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.
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.
Halloween episode! True spooky stories to give you goosebumps
Episode 80
Sunday, October 27, 2024 • Duration 25:33
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.
Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at .
“They can be in their world and they can be in ours” – Chrissy’s ghostly encounters
Episode 71
Sunday, February 12, 2023 • Duration 01:00:54
You’re listening to Spirit Sisters, I’m your host, Karina Machado. I’m back after a long break, grateful for your patience and lovely messages.
I experienced a challenging time towards the end of last year and I felt I had to press pause on the podcast and a few other things in order to look after myself.
And so, in the spirit of creating and healing, I’m so happy to share this episode with you this week. My guest is Chrissy, a teacher specialising in wellbeing who lives in Victoria. Chrissy has had a lifetime of fascinating encounters with the spirit world, and we’re concentrating on three key stories in this episode.
From a heart-stopping brush with a spirit man when she was a little girl, to the chilling, yet poignant experiences of her adult years, Chrissy draws us close around the virtual fireside today as she explores the defining spiritual encounters of her life.
Of these, there’s one in particular that Chrissy will never forget, involving a pair of siblings searching for their parents in Victoria’s historic Ballarat region. There’s an intriguing postscript to this story which offers clues as to the identity of the children Chrissy saw. She recently discovered that there had been an orphanage built in 1865 just minutes away from where Chrissy was staying when she met the children… I’ll be posting about this on social media, so check out my Facebook and Instagram pages for that.
For now, enjoy my conversation with Chrissy, telling the story of spirits who dwell in the threshold between worlds.
Halloween Episode! The General Store – “My God, the place is packed with ghosts!”
Episode 70
Tuesday, November 1, 2022 • Duration 01:18:41
Welcome to our special Halloween episode on Spirit Sisters with Karina Machado.
I thought it only fitting that I share a haunted house story today. What makes it extra special is that I had the opportunity to catch up with Nell Jones, whose story features in my book Where Spirits Dwell.
Nell is a retired teacher and writer who lives in Stockton, an historic beachside suburb in the NSW city of Newcastle. The traditional custodians of these lands and waters are the Awabakal and Worimi Peoples.
In 2000, Nell bought a derelict, century-old cottage that had once been a general store. The home signified a fresh start for Nell and her then teenaged daughter, but as they would come to discover, they’d have to share it with a cast of spirit visitors. From a vintage dame in a stylish frock, to a smelly coal miner and little girls playing in the backyard, the place “was packed with ghosts,” as a paranormal investigator declared.
At the height of the haunting, Nell called in the investigator from the Australian Institute of Parapsychological Research; his name is Robb Tilley and there’s a chapter about his case files in Where Spirits Dwell.
As Nell shares in our conversation, Robb performed a house clearing but even all these years later, Nell still has a sense that she has company in the house.
Enjoy Nell’s story about her beloved home, portal to the past.
“We don’t die, the only thing that ends is our body” – meet psychic-medium David Gammal
Episode 69
Saturday, September 17, 2022 • Duration 01:13:44
Karina Machado presents the second episode in the Psychic September mini-series. These are conversations with a diverse group of psychic-mediums, people of different ages, genders and at varying stages in their journey of their lives and of their calling as one who links the living with loved ones beyond the veil.
(This is all about sharing life experiences, not endorsing a business, as I haven’t had readings with any of them. I might do so one day, but I haven’t yet. As always, this is all about speaking from the heart as we build bridges of connection to each other through our stories.)
It's my pleasure to introduce you today to David Gammal, who’s based in Sydney’s inner-west. Dave has always known that he had a psychic ability, but didn’t know what that meant. Going through life-changing challenges throughout his 20s taught Dave to embrace his ability and use it to give back to others.
Service is a theme in Dave’s life, as you’re about to hear. Dave actually honed his abilities as a support worker for people with disabilities, which I found fascinating. I really enjoyed Dave’s warmth and candour as he shared his story with me.
Dave talks about his struggles to try and fit in as a young person, battling low self-esteem, people-pleasing tendencies and of the gifts he’s come to recognise were in the darkest moments. He shares about his mentor, psychic-medium Debbie Malone, and how her book helped put him on the right path.
