Episode 1
The Racial Wealth Gap
Cory Booker and others discuss how slavery, housing discrimination and centuries of inequality have compounded to create a racial wealth gap.
Where to watch Explained
TV series
Explained
2018TV-MA3 seasons7.5 / 10
This documentary series, made in partnership with Vox, explain some of the world's current trends, from politics, to science to pop culture.
Streaming, rental and purchase options
Where to watch in United States
Checked Jul 22, 2026
Explained is available to stream on Netflix in United States. Use the direct links below to open the provider.
Stream
Synopsis
This documentary series, made in partnership with Vox, explain some of the world's current trends, from politics, to science to pop culture.
Season 1 episodes
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 2
Designer DNA
Scientific feat or terrifying social experiment? Specialists in the field discuss the high stakes and ethical controversies of gene editing.
Where to watch Explained
Episode 3
Monogamy
What do biology, human history and the promiscuity of bonobos reveal about monogamy? Experts and everyday couples weigh in on shifting cultural norms.
Where to watch Explained
Episode 4
K-Pop
Elaborate music videos, adoring fans, killer choreography. Learn about the global music phenomenon from South Korea that goes beyond "Gangnam Style."
Where to watch Explained
Episode 5
Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency has made people billionaires, but is digital cash the next revolution? Learn about this anonymous currency and how it's coveted.
Where to watch Explained
Episode 6
Why Diets Fail
Atkins. Paleo. Keto. Do any work in the long term? Experts look at marketing, food environments and genes to explain why diets are often unsuccessful.
Where to watch Explained
Episode 7
The Stock Market
Does the stock market accurately reflect the status of the economy? Finance specialists discuss market history, valuations and CEO incentives.
Where to watch Explained
Episode 8
eSports
Is fake violence a sport? Fans, shoutcasters, and eSports icons break down today's video games and the explosive popularity of competitive gaming.
Where to watch Explained
Episode 9
Extraterrestrial Life
Despite decades of searching, we have yet to discover extraterrestrial life. Scientists discuss the reasons, including: Are aliens just too snobby?
Where to watch Explained
Episode 10
!
Do we overuse exclamation points!? Linguists and copy editors look at how the punctuation has adapted across history, literature and internet-speak.
Where to watch Explained
Episode 11
Cricket
Cricket experts look at how the confusing sport became so popular and discuss its evolution in becoming more accessible entertaining and profitable.
Where to watch Explained
Episode 12
Weed
Marijuana experts discuss the rise of potent "sexually frustrated" cannabis plants, the quests for consistency in weed strains and the history of hemp.
Where to watch Explained
Episode 13
Tattoo
They've been used to command respect, punish criminals and mark achievements. Tattooists speak about the origins of tattoo traditions and rituals.
Where to watch Explained
Episode 14
Astrology
Do zodiac signs prescribe your fate? Or do horoscopes' accuracy lie in the placebo effect? Take a look at the science, history and lure of astrology.
Where to watch Explained
Episode 15
Can We Live Forever ?
Can we uncover the secrets to extending the human lifespan? Experts discuss how developments in science -- even the French lilac -- hold some clues.
Where to watch Explained
Episode 16
The Female Orgasm
The female orgasm is more elusive when a man is involved. Discover the reasons why and how women are embracing hands on solutions.
Where to watch Explained
Episode 17
Political Correctness
Political correctness can sometimes feel like a tug-of-war between inclusivity and free speech. Experts discuss the concepts behind the fraught term.
Where to watch Explained
Episode 18
Why Women Are Paid Less
Hillary Clinton and Anne-Marie Slaughter discuss the cultural norms at the center of the worldwide gender pay gap, including the "motherhood penalty."
Where to watch Explained
Episode 19
The World's Water Crisis
The global water crisis is at an inflection point. How do we price our most valuable resource, while also ensuring access to it as a human right?
Where to watch Explained
Episode 20
Music
When does sound become music? Why are humans so uniquely able to master musicality? Researchers talk rhythm, octaves and the magic of song and dance.
Where to watch ExplainedEpisode information updated Jul 22, 2026
More about Explained
Cast
Joss FongNarrator (voice)
Maria BelloNarrator (voice)
Christian SlaterNarrator (voice)
Estelle CaswellNarrator (voice)
LeVar BurtonNarrator (voice)
Nick KrollNarrator (voice)
Aasif MandviNarrator (voice)
Kevin SmithNarrator (voice)Credits
- Created by
- Ezra Klein
Production details
- Status
- Ended
- Series type
- Documentary
- Episodes
- 44
- Original language
- English
Networks & production
Netflix- Vox EntertainmentUnited States
Vox Media StudiosUnited States
Themes
euaexperimentinvestigatenaturenewssciencezeitgeist
You may also like
More shows like Explained.
