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.
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.
By January 2017 the series had reached #2 on the Apple chart.
The series has been generally positively received. The podcast reviewer Find That Pod described it as a âÂÂthinking personâÂÂs scary podcastâÂÂ, praising the production value while criticizing the sound design as occasionally overwrought and noting that some the âÂÂmeasured pacing might test the pacing of listeners accustomed to the rapid fire delivery of other showsâÂÂ. In 2021, The New York Times recommended the podcast, praising how the show âÂÂresists the urge to ham it upâÂÂ. The Financial Times and The Guardian reviewed the show positively. The series was also included on AppleâÂÂs âÂÂBest of 2016â year-end list.
In 2018, Richard MacLean Smith published Unexplained: Real-Life Supernatural Stories for Uncertain Times:
In 2019, MacLean Smith released the choose-your-own-adventure style horror podcast The Forest, inspired by the slavic folkloric character Baba Yaga.