Best Uncle Pinballs Podcasts (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 be…

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Sound Off (Gold): Transit Tunes & Childhood Chimes 28:11

Play Pause

16d ago28:11

28:11

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. Subscribe on ⁠⁠⁠YouT…

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Episode #100: Locomotion and ICB Fixed and... Heavy! Metal! Meltdown! 15:15

19d ago15:15

15:15

Send us a text One Hundred episodes! Who'da thunk?! Locomotion and ICB Fixed and... Heavy! Metal! Meltdown! The title says it ALL!By Uncle Pinball

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Episode 99: LOCOMOTION! 15:20

27d ago15:20

15:20

Send us a text Uncle Pinball just took delivery of a Zac Classic: Locomotion. Let's goooo!By Uncle Pinball

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Yahoo! The Yodel Heard Around the World 25:39

28d ago25:39

25:39

It’s one of the quirkiest, most iconic sonic logos ever: a four-note vocal flourish that defined the early internet. In this episode, we follow the Yahoo Yodel on its unlikely journey from the snowy Swiss Alps to ‘90s country bars to Super Bowl ads. Along the way, we meet the real-life cowboy behind this yodel, whose voice launched a billion clicks…

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Episode 98: "Cold, Dead Fingers," Star Wars Fixed, Thanks Mike! 18:53

1M ago18:53

18:53

Send us a text New feature: Uncle Pinball's Personnel File Also: PITA DE Star Wars fixed cuz Mike T! Yay!By Uncle Pinball

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Episode #97: Weird Neighbor and fedex and Good Luck Chris 15:50

1M ago15:50

15:50

Send us a text Gawd I hate Fedex...and well It's a weird story... Also best wishes to Chris Fox, Pinball Delivery Guy. Also, name the artist inthe intro and wina pize!By Uncle Pinball

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Super Mario Bros: Koji Kondo’s 8-Bit Masterpiece 33:14

1M ago33:14

33:14

From the springy jump sound to the iconic Overworld Theme, the sound of Super Mario Bros. is instantly recognizable. With just five lo-fi audio channels and 40 kilobytes of space, composer Koji Kondo created a soundscape full of unforgettable melodies. In this episode, we explore how Kondo’s playful instincts, rhythmic trickery, and love of jazz fu…

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Episode #96: The REAL Origin of Camp Silverball 14:29

2M ago14:29

14:29

Send us a text The title says it all. Arguably almost as much as an attraction as the show itself, Camp Silverball has evolved into a mini Burning Man for pinheads. Uncle Pinball reveals the real start of it all.By Uncle Pinball

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Sound Off (Silver): Pinball Pings & Airport Acoustics 30:20

2M ago30:20

30:20

Presenting the second short story collection from our Sound Off competition, featuring five pieces written and produced entirely by our listeners. From the sonic evolution of pinball to reused classical melodies to the battle against airport noise, this Silver Collection is a diverse and enlightening set of snackable stories. Find local showtimes t…

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Episode #95: Rollergames vs. High Speed, Trading Up, More 19:39

2M ago19:39

19:39

Send us a text --Rollergames Rules -This Star Wars Sucks -Trading UpBy Uncle Pinball

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Episode #94: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly 17:25

2M ago17:25

17:25

Send us a text My boy got married! RiP Rob. F'in Star Wars.By Uncle Pinball

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Mixing Madison Square Garden for Vulfpeck’s Biggest Show 38:52

2M ago38:52

38:52

When Vulfpeck played a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden, the performance looked effortless. But behind the scenes, their Front of House Engineer and Tour Manager Jake Hartsfield was juggling missing tickets, technical curveballs, and mixing seventeen dynamic musicians through a nearly two-hour set. In this episode, we follow Jake through one …

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Episode #93: The Grand Tour 25:40

3M ago25:40

25:40

Send us a text Uncle Pinball's Current Collection... Although I just remembered I forgot to Include Speedway! LOLBy Uncle Pinball

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Episode #92: In The Shop, Killer Deal, More! 24:05

3M ago24:05

24:05

Send us a text New Feature: in the Shop. What we're fixing now. And... The Best Deal of my Pinball Career.By Uncle Pinball

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The Music of Jeopardy! From a Lullaby to $100,000,000 25:10

