Episodes

  • Guess That Sound 2025: Youtube Channel Champs
    Dec 17 2025
    For our sixth annual Mystery Sound game show, we’ve invited three guests from our video series to test their sonic knowledge on 18 sounds, including production logos, video game FX, bird calls, strange instruments, and more. So put on your listening cap and get ready to guess along in this surprising and hilarious competition. Featuring Jake Hartsfield, Carlos Torres, and John Michael Hinton. Support the show and get ad-free episodes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠20k.org/plus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced by ⁠Defacto Sound⁠. Subscribe on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see our video series. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mystery.20k.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow Dallas on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join our community on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reddit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Book a magic show with John Michael Hinton. Visit ⁠curiositystream.com/20k⁠ for 50% off the best documentary streaming service. Find and book a therapist at rula.com/20k. Get 10 free meals + breakfast for life at hellofresh.com/tth10fm Shop for eye glasses & contacts, or book an eye exam at warbyparker.com/hertz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    47 mins
  • The Sound of Fallout: From Iconic Games to Prestige TV
    Dec 3 2025
    Behind Fallout’s apocalyptic sci-fi and retro nostalgia is a masterclass in sound design. In this episode, we explore how the audio teams behind both the video games and the TV series built Fallout’s signature sonic identity, from Pip Boy clicks to weapon blasts to mutant roars. Along the way, we uncover how the show’s creators honored the classic game sounds while reimagining them for a bigger, more cinematic experience. Featuring Mark Lampert, Sue Cahill, Daniel Colman, Steve Bucino, and Keith Rogers. Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced by Defacto Sound. Subscribe on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see our 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, Facebook, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join our community on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reddit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Visit curiositystream.com/20k for 50% off the best documentary streaming service. Explore incredible speakers, soundbars, and more at ⁠sonos.com⁠. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial of Shopify at ⁠⁠⁠shopify.com/20k⁠⁠⁠. Claim your $75 sponsored job credit at ⁠⁠⁠⁠indeed.com/hertz⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    42 mins
  • Defying Gravity: The Audio Wizardry of Wicked's Live Vocals
    Nov 19 2025
    In movie musicals, the vocals are almost never recorded live on-set. Instead, the actors pre-record their songs, then lip sync to those recordings while filming. But on Wicked, they threw out the rulebook, and recorded all of the lead vocals live. In this episode, Production Sound Mixer Simon Hayes reveals how they pulled off this audio feat. From cleverly disguised lav mics and in-ear monitors, to “silent wind” machines, to a jaw-dropping live performance of “Defying Gravity,” this is the story behind a truly magical production. Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced by Defacto Sound. Subscribe on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see our 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, ⁠Facebook⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join our community on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reddit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Explore incredible speakers, soundbars and more at ⁠sonos.com⁠. Get 50% off your first box of Factor Meals, plus free breakfast for a year at factormeals.com/tth50off. Subscribe to Working Smarter wherever you get your podcasts. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial at ⁠⁠⁠shopify.com/20k⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    32 mins
  • The Secret Soundtracks of Movies & TV
    Nov 5 2025
    In the ‘60s and ‘70s, world-class musicians gathered in smoky studios to record tracks that you couldn’t buy in a store… but ended up everywhere. In this episode, Dallas and the TTH crew dive into the golden age of production music: versatile cues crafted for everything from car chases to romantic montages to space odysseys. Along the way, they uncover how these obscure records found their way into sports broadcasts, hip hop singles, and modern sitcoms, and reveal the vintage library track that Quentin Tarantino brought back into style. Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced by Defacto Sound. Subscribe on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see our 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, ⁠Facebook⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join our community on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reddit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Explore incredible speakers, soundbars and more at ⁠sonos.com⁠. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial at ⁠⁠⁠shopify.com/20k⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠quo.com/20k⁠⁠⁠ for 20% of your first 6 months of business phone software. Claim your $75 sponsored job credit at ⁠⁠⁠⁠indeed.com/hertz⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    45 mins
  • Inside Imagineering: How Sound Powers Disney Magic
    Oct 22 2025
    Sound is a crucial part of what makes Disney parks feel magical… and it all starts inside the closely-guarded rooms of Walt Disney Imagineering. In this episode, Imagineers John Dennis and Greg Lhotka break down how they use music and audio to bring attractions to life, from speaker systems hidden in rock work, to the intricate timing of a Frozen water ride. Then, they reveal the surprising story of how one of Disney’s most iconic songs got a brand new verse, more than half a century after its debut. Watch Dallas' trip to Walt Disney Imagineering on ⁠Youtube⁠. Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced by Defacto Sound. Subscribe on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see our 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, ⁠Facebook⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join our community on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reddit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Explore incredible speakers, soundbars and more at ⁠sonos.com⁠. Visit ⁠⁠quince.com/20k⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order & 365 day returns. Find a therapist who takes your insurance at ⁠⁠⁠growtherapy.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
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    26 mins
  • Live from New York, I’m Retired! SNL’s Sound Legend Signs Off
    Oct 8 2025
    Behind Saturday Night Live, there’s a small army of audio professionals making the whole thing sound effortless. In this episode, Dallas goes behind the scenes at Studio 8H to meet Robert Palladino, who’s mixed SNL for 40 years… and is about to do it one last time. Along the way, he gets an unprecedented look at how this legendary show is mixed, and talks to the new Production Mixer Fred Hedemark about stepping into Bobby’s shoes. Watch Dallas' trip to SNL on Youtube. Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced by Defacto Sound. Subscribe on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see our 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, ⁠Facebook⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join our community on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reddit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about Fred Hedemark’s work at audiofred.com. Find a therapist who takes your insurance at ⁠growtherapy.com/20k⁠. Get 3 months of free payroll at ⁠gusto.com/20k⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠quo.com/20k⁠⁠⁠ for 20% of your first 6 months of buisiness phone software. Claim your $75 sponsored job credit at ⁠⁠⁠⁠indeed.com/hertz⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    36 mins
  • The Nursery Rhyme That Ruined a Rock Band
    Sep 24 2025
    When a quiz show host asked a simple question about nursery rhymes, it seemed like harmless fun. But that moment triggered a lawsuit that would threaten to bring down one of Australia’s most iconic rock bands. In this story from the Cautionary Tales podcast, we follow the unlikely court case of Men At Work’s “Down Under,” exploring the fine line between inspiration and infringement, and the collateral damage of copyright. Follow Cautionary Tales wherever you get your podcasts. Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced by Defacto Sound. Subscribe on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see our 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, ⁠Facebook⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join our community on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reddit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Find a therapist who takes your insurance at growtherapy.com/20k. Get 3 months of free payroll at gusto.com/20k. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    33 mins
  • Sound Off (Gold): Transit Tunes & Childhood Chimes
    Sep 10 2025
    We’re proud to present the winning entries from our Sound Off competition: five listener-made short stories that rose to the very top. From clever tinnitus tonics to melodic subway signals, from mischievous church bells to a guitar that speaks in whispers, this Gold Collection is rich with emotion, originality, and sonic craft. Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced by Defacto Sound. Subscribe on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see our 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, ⁠Facebook⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join our community on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reddit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Visit quince.com/20k for free shipping on your order & 365 day returns. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial at ⁠⁠⁠shopify.com/20k⁠⁠⁠. Claim your $75 sponsored job credit at ⁠⁠⁠indeed.com/hertz⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠openphone.com/20k⁠⁠ for 20% of your first 6 months. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    28 mins