Twenty Thousand Hertz

From electric guitars to samplers to drum machines and beyond, the music we love is only possible thanks to the technology used to create it. In many ways, the history of popular music is really a history of technological innovation. In this episode, we partnered with BandLab to unpack four inventions that changed music forever. Featuring author and journalist Greg Milner.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/tunetech

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The world of headphones is a deep rabbit hole. With thousands of options and endless technical jargon, it’s hard to know which factors really matter, and which ones are just marketing gimmicks. In this episode, we cut through all of the gobbledygook, and break down the ins and outs of headphones to help you find your perfect pair. Featuring Wirecutter’s resident headphone expert Lauren Dragan.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/headphonehandbook

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Since the earliest days of commercial radio, companies have been using sound to worm their way into our brains. And over the decades, they’ve come up with all kinds of sonic tactics to make us want, crave and remember their products. In this episode, we take a whirlwind tour through the sounds of persuasion. This story was adapted from Under the Influence with Terry O’Reilly.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/soundsthatsell

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The sound of a roaring combustion engine is a fixture of modern life. But as electric vehicles become more and more common, these mechanical sounds will gradually be replaced with artificial tones that have been designed from scratch. And once self-driving cars start to take over, there will be an even bigger need for creative and intuitive sound design. In this episode, we explore the future of car sounds with Audio UX Co-Founder Dexter Garcia and Creative Consultant/Futurist John LePore.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/autotone

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For more than seventy years now, filmmakers have been using and reusing a particular scream. Without a doubt, this is Hollywood’s most famous sound effect. Many people even know it by name. But despite how widely-known this sound is, lots of people still don’t know its surprising origin story. To set the record straight, we’ve remixed one of our classic, early episodes. Featuring Steve Lee, sound designer, film historian, and creator of the Hollywood Sound Museum.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/wilhelmscreamix

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In recent years, the dialogue in movies and TV shows has gotten harder and harder to understand. No one seems to agree on who or what the main culprit is, much less how to fix the problem. In this episode, we wade into the murky waters of The Great Dialogue Debate, and maybe, just maybe, find a solution. Featuring Production Sound Mixer Tom Curley and Slashfilm Senior Writer Ben Pearson.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/subtitleson

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Mark Mangini is one of the most prolific sound designers of all time. He’s been credited on over 150 films, including Indiana Jones, Star Trek, Aladdin, Space Jam, The Green Mile, Anchorman, Mad Max: Fury Road, Dune, and tons more. In this episode, Mark joins us to count down six of our favorite sonic moments from his career, and reveals the secrets behind how these iconic sounds were made. This episode was made in partnership with Pro Sound Effects.

Share your sound stories with us! Record a message at hi.20k.org or email us your recording at [email protected].

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Many of us talk to ourselves in our heads pretty much all day long. But it turns out that there are plenty of people who don’t. In fact, thinking comes in many shapes and sizes, and no two minds are exactly alike. In this episode, we explore the peculiar world of how we think, and consider the pros and cons of inner speech. Featuring psychologists Charles Fernyhough and Russell Hurlburt, and lots of 20K listeners.

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To learn more about this topic, check out Charles’ book The Voices Within, and Russell’s book Investigating Pristine Inner Experience.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/voiceinside

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The original Zelda game featured three melodies that would come to define the franchise: the Secret Unlocked Sound, the Treasure Chest sound, and the classic Zelda theme. Throughout the series, these melodies have been transformed again and again. Each version reflects the hardware it was made for, and Nintendo’s evolving approach to these iconic games. Featuring Thomas of Thomas Game Docs, and Kirk Hamilton of Strong Songs.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/zeldatones

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Music is a quintessential part of the Zelda series. And some of Zelda’s most iconic melodies go all the way back to the original game, on the Nintendo Entertainment System. These tunes were born in an age of 8 bits, and 5 lo-fi channels of audio. But those limitations forced composer Koji Kondo to make them as distilled and powerful as possible. Featuring Thomas of Thomas Game Docs, and Kirk Hamilton of Strong Songs.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/zeldabeep

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The history of recorded sound stretches back over a hundred and fifty years, starting with a device that could “record” a voice on a piece of paper. Today, we can enjoy lossless streaming anywhere we go… but getting here wasn’t easy. In this episode, we worked with Qobuz, the high quality music platform, to chart the history of audio mediums, from cylinders made of tin foil and wax, to vinyl, 8-track, cassette, CDs, and mp3s. Along the way, we explore the innovations and quirks of each format, with memories sent in from our listeners and the 20K team. Featuring Adam Tovell from the British Library Sound Archive.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/fromcylinderstostreaming

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Baseball fan or not, there’s one song that virtually every American knows… or at least, we think we do. “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” is one of the top three most recognizable songs in the country, next to “The Star Spangled Banner'' and “Happy Birthday.” But if you dig into the lyrics, you’ll find a forgotten message buried among the peanuts and Cracker Jack. This story comes from the Smithsonian’s Sidedoor podcast.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/seventhinningstretch

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Our vocal system is incredibly complex. What we call “the voice” starts with very precise movements of our vocal cords, and then goes through an entire “resonation system” that includes our throat, mouth, lips, tongue, and teeth. With enough control over these components, people can do some truly mind-bending things with their voices, creating sounds that feel out of this world—from rumbling lows to piercing highs, and even two notes sung at once. This episode features vocal coach Matt Ramsey and Tuvan musician and throat singer Albert Kuvezin.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/vocalstratosphere

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Why do bugs make the sounds they do? And how do they make them? In this episode, we explore the un-bee-lievable world of insect sounds, including crickets who craft tools to make themselves louder, and moths who can jam the natural sonar of bats. By the time it’s over, you’ll never hear these buzzes and chirps the same way again. Featuring entomologists Natasha Mhatre and Nancy Mioreli.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/songbugs

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In honor of Mental Health Awareness month, we’ve revamped one of the most personal episodes we’ve ever worked on. To create it, Dallas worked with the team from Meditative Story to tell a story from his former life as a musician. It’s about losing the thing that had defined his life for more than a decade, and finding something entirely different in the process. This remix concludes with an all-new segment where Dallas reflects on what it was like to finally share this story.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/breathedeep

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 In the 1960s, stereo sound revolutionized the music industry. But it turns out, a pioneering engineer named Alan Blumlein had actually invented stereo a full three decades earlier. Due to tragic events in World War II, his innovations were forgotten for decades. In this episode, we worked with OnePlus to tell the story of how audio has evolved from mono, to stereo, to quadraphonic, to surround sound and beyond. Today, we even have immersive, three-dimensional systems that can simulate 128 speakers using just two. Featuring Alan Blumlein’s son Simon Blumlein, and sound engineer Robin Reumers from the Abbey Road Institute.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/thespatialrace

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Have you ever seen something so cute that you just wanted to squeeze it? Have you ever felt sleepy after a big meal? Or enjoyed bouncing on a puffy cushion? There are words for all of these, just not in English. In this game show episode, 20K producer and resident linguist Grace East cooks up an “untranslatable” words quiz for Dallas and fellow producer Andrew Anderson. How many words can you guess?

