Free Daily Podcast Summary
Unexplainable: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Vox
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.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 4 days ago26 min
What happened before the big bang?
It's a question that seems impossible to grapple with, but scientists won't take no for an answer. In this collaboration with Scientific American, we take on the big bang and a whole bunch of seemingly impossible questions. Guests: Rachel Feltman, host of the Science Quickly podcast; Sarah Scoles, senior contributor at Scientific American For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscriptsFor more, go to vox.com/unexplainableAnd please email us! unexplainable@vox.comWe read every email.Support Unexplainable (and get ad-free episodes) by becoming a Vox Member today: vox.com/membersThank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- 6 days ago27 min
What's the oldest story ever told?
An astrophysicist uses the motion of the stars to argue that a single story has been told for 100,000 years. A cognitive anthropologist has questions. Guests: Ray Norris, astrophysicist; Manvir Singh, cognitive anthropologist at the University of California, Davis For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscriptsFor more, go to vox.com/unexplainableAnd please email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email.Support Unexplainable (and get ad-free episodes) by becoming a Vox Member today: vox.com/members Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- 2 weeks ago36 min
Stopping the science that could stop the world
When scientists write their own rules for life, how do they know what could go wrong before it’s too late? This is the final episode of our new three-part series, Life from Scratch. Guests: Kate Adamala, associate professor at the University of Minnesota; David Relman, professor at Stanford University; John Glass, leader of the JCVI Synthetic Biology Group. For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscriptsFor more, go to vox.com/unexplainableAnd please email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email.Support Unexplainable (and get ad-free episodes) by becoming a Vox Member today: vox.com/membersThank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- 2 weeks ago34 min
A breakthrough in synthetic life
Synthetic biologist Kate Adamala has been making major headlines as her lab creates cells that feed, divide, and grow — all from nonliving parts. It may sound like sci-fi, but Kate believes that these “not quite alive” cells are key to a renewable future. Guests: Kate Adamala, associate professor at the University of Minnesota For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscripts For more, go to vox.com/unexplainable And please email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable (and get ad-free episodes) by becoming a Vox Member today: vox.com/members Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- 3 weeks ago29 min
Life from scratch
Scientists stripped a cell down to its most essential genes in order to find out what makes life...alive. What they found was more bizarre than they could have imagined. This is the first episode of our new three-part series, Life from Scratch. Guests: Kate Adamala, associate professor at the University of Minnesota; John Glass, leader of the JCVI Synthetic Biology Group. For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscripts For more, go to vox.com/unexplainable And please email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable (and get ad-free episodes) by becoming a Vox Member today: vox.com/members Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- 3 weeks ago44 min
The idea of a song
A few hundred milliseconds are often all you need to recognize a song, but a lot of recent hits have moved away from intros. Our friends at Switched on Pop (along with the National's Aaron Dessner) break down how song intros can shape our perception and what we lose when they disappear. To watch this episode on video, find us on Netflix! Guests: Charlie Harding and Nate Sloan, hosts of Switched on Pop; Aaron Dessner, producer, songwriter, and member of the National; Grace Spelman, music writer For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscripts For more, go to vox.com/unexplainable And please email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email.Support Unexplainable (and get ad-free episodes) by becoming a Vox Member today: vox.com/members Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- Aug 19, 202626 min
Why can’t I remember being a baby?
And if babies forget their earliest experiences, do they still matter?This episode is a collaboration with Vox's Explain It to Me podcastGuests: Kristin Ohlson, writer; Tristan Yates, cognitive psychologist at Columbia University; Dana Suskind, professor of surgery and pediatrics at the University of Chicago For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscripts For more, go to vox.com/unexplainable And please email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable (and get ad-free episodes) by becoming a Vox Member today: vox.com/members Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- Aug 17, 202630 min
Can these corals take the heat?
Warming waters are an existential threat to coral reefs, and for people who want to restore them. But in the Republic of Palau, researchers are testing out an approach to help restored reefs survive hotter temperatures — before it's too late. To watch this episode on video, find us on Netflix! Guests: Benji Jones, senior environmental correspondent at Vox For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscriptsFor more, go to vox.com/unexplainableAnd please email us! unexplainable@vox.comWe read every email.Support Unexplainable (and get ad-free episodes) by becoming a Vox Member today: vox.com/membersThank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Get Unexplainable summaries in your inbox
Free AI-powered daily recaps. Key takeaways, quotes, and mentions — in a 5-minute read.
Get Free Summaries →Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
You Might Also Like
Listeners also like.
Unsung Science
Explores the overlooked stories behind major scientific and technological breakthroughs and the people who created them.
Today, Explained to Kids
A group of friends explores a magical island where whimsical inhabitants help answer big questions about the world.
The World, the Universe and Us
Explores big scientific questions about life, consciousness, climate, and the cosmos with expert scientists and New Scientist journalists.
Today, Explained
A daily news podcast that breaks down the most important stories of the day with hosts Sean Rameswaram and Noel King.
Wild Thing
A narrative podcast exploring how humanity's quest to uncover scientific mysteries reveals deeper truths about ourselves.
Mysterious Universe
Explores fringe science, UFOs, cryptozoology, and alternative history with a mix of curiosity and humor.
Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe
Two scientists explore diverse topics across the universe, from particles to ecosystems, with accessible and engaging explanations.
Unexpected Elements
Explores hidden scientific connections behind global news and everyday phenomena.
Explain It to Me
A journalist investigates personal questions about money, health, and relationships, breaking down complex topics with clarity and humor.
Stuff To Blow Your Mind
Explores the strange edges of science, consciousness, and reality through neuroscience, cosmology, evolution, and emerging technology.
The Quanta Podcast
A deep dive into fundamental questions in science and math through conversations with researchers and Quanta Magazine editors.
Unexplained Encounters
Ordinary people recount terrifying and unexplained encounters with mysterious creatures and supernatural events.
About Unexplainable
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.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from Unexplainable in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's Unexplainable daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of Unexplainable as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the Unexplainable podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official Unexplainable product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Vox.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts. Upgrade to Pro for 15, or Premium for 50. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does Unexplainable release new episodes?
Unexplainable publishes 2x weekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does Unexplainable cover?
Unexplainable covers topics including Science. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting Unexplainable summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.