5 Radio Take-Aways from one of the Greatest Podcasts of All Time

Earlier this month, a true crime story that captivated millions and gave podcasting an enormous boost came full circle. Eight years to the month since the release of Serial’s first episode in their investigation of the Adnan Sayed murder case, the Baltimore state’s attorney’s office said new DNA evidence revealed that Sayed had been wrongfully convicted in the 1999 killing of fellow high school student and former girlfriend Hae Min Lee.

That first season recorded over 300-million downloads and qualified as one of the most popular podcasts in the world.

Multiple factors contributed to the podcast’s success—many of which have radio applications. Here are five.

1. Serial told a story.

The key word is story, not simply a list or a sequence of facts. Each show was complete with a beginning, middle, and end. And each beginning and end included a content promise that made listeners want to stick around for this episode and make an appointment to hear the next one.

Radio takeaway: A good story is the opposite of a “top ten list.” Stories have relevance and a relatable theme. They’re character-driven, have context, conflict, tension, surprise, style, and tone. One of my favorite missives is, “Facts are forgettable, stories are forever.” Tell stories; don’t read lists.

2. We cared about the characters.

At the heart of every story is at least one character we care about. Serial made us care about both Adnan Sayed and Hae Min Lee. We learned about their background, friends, adversaries, and circumstances. Without giving us reasons to care about the players, Serial wouldn’t have been nearly as strong.

Radio takeaway: While I’ve never known someone involved in a murder investigation, that didn’t disconnect me from caring about the main characters. I was invested in them because Serial connected me emotionally to the players. Less weighty, obviously, but who hasn’t felt for a friend (or yourself) when accused of something unjustly, or when someone you thought of as a friend, turned out not to be, or grieving the loss of someone or something that was precious and irreplaceable? We don’t have to face the same issues to share emotions. Find one emotion in your story and home in on it.

3. Teases and cliffhangers were built in.

Serial scripts always included both—at the start and end of each episode, as well as within. This created a “must hear” and “bingeable” product.

Radio takeaway: Every meaningful piece of content you create deserves a tease. Write one as soon as you have your segment figured out. Then lock it in place on your show clock so you don’t forget to deliver it. Teases also trigger ideas for cliffhanger moments. Be sure to include them as you tell your story.

4. The content and execution drove repeat listenership—both weekly and via binge listening.

Season one of Serial was consistently compelling. There were no throwaway episodes. Each installment ended with tantalizing reasons to listen to the next one. This was effective whether you were a weekly follower or a binger.

Radio takeaway: If nothing else, Serial proves that story arcs, as well as true benchmarks, still have plenty of power to drive listenership. But you’ll want to adopt the same mantra of “no wasted segments” as well as embrace the inclusion of strong teases.

5. “Heart” was at the core of the podcast.

Serial contained serious subject matter and included hours of legal and procedural information. Still, the show was riveting because of the emotional wallop it delivered. From compassion, to frustration, to disbelief, to gut-wrenching, Serial was an emotional rollercoaster that kept the audience strapped in and always ready to ride.

Radio takeaway: Great shows are a combination of humor and heart. There’s always a substantial supply of humor and content “facts.” Heart, however, isn’t as prevalent. And let’s be honest, no one needs “facts” masquerading as content.

If you haven’t listened to the original season of Serial, or haven’t listened to it in a while, I urge you to do so. Make plenty of notes. I’ll bet you’ll come up other radio takeaways.

You can also follow Mike’s author platforms to keep up to date with his forthcoming novel, “In the Nick of Slime.” Official website: https://www:MikeOMalleyAuthor.com, Twitter @MOMalleyAuthor, https://www.facebook.com/MikeOMalleyAuthor (Facebook) and https://www.tiktok.com/@mike_omalley?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc (TikTok)

© Mike O’Malley, Mike O’Malley LLC, 2022