This American Life – Episode 884: "The Idiot"

Date: March 29, 2026
Host: Ira Glass
Guest/Reporter: Masha Gessen

Episode Overview

This episode of This American Life centers around the wild, deeply personal, and ultimately disturbing story of Masha Gessen’s family—a story so complex and compelling it grew into a five-part podcast series called The Idiot (from Serial Productions and The New York Times). Together with Ira Glass, Gessen explores what happens when an “elastic,” sprawling immigrant family from the Soviet Union faces unspeakable betrayal after years of accommodating eccentric and sometimes outrageous relatives. The episode traces a winding narrative: international abduction, a bitter custody battle, shocking criminal charges, and the kind of jaw-dropping plot twist that could only happen in real life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introducing the Family and Setting the Scene

[00:45–02:41]

Masha describes her family as “elastic,” stretched over continents and growing to include spouses, in-laws, ex-spouses, and eventually, grandchildren.
The family manages to accommodate questionable behaviors—until a catastrophic event snaps this elasticity.

“Over those same decades, as in any family, people made bad decisions... and the family stretched as needed. And then it snapped. Someone did something that bad, that shocking. That person was my cousin, Allen.”
—Narrator (likely Gessen), [02:04]

Notable Quotes:

“Allen is a clown, a blowhard, a pompous ass... If someone had set out to write an unlikable international huckster character, they couldn’t have laid it on any thicker.”
—Narrator (Gessen), [03:30]

The Abduction: Sides of the Story

[02:45–11:05]

In the summer of 2019, Allen arrives in the U.S. with his five-year-old son (O), leaving his wife (Priscilla) and infant daughter in Russia. The rest of the family suspects Allen has abducted his child, but people are slow to act.
Priscilla, left stranded, desperately reaches out for help. Gessen decides to become a “double agent,” helping Priscilla gather information to initiate legal action under the Hague Convention.

“How could my family just sit by? And what was going to happen to O now?”
—Narrator (Gessen), [09:58]

Memorable Moment:

Gessen covertly acquires Allen’s address by inviting Lena and O to dinner, sending it to Priscilla:
“Bingo. I had their address. I sent it to Priscilla.”
—Narrator, [11:43]

Life in Limbo; a Happy Facade

[11:44–14:28]

Allen and Lena set up a picture-perfect life for O in America: private lessons, stylish clothes, fun activities.
Gessen feels conflicted—despite the questionable circumstances, O appears happy and well-cared-for.

“Whatever damage being separated from his mother had done, I couldn’t see it. What I could see was that he was doted on and thriving. To put it another way... Allen seemed like a great dad.”
—Narrator (Gessen), [13:50]

First Arrests and the Custody Battle

[15:07–17:15]

Allen is arrested at the Montreal airport trying to leave for London with O and Lena—this time, clearly without Priscilla’s permission.
Gessen’s family continues to view Allen’s actions as absurd rather than criminal.
Eventually, through federal court proceedings, Priscilla and Allen arrive at shared custody.

“Did you have to go through all this absconding with your son twice, keeping him separated from his mother for more than two years, just to arrive at a standard 50/50 custody agreement?”
—Narrator (Gessen), [16:46]

The Bombshell: Murder-for-Hire Arrest

[17:25–23:00]

During a family camp-out in July 2022 at the Cape Cod house, FBI agents storm in and arrest Allen—this time, the charge isn’t abduction, but “murder for hire.”
The target: Priscilla, Allen’s ex-wife.

“My cousin had been caught hiring someone to murder his ex-wife, the mother of his children. This was when it felt like we snapped. I was shocked at how shocked I was.”
—Narrator (Gessen), [21:09]

Quote:

“And did you have any idea who he might have hired somebody to murder?”
Family Member: “You? No... It didn’t take long. It was Priscilla.”
—[20:41]

Priscilla’s Perspective: Horror and Heartbreak

[24:43–32:21]

First interview with Priscilla; describes early attraction to Allen’s charisma and how odd it felt to see the close, almost childlike relationship between Allen and his mother.
Priscilla recounts the ordeal of being stranded in Russia, legal battles, being beaten and jailed, and her struggle to be reunited with her son after nearly three years apart.

