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Serial

The Idiot - Trailer

3/19/20262 min

The New York Times writer M. Gessen is widely known for their award-winning writing about totalitarianism, terrorism and the erosion of human rights. Now, M. is examining a more personal target: their least favorite cousin, Allen. For decades, they saw Allen as a fool, a pompous ‘international businessman’ who bragged about shady deals. But then Allen is arrested for trying to put a hit out on his ex-wife, and M. cannot wrap their head around the news. He’s just an idiot, right? Not a would-be murderer?

 

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Transcript preview

First 90 seconds

  1. Sarah Koenig· Host0:00

    Hello, Serial Productions listeners. This is Sarah Koenig, and I am trying to keep my cool here, but we have got such a great show coming next week. I can hardly contain myself. Even the title fills me with vicarious pride. It's called The Idiot. The host is M. Gessen, which might be a surprise depending on your familiarity with their work. M. is widely known for their writing about totalitarianism, terrorism, the erosion of human rights. But in this show, M. investigates a more personal topic, their cousin, Alan. It is a shocking family story about a terrible crime that is also very funny, because M. is very funny. I love this show, and I hope you will, too. The whole series, all five episodes, are out March 26th, wherever you get your podcasts. Here's the trailer.

  2. M. Gessen· Host0:50

    [upbeat music] In theory, I knew that this kind of thing can happen in any family. [static crackles] Anyone's first cousin could be plotting murder.

  3. Speaker 3· Soundbite1:00

    This is UCE 4735, and today is- Upstanding citizens are always turning out to be secret criminals. Specifically recording with Alan Gessen.

  4. M. Gessen· Host1:09

    And I wouldn't even call my cousin Alan an upstanding citizen.

  5. Speaker 3· Soundbite1:12

    You know, my clients are cartel-level guys. They're all badasses. They're, they, they are real deal.

  6. M. Gessen· Host1:16

    But it's one thing to know- There is a more permanent way to do it.

  7. Speaker 4· Soundbite1:19

    Is there?

  8. Speaker 3· Soundbite1:19

    Yeah.

  9. Speaker 4· Soundbite1:20

    More and more definite.

  10. Speaker 3· Soundbite1:21

    Permanent.

  11. M. Gessen· Host1:22

    And another thing to understand.

  12. Speaker 5· Soundbite1:24

    Alan, murder, me?

  13. M. Gessen· Host1:27

    It ended up being so much worse

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