In this solo episode, Daniel wanders through the differences between light and sound, the human voice, ancient bone flutes, hunting bows, the origins of music, mathematical proof, an overenthusiastic interpretation of Kurt Gödel, lucid dreaming, near-death experiences, intelligent design, predation, people who may or may not need to eat, heavenly landscapes full of music, singing as healing, and the possibility that music is somehow a transmission of love.

Somewhere in there, he wonders what music has to do with the ground of being—and with love.

Support the show

A Part of Something explores music, near-death experiences, creativity, and the search for meaning through conversations with musicians, experiencers, and other thoughtful guests.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show and leave a rating or review—it really helps new listeners discover the podcast.

https://www.instagram.com/apartofsomethingpod/

https://www.youtube.com/@apartofsomethingpod

In 1977, musician, author, and psychic Gary Wimmer had an extraordinary experience that changed the way he understood life, consciousness, and death.

In this conversation, Gary recounts the days leading up to that experience, when he says his psychic awareness intensified dramatically, and describes being struck by a car, leaving his body, expanding beyond the physical world, and encountering what he calls “infinite mind.”

We also talk about his spiritual curiosity before the experience, his interest in Edgar Cayce, the development of his psychic work, and his life as a working musician—including the unusual way piano entered his life. Gary shares his views on intention, free will, fear, intuition, and the importance of paying attention to the signs he believes are present all around us.

It’s a wide-ranging conversation about an experience Gary says transformed his understanding of reality—and the beliefs about life, death, and human potential that he carries with him today.

LINKS TO GARY'S BOOKS:

https://www.amazon.com/Second-Eternity-near-death-experience-Infinite/dp/1475268998

https://www.amazon.com/Lithomancy-Psychic-Art-Reading-Stones/dp/1441445714

Support the show

A Part of Something explores music, near-death experiences, creativity, and the search for meaning through conversations with musicians, experiencers, and other thoughtful guests.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show and leave a rating or review—it really helps new listeners discover the podcast.

https://www.instagram.com/apartofsomethingpod/

https://www.youtube.com/@apartofsomethingpod

Neil Salsich has built a wide-ranging musical life—fronting The Mighty Pines, appearing on The Voice, collaborating across projects, and now hosting his own podcast, Meet Me in Music.

In this conversation, we talk about the singers and records that shaped him, his experience on The Voice, and why he’s chosen to keep building his musical life in St. Louis.

We also dig into songwriting, including the stories behind “Juniper” and “Good Luck, Nice to Meet You,” two Mighty Pines songs Neil and I wrote together, and how songs can keep changing long after they’re written.

It’s a conversation about songwriting, performing, collaboration, community, and the long process of finding your own sound. 

Support the show

A Part of Something explores music, near-death experiences, creativity, and the search for meaning through conversations with musicians, experiencers, and other thoughtful guests.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show and leave a rating or review—it really helps new listeners discover the podcast.

https://www.instagram.com/apartofsomethingpod/

https://www.youtube.com/@apartofsomethingpod

Conductor, percussionist, educator, and former college marching band director Sebastian Buhts has followed his musical curiosity from a family tradition of marimba playing to orchestral percussion, conducting, and the study of North Indian tabla in Varanasi.

In this conversation, we talk about the teachers who shaped him, learning music through an oral tradition, the physical and logistical demands of percussion, improvisation, conducting, and the importance of remaining open to new paths.

Sebastian also reflects on generosity in teaching, the role of silence in creativity, and how a musician's identity is formed through mentors, places, disciplines, and years of attentive listening.

Support the show

A Part of Something explores music, near-death experiences, creativity, and the search for meaning through conversations with musicians, experiencers, and other thoughtful guests.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show and leave a rating or review—it really helps new listeners discover the podcast.

https://www.instagram.com/apartofsomethingpod/

https://www.youtube.com/@apartofsomethingpod

It's launch day!

In this brief solo episode, I share a couple of updates before we dive into the first interviews. I explain why I decided to replace my planned Substack read-aloud, why I'm intentionally keeping the production simple for now, and what you can expect from the release schedule going forward.

Thanks for being here at the very beginning of A Part of Something. I appreciate your support, and I hope you'll join me for the conversations to come.

Support the show

A Part of Something explores music, near-death experiences, creativity, and the search for meaning through conversations with musicians, experiencers, and other thoughtful guests.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show and leave a rating or review—it really helps new listeners discover the podcast.

https://www.instagram.com/apartofsomethingpod/

https://www.youtube.com/@apartofsomethingpod

Welcome to the very first episode of A Part of Something.

Why does music matter? What can near-death experiences teach us about creativity, purpose, and the human experience?

In this introductory episode, host Daniel Truran shares the story behind the podcast—how his journey as a songwriter unexpectedly collided with hundreds of accounts of near-death experiences, leading him to ask new questions about music, consciousness, and what it means to create.

Daniel also introduces the conversations to come, featuring musicians, near-death experiencers, and other fascinating guests whose stories challenge assumptions and invite curiosity.

Whether you're here because you love music, you're interested in near-death experiences, or you're simply drawn to thoughtful conversations, welcome. This is just the beginning.

Support the show

A Part of Something explores music, near-death experiences, creativity, and the search for meaning through conversations with musicians, experiencers, and other thoughtful guests.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show and leave a rating or review—it really helps new listeners discover the podcast.

https://www.instagram.com/apartofsomethingpod/

https://www.youtube.com/@apartofsomethingpod

This is the first introduction to A Part of Something—a podcast exploring music, near-death experiences, and the deeper questions of meaning, consciousness, and what it means to be human.

In this initial trailer, Daniel shares a bit about why the show exists, what it may become, and the kinds of conversations to expect. The podcast will feature interviews with musicians, near-death experiencers, and others with unique perspectives, alongside reflective solo episodes.

New episodes are planned to begin in June 2026.

Support the show

A Part of Something explores music, near-death experiences, creativity, and the search for meaning through conversations with musicians, experiencers, and other thoughtful guests.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show and leave a rating or review—it really helps new listeners discover the podcast.

https://www.instagram.com/apartofsomethingpod/

https://www.youtube.com/@apartofsomethingpod