Spirit Sisters - the podcast

For this very special Halloween episode, I'm celebrating a milestone — 100 episodes of Spirit Sisters! And who better to join me than my original spirit sister, my sister, Natalie Grueninger? Natalie is a Tudor historian, author and host of the Talking Tudors podcast, but today we're stepping into the shadowy hallways of our past. Together, we revisit the mystical terrain of our childhood, sharing stories such as the mysterious woman who appeared at Natalie's bedside, eerie séances we attended and an uncanny prediction. We also explore ancestral connections, the mysteries of dreams and Natalie's life-changing encounter with her historical heroine, Anne Boleyn. It's a conversation about sisterhood, the history that haunts us and the invisible threads connecting past and present. You're welcome around the virtual hearth to join us for a Halloween celebration of mysteries, memories and marvels.   Connect with Natalie: Find Nati on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OntheTudorTrail Nati’s website: https://www.nataliegrueninger.com/ Nati’s podcast: https://talkingtudors.podbean.com/   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: Spirit Sisters is recorded on Dharawal Country, and I recognise the Dharawal People’s continuing connection to lands, waters and community. I pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.      

Can one profound experience change the way we see ourselves - and the nature of reality itself? In Episode 99 of the Spirit Sisters Podcast, transpersonal psychologist and author Dr Colleen Quinn reflects on the experiences that transformed her understanding of love, consciousness and healing. Together, we explore the lasting impact of childhood trauma, the healing power of breathwork, the synchronicities that have guided her path, and the spiritual awakening that followed her 2018 near-death experience. More than a conversation about extraordinary experiences, this is an invitation to remember who we truly are, and to consider what becomes possible when we begin to live from the truth that love is the foundation of our existence. Learn more about Dr. Colleen Quinn https://www.essencemerging.com/   https://www.youtube.com/@colleenquinn3705?app=desktop   https://www.amazon.com.au/Essence-Merging-Colleen-Quinn-PhD-ebook/dp/B0GX372RJV   ------------------------- 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 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.  

My guest this week is intuitive healer Inna Segal, who joins us to share the personal path through healing, spirituality, and self-inquiry that led to her bestselling book, The Secret Language of the Body, and now, her new book, Understanding Modern Spirituality. Inna, who was born in Belarus, candidly shares the complexities of immigrating to Australia, and the health challenges, bullying, and grief that shaped her early life. She tells of the loss of a child when she was 19, her encounter with an angelic being, and how she began working with her body through breathing, touch, and inward attention to address back pain, psoriasis, anxiety, and depression. The process led her to connect physical symptoms with feelings of not belonging, family conflict, and inherited grief, which led to our discussion about ancestry, unprocessed trauma, and how pain can be understood as a form of learning. Inna says our life experiences can remind us that life is a short part of soul growth, that we are connected to others across lifetimes, and that spiritual insight can help us face difficulty with more strength and understanding. Learn more about Inna Segal: https://www.innasegal.com/ https://www.instagram.com/innasegalauthor/   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] 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 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.    

We’re gathering around the virtual hearth this month with bestselling Australian author Mary-Lou Stephens. Mary-Lou and I first connected when I was researching my 2014 book, Love Never Dies. Since then, she’s published four bestselling novels, including her latest, The Hobart Hotel. In this gorgeous dual timeline novel, Mary-Lou takes readers across continents - including to Uruguay, the country of my birth. Settle in for a rich conversation about writing, of course, but there’s so much more we touch on: how grief “echoes” across time, the benefits of meditation (especially to unlock creativity), the rewards of climbing out of our comfort zone, the spirit of place, and as well as what it means to follow the subtle nudges of intuition, and the healing effects of spiritual experiences. I loved reconnecting with Mary-Lou to hear about her spiritual experiences and explore how storytelling can be a bridge between the visible and the invisible. Enjoy! Learn more about Mary-Lou: https://maryloustephens.com.au/   Buy Mary-Lou’s latest novel, The Hobart Hotel: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-hobart-hotel-mary-lou-stephens/book/9781038940346.html   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 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.  

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 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging.  

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: 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 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, 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 & Create: https://studio.com/karina Join Karina on Substack: https://kmachado.substack.com/ Email Karina at [email protected] 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 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.      

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 & 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 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.

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 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 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 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://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   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.