Whether you’re looking for a podcasts to catch up on politics, fall asleep, learn something new, or be truly terrified, there is something out there to do the trick. These are the best podcasts.

Humanity’s fascination with the unknown isvaulted by the popularity of true-crime dramas, murder documentaries, and ghostmysteries. In an age where fact and fiction are equally scrutinized, there liesone objective truth: We can all appreciate a good scary story.

Podcasts encourage the spirit of debate, andparanormal reports couldn’t be more suited. Skeptics and believers will argueabout the existence of Bigfoot, UFOs, ghosts, and demonic presences until theend of time. Personal testimony and scientific research make the case for thevalidity of paranormal accounts. If you can’t believe it with your eyes, maybeyou will with your ears.

Here’s a list of paranormal podcasts that willinform, frighten, tantalize, and entertain.

ThisParanormal Life

Award-winning podcast This Paranormal Life dives right into eachepisode with a rapid-fire intro, posing provocative questions that float atopthe show’s eerie theme. “Is someone torturing a voodoo doll of me or do Ijust have back pain? Is ectoplasm good for you?” Hosts Rory Powers and KitGrier open episode #142, disclosing their comedic slant while maintaining theirinvestigative approach to alleged paranormal cases.

Most episodes clock in between 45min and an hour. ThisParanormal Life gushes with passion in their engaging narration and light-heartednature. Sound effects, pin-point comedic timing, and a lush soundtrack rewardall fans of the paranormal.

Listen:Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

TheNoSleep Podcast

The NoSleep Podcast embellishes the dark atmosphere of horrorfiction with spooky music and theater to set the mood. The show aims tofrighten and keep you up and night. Episodes can go up to three hours long andharken back to hearing tales around a campfire at midnight.

Professional voice-acting and narration present stories that range from hauntings and possessions to space dramas. Episode S8E23, “The Smiling Ones on Space Station Mir”, explores the mystery of a space station disappearing from orbit.

Stories are curated from volunteer writers on Reddit, and the voice actors do a great job bringing the chills of the written word to life, and death. Each episode contains stories focused on a specific topic. The NoSleep Podcast is a must-listen for fans of horror audio fiction.

Listen:ApplePodcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

GhostTown

Jason Horton and Rebecca Leib’s playful banter induces laughterwithout mean-spirited insults. Ghost Town explores the occult and paranormalconspiracies. Rebecca’s experience as a haunted house tour guide allows thelistener to live vicariously through her into the world of ghosts, demons, andpossessions.

In Episode 72: The Haunted Roosevelt Hotel, Ghost Town recruitsthe help of psychic medium Linda Spellman to learn about the rich and chillinghistory of the hotel and its ghosts. It captures the podcast’s pursuit of thetruth and willingness to confront fear.

Shows run between 30min and an hour along with mini-episodes todeliver releases twice a week. Listen to this show for an honest GhostAdventures-like vibe without the sensationalism.

Listen:ApplePodcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

BlurryPhotos

Blurry Photos investigates the fringes of the fringe with topics like the hollow moon theory, phantom time, and the Mirrored Men. Host David Flora explores oddities and phenomena that are lesser-known even amongst paranormal enthusiasts.

David Flora weighs the perspectives of believer and skeptic in his respect for guests and topics. He encourages the listener to have an open mind “before you lose faith” in Ep 209: Stigmata, showcasing his love for puns and the ability to remain neutral on controversial beliefs.

Blurry Photos is earnest in its research while maintaining a sense of humor in the presentation. Flora’s story-telling informs without being dry. His humility marries curiosity and authenticity. Episodes are typically between 30 minutes to an hour and a half, releasing one to three times a month.

Listen:ApplePodcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

AstonishingLegends

Hosts Scott Philbrook and Forrest Burgess connect with and interview people affected by paranormal experiences. The episodes bring a round-table approach to the conversations. Stories unfold with Scott and Forrest’s personal takeaways that ground supernatural phenomena.

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Astonishing Legends embraces the long-form format with many episodes going for two to three or more hours. The sharp dialogue and discussion ensure shows don’t feel like they drag on. Episodes like The Grim Reaper and The Near-Death Experience Parts 1 and 2 satisfy an obsession with the macabre, presented in a way that hits a little too close to home. Check in to Astonishing Legends to both soothe and exacerbate coming to terms with your own mortality.

Listen:ApplePodcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

MysteriousUniverse

Mysterious Universe draws inspiration from paranormal andconspiracy theory AM radio show Coast to Coast. Hosts Aaron Wright and BenjaminGrundy cover news of the strange and weird, UFOs and alternative history. Theyapproach topics with heavy skepticism and don’t push their beliefs on theaudience. Wright and Grundy concede to the absurdity of their fascinations andlaugh as much as they inform.

Mysterious Universe’s well-researched episodes are typically between 1hr-1hr45min and offer a paid model with more content for dedicated fans. Episode 23.01 – Retrocausal Destiny highlights the show’s ability to uncover the niche-est of the niche, concluding that “Eventually someone’s going to make a robot Abraham Lincoln.”

Check out Mysterious Universe for a podcast that plays like ahigh-quality radio show.

Listen:ApplePodcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Frightday

The dynamic between Byron, Sam and Captain Kelly makes the show feel like a hang. They cover stories of the weird, supernatural and morbid while maintaining an air of amusement and hilarity. They break the fourth wall of paranormal podcasts when they review films, and drop references for true fans of the horror genre.

Frightday interacts with its audience with the occasional Q&A episode, like in Episode 200 when they discuss “The Shining.” Their fandom is authentic and their love for the paranormal is evident in their reviews. Frightday is shoulder-deep in the culture surrounding strange phenomena and horror.

Most shows are 1hr-1hr30min. Listen to Fright Day for a crew that matches your obsession with the genre.

Listen:ApplePodcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

LastPodcast On The Left

The infectious enthusiasm of Last Podcast On The Left’s crew carriesthe show. Hosts Ben Kissel, Marcus Parks, and Henry Zebrowski jockey for takeson topics that range from true crime small-town murder mysteries to hauntedhouses. Episodes come out weekly, ranging from one to two hours, in addition toside stories, providing a constant stream of content.

The hosts are heavy on the dark humor and wax inappropriate withtheir back and forth dialogue. If you dialed to this show on a radio, you mightthink you were listening to an uncensored sports commentary. While the hostsdon’t hold back from offensive jokes, subjects are well-researched, like their studyof Heaven’s Gate founder Marshall Applewhite in Episode 397, or their departurefrom humor with a serious take on the Columbine story.

Last Podcast On The Left will inform and entertain fans of bothtrue crime and the paranormal.

Listen:ApplePodcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

The Cryptonauts Podcast

“It would be easier to measure what I didn’t drink last night,” Rob Morphy remarks at the beginning of Episode #113: The Ningen. He is joined by hosts Marc Storrs and Chris Carnicelli in a profanity-laced exploration of cryptids– creatures and animals that have been claimed to exist but never proven to exist.

The Cryptonauts don’t take themselves too seriously, but thebreadth and scope of mythical beasts and strange humanoids they cover intrigueand amuse. They don’t limit themselves to Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster.The Snallygaster, the Space Demons of Devil’s Swamp, and the Green Clawed Beastall lend themselves the show’s loose and curious outlook of paranormal wonders.

Most episodes are 45min to 1hr30min. Consider The CryptonautPodcast for expanding your knowledge of mysterious creatures.

Listen:ApplePodcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

NotAlone

Good cop Sam Frederickson, and bad cop Jason Moitoso pit believer versus skeptic with a dynamic that encourages civil discourse. The self-professed Magic: the Gathering nerds cover cryptids like The Wildman of China and contemporary paranormal events like The Miracle of the Sun. The phenomenon of The Miracle of the Sun, reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary in 1917 Portugal, is covered over four episodes and showcases the duo’s deep research.

Episodes are released on a weekly basis and are usually between 1hr to 1hr30min. The host’s camaraderie makes them accessible, relatable and easy to partake in their love of the mysterious and unexplained.

Listen:Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Best Free Podcasts For Sleep Spotify Playlists

Honorable Mentions:

Best Free Podcasts For Sleep Spotify Subscription

• The Magnus Archives
• Caustic Soda
• Unexplained
• All Day Paranormal
• And That’s Why We Drink
• Lore
• The Ectoplasm Show
• Those Conspiracy Guys
• Hysteria 51
• Cryptids