Gandhinagar: A decade after its groundbreaking debut, the investigative podcast Serial is set to return for a ninth season on March 28. This season, host Sarah Koenig joins forces with longtime producer Dana Chivvis to delve into the complex and often-opaque history of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.
Through intimate stories of those who have lived and worked within its walls, season-four promises a fresh perspective on this controversial American institution. Koenig and Chivvis conduct extensive interviews with over 100 individuals, including guards, interrogators, lawyers, chaplains, translators, and even former detainees. This human-scale approach aims to capture the true impact of Guantanamo, not just on those imprisoned but also on the individuals tasked with its operation.
“It’s fitting that this show is coming out on Serial’s 10th anniversary, because we’ve been trying to make a show about Guantanamo for almost a decade,” said Sarah Koenig. “Dana and I tried for years to figure out how to make a story that captures what it’s really like there for the people caught inside this massive, flawed experiment – not just the prisoners, but also the staff who built it and ran it. For so long, all the best stories we heard were off the record. But now people are ready to talk.”
Established in the wake of 9/11 as a temporary holding facility for suspected Taliban and al-Qaeda members, Guantanamo has morphed into a permanent fixture in the American security apparatus. Serial’s upcoming season delves into this evolution, exploring the “second and third-order effects” of a rapidly deployed system of justice.
This isn’t Serial’s first foray into investigating complex legal matters. Past seasons have explored a high school murder case, the court-martial of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, and the inner workings of Cleveland’s criminal courts.
The upcoming season boasts an impressive production team. Chivvis, a seasoned producer for both Serial and This American Life, joins forces with Jessica Weisberg and additional reporting from Cora Currier. Audible serves as the official launch sponsor for Season Four.
Serial Productions, a subsidiary of The New York Times Company since 2020, has established itself in the podcast industry. Blockbuster hits like “S-Town” and previous seasons of ‘Serial’ have garnered over 743 million total downloads. The New York Times collaboration has further expanded their reach, producing critically acclaimed shows like “Nice White Parents,” “The Improvement Association,” and most recently, “The Kids of Rutherford County,” which received a 2023 George Polk Award for investigative reporting in podcasting.
With Season Four of Serial, listeners can expect a nuanced exploration of Guantanamo Bay, one that goes beyond the headlines and into the personal experiences of those most affected by this controversial chapter in American history.