The Drop the Needle Podcast

Drew McManus learned the word that would become his band's name on a mountain pass in Nepal. It means sitting in the company of truth. He's built ten years and six records on it. The new one is called Elohim, and he didn't pick the title. He was told to. We talk about the revelatory experience that preceded it and the illness that followed, about a father who was a preacher and told a skateboarding punk rock kid he had a minister's heart, and about the question Drew asked for years growing up poor in a house he doesn't pretend was safe: why did all of this happen to me? The answer, when it arrived, had changed shape. Perhaps none of it happened to him. Perhaps it happened for him. We also get into why he won't play two of his early songs anymore, what the music industry looks like from the inside when you've refused to play along, the one sentence a Buddhist said to him at a merch table that became a mantra, and a hidden Nipsey Hussle track that he heard on the Pacific Coast Highway beside a friend who'd been in federal prison three hundred days earlier. Elohim is out now. Twenty seven minutes, built to be played start to finish. Satsang plays Garcia's Chicago on November 4th. Every song Drew named, in the order he named them, 21 tracks from Jackson Browne to Nipsey Hussle. Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2lrJeDuNf7H8TIAMjd3lXY Elohim: https://satsang.ffm.to/elohim Satsang: https://satsangmovement.com Instagram: @satsang Chicago: Garcia's Chicago, 4 November 2026 Drew McManus is the founder and frontman of Satsang. He named the band after a word he learned on a mountain pass in Nepal in 2013, meaning to sit in the company of truth. Six records later he remains independent and owns all of his music. His new album, Elohim, released 4 September 2026, and the Elohim Tour runs through the autumn. Press photo credit: Drew Korf. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 02:36 The word on a mountain pass in Nepal 13:18 How Elohim was made backward 28:27 Brian's voicemail as the album intro 31:03 A preacher father, and the phrase said most in the Bible 36:30 Being told to make a record called Elohim 40:25 Malachi, and the name he knew before his son was born 49:57 The music round: the songs that made him 59:04 Why Bob Marley's lyrics are scripture 1:01:17 The hidden Nipsey Hussle track, and the drive down the coast 1:08:56 Garcia's Chicago, November 4th

What if the sacred and the secular were never two different things to begin with? Rev. Dr. Rob Zahn is a Lutheran pastor, a theologian, a semiotician, and a musician. He wears Converse under his liturgical robes. He also wrote a book about LSD, a drug smuggling ring, and the birth of contemporary Christian music. To him, none of that is a contradiction. That is the whole point. In this episode of The Drop the Needle Podcast, Jim Alstott sits down with Rob to trace a life that runs from a small town childhood with an absent father, through a doctorate in semiotics, to the hidden history behind his book, LSD to Galilee: Incarnation in the Psychedelic Subculture. Rob explains why he does not frame his father's absence as a forgiveness issue, even after a reunion that surfaced anger, grief, and questions nobody answered. He walks Jim through the line that runs from the Brotherhood of Eternal Love to the Jesus People movement to Maranatha Music, and why Lonnie Frisbee got quietly written out of the cleaner version of that story. Then there is the music. Mumford and Sons in a stadium full of strangers singing the same words. Dave Matthews Band. Meatloaf. Hamilton. Disney soundtracks he refuses to apologize for. Can a pastor tell the truth about where his faith came from and still keep his pulpit? ✨ In this episode: ✅ Growing up in small town America, raised by a single mother ✅ Why forgiveness may be the wrong frame for an absent father ✅ The father he found through one mailed letter, and the Las Vegas hotel room ✅ What semiotics reveals about culture, congregations, and blind spots ✅ Why the sacred and secular divide does not hold ✅ Converse under the robes, and other small acts of resistance ✅ The Brotherhood of Eternal Love to the Jesus People to Maranatha Music ✅ How Lonnie Frisbee was written out of the story ✅ Psychedelics, sacrament, and music as portals to the divine ✅ Why the church has to keep being put in check by people, not power Sound bites "I'm not sure forgiveness is necessary." "There's no division between the sacred and secular. I think that's a made up thing." "I don't know if there's a more human experience than music." "Which means he wasn't paranoid. He was still underground." Chapters 00:00 Welcome: a pastor, a semiotician, a musician 01:24 Rob's childhood, music upbringing, and path into ministry 03:41 Questioning father absence through theology and identity 06:48 Why forgiveness may not be the right frame 12:07 The anger and grief that surfaced anyway 13:59 What semiotics reveals about signs, culture, and the church 19:35 Mumford and Sons, spirituality, and a stadium full of shared meaning 22:58 Why the sacred and secular divide doesn't hold 26:46 How psychedelic culture and Jesus music are historically connected 30:46 Why Lonnie Frisbee was written out of the cleaner church narrative 35:14 How Rob's congregation responds to his full story 39:42 The Chosen, outsiders, and meeting people where they are 46:53 Doubting certainty and embracing the unknown 56:43 Music, worship styles, and Rob's first ministry in Las Vegas 01:02:26 Rob's father, cancer, and the Brotherhood's underground history 01:08:01 Jim shares his own father story and reconnection 01:10:57 The music round begins: first radio song, road trip songs, high school anthem 01:15:15 Guilty pleasure soundtrack and Disney singalongs 01:16:55 A song that could change how people see the world 01:18:38 A song that feels written for Rob's life right now 01:22:12 Where to find Rob, and we drop the needle Today's Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7C9T8To450S3f03qK4Gelq 💬 QUESTION FOR YOU Where have you been told the sacred stops and the ordinary starts, and who decided that? Share your story in the comments. 👍 Like, Subscribe, and Share to help others discover meaningful conversations about faith, music, and meaning. 🔗 MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE LSD to Galilee: Incarnation in the Psychedelic Subculture, by Rob Zahn Zumbro Lutheran Church, Rochester, MN The Brotherhood of Eternal Love, Lonnie Frisbee, Calvary Chapel and Maranatha Music 🌐 CONNECT WITH REV. DR. ROB ZAHN Website: robzahn.com Instagram: @rzahn001 Facebook: rob.zahn LinkedIn: robzahn 🎙️ CONNECT WITH JIM ALSTOTT 📖 Did I Just Have a Spiritual Awakening, or Was It Something I Ate? 🌐 jimalstott.com 🎙️ dtnpodcast.com #DropTheNeedlePodcast #RobZahn #LSDtoGalilee #JesusPeople #LonnieFrisbee #Semiotics #Faith #Deconstruction #ChristianMusic #Psychedelics #Lutheran #SacredAndSecular

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 --- 🎙️ 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: [email protected] 🔗 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 — [email protected] 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