- 35 minutes 37 secondsJohn Williams: A Composer’s Life
John Williams has written some of the most famous film scores ever, from Star Wars to Indiana Jones to Jurassic Park. But before the blockbuster success, there was a kid growing up around jazz musicians in New York, and a young composer trying to find his voice. In this episode, journalist Tim Greiving takes us through John’s early life and career, from his years as a session player to the meeting with Steven Spielberg that changed everything. Along the way, we unpack the stories behind John’s early iconic scores, including the two-note terror of Jaws, the symphonic world of Star Wars, and the mysteries of Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced by Defacto Sound.
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1 June 2026, 10:00 am - 31 minutes 10 secondsAge of Audio: The Future of Podcasting (and 20k)
After making Age of Audio, a feature documentary about the history of podcasting, filmmaker Shaun Michael Colón sat down with Dallas for a revealing conversation about the state and future of this industry. Together, Dallas & Shaun unpack the shift toward celebrity chit chat shows, what gets lost in video, the real economics of making Twenty Thousand Hertz, and why highly crafted audio storytelling still matters.
Learn about this year’s Listener Stories competition and submit your story at 20k.org/2026.
For updates on Age of Audio, visit the official website, or follow the film on Instagram and Tiktok.
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25 May 2026, 10:00 am - 42 minutes 18 secondsAge of Audio: The Inside Story of Podcasting
The history of podcasting has rarely been told. But in this episode, the brightest minds in podcasting reveal the inside story of this medium: from the invention of RSS feeds, through the Gold Rush era of corporate investments, to the bubble bursting, and the rise of celebrity podcasts. Along the way, Ira Glass explains the origins of This American Life and Serial, Marc Maron recounts Obama visiting his garage, Roman Mars lays out his vision for indie podcasts, and so much more. This story was adapted from the feature documentary Age of Audio.
Learn about this year’s Listener Stories competition and submit your story at 20k.org/2026.
For updates on Age of Audio, visit the official website, or follow the film on Instagram and Tiktok.
Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced by Defacto Sound.
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18 May 2026, 10:00 am - 39 minutes 44 secondsThe Poop Song Conspiracy
One day, Ethan had an unfortunate bathroom incident. Then, he found an entire collection of songs online with his name in the title… and they all seemed to be about that embarrassing moment. That experience sent Ethan and his sister down a bizarre rabbit hole involving AI music, lots of poop jokes, and possibly the world’s most prolific songwriter. This story comes from the Hyperfixed podcast.
Learn about this year’s Listener Stories competition and submit your story at 20k.org/2026.
Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced by Defacto Sound.
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Hear A Song About Ethan by Matt Farley, or request a custom song by him.
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11 May 2026, 10:00 am - 30 minutes 10 secondsThe Heartfelt Music of Bluey w/ Composer Joff Bush
What makes the music of Bluey feel so warm and alive? In this episode, Dallas travels to Brisbane, Australia to visit the studio of Bluey’s composer Joff Bush. There, Joff reveals the quirky instruments, musical easter eggs, and songwriting philosophy behind this beloved series. Along the way, he breaks down the music of two iconic Bluey episodes, “Sleepytime” and “The Sign.”
Learn about this year’s Listener Stories competition and submit your story at 20k.org/2026.
See Dallas tour Joff's studio on Youtube.
Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced by Defacto Sound.
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4 May 2026, 10:00 am - 36 minutes 24 secondsThe Acoustic Worlds of Radiolab Creator Jad Abumrad
Before Radiolab became a cultural phenomenon, it was an experiment… one that Jad Abumrad built voice by voice, sound by sound. In this episode, Jad walks Dallas through his journey with the show, from its scrappy beginning in a New York basement, to leading a massive team, and ultimately stepping away. Along the way, he breaks down his signature sound design and storytelling techniques, and how he’s carried those into newer projects like Dolly Parton’s America and Fela Kuti: Fear No Man.
Learn about this year’s Listener Stories competition and submit your story at 20k.org/2026.
See Dallas tour Jad's studio on Youtube.
Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced by Defacto Sound.
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20 April 2026, 10:00 am - 29 minutes 44 secondsHe was deaf for 35 years + Listener Stories kickoff
Last year, we ran three full episodes of listener-produced stories. But one beautiful story was just a little too long for the final cut… and we couldn’t leave it behind. In this episode, sound designer Jesse Herrera tells the story of his grandfather, who lived in silence for 35 years before receiving a cochlear implant, and the overwhelming, joyful process of learning to hear again. Afterwards, Dallas and Casey reflect on last year’s Listener Stories and kick off this year’s competition.
Learn about this year’s Listener Stories competition and submit your story at 20k.org/2026.
To make a donation to the Harry Hakeem Scholarship Fund supporting the education of children with hearing loss, visit peiabq.org/giving.
Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced by Defacto Sound.
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23 March 2026, 10:00 am - 32 minutes 6 secondsHarry Potter and the Sound Designer’s Stone
Harry Potter has been brought to life on page and screen. But what would it take to make the wizarding world come alive using sound alone? In this episode, we go behind the scenes of the new full-cast editions of the Harry Potter series, where a team of sound designers spent eighteen months crafting 130 hours of immersive audio. From the whistle of the Hogwarts Express to the rasp of the Dementors, every spell, creature, and location had to sound tangible and emotionally distinct. Featuring Will Cohen and Lawrence Kendrick of String and Tins.
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9 March 2026, 10:00 am - 27 minutes 44 secondsWhen Everything Stopped, He Started Listening
David Jeffers has always understood the world through sound. As a kid, he bounced beats between tape decks and built speaker boxes from spare parts. After college, he founded an underground hip hop label. Then came the day that split his life in two. And in the quiet that followed, David started listening more deeply… and piece by piece, he built a new life, guided not by what he lost, but what he could create.
For news about Quad Life, the upcoming documentary about David, follow Quad_Life_Doc on Instagram.
Explore David’s sound design work and book with him at quadriphonicsound.com.
Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced by Defacto Sound.
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23 February 2026, 11:00 am - 37 minutes 4 secondsThe State of the 20K Multiverse™
What happens when a podcast about sound gets into video? In this special behind-the-scenes episode, producer Grace East flips the script and interviews Dallas about his leap into visual storytelling, and how the different pieces of the 20K Multiverse all fit together. From backstage at SNL, to Disney Imagineering’s archives, to real-life Bluey locations, Dallas reveals the anxieties, lucky breaks, and human connections behind our new video series.
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Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced by Defacto Sound.
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9 February 2026, 11:00 am - 38 minutes 15 secondsDoctor Who & The BBC Radiophonic Workshop
What does a time machine sound like? Or a magic carpet? For the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, that was just another day at the office. For 40 years, this oddball collective of engineers and composers pushed the boundaries of sound design, crafting eerie atmospheres, quirky jingles, and the iconic audio of Doctor Who. In this episode, we explore the rise and fall of this pioneering studio with composer and archivist Mark Ayres, and uncover how these sonic wizards shaped the future of sound.
Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced by Defacto Sound.
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26 January 2026, 11:00 am - More Episodes? Get the App