During this pandemic, I've been listening to a lot more podcasts than in the past — whether I want to catch up on news, learn something new, or simply be entertained. As with anything online, there are countless podcasts of dubious value, but what really irks me is that there are reputable sources producing podcasts that sound terrible! Take for example the British Broadcasting Corporation — in addition to being one of the most prominent news and entertainment sources in the world, the BBC is also associated with some of the most storied and beloved brands in pro audio and hi-fi: Neve, Calrec, EMI, Marconi, Coles, Chord, KEF, Rogers, and so on. Do me a favor and listen to the podcast BBC Minute; it'll only take a minute. Done? Are you now questioning, like I am, why everything is so overcompressed — as if someone patched in their Alesis 3630 for the first time and thought that lighting up all the LEDs looked cool? Now ask Siri, Hey Google, or Alexa to play the podcast — it's unlistenable on a smart speaker! Years after I first heard BBC Minute and found its audio quality to be piss poor, it still sounds like utter shite — as the Brits would say. It's the perfect example of how not to use a compressor. Whoever is mastering BBC Minute should subscribe to the podcast Twenty Thousand Hertz and listen to "The [Compressed] History of Mastering" and "The Loudness Wars" episodes. Not only is 20K the best sounding podcast I've heard — whether I'm listening through the bajillion dollar playback system in my studio or on the $99 stereo I just installed in my 23 year old Toyota — but it's also incredibly educational and exquisitely entertaining. In the two aforementioned episodes, for example, host Dallas Taylor is joined by audio journalist Greg Milner (Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Slate, Wired) and mastering engineer Ian Shepherd (New Order, King Crimson, Deep Purple, Tricky, Berlin Philharmonic). Together, they give the clearest explanations of mastering and compression that I've ever heard, in a way that professionals and consumers alike will appreciate. They play back and compare many examples of pre– and post–processed recordings, including snippets of music from Nine Inch Nails, The Beatles, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, The Eagles, The Supremes, Nirvana, and of course Metallica (the infamous Death Magnetic album). As recordists and engineers, many of us might think that "there's nothing new here." On the contrary, I was totally engrossed while listening to these episodes. The many relevant examples alongside expert analysis and historical context really kept me engaged. Moreover, 20K takes cues from some of the best crime-story podcasts, in that every episode offers a story arc with surprises and unexpected twists, so even a topic that may initially seem mundane, like the Netflix sound logo in "Ta-Dum! It's Netflix", unfolds into an incredible story with lots of drama, presented with plenty of ear candy. And speaking of ear candy, the "City That Never Sleeps" has so many beautiful and interesting sounds sprinkled throughout the episode, from nature as well as the city, as it recounts how writer Paige Towers moved to New York City and was overcome with anxiety. I recall conversations with my brother and Tape Op contributor John Hong, when he first moved to NYC, about its endless aural landscape having a direct and discernible influence on the songwriting and production of music in the city, so I found Paige's story about NYC noise affecting her mental and physical health fascinating. I was also enthralled with DJ Jazzy Jeff and Paul McCabe from Roland, the two guests on "808", examining the huge impact of the TR-808 on culture and fashion, far beyond the drum machine's influence on music alone. –AH