This American Life to launch first spinoff, ‘Serial’

Helmed by Ira Glass and broadcast for years from Chicago’s WBEZ-FM (91.5) before moving to New York, the popular public radio program This American Life has branched out to cable and film, but Oct. 3 marks its first foray into podcasting.

As per promotional copy, the TAL spinoff Serial “will follow one story — a true story — over the course of a whole season. The first season’s murder case has captivated host and executive producer Sarah Koenig for the entire year she’s worked it. Hae Min Lee, a popular high-school senior, disappears after school one day. Six weeks later detectives arrest Adnan Syed, her classmate and ex-boyfriend, and charge him with murder. He’s convicted, and sentenced to life in prison. But the story both sides tell at the trial raises more questions than it answers.”

Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and hear it starting at 9 a.m. (Central) Oct. 3 on serialpodcast.org, where a preview is now available. Catch new episodes every Thursday starting Oct. 9. TAL will air the first episode as well on Oct. 3.