When Sarah Koenig first dropped her podcast Serial, it captured the attention of millions of listeners around the world. So much so, that since it’s release in 2014, it has been downloaded a staggering 340 million times, establishing a world record yet to be broken. It combines a few things you can’t really go wrong with — high school drama, mystery and true crime. And now after nearly eight years, a new episode is set to drop tomorrow.
Serial Podcast
If you’re a podcast fan, chances are you’re already well aware of the fascination behind Serial. If you’re only hearing about it now, it’s a nonfiction podcast narrated by investigative journalist Sarah Koenig exactly like it’s catchphrase — one story told week by week. Focusing on the murder of high school student Hae Min Lee and the subsequent conviction of her boyfriend Adnan Syed, Koenig takes a deep dive into the case, slowly unravelling the story of what transpired in the city on Baltimore in 1999.
At the beginning of episode 1 she says, “For the last year, I’ve spent every working day trying to figure out where a high-school kid was for an hour after school one day in 1999.”
What follows are 12 engrossing and frustrating episodes that quickly became part of the cultural zeitgeist at the time.
Syed and his family and friends have long maintained his innocence and today, a judge in Baltimore has overturned the conviction effectively making Syed a free man after more than 22 years in prison. While prosecutors are yet to decide if all charges against him will be dropped or if a new trial will be requested, this does mean one thing for certain — a new Serial episode is on the horizon.
Serial confirmed the news via Twitter.
The new episode will release tomorrow morning US time. That’s Wednesday, September 21 Australia and New Zealand time. Keen to know what all the buzz is about? HBO has produced a documentary called The Case Against Adnan Syed which is available to watch on Apple TV. But really the best way to get clued-up is through the podcast. You won’t regret it. Find it on Spotify and keep your eyes peeled on Serial’s website for updates.