In a captivating discussion, toy historian Chris Byrne dives into how childhood toys, from Barbie to Matchbox cars, shape our identities and reflect cultural values. He shares personal anecdotes, highlighting the intrinsic link between our favorite playthings and our adult careers and morals. Byrne emphasizes the evolution of toys, especially the empowerment narratives of modern Barbie, showcasing how play influences our development and self-understanding. Discover how your cherished toys may reveal deeper truths about who you are!

From See ‘n Say to Speak & Spell, and beyond, toys provide the soundtrack of our childhoods. Huge advancements in computer technology in recent decades mean that today’s toys can make a wider variety of sounds than ever before. In this episode, “The Toy Guy” Chris Byrne takes us on a nostalgic look back at the recent history of recorded sound in toys; then, with Dr. Hamid Djalilian, we consider what all that technological advancement means for young ears in the 21st century. Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor. Follow Dallas on Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn.Watch our video shorts on YouTube, and join the discussion on Reddit and Facebook.Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Check out Chris Byrne’s podcast The Playground wherever you get your podcasts.Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/noiserus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices