A lovingly crafted podcast that reveals the stories behind the world's most recognizable and interesting sounds.
Progression Obsession
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. 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 a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at Stamps.com. Just click the microphone at the top right corner and type the promo code 20k. Compare home and car insurance rates at policygenius.com. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/progressionobsession Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SM7
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. 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. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/sm7 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Minecraft
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. 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 a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at Stamps.com. Just click the microphone at the top right corner and type the promo code 20k. Compare home and car insurance rates at policygenius.com. Visit c418.bandcamp.com to purchase Daniel’s music. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/minecraft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
20th Century Fox
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. 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. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/20thcenturyfox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Deterrent Tone
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. 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. Check out Lynne’s work at lynnepeskoeyang.com Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at Stamps.com. Just click the microphone at the top right corner and type the promo code 20k. Compare home and car insurance rates at policygenius.com. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/thedeterrenttone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I'm Lovin' It
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. 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 a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at Stamps.com. Just click the microphone at the top right corner and type the promo code 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. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/imlovinit Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sound 101 with Bill Nye
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. 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 Science Rules! wherever you get your podcasts. Get a free one month trial of Headspace at headspace.com/hertz. Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at Stamps.com. Just click the microphone at the top right corner and type the promo code 20k. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/sound101 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Synesthesia
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. Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit. Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. To get your 20K referral link and earn rewards, visit 20k.org/refer. Get your first month of hair loss treatment for free at keeps.com/20k. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sing Gently
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. Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit. Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Discover more at lexus.com/curiosity. Visit our website to see all six virtual choirs. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/singgently Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sounds Worth Saving
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. Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit. Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Discover more at lexus.com/curiosity. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Conlang
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. Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit. Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Discover more at lexus.com/curiosity. Subscribe to Imaginary Worlds wherever you get your podcasts. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/conlang Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Space Audity
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. Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit. Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Discover more at lexus.com/curiosity. Check out Ask a Spaceman wherever you get your podcasts. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/spaceaudity Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sonic Utopia
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 can we 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. Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit. Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. To get your 20K referral link and earn rewards, visit 20k.org/refer. Discover more at lexus.com/curiosity. Subscribe to Flash Forward wherever you get your podcasts. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/sonicutopia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sound and Silence
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. Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit. 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 the TED Radio Hour wherever you get your podcasts. Discover more at lexus.com/curiosity. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/soundandsilence Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dies Irae
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. Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit. Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Discover more at lexus.com/curiosity. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices