A lovingly crafted podcast that reveals the stories behind the world's most recognizable and interesting sounds.
Relearning Boléro
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, speech researcher Matthew Winn and author Mike Chorost. Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit. Subscribe to our Youtube channel here. Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Subscribe to Unexplainable wherever you get your podcasts. Visit sonarworks.com to get a free 21 day trial of SoundID Reference. Get 10% off your first month of BetterHelp online therapy at betterhelp.com/20k. Visit shopify.com/20k to get a free 14-day trial with Shopify’s entire suite of features. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/relearningbolero Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ghosts in the (Hit) Machine
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. Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit. Subscribe to our Youtube channel here. Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Explore music education classes with Monster Sessions. Hiring? Sign up at Indeed.com/Hertz and get a $75 credit to sponsor your first job post for better visibility, more applications, and quicker hiring times. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/ghostsinthehitmachine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Windows_Logon.wav
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. Apply for the full time Associate Producer position here. The application closes on May 11th. Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit. Subscribe to our Youtube channel here. Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Subscribe to Jensen Harris’ Youtube channel. Learn about Matthew Bennett’s latest work here. To check out full sets of default Windows sounds, visit winsounds.com. Offset your carbon footprint at wren.co. Select "Podcast" at checkout and type "Twenty Thousand Hertz" to get 10 extra trees planted in your name. Get 10% off your first month of BetterHelp online therapy at betterhelp.com/20k. Visit zocdoc.com/20k to download the Zocdoc app and sign up for free. Visit shopify.com/20k to get a free 14-day trial with Shopify’s entire suite of features. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/windowslogonwav Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ta-da! It’s Windows
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. Apply for the full time Associate Producer position here. The application closes on May 11th. Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit. Subscribe to our Youtube channel here. Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Subscribe to Jensen Harris’ Youtube channel. Learn about Matthew Bennett’s latest work here. To check out full sets of default Windows sounds, visit winsounds.com. Sign up for a MEL Science subscription at melscience.com/sBGX to get 60% off your first month. This limited offer is available for 1 month only. Hiring? Sign up at Indeed.com/Hertz and get a $75 credit to sponsor your first job post for better visibility, more applications, and quicker hiring times. Visit zocdoc.com/20k to download the Zocdoc app and sign up for free. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/tadaitswindows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Liquid Terror
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. We’ve been nominated for 2 Webby Awards! Vote for Twenty Thousand Hertz in the Business and Television & Film categories. Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit. Subscribe to our Youtube channel here. Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Click here to leave us a voice message about your experiences with movie dialogue. Subscribe to Every Little Thing in Spotify. Get 10% off your first month of BetterHelp online therapy at betterhelp.com/20k. Visit zocdoc.com/20k to download the Zocdoc app and sign up for free. Get one month free of Headspace at headspace.com/20k. Find coupon codes on over 30,000 sites with Honey. Sign up for free at joinhoney.com/20k. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/liquidterror Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mind the Gap
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. Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit. Subscribe to our Youtube channel here. Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Subscribe to Tales from the Tannoy wherever you get your podcasts. Get 10% off your first month of BetterHelp online therapy at betterhelp.com/20k. Hiring? Sign up at Indeed.com/Hertz and get a $75 credit to sponsor your first job post for better visibility, more applications, and quicker hiring times. Get 83% off Surfshark VPN plus an extra 3 months free at surfshark.deals/20k, or use promo code 20K. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/mindthegap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hidden Hitmakers
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. Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit. Subscribe to our Youtube channel here. Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Get 10% off your first month of BetterHelp online therapy at betterhelp.com/20k. Visit zocdoc.com/20k to download the Zocdoc app and sign up for free. Get one month free of Headspace at headspace.com/20k. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/hiddenhitmakers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Happy Little Episode
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. Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit. Subscribe to our Youtube channel here. Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Hiring? Sign up at Indeed.com/Hertz and get a $75 credit to sponsor your first job post for better visibility, more applications, and quicker hiring times. Get 10% off your first month of BetterHelp online therapy at betterhelp.com/20k. Find coupon codes on over 30,000 sites with Honey. Sign up for free at joinhoney.com/20k. Get 83% off Surfshark VPN plus an extra 3 months free at surfshark.deals/20k, or use promo code 20K. Watch The Sounds of Space, a collaboration between Twenty Thousand Hertz and melodysheep. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/happylittleepisode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Pirate Radio
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. Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit. Subscribe to our Youtube channel here. Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Get 10% off your first month of BetterHelp at betterhelp.com/20k. Get 83% off Surfshark VPN plus an extra 3 months free at surfshark.deals/20k, or use promo code 20K. Get your free business banking account at banknovo.com/hertz. Listen to Songs That Shook the Planet at audible.com/songs Subscribe to History This Week wherever you get your podcasts. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/pirateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Being Dallas Taylor
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. Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit. Subscribe to our Youtube channel here. Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Get 10% off your first month of BetterHelp at betterhelp.com/20k. Hiring? Sign up at Indeed.com/Hertz and get a $75 credit to sponsor your first job post for better visibility, more applications, and quicker hiring times. Visit monday.com/podcast for your free two-week trial. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/beingdallastaylor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sul Sul
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. Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit. Subscribe to our Youtube channel here. Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Subscribe to Rachel's Youtube channels, Rachybop and Rachybop Gaming. Check out SONOS at sonos.com. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/sulsul Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Twenty Thousand Hertz
A lovingly crafted podcast that reveals the stories behind the world's most recognizable and interesting sounds. Subscribe now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aural Exam
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. Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit. Subscribe to our Youtube channel here. Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Subscribe to Underunderstood wherever you get your podcasts. Get 10% off your first month of BetterHelp at betterhelp.com/20k. Visit zocdoc.com/hertz to download the Zocdoc app and sign up for free. Get your donation of up to $250 matched at givewell.org. Just select "Podcast" at checkout, then enter “Twenty Thousand Hertz.” Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/auralexam Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
HBO 2.0
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. Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit. Subscribe to our Youtube channel here. Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Get 10% off your first month of BetterHelp at betterhelp.com/20k. Get your donation of up to $250 matched at givewell.org. Just select "Podcast" at checkout, then enter “Twenty Thousand Hertz.” Check out SONOS at sonos.com. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/hbo20 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's Not TV. It's HBO.
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. Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit. Subscribe to our Youtube channel here. Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Get 10% off your first month of BetterHelp at betterhelp.com/20k. Visit zocdoc.com/hertz to download the Zocdoc app and sign up for free. Check out SONOS at sonos.com. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/itsnottvitshbo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices