The moment you meet Ioanna Serpanos, you feel it—a serene stillness, a comforting sense that you are truly seen, heard, and held in safe space. As a gifted psychic medium, dedicated mentor, and the founder of the Ignition Member Community, Ioanna brings more than insight; she brings transformation. With over two decades of experience and internationally recognized credentials, Ioanna has guided countless individuals through grief, spiritual awakening, and personal discovery. Her practice isn’t just about connecting with Spirit—it’s about empowering others to discover their own intuitive gifts and soul’s path. Whether you’re seeking clarity through a psychic reading, healing from a mediumship session, or mentorship in developing your own abilities, Ioanna offers a rare blend of compassion, wisdom, and grounded expertise. In this intimate Mystic Mag‘s interview, we explore the heart of Ioanna’s work, her journey to becoming a leading voice in spiritual development, and why she believes everyone can—and should—learn to give Spirit a voice.
Your background includes both spiritual mediumship and a career in engineering—how did you bridge the gap between such seemingly different worlds, and how has your analytical mind supported your spiritual work?
Originally, I was trained as an electronics engineer and spent around 15 years working in the automotive industry, where I had an incredible career. I rose rapidly through the corporate ranks and achieved significant success in the business world. My last role before transitioning into full-time mediumship was as the General Manager of the entire Australian sales division of a multinational company—a position I truly loved.
My brain was trained logically and scientifically, and I thrived in the world of new technology and innovation. It was something I lived and breathed. But quietly, in the background, there was another side of me—the medium and the psychic. This part of me has deep roots in my maternal lineage. My grandmother, my mother’s mother, was an extraordinary seer and gifted medium. Although she never practiced publicly or professionally, everyone in her Greek village knew of her abilities. Despite this, she kept her gifts mostly to herself.
Over time, that quiet inner voice began to grow louder. In my late 20s and early 30s, I began exploring what this part of me was truly about. What I discovered was profound: science and spirituality are two sides of the same coin. There is deep spiritual truth in science, and equally, there is science to be found in spirituality.
I believe my logical, analytical training has actually enhanced my mediumistic abilities. It allows me to bring structure and clarity to my readings and teachings—something I’m well known for. Teaching mediumship is my core passion. My mind naturally focuses on detail, and this enables me to deliver highly accurate and specific evidence during readings. It’s this blend of science and spirit that truly defines my work.
You emphasize raising the standards of mediumship. In an era of spiritual saturation, what do you believe truly separates a competent, ethical medium from the rest?
I believe that truth, integrity, and honesty are essential in this work. I refer to them as the three R’s: Respect, Reverence, and Responsibility—especially when working with spirit.
I also believe that one of the cornerstones of strong mediumship is quality mentorship. Having a truly great mentor during your development can make all the difference. It’s often what separates a capable medium from someone who simply believes they are one. There are many people who think they are mediums but are not, and many more who don’t understand what evidential mediumship really is—and that is the key.
Evidential mediumship means we must categorically prove that we are connecting with who we say we are. We do this by bringing through enough specific and verifiable information in a reading—this is what we call evidence. Evidence can take many forms: facts and figures such as names, dates, addresses, or occupations; characteristics and mannerisms unique to the spirit communicator; shared memories between the spirit and the sitter; and awareness of current events in the sitter’s life, proving that the spirit remains connected even after leaving the physical world.
Maintaining high standards in mediumship also means we must commit to continuous personal development. We need to work with integrity and ethical responsibility. That includes healing as much of our own trauma as possible, so we don’t unintentionally project unresolved issues into the reading space.
It’s especially important to remember that we are often dealing with people in deep grief or emotional crisis. The difference between being a “wow” medium and being an empathetic one lies in our ability to meet those people with compassion and sensitivity, not just shock value.
Great mediumship isn’t about performance—it’s about connection, healing, and service.
What type of services do you offer?
As I mentioned, my core competency lies in my work as the founder of The Ignition Online Mediumship School, where I offer three levels of education for aspiring and developing mediums.
Level 1, called The Emerging Medium, is designed for those who are just beginning their journey—whether they’re simply curious, new to mediumship, or feeling a little unsure. This level introduces the core foundational mechanics of mediumship in a self-paced environment. The course includes visual content, video lessons where I personally guide you through the material, and a comprehensive workbook to help reinforce your learning.
Level 2, The Evidential Medium, is where most developing mediums find themselves. This level dives deeply into what constitutes strong evidence, how to present it effectively, and how to handle common challenges such as receiving little information, navigating client “no’s,” and maintaining flow in a session. It’s a comprehensive and practical training for mediums who are ready to step into more advanced practice.
