I interviewed 5 other Dallas Taylors and things got weird

Summary

Twenty Thousand Hertz: "I Interviewed 5 Other Dallas Taylors and Things Got Weird"

Release Date: May 28, 2025
Host: Dallas Taylor
Podcast: Twenty Thousand Hertz
Description: The stories behind the world’s most iconic and fascinating sounds.

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In the intriguing episode titled "I Interviewed 5 Other Dallas Taylors and Things Got Weird," host Dallas Taylor embarks on a unique exploration of identity, creativity, and the serendipitous connections that emerge from sharing a name. Breaking away from his usual focus on sound, this episode delves deep into the lives of five individuals who share his exact name, uncovering surprising similarities and fascinating differences that bind them together.

Introduction: A Surreal Chapter

The episode opens with Dallas Taylor reflecting on his ambitious plans to expand the podcast into a visual medium. He shares his excitement about interviewing others who share his name, setting the stage for an episode that promises both humor and profound insights.

"I've been dreaming as big as I possibly can for this extension of 20,000 Hertz into video. And what I'm finding is that the people I'm interviewing are just as excited about it as I am."
[00:00]

Meet the Dallas Taylors

1. Laura Wattenberg: The Name Expert

The first guest, Laura Wattenberg, introduces herself as the author of the "Baby Name Wizard" books and the founder of Neymarology.com. Her expertise in the significance of names provides a scholarly backdrop to the episode's exploration.

"Names are incredibly rich signals that... shape the way people respond to you."
[04:08]

Laura delves into the psychology behind names, discussing how they influence perceptions related to age, gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Her insights highlight the deeper implications of sharing a name beyond mere nomenclature.

2. Dallas Taylor from Buffalo: The Creative Writer

Next, a Dallas Taylor from Buffalo, New York, shares his passion for creative writing. Emphasizing his work with a public broadcasting station, he reveals a childhood influenced by beloved PBS characters.

"Writing is my passion. So, I work with a public broadcasting station down here in Buffalo, and I do a lot of promotional writing."
[10:22]

His narrative underscores a lifelong dedication to storytelling, mirroring the host's own creative pursuits and establishing a common thread of artistic inclination among the Dallas Taylors.

3. Dallas Taylor from Memphis: The Anime Enthusiast and Musician

Another Dallas Taylor hailing from Memphis, Tennessee, brings a vibrant energy to the conversation. His love for anime and his endeavors in hip-hop music illustrate a blend of creative passions that transcend traditional boundaries.

"Anime... it keeps me sane. I just like how they are, and I like the way they carry themselves in a world without anime."
[12:22]

He discusses how anime serves as both a creative outlet and a source of personal resilience, adding depth to the episode's exploration of how shared interests can define personal identities.

4. Dallas Taylor the Heavy Metal Singer: Overcoming Adversity

The most profound story comes from Dallas Taylor, a heavy metal band singer who shares a deeply personal and transformative journey. He recounts his struggles with social and performance anxiety, leading to a life-altering accident that reshaped his outlook.

"After my accident, it's almost like my brain got rewired... now my future is, as cheesy as it may seem, to try to let people know, hey, you're not alone."
[38:20]

This narrative not only highlights the resilience and strength of the human spirit but also emphasizes the shared creative drive that connects all the Dallas Taylors despite their diverse paths.

Insights on Names: Beyond the Surface

Throughout the episode, the discussion circles back to the profound impact of names on personal and social identity. Laura Wattenberg provides a foundational understanding of how names carry inherent bias and expectations, which is further illustrated through the personal anecdotes of each Dallas Taylor.

"A name is really a whole human identity in word form, and you can't help but feel so deeply attached."
[04:47]

This segment reinforces the idea that sharing a name is more than a coincidence; it influences interactions and can create an unspoken bond among those who bear it.

Shared Creativity: A Unifying Thread

A significant revelation of the episode is the striking commonality that all the interviewed Dallas Taylors are entrenched in creative fields—writers, musicians, actors. This alignment suggests that while their paths are different, their shared name may symbolize a deeper, perhaps subconscious, creative drive.

"Every single person. So it's just been wild to kind of see that thread."
[25:44]

This observation invites listeners to ponder the role of identity and nomenclature in shaping one's life choices and passions.

Personal Challenges: Overcoming Obstacles Together

The episode doesn't shy away from the personal struggles faced by the Dallas Taylors, especially the narrative of overcoming anxiety and adversity. The heavy metal singer's story serves as a poignant example of how shared names can lead to shared understandings of personal battles.

"I think that's my legacy, is to try to encourage as many people as I can until I finally take the last big ride."
[38:20]

Such heartfelt discussions add a layer of empathy and connection, showcasing how shared names can foster a sense of community and mutual support.

Favorite Sounds: A Harmonious Conclusion

In a delightful twist, the episode concludes with the Dallas Taylors sharing their favorite sounds, revealing personal facets of their identities and preferences.

• Laura Wattenberg treasures laughter, finding it "the best medicine."

"I guess my favorite sound would be laughter."
[43:14]

• Dallas from Memphis enjoys the satisfying buzz of ears unplugging from water.

"It's the moment that you get your sound back after your ear is plugged."
[43:43]

• Dallas the Heavy Metal Singer favors the crackling of a fire, associating it with comfort and relaxation.

"I would say that's hands down my favorite sound."
[45:20]

These exchanges underscore the diverse yet universally relatable nature of sound, fitting seamlessly into the podcast's overarching theme.

Conclusion: A Unique Connection

Wrapping up the episode, Dallas Taylor reflects on the extraordinary experience of connecting with others who share his name. He muses on the mysterious threads that bind them, suggesting that sharing a name may hint at deeper, perhaps unseen, connections in the vast tapestry of human experience.

"It's just so bizarre how connected I think we all felt just by talking to each other with the exact same name."
[46:19]

This poignant conclusion invites listeners to appreciate the unexpected connections that names can forge, celebrating the uniqueness and unity found within shared identities.

Notable Quotes

• "Names are incredibly rich signals that... shape the way people respond to you."
  — Laura Wattenberg [04:08]

• "A name is really a whole human identity in word form, and you can't help but feel so deeply attached."
  — Laura Wattenberg [04:47]

• "Every single person. So it's just been wild to kind of see that thread."
  — Dallas Taylor [25:44]

• "After my accident, it's almost like my brain got rewired... now my future is... to try to let people know, hey, you're not alone."
  — Dallas Taylor [38:20]

• "I guess my favorite sound would be laughter."
  — Laura Wattenberg [43:14]

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This episode of Twenty Thousand Hertz masterfully intertwines personal narratives with insightful discussions on the significance of names and creativity. By bringing together five individuals who share his name, Dallas Taylor not only uncovers compelling stories but also celebrates the unexpected bonds that define our shared human experience.

Transcript

[Dallas Taylor]

Hey listeners. Right now I'm quietly living the most surreal chapter of my life, and I've been filming every bit of it for our upcoming YouTube launch. Over the past few months, I've made some absolutely massive requests to some of the biggest productions on the planet, and somehow they're all saying yes. I've been dreaming as big as I possibly can for this extension of 20,000 hertz into video. And what I'm finding is that the people I'm interviewing are just as excited about it as I am. And it's all thanks to this podcast, which, by the way, isn't going anywhere. These nine years of building trust and crafting stories has opened doors I never imagined were possible. So far I've been to Los Angeles, New York, Houston, D.C. anaheim, Dallas, hot Springs, Nashville and Orlando. Glean from that what you'd like. Right now I'm living my own personal audio heaven and you're invited to watch the whole thing starting on June 25th. Go subscribe right now to Dallas Taylor MP3 on YouTube. As of me recording this message, there are 8,707 subscribers to the YouTube channel and I haven't even launched yet. Can we make it 10,000? There's a direct link in the show notes. If you're not driving and can access your screen, go subscribe while you listen to this episode. This episode is sponsored by Sonos.

Now.

Sonos has been making amazing home speakers for over 20 years, and for over a decade now I've had an integrated Sonos system that extends into nearly every corner of my home. Recently, Sonos finally expanded into wearable audio with the Sonos Ace headphones. And just like I expected, they absolutely crushed it. These headphones have powerful, crystal clear sound that reveals incredible nuance in the music, audio and movies you love. They're also comfortable, well constructed, and they have a great battery life. Unlock the full potential of your music with Sonos ace headphones. Visit sonos.com to hear the difference. It's hard to believe, but at this point 20,000 hertz is up to 215 episodes and counting. Of course, there are certain topics that stand out, like the really famous sounds we've covered. And while I love telling the stories behind well known sounds, when someone asks me what my favorite episodes are, they tend to be the ones that are more experimental and surprising. There's one particular episode we made years ago that always jumps out in my mind because it was one of the most unique and surreal experiences of my life. Here it is. Enjoy. So I did one faux Pas of podcasting here, and I completely forgot to ask you to introduce yourself and your title.

[Laura Wattenberg]

Okay. I'm Laura Wattenberg. I'm the author of the Baby Name wizard books and the founder of Neymarology.com.

[Dallas Taylor]

That'S exactly what I was hoping you would say, both of those things. This is going to be highly edited, and it's actually kind of a very interesting show that we're doing, which is not really talking all about names. It's kind of. It's kind of a weird one.

This here is 20,000 Hz, hosted by Dallas Taylor. Dallas, it's a name. It's a city in Texas. It's where the cowboys play, where they roam, too. And a Taylor. Now, that's someone who makes your clothes fit just right. Get yourself a bespoke tailored suit and you'll feel like a million buckaroos. Now, what is a Dallas tailor? Well, that all depends on who you ask.

