TV series
This enlightening series from Vox digs into a wide range of topics such as the rise of cryptocurrency, why diets fail, and the wild world of K-pop.
Streaming, rental and purchase options
Checked Sep 2, 2026
Explained is available to stream on Netflix and Tubi in United States. Use the direct links below to open the provider.
This enlightening series from Vox digs into a wide range of topics such as the rise of cryptocurrency, why diets fail, and the wild world of K-pop.
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 1
Cory Booker and others discuss how slavery, housing discrimination and centuries of inequality have compounded to create a racial wealth gap.
Guest stars Mehrsa Baradaran, Cory Booker, Thomas Shapiro, Beth Jacobson, James Baldwin, Edward A. Bouchet, Shirley Chisholm, Bill Clinton
Episode 2
Scientific feat or terrifying social experiment? Specialists in the field discuss the high stakes and ethical controversies of gene editing.
Guest stars Joss Fong, Neville Sanjana, Jennifer Doudna, John Evans, Hank Greely, Rebecca Cokley, Emmanuelle Charpentier, Francis Collins
Episode 3
What do biology, human history and the promiscuity of bonobos reveal about monogamy? Experts and everyday couples weigh in on shifting cultural norms.
Guest stars Maria Bello
Episode 4
Elaborate music videos, adoring fans, killer choreography. Learn about the global music phenomenon from South Korea that goes beyond "Gangnam Style."
Guest stars Estelle Caswell, Tablo, Jimin, SUGA, V, Jin, RM, Jung Kook
Episode 5
Cryptocurrency has made people billionaires, but is digital cash the next revolution? Learn about this anonymous currency and how it's coveted.
Guest stars Christian Slater
Episode 6
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.
Guest stars Maria Bello
Episode 7
Does the stock market accurately reflect the status of the economy? Finance specialists discuss market history, valuations and CEO incentives.
Guest stars Estelle Caswell, Andrew Carnegie, Warren Buffett, John D. Rockefeller, Cornelius Vanderbilt, John Maynard Keynes, Richard Nixon, Jacob Collins Dodd
Episode 8
Is fake violence a sport? Fans, shoutcasters, and eSports icons break down today's video games and the explosive popularity of competitive gaming.
Guest stars Estelle Caswell
Episode 9
Despite decades of searching, we have yet to discover extraterrestrial life. Scientists discuss the reasons, including: Are aliens just too snobby?
Guest stars LeVar Burton
Episode 10
Do we overuse exclamation points!? Linguists and copy editors look at how the punctuation has adapted across history, literature and internet-speak.
Guest stars Nick Kroll
Episode 11
Cricket experts look at how the confusing sport became so popular and discuss its evolution in becoming more accessible entertaining and profitable.
Guest stars Aasif Mandvi
Episode 12
Marijuana experts discuss the rise of potent "sexually frustrated" cannabis plants, the quests for consistency in weed strains and the history of hemp.
Guest stars Kevin Smith
Episode 13
They've been used to command respect, punish criminals and mark achievements. Tattooists speak about the origins of tattoo traditions and rituals.
Guest stars Coleman Lowndes
Episode 14
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.
Guest stars Yara Shahidi
Episode 15
Can we uncover the secrets to extending the human lifespan? Experts discuss how developments in science -- even the French lilac -- hold some clues.
Guest stars Kristen Bell, Barack Obama
Episode 16
The female orgasm is more elusive when a man is involved. Discover the reasons why and how women are embracing hands on solutions.
Guest stars Rachel Bloom
Episode 17
Political correctness can sometimes feel like a tug-of-war between inclusivity and free speech. Experts discuss the concepts behind the fraught term.
Guest stars Jerry Springer, Anderson Cooper, Mike Wallace, George H. W. Bush, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin
Episode 18
Hillary Clinton and Anne-Marie Slaughter discuss the cultural norms at the center of the worldwide gender pay gap, including the "motherhood penalty."
Guest stars Rachel McAdams, Hillary Clinton, Valentine Rugwabiza, Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand, Sandra Day O'Connor, Barack Obama, Jackie Speier
Episode 19
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?
Guest stars Kyle MacLachlan
Episode 20
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.
Guest stars Carly Rae Jepsen
Episode information updated Sep 17, 2026
Joss FongNarrator (voice)
Maria BelloNarrator (voice)
Christian SlaterNarrator (voice)
Estelle CaswellNarrator (voice)
LeVar BurtonNarrator (voice)
Nick KrollNarrator (voice)
Aasif MandviNarrator (voice)
Kevin SmithNarrator (voice)
Netflix
Vox Media StudiosUnited StatesMore shows like Explained.
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