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/foundintranslation

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For decades, the jingle was king. But in the last twenty years, jingles have nearly gone extinct. Many brands have now dropped their melodic earworms in favor of spoken word slogans. Today, there’s just one industry where jingles are still as common as ever: insurance. The question is, why? Featuring Jeanna Isham of the Sound in Marketing podcast, audio branding expert Colleen Fahey, and Brand Manager Sergio Trujillo.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/insurancejingles

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“Soundalikes,” also called “voice doubles,” are voice actors who perform as characters that were originally played by someone else. They’re used extensively by studios like Disney and Pixar, in order to keep their iconic characters consistent across games, rides, toys, and TV shows. In live action movies, soundalikes fill in for the leads, and record lines for the film’s many rough cuts. But being a great voice double is about much more than just being a good impressionist. Featuring Rick Dempsey, Holly Dorff, and a surprise guest…

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/soundalikes

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In a noisy, tumultuous world, how can we find inner peace? This episode features two stories about the transformative power of silence. In the first, the Lieutenant Governor of Washington State abandons politics to become a Jesuit novice, and takes a temporary vow of silence. In the second, a death row inmate at San Quentin discovers Buddhist practices that help to calm his mind, and embrace compassion. Featuring Cyrus Habib, Jarvis Masters, Leigh Marz, and Justin Zorn.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/golden

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The voices inside our navigation systems are with us nearly every day. They frustrate us when they lead us astray, and guide us through our most memorable adventures. But who are the people behind those voices? In this episode, an Australian musician discovers she is the voice inside millions of GPS units, and the Polish voice of Google Maps goes head to head with a robot. Featuring “The GPS Girl” Karen Jacobsen and “Głos Google Maps” Jarosław Juszkiewicz.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/recalculating

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In our third annual Mystery Sound Game Show, the crew from Endless Thread compete to guess the most sounds from this year’s batch. Get ready to listen along and test your knowledge of classic sci-fi movies, strange animal calls, video game themes, UI sounds, and more. One thing is certain: It’s gonna get toasty.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/endlesshertz

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In the 1960s, Bob Moog and Don Buchla built synthesizers that changed the world. But by the early 80s, they faced a new challenger who threatened to bring it all crumbling down: the digital synthesizer. To defeat this opponent, they’d have to recruit a new ally… and maybe even join forces. Featuring Bob’s daughter Michelle Moog-Koussa, Don’s collaborator Ami Radunskaya, and journalist Ryan Gaston.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/digitaldoom

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In the United States, the East Coast and West Coast have rivalries across food, sports, music and more. But there’s another rivalry that’s less well known, but just as important. This standoff created sounds that were unlike anything that had been heard before. It redefined what a musical instrument could be. And it changed the sound of pop music forever. Featuring journalist Ryan Gaston and composer David Rosenboom.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/synthwar

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Audio description allows you to enjoy a movie or TV show without the need for any visuals. But how do these narrators strike the right tone for a scene? How do the writers decide what needs to be described? And what’s in store for the future of described audio? In honor of Blindness Awareness Month, this is a brand new story about the world of Audio Description. Featuring AD Narrator Roy Samuleson and AD experts Thomas Reid and Melody Goodspeed. 

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/athousandwords

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In the 80s and 90s, movie trailers were ruled by “voice-of-God” narrators who used stock phrases like, “In a world…” Today, movie studios have a different trick up their sleeves: epic sound design. In this episode, Professor James Deaville explains the history of trailers, and Youtuber Craven Moorhaus crafts a hilarious takedown of the overused clichés of modern blockbuster trailers. We’ve remixed one of our most popular episodes for your listening pleasure.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/boojstrikesback

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In the late 80s and early 90s, 900 numbers were all the rage. For a couple bucks a minute, you could call and hear from Hulk Hogan and Freddy Kreuger, have a psychic predict your future, and even find true love. In this episode, we dig into the wild world of 900 numbers, and explore why they came about, what made them so appealing, and why they ultimately faded away. Featuring Doug Fraser of the Curious State podcast, 900 number experts Bob Bentz and David Wood, and a surprise guest…

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/1-900 

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In World War II, the Japanese military operated a propaganda station called Radio Tokyo. Along with jazz music, the station featured several English-speaking female announcers, who became collectively known as Tokyo Rose. But who was Tokyo Rose? And was she really the treacherous villain that the US government made her out to be? This story comes from the History Daily podcast.

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In 2018, voiceover artist Bev Standing recorded 10,000 sentences for the Chinese Institute of Acoustics. Bev was told the recordings would be used for a translation app, but three years later, she was shocked to discover that she had become the default voice of TikTok in North America. On TikTok, Bev heard herself saying all kinds of wild and inappropriate things. So, she decided to sue. In this episode, Bev tells her story, and we hear from the voice who replaced her.

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Ted Lasso is about more than just an incompetent soccer coach—it’s about overcoming challenges by working together. And that’s exactly what the show’s sound team had to do when the pandemic hit just two episodes in. From creating crowds of thousands using just a few voices, to recording actors in their own closets, they managed to turn lockdown into an opportunity for innovation. Featuring Ted Lasso’s Supervising Sound Editor Brent Findley and Dialog Editor Bernard Weiser. 

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We spend a lot of time curating for taste, touch, smell, and vision. But too often, sound gets overlooked. We forget that we can get rid of sounds that annoy us, and surround ourselves with sounds that we love. When we do, it can have huge benefits for our mood and wellbeing. In this episode, Dr. Laurie Santos of The Happiness Lab joins Dallas to create a Handbook for Sonic Happiness. Featuring auditory psychologist David Poeppel, psychology researcher Giulia Poerio, clinical psychologist Ali Mattu, sound scholar Mac Hagood and acoustician Trevor Cox.

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There’s a certain musical phrase that you’ve probably heard hundreds of times. It’s used to emphasize dramatic moments in movies, cartoons, commercials and musicals, most often as a gag. But while this little melody is everywhere today, the question is: Where did it come from? In this episode, we investigate the mysterious origins of a famous 3-note sting. Featuring Sound Historian Patrick Feaster and Composer Dick Walter.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/shockhorrora

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What does a sound designer do all day? How do noise canceling headphones really work? And why do modern movie trailers all sound the same? In this follow-up to our 150th episode, Dallas shares the secrets of sound design with Jordan Harbinger. They also discuss audio deepfakes, sonic branding, and the eternal argument over analog vs. digital. This interview comes from The Jordan Harbinger Show.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/slightofear

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What if you woke up one day, and found that you could no longer do the thing that gave you the most joy in your life? The thing that gave you purpose? The thing that defined your past, and was supposed to define your future? For our 150th episode, Dallas tells the personal story of how he lost something that meant the world to him… and how that loss eventually led him to become the person he is today. This story comes from the podcast Meditative Story.