First.

[Laura Wattenberg]

I just want to say that names are incredibly rich signals that whether we realize it or not, every time we hear someone's name, we're forming impressions about a likely age, gender, ethnicity, even socioeconomic status or geography. That's all part of the impression that comes with a name. So it's something that you carry around, like little social microclimate that shapes the way people respond to you.

[Dallas Taylor]

So is there any truth to the Dale Carnegie quote that a person's name, to that person is. Is the sweetest and most important sound in any language?

[Laura Wattenberg]

I think we're all trained and reinforced literally every day of our lives to respond to our own names. A name is really a whole human identity in word form, and you can't help but feel so deeply attached. My name is Laura, and the recent hurricane Laura was a bizarre experience because every time I turn on the radio, I'd hear something like, but Laura's impact.

[Dallas Taylor]

Has grown even more deadly.

[Laura Wattenberg]

Every time, even though I knew there was a hurricane, I'd startle a like, what did I do? Because it's so ingrained that that name is me.

[Dallas Taylor]

What do you think about my name, Dallas Taylor?

[Laura Wattenberg]

Dallas is an interesting name because it has never been popular and it has never been unpopular. That's actually a really rare quality. But if you look back over the last 150 years in the United States, the name Dallas has always been right around the 300th most popular name for boys. That's a powerful kind of name position because it means that it's familiar. People aren't going to be afraid to spell or pronounce it, but it's also a little interesting and unexpected, so they pay attention.

[Dallas Taylor]

Do you think that there would be some sort of inherent similarities between my name and someone else with the exact same name?

[Laura Wattenberg]

I think there are two kinds of similarities people can have from sharing a name, and one is a similarity of who chose that name. Parents who have something in common are likely to choose similar names. So the name Dallas, for instance, is a name that's most popular in an area of the country that maps to essentially country music territory, minus Texas, hence.

[Dallas Taylor]

The motivation for this here. Voiceover.

[Laura Wattenberg]

So that's where you're going to find the most Dallases. There are two different kinds of place names. There are the names that are more popular near the place and the names that are less popular near the place, really. So for instance, you'll never meet someone named Brooklyn in New York City, but a name like Savannah might be more popular in Georgia than elsewhere Then in terms of your personal experience, if you think of the microclimate of reactions that you carry around with you every time in your life that you meet someone for the first time, even virtually, if you send an email or you're on Tinder, the first thing people see or hear is your name, and they are going to make expectations about you, whether they realize it or not, based on that, they're going to respond to you in a certain way. They might be friendly, or they might be wary, or they might be more or less excited to meet you. And two people who have gone through their entire lives sharing that same kind of first impression are going to have something in common.

[Dallas Taylor]

Oh, my goodness. This is so good. Total editorial note here, but you are leading right into exactly what I was hoping.

Oh, good.

Thank you for playing along. I'll tell you exactly what's happening here. So I don't know if I told you this over email or anything, but I have interviewed five other Dallas Taylors, and so you'll kick off the show, and then at this point, I'll basically take it and meet five other Dallas Taylors with the exact same name. And it's absolutely fascinating, the similarities.

[Laura Wattenberg]

I am very curious to see what you all have in common.

[Dallas Taylor]

It's gonna be a blast. You're listening to 20,000 hertz.

I'm Dallas Taylor.

I'm Dallas Taylor.

I'm Dallas Taylor.

I'm Dallas Taylor.

I'm Dallas Taylor.

I'm Dallas Taylor.

Hey, this is Dallas.

This is also Dallas. So, yeah, this has to be the weirdest request. This is the weirdest thing for me as well. I have never met another Dallas, let alone a Dallas Taylor. So can you just, like, introduce yourself?

Yeah, sure. So obviously my name's Dallas Taylor. This is my married name. So my maiden name is actually Keister, and that carried a lot of, you know, funny taunts. In middle school, there's a lot that middle school sixth graders can say about the last name Keister. And my mom always said, I married into it. You can marry out of it. So, I mean, it's kind of funny because my husband's name's James Taylor.

Oh, nice. How sweet it is to be loved by you.

So Taylor seemed nice, safe, and a good way to go. Not much that people can say about the last name Taylor. So now I'm Dallas Taylor. Now I'm speaking on this podcast, so by choice. Exactly. Exactly.

All right, Dallas Taylor. I am also Dallas Taylor. So nice to meet you, Dallas Taylor.

It's nice to meet you. Also.

Sweet. So I guess the first thing is, what did you think when a random person named Dallas Taylor contacted you about coming on a podcast to talk to me, a Dallas Taylor?

It caught me off guard a little bit. First I saw Dallas Taylor, and, like, someone must be tweeting me. And I saw it was Dallas Taylor tweeting me, like, oh, did someone make a Dallas Taylor profile? And just a bot is coming to troll me. And then I saw the invite to come on the podcast and, like, huh, it's very weird.

