Twenty Thousand Hertz
The stories behind the world's most recognizable and interesting sounds. Whether you're a professional audio engineer with decades of experience, a fourth grader who loves sound and music, or anyone in between, Twenty Thousand Hertz will help unlock your sonic world… from the sound design secrets of hit movies, to the sonic craft of jingles and device sounds, to the forgotten backstories of classic theme songs, to linguistic mysteries, psychoacoustics, video game music, animal communication, and beyond. With moving human stories, immersive sound design, and the guiding voice of host Dallas Taylor, Twenty Thousand Hertz has grown into the world’s leading podcast about sound.
New to the show? Start here:
• I'm Lovin' It: How “Ba da ba ba ba” took over the world
• The Art of Foley: Bringing Slimer & Batman to life
• Tudum! The story behind the iconic Netflix sound
• Super Mario Bros: Koji Kondo's 8-Bit Masterpiece
• Inside Hans Zimmer’s Remote Control Studios
• A sonic journey through the Solar System
• Mind the Gap: NYC & London’s iconic transit voices
All Episodes
Needle Drops: How pop songs first started showing up in movies
When a filmmaker pairs a scene with the perfect song, the results can become iconic. But when and how did movies start using popular music this way? In this episode, Dallas, Casey and Grace trace the history of “needle drops,” from a forgotten Broadway song that became an unlikely hit, to the rock ‘n’ roll record that transformed movie soundtracks, to the happy accidents behind some of the most famous scenes of the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s. Along the way, they reveal how movies and popular music became permanently intertwined.Build your Sonos home sound system today at sonos.com.Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced by Defacto Sound.Support the show and get ad-free episodes at 20k.org/plus.Subscribe onYouTube to see our video series.Follow Dallas on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and LinkedIn.If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org.
Guess That Sound: Video Game Edition
For a special video game edition of our Guess That Sound competition, we invited three game audio experts to test their ears on 18 sounds from gaming history. Play along as they identify iconic fanfares, weapons, spells, power-ups, and some seriously tricky deep cuts. Who will claim the title of ultimate video game sound expert? Featuring Foley Artist and Sound Editor Joanna Fang, Senior Interactive Sound Designer Mark Kilborn, and Sound Designer and Composer Jeffrey Brice.Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced by Defacto Sound.Support the show and get ad-free episodes at 20k.org/plus.Subscribe onYouTube to see our video series.Follow Dallas on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and LinkedIn.If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org.Get three months of free payroll with Gusto at gusto.com/20k.Visit quo.com/20k for 20% of your first 6 months of business phone software.Build your Sonos home sound system today at sonos.com.
Listener Stories 2026 (Gold): Protest Pop & Birthday Ballads
We’re proud to present the top selections from our 2026 Listener Story competition. In these extraordinary pieces, you’ll hear about the forgotten world of free online record labels, the controversial sounds that shape public spaces, the hidden history of a global pop hit, and finally, this year’s winning story.Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced by Defacto Sound.Subscribe onYouTube to see our video series.Follow Dallas on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and LinkedIn.If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us atmystery.20k.org.Support the show and get ad-free episodes at20k.org/plus.Listener Links:- Explore Wesley Slover’s custom music at sanctus.audio.- Learn about the Sound Co-Op audio collective.- Learn about defensive urbanism and subscribe to Darknet Diaries.- Explore Ricardo Ramirez’s work at rezsounds.com.Build your home sound system today at sonos.com.Get NetSuite's free business guide, "Aligning for the Agentic Era: How AI Is Changing Everyday Work," at netsuite.com/20k.
I'm (Still) Lovin' It: The McDonald's Jingle Saga Continues
The “I’m Lovin’ It” jingle is one of the most recognizable melodies on Earth. But the story behind it involves a global competition, thousands of mixes, a Trojan Horse pop song, and a surprising amount of celebrity beef. In this updated version of one of our favorite episodes, we trace how a five-note jingle became a worldwide phenomenon, and the controversy over who actually wrote it. Featuring Tom Batoy and Franco Tortora of Mona Davis Music.Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced by Defacto Sound.Support the show and get ad-free episodes at 20k.org/plus.Subscribe onYouTube to see our video series.Follow Dallas on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and LinkedIn.If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org.Get three months of free payroll with Gusto at gusto.com/20k.Visit quo.com/20k for 20% of your first 6 months of business phone software.
Listener Stories 2026 (Silver): Keyboard Clicks & Singing Forests
Our 2026 Listener Story competition continues with five more incredible listener-made pieces. In this Silver collection, you’ll hear the surprising craft behind mechanical keyboards, the natural sounds hidden in Indian ragas, and how learning a new language can transform noise into belonging.Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced by Defacto Sound.Subscribe onYouTube to see our video series.Follow Dallas on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and LinkedIn.If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us atmystery.20k.org.Support the show and get ad-free episodes at20k.org/plus.Listener Links:- Hear Leonardo Barrios’ music under the name Bardø on Spotify.- Learn about Ross Maddox’s work testing the hearing of babies at maddoxlab.org.- Explore Nathaniel Harrison’s work with Shore 3 Studios.- Hear Vicki Hansen’s music under the name Indiajiva on Youtube and Spotify.Try NetSuite Next for free at netsuite.ai/20k.Shopify: Own your customer relationships. Own your revenue. Start with a free trial at shopify.com/20k