3M ago25:10

25:10

It’s the most recognizable TV theme in America. But Jeopardy’s “Think Music” wasn’t originally written for a game show… It was written for a toddler. In this episode, we trace the unlikely journey of the Jeopardy theme, from Merv Griffin’s living room to over 10,000 episodes across six decades. Along the way, we explore the show’s sonic evolution, …

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Episode #91: Rollergames! Lightning! Lou Ferrigno! And Scooooore! 19:00

3M ago19:00

19:00

Send us a text Hulk love bread. Uncle Pinball Love Rollergames, Lighting and Deals! And Tom Jones.By Uncle Pinball

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Episode 90: Big Ass Games 10:34

3M ago10:34

10:34

Send us a text I like big games, and I cannot lie.By Uncle Pinball

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Sound Off (Bronze): Siren Calls & Medical Melodies 31:02

3M ago31:02

31:02

Twenty Thousand Hertz is proud to present the first short story collection from our Sound Off competition, featuring six bite-sized pieces written and produced entirely by our listeners. From the dawn of recording to the sonic secrets of thunder, from mythic sirens to melodic medicine, this Bronze Collection offers a first taste of the breadth and …

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Episode #89: The Pool Game 13:50

3M ago13:50

13:50

Send us a text The one and only... Chicago Coin Advance Pool! 1956By Uncle Pinball

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Episode #88: League Leader and Hockey Champ... 16:02

4M ago16:02

16:02

Send us a text Episode #88: Let's talk recent EM Arcade acquisitions! And a Shout-out to Spinner is Lit Peeps!By Uncle Pinball

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Episode #87: Lou Ferrigno is Back (with Mice!) 17:23

4M ago17:23

17:23

Send us a text Our favorite hulk called me out of the blue again... and the results are less than tasty.By Uncle Pinball

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Episode #86: Dolly Goes to Boot Barn! 12:14

4M ago12:14

12:14

Send us a text ...and Uncle Pinball goes to Walt's bar in Eagle Rock! Yes, Uncle Pinball is back!By Uncle Pinball

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I interviewed 5 other Dallas Taylors and things got weird 43:44

4M ago43:44

43:44

Your name isn’t just a label. It’s a signal to everyone who meets you, filled with meaning that you may not fully understand. In this story, Dallas revisits one of the most surreal experiences of his life: tracking down five other people who share his exact name. What follows is a surprising look at identity, coincidence, and the curious ways that …

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Mix Notes: Dumb Farts, Alien Crickets & Junkyard Instruments 28:31

4M ago28:31

28:31

Behind every incredible sound in a movie or TV show is a creative person with a unique story. In this episode, Dallas heads to the legendary Sony Pictures lot during Mix Magazine’s “Sound for Film & TV” event, and invites Hollywood’s sound pros to share their wildest, weirdest, and most heartfelt sonic stories. The result is a grab bag of eye openi…

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The Deaf Composer: How Beethoven wrote music he couldn’t hear 28:39

5M ago28:39

28:39

What happens when one of history’s greatest composers begins to lose the very sense he relies on most? In this episode, we explore how Ludwig van Beethoven continued to create groundbreaking music even as his world fell into silence. Along the way, we uncover the myths, inventions, and raw determination that fueled Beethoven’s defiant creativity, a…

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The Sonic Brand Makeover We Didn’t Know We Needed 41:59

5M ago41:59

41:59

After 10 years and 400 episodes, our friends at Switched on Pop decided it was finally time to revamp their outdated theme song. In this episode, they take us inside the chaotic, hilarious, and surprisingly emotional process of making a new one. Along the way, they get brutally honest feedback from top music critics, craft over a hundred layers of …

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Inside Apple: Sonic Accessibility 33:10

6M ago33:10

33:10

If you want to know where the future of sound is headed, accessibility is a great place to look. And for decades, Apple has been leading the charge in accessible technology. In this episode, the Apple team breaks down the philosophy and craft behind their most impactful accessibility features. Along the way, we reveal how these innovations have tra…

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“In a World…” The epic evolution of movie trailers 24:11