Can you give me, like, an introduction of yourself, like, what you're passionate about or what you do?

My name is Dallas Taylor. I'm from Buffalo, New York. I love to write anything creative. Poetry, short stories, and op ed pieces. Writing is my passion. So I work with a public broadcasting station down here in Buffalo, and I do a lot of promotional writing. I do a lot of radio scripts. I remember as a kid just watching PBS kids watching Curious George.

George looked around. Professor Saunders had left some seed packets.

And some sticks on the ground, and Clifford.

Hey, Clifford. I think T Bone needs some help. He'll be okay. He's been up here lots of times.

Mr. Rogers.

So let's think more about that as.

The trolley goes into the neighborhood of make believe, all those fun characters. And then to be in the building of the place that I grew up watching and pretty much got my education from as a kid. And it's very. I don't know if cool or weird is the right word. It almost feels like it was meant to be in a way. Like, that's where Dallas is supposed to be.

What's up, Dallas? How you doing, man?

What's up, Dallas? This is so weird, isn't it?

It's so weird. I literally. I rarely meet people named Dallas.

Why don't you just, for our purposes here, just kind of introduce yourself, Your name and what you're passionate about.

Yeah, my name is Dallas Taylor. Just like the guy right here, Dallas Taylor. You know what I'm saying? I'm from Memphis, Tennessee. I'm passionate about a lot of things, but I would say anime is, like, my number one. I say this to everybody, and people think I'm, like, kind of crazy. It keeps me sane. And I'm dead serious when I say that. Like, it literally keeps me sane.

Wow. Memphis. So this is wild. I'm from Memphis.

Oh, really?

Yeah.

Hey, that's crazy.

Wow. So anime. As a sound designer, I've actually mixed anime in the past.

Oh, really?

Yeah.

Okay.

I don't watch as much as I would like to, but I have a deep appreciation for it.

Yeah, bro. It teaches you a lot. People don't even understand it. How so not to get, like. I don't want people to think, like, I'm trying to get deep or nothing. It's just like, okay. Growing up, I had limited people that I can even look up to or, like, role models with this. Like, it really wasn't nobody. I don't even know my father. I don't know who he is. But it's like growing up. Anime stuff like Dragon Ball. I am protector of the innocent. I am the light in the darkness.

I am truth.

One piece Luffy.

Your pain may be great, but it mustn't devour you. There is yet joy beyond your sorrows.

I look to those people as, like, role models and stuff. So, like, I see their philosophies, and I try to, like, include those in my life. You know what I'm saying? I just like how they is, and I like the way they carry themselves in a world without anime. I just. I've been through a lot in my life, so I just feel like I just go crazy without that.

Hey, so have you ever met another Dallas Taylor?

Another Dallas Taylor? No. I do know of some famous ones. There's obviously the drummer for Crosby, Stills and Ashley.

[Laura Wattenberg]

Dallas Taylor knows what he's talking about. As the young drummer of the legendary rock band Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, he rode the fast track to success.

[Dallas Taylor]

There is a guy named Dallas Taylor who I guess he's a singer for Christian rock bands.

All right, it's john here from bandrescue.com here with Dallas Taylor. From Alien and the Sons of Disaster.

How's it going?

We're out here.

So he's a little bit known. And then there was in the 70s, a. How do you say, adult performer named Dallas Taylor. And I learned that in college when the video store clerk at the Good Video Store, the. You know, the local place where the guy was a super cinephile. He was a fan of my namesake's work, so he never did let me forget how he recognized my name and my face.

So definitely know the drummer for Crosby, Stills, and Nash. Oftentimes when we're doing interviews, depending on the age that they are, they'll ask, were you the drummer of Crosby, Stills, and Nash? And of course I'm not. The other thing I get all the time is, are you the former singer of Under Oath? And I'm like, no, that's not me either. And then I actually bought the domain name dallas taylor.com from the adult performer.

Okay, awesome. I probably tried to buy that. My domain name is Dallas dash Taylor.

Oh, okay.

Yeah, yeah.

So we were probably competing for that, possibly. Have you ever met another Dallas?

When I was younger, I met a boy named Dallas, and I was definitely going through a phase where I was very upset with my parents for naming me Dallas, because everyone was like, that's a boy's name. And here I was, 8 years old. So I did offer my parents two alternatives for if they wanted to change my name. One was Yasmin, after a Bratz doll that I had. Yasmin can strike hundreds of rockin poses to totally rule the stage. The other name that I presented to them was Lizzie off of Lizzie McGuire.

Lizzie, those pants are sweet. And I'd like to thank my mom.

And dad and the Style Shack. They said, no, we're not changing your name. When you get older, you will learn to appreciate it.

Do you know why you were named Dallas?

