Whirr. Zoom! Plink plink. It’s a Mystery Sound extravaganza

Summary

Brains On! Science Podcast for Kids: "Whirr. Zoom! Plink plink. It’s a Mystery Sound Extravaganza" – Detailed Summary

Release Date: December 31, 2024
Host: Molly Bloom
Co-Host: Violet from Knoxville, Tennessee
Guest: Shelly Rhoden, Professional Foley Artist

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1. Introduction and Bob's Filing Fiasco ([00:00]–[06:40])

The episode kicks off with Bob, a recurring character, humorously narrating his attempt to organize the growing collection of mystery sounds for the podcast. Bob meticulously places each sound into labeled jars, categorizing them into sections like "bathroom" and "household maintenance." His enthusiasm is palpable as he juggles multiple jars, exclaiming, “Every mystery sound goes in its own special jar” ([00:12]).

However, Bob's mission takes a comedic turn when he accidentally drops the jars, scattering the lids and mixing up the sounds. Panicked, he exclaims, “I dropped the jars and the lids have popped off and I don't know which lid goes on which jar” ([01:56]). This mishap sets the stage for Molly and Violet to assist him in reassigning the correct sounds to their respective jars, demonstrating teamwork and critical thinking.

2. Mystery Sound Extravaganza Begins ([02:15]–[06:40])

Molly Bloom introduces the main segment—the Annual Mystery Sound Extravaganza. She engages Violet in discussing her knack for guessing sounds, with Violet noting, “I think the ones that you, like, hear in your everyday life... are the easiest” ([02:43]).

Bob returns, explaining his predicament with the mixed-up lids: “The three lids say fireplace crackling, grinding pepper, and clipping toenails” ([04:25]). Together, Molly and Violet tackle the challenge, accurately identifying each sound through listener submissions:

• Grinding Pepper: Violet correctly identifies the sound, confirmed by listener Myles from Alameda, California ([05:06]).
• Clipping Toenails: Violet’s accurate guess is validated by Dominic from St. Louis, Missouri ([05:33]).
• Fireplace Crackling: Violet narrows it down to Alec from Portland, Oregon, securing the final correct identification ([06:01]).

This segment highlights the interactive and educational nature of the podcast, encouraging young listeners to engage their auditory skills.

3. Transition to Paper Topic and Listener Engagement ([06:40]–[12:41])

After successfully helping Bob, Molly segues into promoting the upcoming episode on paper. She invites listeners to share their paper creations, emphasizing the versatility of paper in daily life. Violet shares her inventive creations, such as a “little mini trash can” made from paper and a “Barbie house” constructed from recycled materials ([12:00]–[12:26]). Molly praises Violet’s creativity, stating, “That is so inspiring. So creative” ([12:26]).

Listeners are encouraged to send in photos of their paper projects and submit their own mystery sounds and questions via email, fostering a community-driven learning environment.

4. Interview with Shelly Rhoden: The World of Foley Artists ([14:22]–[26:28])

The episode features an insightful interview with Shelly Rhoden, a professional Foley artist responsible for creating sound effects in films such as Guardians of the Galaxy, Despicable Me, and Inside Out. Molly and Violet explore Shelly’s role and the intricacies of Foley artistry.

Key Highlights:

• Foley Stage Overview ([15:08]–[16:00]): Shelly describes her Foley stage, equipped with various floor surfaces, a dirt pit, water pit, and an array of everyday tools repurposed for sound creation. She explains the process: “We also have microphones in the room so that somebody on another side of soundproof glass can record me” ([15:38]).

• Difference Between Foley and Sound Effects ([16:56]–[17:02]): Shelly clarifies that while both involve creating sounds, Foley specifically refers to performed sound effects synchronized with on-screen actions, unlike pre-recorded sound effects from libraries.

• Mystery Sound Challenge: Shelly engages in a mystery sound guessing game with Molly and Violet, demonstrating her expertise. For example, she listens to a sound and deduces, “I would say just some twigs or a pinecone perhaps being smushed” ([18:16]). The actual sound was an onion being peeled, showcasing the precision required in Foley work.

• Creating Character Sounds ([22:15]–[23:28]): Shelly demonstrates how she creates sounds for characters, such as using a rubber mask and metal boxes to emulate Hank the Octopus from Finding Dory. She explains, “These are awesome guesses. You guys are right on” ([22:41]).

