This article contains wording that promotes the subject in a subjective manner without imparting real information. Please remove or replace such wording and instead of making proclamations about a subject's importance, use facts and attribution to demonstrate that importance.(February 2026) ( Learn how and when to remove this message )
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
Unexplained is a British narrative non-fiction podcast created and hosted by writer and musician Richard MacLean Smith. Launched in 2016, the series explores unexplained mysteries, folklore, and alleged paranormal phenomena.[1]
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
In its debut year, the series was recognized by Apple (formerly iTunes) in their "Best of 2016" year-end list.[2]
In a feature for The Guardian, critic Hannah Verdier noted the show's exploration of paranormal cases such as the Pontefract Poltergeist and time slips in Liverpool, and its ability to unsettle the imagination with open-ended narratives.[3]
The Financial Times referred to Unexplained as “a grisly treat,” highlighting its investigations into enigmatic phenomena that resist easy explanation.[4]
In 2021, The New York Times praised Unexplained for its weekly focus on “logic‑defying” events and its atmospheric storytelling, noting that host Richard MacLean Smith “resists the urge to ham it up”, while delivering eerie episodes ranging from paranormal claims to historical mysteries.[5]
Unexplained has been recommended by critics for listeners interested in paranormal and unexplained phenomena.[6]
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 Russian folkloric character Baba Yaga.[7][8]
In 2020, MacLean Smith created the COVID-19 pandemic horror podcast The Fountain Road Files, a found-audio drama charting one man's experience living in a haunted house during lockdown.[9][10]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
