
The New York Times writer M. Gessen is widely known for their award-winning writing about totalitarianism, terrorism and the erosion of human rights. Now, M. is examining a more personal target: their least favorite cousin, Allen. For decades, they saw Allen as a fool, a pompous ‘international businessman’ who bragged about shady deals. But then Allen is arrested for trying to put a hit out on his... more
| Publishes | Daily | Episodes | 7 | Founded | 2 months ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Society & CultureTrue Crime | |||

On a recent episode of the podcast “The Opinions,” M. Gessen has second thoughts about the future, and Allen’s place in the family. M. talks about their dilemma with their friend Harriet Clark, whose mother, Judy Clark, served 37 years in prison for ... more
Allen will almost certainly be released in a few years. What should M.’s family do with a guy who refuses to own up to his own crime? Can he be re-integrated into the family? Should he be?
While M. has grown increasingly compassionate toward Allen, ... more
Allen finally agrees to talk … and talk and talk, for 35 hours of interviews. M. wants to understand Allen on his own terms, to try and figure out how this scion of bohemian intellectuals ended up hiring someone to kill his ex. It’s hard for M. to be... more
M. attends Allen’s trial in San Francisco. The FBI’s star witness, an agent who went by “David," plays his undercover recordings of Allen. They reveal how Allen’s scheme to deport Priscilla turned into a murder-for-hire plot.
Allen is his own star w... more
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Enjoyed this so much. Such intent and connection through the entire show. Thank you
I was hoping for a twist or something more exciting than “reporter talks to his cousin”. At one point it feet like there was a hidden investigation around the FBI involvement, but alas, no
Alan did horrible things and deserves to be in jail, but imagine using your cousin to make a podcast and then in the last episode, when you’ve got the content you need, sending him a letter chewing him out.
Not sure what’s worse: that, or admitting you don’t think the Boston bomber should have got the maximum sentence.
It’s an interesting story. But they use background music and it makes it difficult to understand the words at times. It’s like eating in a PF Chang. It’s difficult to have a conversation with your dinner mates because of the other noise.
I’m intrigued by the story but I couldn’t understand the narrator - not because of any accent, but because he’s a fast talking mumbler. A couple of lessons on doing voice work would be great. Otherwise, I need subtitles which is kind of hard to do on a podcast.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
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Apple Podcasts | #19 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
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This series blends investigative journalism with intimate memoir to examine a family saga that spirals from a high-profile custody fight and financial intrigues into a shocking crime narrative. Across episodes, the host dissects motive, loyalty, and accountability within a tight-knit clan, weaving courtroom details, undercover recordings, and personal letters into a reflective meditation on how ordinary people become entangled in extraordinary events. The show is notable for its moonlighting as both memoir and reportage, using a candid, first-person voice to explore truth-telling, forgiveness, and the gray areas of justice within family dynamics. It stands out for its documentary intimacy, international facets, and the way personal storytel... more
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The Idiot launched 2 months ago and published 7 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on The Idiot include:
1. Harriet Clark
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