6M ago24:11

24:11

Movie trailers have changed dramatically over the decades, from the classic “Voice of God” narrators of the ‘80s and ‘90s, to today’s thunderous “bwaahs” and “boojes.” In this episode, Dallas and producer Andrew Anderson take a deep dive into the evolving art of trailer sound design, breaking down the most iconic trends and overused tropes. Featuri…

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“The Autumn, She’s Been Hit!” The wish that changed Halo forever 43:35

7M ago43:35

43:35

In the late ‘90s, Brian Johnson and Brian Morden were suburban teenagers obsessed with video games and music. And then, through an extraordinary wish, the two friends found themselves on a journey that made gaming history. In this episode, we explore how a single line of dialogue became a timeless piece of Halo lore, and the profound impact it had …

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Solar Symphony: Listening to the Sun’s hidden “music” 34:34

7M ago34:34

34:34

What sound can teach us about our Sun? In this episode, we explore how NASA scientists translate electromagnetic waves from the Sun into sound, and even music. Through this process, researchers are gradually unlocking the Sun’s secrets, from the steady “hum” of the star’s rotation, to the way that solar winds “play” the Earth’s magnetosphere like a…

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Speaker Terror Upper: When Bass Tapes shook the streets 29:03

8M ago29:03

29:03

In the late '80s and early '90s, a seismic subculture shook the streets… literally. “Boom Cars,” decked out with custom sound systems, roamed neighborhoods blasting the bassiest music ever recorded. But where did this movement come from, and why did it fade away? In this episode, we dive into the world of Miami Bass, dB Drag Racing, and the infamou…

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Radio Station Jingles: 80 Years of Earworms 35:25

8M ago35:25

35:25

If you turn on the radio, there’s one thing you’re almost guaranteed to hear: a catchy, over the top jingle proclaiming the name and call letters of the radio station. But where did these little tunes come from? Who makes them? And why are they still so common? In this episode, we explore the history of radio ID jingles, and pack in so many earworm…

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Sound Pro Smackdown: Guess That Sound! w/ 3 industry experts 44:26

10M ago44:26

44:26

For our fifth annual Mystery Sound Game Show, Dallas invited three friends from the world of professional audio to compete against each other. So crank up the volume and see how many sounds you can guess. Featuring Dialog & ADR Editor Austin Olivia Kendrick, Sound Designer Mike James Gallagher, and Sound Designer Zachary Quarles. If you know what t…

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Dog Translation Guide: Decoding Barks, Howls, & Growls 39:42

10M ago39:42

39:42

We all know that dogs are smart, sensitive creatures, but interpreting their vocalizations and behaviors can still be a challenge. In this episode, animal behaviorist Daniel Mills reveals the true meanings behind dogs’ noises, actions, and body language. Then, author Pilley Bianchi tells the story of Chaser, the border collie who became known as “T…

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Cat Translation Guide: Decoding Meows, Purrs, & Chirrups 38:44

10M ago38:44

38:44

Cats can be very vocal creatures, but the exact meaning and intention behind these sounds can often be hard to read. In this episode, cat behaviorist Sarah Brown unpacks the hidden meanings behind cats’ vocalizations, body language and behavior. Then, veterinarian Kendra Baker takes us through her journey with Billi (AKA “Her MADjesty”) the cat who…

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The Voices of Bluey w/ Uncle Stripe 27:35

11M ago27:35

27:35

Despite Bluey’s enormous, global popularity, the cast and crew are a tight-knit family, often literally. In part 2 of our story on Bluey, the show’s sound designer and mixer Dan Brumm breaks down the surprising connections between the voice actors, the real-life inspiration behind classic episodes, and how he ended up voicing a key role on the show…

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The Organic Sound of Bluey w/ Sound Designer Dan Brumm 30:04

12M ago30:04

30:04

Since its debut in 2018, Bluey has become one of the most popular and beloved TV shows of all time. In this episode, Bluey’s sound designer and mixer Dan Brumm walks us through how the show began, the unique challenges of season one, and the lengths he goes to give the show its organic sound. Plus, Dallas reveals the secret timing of the Bluey them…

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"Blah, blah, blah" and the Ungooglable Phrase 27:20