There's a lot of different stories going around, but my mom said she named me after a guy that she had a crush on in high school.

Really?

Yeah. His name was Dallas. So she was like, one of my kids gonna be named Dallas.

My sister's name's actually Austin, so Dallas and Austin.

Guess what my brother's name is.

Is it Austin?

It is Austin.

Oh, my gosh. Yep.

This is so weird.

So weird.

And then my brother's name is Austin, so we get the. Are you guys from Texas a lot?

Are you kidding me?

Yeah.

Do you want to know what my brother's name is?

I'd be very interested.

It's Austin and Another Dallas Taylor that I met. Her little sister is named Austin. Oh, so I have a sibling named Austin. You have a sibling named Austin, and she has a sibling named Austin. That is so wild. I'm curious. Have you ever gotten that is your sister named San Antonio? Comment?

Oh, always. They always say, like, if there were twins, would one be San and the other be Antonio?

Oddly enough, my brother's name is Antonio. So, like, people just think we're from Texas.

It's funny that you say your brother's name is Antonio. Cause my brother's name is Austin.

That is crazy.

No joke.

That's crazy. It's like looking in a parallel universe right here. That's crazy.

We're named after country songs. So my mom was obsessed with Alan Jackson, and he had a song out called Dallas. It's super twangy. And when I tell everyone that I'm named after a country song, I'm like, don't look it up. The lyrics are literally, dallas packed her suitcase and drove off in the brand new car I bought her, which I'm like, that was the song that you chose to, like, name me. Name me after. But Austin, obviously, we have the age gap, so we're eight years apart. And when my mom was pregnant with her, she was like, well, I can't have a Dallas and, like, an Amanda and when it makes sense. So that year, Blake Shelton released a song called Austin.

Can't you tell this is disaster.

And I still love you.

It was perfect timing. So they always joked. They said that if we had a brother, his name would be Houston. I said it was probably in everyone's best interest that that did not happen because that would have been too much. And it was probably good that we stopped at Dallas and Austin.

Did you have any nicknames? I have a couple. I'm curious if you've gotten any.

The only one that ever really stuck was people would call me D. I've.

Gotten D. A lot of people do that. I've gotten big D because Dallas is called the big D. And the most popular one was dally poo. For a long time.

Yeah, I've had a couple people call me Dally when I was younger. I didn't like that. I was like, nah.

I'm curious if you had the same nickname from your family. Dally Wally.

No, I never heard Dally Wally. I'm Dally poo. I got that a lot.

Dally Proo.

Dally poo.

Oh, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah. They call me Dally Wiley, and my nickname is Actually, my real nickname is D. Like, just D. My family called me D. If they want to be funny, they call me Dally Wiley.

It's always cool having a nickname. Texas or D or dt. Big D. I know my high school track coach, he would. Cause he's a big wrestling fan, so he'd often call me Diamond Dallas Page.

What a move. What a move by Diamond Dallas Page. When you go to a coffee shop or you meet someone for the first time and you're like, oh, my name's Dallas. Do you tend to hear kind of the same reactions or jokes, like, all the time?

A lot of people will make reference to the TV show, obviously that's decades out of syndication.

Premiering Sunday, April 2nd.

Dallas, where money buys power and passion breeds conflict.

Usually it's about the football team.

Oh, Dallas. Bringing the house from. Got rid of it to Cooper, and.

It'S incomplete most of the time. Yeah. Like, are you a Dallas Cowboys fan? Are you from Texas?

It's so funny. It's like the exact same reaction that I get. They'll say, like, I bet your parents really love Texas. Or like, I bet your parents are a big Cowboys fan.

Yep. It's always either, oh, so you're from Texas, or, oh, your parents must have been really big Cowboys fans.

Or you're a big Cowboy fan.

Yeah, exactly.

I hear the same thing literally all the time. And then people would be like, hold on, my mom is right here. I'm sorry. I told her not to walk in. Anyways.

Wait, she's the one that named you Dallas, right?

Yeah. Yeah. You want to get her the podcast?

You can ask her why you're named Dallas.

Why did you name me Dallas? Did he really want to know the truth? Yeah. Why you named me. Why you named me Dallas. I named you after this fine boy that I said.

Huh?

Who I'm talking to.

Oh, hello.

Hey. You're not going to believe this. My name is also Dallas Taylor.

Oh, my God. Hi.

Hi.

Well, I got his name from a guy in high school, a guy had transferred down from New York, and I just fell in love with the name. And so I always said that, you know, if I ever had a son, I was gonna name him Dallas. I just kept the name. That's where it came from.

Well, thank you.

You're welcome.

We got it right from the source.

That got our Dallas to thinking, where did his name come from? So he called his mama.

