Popular Serial podcast likely to cover Idaho soldier in upcoming season

The most popular podcast ever produced may focus on the Bowe Bergdahl case in one of its upcoming seasons, according to a report by Maxim.

Producers of the podcast, Serial, did not confirm that Bergdahl would be their focus. But sources told the publication that Serial producer Sarah Koenig was at a Bergdahl hearing and that people close to him were being interviewed by reporters from the podcast, according to Maxim.

Serial’s last season followed the story of a man convicted of a murder he claims he did not commit. The show has two seasons scheduled: one for this fall and one for spring 2016.

Bergdahl, now 29, left his U.S. Army post in Afghanistan and was captured by the Taliban-aligned Haqqani network in June 2009. He was released in May 2014 in a prisoner exchange for five Taliban commanders.

The Hailey native is charged with desertion and misbehaving before the enemy. Last week, a hearing was held to determine whether he should be court-martialed. The officer overseeing the hearing, Lt. Col. Mark Visger, is expected to make a proposal in the coming days to U.S. Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg, N.C.

The controversial swap was approved by the White House for the release of five Taliban detainees from the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. They are now in Qatar.

This story was originally published September 23, 2015 at 10:15 AM with the headline "Popular Serial podcast likely to cover Idaho soldier in upcoming season."