He takes us through the nuts and bolts of a reading and about how to avoid connecting with low-frequency spirits. At the end, he shares a beautiful message of hope for anyone who’s grieving a loved one.
There’s a lot we cover in an hour. I really enjoyed my conversation with David Gammal, I hope you do too.
Please note, this episode references suicide and a violent assault. If you need support, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. Outside of Australia, please reach out to your appropriate local support services.
For now, settle in as Dave Gammal takes us inside the life of a professional psychic-medium.
A dream, a ghost girl and a past-life memory – how a spirit gave Kate the courage to trust her calling as a psychic-medium
Episode 68
Sunday, August 28, 2022 • Duration 57:32
You’re listening to Spirit Sisters. I’m your host, Karina Machado. Thank you for tuning in.
I have something a little different today: the first conversation in a mini-series I’m calling ‘Psychic September.’ Throughout the month of September, I’m bringing you conversations with a diverse group of psychic-mediums. Before we launch into the series, I’d like to point out that this is about sharing the life experiences of psychic-mediums, I’m not endorsing their businesses, as I haven’t had readings with any of them. As always, this is all about speaking from the heart as we share our stories.
We’re starting today with Kate Lowe, who lives in Victoria. Kate had a thriving career in PR and marketing but her soul always called her to live her spiritual truth.
During Covid, she channelled an idea to support children learning at home and its success gave her the impetus to launch out on her own, finally doing the work she loves – being a psychic-medium – full-time, on her own terms. As she says, “I just decided that I wanted to be me; I wanted to be all of me.”
Today, Kate shares the astounding story of Amelia, a spirit child who reached out to her in a dream, and that proved to be just the beginning of an extraordinary sequence of events, as you’re about to hear from Kate.
Please note, this episode references sexual assault. If you need support, please call 1800RESPECT in Australia. That’s 1800 737 732. If you’re elsewhere, please reach out to your appropriate local support services.
Settle in as Kate Lowe tells us about her life-changing encounter with a little spirit called Amelia.
“I’m walking the planet from my heart” – How Ash Perrow is living true to the “contract” of his near-death experience
Episode 67
Friday, July 22, 2022 • Duration 01:08:52
Karina Machado welcomes Ash Perrow. Ash is an Australian musician, and creative freedom coach. In 2016, Ash had a near death experience (NDE) following complications from back surgery. He experienced leaving his body and returned to it with the awareness that he was permitted to stay ‘for the work that he does and to walk the planet from his heart’.
Since then, he has been exploring the barriers to being our truest version of ourselves and helping others to do the same. Along this path, he left his teaching job and returned to writing, sharing and performing music, as well as engaging in deep personal work to discover what prevents us from living a life from the heart.
Ash is passionate about helping people to create a life they love, as you’re about to discover.
As Ash unspooled his story, our conversation branched out in a number of fruitful directions, and I’ve included links in the show notes to everything we discussed, in case you’d like to explore further.
Also, for the first time on the Spirit Sisters podcast, I’ve included a musical interlude! Ash kindly contributed one of his beautiful songs, called “I’m moving on,” featuring Naomi Connell. Music is such a big piece of Ash’s life, so this seems another meaningful way for Ash to share his story – and his heart – with us all on the show today. Listen out for the song around halfway through our conversation, and I invite you to pay close attention to the lyrics. There might be a shining jewel of an invitation there for you.
Connect with Ash (and learn more about his music and coaching) at his website: https://ashperrow.com/
Connect with Ash on YouTube (and watch the film clip of “I’m Moving On,” as played during our conversation).
From Trauma to “Truforgiveness”– Part 2 of Natasha McKenna’s 40-year journey to healing and purpose
Episode 66
Sunday, July 3, 2022 • Duration 01:24:40
You’re listening to Spirit Sisters. I’m your host, Karina Machado, thank you for joining us today, for part two of my conversation with Australian spiritual teacher and author Tash McKenna.
