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Unexplainable

Vox
Climate Change
Silence
Global Warming
Evolution
Tinnitus
Public Health
Biodiversity
Mental Health
Phages
Artificial Intelligence
Rogue Waves
Devonian Period
Mass Extinction
Nutrition Science
NASA
Trees
Climate Models
Tuberculosis
Neanderthals
Animal Testing

Unexplainable takes listeners right up to the edge of what we know…and then keeps on going. The Unexplainable team — Noam Hassenfeld, Julia Longoria, Byrd Pinkerton, and Meradith Hoddinott — tackles scientific mysteries, unanswered questions, and everything we learn diving into the unknown. New episodes Mondays and Wednesdays. From Vox and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

PublishesDailyEpisodes295Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Natural SciencesLife SciencesScience

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Artwork for Unexplainable

Latest Episodes

A 2015 review found that most people in the US will experience a diagnostic error in their lifetime. Some of those errors are less devastating than others, but how can we help people get better answers about their health? One family's search for answ... more

When people listen to songs, why do some people pay more attention to the music, and some people pay more attention to the lyrics? The answer goes way deeper than you might think — to the heart of what it means to hear anything at all.

To watch this... more

Unexplainable is coming to Netflix! Starting Monday, July 13.

For show transcripts, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠vox.com/unxtranscripts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For more, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠vox.com/unexplainable⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

And please email us! ⁠⁠⁠unexplainable@vox.com⁠... more

It’s possible that the entire observable universe is inside a black hole. All we need to do in order to find out is … build a gigantic particle collider around the moon. (Originally aired in 2024)

Guest: James Beacham, particle physicist at the Larg... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Umair Irfan
Correspondent, Vox
Vox
Episode: Risky business
Karen Clark
Pioneer in catastrophe modeling
Karen Clark & Co.
Episode: Risky business
Joe Skuba
Insurance executive
Insurance industry
Episode: Risky business
Jemma Evans
Biologist studying endometrium and wound healing
Independent researcher (as introduced in episode)
Episode: A period piece
Julie Urban
Scientist studying lanternflies, early observer of the species in the U.S.
Penn State (as discussed)
Episode: Should we really kill all the lanternflies?
Chelsea Batavia
PhD student turned government researcher focused on environmental ethics and conservation dilemmas
Washington state (as discussed)
Episode: Should we really kill all the lanternflies?
Anna Merlin
Senior Reporter at Dr. Jones covering disinformation, extremism, and technology
Dr. Jones
Episode: Sean tries raw milk
Matt Prigle
Owner, Prigle Creamery (Prigle Farm)
Prigle Creamery / Prigle Farm
Episode: Sean tries raw milk
Bobby Prigle
Son of Matt Prigle, involved in the creamery business
Prigle Creamery
Episode: Sean tries raw milk

Hosts

Noam Hassenfeld
Host of Unexplainable
Sally Helm
Host of Unexplainable
Byrd Pinkerton
Host of Unexplainable
Julia Longoria
Host of Unexplainable

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 9.1k ratings
  • I have listened to every episode, and I highly reccomend it!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Mcla
    16 days ago
  • I've been listening to Unexplainable for quite a few years now, and it has never disappointed! Hands down one of my favorite podcasts. I always look forward to new episodes. Each one is fascinating, well-researched, and the passion behind it shines like a beacon. Keep up the incredible work!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    ruby
    a month ago
  • Amazing podcast, one suggestion :)

    As one of the younger audiences listening to this I prefer some of the more fun and less mature episodes like the Dinosaur ones. I absolutely love this podcast and most of its episodes but I wish more of them were about animals, or Earth, or episodes like the roulette one. I love combing physics with betting games ;). Overall great podcast but could be a little more friendly for younger ages. Thanks!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    horsegall2013
    United States2 months ago
  • Horrible

    Nothing but laughter give me a break please

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Hoagland56
    United States2 months ago
  • A bit annoying

    It’s basically a middle school science class vibe where the teacher has been overdosing on stimulants.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    JimmyMonkeyBrains
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Thoughtful, nuanced, accessible science reporting.
Deep science storytelling with human hooked narratives.
High-quality guests and strong production; some listeners note bias criticisms.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Risky business
Q: Is there enough insurance money out there to rebuild these communities?
In many cases, private insurers are retreating from high-risk areas, pushing people toward state programs; the public sector often steps in as insurer of last resort, but at a high cost to taxpayers.
Risky business
Q: So what is causing insurance prices across the country to explode in just the last few years?
The climate is changing, which raises risk, and rising values of property plus gaps in coverage when private insurers pull back push prices up; open questions remain about open-source models and policy interventions.
Sean tries raw milk
Q: Why is raw milk getting so much attention now?
Because it has become a media and political flashpoint, with consumer interest rising, anti-regulation sentiment growing in parts of the country, and public health debates intensifying as more state bills seek to relax access.
The disaster problem
Q: Can you tell us the story of your very first meeting with Bill Clinton?
James Lee Witt recalls meeting with Clinton in 1974 and details how their collaboration began in local emergency management, which later evolved into Witt leading FEMA and implementing its reforms.
The aftermath
Q: How does the episode frame the longer-term risks after a nuclear exchange?
It emphasizes famine, collapsed infrastructure, and climate effects like nuclear winter as the dominant threats to long-term survival, rather than the immediate blast, highlighting the scale of adaptation required for a surviving population.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Unexplainable

What is Unexplainable about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A science-focused program that probes mysteries, historical puzzles, and frontier topics with a strong emphasis on research-driven storytelling. Across episodes, the show blends expert interviews, archival context, and human-centered narratives to illuminate how science, history, and culture intersect in surprising ways. Noteworthy is the ability to weave complex ideas into accessible episodes, often featuring researchers, journalists, and thinkers who translate technical concepts into engaging stories. This makes the show particularly appealing to curious, well-educated listeners who enjoy rigorous explanation paired with vivid storytelling, and to potential guests aiming to share specialized knowledge with a curious audience.

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Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Unexplainable. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Unexplainable and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Unexplainable get?

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What are the audience demographics for Unexplainable?

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How many subscribers and views does Unexplainable have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Unexplainable?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Unexplainable:

1. Science Vs
2. Explain It to Me
3. Today, Explained
4. Radiolab
5. Short Wave

How many episodes of Unexplainable are there?

Unexplainable launched 5 years ago and published 295 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Unexplainable?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Unexplainable?

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What guests have appeared on Unexplainable?

Recent guests on Unexplainable include:

1. Umair Irfan
2. Karen Clark
3. Joe Skuba
4. Jemma Evans
5. Julie Urban
6. Chelsea Batavia
7. Anna Merlin
8. Matt Prigle

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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