Episode List
Auld Lang What? The surprising origins of the New Year’s song
Every New Year’s at midnight, we raise our voices to sing a song that few of us understand: “Auld Lang Syne.” So when and why did this become the anthem of the holiday? In this episode, our friends at the Smithsonian’s Sidedoor podcast trace the mysterious rise of “Auld Lang Syne” from rural Scotland, to a New York jazz club, to a classic film and an iconic actor. Featuring folklorist Jim Deutsch. Support the show and get ad-free episodes at 20k.org/plus. Subscribe to Sidedoor 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. Follow Dallas on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Join our community on Reddit. Get 3 months of free payroll at gusto.com/20k. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Guess That Sound 2025: Youtube Channel Champs
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
The Sound of Fallout: From Iconic Games to Prestige TV
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
Defying Gravity: The Audio Wizardry of Wicked's Live Vocals
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
The Secret Soundtracks of Movies & TV
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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