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In the same way that optical illusions can trick our eyes, auditory illusions can trick our ears. This raises a serious question: what is hearing, and how much of it is actually made up by our brains? In this story from the Unexplainable podcast, we explore how our brains create the sonic world around us, and what it takes to harness that mysterious power. Featuring psychologist Diana Deutsch, hearing researcher Matthew Winn and author Mike Chorost. 

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Many of today’s biggest songs are written and produced by people whose names don’t appear anywhere in the credits. They’re called ghostwriters and ghost producers, and they’re a huge part of the music industry. So what’s it like to watch your song become a hit when you can’t legally talk about it? And how do you get in the mindset of a legendary rap star, in order to write verses for them? Featuring rapper and ghost songwriter Skyzoo and producer Dame Taylor.

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Part 2 of our series on the Windows startup sounds picks up when Microsoft made the radical decision to kill the startup sound in Windows 8. In this episode, we explore the forces that led to that decision, unpack how Microsoft channeled the music of language into their new UI sounds, and reveal 2 secret startup sounds that were nearly lost to time. Featuring former Microsoft Lead UI Designer Jensen Harris and Sound Designer Matthew Bennett.

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Over the years, Microsoft has made at least ten iconic startup sounds for Windows—from the triumphant “Ta-da!” of Windows 3.1, to the ambient chime that Brian Eno crafted for Windows 95, to the orchestral sweep of Windows XP. In this episode, we explore the creation of the classic Windows startup sounds through Windows 7, and what each one says about Microsoft’s evolving technology. Featuring former Microsoft Lead UI Designer Jensen Harris and Sound Designer Matthew Bennett.

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For nearly half a century, one eerie sound has been showing up again and again in movies and TV shows. It’s typically used when something spooky or mysterious happens—and it can be heard in Poltergeist, The Matrix, Let the Right One In, and countless episodes of Unsolved Mysteries. So where did this strange sound come from, and how did it spread across Hollywood? This story comes from the podcast Every Little Thing.

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The voices of subway and train announcements are deeply ingrained in peoples’ lives. Many of us hear them every day, for years on end. And yet, hardly anyone knows who those voices belong to. In this episode, we uncover the human stories behind two of the most iconic transit systems in the world: the New York City Subway, and the London Tube. Featuring NYC Subway announcer Charlie Pellett and Tube announcer Elinor Hamilton.

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The names of pop and rock stars are known by millions of people around the world, but the people who actually write their music often stay in the shadows. In this episode, we peel back the curtain on the songwriters behind some of the biggest hits of the last forty years, and find out how this unseen part of the industry really works. Along the way, we’ll get the inside scoop about working with KISS, Bon Jovi, Ricky Martin, Snoop Dogg, Puff Daddy, and more. Featuring songwriter Desmond Child and rapper/songwriter Gizzle.

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In the forty years since The Joy of Painting first started airing, Bob Ross has become a cultural icon. His gentle, soothing voice is instantly recognizable, and still gives comfort to millions of people around the world. But despite his unshakably cheery demeanor, Bob’s life wasn’t always easy. This is his story. Featuring Sarah Strohl, Executive Assistant at Bob Ross Inc., and Kristin Congdon, author of Happy Clouds, Happy Trees: The Bob Ross Phenomenon.

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In the 1960s, the BBC had a vise grip on British radio, and rarely played the pop and rock music that was all the rage. So a group of rebellious radio DJs decided to give the people what they wanted, and started broadcasting popular music from boats stationed in international waters. Soon enough, these young DJs became national superstars… until the British government decided it was time to sink these pirates once and for all. This story comes from the History This Week podcast.

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Your name is so much more than the sound that people call you by. It’s an entire human identity, distilled into a few syllables. So what do six people who share the exact same name have in common? It turns out, much more than you might expect. Follow Dallas down the rabbit hole as he speaks to name expert Laura Wattenberg and five other people named Dallas Taylor.

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When The Sims was first being developed, the creators faced a problem. They knew they wanted these characters to talk and interact, but they were worried that using a real language would quickly get repetitive and annoying. So, they decided to make one up. This is the story of Simlish: How it was created, why it works so well, and why artists ranging from The Black Eyed Peas to The Flaming Lips have re-recorded their songs in this gibberish language. Featuring Sims Designer & Voiceover Director Claire Curtin, Composer & Audio Director Jerry Martin, voice actress Krizia Bajos, and Youtuber Rachybop.

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For our second annual Mystery Sound competition, we’ve rounded up the 20 best sounds from the past year, and invited the hosts of Underunderstood to test their ears in a competitive guessing game. So bust out those Q-tips, turn up your headphones, and prepare to guess along as we find out who will be the ultimate Mystery Sound Champion.

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In part 2 of our series on HBO, we explore the tough questions that the company faced in the digital era: Are people still willing to sit through a 90-second theme song before they watch a movie? Does the sound of analog TV static even make sense to younger viewers? Could the company change with the times without losing the nostalgia they had built around their key sounds? Featuring composer Ferdinand Jay Smith, former HBO Executive Vice President Bruce Richmond, HBO and HBO Max Head of Brand Marketing Jason Mulderig, and Made Music Studio Creative Director Mickey Alexander.

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In the 1980s, every movie that aired on HBO began with a truly epic theme song—a sweeping orchestral piece that triggers instant nostalgia for anyone who grew up with it. Then in the 90s, HBO introduced a 5-second audio logo for their original content. Today, we associate that sound with some of the most groundbreaking TV shows of all time. In this episode, we reveal the story behind the creation of these two iconic sounds. Featuring composer Ferdinand Jay Smith and former HBO Executive Vice President Bruce Richmond.

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If you’re a human being, chances are, you know someone who is a big time snorer. You're falling asleep to the gentle sounds of crickets, and then BAM, you hear a snore that sounds like an angry troll. So who was the first snorer? And why is snoring still so popular after all these years? This story, which is definitely about snoring, comes from the podcast Endless Thread.

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To give voices to the frightening monsters in movies, TV shows, and video games, sound designers often start with animal noises, then apply all kinds of creative processing. But other times, these sounds begin with human voice actors, who absolutely shred their vocal cords for our entertainment. In this episode, we learn the tricks of the terrifying trade. Featuring voice actors DB Cooper and Michael Schwalbe, and sound designer/composer Jordan Chin.

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In the past, video games were largely inaccessible to people with visual impairments. But these days, game makers are adding all kinds of innovative options to make their games more accessible. And some developers are creating entire virtual worlds using nothing but sound. Featuring streamer & game consultant Steve Saylor and disability rights advocate Connor Scott-Gardner.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/videolessgames

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Playing a sport without sight might sound impossible. But it turns out, there are blind athletes all around the world doing exactly that. Instead of using their eyes, these players rely on their ears to hit a pitch, block a throw, and charge across a crowded field. Featuring beep baseball player Ethan Johnston and goalball coach Keith Young.