• Final Mystery Sound Guess ([25:35]–[26:07]): Shelly presents a sound related to Anxiety from the Inside Out movie, which Molly and Violet accurately identify, reinforcing the importance of understanding character traits through sound design.

This interview provides a deep dive into the creative processes behind sound effects in media, illustrating the blend of technical skill and imagination required in Foley artistry.

5. Final Mystery Sounds and Conclusion ([26:53]–[30:04])

Returning to the Mystery Sound Extravaganza, Molly presents two final sounds for Violet to guess:

1. Lock Keypad Sound ([27:01]–[28:04]): Violet deduces the sound of a keypad unlocking her house after listening to beeps and a loud noise. Phoebe from Arizona confirms it was her unlocking her house keypad.

   • Notable Quote: “What do you think it is? ... It’s unlocking the lock” ([28:00]).

2. Airplane Taking Off ([28:36]–[29:30]): Violet interprets the sound as an airplane taking off, which is confirmed by Lila from Pukata. Molly relates the sound to her own experiences living under a flight path.

   • Notable Quote: “What do you think? ... It was an airplane taking off” ([29:19]).

Molly commends Violet's accurate guesses throughout the episode, highlighting her sharp listening skills and reinforcing the educational aspect of practicing auditory discrimination.

6. Credits and Acknowledgments ([30:04]–[32:59])

The episode concludes with Molly and Violet thanking their production team and sponsors, acknowledging contributors from the Brains On! Universe team, and promoting their SmartyPass subscription for bonus content. They also showcase a roll call of young listeners who support the show through their questions, sounds, drawings, and ideas.

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Key Takeaways:

• Interactive Learning: The Mystery Sound Extravaganza encourages active listening and critical thinking among young listeners.

• Behind-the-Scenes Insight: The interview with Shelly Rhoden offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of Foley artistry, emphasizing the creativity and technical expertise involved in sound design for media.

• Community Engagement: The podcast fosters a sense of community by inviting listeners to contribute their own sounds, questions, and creative projects, thereby enhancing participation and interest in science and creativity.

Notable Quotes:

• Bob: “I dropped the jars and the lids have popped off and I don't know which lid goes on which jar” ([01:56]).

• Violet: “I think the ones that you, like, hear in your everyday life... are the easiest” ([02:43]).

• Shelly Rhoden: “Foley is performed sound effects... mimicking what the actors are doing” ([16:56]).

• Molly Bloom: “Violet, you did an amazing job guessing all these mystery sounds” ([29:41]).

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This episode of Brains On! masterfully blends humor, interactive segments, and expert insights to engage curious minds, making science both entertaining and educational for children and their families.

Transcript

[Violet]

You're listening to Brains on, where we're serious about being curious. Brains on is supported in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation.

[Bob]

Oh, hi. It's me, Bob. I'm having the best day. You see, listeners have sent so many mystery sounds to Brains on that Molly asked me for a little assistance. She needs to put the sounds away in the mystery sound storeroom. And so she asked me to help by doing one of my favorite things. Filing. See, every mystery sound goes in its own special jar. Now, let's see, we have here an electric toothbrush mystery sound that's filed in the bathroom related section right over here. Okay, let's see. This next one is. Oh, fun. Painting a wall with a roller brush. Almost as much fun as my number one favorite activity, watching paint dry. Thrilling. This sound goes in the household maintenance section. Wow. So many sounds left to sort. Hmm. I bet I can carry more than one of these mystery sound jars at a time. One, two, three. Balanced just so. No problem. I'll just walk carefully. Easy does it, Bob. Easy does it. Oh, dear, oh dear, oh dear. I dropped the jars and the lids have popped off and I don't know which lid goes on which jar. How will I know which sound is which? Molly.

[Molly Bloom]

You'Re listening to BrainZone from APM Studios. I'm your host, Molly Bloom, and my co host today is Violet from Knoxville, Tennessee. Hi, Violet.

[Violet]

Hi, Molly.

[Molly Bloom]

Today is a special day because it's time for our annual mystery sound extravaganza. Yay.

[Violet]

I can't wait.

[Molly Bloom]

Violet, would you say you're good at guessing mystery sounds?

[Violet]

Um, yes.

[Molly Bloom]

Which sounds do you find, like, are easier for you to guess?

[Violet]

I think the ones that you, like, hear in your everyday life, like the ones that are in your area are the easiest.

[Molly Bloom]

And which ones do you find hard?

[Violet]

I think the ones that you don't find in your area. Like, I think, for example, you and me, we don't really hear like, sounds like a beach. Cause like, where we live, we don't have, like, beaches. Totally. So that sound would be, like, less familiar for us.

[Molly Bloom]

Well, Violet, it is time for you to guess a lot of Molly.

[Bob]

I ran all the way here from the mystery sound storeroom.

[Molly Bloom]

Bob. Oh my goodness. Are you okay?

[Bob]

I'm fine. Thank you for asking. But these mystery sounds, they're not okay.

[Violet]

Oh, no. Did somebody send in the sound of two frozen hot dogs being hit together again? That one was impossible to guess.

[Bob]

No, that's not it. And I love that sound, by the way.

[Molly Bloom]

Me too.

[Bob]

It's these Three jars?

[Violet]

I don't see any jars.

[Bob]

Oh, right. I found safe carrying spots because I didn't want to drop them again. I have one in my fanny pack, one in my left cargo pocket, and one in my right cargo pocket.

[Molly Bloom]

Okay, what's the problem? They look like normal mystery sound storage jars to me.

[Bob]

Well, you see, I dropped them on the ground and I mixed up the lids, so I'm not sure which mystery sound is which.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh, no worries, Bob. Violet and I can help you out.

[Violet]

Yeah, this is a great warmup for the rest of the mystery sounds we're about to guess.

[Bob]

Oh, great. Thank you. The three lids say fireplace crackling, grinding pepper, and clipping toenails.

[Molly Bloom]

All right, no problem. We got this. So we got fireplace crackling, grinding pepper, and clipping toenails. I've heard all three of those sounds in real life. Have you heard them before?

[Violet]

I think I have.

[Molly Bloom]

Wonderful. Well, let's hear them, see if we can help, Bob. Here is the first one.

[Violet]

I think that's the grinding pepper.

[Molly Bloom]

I think you're right. Okay, let's try putting the lid on and see if it's right.

[Violet]

Hi, my name is Myles from Alameda, California. And that was the sound of me grinding pepper.

[Molly Bloom]

Yes. We did it. Okay, let's hear the next one.

[Violet]

I think that's clipping toenails.

[Molly Bloom]

I think you're right. Okay, let's hear the other one just to make sure we're right before we try the lids.

[Violet]

Yeah, I think that's the fire crackling.

[Molly Bloom]

I think you're right. Okay, so the second one was toenail clipping. Third one, a fireplace crackling. Let's see if we're right. Here's the lid.

[Violet]

I'm new from Monument, Colorado, and that was the sound of me clipping my toenails.

[Molly Bloom]

Yes. We did it. All right. And fireplace crackling.

[Violet]

Hi, my name is Alec. I'm from Portland, Oregon. That was the sound of my fireplace crackling.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh, my gosh, Violet, we did it.

[Bob]

Wow, you two have great ears. Thanks for the help. Back into the cargo pockets and fanny pack you go. Little jars.

[Violet]

Have fun with the rest of your mystery sound filing, Bob.

[Bob]

You know I will.

[Molly Bloom]

Okay, after that little side quest, thanks to Bob, it's time to really get this show off the ground. It's time for our first.

[Shelly Rhoden]

Mystery cell.

[Molly Bloom]

Okay, Violet, are you ready?

[Violet]

Yes.

[Molly Bloom]

Here it is. What do you think, Violet?

[Violet]

I sort of kind of feel like it has something to do with, like, a motor. And then like, you're like, I don't know how to Describe it. Like when you take your hand and, like, there's a handle and then you, like, move it in a circle. Like grinding.

[Molly Bloom]

Yeah. So a motor? A grinder maybe. Okay.

[Violet]

Yeah. Like, maybe like a wood chipper.

[Shelly Rhoden]

Ooh.

[Molly Bloom]

Okay, let's hear it again. I'm gonna give you a hint this time.

[Violet]

Okay.

[Molly Bloom]

The hint is this is something that you could go inside. Okay. So here it is.

[Violet]

Okay. Okay.

[Molly Bloom]

What do you think?

