Best Paranormal Podcasts 2026: 15 Ghost & UFO Shows
Last updated August 2026.
Whether you're a true believer or a devoted sceptic, a good paranormal podcast makes you pause and wonder. These shows cover everything from ghosts and hauntings to UFOs, cryptids and the genuinely unexplained — and the best ones take the subject matter seriously without losing their sense of fun. Here are the 15 worth loading up in 2026, grouped loosely from real-encounter storytelling to full-on cryptid and UFO investigation.
Want scripted scares and audio drama instead? See our companion list of the best horror podcasts.
Waking up with a podcast on iOS
Podcast Alarm is a fully featured podcast player and alarm. You can set up queues of your favourite episodes and listen to them whenever you like. Why not subscribe to your favourite podcast and have the latest episode wake you up every weekday morning. There are lots of screenshots and videos in our "How to set a podcast as an alarm on iphone?" blog post.
1. Astonishing Legends
Scott and Forrest go deep on one paranormal topic at a time — sometimes across multiple episodes. Their research is genuinely impressive, and they approach each subject with curiosity rather than credulity. The Dyatlov Pass and Skinwalker Ranch series are outstanding.
2. Lore
Aaron Mahnke explores the dark folklore and real history behind our fears. Each episode is beautifully produced and narrated, blending true events with the legends they inspired. It spawned a TV show for good reason — the storytelling is that good.
3. Jim Harold's Campfire
Real people call in to share their own paranormal experiences — ghosts, shadow figures, premonitions, the lot. Jim Harold is a warm, encouraging host who lets his callers tell their stories without judgement. Some of these accounts will genuinely give you chills.
4. Uncanny
Danny Robins investigates real cases of the supernatural reported by ordinary people, bringing in both believers and sceptics to examine the evidence. The BBC production values are superb and Robins strikes the perfect balance between open-minded and rigorous.
5. The Paranormal Podcast
Jim Harold's interview show features authors, researchers and investigators from across the paranormal spectrum. With hundreds of episodes in the archive, it's a massive library of supernatural deep dives. Great for long drives.
6. Spooked
A spin-off from Snap Judgment, Spooked features true-life supernatural stories told by the people who lived them. The production quality is exceptional and the stories are selected for maximum unease. Best listened to in the dark.
7. Real Ghost Stories Online
Listener-submitted ghost stories read and discussed by the hosts. It's straightforward and unpretentious — just people sharing the creepy things that happened to them. The sheer volume of episodes means you'll never run out.
8. And That's Why We Drink
Em and Christine pair a paranormal story with a true crime story each episode, with plenty of banter and wine in between. It's funny, spooky and endlessly listenable. If you want paranormal content that doesn't take itself too seriously, this is your show.
9. Otherworld
Jack Wagner interviews people who've had genuinely inexplicable experiences — glitches in reality, shadow people, alternate dimensions, missing time. The sound design is cinematic and Wagner is a disarmingly gentle interviewer, which makes the stranger accounts land even harder. It's become one of the most talked-about paranormal shows in the US for a reason.
10. Last Podcast on the Left
Marcus Parks, Henry Zebrowski and Ed Larson cover cryptids, hauntings, cults, aliens and the occult with exhaustive research and pitch-black comedy. It's irreverent and not for the easily offended, but the deep-dive episodes on Bigfoot, the Mothman and UFO lore are as informative as they are funny. A gateway drug for the whole genre.
11. Coast to Coast AM
The granddaddy of American paranormal radio. Host George Noory takes late-night callers and expert guests across UFOs, ghosts, conspiracies and the unexplained, just as Art Bell did before him. Decades of overnight broadcasts have made it a cultural institution — there's no better companion for a long, dark drive.
12. Somewhere in the Skies
Ryan Sprague is a serious UFO researcher who's testified on the subject, and his show reflects that rigour. He interviews witnesses, journalists and scientists about UAP sightings and the government disclosure story without tipping into sensationalism. If the recent Pentagon revelations pulled you in, start here.
13. That UFO Podcast
Host Andy fronts one of the fastest-moving UFO/UAP shows going, with rapid-reaction coverage of breaking sightings, Congressional hearings and whistleblower testimony. It's the show to follow if you want to keep up with the disclosure beat as it actually happens, plus long-form interviews with the field's biggest names.
14. Blurry Creatures
The go-to show for cryptids — Bigfoot, Dogman, Thunderbirds, the Wendigo and every regional monster in between. The hosts blend eyewitness accounts, folklore and a dose of biblical curiosity, and they keep it fun without mocking the people who share their stories. Perfect if the unexplained-animal corner of the paranormal is your thing.
15. Homespun Haints
Diana and Becky collect first-hand ghost stories from ordinary people, working on the premise that everybody has a haunting in them somewhere. It's warm, conversational and Southern-gothic in flavour, and the sheer variety of encounters — from friendly house spirits to genuinely menacing ones — keeps every episode fresh.
Start Your Morning with a Great Podcast
Set any of these podcasts as your alarm with Podcast Alarm and wake up to something worth listening to. Craving scripted terror and audio drama too? Our list of the best horror podcasts has you covered.
Waking up with a podcast on iOS
Podcast Alarm is a fully featured podcast player and alarm. You can set up queues of your favourite episodes and listen to them whenever you like. Why not subscribe to your favourite podcast and have the latest episode wake you up every weekday morning. There are lots of screenshots and videos in our "How to set a podcast as an alarm on iphone?" blog post.
