Twenty Thousand Hertz+

The stories behind the world’s most iconic and fascinating sounds.

Design
Arts
Music Commentary
176
Blue! 42!
How headsets revolutionized American football.
23 min
177
Silence
Dallas is locked into an anechoic chamber to experience how our brains process complete silence.
21 min
178
Space Remix
A completely remixed version of our favorite episode, where we explore what other plants sound like.
19 min
179
Boots 'n Cats
The evolution & science of beatboxing.
21 min
180
Being George Clooney
Explore how Hollywood films are adapted for foreign languages.
30 min
181
Xbox Startup Sound
How the designers of the Xbox startup sounds overcame tight parameters to come up with an iconic audio logo.
21 min
182
Theater for the Mind
The stories behind the golden age of sci-fi and horror radio dramas.
29 min
183
The Theremin
The story behind this infamous, spooky-sounding instrument.
25 min
184
Classic Cartoon Sound Effects!
How were old cartoon sounds made, and how did they become so iconic?
27 min
185
Twenty Thousand Hertz
A behind the scenes look at the inspiration and creation of Twenty Thousand Hertz.
31 min
186
Jingles
What is the story behind these unforgettable earworms?
28 min
187
Sonic Branding
The story behind audio logos and what makes them so powerful.
24 min
188
Loop Groups
We go behind the scene with the actors responsible for bringing your TV and film backgrounds to life.
25 min
189
Slot Machines
The sound design and science behind today's slot machines.
16 min
190
Misophonia
The hatred of sound.
16 min
191
THX Deep Note, Part 2
What happened after THX lost its iconic "Deep Note"?
25 min
192
THX Deep Note, Part 1
What was the point of the THX "deep note" and why do we love it so much?
23 min
193
Amen Break
The history of what might be the most sampled piece of music ever.
21 min
194
Ultrasonic Tracking
Your phone might be eavesdropping on you.
21 min
195
ASMR
We explore the autonomous sensory meridian response, a phenomenon where certain sounds can trigger a pleasant physical reaction.
22 min
196
Live Theater
Sound design's critical role in theater and concerts.
20 min
197
The Music in Speech
Your voice is an instrument, and the way you choose to sing your words can communicate a lot.
15 min
198
Seizure Sonification
Brant Guichard hears music every time he has a seizure.
26 min
199
Hamilton
Find out how sound design draws the audience into the story.
27 min
200
Emergency Alert System
Explore the history of the notification system that keeps us safe.
23 min