The Drop the Needle Podcast

What if walking away from the religion you were raised in isn't losing your faith — it's the first honest thing you ever did with it?
Sunshine Witchski was eleven years old when she noticed the contradictions in what she was being taught in Catholic school. She asked. Nobody had an answer she could live with.
What followed was decades of addiction, a rock bottom in Costa Rica, and a long walk back — not to the Church, but to something she could finally call her own.
Today she is a psychic medium, soul healer, Reiki master, high priestess, and the founder of Sunshine Readings. She calls herself the Sober Witch.
Can you lose your religion and keep your faith?
In this candid episode of The Drop the Needle Podcast, Jim Alstott sits down with Sunshine Witchski to talk about growing up Catholic in Detroit, the question at age eleven that started everything, the years she spent numbing what she couldn't name, and how she built a spiritual life on her own terms — one with room for tarot, recovery, shadow work, and every part of herself she was once told to hide.
Sunshine shares the moment she stopped performing belief, what rock bottom actually looked like, and the day she walked into a room full of strangers and heard the only thing that could have reached her: you are not alone, and there is hope.
Together, Jim and Sunshine get into the difference between prescribed religion and personal faith, why shadow work isn't optional, why receiving help is harder than giving it, and what changes when you decide the universe might be conspiring in your favor.
✨ In this episode:
✔️ Growing up Catholic in Detroit
✔️ The question at age eleven that changed everything
✔️ Rock bottom in Costa Rica
✔️ The room where hope came back
✔️ Prescribed religion vs. personal faith
✔️ Shadow work and healing old wounds
✔️ Why receiving is more vulnerable than giving
✔️ Personal sovereignty and self-acceptance
✔️ Pronoia — the opposite of paranoia
✔️ Music as the soundtrack of a life
"Walking into a room with other alcoholics told me I was not alone, there was hope."
Whether you're in recovery, quietly questioning what you were raised to believe, or just tired of carrying something by yourself, this conversation is an invitation to stop hiding and start showing up whole.
Playlist link:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5gLQWLHy75QE25XypLW2cW?si=71c4568692d94bc3
💬 QUESTION FOR YOU
What part of yourself were you told to hide — and what would change if you stopped?
Sound bites
"Walking into a room with other alcoholics told me I was not alone, there was hope."
"Receiving is a very vulnerable thing, showing emotion many are not comfortable with."
"Pro Noia is the opposite of paranoia, believing the universe is conspiring in your favor."
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Sunshine's background and work
02:00 Growing up Catholic and questioning authority
06:28 Realization of religious contradictions at age 11
12:49 Transition from religion to personal spirituality
26:53 Rock bottom in Costa Rica and the path to sobriety
36:25 The power of community in overcoming addiction
45:28 Shadow work and healing past wounds
52:26 The vulnerability of receiving help
59:37 Music as a reflection of life and emotions
01:00:15 Closing remarks and contact information
Playlist link:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5gLQWLHy75QE25XypLW2cW?si=71c4568692d94bc3
Share your story in the comments.
👍 Like, Subscribe, and Share to help others discover meaningful conversations about spirituality, healing, and connection.
🌐 CONNECT WITH SUNSHINE WITCHSKI
Website: Sober Witch Life
Readings: Sunshine Readings
Instagram: @sunshine_readings
Illuminate: Sober Witch
🎙️ CONNECT WITH JIM ALSTOTT
📖 Did I Just Have a Spiritual Awakening, or Was It Something I Ate?
🌐 jimalstott.com
🎙️ dtnpodcast.com
#DropTheNeedlePodcast #SunshineWitchski #SoberWitch #Sobriety #Recovery #ShadowWork #SpiritualAwakening #PsychicMedium #Tarot #Deconstruction #PersonalSovereignty #Pronoia

