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”, praising the production value while criticizing the sound design as occasionally overwrought and noting that some the “measured pacing might test the pacing of listeners accustomed to the rapid fire delivery of other shows”.[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
- ^ a b Arciszewski, Sebastian (2025-03-13). "Unexplained Podcast Review". Find That Pod. Retrieved 2026-02-09.
- ^ a b 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.