Hey, what's up? Hey. Not much. Are you free right now? I'm free. Okay. Because I need you to tell Me a story. So I'm doing a whole podcast about names, and I'm curious if you can tell me why I was named Dallas. Your dad named you why? Because he went to Dallas and went to insurance school or something like that before he went into maintenance. And he loved Dallas. I mean, as soon as he found out I was pregnant, he said, oh, that's my little Dallas right there. He knew the name right from the very start. What did you think when he was like, we're gonna name our son Dallas? I was fine with it. I thought it was a cool name. Do you think it worked out? Yes, I think it's perfect for you. How so? Well, I like when your wife calls you Dalio or just different things, you know, that you could do with the name. Do you mind if I use this on my podcast? I don't care. Okay, yeah, you could use that on your podcast. I mean, literally, this phone call.

[Laura Wattenberg]

Yes.

[Dallas Taylor]

All right, great. I have my mom's permission. You had mentioned, you know, you're passionate about anime. I'm curious, what other passions do you have? I think you said something about freestyling or music.

Yeah, I write music. That's been a passion. That was eight. Like, I've been writing music for a long time.

What kind of music?

I make hip hop music. It's the man inside begging me to let him take a ride. Dallas, we the same guy, But I could turn us to a go. God, you and I. So you say we equalize. Equalize. So that meaning a lot of people like my music. So they be like, what's your rap name? I don't have a rap name. I just. Dallas Taylor. They be like, that sounds like a rapper. That just sounds like somebody. And I was like, yeah, I'm just gonna use my name.

So curious. Just tell me about your life. I mean, I can tell you mine. Like, I'm a sound designer. I spent a lot of time playing the trumpet and eventually continued to do sound design and started to host a podcast, and here I am. So what's your life like?

Sure. I'm very into the creative arts. I was homeschooled for a lot of, like, my early education, but I was actually a dancer, so I went to a performing arts high school for dance in Maryland, and I ended up going to the University of New York in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Now I am working in fleet management. Not as creative as before, but then COVID 19 happened, and I've been working from home, so finding ways to get those creative moments out of things that aren't so creative anymore.

What would you say that you're just most passionate about now? Like, what gets you up?

Oh, writing, I suppose. Particularly the novel that I'm working on, which is a project I've been. God, I've been working on this thing for five or six years now, I want to say. But yeah, that's what gets me up in the morning. My excuse for existing is that I'm a writer.

I want to write a children's book at some point, but writing is really where I'm at and where I want to be with my life. I know it's not the most lucrative, but it feels like it's the most rewarding to me.

Cool. Yeah. The thing that's been really fascinating about all of these, every person that I've spoken with with our name have all been heavily in creative fields. So two musicians, two writers, a dancer. I'm a musician who became a sound designer and kind of a writer thanks to this podcast.

Yeah, totally.

And no one has been anywhere close to being a lawyer or an accountant or anything. That's like a responsible adult thing. Good for us. Everyone is creative. Every single person. So it's just been wild to kind of like, see that thread. I actually, I've been talking to a couple different Dallas Taylors, and the last Dallas Taylor that I talked to about an hour ago, he was a heavy metal band singer. Like a famous one.

Yeah, no, I know who you talk about.

Pretty soon we'll meet the next Dallas Taylor, the heavy metal, cast iron Dallas Taylor. That's coming up after a quick word from our fine sponsors.

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Good to see you again. Now kick back and enjoy the rest of this podcast made of 100% pure Dallas Taylor.

Well, hey Dallas, it's nice to meet you. This has got to be bizarre for you too, right? You don't know any other Dallases, do you?

I know a couple guys with a first name Dallas, but not with the same last name.

So can you give me like a little introduction of yourself?

Yeah, my name is Dallas Taylor. I have done singing or attempted to sing in a few bands here and fiddled around with acting.

I think I know a little bit about you just because your name is my name. So I often get confused for you or the drummer for Crosby, Stills and Nash. Have you had that same.

That same, same thing? Yeah, a lot. Yeah, that Dallas Taylor all the time. Like, people think when he passed away, they thought I passed away. And then one time I heard, I guess he found out about me because there was one interview or something where he's like, I'm not the dude that screams and I'm not the adult performer. I'm the real Dallas Taylor. But yeah, there's not many people with that name at all.

Tell me a little bit about your life as much as you feel comfortable with. I know you've told this story a lot.

Gotcha. Yeah, I was always raised super Southern Baptist. And then When I was 15 or 16, someone showed me like heavy music and I was like, what is this stuff? And so when I discovered heavy music, I was like, this is it. I'm rebelling, I guess. But it's weird. I never wanted to Be a singer in a band. I've always had bad social anxiety. I couldn't even drive through a drive through, I think, until I was like 20 or 21. I get too scared. Couldn't even write my own check. And so I started doing a band because it felt like it wasn't me having to be me. Always like a bass player. Not the best, but I wrote lyrics. And so when I was young, we were trying to do this horrible, horrible band. Didn't work out. And so when the singer had stopped, Argu Tarpa, I was like, well, you're gonna do it. And I was like, I don't want to do it. Well, this many years later, I'm still doing it. And so then through many, like, horrible small bands, I started this band called Under Oath. We had some friends that said, hey, you can go on tour with us for like a week. And so we did well Under Oath. Got signed on that tour with a small label.