What if the signs you've been asking for are already happening... but you're overlooking them?
Psychic medium Gina Versace, better known as The Inked Medium, believes our loved ones and even our pets, never truly leave us.
From repeating numbers and feathers to dreams and unexpected encounters, Spirit is constantly communicating. The key is learning how to recognize the messages.
Do our loved ones continue communicating after they pass away?
In this heartfelt episode of The Drop the Needle Podcast, Jim Alstott sits down with Gina Versace, internationally known as The Inked Medium, to explore spirit communication, intuitive development, pet communication, and the everyday signs that remind us we are never truly alone.
Gina shares remarkable stories from her own life, beginning with seeing spirits as a young child, through discovering her calling as a professional psychic medium, and building a life dedicated to helping people reconnect with loved ones on the other side.
Together, Jim and Gina discuss how Spirit communicates through numbers, dreams, symbols, animals, and emotional impressions, why setting energetic boundaries is essential, and how anyone can begin strengthening their own intuition.
✨ In this episode:
✔️ Childhood spirit encounters
✔️ How loved ones communicate after death
✔️ Pet communication and animal spirits
✔️ Why repeating numbers like 444 matter
✔️ Spirit guides and signs
✔️ Meditation and energetic protection
✔️ Developing intuitive gifts
✔️ Private vs. group mediumship readings
✔️ The importance of spiritual boundaries
✔️ Music, healing, and raising your vibration
"Spirit signs are in everyday things."
Whether you're curious about mediumship or you've experienced signs from someone you've lost, this conversation offers comfort, insight, and practical guidance for trusting your own spiritual connection.
Playlist link:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4mzHMk1ZHacW3XBCiYxiin?si=37e9376925b646e2
💬 QUESTION FOR YOU
Have you ever received a sign from a loved one or pet that made you stop in your tracks?
Sound bites
"Music lifts my spirits and helps me heal."
"My dad sends me 444"
"Spirit signs are in everyday things"
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Gina Versace and her background
01:22 Gina's childhood spirit sightings and family heritage
04:19 The influence of early childhood experiences on her gift
06:14 Connecting with spirit through signs and protection
08:12 The significance of asking for signs and guidance
10:07 The story behind the Inked Medium brand
12:48 Her Italian Sicilian heritage and spiritual upbringing
15:52 Transition from corporate career to full-time mediumship
17:29 How to recognize signs from spirit in everyday life
19:46 Meeting spirit guides and their presence
22:09 The message of never being alone from spirit
24:00 Gina's motorcycle accident and recovery story
27:01 The role of pets in spirit communication
30:18 How animals come through in readings and their surprises
33:31 Spirit orbs and sacred geometry in photos
36:00 Signs from loved ones and spirit guides in daily life
37:55 Family and friends on the other side and their connections
42:47 Differences between private and group readings
Playlist link:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4mzHMk1ZHacW3XBCiYxiin?si=37e9376925b646e2
Share your story in the comments.
👍 Like, Subscribe, and Share to help others discover meaningful conversations about spirituality, healing, and connection.
🌐 CONNECT WITH GINA VERSACE
Website: The Inked Medium
Instagram • Facebook • TikTok
(Charity work and social links in the description.)
🎙️ CONNECT WITH JIM ALSTOTT
📖 Did I Just Have a Spiritual Awakening, or Was It Something I Ate?
🌐 jimalstott.com
🏕️ The Listening Field Retreat
#DropTheNeedlePodcast
#GinaVersace
#TheInkedMedium
#Mediumship
#SpiritCommunication
#SignsFromSpirit
#SpiritGuides
#PetCommunication
#AnimalSpirit
#Intuition
#PsychicMedium
#SpiritualAwakening
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🎙️ The Drop the Needle Podcast explores the intersection of spirituality, healing, personal growth, and the power of music through insightful conversations with thought leaders and intuitives.
🌐 Visit our website: dtnpodcast.com
📲 Follow us on social media: @thedtnpodcast
📧 Reach out to Jim: jim@dtnpodcast.com
🔗 The Drop the Needle Podcast is on Apple and Spotify

Have you ever wondered if that "gut feeling" was actually Spirit trying to guide you?
In this enlightening episode of The Drop the Needle Podcast, Jim Alstott welcomes intuitive medium Cheryl Bradley for a heartfelt conversation about mediumship, dreams, spirit guides, intuition, and learning to trust your own inner wisdom.
Cheryl explains the difference between being born with intuitive gifts and experiencing a spiritual awakening later in life. She shares practical ways Spirit communicates through dreams, synchronicities, signs, and those subtle feelings we often dismiss.
More importantly, Cheryl reminds us that the goal isn't to become dependent on readings—it's to learn to trust our own connection with Spirit.
✨ In this episode:
✔️ How Spirit communicates through dreams and signs
✔️ The difference between intuition and fear
✔️ Born mediums vs. awakened mediums
✔️ Quieting the mind to hear guidance
✔️ Understanding spirit guides
✔️ Developing your intuitive abilities
✔️ The Yes-No Method for spiritual guidance
✔️ Learning to trust your own light
✔️ Overcoming ego and self-doubt
✔️ Why love and light are the best compass
"If it's light, it's right."
Whether you're beginning your spiritual journey or strengthening your intuition, this episode offers practical tools and gentle encouragement to trust the guidance already within you.
Sound Bites
“You do not walk alone.”
“Spirit gives you what you need.”
“If it's light, it's right.”
Chapters
00:00  Introduction to Cheryl Bradley and Her Spiritual Journey
01:48  The Difference Between Innate Mediumship and Awakening Later in Life
04:06  How Spirit Communicates Through Dreams and Signs
06:52  Recognizing and Trusting Your Intuitive Senses
10:01  The Importance of Quieting the Chatter to Hear Spirit
13:06  Outing Yourself as a Medium and Embracing Your Spiritual Gifts
14:56  Understanding the Soul's Journey and Pre-Birth Decisions
17:59  Dealing with Difficult Times and Trusting the Guidance of Spirit
20:57  The Concept of Right and Wrong in Spiritual Guidance
24:00  How to Trust Your Own Light and Graduate from Needing Readings
26:59  Practical Steps to Develop Your Intuitive Abilities
29:55  Using the Yes-No Method to Connect with Spirit
32:48  The Significance of Light and Love in Spiritual Guidance
35:59  Overcoming Ego and Fear to Access Your Spiritual Guidance
39:07  The Importance of Self-Love and Opening Your Heart
41:58  The Role of Music and Signs in Spiritual Communication
45:00  Final Thoughts on Trusting Your Own Light and Journey
💬 QUESTION FOR YOU
Have you ever received a sign, dream, or intuitive feeling that changed your life?
Share your experience in the comments—we'd love to hear your story.
👍 Like, Subscribe, and Share if you're ready to strengthen your intuition and deepen your spiritual connection.
#Mediumship #Intuition #SpiritualGuidance #Consciousness
#PersonalGrowth #MindBodySpirit #EnergyHealing #HigherSelf
Guest Links
Website — cherylbradley.com
Email — 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