[Violet]

I feel like it has to do something like maybe like where they turn, like, the water into, like, electricity. I feel like it could be in, like, one of those, like, buildings.

[Molly Bloom]

I mean, you were. You were definitely right. There's a motor involved for sure. You ready for the answer?

[Violet]

Yes.

[Molly Bloom]

Here it is.

[Violet]

Hello, my name is Sophie and I'm from Arlington, Massachusetts. And the sound that you just heard was a gondola ride on my family's trip to Montreme Blanc, Canada. The high pitched sound was the wind coming through the window. The bumpy sound was our gondola going over the wheels on the support tower. The creaking is us moving around on the benches. It's really fun if you have a chance to go there.

[Molly Bloom]

So as you said at the beginning of the show, this is one of those sounds that you don't encounter in your everyday life unless you've been to this place in Canada. So basically what it is, it's like a little car, like a train car that takes you up a mountain. So, like the wheels and the wind and the creaking, that's what was happening there. All right, are you ready for the second mystery sound?

[Violet]

Yes.

[Molly Bloom]

Here it is. All right. What do you think?

[Violet]

I sort of, kind of feel like. Why do I feel like it has something to do with, like, either like fireworks or like popcorn?

[Molly Bloom]

Ooh. Yeah. There's, like, definitely repeated noises happening. I'm going to give you another hint. This sound is being made by a person and they're doing an activity that is in the Olympics. What do you think?

[Violet]

I have no idea.

[Molly Bloom]

It's something you have to wear special gloves for.

[Violet]

Is it like punching? Like one of those hangy things that you punch in boxing?

[Molly Bloom]

Oh, very good guess. Let's hear the answer.

[Violet]

My name is Dominic and I'm from St. Louis, Missouri. That was the sound of me punching my punching bag. I like to punch it because it helps me get my anchors out. Before we got my punching bag, I would just throw myself in the ground and cry and use my voice really stern. But now that I have my punching bag, I can just punch it.

[Molly Bloom]

Nice Work, Violet.

[Violet]

I'm just imagining that kid just, like, punching the punching bag.

[Molly Bloom]

Exactly. I had one when I was little, actually, when I was, like, 4, and it felt great. Yeah. Mine was, like, one that stood up on the ground and it had a clown painted on it, and it was, like, weighted on the bottom, and you'd punch it and it would, like, come back up, I guess. Yeah. Violet, excellent, excellent job. We're going to take a quick break, and then we'll be back with some more mystery sounds. Keep those ears read. We're working on an episode about how paper is made. Paper is all around us. There's pizza boxes and toilet paper, books and wrapping paper. We use it to pay people, wipe up messes, share ideas, and so much more. And we want to see your paper creations. What have you made out of paper? Origami paper planes. Violet, what's something cool you've made out of paper?

[Violet]

Once I made this little mini trash can that you can put on your desk.

[Molly Bloom]

What? Out of paper?

[Violet]

Yeah. So you don't like cardboard and paper, but, like, what you do is you, like, you just put it on your desk so you don't have to walk and throw something in the trash.

[Molly Bloom]

I love that idea. That's so cool. What else have you made out of paper?

[Violet]

I've made a lot of things for. I have, like, this Barbie house I've made out of, like, recycled materials, and a lot of it was made out of paper.

[Molly Bloom]

That is so inspiring. So creative. All right, listeners, we want to see pictures of your paper creations. Take a photo and send it to [e-mail] contact while you're there, send us your mystery sounds and questions, like this one.

[Violet]

Hi, I'm Gracie and I'm from Knoxville, Tennessee. And my question is, how do you make bricks and why are they red?

[Molly Bloom]

You can find answers to questions like these on the moment of, um podcast. A short dose of facts and facts. Fun every weekday. Find moment of and [e-mail] keep listening. Brains on Universe is a family of podcasts for kids and their adults. Since you're a fan of Brains on, we know you'll love the other shows in our universe. Come on, let's explore.

[Violet]

Brains On.

[Molly Bloom]

I'm their biggest fan. I also love smashboom Best, a fun debate podcast for kids and families. Listen, I will play you smashboom Best. You will love.

[Bob]

To refresh your memory.

[Shelly Rhoden]

The ugly duckling goes like this. A bunch of duck eggs hatch, and the cute little ducklings go quack, quack, quack, quack. Mother duck is super happy with her eggs when.