12M ago27:20

27:20

“Blah, blah, blah” and “yada, yada, yada” have had plenty written about them. But there’s a longtime cousin of these phrases that’s much less understood. We use it all the time, yet it’s not in the dictionary. It’s not even Google-able. In this episode, we investigate the linguistic mysteries of the Five Dah Phenomenon. Featuring linguist & philoso…

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Lofi Girl: The story behind 📚 beats to relax/study to 31:15

1y ago31:15

31:15

The Lofi Girl YouTube channel has over 14 millions subscribers, and at any given time, tens of thousands of people are listening together. Created by a mysterious French producer named Dimitri, the channel features a 24/7 livestream of an anime girl studying in her room, listening to lofi hip hop. In this episode, we dive into the Lofi Girl lore, c…

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How Doctors Listen: A sonic journey through the body 23:27

1y ago23:27

23:27

The sounds our bodies make can tell doctors all kinds of surprising things about our health. In this episode, we unpack the history of sound in medical diagnosis, from Hippocratic times, to the invention of the stethoscope, to the specialized tools and AI systems used today. Along the way, we’ll hear detailed recordings of these medical sounds, and…

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The Sound of Apple: Marimbas, Radars & Reflections 26:21

1y ago26:21

26:21

In Part 2 of our deep dive into Apple’s iconic sound design, the Apple Design Team unpacks the iPhone’s trio of default ringtones, the evolution of their alarm sounds, the UX sounds of the AirPods Pro, and much more. Along the way, legendary beatmaker Flying Lotus breaks down his collaboration with Apple, and the Design Team reveals how they use ha…

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The Sound of Apple: Tritones, Chords & Origins 27:04

1y ago27:04

27:04

Over the last few decades, Apple has produced some of the most recognizable sounds ever made. In this episode, the Apple design team pulls back the curtain on their sound design philosophy and process, from the evolution of the classic “Tritone” alert, to the surprising origins of the Apple Watch sounds, to the inspiration behind the latest notific…

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Listener Stories: Auditory hallucinations & family whistles 22:48

1y ago22:48

22:48

For this special episode, we’ve passed the mic to our listeners to hear six unexpected stories about sound. Featuring auditory hallucinations, amplified heartbeats, long remembered voices, and whistles both strange and familiar. Sign up for Twenty Thousand Hertz+ to get our entire catalog ad-free. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell…

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The dark history of nursery rhymes 43:42

1+ y ago43:42

43:42

Many of the songs we sing to our children are hundreds of years old, with their original meanings obscured by history. In this episode, producer Leila Battison takes Dallas on a dark, surprising journey through history’s most famous nursery rhymes and lullabies, and up through the “Baby Sharks” and “Happy Songs” of today. Along the way, they share …

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Sounds of the Deep: Mysteries and threats beneath the waves 24:30

1+ y ago24:30

24:30

Whale songs are some of the most beautiful, cathartic sounds in nature. These extraordinary creatures use sound to socialize, to mate, to find food, and avoid predators. But for aquatic animals, the sounds of human activity can be absolutely devastating. With underwater noise pollution on the rise, what can we do to ensure the survival of these ama…

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Boom Bling: TikTok's sonic guerrilla marketing 23:04

1+ y ago23:04

23:04

TikTok’s sonic logo is one of the fastest growing sonic logos in history. Today, that little sound is being heard millions of times a day on apps like Instagram, Reddit and Youtube… but creating it wasn’t easy. To make it, the creative team went through thousands of iterations, executed a covert marketing strategy, and fought through a final debate…

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Mixing Seth Meyers: Behind the sound of late night TV 26:36

1+ y ago26:36

26:36

The sound of Late Night television is a complex beast with many moving parts. In this episode, we step inside the daily hustle of Broadcast Mixer Fred Hedemark as he and his team bring the sound of Late Night with Seth Meyers to life. Along the way, Fred reveals the highs and lows of working on a high-adrenaline, live-to-tape TV show, and shares so…

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Untranslatable Words: Guess That Meaning! 26:30

1+ y ago26:30

26:30

What do you call it when you’re homesick for a place you’ve never been? Is there a word for letting books pile up in your house without reading them? How about weather that looks beautiful out the window, but that you wouldn’t want to go out in? For this episode, we worked with Babbel to bring you our second annual Untranslatable Words challenge. I…