Legendary music archivist Alan Lomax made it his life's work to preserve and promote the sounds of local culture.

From Klingon to Elvish, what makes a good constructed language?

The mind-boggling technology behind space communication.

What can we expect the future to sound like, and how can we build a sonic utopia?

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.

How a four-note melody from the 13th century became a movie soundtrack superstar.

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?

The sound design wizardry behind the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park, and how these sounds compare to what dinos REALLY sounded like.

The stunning rise and fall of Napster, and how it transformed the music industry in a few short years.

A diagnosis of vocal nodes is every singer's worst nightmare. But when nodes develop, is all hope truly lost?

Is your voice your own? Maybe not anymore.

The link between chronic noise and chronic anxiety may be closer than we realize.

The never-before-told story behind the iconic Netflix sound.

The McElroy brothers, hosts of My Brother, My Brother and Me, compete in a heated and hilarious game of mystery sounds.

How the sound design of Hamilton draws the audience into the story.

Theft or inspiration? Part two of a deep dive into the complicated world of copyright, sampling and the ability to own a song.

Theft or inspiration? Part one of a deep dive into the complicated world of Copyright.

The history and science behind our favorite fart sound-maker, the whoopee cushion.

The story behind the sound design of Star Wars: How legendary Sound Designer Ben Burtt helped transport audiences to a galaxy far, far away.

The story of Mel Blanc, Part 2. The accident, recovery, and passing of the torch.

The early life and career of Mel Blanc.

The stories behind the world's most recognizable and interesting smells.

The story of a town that stayed quiet to preserve an instrument they love.

Warning: Listening to this episode might entice you to worship the devil.

A nostalgic history of toy sounds.