GAYLETTER

Don’t even get me started on podcasts, I could give you a list that would reach to China of my favorites, but this week I’m going to give you just one. It’s called Serial. It’s from the same crew behind This American Life, however, and I don’t mean to offend anyone, it’s sooooo much better than tired old T.A.L. Sarah Koenig is pretty much the reason for this. A long time producer from T.A.L, Sarah is exquisite at telling a story, which is all Serial is — one long story told over a season. The first season investigates a murder that happened in Maryland in 1999. At the start of every episode Sarah says “For the last year, I’ve spent every working day trying to figure out where a high-school kid was for an hour after school one day in 1999.” The high school kid in question is named Adnan Syed and he’s been in jail for the last 15 years. Sarah has some doubts about his conviction. In each episode she presents the evidence and it’s up to us to decide where we stand. The season is about half-way through and I still have no idea whether he is guilty or innocent (I’m leaning towards innocent), but I am totally addicted and can’t wait to find out what happens next.  —tom