What truly sets me apart on the global stage, however, is Level 3, The Professional Medium. This module not only builds on advanced mediumship skills but also integrates over 25 years of my personal experience in business. In this course, I outline exactly how to establish and run a spiritual business—something many spiritual practitioners struggle with. We cover essential topics such as legal requirements, financial planning, ethical considerations, and professional responsibility. This level is unique in that it bridges the often-overlooked gap between spiritual practice and business success, a combination very few teachers are able to offer.
In addition to teaching, I continue to offer mediumship and psychic readings, as well as a unique service not commonly found: the Spiritual Assessment. In these sessions, I work with clients around the world to analyze and identify their spiritual and psychic abilities. We discuss where their skills currently are, how they’ve developed, what’s present, and what potential path lies ahead. This is a valuable checkpoint for many individuals seeking clarity on their developmental timeline and guidance on how to progress and bring their gifts to the forefront.
Another key aspect of my work is one-on-one mentoring, which extends beyond spiritual development and into professional life. Thanks to my strong business background, I work with many business owners—including a significant number of male clients—helping them apply intuitive insight to their work and leadership. These mentoring sessions often blend spiritual tools with practical strategy, providing a well-rounded and transformative experience.
As a mother and a mentor, how do you balance the sacred work of Spirit with everyday life? What lessons from mediumship do you bring into parenting?
You know, I often say this: I’m a mother to one gorgeous, beautiful young lady—my 17-year-old daughter—and she is truly my greatest teacher. She’s also an incredible medium in her own right: incredibly strong and deeply gifted. It’s quite extraordinary to witness.
From day one, I raised her to understand and respect spirit—starting with her own spirit. Because we, too, are spirit incarnated. I’ve taught her to honor who she is at her core, to trust herself, to listen to her heart, to notice the signs around her, and to move through the world with empathy and presence. I’ve always encouraged her to live in service—not as a servant to others or to herself, but by asking the simple question: How can I make this world a better place?
As any parent knows, being a parent is challenging no matter how spiritual you are. And it can be even more intense when you’re raising an aware, intuitive child. In my book Giving Spirit a Voice: The Mechanics of Mediumship, I actually dedicate an entire chapter to parenting spiritually gifted children. That chapter was born from my experiences with my daughter, who has always felt like a little sage—wise beyond her years.
Let me share a story that beautifully captures her spirit. When she was just four years old, she asked me, “Mummy, what is love?” Not exactly your average question from a four-year-old. I tried to explain it to her—I gave her examples, told her how it feels—but I couldn’t seem to define it in a way that satisfied her… or me. I stopped mid-sentence and said, “Well, what do you think it is, my darling?”
And she said, simply: “It’s a party in your heart.”
I just crumbled. Because yes—that’s exactly what it is.
So yes, this journey has been full of wonder and growth. And I think it’s important to remember that no matter how spiritual we are, we also need to give ourselves grace. At the end of the day, we’re still having a human experience. Being spiritual doesn’t automatically make us better parents or guarantee success—but it does greatly enrich the experience of parenting. It brings more awareness, more compassion, and more depth to every step of the way.
Your book, Giving Spirit A Voice, is a practical manual. What inspired you to write it, and what gap were you hoping to fill in the mediumship learning journey?
When I published my book in 2019, it came from a deep need I had identified in the mediumship community. Before writing it, I had searched extensively for a manual I could recommend to my students—something practical, clear, and instructional to help them learn mediumship. But I couldn’t find one. I looked everywhere. While there were many beautiful books filled with personal stories and experiences of mediums, there were very few that actually explained what mediumship is and how to do it in a structured way.
That’s when I felt inspired to create a solution myself—because I’m a doer at heart (that’s the engineer in me!). So, I decided to write the book I wished had existed. I’m proud to say that I channeled it, I wrote it, and over the course of a couple of years—while also being a full-time mum—it finally came to life.
Because of my background and training, the book is very structured and clear. I’ve received nothing but positive feedback from readers and students. Many have told me, “This is my go-to book!” They love that they can dip in and out of it at any point in their development. Each chapter includes a set of exercises designed to help readers actively build their mediumship skills.
I also created a companion book—a Mediumship Journal—which goes hand-in-hand with the main book. The journal allows students to track their development, reflect on their experiences, and deepen their connection to their own soul. It includes additional exercises and space for personal insight, along with guided instructions to help support spiritual growth.
Together, these two resources form a comprehensive foundation that can be used anywhere, by anyone, at any stage of their mediumship journey.
To complete the toolkit, I developed a third resource: my Spirit LY App—a spirituality app that includes my guided meditations for sitting in the power, connecting with spirit, clearing your energy, and setting your intention. It also includes a range of exercises students can practise directly within the app.
So altogether, I’ve created an integrated set of tools—book, journal, and app—that students around the world can access anytime, anywhere. My goal has always been to provide high-quality, accessible education and support for those called to this path.