What does forgiveness mean to you? As I publish this podcast, mainstream news sites tell of the Abdallah family from the Sydney suburb of Oatlands, who were invited to share their extraordinary story of forgiveness with the Vatican. On a summer’s day in 2020, the Abdallahs lost three of their six children – Sienna, Angelina and Antony – to a driver affected by drugs and alcohol. The kids were on a walk to buy ice-cream, and their cousin, Veronique, also died.
What caught the world’s attention was the way Danny and Leila Abdallah publicly forgave the driver. They talk about forgiveness as a means to heal and “not retreat into hatred”.
As I honour the Abdallahs and their immense courage, I think of what forgiveness has meant to me over the years. What I’ve found is that where there is unforgiveness, there is no growth or life or flourishing of creativity. There is no progress or joy. We cannot access love from a space of unforgiveness and that must always be to everyone’s detriment.
In part two of our conversation today, Tash McKenna shares how she arrived at her teaching of "Truforgiveness," a tool that she has discovered to be utterly transformational in her journey of trauma to peace. If you haven’t listened to part one with Tash, please scroll down and listen to that first so that you can follow on.
In the first episode, Tash told us about how, as an eight-year-old trauma survivor, she heard the audible voice of God, an encounter which sparked the beginning of a 40-year spiritual odyssey that led her into deepest suffering.
Today, Tash shares how receiving the teachings of The Treasure Map of Truforgiveness, FAITH & the ‘I Forgive’ Principle, lit a way out of the darkness for her, and her hopes that they may also support others who are struggling.
Trauma, “Truforgiveness” and a Promise from God – Natasha McKenna reveals her 40-year journey to healing and purpose
Episode 65
Saturday, June 18, 2022 • Duration 01:06:50
In 1982, Michael Jackson released his Thriller album; the Australian Prime Minister was Malcolm Fraser, Prince William was born and E.T. The Extra Terrestrial premiered in cinemas … and, in her bedroom in a beachside suburb east of Sydney, an 8-year-old called Natasha McKenna received a visit from God.
Tash, as she’s known, is my guest today on Spirit Sisters, in part one of a two-part conversation. Tash is a spiritual teacher and Truforgiveness healer. As an eight-year-old trauma survivor, hearing the audible voice of God make her a promise sparked the beginning of a 40-year spiritual odyssey that pushed her to the depths of despair.
Throughout her life, with a Commerce Degree to lean on, Tash has worked a myriad of roles, including talent booker and marketing manager before being guided to dedicate her life entirely to bringing through the teachings she’s received. Tash is the author of The Treasure Map of Truforgiveness, FAITH & the ‘I Forgive’ Principle.
In Tash’s words, “this is the true way to forgive that has been gifted by God. It is how you change your mind from the wrong mind of judgment and attack to the right mind of peace and love that precedes spiritual awakening. It is how you truly heal and make miracles your own.”
As you’ll hear in the opening minutes, Tash and I are friends, having met in unlikely circumstances years ago. We also found out we were both students of the spiritual self-study text, A Course in Miracles, a channelled work which teaches forgiveness as a path to healing and inner peace.
What Tash teaches is a kind of corollary to A Course in Miracles, or ACIM, in that she offers how to actually forgive from the Right Mind – you’ll hear her refer to that a lot – and not the ego mind, which only brings about a false forgiveness. Tash was instructed to call her process, “Truforgiveness,” and she shares a fascinating story about how that unfolded. She also reveals her near-death experience and other mystical experiences, including a profound journey “outside of time.”
This is a challenging episode, and an advanced teaching, so I invite you to open wide your heart and mind to it and take your time. Tash, who was raised in a non-religious setting, uses traditional Christian terms in fresh and surprising ways, much like ACIM. For instance, her definition of God is “the Wholeness of Perfect Love … beingness over bodily identification.”
Driving Into Infinity - Paula Lenz was at the wheel of her late brother’s car when his spirit took her on a detour into the universe
Episode 64
Sunday, May 15, 2022 • Duration 01:01:00
Thanks for joining me around the virtual fireside for another uplifting story.