Dallas toured and recorded with Under Oath for the next four years. Did you feel anxious when you performed? Because I spent so much of my high school and college years playing the trumpet. I was first chair in, like, every ensemble. I thought I was going to be a professional trumpet player.

Yeah.

And then one day I kind of woke up with crippling performance anxiety, and it just crushed all of my dreams of performing gadget. So I'm curious if you still felt that same anxiety from when you were younger, once you started touring about every show.

Yeah, I always did. And then the times I didn't feel anxious, that's when, you know, there came a time where you start getting more concerned on the business side of it. How much merch did we sell? Or what do we do this? And then you start getting more anxious about that than playing. And that's a bad place to be because then you lose sight of why you get into it in the first place. And you're more worried about staying afloat financially, which happens to everyone. And so it's a fine line you know, you have to watch out for, because that easily can take over and get you off path, I guess.

Under Oath was getting more and more popular. But during the 2003 Warped Tour, Dallas left the band.

We parted ways because I was young and my situation with a girlfriend, like, I just was like, I picked that over anything.

The band recruited a new singer and continued on without him.

So then I moved up to Alabama and I thought I'd never do music again. And then I started another band called Maylene and the Sons of Disaster. And started touring again. All through that. Then I went through a divorce. And those are always fun times. Not really. That's being sarcastic. And then I started making friends with people and ask us to do like cameos and a couple films. So I was like, this is kind of cool, so maybe I'll give it a shot. So I started acting a little bit here and there.

Dallas acted in a few small horror films. He also played a character named Lucky Louie in Joe Dirt two who gets crushed by a trailer falling out of the sky.

So I was doing that more and then the band less. And then I was down visiting my parents, just on vacation, and they had gotten a four wheeler. And I was always the daredevil, always. And I never broken a bone really. And I took the four wheeler and I was. I guess the only thing I remember is I was trying to get with gas and then I went at the brake, but the brake and the gas from the same handle. So when I pulled that, I rolled the gas and I went straight into a metal sign. I broke about everything. I made up for all the years of not breaking and I'm still crawling out of it. But yeah, that was. That was about four years ago. And yeah, I did a number on myself.

Dallas injuries were severe and life changing. He broke multiple facial bones and suffered brain damage and internal bleeding. He lost his sight in his left eye and still has vision problems in his right. He's had ongoing lung problems, thyroid problems, memory loss, hearing loss, and chronic pain. But as hard as this experience has been, Dallas says that it's put him on a better path.

So before my accident, I struggled a lot with. I always had ocd. I still have it, but a lot of anxiety, you know, depression, like things I was diagnosed as, and always looking at life as cup half empty. And so after my accident, it's almost like my brain got rewired. Trying to go through life doing it on your own and thinking you can do it without having other people in our lives, friends or people that encourage us. It really does take you down a downward spiral. But it's like, well, I guess when you've gotten so close to death, you realize all the stuff I thought before in life that mattered. When you can't even take care of yourself, you realize how much the little things are the big things, and the big things just totally disappear, you know? And so I wouldn't wish what happened to me on anybody. But it definitely has given me a different perspective on life and how I feel like we're put here to help each other out. I guess after my accident, I realized, you know, we're only alive for so long, so my future really is, as cheesy as it may seem, is to try to let people know, hey, you're not alone. I've been through that. Or even if I haven't been through that, I'll try my best to understand. I think that's my legacy, is to try to encourage as many people as I can until I finally take the last big four little ride. Exit home.

You were. And I don't know if you ever lose this title once you've become, you know, a rock star. So you have been a rock star. What would you tell maybe a 17 year old kid with those same dreams? What advice would you give in that case?

Well, first, I've always said I'm not a rock star, but I know a lot of guys and girls that have made it really well. But I guess, you know, if you want to do something, stick your feet in and basically keep throwing at the wall till something sticks just because something might discourage you. You know, it could be not getting as many Facebook followers or as many downloads. That's the people that get discouraged by life and they just kind of let their dreams slip away. And if anything, until the day I die, I'd rather be that person that said, I tried and I can die knowing I never gave up on my dreams rather than going, huh, what if I would have kept at it? So to anybody younger, it's just like if you truly believe in it and you feel it in your heart, be yourself, be you, create you try as hard as you can do to make it.

What is the future of Dallas Taylor from Florida?

What I see like, as the future for me is I have this drive to come back better than I was before. I just have this thing on my heart of like, hey, you've seen life on both sides. You saw how much you had taken it for granted and how you thought everything and life was like negative. Now I see it the complete opposite way. So it's like, now my goal is to try to help or explain to so many people that were on that path that I was before my accident. But yeah, that's my goal and whatever ways that will help me get that cross the most is what I'm aiming for.

