Have a Spiritual Awakening, or Was It Something I Ate?
🌐 Jim's author website — jimalstott.com
🏕️ The Listening Field Retreat — Registration & Details
🌐 Visit our website: dtnpodcast.com
📲 Follow us on social media: @thedtnpodcast
📧 Reach out to Jim: [email protected]
🔗 The Drop the Needle Podcast is on Apple and Spotify

What if the very thing you've been avoiding is the reason you came here?

In this powerful episode of Drop the Needle Podcast, Jim Alstott sits down with psychic medium and healer Jennifer Rose to explore what happens when we stop running from our authentic selves.

Jennifer shares her remarkable journey from quietly suppressing her spiritual gifts to embracing mediumship after a life-changing near-death experience during COVID. Together they discuss shadow work, self-love, intuition, health, mediumship, twin flames, and the quantum connection that links us all.

This conversation is grounded, honest, and full of practical insights for anyone navigating spiritual awakening or personal transformation.

In this episode:

• Spiritual awakening and authentic living

• Jennifer's near-death experience

• Mediumship and signs from spirit

• Shadow work and healing

• Self-love and holistic health

• Twin flames with discernment

• The quantum field and consciousness

• Music as a tool for raising your vibration

If you've ever questioned your path or wondered whether your intuition is trying to tell you something, this episode is for you.

Sound Bites

“What you run from will chase you.”

“When your focus goes, your energy flows.”

“Everything is connected in the quantum field.”


Chapters

00:00  Introduction to Jennifer Rose and her calling

01:04  The cost of delaying spiritual gifts and inner work

02:05  The importance of inner work and shadow work

03:22  The challenges of spiritual awakening and the awakening process

04:22  The intensity and messiness of spiritual awakening

05:13  Jennifer Rose's near-death experience and awakening during COVID

09:32  Channeling and the flow of spirit messages

17:43  Jennifer Rose's poem 'I Dance for Love'

22:14  The journey from quiet gifts to public mediumship

23:34  The sacrifice and transformation of embracing spiritual work

28:24  The importance of health, diet, and physical care in spirituality

40:38  Distinguishing genuine spirit messages from imagination

42:13  Common signs from spirit and how to interpret them

44:15  The interconnectedness of all things and the quantum field

Guest Links

Website — mediumjenniferrose.com

Instagram — @jenniferrosemedium

Facebook — Medium Jennifer Rose

YouTube — @MediumJenniferRose


From Your Host

Mentioned in this episode or just want to go deeper?

📖 Get the book — Did I Just Have a Spiritual Awakening, or Was It Something I Ate?

🌐 Jim's author website — jimalstott.com

🏕️ The Listening Field Retreat — Registration & Details

🎧 Listen now on all major podcast platforms.

#DropTheNeedlePodcast
#JenniferRose
#SpiritualAwakening
#Mediumship
#TwinFlames
#SelfLove
#ShadowWork
#HealingJourney
#SpiritualGrowth
#SignsFromSpirit
#Intuition

Have you ever walked into a room and immediately felt the energy change?

In this special panel episode of The Drop the Needle Podcast, Jim Alstott brings together the practitioners behind The Listening Field Retreat for an open conversation about spiritual awakening, group energy, intuitive development, mediumship, manifestation, sound healing, and the power of community.

Featuring Julie Grant, Connie Smock, Carolyn Sidgwick, Gail Alexander, and Kerry Muller, this episode explores what can happen when spiritually open people gather with intention and why the energy of the room may become part of the healing experience.

The panel shares personal stories of awakening, moments when they learned to trust their intuition, and the signs from spirit that helped guide them toward their work.

They also explore why energy can sometimes feel physical, how group environments may strengthen spiritual awareness, and why finding the right practitioners and community matters when developing your gifts.

In this episode:

✔️ What high-vibration energy can feel like in the body
 ✔️ Why group energy may accelerate spiritual growth
 ✔️ How to distinguish intuition from fear or imagination
 ✔️ Signs and messages from spirit
 ✔️ Mediumship and intuitive development
 ✔️ Energy healing and stored emotional trauma
 ✔️ The importance of grounding and energy awareness
 ✔️ Choosing trustworthy spiritual practitioners
 ✔️ Why community creates belonging and courage
 ✔️ Moving from fear into spiritual freedom
 ✔️ Why manifestation requires action
 ✔️ What makes an in-person retreat different from solo practice

The conversation also offers a preview of The Listening Field Retreat, taking place at Eaglewood Resort & Spa in Itasca from August 21–23, 2026.

This is not simply a retreat about learning spiritual concepts. It is an opportunity to experience connection, healing, sound, intuition, and community in one shared space.

Sound Bites

“Energy can mimic physical illnesses.”

“Your loved ones are with you all the time.”

“Pay attention to signs from your soul.”


