He was pulled beneath a speeding train… and awakened to something beyond this world.

David Ditchfield was saying goodbye to a friend when his coat became trapped in the closing doors of a train. He was dragged under the moving cars, suffering massive trauma and blood loss. As surgeons fought to save his life, David left his body—and entered another realm entirely.

In his near-death experience, David encountered guides who enveloped him in peace, love, and a sense of cosmic belonging. When he returned, everything had changed. Despite having no formal training in art or music, he began composing symphonies and painting vivid works inspired by what he saw on the other side.

This episode explores the mystery of where creativity comes from, and how a brush with death can awaken something extraordinary within us.

Story producer: Kate Sweeney.

For more on David and his symphony, you can read his book, “Shine On: The Remarkable Story Of How I Fell Under A Speeding Train, Journeyed To The Afterlife, And The Astonishing Proof I Brought Back With Me”

Or visit David’s Website, and check out his social medial links:
David on Instagram
David on Threads
David on YouTube
David on Facebook
David on SoundCloud
David on X

Warning: This series contains graphic descriptions of trauma, violence, abuse, and other content that may not be suitable for certain listeners.

* If you have a transformative experience to share, we’d love to hear your story. Please email us at aliveagainproject@gmail.com

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In this hauntingly evocative episode, the ferryman, brought to life with the profound resonance of Dan Fogler's voice, guides a soul whose legacy is as complex as it is misunderstood. Mary Mallon, known to history as Typhoid Mary, voiced by Therese McLaughlin, steps aboard, her story a chilling reminder of the fine line between victim and villain, between innocence and culpability.

As the vessel navigates the murky waters of moral ambiguity, Mary recounts her life, marked by an invisible specter that cast a long shadow over her existence. This "shadow man," a personification of death and disease, becomes a constant companion, a dark figure lurking in the peripheries of her vision, a harbinger of the outbreaks that follow in her wake.

In this episode, we delve into the depths of Mary's psyche, exploring the experience of being branded a pariah, the first known asymptomatic carrier of typhoid fever in the United States. Quarantined for nearly three decades, Mary's existence became a living testament to the fear and misunderstanding surrounding infectious diseases– a dread that is alive and well today.

But beneath the surface of this tragic tale lies a deeper question: Was her "shadow man" merely a monster, the embodiment of the death she unwittingly spread, or was he her ally, a warning of the unseen dangers she posed? As Mary reflects on her life, she reveals the anguish and defiance of a woman caught in the gears of the Industrial Revolution, witnessing first-hand the suffering of workers and the impoverished. Did she weaponize herself against the wealthy families she served, turning her condition into an instrument of vengeance or retribution for the injustices she observed?

Written by Nicholas Tecosky

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In this emotionally resonant and poetic episode of The Passage, the Ferryman navigates the complex structural and emotional landscapes crafted by one of America's most iconic figures. Frank Lloyd Wright, voiced by Michael Cooke (Mulholland Drive), a visionary architect, designer, and educator, awaits in a realm of his own creation—a self-designed purgatory where the lines of genius and sorrow blur.

As they traverse this meticulously constructed space, a manifestation of Wright's philosophy of organic architecture harmonizing with humanity and the environment, the Ferryman engages with the architect in a dialogue that spans the spectrum of creativity and tragedy. Wright reflects on his illustrious career, a span of seven decades during which he shaped the architectural movements of the twentieth century and left an indelible mark.

However, the conversation soon delves deeper, into the shadows of a personal tragedy that haunted Wright—the brutal mass murder at his beloved Taliesin estate. While he was away, his mistress, her children, and his servants were mercilessly killed, a horrifying act that imprinted itself upon his soul and cast a long shadow over his achievements and days.

In this episode, the Ferryman becomes a visitor in Wright's self-imposed exile, a space where the great architect grapples with the duality of his legacy—of monumental creations and an intimate catastrophe. Wright confronts the haunting questions of regret and blame, pondering the price of greatness and the fragility of the human spirit amidst the structures meant to celebrate and shelter it.

In this episode of The Passage, listeners are invited to explore the inner chambers of Frank Lloyd Wright's mind and heart, where the foundations of brilliance are interwoven with the tremors of personal loss and remorse.

It’s a journey through the corridors of creativity and the hidden alcoves of grief, where the blueprint of regret forms the architecture of a soul seeking peace and understanding.

Written by Christeene Alcosiba

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