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 ex-wife, and M. cannot wrap their head around the news. He’s just an idiot, right? Not a would-be murderer?
Latest episodes
Showing 7 · updated from the feed
BONUS | M. Gessen on "The Opinions"
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 thei
Apr 16 37 min
Chapter 5
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 fam
Mar 26 28 min
Chapter 4
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 bohem
Mar 26 1 h 02 min
Chapter 3
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
Mar 26 50 min
Chapter 2
M. seeks out Allen’s ex-wife, Priscilla, who tells her side of the story. It begins with a whirlwind romance but quickly turns to chart Allen’s betrayal: taking her son f
Mar 26 49 min
Chapter 1
For decades, M. simply disliked Allen. They saw him as a fool, a pompous “international businessman” who bragged about shady deals and drove fancy cars while living in Ea
Mar 26 21 min
Trailer
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
Mar 17 1 min
Chart trend
Position in the True Crime chart (US), last 90 days.
#1#100#199JulAugSepOct
#1
all-time peak
18
days in the top 3 since Mar 2026
Chart positions
Where The Idiot ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 11, 2026).
A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.
It’s one of those stories where the highlights could be told in 10 minutes, but Gessen is such a wonderful writer and storyteller that you really do enjoy the whole ride. Plus, it’s got the best closing line of a podcast series I’ve ever heard.
Lcttc2010 · Sep 2026
This is an extremely interesting podcast. Masha Gessen does a masterful job of exploring some very complicated human characters. It explores contradictory motives and actions and emotions. Deeply rewarding, and extremely well done
NYC Prosecutor · Jun 2026
This is one of the most well written podcasts I’ve ever heard. It was addicting and we may listen again! (We listened on a cross country road trip). This story draws you in on multiple levels.
Really great podcast.
Photo Queen · May 2026
The Idiot is my first Serial
Podcast and I am hooked. M. Gessen is great at laying out all the facts from both sides and making the story really personal for the audience.
Bertluga · May 2026
I kept trying and restarted multiple times. But the flat plot line and flat narration delivery were so much work that I wandered away. This audio story needed an stronger arc. Instead, the Idiot felt more like 10,000 examples of how this guy is a toxic bozo. I’m sure he is, but you forgot to make me care about any of the characters.
J*La2020 · Sep 2026
Marginally enjoyable but certainly does not “reinvent the form” as claimed in the promotional materials. If anything, that might describe the first Serial podcast. This also didn’t seem “deeply personal” since the narrator, while a family member, does not come across as all that invested. The most interesting part of the story beyond the murder-for-hire plot was actually the budding “friendship” between the narrator and the incarcerated cousin. And I get the ironic title but it feels like a reach mostly in service to the last line which is not as clever as the writers seem to think. Overall a disappointment given previous Serial podcast series.
BeMaddox · Mar 2026
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