Chapters

00:00  Introduction to the Retreat and Participants

00:19  Jim introduces the panel and the upcoming retreat

01:32  What happens in the body when in a high-vibe environment

02:14  Physical sensations and energy fluctuations during sessions

06:52  Feeling the energy in group settings and individual differences

08:17  Group energy as a catalyst for leveling up spiritual gifts

10:13  Connecting with spirit and recognizing awakening moments

12:36  The difference between childhood psychic abilities and adult awakening

13:46  Mentorship and trusting your intuition

15:15  Signs of spirit and validation of the unseen

18:23  The normalcy and science behind energy work

20:39  Childhood experiences and normalizing spiritual gifts

22:37  How spirit communicates through signs and symbols

27:30  Stepping into the space: courage and community

30:46  The power of group energy in accelerating spiritual growth

35:01  The uniqueness of each retreat and its energy

40:11  Signs and nudges from spirit to take action

44:17  The importance of community and belonging

50:21  Overcoming fear and taking the leap into spirituality

55:24  From fear to freedom: the purpose of the retreat

01:00:05  The frequency of love and the sound of the retreat

01:02:36  Myth-busting: energy work and spiritual misconceptions

01:08:36  The ongoing journey of spiritual development

01:14:29  Service, purpose, and shining your light

01:20:23  Final encouragement and registration details

💬 Question for you:

Have you ever felt your energy change when you entered a room or joined a group?

Share your experience in the comments.

👍 Like, subscribe, and share this episode with someone beginning their spiritual awakening.

The Listening Field Retreat
Jim Alstott — Podcast Host

📅 August 21–23, 2026
 📍 Eaglewood Resort & Spa, Itasca
 🌐 Registration and details: thechillcrew.org

Featured practitioners

Carolyn Sidgwick — Practitioner
Julie Grant — Practitioner
Gail Alexander — Practitioner
Kerry Muller — Practitioner
Connie Smock — Practitioner (Instagram)

Connect with Jim Alstott

📖 Did I Just Have a Spiritual Awakening, or Was It Something I Ate?
🌐 jimalstott.com
🎙️ The Drop the Needle Podcast

What if grief wasn't the end of your story... but the beginning of your greatest transformation?

After losing her soulmate just months after their dream wedding, Carolyn Sidgwick found herself navigating unimaginable pain. Instead of allowing grief to define her, she transformed it into a mission to help others heal through self-love, spirituality, and connection.

This conversation offers hope for anyone who's experienced loss.

Can love continue after death?

In this deeply moving episode of Drop the Needle Podcast, Jim Alstott sits down with Carolyn Sidgwick, founder of Soul Love and creator of the Soul Love Journal, to explore grief, healing, self-love, and spiritual awakening.

After losing her soulmate to a sudden heart attack just months after their wedding, Carolyn faced one of life's greatest challenges. Through journaling, energy healing, intuition, and spiritual connection, she discovered a new purpose, helping others navigate loss with compassion and hope.

Together, Jim and Carolyn discuss the emotional realities of grief, signs from loved ones, psychic awareness, community support, and why healing isn't about "moving on", it's about learning to live with love in a new way.

In this episode:

✔️ Healing after losing a loved one

✔️ The truth about grief and emotional pain

✔️ Signs from loved ones in spirit

✔️ Spiritual awakening through loss

✔️ Self-love and emotional resilience

✔️ Journaling as a healing tool

✔️ Energy healing and intuition

✔️ Relationship grief beyond death

✔️ Why "time heals all wounds" isn't the full story

Whether you're grieving the loss of a loved one, a relationship, your health, or a chapter of your life, this conversation offers practical wisdom, comfort, and hope.

Chapters

00:02  Introduction to Carolyn Sidgwick and her journey with grief

00:57  Carolyn's background and move to Qatar

02:10  Personal loss: her mother's cancer and passing

02:30  Turning toward spirituality and energy healing

03:05  Self-discovery: understanding relationship patterns through past trauma

04:49  Attracting love and finding her soulmate

06:40  The impact of her husband's sudden death and her spiritual response

08:11  The misunderstood nature of grief and societal expectations

09:17  Connecting with loved ones beyond death through signs and messages

10:50  The emotional challenge of delivering tragic news

12:27  Recognizing grief in different aspects of life apart from death

13:16  The importance of sharing stories and community in healing

14:59  The process of reflection and journaling as a healing tool

23:47  First steps in journaling after loss

25:11  Common automatic responses and understanding emotional reactions

26:32  Grief in men and the importance of self-nurturing regardless of gender

28:39  Common misconceptions and lies about grief in society

29:17  Why “time heals all wounds” is a myth during acute grief

32:07  Techniques like EFT and hypnotherapy for navigating grief

33:36  Embracing pain and the importance of allowing oneself to fully feel

35:02  The lessons grief teaches about love and life purpose

36:22  The different forms of grief including relationship and health-related loss

