Best Square 8 Studio Podcasts (2025)

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Season 3 Ep 54: Are You Afraid to Define Your Value? 49:09

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9h ago49:09

49:09

Little did we know our Pricing and Salary Survey results were going to give us great nuggets of information that we could share for many future podcasts to come! One of the biggest challenges we found designers face is defining their product. Too often, “full-service design” means something different to every designer—and that inconsistency makes i…

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Yahoo! The Yodel Heard Around the World 25:39

7d 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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Season 3 Ep 53: Why Selling Yourself Short in K&B Costs You Big 57:15

14d ago57:15

57:15

Kitchen and bath design must be treated — and priced — as the high-level specialty it is. These are not "just another room" — instead, they are some of the most complex, high-stakes, and profitable part of your business if you treat it that way. Too many designers undervalue their skills, we discuss how flat fees protect both your expertise and you…

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

21d 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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Season 3 Ep 52: ASKED AND ANSWERED - How to think like a CEO 8:29

29d ago8:29

8:29

In this Ask and Answered episode, we break down the real reasons flat fees can transform your business—and why hourly billing might be keeping you small. The mindset shift designers need to make is to stop thinking like a technician and start pricing like a CEO. Flat fees protect your time, boost your authority, and create a better experience for y…

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

1M 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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REPLAY! How to Make Money Selling Project Management - Top Fave of 2025! 38:41

1M ago38:41

38:41

How can you be team player without giving up your own rights? Working with contractors can be a tricky relationship when they want you to stay in your lane--BUT it doesn't have to be. Creating a team approach with positioning in your marketing, the copy that you use, the verbiage that you talk about, and how you talk about it with other people, all…

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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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Season 3 Ep 51: ASKED AND ANSWERED - Why Every Conversation is an Opportunity 11:56

2M ago11:56

11:56

We have another asked and answered topic this week! We are talking about reframing what many designers see as “wasted” discovery calls. Just because a lead isn’t a fit for full service doesn’t mean it’s a dead end. Consider this as a chance to position your firm as a resource, build brand equity, and generate revenue—especially when you offer varie…

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

2M 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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Season 2 Ep 50: How to Get Press: The secret door to getting your interior design work published with Alex Abramian 44:24

2M ago44:24

44:24

Public relations isn’t just about getting published—it’s about what you do after the feature goes live. We thrilled to welcome our special guest who we have been working with for over a year. Alex Abramian, founder of The PR Collaborative, talks with us about the evolving landscape of PR for interior designers. With years of experience as a writer …

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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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Season 2 Ep 49: ASKED AND ANSWERED - What Clients Remember (and What They Don’t) 12:04

3M ago12:04

12:04

Another Asked & Answered segment today and our very own Liz going solo! One of the biggest balancing acts designers face is pairing creativity with structure. Your vision is what SELLS the client, but your process is what DELIVERS on that promise. Clients remember the feeling, not the portal or the lists or the emails—but having strong systems behi…

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

3M 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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Season 2 Ep 48: Why your "welcome packet" isn't very welcoming 36:08

3M ago36:08

36:08

We believe one of the most underrated parts of a client journey is the intake process. This isn’t about a boring list of preferences like if they prefer black over blue or which kitchen they like best. Instead, it's about asking the right questions to uncover how clients live, communicate, and make decisions. Our unique and customized client questi…

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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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Episode 9: The Radicals 39:38

4M ago39:38

39:38

It was the shocking protest that started it all. After months, Ali and Sam finally track down the two young people — Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland — who shocked the world when they targeted a beloved Van Gogh painting with a can of soup. As they await their trials, they get candid: What have their controversial tactics accomplished? What will it …

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Season 2 Ep 47: ASKED AND ANSWERED - There is no one right way--but there is a better way 12:05

4M ago12:05

12:05

There’s no one right way to run a design business—but there is often a better way. This is not to say if something is working for you—great. Keep going. But if you're stuck or wondering why the same problems keep popping up? It might be time to challenge the models you’re using. How can you challenge the traditional business models, such as cost pl…

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Episode 8: The Traitors 40:31