“She gets beaten up by thugs, she gets picked up on drug charges, she gets picked up again and thrown into prison for two weeks. And she thinks that Allen is behind all of this.”
—Masha Gessen, [28:56]

Quote:

“He just seemed so small and so scared. I felt helpless in a way... I just sat next to him and let him kind of come to me.”
—Priscilla on seeing her son again, [31:14]

The Trial: Undercover Recordings

[33:54–52:55]

The undercover sting: Allen is recorded discussing the possibility of hiring a hitman—with chilling nonchalance—and his main concern is that his children shouldn’t witness the violence.

“But incidentally, there’s a cheaper way to get rid of her.”
—Allen on tape, [44:55]

The tapes are damning—Allen discusses alternatives (bribery vs. murder), prices, and logistics. He claims on the stand he only ever wanted Priscilla deported, not killed, blaming cultural misunderstanding of terms.

Memorable Moment:

“The time that elapses between the agent saying ‘that’s up to you’ and Allen’s agreement to proceed with the more permanent option is a fraction of a second. He doesn’t take a breath... He jumps right in with both feet.”
—Narrator (Gessen), [45:43]

Gessen reflects on the unreality of hearing her own cousin on tape, plotting murder with casual detachment.

Quote:

“He said that with the bribery scheme, he was worried that Priscilla could fight her deportation in court and maybe even win. Murder is better than deportation.”
—Narrator, [47:07]

The Aftermath & Gessen’s Reflections

[53:00–56:08]

The jury quickly convicts Allen of murder-for-hire. The defense’s claim that he only wanted to deport Priscilla is dismissed by the judge, who bluntly points out deportation under these circumstances would itself be kidnapping, carrying a longer sentence.
Allen is sentenced to the maximum of 10 years in prison.
Masha finally speaks at length to Allen in prison, seeking understanding after 35 hours of conversations.

“He was just trying to sell me what the jury didn’t buy, which was that he was framed... But I genuinely felt compassion for him.”
—Masha Gessen, [55:17]

Ira Glass observes the podcast has a dual mission: to uncover the truth, and to achieve a kind of consensus reality for the family fractured by the crime.

Notable Quotes — With Timestamps

“Over those same decades, as in any family, people made bad decisions... and the family stretched as needed. And then it snapped. Someone did something that bad, that shocking. That person was my cousin, Allen.”
— Narrator, [02:04]
“Alan is a clown, a blowhard, a pompous ass... If someone had set out to write an unlikable international huckster character, they couldn’t have laid it on any thicker.”
— Narrator, [03:30]
“Did you have to go through all this absconding with your son twice, keeping him separated from his mother for more than two years, just to arrive at a standard 50/50 custody agreement?”
— Narrator, [16:46]
“My cousin had been caught hiring someone to murder his ex-wife, the mother of his children. This was when it felt like we snapped. I was shocked at how shocked I was.”
— Narrator, [21:09]
“He just seemed so small and so scared. I felt helpless in a way... I just sat next to him and let him kind of come to me.”
— Priscilla, [31:14]
“But incidentally, there’s a cheaper way to get rid of her.”
— Allen (undercover recording), [44:55]

Important Timestamps

[00:45] – Opening of family story by Gessen
[02:38] – Ira Glass introduces the broader podcast series
[06:57] – Priscilla’s first desperate messages after the abduction
[11:43] – Gessen acquires and sends Allen's address for legal action
[14:28] – First arrest for kidnapping (not the “big thing” yet)
[17:31] – FBI raids family camp-out, Allen arrested again
[21:03] – Revelation: Allen charged with murder-for-hire
[24:51] – Priscilla recounts meeting Allen, early odd moments
[29:57] – Priscilla describes painful reunion with son
[44:55] – Undercover tape: Allen pivots to murder-for-hire
[53:46] – Jury convicts Allen; maximum sentence
[54:36] – Gessen discusses conversing with Allen in prison

Episode Tone and Narration Style

The tone is deeply personal, laced with darkly comic, deadpan humor (in classic Gessen style), and at times heartbreakingly direct. Ira Glass and Gessen maintain a frank, analytical, observant lens, even as the story reveals pain, familial frustration, and the surreal horror of discovering a would-be killer in one’s immediate family.

Conclusion

The Idiot and this episode of This American Life are less about true crime spectacle and more about the messiness of family, the limits of loyalty, and our capacity (and failure) to truly know one another—until it’s much too late. Through Gessen’s dual role as both participant and investigator, the story is as much about her own search for clarity, truth, and some measure of peace within her shattered family.

