Serial
Serial Productions & The New York Times
Our newest podcast, “The Preventionist” is out now. Search for it wherever you get your podcasts.
Serial Productions makes narrative podcasts that have transformed the medium. Sign up for our newsletter at nytimes.com/serialnewsletter to find out about new shows, get behind the scenes stories, and see photos and videos you can’t see on a podcast.
To get full access to Serial Productions shows, and to other New York Times podcasts on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, subscribe at nytimes.com/podcasts.
Have a story pitch, a tip, or feedback on our shows? Email us at serialshows@nytimes.com
"Serial" began in 2014 as a spinoff of the public radio show "This American Life." In 2017, we formed Serial Productions when we launched the podcast “S-Town.” Since then, Serial Productions has produced every season of “Serial” along with shows like “Nice White Parents,” “The Trojan Horse Affair,” “The Coldest Case in Laramie,” “The Retrievals” and more. In 2020, we joined the New York Times Company. Our shows have reached many millions of listeners and have won nearly every major journalism award for audio, including the first-ever Peabody Award given to a podcast.
Serial Productions makes narrative podcasts that have transformed the medium. Sign up for our newsletter at nytimes.com/serialnewsletter to find out about new shows, get behind the scenes stories, and see photos and videos you can’t see on a podcast.
To get full access to Serial Productions shows, and to other New York Times podcasts on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, subscribe at nytimes.com/podcasts.
Have a story pitch, a tip, or feedback on our shows? Email us at serialshows@nytimes.com
"Serial" began in 2014 as a spinoff of the public radio show "This American Life." In 2017, we formed Serial Productions when we launched the podcast “S-Town.” Since then, Serial Productions has produced every season of “Serial” along with shows like “Nice White Parents,” “The Trojan Horse Affair,” “The Coldest Case in Laramie,” “The Retrievals” and more. In 2020, we joined the New York Times Company. Our shows have reached many millions of listeners and have won nearly every major journalism award for audio, including the first-ever Peabody Award given to a podcast.
Episodes
Mentioned books
43 snips
Mar 26, 2026 • 29min
The Idiot - Chapter 5
Priscilla, a mother rebuilding stability after assault, shares her life raising O and Elle while navigating legal fights over visitation. She recounts supervised visits gone wrong, a book slipped to her child, and the precautions she now takes to protect her family. Tension rises as the convicted man’s looming release forces difficult questions about safety, truth, and whether reconciliation is possible.
53 snips
Mar 26, 2026 • 1h 3min
The Idiot - Chapter 4
Alan Gessen, a writer and relative of the central figure, speaks at length about his life, relationships, and the path that led to a deadly decision. The conversation traces childhood in Moscow, career highs, intense fatherhood, fraught marriages, and a spiral of shared delusion and pressure. Multiple long interviews reveal how personal history and entwined relationships converged.
71 snips
Mar 26, 2026 • 50min
The Idiot - Chapter 3
Alan Gessen, a lawyer and family member tied to the trial at the center of the story, appears through recorded conversations and courtroom testimony. The show plays undercover FBI recordings that shift a deportation scheme into talk of murder for hire. Courtroom scenes reveal his fraught self-defense and the public unraveling of his claims.
124 snips
Mar 26, 2026 • 50min
The Idiot - Chapter 2
A woman recounts a whirlwind romance that unravels into betrayal, child removal, and legal warfare across countries. She describes violence, arrests, and a harrowing international custody battle. There are tense reunions, traumatic airport seizures, and a long drive to rebuild safety and regain custody.
81 snips
Mar 26, 2026 • 22min
The Idiot - Chapter 1
A family rupture unfolds when an outsider arrives from Moscow with a young child and sparks alarm. Tensions over a flashy, dubious father figure and questions of custody and possible abduction simmer. Legal twists follow, including international filings, an arrest, and a later murder-for-hire allegation that shocks everyone.
33 snips
Mar 19, 2026 • 2min
The Idiot - Trailer
M. Gessen, a New York Times writer who covers totalitarianism and human rights, narrates a family investigation into cousin Alan. Short, punchy scenes explore Alan’s boastful persona, suspicious business claims, and the shocking revelation of an attempted hit. The trailer teases a blend of personal memoir and true crime mystery.
64 snips
Oct 30, 2025 • 40min
The Preventionist - Ep. 1
Mark Pinsley, the elected controller of Lehigh County, dives deep into a shocking investigation of alleged wrongful child abuse accusations stemming from local hospitals. He shares how he stumbled upon disturbing patterns and rallied families to speak out about their trauma. The discussion highlights the complex role of Child Abuse Pediatricians and the dire consequences of misdiagnoses. Mark's pressure on government officials evokes resistance, yet he perseveres to unveil systemic failures, shedding light on the urgent need for reform.
5 snips
Oct 16, 2025 • 3min
The Preventionist - Trailer
In 2023, a reporter uncovered alarming claims against a pediatrician in Pennsylvania, accused of wrongfully labeling families as abusive. Shocking stories reveal parents facing devastating separations from their children due to a single doctor’s unchallenged diagnoses. Families recount the trauma of losing custody without proper investigations, as multiple victims surface under a troubling pattern. The rise of 'child abuse pediatricians' raises critical questions about accountability and the impact of their controversial practices.
32 snips
Aug 7, 2025 • 49min
The Retrievals S02 - Ep. 1
Mindy Figueroa, a dedicated labor and delivery nurse with a flair for photography, shares her passion for healthcare and the unique challenges of her profession. Clara Hochhauser, also a labor and delivery nurse, recounts her emotional journey through childbirth, culminating in a C-section amid severe pain. Together, they explore the intricacies of maternal care, the struggles within the medical system, and the powerful stories that emerge from the delivery room, revealing the resilient spirit of both healthcare workers and mothers.
Jul 10, 2025 • 4min
The Retrievals S02 - Trailer
C-sections are the most frequently performed major surgeries in the world. So why do so many patients feel severe pain during them? Season 2 of the award-winning podcast “The Retrievals” is an investigation into this underreported problem — and the new effort to solve it.Listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Our newest podcast, “The Idiot” is out now. Search for it wherever you get your podcasts.To get full access to this and other Serial Productions and New York Times podcasts on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, subscribe at nytimes.com/podcasts.To find out about new shows from Serial Productions, and get a look behind the scenes, sign up for our newsletter at nytimes.com/serialnewsletter.Have a story pitch, a tip, or feedback on our shows? Email us at serialshows@nytimes.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
