# Forum From The Archives: M. Gessen Reckons with Familial Crime and Punishment

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/kqed-s-forum-910728/forum-from-the-archives-m-gessen-reckons-with-familial-crime-and-punishment
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/kqed-s-forum-910728/forum-from-the-archives-m-gessen-reckons-with-familial-crime-and-punishment.md
Podcast: [KQED's Forum](https://stenobird.com/podcast/kqed-s-forum-910728)
Published: 2026-09-04T19:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/KQINC4527286851.mp3
Audio file: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/KQINC4527286851.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/kqed-s-forum-910728/episodes/forum-from-the-archives-m-gessen-reckons-with-familial-crime-and-punishment
Duration seconds: 3349

## Resource

“The Idiot,” a podcast from Serial and New York Times opinion columnist M. Gessen, shares the story of Gessen’s own cousin, Allen, who went to prison for trying to have his ex-wife killed. The podcast asks how we reckon with personal beliefs about justice and punishment when applied to our own family: Gessen, a critic of the prison system, was shocked to find themself rooting for the prosecution during Allen’s trial. It also explores Gessen’s own complicated feelings about maintaining a relationship with Allen and their family’s range of responses to his crime. Gessen joins us, and we hear from you: Has a relative’s actions made you confront hard truths about yourself, your family and your strongest beliefs? Guests: M. Gessen, opinion columnist, New York Times; host, reporter and writer, “The Idiot,” from The New York Times and Serial Productions; they are the author of 11 books, including "The Future Is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia," which won the National Book Award in 2017 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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