Twenty Thousand Hertz+

The stories behind the world’s most recognizable and interesting sounds.

Hosted by Sound Designer Dallas Taylor, Twenty Thousand Hertz unlocks the stories, secrets and science behind what you hear.

Whether you’re a professional audio engineer with decades of experience, a fourth grader who loves sound and music, or anyone in between, you’ll find something to love: the sound design secrets of hit movies, the forgotten backstories of classic theme songs, the sonic craft of jingles and device sounds, linguistic mysteries, psychoacoustics, video game music, animal communication, and beyond. With moving human stories, immersive sound design, and non-stop ear candy, Twenty Thousand Hertz has grown into the world’s leading podcast about sound. 

New to the show? Start here:

• I'm Lovin' It: How “Ba da ba ba ba” took over the world

• The Art of Foley: Bringing Slimer & Batman to life

• Tudum! The story behind the iconic Netflix sound

• The Legend of Zelda: A Beep to the Past

• Inside Hans Zimmer’s Remote Control Studios

• A sonic journey through the Solar System

• Mind the Gap: NYC & London’s iconic transit voices

Design
Arts
Music Commentary
201
Slot Machines: The addictive power of sound
The sound design and science behind today's slot machines.
16 min
202
Misophonia: Why we can't stand certain sounds
The hatred of sound.
16 min
203
THX Deep Note Part 2: How a lost file shaped mo...
What happened after THX lost its iconic "Deep Note"?
25 min
204
The THX Deep Note: From chaos to cinematic legend
What was the point of the THX "deep note" and why do we love it so much?
23 min
205
Amen Break: The world’s most sampled drum beat
The history of what might be the most sampled piece of music ever.
21 min
206
Ultrasonic Tracking: Are our phones really list...
Your phone might be eavesdropping on you.
21 min
207
ASMR: Why certain sounds give you tingles
We explore the autonomous sensory meridian response, a phenomenon where certain sounds can trigger a pleasant physical reaction.
22 min
208
Broadway to Cirque du Soleil: Sound design for...
Sound design's critical role in theater and concerts.
20 min
209
Hidden Melodies: Discovering the music in our ...
Your voice is an instrument, and the way you choose to sing your words can communicate a lot.
15 min
210
Epileptic Symphonies: Turning seizures into music
Brant Guichard hears music every time he has a seizure.
26 min
211
Hamilton: Crafting the sound of the Broadway s...
Find out how sound design draws the audience into the story.
27 min
212
False Alarm: How the Emergency Alert System we...
Explore the history of the notification system that keeps us safe.
23 min
213
Muzak: How background music took over the world
The company that changed the way public spaces sound.
16 min
214
Six O'Clock Soundtrack: The art of TV news music
How television news got its score.
23 min
215
314-914-6093: When Michelle Obama tweets your ...
What does Twitter sound like when it comes to life?
22 min
216
The Gift: Dr. Amar Bose’s audio legacy
In this special Holiday Edition, we uncover an incredible gift to sound and research.
21 min
217
Facebook & Google Pixel: Designing the perfect...
We explore user interface sounds.
22 min
218
Let It Beep: The rise and fall of the Mac start...
Who was behind the infamous Mac sounds that have become part of your daily routine?
16 min
219
Disney Parks: How Imagineers use sound to ench...
How does sound design shape our theme park experience?
19 min
220
Spooky Sounds: The secrets of horror sound design
How does Hollywood create the terrifying sounds in our favorite scary movies, and why does our brain react to those sounds with fear?
23 min
221
Acoustical Umbilical Cord: Why crying makes us ...
Why do we cry? ...and how do our tears in adulthood make us distinctively human?
20 min
222
Level Up: How video games tell an immersive sto...
Games are often defined by their graphics. How does sound for games work?
20 min
223
Watergate: How a tape recorder brought down a p...
How did an open reel tape recorder secretly planted in the White House basement lead to the demise of the 37th President of the United States?
23 min
224
Sonic Seasoning: Can sound affect our taste buds?
How does our sense of hearing affect our taste buds?
16 min
225
Fight or Flight: Why airplane sounds make us an...
Does flying make you nervous? You’re not alone. Dive into the psychological aspects of how sound can trigger these fears, and find out what all of those sounds really are.
23 min