501.5K
Downloads
94
Episodes
Sharing life-affirming stories that restore a sense of wonder and awe to our lives, and remind us of the healing power of spiritual encounters.
Episodes
Saturday Jul 26, 2025
Saturday Jul 26, 2025
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:
Spirit Sisters is on YouTube! Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/@karinamachado1312
Join Karina on Substack: https://kmachado.substack.com/
Email Karina at karina.machado.author@gmail.com
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.
Saturday Jun 28, 2025
Saturday Jun 28, 2025
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 Anniehwilson8@gmail.com
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 karina.machado.author@gmail.com
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.
Sunday Feb 09, 2025
Sunday Feb 09, 2025
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 karina.machado.author@gmail.com
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.
Monday Dec 23, 2024
Monday Dec 23, 2024
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 karina.machado.author@gmail.com
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.
Sunday Oct 27, 2024
Sunday Oct 27, 2024
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 karina.machado.author@gmail.com.
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 karina.machado.author@gmail.com
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.
Monday Oct 14, 2024
Monday Oct 14, 2024
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 karina.machado.author@gmail.com
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 cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging.
Sunday Jun 09, 2024
Sunday Jun 09, 2024
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: 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.
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.
Sunday Mar 17, 2024
Sunday Mar 17, 2024
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 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.
Monday Dec 11, 2023
Monday Dec 11, 2023
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.
Saturday Sep 30, 2023
Saturday Sep 30, 2023
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.