From Radio to Podcasting Why I Started Real Unexplained Stories

When I first started in radio, I thought in terms of local audiences. The people listening were in the next town, the next county, or somewhere nearby. Radio was where I learned storytelling, production, and how powerful a voice can be when it reaches someone at the right moment.

But finding work in broadcasting isn’t always easy, especially when opportunities are limited locally. Eventually, I found myself looking for another way to create the kind of content I loved.

That is where podcasting came in.

I’ve always been inspired by broadcasters like Art Bell. What fascinated me wasn’t just the topics he covered, but the atmosphere he created. He built a world through audio alone. Listeners could picture everything in their minds. It was theatre of the mind.

That idea stayed with me.

When I launched Real Unexplained Stories, I wasn’t interested in building a show around cameras, trends, or chasing algorithms. I wanted to create something people could listen to while driving home, walking the dog, working late, or sitting alone in a dark room. A show where the stories take centre stage and the listener fills in the rest with their imagination.

What surprised me most was the reach.

When I released the first episodes, I honestly didn’t know if anyone would listen. Like many creators, I expected family, friends, and perhaps a few local people to find the show.

Instead, downloads started appearing from places I’d never been. People from different countries, different backgrounds, and different walks of life were listening to the same stories.

That changed my perspective.

I used to think locally. Now I think globally.

The internet has made it possible for a storyteller sitting in the North East of England to reach listeners across the world. That’s something I never take for granted.

Every download represents a real person who chose to spend part of their day listening to a story I helped bring to life.

So as the podcast continues to grow, the question I keep asking myself is simple:

What story can I share with you next?

Because at the heart of it all, that’s what this has always been about. Stories, curiosity, and the people willing to listen.