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To learn more about how to get involved with goalball, visit USABA.org

To get involved with beep baseball, check out NBBA.org

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/blindsports

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When Matthew Shifrin was growing up, his blindness meant that trying to enjoy a movie or TV show was often a confusing and frustrating experience. But then, Matthew discovered something called video description—an extra audio track where a narrator describes the action on screen. And suddenly, everything changed. This story comes from the Radiotopia podcast Blind Guy Travels.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/listeningtothemovies

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For over a century, humans have been using technology to shape our sonic environment. White noise machines, nature recordings, noise canceling headphones and high-tech hearables all allow us to create an auditory safe space we can escape into. But is it possible to have too much control over what you hear? Featuring media studies professor Mack Hagood.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/sonicbubbles

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Not long ago, our home appliances made nothing but abrasive beeps and harsh buzzes. In recent years though, these devices have started to chirp and sing with carefully designed tones and melodies. But crafting the "perfect" device sound takes skill, patience, and a lot of trial and error. Featuring Audiobrain Founder/Executive Producer Audrey Arbeeny, and Quiet Mark Founder Poppy Szkiler.

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You can check out Audrey Arbeeny’s work at audiobrain.com.

To learn more about Poppy Szkiler’s work, visit Quietmark.com.

Check out Melissa DeGroff’s Youtube channel here.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/domesticsymphony

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In 2011, residents of Windsor, Ontario started experiencing a strange rumbling hum that rattled dishes and kept people awake at night. Then, after years of getting nowhere, the mystery of the Windsor Hum was finally solved... Or was it? This is a totally remixed, revoiced, and updated version of one of our oldest and most popular episodes. Featuring documentary filmmaker Adam Makarenko.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: www.20k.org/episodes/thewindsorhum

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Since World War I, countries around the world have been broadcasting mysterious numerical messages via shortwave radio. Though concrete evidence is hard to come by, the general consensus is that these coded messages are meant for undercover agents operating abroad. And one particular Russian station may have an even more sinister purpose. Featuring computer engineer Andrus Aaslaid, historian Maris Goldmanis, and documentary photographer Lewis Bush.

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We’re hiring! Visit defactosound.com/careers for more info.

To dive deeper into numbers stations, visit numbers-stations.com and priyom.org, or check out Lewis’ book, Shadows of the State.

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/thebuzzer

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Nearly a century after they first appeared, the Looney Tunes are back in an all-new series. To bring this iconic franchise into the present, the creators are looking to its past, taking it back to the look and feel of the 1940s. But filling the shoes of legendary voice actor Mel Blanc is easier said than done. Featuring voice actors Eric Bauza and Jeff Bergman, and showrunner Pete Browngardt.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/staytuned

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In part 2 of our exploration of Foley, the Warner Brothers Foley team takes us into the all-important prop room. Along the way, they demonstrate how they make the sounds for flapping birds, breaking bones, cracking ice, handling guns, and more. Featuring Foley Artists Alyson Moore and Chris Moriana, and Foley Mixer Darrin Mann.

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Watch The Sounds of Space: A sonic adventure to other worlds

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/proptilyoudrop

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When it comes to film sound, "Foley Artist" might be the most important job you've never heard of. These performers record custom, synchronized sound effects to create the sounds for characters' footsteps, movements, and much more. It's exhausting and delicate work, and when it's done right, the audience doesn't even notice it's there. In this episode, we tour the Warner Brothers Foley stage with Foley Artists Alyson Moore and Chris Moriana, and Foley Mixer Darrin Mann.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/foleyartists

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In the late 80s, a small French company found a way to pair analog film with pristine digital audio. But getting their system into theaters would involve a long legal battle, hiding out in a Vegas bathroom, and a last-ditch meeting with a famous director. Their struggle is part of a larger narrative about the groundbreaking work of women in the field of professional audio. Featuring audio engineer Leslie Gaston-Bird and LC Concept co-founder Elisabeth Löchen.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/theleakypipeline

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We live in a designed world, and alert tones are no exception. Every beep and ping that your phone or laptop makes probably went through multiple rounds of revisions and approvals. So what separates a good device sound from a bad one? This story comes from the Wireframe podcast, and features sound designer Connor Moore and psychoacoustic expert Susan Rogers.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/auditoryicons

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There are a few specific chord progressions that show up again and again in popular music. Across hundreds of hit songs, the same basic musical formulas have been used by artists ranging from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Lady Gaga, and from Bob Marley to Blink-182. So where did these musical tropes even come from, and what makes them so enduring? Featuring music journalist Jennifer Gersten and comedic musician Benny Davis. 

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/progressionobsession

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Since their founding almost a century ago, Shure has created some of the most iconic microphones ever made. In this episode, we worked with Shure to tell the story of the SM7 dynamic microphone: from its humble beginnings in voiceover studios in the early 70s, to its use on classic albums, to its rediscovery by podcasters and streamers.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/sm7

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Since its official release in 2011, Minecraft has grown from a small, experimental indie game into the best-selling video game of all time. Today, the game's haunting music and quirky sound effects are just as iconic as its blocky visuals. In this episode, composer and sound designer Daniel Rosenfeld (also known as C418) unpacks how he created the original music and sounds for the game.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/minecraft

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The melodic fanfare that introduces every 20th Century Fox movie was first composed almost a hundred years ago. Since then, it's become one of the most enduring and recognizable pieces of music in modern history. It's survived company acquisitions, competition from television, and changing trends in Hollywood. But nothing lasts forever. Featuring interviews with Academy Award-nominated composer David Newman and film historian Aubrey Solomon.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/20thcenturyfox

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The Long-Range Acoustic Device, or LRAD, was developed for the military for long-range communication at sea. But this ear-splitting device has also been fired on protesters across America, resulting in lawsuits and permanent hearing loss. In this episode, we explore the history, science and effects of the so-called “sound cannon.” Featuring tech journalist Lynne Peskoe-Yang and activist Michele Lindor.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/thedeterrenttone

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Since its introduction in 2003, the McDonald’s “I’m Lovin’ It” jingle has become one of the most recognizable melodies in the world. This is the story of how a catchy five-note jingle conquered the planet, from its humble beginnings at a German ad agency, to being sung by globally famous pop stars. Featuring interviews with "I'm Lovin' It" composers Tom Batoy and Franco Tortora of Mona Davis Beat.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/imlovinit

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What is sound, on a fundamental level? How did animals evolve to hear? And what happens when you go faster than sound itself? In this episode, we explore the physics of sound with the legendary Bill Nye.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/sound101

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Synesthesia is a neurological condition where one sensory experience gets combined with another, meaning someone might hear sounds when they eat, or see colors when they listen to music. So what exactly is synesthesia? And what’s it like to go through life with these unique sensory connections? Featuring the voices of neuroscientist Dr. Richard Cytowic and five people with synesthesia.

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Check out Dr. Richard Cytowic’s work at cytowic.net.

Check out Joel Salinas's book Mirror Touch: A Memoir of Synesthesia and the Secret Life of the Brain.

