

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

51 snips
Jan 2, 2025 • 48min
The Good Whale - Ep. 1
The podcast dives deep into the life of Keiko, the famous orca from 'Free Willy.' It navigates his traumatic separation from his mother, exploring the emotional bonds formed with his caretakers. Heartwarming yet heartbreaking, it contrasts his joyful moments with the harsh realities of captivity. The discussion raises ethical questions about wildlife conservation, leading to Keiko's ambitious journey towards freedom. Finally, it captures the poignant farewell as the community rallies around him, blending sorrow with hope.

4 snips
Nov 7, 2024 • 3min
The Good Whale - Trailer
Daniel Alarcón, a standout New Yorker writer and novelist, dives into the heartwarming yet controversial story of Keiko, the orca from 'Free Willy.' He sheds light on the ambitious efforts to return Keiko to the ocean after years in captivity. The conversation highlights the emotional journey and ethical dilemmas faced by those involved in his rehabilitation. Alarcón paints a vivid picture of the challenges Keiko encountered, sparking a debate that continues to resonate: were these well-intentioned actions ultimately beneficial?

33 snips
Mar 28, 2024 • 43min
Serial S04 - Ep. 1: Poor Baby Raul
Raul Sanchez, a former Army Specialist and public affairs escort at Guantanamo Bay, shares gripping insights from his time at the infamous prison. He reveals the complex realities of life there, contrasting the vibrant social scene with the grim experiences of detainees. Raul delves into the emotional toll of military operations and the moral struggles faced during force-feeding practices. Personal anecdotes highlight the chaotic dynamics between guards and inmates, emphasizing the humanity often overlooked in this controversial setting.

9 snips
Mar 21, 2024 • 2min
Serial S04 - Trailer
Dive into the intricate world of Guantanamo Bay, where personal stories reveal the absurdities and harsh realities of an improvised justice system. The podcast delves into the moral dilemmas faced by officials and detainees alike, shedding light on the complexities of post-9/11 detentions. Expect compelling narratives that challenge our understanding of human rights and the legal landscape of this controversial facility. It's a gripping exploration of history told through the voices of those who experienced it firsthand.

10 snips
Nov 16, 2023 • 30min
The Kids of Rutherford County - Ep. 1
A police officer investigates a video of children fighting, leading to the arrest of 11 kids. The arrests are not smooth. The controversy surrounding the arrests and the emotional impact on the children are explored. The public outrage and the alarming number of kids being jailed in Rutherford County are discussed. The significance of sharing a video is highlighted.

Oct 19, 2023 • 4min
The Kids of Rutherford County - Trailer
A new show hosted by Maraben Knight explores the arrest of 11 kids for watching a fight, revealing a troubling trend of jailing children in Rutherford County. Brandon shares his experience of being arrested at a young age and the normalization of kids' arrest and detention for minor offenses in Tennessee.

25 snips
Aug 17, 2023 • 58min
The Retrievals S01 - Ep. 1
Patients at a fertility clinic experience excruciating, unexpected pain. A drug-addicted nurse is stealing medication, causing the pain. Multiple patients share their frustration with the clinic. The experiences of women in the healthcare system are explored, with a focus on advocating for themselves. A shocking letter reveals the nurse's actions.

Jun 22, 2023 • 4min
The Retrievals S01 - Trailer
The patients in this story came to the Yale Fertility Center to pursue pregnancy. They began their I.V.F. cycles full of expectation and hope. Then a surgical procedure called egg retrieval caused them excruciating pain.Some of the patients screamed out in the procedure room. Others called the clinic from home to report pain in the hours that followed. But most of the staff members who fielded the patients’ reports did not know the real reason for the pain, which was that a nurse at the clinic was stealing fentanyl, and replacing it with saline.From Serial Productions and The New York Times, The Retrievals is a five-part narrative series reported by Susan Burton, a veteran staff member at “This American Life” and author of the memoir “Empty.”Susan details the events that unfolded at the clinic, and examines how the patients’ distinct identities informed the way they made sense of what happened to them in the procedure room. The nurse, too, has her own story, about her own pain, that she tells to the court. And then there is the story of how this all could have happened at the Yale clinic in the first place.Throughout, Burton explores the stories we tell about women’s pain. How do we tolerate, interpret and account for it? What happens when pain is minimized or dismissed?Episode 1 of The Retrievals arrives Thursday, June 29th.
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.

24 snips
Mar 30, 2023 • 26min
The Coldest Case In Laramie - Episode 1
A Times investigative reporter, Kim Barker, revisits the murder of Shelli Wiley — a long-unsolved case from Kim’s time in high school. She reaches out to Shelli’s family to understand why the police arrested a man named Fred Lamb for Shelli’s murder in 2016, and why prosecutors abruptly dropped the charges against him.
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.

10 snips
Feb 16, 2023 • 5min
The Coldest Case In Laramie - Trailer
Kim Barker, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter for The New York Times, revisits an unsolved murder that took place while she was in high school in Laramie, Wyoming, nearly 40 years ago. She confronts the conflicting stories people have told themselves about the crime because of an unexpected development: the arrest of a former Laramie police officer accused in the murder. All eight episodes of "The Coldest Case in Laramie," a new show from Serial Productions and The New York Times, are available on Thursday, February 23rd 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.


