Podcast Summary: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

Episode: John Edward: Stop Trying to “Move On” After Loss (Use THIS Daily Practice to Make Peace Without the Answers)
Host: Jay Shetty
Guest: John Edward (Psychic Medium)
Date: January 28, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode features a deep-dive conversation between Jay Shetty and renowned psychic medium John Edward, focusing on the themes of grief, loss, connecting with loved ones who have passed, and the misconceptions and realities around mediumship. The discussion aims to demystify the process of connecting beyond the physical, address skepticism head-on, and offer actionable insights for anyone processing loss.

Key Discussion Points

1. What People Seek When Visiting a Medium

• Seeking Connection, Not "Closure"

  • Most clients come looking for “closure” but are actually seeking connection with lost loved ones.
  • “I want people to recognize that there's a survival of consciousness, that life and love are eternal, and that a medium's not going to fix their grief.” — John Edward [02:49]

• Managing Expectations & Disappointment

  • Dissatisfaction can stem from not hearing exactly what a client hopes for.
  • John emphasizes: “You cannot make someone come through, and you cannot make them say the things that you want them to say.” [03:34]

2. Understanding Skepticism vs. Cynicism

• Journey from Skepticism to Belief
  • John shares his origins as a skeptic and how a personal reading at age 15 changed his trajectory.
  • “I think that there’s a difference between skepticism and cynicism.”—John Edward [06:00]
  • Skeptics should be “objectively skeptical,” not judgmental.

3. Scientific Studies & the Medium’s Process

• John’s Participation in Scientific Experiments
  • HBO’s "America Undercover: Life Afterlife" included studies by Dr. Gary Schwartz, focusing on EEGs/EKGs and eliminating cues like body language.
  • “It ruled out that body language, verbal inclinations, all of the things that the quote unquote, cynics would say were doing—they were able to establish, no, we're not. And here's the data.” [10:18]
  • Even when science is presented, some people move their skepticism to the scientist or the process itself.

4. How John Receives Information

• Clairvoyance, Clairaudience, Clairsentience

  • John experiences a mix: “I see, hear, and feel energy... but there’s nothing clear about it—it should be ‘cloudy seeing, cloudy hearing, cloudy feeling.’” [15:36]
  • Information comes as downloads, often subtle and requiring interpretation.

• Silent Sitter Experiment

  • He learned to work without feedback—clients may not speak for the first 10 minutes for objectivity. [16:00]

5. Anyone Can Develop Intuition—But to Their Level

• Developing Intuitive Skills
  • “We can all fine tune ourselves to our level... My goal is to get people to look at life through an energetic lens and not think that they need the medium.” [18:34]
  • Trusting your own energetic responses and intuition can lead to better life decisions.

6. Red Flags: How to Spot Fraudulent Mediums

• Warning Signs
  • “If you see somebody that is saying stuff like, ‘you have a curse on you, pay me to lift it,’ run.” [23:05]
  • Mediums shouldn’t ask for key info (dates, relationships, causes of death) beforehand.
  • Genuine information should be validating, not generic philosophy.

7. John’s Personal Journey with Loss

• Early Experiences and the Shift to Mediumship
  • John grew up skeptical, in a home where half the family was open and the other half was dismissive.
  • Personal losses (his uncle, then mother) deepened his appreciation for what grief does and how his work could serve others.
  • “Every reading I did for somebody else, I was kind of like doing for myself... That's what really helped me with my grief.” [32:06]

8. When to Seek a Medium, and Who Really “Needs” a Reading

• People Don’t Need, But Sometimes Value Readings
  • “I don’t think anybody needs a reading... I think they need an understanding.” [36:29]
  • Maintaining daily connections with loved ones—storytelling, memories—can be more healing than seeking external validation.

9. A Typical Session: Numerology, Energy, and Spiritual Connection

• How Sessions Unfold
  • John may begin with numerology to frame life lessons, then allows “whoever comes through” to step forward.
  • He avoids leading questions, aiming instead to “interview” the incoming energy for validating details.
  • “My job is to ensure that I say everything I’m seeing, hearing, and feeling.” [43:23]

10. Concepts of Afterlife and Reincarnation

• Where Are the Departed?
  • John likens it to the internet: “You can’t go there with a physical body, but you can access it.” [49:24]
  • He also draws on the concept of the “oversoul” and describes consciousness as potentially fractal—simultaneous, multiple incarnations.