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/synesthesia

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After composer Eric Whitacre finished Virtual Choir number 5 in 2018, he thought the project might be done for good. But 2020 was just around the corner, and the Virtual Choir was far from over. For our last episode of the year, we've re-edited and remixed our episode about the Virtual Choir, and added a brand new section to bring the story up to the present.

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Visit our website to see all six virtual choirs.

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/singgently

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Alan Lomax believed that the culture of poor Americans was important and worthy of saving. So he spent decades traveling the American South and recording obscure musicians on their front porches, in churches, even in prisons. Today, he's considered an American icon, but the road to becoming a legend wasn't an easy one. Featuring Southern Historical Collection archivist Chaitra Powell, American Folklife Center curator Todd Harvey, and filmmaker Rogier Kappers.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Archival recordings in this episode came from the Alan Lomax Collection at the American Folklife Center, courtesy of the Association for Cultural Equity.

Check out Rogier's documentary "Lomax the Songhunter" on Amazon.

For more information on the crowdsourcing project for transcribing Alan Lomax's notes, visit https://crowd.loc.gov/campaigns/alan-lomax/

Subscribe to The Wind where ever you get your podcasts.

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/soundsworthsaving

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Sci-fi and fantasy creators often use constructed languages (or conlangs) to help us believe that the characters come from ancient times or distant galaxies. But what happens when a fictional language jumps off the screen and into the real world? This story comes from the Imaginary Worlds podcast.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/conlang

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We've all heard the iconic recordings from the Apollo missions. But how exactly does NASA manage to run live audio between Earth and the moon? And how might we chat with astronauts on Mars and beyond? Featuring Astronaut Peggy Whitson, NASA Audio Engineer Alexandria Perryman, and Astrophysicist Paul Sutter.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/spaceaudity

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Technology has the power to transform the way our world sounds. It could even give us entirely new ways to experience our surroundings. In this episode, we explore the sounds of the future, and how we can use the tools we already have to build a better sounding world. Featuring Rose Eveleth, Creator and Host of the podcast Flash Forward, Acoustician Andrew Pyzdek, and Architect Chris Downey.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound and hosted by Dallas Taylor.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/sonicutopia

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Sound surrounds us, even in the quietest moments. But depending on how we hear, the world can be a different auditory experience for each of us. This episode features four stories from the TED Radio Hour.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/soundandsilence

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For hundreds of years, composers have been using a specific four-note melody to evoke death. It's appeared in dozens of famous movies, and you probably never even realized it. But once you hear it, you'll start noticing it everywhere. Featuring musicologist Alex Ludwig and Strong Songs Host Kirk Hamilton.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Check out Alex’s list of Dies Irae examples at alexludwig.net.

Subscribe to Strong Songs where ever you get your podcasts. 

Check out The Graduale Project’s Youtube page for more Latin chants. 

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/diesirae

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People with perfect or "absolute" pitch hear every single sound as precise musical notes. Is this extraordinary talent a blessing or a curse? In this episode, we dive into the neuroscience, pluses and pitfalls of absolute pitch. Featuring neuroscientist Daniel Levitin and Grammy-winning musician Jacob Collier.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/perfectpitch

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When you imagine the sound of a dinosaur, you probably think of a scene from the Jurassic Park movies. How do sound designers make these extinct creatures sound so believably alive? And what does modern paleontology tell us about what dinosaurs REALLY sounded like? Featuring Jurassic World sound designer Al Nelson, and paleontologist Julia Clarke.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/tyrannosaurusfx

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In less than two years, Napster became a global sensation... and then record labels and multi-platinum artists brought it crashing down. But in its short lifespan, Napster transformed our ideas about how we consume music, and how much we're willing to pay for it. This story comes from the podcast Spectacular Failures.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/napster

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Musicians like Justin Timberlake, Adele, Björk and Rod Stewart have all had surgery to treat vocal nodes. Nodes are so widely discussed, they've almost become a boogeyman in the singing community. But is this condition really as common as people fear? And when nodes do develop, is all hope truly lost? Featuring vocal coach Katie Talbot and Professor and Chairman of the Ear, Nose, and Throat Department at Drexel University of Medicine Dr. Robert Sataloff.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. 

Learn how you can protect your voice at nidcd.nih.gov.

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/vocaldiscords

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Using artificial intelligence, someone can make an algorithm that sounds just like you. And then they can say... whatever they want you to say. We're entering a brand new era: One where you can no longer trust your ears. Welcome to the world of audio deepfakes. Featuring deepfake wizard Tim McSmythurs, cybersecurity expert Riana Pfefferkorn and a brand-new host: Deepfake Dallas.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/deepfakedallas

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When writer Paige Towers moved to one of the loudest cities in the world, she found herself overcome with anxiety and depression. She came to realize that the noise of the city itself, and the inability to escape from it, was having a huge impact on her mental health. With the help of the internet, Paige was able to discover a deceptively simple solution. But the negative health implications of noise pollution are anything but simple.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/citythatneversleeps

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The Netflix "Tudum" sound has quickly become one of the most iconic sound logos of our generation. I bet you can hear it in your head right now. This sound is heard countless times, every single day, all over the world. But the Netflix sound was almost very different than the one we know today. Hear the story of how one of the biggest sound logos of all time was made. Featuring Todd Yellin - VP of Product at Netflix, Tanya Kumar - Brand Design Lead at Netflix, and Lon Bender and Charlie Campagna from the Formosa Group.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/netflix

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Join Dallas and the McElroy brothers (hosts of My Brother, My Brother and Me) as they compete to see which brother has the best ear. We dust off our old mystery sounds to test the McElroy's on their knowledge of pop culture, science, and the mundane. Which brother has the best ear? Find out, in this heated and hilarious game... of mystery sounds.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Check out the McElroy brothers' podcasts My Brother, My Brother, and Me and The Adventure Zone at themcelroy.family or wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/mcelroysmysteriesandme

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Broadway’s award-winning, record-breaking, smash hit, Hamilton, is a musical unlike any other. In this special episode, we have re-voiced, remixed, and remastered one of our shows about our favorite broadway musical! Featuring Nevin Steinberg, Hamilton’s Tony-nominated sound designer, Benny Reiner, Grammy-winning Hamilton percussionist, Anna-Lee Craig, Hamilton on Broadway A2, and Broadway sound design legend Abe Jacob.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/hamiltonremix

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Can you steal from yourself? Can you copyright a mood? We look back on some important copyright cases that could have an impact on the entire future of music making. Featuring Adam Neely and Sandra Aistars.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Check out Adam’s Youtube channel.

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/stopcollaborateandlisten

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Most western music is built on the same 12 notes. Sometimes the arrangement of those notes sounds similar, which raises the question: Theft or Inspiration? We listen to some famous copyright disputes and try to decode them. Featuring Adam Neely and Sandra Aistars.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Check out Adam’s Youtube channel.

