Behind the Mic: The making of Twenty Thousand Hertz

The production process and mission of the sound design podcast *Twenty Thousand Hertz* revolve around transforming technical audio work into accessible, immersive storytelling. The Defacto Sound team dedicates over 150 hours to each episode, balancing rigorous research, script refinement, and precise sound design to ensure every sonic element serves the narrative. By moving beyond technical jargon, the show encourages listeners to transition from passive hearing to active, conscious engagement with their environment. Notable experiments—such as using demonic vocal processing for atmosphere or aligning whale songs with musical tracks—demonstrate how sound design can evoke empathy and wonder. Ultimately, the project seeks to reveal the hidden sonic layers of everyday life, proving that sound is a fundamental, yet often overlooked, component of human experience and design.