Mike Pesca interviews Sarah Koenig about the phenomenon of Serial, discussing how the show differs from fictional thrillers by promising a real conclusion rather than just a meditation on truth. Koenig compares the storytelling process to a choose-your-own-adventure game, where the ending hinges on undiscovered facts. She admits she would rather disappoint listeners than force a false, tidy resolution. Koenig also reflects on how her reporting experience gives her a sense of judgment, but that judgment is constantly tested while interviewing the convicted subject, Adnan Syed. She critiques the defense strategy in Adnan's trial, noting the lawyer may have dismissed a key witness who saw Adnan at the library, suggesting the focus was on the wrong areas.