The Drop the Needle Podcast

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 — hello@cherylbradley.com
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: jim@dtnpodcast.com
🔗 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