02: The Breakup
Their relationship began like a storybook high-school romance. But unlike other kids, they had to keep their dating secret.
Serial is the ground-breaking podcast from the creators of This American Life that became a cultural phenomenon in its first season. Hosted by Sarah Koenig, Serial follows one story — a true story — over the course of an entire season. Sarah and her team follow the plot and characters wherever they take them, and they won’t know what happens at the end of the story until they get there. Each week they bring you the latest chapter, so it’s important to listen in order, starting with Episode 1. If you haven’t heard the critically-acclaimed podcast’s first season, check it out now.
Their relationship began like a storybook high-school romance. But unlike other kids, they had to keep their dating secret.
Hae Min Lee, a popular high-school senior, disappears. Detectives arrest her ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, for her murder. He says he’s innocent.
A man pulls off a road to pee, and stumbles on Hae’s body in a city forest. His odd recounting of the discovery makes detectives suspicious.
Detectives find Jay at work late one night. Eventually, he tells them what he knows. A few weeks later, his story has changed.
Adnan implores Sarah to test the state’s timeline by driving from Woodlawn High School to Best Buy in 21 minutes. It can’t be done, he said.
The physical evidence against Adnan Syed was scant - a few fingerprints. So aside from cell records, what did prosecutors bring to the jury?
Sarah talked to a defense attorney on a similar case hoping to find insight into Adnan’s case, and got much more than she bargained for.
The state’s case against Adnan hinged on Jay’s credibility. Adnan’s lawyer tried to make Jay look untrustworthy. How do we make sense of Jay?
New information is coming in about what maybe didn’t happen on January 13, 1999.
Adnan’s trial lawyer was Cristina Gutierrez, a renowned defense attorney. But Adnan was convicted, and a year later, Gutierrez was disbarred.
Most people agree that 17-year-old Adnan was a good kid. But Sarah started getting calls from people describing a different kind of boy.
After 15 months of reporting, we take everything out - interviews, documents, police reports - we shake it all out, and we see what sticks.
One night, Bowe Bergdahl slips off an army outpost in Afghanistan and into the desert. 20 minutes later, it’s clear: he’s in over his head.
On the move with Bergdahl, the Taliban slip past the U.S. Army’s massive effort to find him. Each side is asking, what is Bergdahl worth?
Bergdahl’s first year in captivity starts with an escape and ends with an escape. In between, he learns twisted lessons of survival.
What’s happening on the other side of the door?
A note from Sarah about our every-other-week schedule.
CIA, FBI, YouTube, the Portland PD? There was no handbook for getting Bergdahl back.
This week, Sarah Koenig ducks back into the Adnan Syed case for a few days. There’s a hearing that’s been nearly sixteen years in the making.
Why did Bowe Bergdahl walk off?
This week, Sarah Koenig ducks back into the Adnan Syed case for a few days. There’s a hearing that’s been nearly sixteen years in the making.
This week, Sarah Koenig ducks back into the Adnan Syed case for a few days. There’s a hearing that’s been nearly sixteen years in the making.
It makes sense if you’re Bowe Bergdahl.
Woulda, coulda, shoulda…
You don’t make peace with your friends.
Are you hearing what I’m hearing?
What’s Bowe’s fault, and what isn’t?
Coming March 28
All 7 chapters are available now.
Serial is heading back to court—this time, in Cleveland. Hear the trailer now.
A young woman at a bar is slapped on the butt. So why’s she the one in jail?
When a judge believes he knows you better than you know yourself.
The smell of raw marijuana + acting nervous + hands in pockets = ?
What happens when the right evidence points to the wrong man?
Don’t tell the judges, but the prosecutors have the most power in the building.
Life after you put a cop in jail.
If you listen closely to the trash-talking, you start to get the message.
A teenager decides to cooperate.
The state of Ohio decides where Joshua belongs.
We have a new show! Here’s a sneak peek of Nice White Parents, a new limited series about building a better school system, and what gets in the way. Coming July 30 from Serial Productions, brought …