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
Loop Groups: The art of movie background chatter
We go behind the scene with the actors responsible for bringing your TV and film backgrounds to life.
25 min
202
Slot Machines: The addictive power of sound
The sound design and science behind today's slot machines.
16 min
203
Misophonia: Why we can't stand certain sounds
The hatred of sound.
16 min
204
THX Deep Note Part 2: How a lost file shaped mo...
What happened after THX lost its iconic "Deep Note"?
25 min
205
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
206
Amen Break: The world’s most sampled drum beat
The history of what might be the most sampled piece of music ever.
21 min
207
Ultrasonic Tracking: Are our phones really list...
Your phone might be eavesdropping on you.
21 min
208
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
209
Broadway to Cirque du Soleil: Sound design for...
Sound design's critical role in theater and concerts.
20 min
210
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
211
Epileptic Symphonies: Turning seizures into music
Brant Guichard hears music every time he has a seizure.
26 min
212
Hamilton: Crafting the sound of the Broadway s...
Find out how sound design draws the audience into the story.
27 min
213
False Alarm: How the Emergency Alert System we...
Explore the history of the notification system that keeps us safe.
23 min
214
Muzak: How background music took over the world
The company that changed the way public spaces sound.
16 min
215
Six O'Clock Soundtrack: The art of TV news music
How television news got its score.
23 min
216
314-914-6093: When Michelle Obama tweets your ...
What does Twitter sound like when it comes to life?
22 min
217
The Gift: Dr. Amar Bose’s audio legacy
In this special Holiday Edition, we uncover an incredible gift to sound and research.
21 min
218
Facebook & Google Pixel: Designing the perfect...
We explore user interface sounds.
22 min
219
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
220
Disney Parks: How Imagineers use sound to ench...
How does sound design shape our theme park experience?
19 min
221
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
222
Acoustical Umbilical Cord: Why crying makes us ...
Why do we cry? ...and how do our tears in adulthood make us distinctively human?
20 min
223
Level Up: How video games tell an immersive sto...
Games are often defined by their graphics. How does sound for games work?
20 min
224
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
225
Sonic Seasoning: Can sound affect our taste buds?
How does our sense of hearing affect our taste buds?
16 min