For more, all five episodes of The Idiot podcast are available now.

This American Life – Episode 884: "The Idiot"

Date: March 29, 2026
Host: Ira Glass
Guest/Reporter: Masha Gessen

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introducing the Family and Setting the Scene

[00:45–02:41]

Masha describes her family as “elastic,” stretched over continents and growing to include spouses, in-laws, ex-spouses, and eventually, grandchildren.
The family manages to accommodate questionable behaviors—until a catastrophic event snaps this elasticity.

“Over those same decades, as in any family, people made bad decisions... and the family stretched as needed. And then it snapped. Someone did something that bad, that shocking. That person was my cousin, Allen.”
—Narrator (likely Gessen), [02:04]

Notable Quotes:

“Allen is a clown, a blowhard, a pompous ass... If someone had set out to write an unlikable international huckster character, they couldn’t have laid it on any thicker.”
—Narrator (Gessen), [03:30]

The Abduction: Sides of the Story

[02:45–11:05]

In the summer of 2019, Allen arrives in the U.S. with his five-year-old son (O), leaving his wife (Priscilla) and infant daughter in Russia. The rest of the family suspects Allen has abducted his child, but people are slow to act.
Priscilla, left stranded, desperately reaches out for help. Gessen decides to become a “double agent,” helping Priscilla gather information to initiate legal action under the Hague Convention.

“How could my family just sit by? And what was going to happen to O now?”
—Narrator (Gessen), [09:58]

Memorable Moment:

Gessen covertly acquires Allen’s address by inviting Lena and O to dinner, sending it to Priscilla:
“Bingo. I had their address. I sent it to Priscilla.”
—Narrator, [11:43]

Life in Limbo; a Happy Facade

[11:44–14:28]

Allen and Lena set up a picture-perfect life for O in America: private lessons, stylish clothes, fun activities.
Gessen feels conflicted—despite the questionable circumstances, O appears happy and well-cared-for.

“Whatever damage being separated from his mother had done, I couldn’t see it. What I could see was that he was doted on and thriving. To put it another way... Allen seemed like a great dad.”
—Narrator (Gessen), [13:50]

First Arrests and the Custody Battle

[15:07–17:15]

Allen is arrested at the Montreal airport trying to leave for London with O and Lena—this time, clearly without Priscilla’s permission.
Gessen’s family continues to view Allen’s actions as absurd rather than criminal.
Eventually, through federal court proceedings, Priscilla and Allen arrive at shared custody.

“Did you have to go through all this absconding with your son twice, keeping him separated from his mother for more than two years, just to arrive at a standard 50/50 custody agreement?”
—Narrator (Gessen), [16:46]

The Bombshell: Murder-for-Hire Arrest

[17:25–23:00]

During a family camp-out in July 2022 at the Cape Cod house, FBI agents storm in and arrest Allen—this time, the charge isn’t abduction, but “murder for hire.”
The target: Priscilla, Allen’s ex-wife.

“My cousin had been caught hiring someone to murder his ex-wife, the mother of his children. This was when it felt like we snapped. I was shocked at how shocked I was.”
—Narrator (Gessen), [21:09]

Quote:

“And did you have any idea who he might have hired somebody to murder?”
Family Member: “You? No... It didn’t take long. It was Priscilla.”
—[20:41]

Priscilla’s Perspective: Horror and Heartbreak

[24:43–32:21]

First interview with Priscilla; describes early attraction to Allen’s charisma and how odd it felt to see the close, almost childlike relationship between Allen and his mother.
Priscilla recounts the ordeal of being stranded in Russia, legal battles, being beaten and jailed, and her struggle to be reunited with her son after nearly three years apart.

“She gets beaten up by thugs, she gets picked up on drug charges, she gets picked up again and thrown into prison for two weeks. And she thinks that Allen is behind all of this.”
—Masha Gessen, [28:56]

Quote:

“He just seemed so small and so scared. I felt helpless in a way... I just sat next to him and let him kind of come to me.”
—Priscilla on seeing her son again, [31:14]

The Trial: Undercover Recordings

[33:54–52:55]

The undercover sting: Allen is recorded discussing the possibility of hiring a hitman—with chilling nonchalance—and his main concern is that his children shouldn’t witness the violence.

