Unexplained (podcast)
| Unexplained | |
|---|---|
 Unexplained podcast logo | |
| Genre | Non-Fiction, Horror, Sci-Fi, Documentary |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Creative team | |
| Created by | Richard MacLean Smith |
| Written by | Richard MacLean Smith, Diane Hope, Emma Dibdin, Neil McRobert, James Conor Paterson, Ella MacLeod |
| Cast and voices | |
| Hosted by | Richard MacLean Smith |
| Music | |
| Theme music composed by | Richard MacLean Smith |
| Production | |
| Length | 25-45 minutes |
| Publication | |
| Provider | iHeart |
| Related | |
| Website | www.unexplainedpodcast.com |
Unexplained is a British narrative non-fiction podcast created and hosted by writer and musician Richard MacLean Smith. Launched in 2016, the series explores mysteries, folklore, and alleged paranormal phenomena.[1]
Content
Each episode typically has a duration of 25 to 35 minutes and focuses on a specific mystery or a series of related events. The program utilizes historical records, eyewitness accounts, and academic research to provide context for its subject matter.
Reception
By January 2017 the series had reached #2 on the Apple chart.[2]
The series has been generally positively received. The podcast reviewer Find That Pod described it as a “thinking person’s scary podcast”, giving it a rating of 4/5 stars.[1] In 2021, The New York Times recommended the podcast, praising how the show “resists the urge to ham it up”.[3] The Financial Times and The Guardian reviewed the show positively.[2][4] The series was also included on Apple’s “Best of 2016” year-end list.[5]
Adaptations
In 2018, Richard MacLean Smith published Unexplained: Real-Life Supernatural Stories for Uncertain Times:
- MacLean Smith, Richard (2018). Unexplained: Supernatural Stories for Uncertain Times. Scepter. ISBN 9781473671126.
Related Podcasts
In 2019, MacLean Smith released the choose-your-own-adventure style horror podcast The Forest, inspired by the slavic folkloric character Baba Yaga.[6][7]
See also
References
- 1 2 Arciszewski, Sebastian (2025-03-13). "Unexplained Podcast Review". Find That Pod. Retrieved 2026-02-09.
- 1 2 Verdier, Hannah (2017-01-24). "Is Unexplained the world's spookiest podcast?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
- ↑ Dibdin, Emma (2021-11-23). "6 Podcasts About Unsolved Mysteries". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
- ↑ "Podcasts: the strange case of the skull in the wych elm". Financial Times. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
- ↑ iTunes Podcast Team (UK) (10 December 2016). "Best of 2016". Apple iTunes Store (UK).
- ↑ "The Forest". shows.acast.com. 2019-10-31. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
- ↑ "2023 Japan's Suicide Forest & Richard McLean Smith -host of the Unexplained". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2026-02-09.