Serial Podcast

Have you heard of Serial? It's OK if you haven't because I didn't up to a few weeks ago. My girlfriend put me onto it and boy, is it fascinating. It's a podcast investigating the murder of 18 year old Hae Min Lee in Baltimore, 1999 and whether the man charged with the murder really did do it.

Normally I wouldn't mention the podcasts I listen to but this one is becoming a cultural phenomenon/fad and one of the most downloaded podcasts this year on iTunes. I'm not saying you should follow the herd but this really is an incredible podcast that everyone should listen to. Season 1 is still going so you can easily catch up. Subsequent episodes delve further into different elements of the case so no stone is left unturned.

The affable and conversational presenter Sarah Koenig is the narrator and journalist that leads you through, seemingly, every detail of the case available or that she has dug up with her team. The first episode gives a recap of the murder, the facts recorded and why the State found Adnan Syed guilty. It then gives you a possible alibi why he may not have done it. By the end you're thinking 'Oh my God, he didn't do it.' Then you listen to the second episode and that surety is dispelled with further evidence against Adnan leading to contradict yourself.

This will happen through each episode that delves further into elements of the case. Testimonies and facts all send you into a constant loop of 'he did it, no wait, he didn't do it.' Each episode Koenig speaks with Adnan over the phone from jail and you can't help but like the guy. But all the evidence you're pouring over makes you question if he is genuine. It feels like you and Koenig are partners as she's offloading all this information onto you and you're trying to piece it together. You go through the same highs and lows she does about whether Adnan is truly guilty.

The podcast plays out like an impossibly well plotted whodunnit with red herrings, twists, leads and suspicious witnesses. It's engrossing but also incredibly sad. The realisation that someone real was murdered and you're listening to real testimonies and real facts made me very reflective at times.

If you enjoy murder mysteries and a well told story give Serial a go. You can visit the site here: Serial Podcast and start at episode 1 because you need to listen to this in order. This is a very addictive show so don't blame if you can't stop thinking about it; the site has additional information to the podcast so you amateur sleuths can crack this case wide open. Good luck.

-Ricardo Ramirez