40:02  The power of signs, messages, and community support in healing

44:17  The role of spiritual awakening during grief processes

45:50  The interconnectedness of humanity and universal consciousness

48:34  Lessons that grief can teach about being truly happy

55:02  The importance of self-care, compassion, and self-love during grief

58:19  Transitioning into musical reflections and personal soundtracks

68:16  Songs that deeply resonate and serve as messages from loved ones

70:35  The significance of meaningful tattoos and symbols

73:39  The healing power of shared stories and community gatherings

83:47  Reflection on ongoing grief, relationship challenges, and personal growth

94:46  Final thoughts on navigating grief, love, and spiritual transformation

Playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0jnYq8sl1sbEbMdockFmoz?si=1fd69b17c0d74fd0

💬 Question for you:

What's one lesson grief has taught you about life?

Share your thoughts in the comments, we'd love to hear your story.

👍 If this episode touched you, please Like, Subscribe, and Share to help others who may need this conversation.

Resources Mentioned

Soul Love Journal

Carolyn Sidgwick — YouTube

Carolyn Sidgwick — Instagram

Book on Sex Addiction by Patrick Kannt


Guest Links

LinkedIn

Twitter


From Your Host

📖 Get the book — Did I Just Have a Spiritual Awakening, or Was It Something I Ate?

🌐 Jim's author website — jimalstott.com

🏕️ The Listening Field Retreat — Registration & Details

#DropTheNeedlePodcast
#CarolynSidgwick
#GriefHealing
#HealingJourney
#SpiritualAwakening
#SelfLove
#EmotionalHealing
#SoulLove
#GriefSupport
#SignsFromLovedOnes
#EnergyHealing
#Journaling
#MindBodySpirit
#Resilience
#HopeAfterLoss
#PersonalGrowth
#MentalWellbeing
#Podcast
#Transformation
#Healing

What if healing isn't just about medicine... but about frequency?

In this fascinating conversation, physician, evidential medium, and ancestral healer Dr. Lotte Valentin explores how sound, energy, intuition, and frequencies may influence our emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing.

From Hemi-Sync to quantum entanglement, this episode challenges everything you thought you knew about healing.

In this thought-provoking episode of Drop the Needle Podcast, Jim Alstott welcomes back Dr. Lotte Valentin, physician, evidential medium, and ancestral healer, to explore the growing connection between science, spirituality, energy medicine, and frequency healing.

Drawing on her background in medicine and spiritual practice, Dr. Lotte explains how stress affects the nervous system, why inherited trauma can influence our health, and how frequencies such as Hemi-Sync may help balance the brain and promote healing.

The conversation also explores intuition, clairvoyance, ancestral memory, quantum entanglement, and why changing our perception may be one of the most powerful tools for healing.

In this episode:

✔️ Frequency healing explained

✔️ Hemi-Sync and brainwave entrainment

✔️ The nervous system and emotional regulation

✔️ Energy fields and holistic health

✔️ Ancestral healing and epigenetics

✔️ Intuition and medical intuition

✔️ Quantum entanglement and consciousness

✔️ The intersection of science and spirituality

✔️ Practical tools for emotional healing

Whether you're interested in holistic health, consciousness, energy medicine, or spiritual growth, this conversation offers a fascinating perspective on the future of healing.

Sound Bites

"We resonate and entrain with each other."

"It's all frequencies in the end."

Chapters

02:36  The Nervous System and Stress Regulation

05:03  How Energy Fields Influence Emotional and Physical Health

08:14  Inherited Wounds and Epigenetics

11:59  The Science Behind Hemi-Sync and Brain Balancing

15:48  Frequency Healing and Relationship Issues

20:00  Changing Perception to Facilitate Healing

25:30  Ancestral Healing and Intuitive Guidance

30:03  Quantum Entanglement and Interconnectedness

35:00  Practical Steps for Releasing Ancestral Trauma

39:57  The Merging of Science and Spirituality

44:57  Upcoming Courses and How to Connect

01:00:07  Final Thoughts and Resources

Playlist Link:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GhKWhONlPiSAU89IYssLY?si=fae52aec95de41e4

💬 Question for you:

Do you believe energy and frequency play a role in physical healing?

Let us know in the comments.

👍 If you enjoyed this conversation, please Like, Subscribe, and Share to help us continue bringing you inspiring discussions on consciousness, healing, and personal transformation.

Guest

🌐 https://drlotte.com

Resources

Hemi-Sync

Nobel Prize in Physics 2023

(Links in description)

Connect with Jim Alstott

📖 Did I Just Have a Spiritual Awakening, or Was It Something I Ate?

🌐 https://jimalstott.com

🏕️ The Listening Field Retreat

#DropTheNeedlePodcast

#DrLotteValentin

#FrequencyHealing

#EnergyHealing

#Consciousness

#HolisticHealth

#SpiritualAwakening

#EnergyMedicine

#HealingJourney