[Violet]

Crack.

[Molly Bloom]

The last one explodes and out comes this zorp. Where did the signal go? Must find smash. Boom. Best. Now listen to smashboom Best. Wherever you get your podcasts. Brains On.

[Violet]

You're listening to Brains on from APM Studios. I'm Violet.

[Molly Bloom]

And I'm Molly. And today is a very special day.

[Violet]

It's the mystery sound extravaganza.

[Bob]

Mystery sound.

[Molly Bloom]

But first, a detour. Violet, have you ever watched a movie where a character is walking down a long, echoey hallway?

[Violet]

Yes, I believe it was Muppet's Haunted Mansion.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh, an excellent movie. So, yes, so the Muppet was walking down the hall, but guess what? Muppets don't have feet, so they need a little bit of help.

[Violet]

Those sounds are made by specialists called Foley artists.

[Molly Bloom]

Joining us now is Shelly Rhoden. She's a Foley artist that has made sounds for movies like Guardians of the Galaxy, Despicable Me, Inside out, and many, many more. Hi, Shelly.

[Shelly Rhoden]

Hi, everybody.

[Violet]

So, Shelly, where are you right now?

[Shelly Rhoden]

So right now, I am where I work every day, and that is called a Foley stage. And my Foley stage is basically a room that has built in floor surfaces like tile and wood and metal and cement. And I even have a large dirt pit in the center of the room. We also have a water pit where I can immerse myself in water and make sounds of people swimming. And then all around me is tools like a ski boot or a typewriter or a flashlight, things from everyday life that I repurpose to create the sound effects for the movies that you watch. And I also have microphones in the room so that somebody on another side of soundproof glass can record me. And they're called the Foley mixer.

[Violet]

It seems like it would be easier to get sound effects or Foley sounds when you're filming movie. Why do Foley artists have to remake them?

[Shelly Rhoden]

Okay, so if we take something like Guardians of the Galaxy, a lot of the actors on set are not really on a spaceship. They're actually on a set that's probably made out of wood. So if you hear their footsteps and running around on wood, then you'll say to yourself, wait a minute, they're supposed to be on a spaceship. I want to hear metal. If I'm doing Gamora, I will put on some shoes that look like her shoes or sound like they're her shoes, set up a spaceship surface, and then follow her. So I set up a microphone pointing at my feet, and I watch the screen and perform at the same time that she is Moving, I become her so that the footsteps you are hearing sound like gamoras.

[Violet]

Is there a difference between sound effects like explosions or lasers and Foley?

[Shelly Rhoden]

Foley is sound effects, but the difference between sound effects and Foley is sound effects are usually edited from a library of already recorded sounds, and these sounds are collected anywhere. Like, it can be jet sounds, it can be a door slam, it can be the hooves of an animal running. It can be anything. Foley is performed sound effects with things that are available within a room that soundproof. And Foley artists walk in sync to picture, watching the screen and mimicking what the actors are doing with their hands or with their feet. So that is the difference between Foley and sound effects.

[Violet]

Oh, that makes sense.

[Molly Bloom]

That is so cool.

[Violet]

Now we're gonna play some of the mystery sounds we've used in our past brains on episodes, and we want to see if you can guess what the sound is and then tell us how you might use the sound in a movie or TV show. Sound good?

[Shelly Rhoden]

Yes.

[Molly Bloom]

All right, here is the first sound. All right, Shelley, what do you think that sound was?

[Shelly Rhoden]

Okay, so as I'm listening to this sound, I hear a bit of moisture. I hear twigginess, but it's kind of thin. And I do hear some cloth moving, so that somebody's hand's probably manipulating this thing in the air. It's not connected to anything, and it's smallish. Let's see. I would say just some twigs or a pinecone perhaps being smushed.

[Molly Bloom]

I love hearing you talk through that. You are such a sound expert. So that was the sound of an onion being peeled.

[Violet]

Oh, you were close, Shelly.

[Shelly Rhoden]

That is amazing.

[Molly Bloom]

So, yeah. So, okay, so that was peeling an onion. You were close. You knew it was something organic being manipulated by hands. So what would you use that for in a movie?

[Shelly Rhoden]

Okay. That is such an amazing sound. I'm definitely going to use that in the future. Thank you for the inspiration. I would use that probably for the thing that I visualized was a creature eating something.