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/copyrightsandwrongs

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Farts have been funny to humans for thousands of years. This basic bodily function has countless nicknames around the world, but our fascination with farts is probably best illustrated by the simple whoopee cushion. In this episode from the podcast Brought to You By, Charlie Herman reports on the history of the whoopee cushion and why we can't help but laugh when we hear that sound.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Subscribe to Brought to You By wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/makinwhoopee

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When you think about Star Wars, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Lightsabers? Spaceships? Alien creatures? What about all of the sounds that go with those things? How were those sounds made, and what makes them so good? In this episode, we explore how legendary Sound Designer Ben Burtt created the sonic universe of Star Wars from scratch, one sound at a time. Featuring Marshall McGhee.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Check out Marshall’s Youtube channel Waveform. 

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/starwarspewpew

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Mel Blanc is a legendary voice actor who voiced more than 400 distinct characters. But in 1961, Mel was involved in a potentially fatal car accident. In this episode, we discover the unlikely source that saved him and hear how Mel spent his later years. Plus, we explore what it takes to pass the torch. Featuring interviews with Mel’s son, Noel Blanc, and voice actor Bob Bergen.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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We’re nominated for two Webbys! Vote for us at vote.20k.org and voteagain.20k.org!

Discover Bob’s work at bobbergen.com.

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/thatsallfolks

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Bugs Bunny, Barney Rubble, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety Bird, and many more were all voiced by one man, Mel Blanc. Discover the incredible life and talent that helped to elevate the animation industry into big business. Featuring interviews with Mel’s son, Noel Blanc, and voice actors Debi Derryberry and Bob Bergen.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Check out more of Debi’s work at debiderryberry.com.

Discover Bob’s work at bobbergen.com.

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/whatsupdoc

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

Throughout history, humans have gone to great lengths to indulge their sense of smell. We explore the contemporary scent industry to see how modern creatives are utilizing works of olfactory art everywhere from Disney World to high-end museums. Featuring Disney Imagineer Gary Powell and former New York Times scent critic Chandler Burr.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Check out Chandler’s exhibits at chandlerburr.com.

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/twentypartsperthousand

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There’s a town in northern Italy that’s home to the most famous violin makers in history. The museum there holds some of the most unique and prized violins in the world - but we’re in danger of losing their sounds forever. In this episode from the podcast This is Love, Phoebe Judge reports on how a town stayed quiet to preserve an instrument they love.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/cremona

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From the sixties to the nineties parents worried messages hidden in rock albums would make their children do drugs and worship the devil. The truth could only be revealed if these records were played backwards. Bryan Gardiner unveils the history behind the backmasking panic and Curiosity Daily’s Ashley Hamer explains why our brains hear hidden messages... even when they’re not there!

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Check out Curiosity Daily Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/satanicpanic

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From See ‘n Say to Speak & Spell, and beyond, toys provide the soundtrack of our childhoods. Huge advancements in computer technology in recent decades mean that today’s toys can make a wider variety of sounds than ever before. In this episode, “The Toy Guy” Chris Byrne takes us on a nostalgic look back at the recent history of recorded sound in toys; then, with Dr. Hamid Djalilian, we consider what all that technological advancement means for young ears in the 21st century. 

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Check out Chris Byrne’s podcast The Playground wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/noiserus

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We know that music has the power to affect our moods, but you might be surprised by just how deep the rabbit hole goes. Music can affect our brains and bodies in profound ways. Professor Jessica Grahn tells us how our love for music has shaped us as humans while Nate Sloan unpacks our appreciation of music, and reveals how it can be used to manipulate us, both for bad and for good.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Check out Switched On Pop wherever you get your podcasts.

Also, check out Nate Sloan’s new book, Switched on Pop, wherever you get your books.

Follow Jessica Grahn’s music and neuroscience research at the Twitter handle @Neurobeats.

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/goodvibes

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John Cage was a respected composer when, in 1952, he created his “silent piece”, 4’33’’ - a piece that would have the music world scratching their heads. This episode asks whether 4’33’’ is really “silent”, and we explore the history of a piece musicians still talk about today - and speak to the man who campaigned to get it to the top the British charts in 2010. Featuring composers Kyle Gann and Nahre Sol, and artist Dave Hilliard.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Check out Kyle Gann’s No Such Thing as Silence: John Cage's 4'33" wherever you get your books.

See Nahre’s work at nahresol.com.

Find Dave Hilliard on Instragram at davehilliardart. 

Listen to more of Martin Zalta Austwick’s music at palebirdmusic.com.

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/433

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No bass for you!! In 1987, TV composer Jonathan Wolff was still trying to make a name for himself in Hollywood. Then one day, he got a call from Jerry Seinfeld, who needed music for his new sitcom. This is the story behind the unforgettable music of Seinfeld, and how Jonathan Wolff’s unique approach helped make Seinfeld a TV classic."

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Find Jonathan on Instagram and on Twitter.

You can reach Steve at stevelack.com

Check out An Arm and a Leg wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/seinfeld

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There’s a reason we call tourists “sightseers”. As a society, we’re totally obsessed with the way things look. But our world is full of beautiful, fascinating and bizarre sounds. Join us on a sonic adventure around the world, as we climb up sand dunes, plunge into the Arctic Ocean, and even travel back in time. When we celebrate these treasures, we become better listeners and the world becomes a richer and more exciting place. Featuring Trevor Cox, author of Sonic Wonderland and Now You’re Talking.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. 

Check out and subscribe to Reveal wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/sonicwonderland

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Language is a uniquely human gift. We have shaped it to our individual and cultural needs, and it has shaped us in return. Professor Lera Boroditsky reveals how the sounds we make with our mouths influence what’s going on inside our brains. And podcaster Helen Zaltzmann shows us how important language can be to our identities, and what happens when those language identities are challenged.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. 

The Allusionist is on tour! Check dates and locations at theallustionist.org/events. And if you haven’t already, listen and subscribe to The Allusionist wherever you get your podcasts.

Check out and subscribe to Risk! wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/historicallyspeaking

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When was the last time you turned off your radio and just listened to your car? What’s really going on under the hood? We chat with our own Nick Spradlin about the simple force at the heart of every gasoline engine and talk with legendary recordist Watson Wu about how the sound of wild and powerful sports cars are captured.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor.

Follow the show on Twitter & Facebook.

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If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org.

Check out and subscribe to ZigZag wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/vroomvroom

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Baby Shark is a mega viral YouTube video, an unstoppable earworm, a top 40 hit, a Eurodance smash, a decades old campfire song, and the center of an international copyright dispute. In this episode from the podcast Decoder Ring, we explore the strange history of the song, what makes it so catchy, and who it really belongs to today.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Check out and subscribe to Decoder Ring wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/babyshark

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Singing with others is a powerful form of expression. That's why the composer Eric Whitacre started the Virtual Choir; an experiment that connects singers from every corner of the globe. In this episode, we hear how a choir can unite people from different backgrounds to achieve a common goal - creating beautiful music.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor.

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/virtualchoir

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As a young composer, Edd Kalehoff was looking for his break. In the early 70s he struck gold, writing the theme song and music cues for The Price Is Right.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor.

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Check out The Price is Right Drum Cover on Youtube by RTDUMS2121.

Check out and subscribe to Just the Beginning wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/thepriceisright 

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In part 2 of the story of mastering, we explore the consequences of the Loudness War and call out some of the worst offenders. We’ll also hear about the artists and mastering engineers who have been fighting back, and learn how modern listening habits might finally put an end to this sonic arms race.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound and hosted by Dallas Taylor.

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Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate.

If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org.

Check out Ian Shepherd’s podcast The Mastering Show.

Check out Greg Milner’s book, Perfecting Sound Forever.

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/loudnesswars

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Join us on a musical journey from the Golden Age of analog mastering to the digital methods of today. We’ll find out why the music industry became obsessed with loudness, and learn how the digital era transformed the way that music sounds. Featuring Greg Milner and Ian Shepherd.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor.

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Watch our video shorts on YouTube, and join the discussion on Reddit and Facebook.

Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate.

If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org.

Check out Ian Shepherd’s podcast The Mastering Show.

Check out Greg Milner’s book, Perfecting Sound Forever.

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/historyofmastering

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How a simple soundbite on America Online became one of the most recognizable sounds of the internet age, plus the creation of a whole new musical instrument. This episode features Elwood Edwards, the man behind the famous AOL “You’ve Got Mail” soundbite, and Bosco and Maya Kante, inventors of the ElectroSpit.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor.

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If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org.

Check out and subscribe to Gastropod wherever you get your podcasts.

Check out and subscribe to Just the Beginning wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/youvegotmail

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We rarely think about the way we speak. For most of us, it just happens. In this episode, we catch up with two professional voice artists and chat about their rituals and techniques that help them communicate. Featuring voice actor Harry Shearer and NPR vocal coach Jessica Hansen.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor.

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Subscribe to Harry's podcast Le Show.

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/speakeasy

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Humans have been fascinated with acoustics since our earliest ancestors. From Roman amphitheaters to modern symphony halls, we’ve designed our spaces with sound in mind. But the relationship between acousticians and architects isn’t always smooth sailing. In this episode, we explore the way acoustics has shaped our history and what we might do to make our spaces sound better today. Featuring Emily Thompson, author of The Soundscape of Modernity and Professor of History at Princeton University, and Trevor Cox, author of Sonic Wonderland and Professor of Acoustic Engineering at the University of Salford.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor.

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If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org.

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/hearhere 

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Stradivarius violins are reputed to have an exquisite sound that cannot be replicated or explained. Why is that? And what, exactly, is a Stradivarius violin anyway? This episode features interviews with The Strad magazine’s managing editor, Christian Lloyd, and violin maker Joseph Curtin. 

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Can you tell the difference between a Stradivarius violin and a modern violin? Take the informal test here! 

Our classical tracks came from Musopen. Check them out at musopen.org. 

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/stradivarius  

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The 808 is arguably the most iconic drum machine ever made. Even if you’ve never heard of it, you’ve definitely heard it. It’s in dozens of hit songs -- from Usher to Marvin Gaye, Talking Heads to The Beastie Boys -- and its sounds have quietly cemented themselves in the cultural lexicon. In this episode, we try to understand how that happened and follow the unlikely path of the 808. Featuring DJ Jazzy Jeff and Paul McCabe from Roland. 

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. 

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/808 

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Companies spend a lot of time and effort perfecting the look of their brands. But now what a brand sounds like matters just as much. We trace the history from songs to jingles to what's called sonic branding, following the creative process that led to AT&T’s iconic four-note sound logo. And we'll explore what comes next: multi-sensory marketing. Can sound change how beer tastes? This episode originally aired on Household Name. 

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/soundmarks 

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The last few decades have seen amazing improvements in cochlear implant technology. Professor Michael Dorman reveals what they really sound like, and how they can help out with more than just our hearing. But should we be advocating cochlear implants at all? We chat with deaf graphic designer Brandon Edquist about why he chooses not to use his implant, and why the Deaf community is up in arms against them.  

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/deafgain 

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Have you ever wondered what your dog or cat would say to you if they could talk? How about your plant? In this episode we explore the world of bioacoustics and cognitive ecology. Featuring MIDI Sprout creator, Joe Patitucci, and ecologist, Monica Gagliano, who is the author of Thus Spoke the Plant. 

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Check out Data Garden’s plant music at datagarden.org. 

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/plantsthatsing 

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What we hear is incredibly personal and we all hear things differently. Sometimes our ears can even play tricks on us. Sonic illusions put a spotlight on the unique function of our hearing and how our backgrounds and biology affect how we process sound. Psychologist Dr. Diana Deutsch and neuroscientist Dana Boebinger explain why our hearing is a unique sense and why sonic illusions can fool us. 

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/sonicillusions 

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Game of Thrones is a global phenomenon that has redefined the fantasy genre. Viewers from around the world gather every week to anxiously watch what will happen next. The actors, writers, directors, and visual artists have all received well-earned recognition for their role in the show. But some heroes’ work goes largely unnoticed. 

Paula Fairfield is the sound designer behind the more fantastical elements in Game of Thrones. She’s given a voice to dragons, direwolves, white walkers, and more. But the story behind these voices goes much deeper than you might think. Hear how Paula’s personal journey played a part in creating some of the most iconic fantasy sounds of the day, and how Game of Thrones helped restore her spirit. 

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor.  

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/mother-of-dragonsounds 

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Over his long career, Gordon Hempton has mastered the art of truly listening. He’s known as the Sound Tracker. Some people call him an acoustic ecologist. His recordings and books have made him an international expert on the beauty and importance of undisturbed, natural soundscapes — and the ways human beings have changed them.

Now, Gordon Hempton is losing his hearing. But with that loss has come an intense urgency to share his life’s work — and his passion — with as many people as are willing to listen.  

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Check out the whole Sound Escapes series at BirdNote.org/SoundEscapes, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Check out Gordon’s work and buy recordings on his website soundtracker.com. 

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/soundescapes 

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In the late '70s, NASA launched Voyagers 1 & 2 to explore the furthest reaches of our solar system and beyond. But something amazing was included on those space probes... a 90-minute time capsule of sounds, language, and music from Earth called The Golden Record. Its intended recipient? Any intelligent extraterrestrial life that might stumble upon it. What did Carl Sagan and his team put on the record to represent all of humanity? How would aliens decode it?

For the first time ever, the album will be deconstructed track-by-track. Featuring Tim Ferris and Linda Salzman Sagan, two pioneers behind the record.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor.

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Get your copy of the Voyager Golden Record at ozmarecords.com.

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/voyagergoldenrecord 

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When was the last time you stopped and really listened to birdsong? Ever wonder what they’re singing about? We chat to Kenn Kaufman and Dr. Irene Pepperberg about the extraordinary complexity to the avian arias, how they’re produced, what they mean, and how vocal acrobatics can reveal a surprising hidden intelligence. 

