Podcast Summary: The Drop the Needle Podcast
Episode 46 | The Science of the Soul: Authentic Awakening with Kelly Schwegel
Host: Jim Alstott
Guest: Kelly Schwegel
Date: November 6, 2025
Overview
This episode centers on the intersection of science and spirituality, exploring the journey of authentic awakening through the lens of Kelly Schwegel—a gifted clairvoyant, healer, and mentor. Jim Alstott and Kelly discuss how scientific principles ground spiritual experiences, the importance of authenticity, the challenges and gifts of neurodivergence, and the role of music in personal evolution. Personal anecdotes, memorable stories, and actionable advice make this episode an engaging resource for anyone curious about spiritual growth, healing, and self-acceptance.
Kelly Schwegel’s Journey & Spiritual Background
[02:21 – 05:02]
- Kelly narrates her early spiritual experiences, beginning with out-of-body encounters at age six and ongoing clairvoyance from age eight.
- Describes her mainstream background in education, later shifting to holistic healing and channeling.
- Talks about her holistic healing center, international travel, writing books, and eventual return to Wisconsin.
- Current roles: guiding clients in emotional healing, medical intuition, tarot, and integrating spirituality into daily life.
Notable Quote:
"I tried to pretend that I wasn’t clairvoyant and wasn’t odd, which I was...And then went, no, this is not me."
– Kelly, [03:00]
Integrating Science and Spirituality
[05:02 - 07:51]
- Jim praises Kelly’s approach: blending “woo woo” with scientific rigor, particularly through quantum physics and biology.
- Kelly shares her love for quantum physics and the concept that understanding both physical and metaphysical realms leads to true balance.
Notable Quote:
"We can say the word woo woo, but I really call it reality. A physicist that I listened to one time said…those who had one foot in this world and one foot in another…are actually the most balanced."
– Kelly, [06:42]
Authenticity, Awakening, and Navigating Judgment
[09:23 - 19:15]
- Discussion around the process of awakening and the struggle of being authentic in a world that often doesn’t understand spirituality.
- Jim and Kelly reflect on hiding spiritual sides due to societal expectations; stress the importance of "allowing your authentic self to come in."
- Kelly shares her experience of presenting spiritual concepts to a state leadership team using science (human “torus” field, biophotons).
- Warns about the "identity" trap in spiritual communities—advising to stay authentic without needing external markers or titles.
Notable Quotes:
"If you’re non-authentic, they’re going to know it. If you’re authentic, they’re going to know it."
– Kelly, [13:03]
"You don’t have to wear feather earrings and tie-dye... You can just be you. Our gifts become normal when we’re not trying to put on an act."
– Kelly, [15:26]
Continuous Growth & The Myth of Completion
[17:27 – 19:15]
- Jim debunks the idea of “completing” spiritual awakening (e.g., referencing Dolores Cannon’s 12 stages). Kelly emphasizes that lessons and growth never stop, even for evolved souls.
- The importance of learning to "work the human," meaning understanding both oneself and others, to thrive and help others.
Meeting People Where They Are & The Role of Belief Systems
[20:08 - 27:24]
- Emphasis on empathy and non-judgment; not everyone is ready for spiritual topics, and that’s okay.
- Kelly shares the Essene perspective: don’t try to awaken those who aren’t ready; instead, comfort, guide, or accompany them as needed.
- Frequencies of communication: people cannot receive messages not aligned with their current frequency—“Different radio stations.”
Notable Quotes:
"Those who are ready to be awakened, they will find us and we will help awaken them. And those who are already awake, we’ll just help keep them on their path."
– Kelly, [24:14]
"When we speak, it has a frequency... They can’t receive your frequency of the words that you’re saying. You’re just on different radio stations."
– Kelly, [26:53]
Neurodivergence, Sensitivity, and Healing
[28:33 - 36:31]
- Kelly explains many mature or older souls are neurodivergent and/or highly sensitive.
- Being “too”—“too emotional, too different, too sensitive”—is common among spiritually gifted individuals. Jim shares his own formative experience being labeled as such.
- Kelly guides Jim through a healing meditation for suppressed childhood trauma, demonstrating the power of addressing root emotional blocks.
Notable Quote:
"Those who are neurodivergent... it’s a unique and valuable way of seeing the world. But you have to learn to understand your sensitivity."
– Kelly, [28:39]
Healing & Self-Empowerment in the Meditative State
[35:25 – 36:31]
- Kelly clarifies her approach is a blend of hypnosis and meditation where the client is empowered to guide their own inner healing.
- Healing is framed as a continual, self-driven process rather than an act performed upon someone.