“But incidentally, there’s a cheaper way to get rid of her.”
—Allen on tape, [44:55]

The tapes are damning—Allen discusses alternatives (bribery vs. murder), prices, and logistics. He claims on the stand he only ever wanted Priscilla deported, not killed, blaming cultural misunderstanding of terms.

Memorable Moment:

Gessen reflects on the unreality of hearing her own cousin on tape, plotting murder with casual detachment.

Quote:

“He said that with the bribery scheme, he was worried that Priscilla could fight her deportation in court and maybe even win. Murder is better than deportation.”
—Narrator, [47:07]

The Aftermath & Gessen’s Reflections

[53:00–56:08]

The jury quickly convicts Allen of murder-for-hire. The defense’s claim that he only wanted to deport Priscilla is dismissed by the judge, who bluntly points out deportation under these circumstances would itself be kidnapping, carrying a longer sentence.
Allen is sentenced to the maximum of 10 years in prison.
Masha finally speaks at length to Allen in prison, seeking understanding after 35 hours of conversations.

“He was just trying to sell me what the jury didn’t buy, which was that he was framed... But I genuinely felt compassion for him.”
—Masha Gessen, [55:17]

Ira Glass observes the podcast has a dual mission: to uncover the truth, and to achieve a kind of consensus reality for the family fractured by the crime.

Notable Quotes — With Timestamps

“Over those same decades, as in any family, people made bad decisions... and the family stretched as needed. And then it snapped. Someone did something that bad, that shocking. That person was my cousin, Allen.”
— Narrator, [02:04]
“Alan is a clown, a blowhard, a pompous ass... If someone had set out to write an unlikable international huckster character, they couldn’t have laid it on any thicker.”
— Narrator, [03:30]
“Did you have to go through all this absconding with your son twice, keeping him separated from his mother for more than two years, just to arrive at a standard 50/50 custody agreement?”
— Narrator, [16:46]
“My cousin had been caught hiring someone to murder his ex-wife, the mother of his children. This was when it felt like we snapped. I was shocked at how shocked I was.”
— Narrator, [21:09]
“He just seemed so small and so scared. I felt helpless in a way... I just sat next to him and let him kind of come to me.”
— Priscilla, [31:14]
“But incidentally, there’s a cheaper way to get rid of her.”
— Allen (undercover recording), [44:55]

Important Timestamps

[00:45] – Opening of family story by Gessen
[02:38] – Ira Glass introduces the broader podcast series
[06:57] – Priscilla’s first desperate messages after the abduction
[11:43] – Gessen acquires and sends Allen's address for legal action
[14:28] – First arrest for kidnapping (not the “big thing” yet)
[17:31] – FBI raids family camp-out, Allen arrested again
[21:03] – Revelation: Allen charged with murder-for-hire
[24:51] – Priscilla recounts meeting Allen, early odd moments
[29:57] – Priscilla describes painful reunion with son
[44:55] – Undercover tape: Allen pivots to murder-for-hire
[53:46] – Jury convicts Allen; maximum sentence
[54:36] – Gessen discusses conversing with Allen in prison

Episode Tone and Narration Style

Conclusion

For more, all five episodes of The Idiot podcast are available now.

884: The Idiot

Summary

This American Life – Episode 884: "The Idiot"

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introducing the Family and Setting the Scene

Notable Quotes:

The Abduction: Sides of the Story

Memorable Moment:

Life in Limbo; a Happy Facade

First Arrests and the Custody Battle

The Bombshell: Murder-for-Hire Arrest

Quote:

Priscilla’s Perspective: Horror and Heartbreak

Quote:

The Trial: Undercover Recordings

Memorable Moment:

Quote:

The Aftermath & Gessen’s Reflections

Notable Quotes — With Timestamps

Important Timestamps

Episode Tone and Narration Style

Conclusion

Summary

This American Life – Episode 884: "The Idiot"

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introducing the Family and Setting the Scene

Notable Quotes:

The Abduction: Sides of the Story

Memorable Moment:

Life in Limbo; a Happy Facade

First Arrests and the Custody Battle

The Bombshell: Murder-for-Hire Arrest

Quote:

Priscilla’s Perspective: Horror and Heartbreak

Quote:

The Trial: Undercover Recordings

Memorable Moment:

Quote:

The Aftermath & Gessen’s Reflections

Notable Quotes — With Timestamps

Important Timestamps

Episode Tone and Narration Style

Conclusion