4M ago40:31

40:31

It’s not just Aileen Getty. Turns out, there’s a growing movement of ultra-wealthy fossil fuel heirs-turned-philanthropists who are trying to make up for their ancestors’ mistakes — and possibly pissing off their families in the process. But are their fortunes actually making a difference? And what, exactly, is an heir whisperer? As Ali and Sam get…

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

4M 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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Episode 7: The Feelings 40:30

4M ago40:30

40:30

What’s the sane thing to do in a world on fire? That’s the question on Ali and Sam’s minds when they meet the man who glued himself to the floor of Coco Gauff’s US Open Semifinal on live TV — and then faced a psychiatric evaluation after his arrest. As Ali and Sam explore ways to cope with climate anxiety and climate change’s health impacts, they h…

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Season 2 Ep 46: The Best Marketing Tool Hiding in Plain Sight 35:02

4M ago35:02

35:02

Social proof from your clients is important for building trust and credibility in a business. Reviews and testimonials from happy clients, while also being mindful of how and when, can be used to showcase the success and unique offerings of your business. This not only helps attract the right clients, but also addresses common pain points and frequ…

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Episode 6: The Love Story 41:16

4M ago41:16

41:16

Meet Holly Cullen-Davies and Marcus Decker — two people who fell in love and built a life together — whose romance has become a high-stakes drama playing out in the headlines. In London, Ali and Sam visit Holly to hear about how Marcus’ daring stunt led to the longest prison sentence in UK history for peaceful protest. But what came next shocked ev…

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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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Season 2 Ep 45: ASKED AND ANSWERED - Why cleaning the toilet might help your creativity more than you think 16:43

5M ago16:43

16:43

You can't lead clients from survival mode---well you can, but not well and not for extended periods of time. how How you feel directly impacts how you lead, sell, and scale. The mindset shift I have to use is to keep my business steady is the "attitude of gratitude." This "Asked and Answered" topic this week is slightly more personal but a question…

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Episode 5: The Criminals 41:30

5M ago41:30

41:30

How far would you go to try to save the planet? Would you take a stand if it meant you'd be branded a criminal? After recruit training, Ali and Sam join Just Stop Oil at a secret meeting point as hundreds of its members prepare to break the law and disrupt everyday life for London residents — risking public violence, media backlash and life-alterin…

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Episode 4: The Hive 39:56

5M ago39:56

39:56

Ali and Sam travel to London to embed with Just Stop Oil, one of the most controversial climate groups operating today. At a secret location, they join a training session for new recruits as the group prepares for its biggest actions yet. Once inside, Ali and Sam come to surprising revelations about how members think, how they plan their wild stunt…

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Inside Apple: Sonic Accessibility 33:10

5M 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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Season 2 Ep 44: ASKED AND ANSWERED - The most damaging thing you can do in your business 16:34

5M ago16:34

16:34

This week we are answering questions from our audience--first up is one of my FAVORITE hills to die on and what I consider one of the most damaging things you can do for your business. It is not a smart business practice to sell blocks of time as a designer because this is not an effective way to market and value creative brilliance. Selling based …

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Episode 3: The Well-Behaved Scientists 40:16

5M ago40:16

40:16

How do you go from being one of the most prominent climate scientists in the country to being threatened with felony domestic terrorism charges? Ali and Sam meet two scientists — Peter Kalmus and Rose Abramoff — who realized that if they wanted to make a real difference, they needed to get out of the lab and onto the streets. Clarifications and Cor…

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Episode 2: The Dynasty 39:48

5M ago39:48

39:48

What makes an oil heiress start funding anti-oil protests? The Gettys have long been synonymous with art, oil and scandal. But now, J. Paul Getty’s granddaughter, Aileen Getty, is rebelling against her family’s legacy in a shocking way – and her fortune just might play a key role in the future of climate activism. Sam and Ali speak to a Getty biogr…

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Episode 1: The Splat 38:12

5M ago38:12

38:12

It was the splat heard around the world. Two young people enter London’s National Gallery… and throw tomato soup all over a beloved painting: Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers. It shocked onlookers. It made global news. Most of all, it kicked off a radical movement to combat the climate crisis, led by one group: Just Stop Oil. But two years later, most…

