Podcast pick of the week: Catch up on 'Serial's' Adnan Syed with 'Undisclosed'
Looking for something new to listen to while you drive to work/go for a walk/wash the dishes? We're here for you. In our new weekly series, we're highlighting a podcast, audio personality or specific story worth hearing.
This week’s pick: Undisclosed: The State vs. Adnan Syed
Instead of the beautiful, narrative storytelling of Sarah Koenig from Serial, Undisclosed takes a raw look at the legal aspects of the murder trial that gripped the country with the release of Serial. Not to be confused as "Serial Part 2," Undisclosed dives deep into the documents of the trial and the legal case between Adnan Syed and the state of Maryland. Syed was convicted for first-degree murder for the murder of his former girlfriend Hae Min Lee in 1999. He’s currently serving a life sentence. In Undisclosed, three attorneys, including Rabia Chaudry, who introduced the case to Sarah Koenig, start from the beginning and re-analyze the case. They talk about old evidence, new evidence, documents not seen before, new expert analysis and Serial itself.
Why it’s ripe for listening:
On June 30, Syed was granted a new trial by a Maryland judge after a post-conviction hearing found Syed’s original defense neglected to use key evidence and witnesses. The post-conviction hearing was also granted on the grounds that the evidence of phone records the state used was discounted by new technology, and Syed’s defense attorney Maria Gutierrez failed to provide sufficient council. Instead of re-listening to Serial, Undisclosed provides a fresh look at the case, and throws out some interesting theories and discoveries throughout.
Memorable line: “And then bam. Susan figured it out. She figured out what no one else in all these years, even Serial, could find out.”
In Episode 3, titled "Jay’s Day," the podcast pieces together Jay's day hour by hour on January 13, 1999. Jay testified he helped Adnan murder Hae, but has openly admitted to lying during his interviews with the police about certain details. In this episode, the attorneys try and figure out why. Episode 3 gives a shocking theory.