Neurodivergence, Clairvoyance, and Short-Circuiting
[36:31 – 44:43]
- Insight into the correlation between neurodivergence, clairvoyance, sensitivity, and chronic illness (especially autoimmune).
- The phenomenon of “short-circuiting”—emotional/energetic overload in sensitive individuals.
- Emphasis on self-care: learning to clear energy, develop grounding routines, and set healthy energetic boundaries.
Practical Tips:
- Grounding: feeling safe in the body, healing trauma.
- Surrounding: inviting in higher energy.
- Shielding: healthy boundaries from a place of ownership, not defensiveness.
The Phoenix Metaphor & The Journey to Self-Love
[45:52 - 54:24]
- Kelly shares her Phoenix poem, illustrating the cycles of breaking, healing, and rebirth.
- Vulnerably describes her own “dark night” and the transformational experience of finally discovering self-love.
Memorable Moment:
"I realized I truly believed I was sick, I was bad, I was worthless, and I was broken... Later that day, I got into a meditation... And I came out of that meditation and I... felt so light... I was like, oh my God, that’s self-love. Oh. And I realized I had never felt it before."
– Kelly, [52:07 - 54:13]
The Role of Music: The Soundtrack of Our Lives
[55:02 - 67:26]
Kelly answers Jim’s signature set of musical questions, exploring how music shapes identity, healing, and joy:
- First song fell in love with: “The Tide is High” by Blondie
- Family road trip song: “Mah Nà Mah Nà” (family singing in harmony, a cherished memory)
- High school cruising song: “Little Red Corvette” (Prince), “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” (Cyndi Lauper)
- College musical shift: From pop to classic rock legends (Van Morrison, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, etc.)
- Pick-me-up song: Anything she can sing along to—singing itself is uplifting
- Guilty pleasure: Musicals, “Just Around the Riverbend” from Pocahontas
- Song that could change the world: “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel
"This earth was meant to be on fire, and as souls, if everything is going well, why change? ...that song, if you really listen to it, we didn't start that fire, honey. It's been burning since the world's been turning."
– Kelly, [62:17] - Song that feels personally written for her:
- “32 Flavors” by Ani DiFranco – for its message of misunderstood depth
- “Wonder” by Natalie Merchant – about embracing being different and seen as an enigma
Memorable Quotes & Segment Highlights
-
On Authenticity and Self-Expression:
"Life is so much easier… Doing your soul’s work, your inner work is hard work, but it is the only work that makes your life easy."
– Kelly, [49:50] -
On The Ongoing Journey:
"The hardest thing about doing any of your inner work is taking the first step. Once you take the first step... the rest just unfolded."
– Kelly, [50:45] -
On Spiritual Growth:
"Our gifts become normal because we’re not trying to put on an act... The more that you are you, the more it normalizes it for other people."
– Kelly, [15:38]
Key Takeaways
- Spiritual awakening is a life-long process—not a one-time event.
- Authenticity is power: embracing your true self, without the need for labels, invites positive change in you and others.
- Science and spirituality are not mutually exclusive: understanding quantum physics and neurobiology can deepen, not detract from, spiritual experience.
- Sensitivity and neurodivergence are gifts: With proper self-care and understanding, what may feel like a burden can be turned into powerful intuition and healing ability.
- Healing requires vulnerability and self-exploration: Confronting and loving the innermost parts of ourselves yields the greatest transformation.
- Music is a unifying and healing force: our personal soundtracks reflect our inner and outer journeys.
- Allow others to awaken at their own pace: meet people where they are, and offer guidance only when they’re ready.
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Kelly’s background and spiritual awakening: [02:21 – 05:02]
- The science behind spirituality: [06:42 – 07:51]
- Authenticity, labels, and spiritual identity: [09:23 – 15:52]
- Handling judgment, “meeting people where they are”: [20:08 – 27:30]
- Neurodivergence and “short-circuiting”: [28:33 – 44:43]
- The Phoenix metaphor and self-love: [45:52 – 54:24]
- Musical questions and the healing power of music: [55:02 – 67:46]
Connect with Kelly
Email: kelly@kellyschwegel.com
Facebook: Find Kelly on Facebook
Kelly works by referral and typically vets new clients for alignment before sessions.
Closing Reflection
This episode blends heartfelt stories, practical spiritual wisdom, actionable science, and a celebration of music’s role in our healing and joy. Whether you’re on your own awakening path, supporting others, or simply seeking inspiration, Kelly’s journey and Jim’s thoughtful facilitation provide a roadmap for embracing your authentic self, healing old wounds, and honoring the soundtrack of your life.
(For the full musical playlist and Kelly’s socials, see the show notes linked in this episode.)