Serial

Honestly, I can't, like, did I listen to a podcast the entire 2000s? I can't be sure.

I think probably, but it could have not happened, you know? And so I think really podcasts like percolated to another level when it sort of did for everybody else in America, which is when Serial happened.

It's kind of a cliche, like how much in these conversations about podcasts, everyone's like, then Serial happened.

And it was like a giant changing moment.

And you're like, oh, no, but it was.

That's what happened.

From This American Life and WBEZ Chicago, it's Serial.

One story told week by week.

I think probably, but it Could have not happened, you know.

And so I think really podcasts like percolated to another level when it sort of did for everybody else in America, which is when Serial happened.

It's kind of a cliche, like how much in these conversations about podcasts, everyone's like, then Serial happened.

And it was like a giant changing moment.

And you're like, oh, no, but it was.

That's what happened.

From This American Life and WBEZ Chicago, it's Serial.

One story told week by week.

Honestly, I can't, like, did I listen to a podcast the entire 2000s? I can't be sure.

I think probably, but it could have not happened, you know? And so I think really podcasts like percolated to another level when it sort of did for everybody else in America, which is when Serial happened.

It's kind of a cliche, like how much in these conversations about podcasts, everyone's like, then Serial happened.

And it was like a giant changing moment.

And you're like, oh, no, but it was.

That's what happened.

From This American Life and WBEZ Chicago, it's Serial.

One story told week by week.

But, you know, fast forward to the 21st century and it's it's fair to say, in fact, it's probably not even fair to say it's accurate to say that the recent tidal wave of true crime was indeed started by a podcast.

And that podcast is Serial, the spinoff of This American Life that was started by Sarah Koenig and Julie Snyder.

Their first season followed the story of Adnan Syed, who was convicted in the 1999 murder of his ex-girlfriend, Hayman Lee.

And it is, without a doubt, a crazy story with more twists and turns than we can possibly get into here.

Those episodes in the first season have been downloaded more than 300 million times.

It's like the most downloaded podcast ever.

And the success of Serial resulted in an explosion of content.

mostly for podcasts and television.

Alan, murder me?

That's a clip from the podcast The Idiot by my guest Em Gessen, an opinion columnist for The New York Times and Serial.

When I heard that moment, it really stayed with me because it was such a great description of a moment of shock, like a feeling shock.

Yeah, I love her image, that image of water running through a sieve, because I think we've all experienced that when you're receiving information and you can't absorb it.

We're coming up on a break, but after the break, I do want to talk to you about what you said, Emma, about... what it would take to sort of facilitate a relationship with him, with his family.

Again, especially for when he comes out, we're talking about a podcast that really explores the complexities of having a family member commit a terrible and unthinkable act and how broadly it affects members of the family and how deeply as well it affects our own sense of who we are and beliefs that we've held.

It's called The Idiot and it's by my guest M. Gessen and from Serial and the New York Times.

More after the break.