Common Sense Media Review
By Crystal Stone
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Award-winning investigative pod, some graphic descriptions.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Listen
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
SERIAL is a true crime podcast that dives into a different case each season. It's most well known for season one, where the conviction and then exoneration of Adnan Syed in the 1999 murder case of Hae Min Lee is investigated. Other seasons follow the complicated case of Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl and his time imprisoned by the Taliban, as well as a Wyoming cold case, and everyday cases in Cleveland, Ohio to critique the problems with the criminal justice system. Episodes follow journalist Sarah Koenig as she investigates various criminal cases, leads that went unfollowed, suspects that walked away, and witnesses that went unheard, all in hopes of reaching true justice for the victims and families. Famously, it's believed that the investigative work done in this podcast was the catalyst to Adnan Syed's exoneration in 2022.
Is It Any Good?
Sarah Koenig combines investigative reporting with meaningful, entertaining storytelling that keeps the audience engaged, curious, and critical. Constant use of fact checking through external sources and experts, trigger warnings when necessary, and delicate discussions of hard topics make Serial a great listen for those interested in criminal justice while also wanting ethical reporting. Sparking the popularity and growth of the true crime podcast genre, some could see Serial and other true crime podcasts as glamorizing or exploiting victims' stories and experiences.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how in the Serial podcast host Sarah Koenig is intentional about using expert testimonies and turning to credible outside sources as she crafts her episodes. Why is it important to use credible sources and experts in research, writing, and reporting? What is misinformation and how can you spot it? How do you define a credible source?
Episodes demonstrate integrity as they pursue truth through honesty, research, and moral values. What does integrity mean to you and why is it and important character strength, especially when it comes to investigative work?
Host Sarah Koenig explains how the cases she discusses peak her interest and curiosity, which is why she does deeper research and reporting. What peaks your curiosity and how might this podcast encourage curiosity in others?
What were some things you learned about the U.S. judicial system that you didn't know before? Do you think it's a fair system for everyone? Why or why not?
Podcast Details
- Release date : October 31, 2014
- Genre : Mystery
- Run time : 35 minutes
- Website : https://serialpodcast.org/
- Host : Sarah Koenig
- Production Company and Network : Serial Productions
- Pricing structure : Free
- Character Strengths : Curiosity , Integrity
- Last updated : September 26, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate