Unspookable

Unspookable is a family friendly look at the histories and mysteries behind your favorite scary stories, myths and urban legends. Each week host Elise Parisian digs into the history, brain science, and power dynamics behind such topics as Bloody Mary, Charlie Charlie, and Ouija Boards to find the stories behind the scares. (Recommended for ages 8+)


Unspookable is an official "Common Sense Media Selection" and has been called one of the "Best Podcasts for Kids of All Ages" by Time Out New York, one of the “7 Podcasts Big Kids Will Love” by The New York Times, one of the "20 Best Podcasts for Kids that will Make Them Forget About Screen Time" by the TODAY Show, and one of the "10 Best Podcasts for Children" by the Irish Examiner. The show has appeared multiple times across Canada on CBC Radio's Podcast Playlist, on NPR station WHYY's Kid's Listening Hour, has been featured by Apple Podcasts, Vulture, Romper, The AV Club, Fast Company, The Week Jr., and more.

Kids & Family
Education for Kids
Stories for Kids
51
Episode 31: The Jersey Devil
Have you ever heard a story about your hometown that you questioned whether or not it was true? Maybe there's a story about a famous person, or something that was invented in your hometown... or maybe there's a legend of a creature that has lurked in the local woods for over one hundred years. If you've ever heard of the New Jersey Pine Barrens ,these are exactly the kinds of stories that have been told locally for generations. Prepare to question local folklore with us today as we talk about The Jersey Devil on this episode of Unspookable.
21 min
52
Introducing: Of Fae & Fiends
This week, Unspookable is excited to share the first episode of Of Fae & Fiends. New episodes released weekly starting March 23, 2021. You can find Of Fae & Fiends wherever you get podcasts. Lizzie (10) returns to her ancestral home in Maine to make an amazing discovery: the woods behind the farmhouse contain a doorway to the mystical realm of Faerie. But a dark storm looms over the horizon of Fae: Lizzie’s Great-Uncle Carlow has enlisted a goblin army to conquer the World Tree, and has set his sights set on our world after… All that stands in Carlow’s way is Lizzie and her unlikely friends: Kyle, a talking goat, and Garrett, a swashbuckling weasel. Written and produced by audio drama pioneer Fred Greenhalgh, OF FAE & FIENDS is a Faerie Tale with teeth - a place where monsters sometimes eat children, but the courageous can fight back. This lavishly produced modern faerie tale features 30+ actors, cinematic sound design, and an original orchestral score. For families and kids at heart, ages 7 – 177.
35 min
53
Episode 30: Aliens Part 2
Have you ever heard of Area 51? What about Roswell, New Mexico? What if the supposed alien-related events and conspiracies surrounding these two locations were actually true? As we close out our time looking at the existence of aliens, it's time to look at what we believe versus what we want to believe - all of that on the season finale of Unspookable.
27 min
54
Episode 29: Aliens Part 1
Think about the last time you saw an alien. Was it in a book? Watching a movie? What did it look like? Now, it’s impossible to say exactly when the idea of aliens first occurred to humans on Earth and even more impossible to trace exactly how we conjured up the little green humanoid creatures with big eyes that you're most likely imagining, but today we're going to try and do just that. We’ll be talking about all things extra-terrestrial on this special two-part episode of Unspookable.
28 min
55
Episode 28: Ghost Ships
You see a crew-less vessel approaching through the fog on a moonless night at sea.. can you trust that your eyes were telling you the truth? Is there really a ship sailing with no one aboard? We've talked about the creatures that lurk in the ocean's depths, but what about the traces of the humans that have crossed those same waters? We'll look at these questions and the legend of Ghost Ships on this episode of Unspookable.
24 min
56
Episode 27: Illuminati, Conspiracies, & Media L...
A lot of us have heard the word Illuminati, but what does it mean? Is there really a secret group of people controlling society from the shadows? There are conspiracy theories in the world today about these very questions and so much more, but where do these ideas come from? And why do people keep spreading them? Finding and agreeing on the truth can be hard sometimes and we'll talk about that and more on this episode of Unspookable.
25 min
57
Episode 26: Spiders and Arachnophobia
Whether you find them cute or creepy, it's hard not to have a strong feeling about this week's topic...Spiders. Why are so many of us afraid of these arachnids? And what does it say about us as humans that something so small can be so terrifying? We'll unravel this web and more on this episode of Unspookable.
28 min
58
Episode 25: Book of the Dead
What do you think of when you hear the word mummy? Some of us may imagine a bandaged figure, arms outstretched, stumbling through the desert, but did you know that mummification of the dead served another purpose? Mummification is just a small part of a sacred ritual of Going Forth By Day as captured in something we call The Egyptian Book of the Dead. But this is no book at all as we will find out on this episode of Unspookable.
29 min
59
Introducing: REACH A Space Podcast for Kids
This week Unspookable presents REACH: A Space Podcast for Kids a weekly, family friendly exploration of our galaxy (and beyond!) with hosts Brian Holden and Meredith Stepien. Built for kids and based on questions from kids, REACH educates with entertaining segments, fun at-home experiments, and interviews with subject matter experts & thought partners from leading institutions like the Adler Planetarium, Cosmosphere, and more. Subscribe today, and get knowledge...within your Reach. A co-production between Soundsington Media and Sandy Marshall. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts.
29 min
60
Episode 24: Kraken
Did you know that more than eighty percent of our ocean is unexplored? Is that why just thinking of the oceans vastness leaves some of us feeling uneasy? Or is it something more? What lurks in its dark, unmapped depths? We look to uncover this mystery and more as we discuss the Kraken on this episode of Unspookable.
22 min
61
Episode 23: Mothman
Have you ever heard a story that left you wondering whether or not it was true? Have you ever wondered how some local legends became legends in the first place? We'll look at one of these stories and the actions that amplified it as we discuss the Mothman on this episode of Unspookable.
21 min
62
Episode 22: Centaurs
Greek mythology is full of amazing characters and creatures, but maybe none so much as those that share both human and animal characteristics. What can those that have one foot in one world and one foot in another teach us about ourselves? We will look back at Centaurs, Minotaurs, Pan, and more on this episode of Unspookable.
21 min
63
Episode 21: Unicorns
When you think of a Unicorn, what words come to mind? Beautiful? Gentle? Majestic? What if we told you that our current perception was a recent phenomenon and that history may tell a very different tale of this amazing creature. On this episode of Unspookable we track over 2000 years of Unicorn lore to get to the bottom of its origins.
20 min
64
Episode 20: Chupacabra
Have you ever heard of a Chupacabra? Legends of this creature that attack goats and other livestock exist in Puerto Rico, Chile, Brazil, Mexico, and the American southwest. On this episode of Unspookable we look to uncover the origins of these legends and the thoughts that aid in shaping our fears.
20 min
65
Episode 19: Dragons
How are stories created? What makes a story worth sharing? Would you be surprised to find out that people are telling the same stories all over the world? That's certainly the case with this week's topic of Dragons. Dragons exist in stories dating all of the way back to the beginnings of recorded history and on this episode of Unspookable we set out to answer why.
20 min
66
Bonus: The Black Plague and the history of pand...
On this special episode of Unspookable we look back at The Black Plague and other historical pandemics to see how working together and trusting science can help in times of confusion. We also hear from our child contributors who discuss social distancing and how they're handling being home from school.
23 min
67
Episode 18: Witches Part 2
Have you ever been judged or judged others because they weren't like you? While some part of this is natural, our differences are what make us interesting and give us great opportunities to learn about others. Now have you ever heard of the Salem Witch Trials? On part two of a very special two part episode of Unspookable we look at the history of witchcraft, how acceptance of these practices has changed over time, and what happens when people's judgment goes too far.
23 min
68
Episode 17: Witches Part 1
Do witches really exist? If so, what does it mean to be a witch? And are witches inherently good or bad? The answers to these questions have changed over time and you might be surprised to find out some of the answers. Give a listen to part one of a very special two part episode of Unspookable.
20 min
69
Episode 16: Clowns
What comes to mind when you hear the word clown? Is it the amusing character intending to make you laugh? Or is it something else - something scarier? We look at why so many have a fear of clowns and what that says about us on this episode of Unspookable.
24 min
70
Episode 15: Vampires
Why is it that we both fear and yet are drawn to the idea of vampires? How have media and modern medicine changed our thoughts about their existence? And what does all of this say about humans? We'll sink our teeth into all that and more on this episode of Unspookable.
26 min
71
Episode 14: Dolls
Dolls are most often seen as simply toys, yet so many of us harbor a secret fear of what they do while we slumber. On this episode of Unspookable we look at why these inanimate objects may creep us out and how it may have more to do with us than with them.
19 min
72
Episode 13: Zombies
Stories of the walking dead permeate many cultures, but have you ever wondered if zombies could actually exist? On the new season of Unspookable we'll look at this and the origins of some of the most famous monsters in the world that just may or may not be real.
19 min
73
Episode 12: Momo & Media Literacy
On the season conclusion of the family friendly Unspookable we look at the phenomenon of Momo. Why did this creepy sculpture go viral? What is the responsibility of the media in reporting these viral scares? And how can we protect ourselves from falling victim to these hoaxes?
19 min
74
Episode 11: Sasquatch
Have you ever wondered what lives beyond the borders of the civilized world ? What do you picture living in the forests and mountains? Some claim there is a missing link between humans and our ancestors that still dwell in these parts and on today's episode we are going to learn about this creature. Today we look at the mysteries of The Sasquatch.
21 min
75
Episode 10: Friday the 13th
Do you believe in luck? Do you think you're lucky or unlucky? Do you believe that there are certain days that are more prone to unlucky occurrences? In this episode we explore the origins, history, and superstition surrounding Friday the 13th.
18 min