Presenting the second short story collection from our Sound Off competition, featuring five pieces written and produced entirely by our listeners. From the sonic evolution of pinball to reused classical melodies to the battle against airport noise, this Silver Collection is a diverse and enlightening set of snackable stories. Find local showtimes to see Sketch, the first feature-film sound designed and mixed entirely by Defacto Sound. Subscribe on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see our new video series. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at ⁠⁠⁠mystery.20k.org⁠⁠⁠. Support the show and get ad-free episodes at ⁠20k.org/plus⁠. Follow Dallas on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠. Join our community on ⁠⁠⁠Reddit⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠. Get 20% off your Riverside subscription using promo code 20k. Cut your current cloud bill in half with OCI at ⁠⁠⁠oracle.com/20k⁠⁠⁠. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial at ⁠⁠⁠shopify.com/20k⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Vulfpeck played a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden, the performance looked effortless. But behind the scenes, their Front of House Engineer and Tour Manager Jake Hartsfield was juggling missing tickets, technical curveballs, and mixing seventeen dynamic musicians through a nearly two-hour set. In this episode, we follow Jake through one extraordinarily high-stakes day, and discover just how much craft, preparation, and composure it takes to make a live show feel magical. Subscribe on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ to see our new video series. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at ⁠⁠mystery.20k.org⁠⁠. Explore Defacto Sound's work at ⁠defactosound.com⁠. Support the show and get ad-free episodes at 20k.org/plus. Follow Dallas on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠. Join our community on ⁠⁠Reddit⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠. Check out The Master Handbook of Acoustics, the book that inspired Jake work in music. Visit ⁠openphone.com/20k⁠ for 20% of your first 6 months. Claim your $75 sponsored job credit at ⁠⁠indeed.com/hertz⁠⁠. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial at ⁠⁠shopify.com/20k⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s the most recognizable TV theme in America. But Jeopardy’s “Think Music” wasn’t originally written for a game show… It was written for a toddler. In this episode, we trace the unlikely journey of the Jeopardy theme, from Merv Griffin’s living room to over 10,000 episodes across six decades. Along the way, we explore the show’s sonic evolution, including honking buzzers, 80s synths, and orchestral remixes. Featuring Lisa Broffman, Jeopardy’s Consulting Co-Executive Producer. Subscribe on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ to see our brand new video series. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at ⁠⁠mystery.20k.org⁠⁠. Explore Defacto Sound's work at ⁠defactosound.com⁠, and click the ⁠⁠Contact Form⁠⁠ to get in touch. Follow Dallas on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠. Join our community on ⁠⁠Reddit⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠sonos.com⁠⁠ to learn about the Sonos Ace headphones and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Twenty Thousand Hertz is proud to present the first short story collection from our Sound Off competition, featuring six bite-sized pieces written and produced entirely by our listeners. From the dawn of recording to the sonic secrets of thunder, from mythic sirens to melodic medicine, this Bronze Collection offers a first taste of the breadth and originality of these incredible stories. Subscribe on ⁠YouTube⁠⁠ to be the first to see our new video episodes. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at ⁠mystery.20k.org⁠. Explore Defacto Sound's work at defactosound.com, and click the ⁠Contact Form⁠ to get in touch. Follow Dallas on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠, and ⁠LinkedIn⁠. Join our community on ⁠Reddit⁠ and follow us on ⁠Facebook⁠. Visit ⁠sonos.com⁠ to learn about the Sonos Ace headphones and more. Visit openphone.com/20k for 20% of your first 6 months. Claim your $75 sponsored job credit at ⁠indeed.com/hertz⁠. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial at ⁠shopify.com/20k⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your name isn’t just a label. It’s a signal to everyone who meets you, filled with meaning that you may not fully understand. In this story, Dallas revisits one of the most surreal experiences of his life: tracking down five other people who share his exact name. What follows is a surprising look at identity, coincidence, and the curious ways that our names shape our lives. Featuring name expert Laura Wattenberg and six Dallas Taylors. Subscribe on ⁠YouTube⁠⁠ to be the first to see our new video episodes. Visit defactosound.com to hear more of our work and get in touch. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at ⁠⁠mystery.20k.org⁠⁠. Follow Dallas on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠, ⁠⁠and ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠. Join our community on ⁠⁠Reddit⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠. Buy Laura’s book, ⁠The Baby Name Wizard⁠ wherever you get your books. Visit ⁠sonos.com⁠ to learn about the Sonos Ace headphones and more. Start your free online visit for hair loss treatment at ⁠hims.com/20k⁠. Cut your current cloud bill in half with OCI at ⁠⁠oracle.com/20k⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Behind every incredible sound in a movie or TV show is a creative person with a unique story. In this episode, Dallas heads to the legendary Sony Pictures lot during Mix Magazine’s “Sound for Film & TV” event, and invites Hollywood’s sound pros to share their wildest, weirdest, and most heartfelt sonic stories. The result is a grab bag of eye opening tales that span a World War II reverb, otherworldly insects, famous fart sounds, and an awkward encounter with a famous director. Featuring Jesse Herrera, Daniel Colman, Steve Bucino, Jeremy Siegel, Alan Meyerson, and Nathaniel Smith. Subscribe on YouTube⁠ to be the first to see our new video episodes. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Explore the all new Defacto Sound website, and click the Contact Form to get in touch. Download Jesse Herrera's Hughes Building Impulse Response (“Spruce Goose reverb”) for free by using promo code 20K at checkout. Follow Dallas on Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn. Join our community on Reddit and follow us on Facebook. Visit sonos.com to learn about the Sonos Ace headphones and more. Claim your $75 sponsored job credit at indeed.com/hertz. Download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning at netsuite.com/20k. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial at shopify.com/20k. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when one of history’s greatest composers begins to lose the very sense he relies on most? In this episode, we explore how Ludwig van Beethoven continued to create groundbreaking music even as his world fell into silence. Along the way, we uncover the myths, inventions, and raw determination that fueled Beethoven’s defiant creativity, and hear how his lifelong struggles are reflected in his music. Featuring musicologist Laura Tunbridge, author of Beethoven: A Life in Nine Pieces. Enter the “Sound Off” Story Contest at ⁠20k.org/soundoff⁠. Submissions close on May 7th, 2025. Explore the all new ⁠Defacto Sound website⁠, and click the ⁠Contact Form⁠ to get in touch. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at ⁠mystery.20k.org⁠. Follow Dallas on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠, ⁠YouTube⁠ and ⁠LinkedIn⁠. Join our community on ⁠Reddit⁠ and follow us on ⁠Facebook⁠. Start your free online visit for hair loss treatment at hims.com/20k. Cut your current cloud bill in half with OCI at ⁠oracle.com/20k⁠. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: ⁠www.20k.org/episodes/the-deaf-composer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After 10 years and 400 episodes, our friends at Switched on Pop decided it was finally time to revamp their outdated theme song. In this episode, they take us inside the chaotic, hilarious, and surprisingly emotional process of making a new one. Along the way, they get brutally honest feedback from top music critics, craft over a hundred layers of swirling synths and cinematic sound effects, and even get some sonic strategy from our very own Dallas Taylor. Enter the “Sound Off” Story Contest at 20k.org/soundoff. Submissions close on May 7th, 2025. Explore the all new Defacto Sound website, and click the Contact Form to get in touch. Follow Switched on Pop wherever you get your podcasts. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Follow Dallas on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn. Join our community on Reddit and follow us on Facebook. Claim your $75 sponsored job credit at indeed.com/hertz. Download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning at netsuite.com/20k. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial at shopify.com/20k. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/sonic-brand-makeover Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you want to know where the future of sound is headed, accessibility is a great place to look. And for decades, Apple has been leading the charge in accessible technology. In this episode, the Apple team breaks down the philosophy and craft behind their most impactful accessibility features. Along the way, we reveal how these innovations have transformed the way we interact with our devices, and could even lead to a revolution in hearing health. Featuring Sarah Herrlinger, Deidre Caldbeck, Ron Huang, and Eric Treski. Enter the “Sound Off” Story Contest at 20k.org/soundoff. Submissions close on May 7th, 2025. Get in touch with Apple’s accessibility team by writing accessibility@apple.com. Vote for Twenty Thousand Hertz in the Webby Awards by April 17th, 2025.  Explore the all new Defacto Sound website, and click the Contact Form to get in touch. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Follow Dallas on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn. Join our community on Reddit and follow us on Facebook. Follow You’ll Hear It, the #1 jazz podcast, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial at shopify.com/20k. Cut your current cloud bill in half with OCI at oracle.com/20k. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: www.20k.org/episodes/sonic-accessibility Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Movie trailers have changed dramatically over the decades, from the classic “Voice of God” narrators of the ‘80s and ‘90s, to today’s thunderous “bwaahs” and “boojes.” In this episode, Dallas and producer Andrew Anderson take a deep dive into the evolving art of trailer sound design, breaking down the most iconic trends and overused tropes. Featuring legendary trailers from Star Wars to Predator, plus an intimidating encounter with the most famous trailer voice of all time. Enter the “Sound Off” Story Contest at 20k.org/soundoff. Submissions close on May 7th, 2025. Explore the all new Defacto Sound website, and click the Contact Form to get in touch. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Follow Dallas on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn. Join our community on Reddit and follow us on Facebook. Find the right doctor, right now at zocdoc.com/hertz. Claim your $75 sponsored job credit at indeed.com/hertz. Download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning at netsuite.com/20k. Get an exclusive 60% discount on Incogni and a 30-day money-back guarantee at incogni.com/20k. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: www.20k.org/episodes/in-a-world Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices