Twenty Thousand Hertz+

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

Design
Arts
Music Commentary
126
Sing Gently
How an internet choir connects singers around the world at a time when they can't sing together.
33 min
127
Sounds Worth Saving
Legendary music archivist Alan Lomax made it his life's work to preserve and promote the sounds of local culture.
24 min
128
Conlang
From Klingon to Elvish, what makes a good constructed language?
26 min
129
Space Audity
The mind-boggling technology behind space communication.
21 min
130
Sonic Utopia
What can we expect the future to sound like, and how can we build a sonic utopia?
25 min
131
Sound and Silence
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
132
Dies Irae
How a four-note melody from the 13th century became a movie soundtrack superstar.
26 min
133
Perfect Pitch
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
134
Tyrannosaurus FX
The sound design wizardry behind the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park, and how these sounds compare to what dinos REALLY sounded like.
23 min
135
Napster
The stunning rise and fall of Napster, and how it transformed the music industry in a few short years.
36 min
136
Vocal Discords
A diagnosis of vocal nodes is every singer's worst nightmare. But when nodes develop, is all hope truly lost?
21 min
137
Deepfake Dallas
Is your voice your own? Maybe not anymore.
22 min
138
The City That Never Sleeps
The link between chronic noise and chronic anxiety may be closer than we realize.
23 min
139
Tudum! It's Netflix
The never-before-told story behind the iconic Netflix sound.
21 min
140
McElroys, Mysteries and Me
The McElroy brothers, hosts of My Brother, My Brother and Me, compete in a heated and hilarious game of mystery sounds.
41 min
141
Hamilton Remix
How the sound design of Hamilton draws the audience into the story.
28 min
142
Stop... Collaborate & Listen
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
143
Copyrights & Wrongs
Theft or inspiration? Part one of a deep dive into the complicated world of Copyright.
24 min
144
Makin' Whoopee!
The history and science behind our favorite fart sound-maker, the whoopee cushion.
26 min
145
Star Wars: Pew Pew!
The story behind the sound design of Star Wars: How legendary Sound Designer Ben Burtt helped transport audiences to a galaxy far, far away.
29 min
146
That's All Folks!
The story of Mel Blanc, Part 2. The accident, recovery, and passing of the torch.
20 min
147
Ehh... What's Up, Doc?
The early life and career of Mel Blanc.
24 min
148
Twenty Parts Per Thousand
The stories behind the world's most recognizable and interesting smells.
21 min
149
Cremona
The story of a town that stayed quiet to preserve an instrument they love.
23 min
150
Satanic Panic!
Warning: Listening to this episode might entice you to worship the devil.
28 min