logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2022
35m 10s

AHH! How music can make scary movies eve...

American Public Media
About this episode
We listen to music with our ears – and that amazing electric meatball between our ears: our brain! But why do our brains find some music scary? We’re born with some fears baked into our brains, because our ancestors thought they were scary too! That’s why sudden loud noises startle us sometimes. But there’s another reason certain sounds freak us out – we’ve ... Show More
Up next
Yesterday
Brains On Presents: Smash Boom Best - Slime vs Slinkies
We will be back next week with a new episode! This week we have an episode from our sister show Smash Boom Best: Slime vs Slinkies!Set out these two playthings on a table and see which one your kid grabs first. Is it the gooey, squishy, surprising slime? Or the springy, wiggly, w ... Show More
40m 46s
Jun 2
Why do we like the number 100?
As Brains On fast approaches 400 episodes, we wanted to re-visit this one. Not only is it our milestone episode 100, but our pal Gungador goes from Most Epic Fighting Battle Realm to a much more challenging setting: high school. We ask why people seem to love the number 100 so mu ... Show More
42m 45s
May 26
Growth Spurts!
Today we’re sharing with you part of an episode from our new special series, Brains On Universe Presents: Puberty! (the podcast). You can subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. This is an excerpt covering stuff that any one of any age might be interested in. Last week, we loo ... Show More
21m 5s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2015
All In Your Head
<p>People who make horror movies know: if you want to scare someone, use scary music. Some of the most creative use of music and sound to evoke fear and anxiety is on the TV show Hannibal. Hrishikesh Hirway of Song … <a href="http://99percentinvisible.prx.org/2015/06/10/168-all-i ... Show More
30m 5s
Apr 2024
ENCORE: Why We Love To Be Scared with Jordan Peele
We’re running it back with another one of our favorite episodes! This week, a conversation with the brain behind several of our all-time favorite scary movies: Jordan Peele! Now why in the world would we want to seek out horror movies when real life sometimes feels like its own h ... Show More
52m 7s
Apr 2018
Jaws: the Music (Part I)
Our "deep dive" into the music, sound and story of Jaws begins as we look closely at the first half of the movie. What we find are fascinating surprises, interesting stories, the terror of the shark, a moving family bond ... and even a dark sense of humor. Learn more about your a ... Show More
43m 31s
Oct 2018
Halloween: the Music
In just three days, director and film composer John Carpenter wrote a classic horror film score. Go behind the scenes and hear the story of how it all came together. We'll also analyze the music, and talk about why it still scares us decades later. Learn more about your ad choice ... Show More
34m 34s
Oct 2018
98. Sloan asks: What if unicorns lived in Halloween bushes?
Mr. Eric is joined by young listener named Sloan who will help him tell a totally improvised Halloween special! Can Sloan the Little Unicorn find JFKat after he is scared out of their spooky house by an unapologetic Skeleton Ghost?  Lessons include: It’s important to express even ... Show More
23m 19s
Oct 2023
Listen Now: I Hear Fear
Nothing is as terrifying as the sounds we hear in the dark. The slow creak of a door opening late at night... or a whisper in a room when you thought you were alone... or a distant scream in the wind. One noise at the wrong time or place can scare us for days. Each episode of I H ... Show More
6m 24s
Mar 2024
Why do we jump when we get scared?
If you’ve ever jumped right out of your seat when watching a scary movie, you know that sometimes your body has a reaction to being surprised or frightened. One of our listeners wanted to know why that happens, and we asked neurologist Sarah Benish to help us understand. Got a st ... Show More
4m 16s
Mar 2022
S11 E18: BeeBop Tales: Baby Attack
BeeBop faces off against a strange new enemy. The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian is a sci-fi story podcast for kids. Many thanks to Mark Greenberg of the Mayfair Workshop for his theme music. Other music is by Visager, used via Creative Commons. Send your sounds, art and jokes ... Show More
11m 30s
Aug 2018
【笑话小剧场】童言童语尽童真：睡觉的耳朵【宝宝巴士故事】
tail spinning
1m 29s
Listen to millions of songs and podcasts on Anghami