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Check out The Growth Show wherever you get your podcasts. 

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/birdsong 

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We unpack how touch tone dialing changed communication forever. Join us on a deep, quirky dive into telephone history. We’ll also deconstruct these sounds and reveal their hidden brilliance. Featuring author Annabel Dodd and telephone aficionado Jim Hebbeln of the Telecommunications History Group. 

20K is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Check out Pessimists Archive wherever you get your podcasts. 

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/phonetones 

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Movie trailers have undergone a huge evolution. They’ve gone from those cheesy voice-of-God narrators in the ‘80s and ‘90s, to boojes and bwaas. Professor James Deaville delivers the history of trailers, and Youtuber Craven Moorhaus offers a hilarious takedown of the sounds and dialogue that are common in the modern trailer style. After you hear this episode, you’ll never be able to watch a blockbuster trailer the same way again. 

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Check out more videos from the Auralnauts at youtube.com/Auralnauts. 

Check out Song Exploder wherever you get your podcasts. 

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/thebooj 

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Have you noticed how loud it gets in restaurants these days? Have you found yourselves shouting just to keep a conversation going? Architecture critic Kate Wagner explains how changing design trends have led to dining experiences that aren’t just antisocial, but are negatively impacting our health as well.  

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced at the studios of Defacto Sound and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Contribute your local restaurant noise to the SoundPrint app at soundprint.co  

Check out Hi-Phi Nation at hiphination.org or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/diningondecibels 

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Alarm sounds have been around almost as long as humans themselves. But as our world has transformed, so have they. Today’s alarms are having an unexpected effect on our minds and bodies, and can even be putting our lives at risk when we’re at our most vulnerable. Dr Judy Edworthy and Yoko Sen talk to us about our alarming sound environment, and how it can be improved.  

20K is hosted by Dallas Taylor and made out of the studios of Defacto Sound. 

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You can find HowSound at transom.org/topics/howsound or wherever you listen to podcasts.  

Check out Moonshot at moonshot.audio or wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/donotdisturb 

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For decades, NFL strategy slowly evolved from each team running a dozen different plays, to rigid schemes with coaches sending in orders through codewords and secret signals. Then, one piece of audio technology revolutionized the game. Beginning in the early 1990's, the NFL allowed coaches to speak directly to their quarterbacks through radios in their helmets. What followed was an instant increase in excitement for the nation's most popular sport, spawning a high-scoring era of fast paced offenses. Featuring former Super Bowl winning coach, Dick Vermeil, current LA Rams Head Coach Sean McVay, Bose Senior Project Manager Matt Ruwe, and Bose Distinguished Engineer Dan Gauger.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is hosted by Dallas Taylor and produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound.

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Subscribe to The Truth wherever you get your podcasts. Or go to the truthpodcast.com. 

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/blue42 

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Our world is filled with sound. It exists in even the quietest corners of the planet. But what happens when all that sound is taken away? What is silence? There are very few places on Earth where silence actually exists, but in this episode, Dallas experiences it for himself thanks to a special room called an anechoic chamber. How do our brains process the complete nothingness of silence? Find out as Dallas locks himself alone inside the chamber. Featuring David Alvord and Nick Breen from the Georgia Tech Research Institute. 

20k is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/silence 

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What happens when we leave Earth's thin blanket of atmosphere, and what do other planets sound like? In this special episode, we have completely remixed one of our favorite shows! It's been re-written, re-edited, re-narrated, has new music, and even some new additional content. If you've heard the original, you'll definitely want to check out this remixed and remastered version. Featuring Dr. Lori Glaze, Dr. Keith Noll, Dr. Scott Guzewich from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. 

20K is hosted by Dallas Taylor and made out of the studios of Defacto Sound. 

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/spaceremix

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Beatboxing began as an imitation of a drum machine, but over the decades it has evolved as a means to emulate any number of percussive sounds. Now beatboxing is being studied by scientists who are fascinated by the vocal dexterity of artists. By examining beatboxing scientists are hoping to unlock mysteries behind language formation, brain function, and the capacity of humans to recreate sound. Featuring Hip Hop Artist and Beat Boxer, Baba Israel and USC Engineering Professor, Shri Narayanan. 

Twenty Thousand Hertz is hosted by Dallas Taylor and produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound. 

Check out Shri Narayanan and his SPAN team’s MRI videos of beatboxers at sail.usc.edu/span/beatboxingproject 

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/bootsncats 

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Hollywood films are huge internationally. But how are these films adapted for foreign languages? We delve into the not so talked about process of dubbing. Featuring the world's most popular voice actors, directors, and producers. 

Featuring: Andre Sogliuzzo, John Ptak, Shaktee Singh, Debra Chinn, Martin Umbach, Tamer Karadagli, Francesco Pannofino, Detlef Bierstedt, Marco Antonio Costa, Paul Dergarabedian, Rajesh Khattar, Christian Brückner, Emanuela Rossi, Chiara Barzini, Irene Ranzato, Claudia Urbschat-Mingues, Alexandre Gillet, Ezra Weisz, Vanessa Beltran, Samuel Labarthe, Ashwin Mushran, Chuck Mitchell, Christoph Bregler, Gabrielle Pietermann, Luise Helm, Claudia Gvirtzman Dichter, Guilherme Briggs, Samuel Labarthe, Hester Wilcox, Malavika Shivpuri, Viraj Adhav, Mona Shetty, Sheila Dorfman.

20K is hosted by Dallas Taylor and made out of the studios of Defacto Sound. 

A huge thanks to Director Paul Mariano for allowing us to create this adaptation of documentary! 

Thanks to APM Music for all of the music in this episode. Find out more at apmmusic.com. 

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If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll love the full documentary. You can find it on iTunes or on Amazon. 

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/beinggeorgeclooney 

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The Xbox startup sound is an audio logo that’s become synonymous with the game console. But its origins are rooted in solving a logistical problem; how to entertain gamers while they wait for their machines to finish booting up. Featuring Sound Designer and Composer Brian Schmidt and Sound Designer, Composer and Berklee Professor, Michael Sweet. 

Twenty Thousand Hertz is hosted by Dallas Taylor and produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound. 

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/xboxstartupsound 

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The "golden age of radio drama" may have been a stellar period for storytelling -- but the stories weren't all golden bright. Sci-fi and horror radio dramas explored deep anxieties people felt from the Depression through the Cold War, and set the stage for later stories that couldn't be told yet without special effects. Eric Molinsky of the podcast Imaginary Worlds co-hosts this episode as we hear from historians like Neil Verma and Richard J. Hand, and radio drama veterans like Dirk Maggs and Richard Toscan. Plus Emory Braswell recalls the day he thought Martians invaded New Jersey.  

20K is made out of the studios of Defacto Sound and hosted by Dallas Taylor. 

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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/theaterforthemind

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