Best Paranormal Podcasts (2026) - 17 Hand-Picked Shows
Things go bump in the night and these podcasters are there to record it. Paranormal podcasts explore ghosts, UFOs, cryptids, hauntings, and everything that makes your skin crawl when the lights go off. Some take a serious investigative approach with field recordings and witness interviews. Others lean into campfire storytelling that will make you check the locks twice. Whether you're a true believer or a hardcore skeptic who just enjoys a good scare, this collection has something for you. Best enjoyed with headphones on, alone, preferably not at 3am. (Or exactly at 3am, if you're into that.)
The Paranormal Podcast
Jim Harold has been hosting this show since 2005, making him one of the longest-running voices in paranormal podcasting. Episodes feature interviews with authors, researchers, and everyday people who've had unexplainable experiences. The tone strikes a nice balance between open-minded curiosity and healthy skepticism. Harold's interviewing style is relaxed and genuine, letting guests tell their stories without pushing an agenda. It's the comfort food of paranormal listening.
Paranormal Mysteries
Nic Ryan narrates listener-submitted paranormal encounters with a storytelling style that'll have you looking over your shoulder. The show covers ghosts, shadow people, cryptid sightings, and experiences that defy easy explanation. What works is the authenticity of the stories - these are real people describing things that genuinely shook them. Production quality is solid, and Nic's narration adds atmosphere without overdoing the spooky effects. Perfect for late-night listening.
Scary - A Paranormal Podcast
Real-life paranormal stories told with enough dramatic tension to keep you hooked but enough restraint to feel genuine. Episodes cover hauntings, unexplained encounters, and creepy experiences submitted by listeners from around the world. The variety is part of the appeal - you never know if the next story will be a subtle haunting or something that makes you want to sleep with the lights on. Consistently engaging and occasionally genuinely unsettling.
Two Girls One Ghost
Two friends dive into paranormal topics, ghost stories, and supernatural phenomena with a mix of genuine interest and infectious humor. The chemistry between the hosts makes even the creepiest subjects feel approachable. They cover historical hauntings, listener experiences, and paranormal research without taking themselves too seriously. It's the paranormal podcast for people who want to be spooked but also want to laugh. Great production values and consistently entertaining.
Chilling True Tales
Daniel from SOS Paranormal collects and narrates true ghost stories and paranormal encounters with a delivery that's calm but deeply atmospheric. Stories come from real witnesses and cover everything from shadow figures to poltergeist activity to unexplained sounds. The no-nonsense presentation lets the stories speak for themselves. If you prefer your paranormal content without hype or sensationalism, this show delivers genuine chills through understated storytelling.
The Dark Paranormal
This podcast leans into the darker side of the paranormal spectrum - demonic encounters, haunted locations, and experiences that go beyond your typical ghost story. The atmosphere is intense and the content isn't for the faint-hearted. Stories are well-researched and presented with a seriousness that respects both the experiences and the listeners. If lighter paranormal shows leave you wanting more, The Dark Paranormal turns the intensity up significantly.
My Paranormal Experience
A community-driven podcast where real people share their own paranormal encounters in their own words. The format is simple but effective - ordinary people describing extraordinary things that happened to them. Stories range from childhood hauntings to recent unexplainable events. The raw, unpolished nature of the accounts makes them feel more credible than scripted content. It's like sitting around a campfire while strangers take turns telling their scariest true stories.
Weird Darkness
Darren Marlar narrates true paranormal stories, true crime, and dark history with a voice that was basically made for this content. The show blends ghost stories, cryptid encounters, and historical mysteries into themed episodes that keep you listening. Production quality is excellent and the writing is engaging without being overwrought. Weird Darkness has built a massive following for good reason - it consistently delivers compelling content in the paranormal and dark history space.
Mysteries Of The Unexplained
This podcast explores unexplained phenomena from around the world, covering paranormal encounters, supernatural events, and mysteries that science hasn't solved yet. Episodes are well-researched and presented with genuine curiosity about the unknown. The range of topics keeps things fresh - one week might be UFOs, the next could be an ancient mystery or a modern haunting. Good for listeners who want variety in their paranormal content.
Mysterious Radio
Podcast Audio House produces in-depth interviews with authors, researchers, and experiencers in the paranormal, UFO, and occult fields. The conversational format allows for deeper exploration of topics than most shows manage. Guests include both well-known figures and lesser-known researchers doing fascinating work. It covers the full spectrum of the unexplained without limiting itself to any single category. A solid choice for serious paranormal enthusiasts.
The Night Owl
True ghost stories and paranormal investigations presented by Night Owl Paranormal Investigations. The show combines personal field experience with listener submissions and historical research. What makes it stand out is the investigative approach - these aren't just stories, they're cases being examined with genuine rigor (as much as paranormal investigation allows). The passion of the host is obvious and contagious, even if you're normally skeptical about this stuff.
Ghostly
A paranormal podcast that covers ghost stories, haunted locations, and supernatural encounters with a focus on historical context and research. Episodes dig into the backstories behind famous hauntings and lesser-known paranormal events. The writing quality is notably high for the genre, treating subjects with intelligence while maintaining the spooky atmosphere. It's the paranormal podcast for people who appreciate good writing alongside their ghost stories.
Hillbilly Horror Stories
Jerry Paulley brings a distinctly Southern Appalachian flavor to paranormal storytelling that sets this show apart from everything else in the genre. Stories come from the hollers, backwoods, and rural communities where paranormal traditions run deep. The cultural specificity makes these accounts feel uniquely authentic. If you're tired of the same coastal big-city ghost stories, Hillbilly Horror Stories offers a different world of supernatural encounters rooted in mountain folk tradition.
Paranormal Record
Rob Constantine documents and investigates paranormal claims with a careful, methodical approach. Episodes feature witness interviews, location research, and analysis that goes beyond simple storytelling. The show takes a documentary-style approach to the paranormal, treating each case as something worth examining seriously. It appeals to listeners who want more substance than the average ghost story show provides.
Believing the Bizarre
This podcast embraces the stranger side of paranormal phenomena with enthusiasm and humor. Topics range from mainstream ghosts and UFOs to fringe theories and obscure supernatural claims. The hosts are clearly having fun while still engaging genuinely with the material. It's the kind of show that makes you Google weird things at midnight. If you like your paranormal content with personality and a willingness to explore truly bizarre territory, this delivers.
A Paranormal Chicks
Female-hosted paranormal podcast covering hauntings, cryptids, true crime with supernatural elements, and unexplained phenomena. The dynamic between hosts keeps conversations lively and entertaining. They bring genuine research to their topics while keeping the tone fun and accessible. The show fills an important space in a genre that can feel male-dominated, offering fresh perspectives on familiar paranormal subjects. Consistently well-produced and engaging.
Family Folklore
This unique podcast explores the paranormal stories and supernatural traditions passed down through families across generations. The focus on inherited ghost stories and family-specific hauntings gives it a niche that nobody else really occupies. Episodes reveal how paranormal experiences become woven into family identity and oral tradition. It's anthropology meets ghost stories, and the combination is surprisingly compelling. You might find yourself asking your own relatives some new questions.
