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
What this show covers
sound designlistener storiesmovie musicJohn Williamsfilm scoresmedia industryvideo gamesaudio triviagaming historycompetitionrecord labelspublic soundpop historysound culturesonic branding
What listeners will find here
Can you beat three game-audio pros at naming iconic video game sounds?
Video game sound takes center stage in a special Guess That Sound competition featuring 18 audio clues from gaming history. Three game-audio experts try to identify fanfares, weapons, spells, power-ups, and deep cuts while listeners can play along.
Four standout listener stories explore pop music’s hidden worlds
This episode gathers top entries from the 2026 Listener Story competition, spanning free online record labels, contested public-space sounds, the backstory of a global pop hit, and the winning piece. It’s a varied, listener-driven collection built around how sound shapes culture and memory.
How five notes became a global brand—and sparked a fight over who wrote them
The episode digs into the origin of McDonald’s “I’m Lovin’ It” jingle, from a global competition and thousands of mixes to a pop-song strategy and a dispute over authorship. It’s a look at how a tiny melody became one of the world’s most recognizable sounds.
Five listener-made sound stories, from keyboard craft to ragas and belonging
This Silver collection features five listener-made pieces about the sounds that shape how we work, listen, and connect. It ranges from the tactile world of mechanical keyboards to the natural textures inside Indian ragas and the way a new language can turn noise into belonging.
What it takes to mix live music for Colbert and Fallon under pressure
Mixing music for late-night TV means speed, precision, and keeping artists comfortable when the stakes are high. Harvey Goldberg and Lawrence Manchester share stories from The Late Show and The Tonight Show, including tricky performances, backing-track challenges, and mixing major artists.
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