Archive 81 Presents... The Truth

Episode: Here I Am
Release Date: December 18, 2025
Podcast Host: Dead Signals
Guest Podcast Featured: The Truth

Episode Overview

This episode of Archive 81 is a cross-promotion, showcasing an episode from the acclaimed fiction podcast The Truth. The presented story, "Here I Am," is a haunting, emotionally rich audio drama, focusing on a family grappling with disconnect, hope, and the search for meaning when faced with profound disability. At its heart, the story centers on a mother, Rosemary, who believes her nonverbal, disabled son, Jason, is communicating with her through music, and her struggle to bridge the gap between her faith in this connection and her husband Tom’s skepticism and grief.

Key Discussion Points & Storyline Breakdown

Introduction to "The Truth" and This Story

• [00:01] Host A introduces The Truth, highlighting its reputation for cinematic sound design and emotionally resonant stories.
• [03:08] Jonathan Mitchell, creator of The Truth, introduces today’s story:
  • “Imagine you had no way to let the world know you're here. How long could you go on before you started to wonder whether you really exist at all? ... Today's story is about a mother who listens, a father who can't, and a boy who's simply trying to tell them both: Here I am.”

Family Tensions and Unspoken Grief

• [02:00–03:00] Tense domestic dynamics: Rosemary and Tom disagree about the care of their son Jason, who is severely disabled and nonverbal.
• [08:00–14:30] Tom’s internal monologue reveals his struggle:
  • He rationalizes emotional withdrawal and rigidity, cycling through daily routines to dull his pain.
  • He is haunted by the life and family he imagined—a stark contrast to his reality.

Rosemary’s Determination: Music as Connection

• [04:38–06:34] Rosemary pursues piano lessons, motivated by a need to express something for her son, not for musical achievement.

  • Piano teacher Ms. (Phyllis) Dockery emphasizes discipline and technical proficiency.
  • Rosemary says, “I have a feeling that now is a good time to learn.” [05:32]

• [19:30–23:21] Rosemary confides in her teacher:

  • “My son is beaming music into my head… I think I'm gonna have a nervous breakdown because it won't stop.” [22:04]
  • She believes that Jason is telepathically sending her music and her role is to bring it into the world.

Philosophy, Embodiment, and Music

• [20:06–22:04] Ms. Dockery uses the Brahms sonata as a metaphor for musical embodiment:
  • “Do you see what I'm getting at? There’s something of Brahms alive in my hands.” [21:18]
  • “This isn't about learning some tunes. This is communion, an embodiment.”

The Father’s Isolation and Despair

• [08:00–14:30] Tom’s repetitive narration displays his alienation and cyclical thinking.
  • “You look at yourself sometimes and realize just how weird it is that this is what you've become.” [09:55]
  • He admits to his own sense of failure and wishes, at moments, that his son did not survive his severe condition—a deeply painful admission tempered by shame.

Poetic Inner Life: Jason’s Mind

• [16:38–18:53] Jason’s perspective emerges in poetic, abstract passages:
  • “I am no one. I have no body. Distribution of intelligence. Of fractal. I am nowhere. I am melody. I am rhythm…” [17:40]
  • These segments evoke Jason as a presence distributed throughout music, sound, and the cosmos.

The Recital and Reconnection

• [26:08–31:23] The story culminates in a small recital:
  • Ms. Dockery: “I am here to say I am indeed very much surprised by [Rosemary’s] tenacity and hard work... much, much more.” [26:08]
  • As Rosemary plays alongside Jason and Ms. Dockery, the boundary between Jason’s inner world and the outside world blurs.
  • The music serves as a bridge, allowing the family—and especially Tom—to sense Jason’s “voice.”
  • After the performance, Tom’s skepticism begins to crack, and the family experiences a moment of profound connection.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Opening Poem/Chorus:

  • “Here I am. Here I am. Here I am. With nobody. Hear my words with no body.” — [01:03] (Jason’s voice?)

• Jonathan Mitchell’s Introduction:

  • “Imagine you had no way to let the world know you’re here...” — Jonathan Mitchell [03:08]

• Ms. Dockery on Music and Embodiment:

  • “There’s something of Brahms alive in my hands. This isn’t about learning some tunes. This is a communion, an embodiment.” — Ms. Dockery [21:18]

• Rosemary’s Mission:

  • “My son is beaming music into my head... and I have to express it for him.” — Rosemary [22:04]

• Jason’s Poetic Monologue:

  • “I am a shape shifter. I am flowy, calming. I move between things. The universe is a polyphonic chorus of time and event. I am melody. I am rhythm.” — Jason [17:28]

• Final Family Reconnection:

  • “Here I am. I am here. Am I here?” — Jason [30:54]
  • “Here you are.” — Tom [31:20]
  • “Here we are.” — Rosemary [31:23]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:01 – Host introduction of The Truth podcast and episode
• 03:08 – Jonathan Mitchell’s story setup
• 07:06 – Home dynamics: piano practice and Tom’s growing alienation
• 08:00–14:30 – Tom’s internal monologue and emotional distance
• 16:38–18:53 – Jason’s poetic, inner consciousness revealed
• 19:30 – Rosemary confesses her purpose for playing piano to Ms. Dockery
• 22:04 – Dialogue about music as communication from Jason
• 23:21 – Rosemary’s push for a recital to prove Jason’s “voice”
• 26:08 – The recital begins
• 27:27–31:23 – Musical performance and emotional climax—connection between Jason, Rosemary, and Tom

Tone and Language

The episode maintains a deeply empathetic, poetic, and sometimes surreal tone. The language is naturalistic in dialogue but shifts into lyrical, abstract expression during Jason’s interior monologues. The performances deliver heartbreak, hope, and ambiguity with sensitivity and no easy answers.

Summary for Listeners

"Here I Am" uses the intimacy of audio drama to explore what it means to truly listen—to loved ones, to ourselves, and to those who cannot speak. It’s a meditation on embodiment, loss, and faith; a story where music becomes the voice for the voiceless and a tentative hope for a fractured family.

Listeners journey through frustration and longing, ultimately arriving at a quietly transformative moment where music becomes the bridge between isolation and connection. This episode is a prime example of The Truth’s mastery of story, sound, and emotional depth.