[Violet]

That makes sense.

[Molly Bloom]

I love that.

[Shelly Rhoden]

But it also could be like the footstep of somebody creeping through a forest.

[Violet]

Like, with leaves.

[Shelly Rhoden]

Exactly.

[Violet]

Like a lot of crunchy leaves.

[Shelly Rhoden]

Yeah. And maybe it just rained because it did sound wet to me. So it's up to your imagination, like, what you want that to be, which is. That's the part of the fun of Foley.

[Molly Bloom]

So cool. All right, we have one more for you to guess. Here it is. So, guys, what do you think it is?

[Violet]

I think it's something or someone eating. Eating something. I don't know why that just popped into my mind.

[Molly Bloom]

What do you think, Shelley?

[Shelly Rhoden]

That's a great idea. Because I hear a cavity, like a resonant cavity, which sounds like an apple being eaten. You know the sound that you hear in your head when you're eating an apple? Like, oh, yeah. So I hear that. But I believe it could be a, what I call a chamois cloth. And it's a wet cloth that. It's a great Foley tool. We get these at auto parts stores. Because you use a chamois to dry your car after you've washed it, it absorbs a lot of liquid. So what I hear is, like, somebody pulling the chamois up off of a surface that's neutral, like cement, and then plopping it back. Like, plop. That's my. What I imagine it to be. What is it?

[Molly Bloom]

You're so close, Shelly. Because this is the sound of a kid pulling on their wet, you know, bathing suit. Like a top, like a rash guard. So that's it's against their skin. So it is basically a piece of cloth against a surface. It just happens to be someone's shirt.

[Shelly Rhoden]

That's great.

[Molly Bloom]

So what would you use that kind of sound for, do you think?

[Shelly Rhoden]

Okay, so I made the sounds of Hank the Octopus and Finding Dory. So I think I would use that for. If he gets stuck on a surface and he's trying to pull his tentacles off to free himself because he was an escape artist. Then as he lifts up his tentacle, his leg, I would do. I would add that. And then when he places it down, plop. Just have the plop against the skin again.

[Violet]

Can you show us a few examples of sounds that people might have heard in their homes that you use for movies and TV shows?

[Shelly Rhoden]

Absolutely. And speaking of Hank, I have something here that I used for his body movements. Okay, let me show you what I've got.

[Molly Bloom]

To me, it kind of sounds like, I don't know, rubber gloves or something. What do you think?

[Violet]

I was sort of kind of thinking the same thing, but, like. Like a plastic bag almost. I don't know why I was thinking, oh, yeah, maybe like a balloon. Like.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh, yeah.

[Violet]

Or like a whoopee cushion. Like trying to open the opening at the end of the balloon.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh, totally.

[Shelly Rhoden]

These are awesome guesses. You guys are right on. Because I have a rubber mask.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh, yeah.

[Shelly Rhoden]

It's made of latex, and latex masks are really hard to find. I found this in a Halloween shop, and it's the Tin man from the wizard of Oz. So that's this part. There's a high part. Check it out. Here's what it sounds like by itself. That's the rubber mask. But I'm also to make Hank sound like he's a big octopus putting this against a big tube, an inner tube that you might go down the river on. And it's rubber as well. So that's what this sounds like.

[Molly Bloom]

Cool.

[Shelly Rhoden]

So those two together make up Hank, because it's the high and then the low playing together to create this character.

[Molly Bloom]

That's amazing. All right. Do you have another one for us?

[Shelly Rhoden]

Sure I do. It's going to take me a moment because I have to put something in its place, and I'm not going to reveal what it is yet. Okay, so here is a demonstration. Let me know if you can hear it.

[Molly Bloom]

Yes, we could hear it.

[Violet]

I feel like you take, like, a plastic spoon and you're hitting it on a keyboard, and then, like, a metal bucket.

[Shelly Rhoden]

Wow. Really good brain work there.

[Molly Bloom]

Yeah, my guess was not as good. I was saying like a. Maybe like a egg beater, you know, one of those cool dealies. But I don't really think that's it. But that's what popped in my head.

[Shelly Rhoden]

Because of the way I was doing it. Right. The way I was performing. It sounded like an egg beater. Right?

[Molly Bloom]

Yeah.

