This was a day several years in the making, since artist Michael Rakowitz first proposed the project in 2014. Then, legendary Iraqi broadcaster (and Rakowitz’s inspiration) Bahjat Abdulwahed was still alive. Over the years, the project evolved into its current form, becoming less about sound and more about silence—speechlessness, secrets, censorship, and more. Bahjat does speak in Episode #1, but the podcast is also populated by stories and memories too painful to speak until now, too strange in coincidence to believe. Last summer, we saw the live performance of Rakowitz’s radio play out on Independence Mall, but the true culmination of the project is now on the airwaves.

It occurred to me, sitting on the carpet with my mug of tea, how little room is made for apology in this country, when there is so much in our collective history to apologize for, and so many nuanced experiences to acknowledge. Art can give us an opening into that unfamiliar space, where reflection and rebuilding are possible. Radio Silence may be specific to the Iraqi diaspora—a story that deserves attention—but it’s also full of important reminders that apply to us all: The past lives on in our memories. Our misdeeds do not define us, though we cannot ignore them. The loudest voice is not always the one you should listen to. There is always another side to the story.

Radio Silence episodes will air weekly through May 27, on WPPM PhillyCAM Radio 106.5 FM, and community radio stations across the country with support from the Prometheus Radio Project. The podcast is distributed nationwide through Public Radio Exchange (PRX), and through iTunes and the Radio Silence website.

Major support for Radio Silence has been provided by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, with additional support from The National Endowment for the Arts, and the Hummingbird Foundation. Project collaborators and partners include a host of agencies and nonprofits that work on refugee and veteran issues, as well as independent community-driven media nonprofits.