Twenty Thousand Hertz
The stories behind the world’s most iconic and fascinating sounds.
126
The Cyborg, The Scientist, and the Death of Sil...
The way we each experience sound depends on so many unique factors, from tiny receptors in our ears to the way we were taught to communicate.
48 min
127
Dies Irae: The death melody haunting Hollywood
How a four-note melody from the 13th century became a movie soundtrack superstar.
26 min
128
Perfect Pitch: Unlocking Jacob Collier’s musica...
What's it like when every sound you hear—from the whir of the coffee grinder to the beep of the microwave—all sound like musical notes?
27 min
129
Tyrannosaurus FX: What dinosaurs really sounded...
The sound design wizardry behind the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park, and how these sounds compare to what dinos REALLY sounded like.
23 min
130
Napster: How free music broke the industry
The stunning rise and fall of Napster, and how it transformed the music industry in a few short years.
36 min
131
Vocal Discords: When nodules silence singers
A diagnosis of vocal nodes is every singer's worst nightmare. But when nodes develop, is all hope truly lost?
21 min
132
Deepfake Dallas: How AI learned to speak like me
Is your voice your own? Maybe not anymore.
22 min
133
The Weight of Noise: One writer’s struggle in N...
The link between chronic noise and chronic anxiety may be closer than we realize.
23 min
134
Tudum! The story behind the iconic Netflix sound
The never-before-told story behind the iconic Netflix sound.
21 min
135
Guess That Sound 2020: My Brother, My Brother & Me
The McElroy brothers, hosts of My Brother, My Brother and Me, compete in a heated and hilarious game of mystery sounds.
41 min
136
Hamilton’s Sonic Secrets: Behind the Broadway p...
How the sound design of Hamilton draws the audience into the story.
28 min
137
Stop, Collaborate and Listen: Can you copyright...
Theft or inspiration? Part two of a deep dive into the complicated world of copyright, sampling and the ability to own a song.
23 min
138
Copyrights & Wrongs: Musical Inspiration vs. Pl...
Theft or inspiration? Part one of a deep dive into the complicated world of Copyright.
24 min
139
Makin’ Whoopee: The hilarious history & science...
The history and science behind our favorite fart sound-maker, the whoopee cushion.
26 min
140
Pew Pew! The making of Star Wars’ iconic sounds
How legendary Sound Designer Ben Burtt helped transport audiences to a galaxy far, far away.
29 min
141
That’s All Folks! Mel Blanc’s curtain call
The story of Mel Blanc, Part 2. The accident, recovery, and passing of the torch.
20 min
142
What’s Up, Doc? Mel Blanc and the magic of Loon...
The early life and career of Mel Blanc.
24 min
143
Twenty Parts Per Thousand: Designing with smell
The stories behind the world's most recognizable and interesting smells.
21 min
144
Cremona: Saving the world’s most prized violin ...
The story of a town that stayed quiet to preserve an instrument they love.
23 min
145
Satanic Panic: Backwards messages and '80s hyst...
Warning: Listening to this episode might entice you to worship the devil.
28 min
146
Noise “R” Us: The evolution of noisy toys
A nostalgic history of toy sounds.
25 min
147
Good Vibes: Unlocking music’s hidden power over...
We know music can affect our moods, but its influence over us goes even deeper, and has the power to heal, harm, and manipulate us.
25 min
148
4’33”: John Cage’s revolutionary “silent” music...
The story behind one of the most controversial, and influential, pieces of music of the 20th Century.
31 min
149
The Seinfeld theme song w/ Composer Jonathan Wolff
A theme song about nothing: how it was created, what makes it so unique, and how it became one of the most iconic theme songs in TV history.
26 min
150
Sonic Wonderland: The world’s most incredible s...
Take your ears on a mini vacation as we celebrate the sonic wonders of the world.
18 min