11. Processing Grief: Opportunities for Growth

• The Importance of Naming and Expressing Grief

  • Grief should be acknowledged, not denied nor suppressed.
  • “Say the things you need to say to people while they’re here… I think it’s healthy to talk about grief.” [55:09]

• Unfinished Business and Breakthroughs

  • “There are a lot of people that just need the reinforced understanding, right?” [57:02]
  • Readings often bring up things unspoken and prompt self-forgiveness or release.

• Pets as Powerful Emotional Anchors

  • The loss of a pet is frequently the catalyst for the deepest emotional release, due to the nature of unconditional love. [59:24]

12. Moving Forward: Not About “Moving On” but Growing With Grief

• Kintsugi Metaphor

  • Grief highlights the “cracks” and creates a new whole that honors the loss and the love. [66:38]

• Validation is Key

  • “Even hearing you just say to someone that, yeah, you won’t feel the joy you felt before… is liberating.” (Jay, [67:57])

• No One Dies Alone

  • “When we leave the physical world, nobody passes alone.” [80:44]

13. Maintaining Connection Daily

• Rituals and Storytelling

  • “Telling stories to people who never knew them… so you’re keeping this 3D archetype present.” [84:21]
  • Food, music, and traditions are powerful tools for keeping memories alive.

• Objects vs. Essence

  • Loved ones value the connection, not material possessions.

14. Boundaries Around Mediumship

• Avoiding Dependency
  • John sets clear boundaries: “It should be an asset to your way of life… not a crutch.” [89:35]
  • He limits repeat readings and refers clients to other types of healers when appropriate.

15. Interdisciplinary Support for Grief

• Refer Out to Therapists, Astrologers, etc.
  • “As a practitioner, for me, it's got to be—how do I best serve this client?” [74:06]
  • Healing is healthiest as a collective endeavor—no one person has all the answers.

16. John’s New Book and Next Steps

• Chasing Evil

  • Chronicles 30 years assisting an FBI agent, applying his abilities in unexpected ways.
  • Not about crime-solving passion, but fulfilling a sense of duty and service. [91:23]

• Resources for Listeners

  • Evolve Plus TV: John’s online community with workshops and learning for past life regression, numerology, astrology, and more.
  • Recommended book: The Infinite Quest (available on Evolve Plus TV) [94:30]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Skepticism says, I'm not sure. Show me. Cynicism says, I'm sure. No matter what you show me, I'm not going to believe you.” — John Edward [06:00]

• “Nobody needs a reading. They need understanding.” — John Edward [36:29]

• “My goal is to get people to look at life through an energetic lens and not to think that they need the medium.” — John Edward [18:36]

• “Grief is the other side of love.” — John Edward [62:54]

• “No one dies alone… There’s always people, sometimes pets, that come for us.” — John Edward [80:44]

• “Telling stories to people who never knew them… so you’re keeping this three-dimensional archetype of a personality present.” — John Edward [84:21]

• “It should be something that is an asset to their way of life in the way of their thinking, not a crutch.” — John Edward [89:35]

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |-------------|------------------------------------------------------| | 02:49 | Seeking connection vs. closure | | 06:00 | Differentiating skepticism from cynicism | | 10:18 | Scientific studies & HBO documentary | | 15:36 | Explanation of clairvoyance, clairaudience, etc. | | 18:34 | Can anyone develop this ability? | | 23:05 | Spotting and avoiding fraudulent mediums | | 32:06 | How readings supported John's grief | | 36:29 | Who needs a medium, really? | | 43:23 | How John ensures accuracy in information received | | 49:24 | Where do souls “exist” after passing? | | 55:09 | The importance of acknowledging and expressing grief | | 62:54 | Grief as the “other side of love” | | 66:38 | Grief and the Kintsugi metaphor | | 80:44 | “Nobody dies alone” — dying and being accompanied | | 84:21 | How to keep loved ones present in daily life | | 89:35 | Establishing boundaries—avoiding mediumship dependency| | 91:23 | John’s new book: “Chasing Evil” | | 94:30 | Where to start: John's foundational resources |

Final Thoughts & Actions

• Grief is not to be moved on from but lived with and honored.
• Connecting with passed loved ones is about growth, not “answers.”
• Approach all practitioners—mediums, astrologers, therapists—with discernment and healthy skepticism, seeking validation and a supportive collective in healing.
• Find peace by incorporating daily rituals of connection and honoring losses without letting them define or limit your life.

Resources:

• Evolve Plus TV (John Edward's platform)
• The Infinite Quest (John’s book)
• "Chasing Evil" (True crime/casework book)
• Seek numerology/astrology for insight into periods of deep grief

(Summary compiled in the conversational, reflective, and empathetic style matched to Jay Shetty’s “On Purpose.”)