[Shelly Rhoden]

So this is the sound that I made for a cock. It was a cockroach in Despicable Me 4. So he runs around all the time, and he hangs out with his friend Maxime. So to make him sound like he's traveling from one place to the next, I set up one piece of metal, and then I set up another piece of metal. And then on my hands, I have these cotton gloves with fake nails taped to the end. So that creates this, like, that kind of sound. And then I have two metal boxes, one less resonant, and then one. One that's very resonant.

[Molly Bloom]

Amazing. Do you have one more you can share with us? Some footsteps, maybe?

[Shelly Rhoden]

Yeah. I'm gonna ask you guys, out of all the movies, maybe a recent movie, to figure out which character I might be walking straight. Let me put on some shoes. One moment, please. I'll give you a hint. I'll say the character has a glass ball in their hand, and they're placing it in water, and they're very excited.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh, my gosh. You said they're putting a glass ball in the water. I think I have an idea. What do you think, Violet?

[Violet]

I think. I think I know what character it is. I think it's either, like, anxiety or joy in the new Inside out movie. I feel like I just have a sense. Yes, that's what it is.

[Molly Bloom]

That's my guess, too. Guess what.

[Shelly Rhoden]

You nailed it.

[Molly Bloom]

Yay.

[Shelly Rhoden]

You got it.

[Violet]

Who was it?

[Shelly Rhoden]

Anxiety.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh.

[Violet]

Oh, yeah.

[Molly Bloom]

So cool.

[Violet]

I just. I watched that movie.

[Molly Bloom]

I just watched it, too. Oh, my gosh.

[Violet]

Yeah.

[Shelly Rhoden]

Anxiety is really intense. Right. And she's very quick. Actually, the sample I gave you was probably slowed down compared to how she really moves. I had to move very fast.

[Molly Bloom]

Shelley, thank you so much for talking with us. This was so fun.

[Violet]

Thanks, Shelley.

[Shelly Rhoden]

Thank you so much for having me here. I had a lot of fun with you today.

[Molly Bloom]

We have even more cool Foley sound effects and stories to share with you on our website. Head to brainson.org to see pictures of her tools and hear more. Okay, Violet, we have two more mystery sounds before we wrap up the episode. Are you ready?

[Violet]

Yes.

[Molly Bloom]

Okay, here is the next one. What do you think?

[Violet]

Why do I feel like it's a garbage disposal?

[Molly Bloom]

Ooh.

[Violet]

But like, a really heavy duty one. Because it was, like, that made, like, really loud screech for, like, five seconds. I feel like somebody did it.

[Molly Bloom]

Yeah, it was really loud. And did you notice the beeping before the loud sound?

[Violet]

I noticed, like, the beep, beep, beep, beep.

[Molly Bloom]

So what do you think could make the beep sounds?

[Violet]

I feel like it could be like an oven, like, in the background. Because I know, like, my oven sort of kind of makes that sound.

[Molly Bloom]

Like, I'm going to give you a hint that this is on somebody's door. Here's the sound.

[Violet]

I think I know what it is.

[Molly Bloom]

What?

[Violet]

I think it's, like, one of those things that has, like, the keypad and they're, like, typing it in, and then it just made this alarm.

[Molly Bloom]

Ooh. You ready for the answer?

[Violet]

Yes.

[Molly Bloom]

Here it is.

[Violet]

Hi, I'm Phoebe. I live in Arizona. That was me unlocking my keypad locked to my house.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh, my gosh. You were, like, half right.

[Violet]

Yeah.

[Molly Bloom]

There was definitely a keypad. And that loud noise is actually the lock unlocking.

[Violet]

Hmm. That is weird, in my opinion.

[Molly Bloom]

I mean, it's cool. Cause I'm like, if you go to. If you go home and you don't have your keys, like, no problem. I can still get in the house.

[Violet]

Yeah.

[Molly Bloom]

Just need to remember a code. Okay, we have one final mystery sound. Okay, here it is. What do you think?

[Violet]

I think you're like. I think somebody's, like, at a really high altitude, and then there's A really fast jet coming by.

[Molly Bloom]

Ooh, very nice. Let's hear it again, see if you feel the same. Okay. Do you have new thoughts? You want to stick with your. Your jet answer?

[Violet]

I think I'm going to stick with that because I've like, I've been in like, pretty high altitude. I went to the mountains in Denver, Colorado once.

[Molly Bloom]

Yeah.

[Violet]

And like, I've recorded up there and it sounds like that. Like that background noise sounds the same.

[Molly Bloom]

Here is the answer.

[Violet]

My name is Lila. And my name is Rosie. I'm from Pukata. The sound that you just heard was the airplane taking off.

[Molly Bloom]

So it's an airplane taking off. Nice work. Yeah, I hear that sound a lot because we live under a flight path. So when I sit in my backyard, it's all airplanes all day.

[Violet]

That's funny.

[Molly Bloom]

You did such an amazing job interviewing our guests, guessing all these mystery sounds. It's not easy and you did an amazing job. Thanks. If you have a mystery sound you'd like to share with us, you can send them to [e-mail] contact remember to tell us what the sound is at the end so Bob can file it correctly.

[Violet]

That's it for this episode of Brains On.

[Molly Bloom]

This episode was written by me, Molly Bloom. Our editors are Sandon Totten and Shayla Farzon. We had engineering help from Tim Berry and Josh Savageow with sound design and original music by Mark Sanchez.

[Violet]

We had production help from the rest of the Brains on Universe team.

[Molly Bloom]

Rosie Dupont, Anna Goldfield, Nico Gonzalez Whistler, Ruby Guthrie, Lauren Humpert, Joshua Ray, Charlotte Traver, Anna Wegel and Aron Woldeselassi. Beth Pearlman is our executive producer and the executives in charge of APM Studios are Chandra Kavati and Joanne Griffith. Special thanks to Hermes Elgamal, Katie Elgamal and Eric Ringham.

[Violet]

Brainzon is a non profit public radio program.

[Molly Bloom]

Join Smartypass for bonus episodes and ad free versions of all four shows in the Brainzone universe. Become a SmartyPass subscriber today for just $5 a month or $45 a year. Head to BrainSon.org to learn more about SmartyPass. Now it's time for the BrainSonr roll. These are the incredible kids who keep the show going with their questions, ideas, mystery sounds, drawings and F.I.A. from Dublin, Ireland. Kyle from Eastville, California. Axel from Santa Barbara, California. Luke from Lake Mary, Florida. Simona and Lucinda from Anchorage, Alaska. Rosie from Chicago. June from Brooklyn, New York. Quinn from Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Allie from Rio Rancho, N.M. alaina and Elias from Encinitas, California Mira from Pacifica, California Claire from Tolland, Connecticut Avery from Jameson, Pennsylvania Edie from Decatur, Georgia Ainsley from Spokane, Washington Cleona from Skokie, Illinois Adeline from Kentville, Nova Scotia Anna from Natick, Massachusetts Ethan from Ann Arbor, Michigan Reuben and Lucas from Worthing, United Kingdom Maya From Redwood City, California Clara from Kahuku, Hawaii Casper from St. Paul, Minnesota George from Eddsvold, Australia Libby and Hoss from Dallas, Texas Gam from Grand Rapids, Michigan Juliana from Arlington, Virginia Lucia from Terrahills, California Cora from Idaho Luke from Leslie, Missouri Ada from Seattle Josie from Orlando, Florida Sophia Rose from Shenzhen, China Hugo from Brunswick, Maine William from Issaquah, New York James from Portland, Maine Reno and Rigel from Sarasota, Florida Elena from Albany, Oregon dawn from Portland, Oregon Jackson from Pasadena, California Ava from Eagle Lake, Minnesota Jacob and Madeline from Danville, California Bea from Edinburgh, Scotland Enan from Ashland, Virginia Nora from Columbia, Missouri Laura, Nico and Patrick from Edmonton, Alberta Kayla and Emma from Marietta, Georgia Isla from Sewell, New Jersey Declan from Christiana, Tennessee Graham from Richardson, Texas Ever and Mac from Minneapolis Boaz from St. Petersburg, Florida Ernie from North Carolina Samuel from Malta Michaela from Ayrshire, Scotland Ella from McKin, Texas Wynn from Charleston, South Carolina Ian from Victoria, British Columbia Lulu from Vancouver, Washington Rhea from California and Abby and Micah from Jackson Heights, New York. We'll be back next week with an episode all About Paper.

[Violet]

Thanks for listening.