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Introducing "Sabotage" from Good Luck Media 3:26

6M ago3:26

3:26

In the first season of Sabotage, join reporters Alessandra Ram and Samantha Oltman as they quit their jobs to report on a group of controversial climate activists that much of the world have written off as “crazy.” But are they? This 9-part investigative series takes these two reporters inside a shocking and elusive world… to Hollywood… all the way…

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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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Season 2 Ep 43: The Hidden Mindset Mistakes Killing Your Team’s Momentum 53:59

6M ago53:59

53:59

Sometimes the simplest of truths is what is going to move the needle and this begins with understanding who you are and your own weaknesses. We all have them right?? If you have a team, or even if you are a solopreneur, you are still consistently working with others and there are always going to be challenges of working together. However, being abl…

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

6M 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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Season 2 Ep 42: How to Stop Wasting Time on Marketing that doesn't Work 39:45

6M ago39:45

39:45

Your marketing dollars are important. There are many elements to successful marketing and it starts with becoming part of the DNA of your business. This week we met with Denise Grothouse, the founder and CEO of Perfect Six Marketing, a company specializing in marketing strategies for the kitchen and bath design industry. In this episode we discuss …

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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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REPLAY of Season 1 Ep 10: What is the Cost of Doing Business? (Re-Release of top 5 episodes!) 45:14

7M ago45:14

45:14

Optics matter. Client's trusting you know how to manage money--matters. Understanding there is no free lunch--matters. Here is the drum roll take away. It takes money to make money. Ta da! Professional designers understand that it costs money to travel to market to learn about the products they specify ( and usually sell for a profit) -- or how imp…

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

7M 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

7M 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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REPLAY! of Season 1 Ep 14 Passion Rules, Mediocrity Sucks ( ALL TIME FAVE RERELEASED!) 54:17

7M ago54:17

54:17

I am PASSIONATE--and if you have gotten my weekly newsletter the past two weeks then you would know all those years ago in college my young professor's advice stuck. So we are re-releasing one of our most popular episodes and trying to reignite the flame in those that may feel it dwindling! Are you giving clients the yearning for more? Showing pass…

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Season 2 Ep 41: The Top 5 Marketing Musts for 2025 18:37

8M ago18:37

18:37

Happy New Year! What better way to start off the year than with my top 5 marketing strategies for small business owners grow their businesses. Marketing is a mindset and not just an activity, and it takes time and effort to see results. This is not simply a standalone entity, it is ingrained in the essence of any business. Every interaction, from t…

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Season 2 Ep 40: Stop Running Your Business like a Popsicle Stand 39:48

8M ago39:48

39:48

The process of procurement in a busy design firm is NO joke. You are not running popsicle stand, you are running a firm with various moving parts and you have to be able to have a way to track what is coming and going through your business. This is where checks and balances come into play to avoid costly mistakes and keep the firm running smoothly.…

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Season 2 Ep 39: Don't Blame Your Client--it's your show. Own it. 35:24

9M ago35:24

35:24

Cheryl is going solo this week while Liz takes a well-deserved little vacation. Cheryl is discussing managing client expectations and making sure you are not keeping them in the dark--you need them to trust the process! There is a level of professionalism that comes with the importance of managing clients' expectations during their project. Setting…

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

9M 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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Season 2 Ep 38: How to Make Money Selling Project Management 38:41

9M ago38:41

38:41

How can you be team player without giving up your own rights? Working with contractors can be a tricky relationship when they want you to stay in your lane--BUT it doesn't have to be. Creating a team approach with positioning in your marketing, the copy that you use, the verbiage that you talk about, and how you talk about it with other people, all…

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Season 2 Ep 37: The Icing on the Cake 17:33

9M ago17:33

17:33

Who doesn't love an install day!? Sure, it can be hectic and exhausting but this is where you get to see the fruit of your labor come together. Cheryl went solo this week talking about In Detail's top tips for a successful install day! Having a team in place for installation that understands the logistics and are able to convey it to your movers AN…

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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…