I’m recording this intro on a full moon and eclipse. This isn’t my area of expertise but I have it on good authority that this is significant, and certainly I can feel it. Individually and collectively, we are all going through so much. For me, this is a time of profound shifts and a reckoning. I wonder how many of you can relate to that?
I feel very guided through this by various disincarnate loving beings, including my ancestors. I’m feeling the calling to write a new book very intensely. While I’m very drawn to fiction, there are also non-fiction ideas brewing around the topics and stories we discuss on the Spirit Sisters podcast.
I was prodded to share this with you today because I know that so many of you will relate to the pull to do something that truly honours your soul. Tell me about it, I’d love to hear. I actually had to discard two earlier versions of this intro because it didn’t say what my heart wanted to say.
None of this is to say that I’m going to turn away from the podcast, but I hope that you can be patient with me as I navigate this terrain. I know how much these stories mean to you all so I’ll keep putting them out there and growing this lovely community. You all feel like family to me and I treasure the words you write to me about how the episodes lift your heart when little else will. So thank you.
Now that I’ve shared that, and speaking of heart-lifting stories, let me tell you about today’s episode. My guest is Paula Lenz.
Paula had a truly extraordinary spiritual experience in 1983, days after her beloved brother Donnie died in an accident. Amazingly enough, her out of body experience happened while she was driving his car. While her spirit was reunited with Donnie, her body safely steered the car to its destination. Fascinating.
In our conversation today, Paula shares in detail about her spiritually transformative experience, about the blissful wonder of hanging out in the “oneness” with her beloved Donnie, and and the many ways he continues to reach out to her.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In this episode, Tash also shares more about her understanding of time, about dreams she had two decades ago that planted the seed for her work today, and about the ways we constantly project our turmoil outwardly unless we awaken from ego identification. As Tash says, “What’s inside of you is what you experience outside of yourself in time.” We also discuss how the work of healing ourselves is essentially what heals us all.
Editing the podcast, it struck me that Tash’s teachings echo the Hawaiian spiritual tradition of Ho’oponopono, which some of you might already know. It too lays out forgiveness as a path to inner peace and teaches that we must forgive within in order to see results without. In the practice of Ho’oponopono we’re encouraged to repeat the words “I’m sorry, please forgive me, I love you, thank you”. As with Tash’s Treasure Map, this mantra is intended to undo false beliefs in our subconscious mind in order to transform our outer experience.
As in our first episode, Tash launches the show with a mini Treasure Map of forgiving within, a rhythmic song of prayer to open our conversation. In my imagination, these words of forgiveness are released like doves of peace into our hurting world.
Again, I invite you to open wide your heart and mind to it and take your time with these teachings, which reference A Course in Miracles. Click here to learn more about A Course in Miracles, which I consider the most extraordinary channelled text of the 20th century.
Tash has also kindly offered our listeners 10 prize packs of The Treasure Map e-book, and a “Course in Miracles Explained” mini course, which includes a meditation and journal prompts. These will go to the first 10 people to message me via my website, karinamachado.com, so drop me a line.
Before we begin, please note that this episode references an eating disorder and acute PTSD. If you need support, and you're in Australia, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Outside of Australia, please search for local support services.
Enjoy part two of my conversation with Tash McKenna, sharing how Truforgiveness healed her life.
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.
Before we begin, please note that this episode references suicide, eating disorders, substance abuse and PTSD. If you need support, and you're in Australia, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Outside of Australia, please search for local support services.
Enjoy my conversation with Tash McKenna, sharing her full story publicly for the first time.
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.
She also offers a message for anyone who’s grieving someone they love, and she tells us about the technique she’s created called M.I.S.T, MIST, which stands for Meld Into Spirit Technique, a simple way, she says, to enable our connection with the world beyond our physical senses.
There’s a lot more, of course. Enjoy my conversation with Paula Lenz. And if you love Spirit Sisters, please subscribe, rate and review the show. It helps others to find their way to these stories and that, after all, it’s what it’s all about.
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.
Related Shows Based on Content Similarities
Discover shows related to Spirit Sisters - the podcast, based on actual content similarities. Explore podcasts with similar topics, themes, and formats, backed by real data.
