Hidden Hitmakers: The unsung heroes behind pop’s biggest hits
The names of pop and rock stars are known by millions of people around the world, but the people who actually write their music often stay in the shadows. In this episode, we peel back the curtain on ...
16 Mar 202230min
Happy Little Episode: The soothing voice of Bob Ross
In the forty years since The Joy of Painting first started airing, Bob Ross has become a cultural icon. His gentle, soothing voice is instantly recognizable, and still gives comfort to millions of peo...
2 Mar 202241min
Pirate Radio: Britain’s AM rebels of the ’60s
In the 1960s, the BBC had a vise grip on British radio, and rarely played the pop and rock music that was all the rage. So a group of rebellious radio DJs decided to give the people what they wanted, ...
16 Feb 202233min
Being Dallas Taylor: Meeting my name twins
Your name is so much more than the sound that people call you by. It’s an entire human identity, distilled into a few syllables. So what do six people who share the exact same name have in common? It ...
2 Feb 202240min
Sul Sul! Behind the gibberish language of The Sims
When The Sims was first being developed, the creators faced a problem. They knew they wanted these characters to talk and interact, but they were worried that using a real language would quickly get r...
19 Jan 202225min
Guess That Sound 2021: Underunderstood
For our second annual Mystery Sound competition, we’ve rounded up the 20 best sounds from the past year, and invited the hosts of Underunderstood to test their ears in a competitive guessing game. So ...
15 Des 202137min
The Static Angel: How HBO perfected its sonic identity
In part 2 of our series on HBO, we explore the tough questions that the company faced in the digital era: Are people still willing to sit through a 90-second theme song before they watch a movie? Does...
1 Des 202125min
It’s Not TV: Behind HBO’s legendary sounds
In the 1980s, every movie that aired on HBO began with a truly epic theme song—a sweeping orchestral piece that triggers instant nostalgia for anyone who grew up with it. Then in the 90s, HBO introduc...
17 Nov 202123min