Just curious, how old are you?

I just turned 40, so I'm old as crap.

No way. So did I.

No way.

Yeah. Wow. So we lived like the same stuff. It's so funny. I'll give you a little bit of Backstory. Same with me. I was a country kid in Arkansas. Found heavy music. I loved it. Like, that's kind of how I express myself. A lot of my friends started little heavy metal bands together, and I dabbled in drums and bass and guitar and screaming and all that stuff. So it's almost like. Like we were living a little bit, you know, parallel lives. But it's so interesting because even when you were with Under Oath and Mayleene, I knew both of those bands and listened to them and loved it. No idea that your name was my name until years later.

Gotcha. Yeah, I like what you're doing too. That's pretty awesome.

Thank you.

About the deep fakes and movie trailers and things. So, yeah, it's awesome what you're doing with that.

I appreciate it. So, yeah, I think we have this one question I do ask everybody just because I'm so fascinated with what people say. Very simple question, but what is your favorite sound?

I guess my favorite sound would be laughter. And the crazier a person's laugh is, is the more contagious. It's the best medicine to me. So that would be my favorite sound, I guess.

It's funny you should say laughter, because that's also my favorite sound too. Most definitely. My kids laughing.

Favorite sound in the world. That's a tough one. This is probably. I don't know if it's a sound, but I feel like it's very underrated and satisfying. The moment that you get your sound back after your ear is plugged. Like if you're in the shower or coming out of the pool, like once that is out of there and you get that kind of like a buzz, I feel like that's a very satisfying sound.

That's such a good answer.

That is a really interesting question. And for whatever reason, I wouldn't have thought this until you asked me the question, but. So do you know Manu Chau, the singer?

I don't.

He's a sort of Pan European. Used to be in a punk band called Mano Negra. But anyway, so he has this one single guitar note. It's the king of bongo or bongo bong.

I'm the king of bongo, baby. I'm the king of bongo bong.

That's where I think I remember it from most. It sounds like something beautiful birthing itself into existence. But yeah, it just has this very, like, sort of opening up kind of feeling. And it's just like a half second, like one note.

I would probably say my favorite song in the world. I would probably say, okay, I sit outside a lot and I just, like, listen to, like, nature. Just listen to the world. I think that would probably be, like, my favorite. It's just so comforting to me. Like, it literally just so comforting.

Definitely. I would say the, like, crackling of a fire. Yeah, I think that's super comforting. Where we live, it's very woodsy. So oftentimes in the morning, we'll put a fire outside in the back fire pit, and it's so calming, relaxing. I would say that's hands down my favorite sound.

Well, I suppose that about does it. So what does it all mean? I can't say I'm exactly sure, but it seems like when two people share a name, it means there's something deep that runs between them, something that binds them together in this strange, chaotic universe.

I will say that it was one of the most bizarre experiences because it's me, it's my name. And so I see this other person and I feel like, this connection with another human that I've never met, ever. I mean, I think it's just fascinating to talk to different people with my exact same name. And there are different aspects to our life, and then there's threads that are extraordinarily similar. And what is really unique about this is that every. Every Dallas Taylor I've met are all creatives and writers. It's just so serendipitous that we all have a creative brain. What I've learned in this situation is that everyone has just, like, a fascinating story. Like anybody, every Dallas Taylor I've talked to have just had these fascinatingly rich lives and interesting stories. But it's just so bizarre how connected I think we all felt just by talking to each other with the exact same name.

[Laura Wattenberg]

You've really lived something unique in common that 200 million other people cannot understand.

[Dallas Taylor]

20,000 Hz is produced out of the Sound design studios of Defacto Sound. Treat your ears to a little sonic candy by following Defacto Sound on Instagram. This episode was written and produced by Casey Emerling with help from Sam Reinbold.

It was sound edited by Soren Beijan.

It was sound designed, mixed and narrated by Nick Spradlin.

Thanks to our guests, Laura Wattenberg. Dallas Taylor. Dallas Taylor. Dallas Taylor. Dallas Taylor and Dallas Taylor. You can find Laura's book, the Baby Name wizard, wherever books are sold.

You take her easy now. Thanks for listening.

Before we go, don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel, which is under the name Dallas Taylor MP3. That way you'll be the first to see our new video Stories, which launches on June 25. Over the past few months, I've collected so many amazing sound stories across the country, and I can't wait to share these experiences with you. So please take a moment right now and go subscribe. You can either tap the direct link in the show notes or search for me, Dallas Taylor on YouTube. Thanks.

DC high volume Batman the Dark Knight's.

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Audio for the very first time.

Fear.

I have to make them afraid. From this moment on, none of you are safe.

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