About Sound Detectives

LeVar Burton presents SOUND DETECTIVES – a funny, engaging, and thought provoking podcast that invites you to solve the mysterious case of missing sounds. 

Breaking News: across the globe, sounds are mysteriously going missing! Waves aren’t crashing, crickets aren’t chirping, and the familiar jingle of the ice cream truck is a distant memory. Follow Detective Hunch (Vinny Thomas) and his new sidekick Audie the Ear (Jess McKenna) as they solve sound mysteries and track down the nefarious Sound Swindler … all with a little help from LeVar Burton himself!

Equal parts fun and informative, SOUND DETECTIVES encourages listeners (ages 5 & up) to engage with the sound mysteries that surround us, while unlocking the door to people and places around the globe. Join the team on this semi-improvised comedy caper, and help return the mystery sounds before the world falls silent!

Meet the Characters

LeVar Burton

LeVar Burton as LeVar Burton, an inventor, audio enthusiast and founder of the new Museum of Sound! When sounds start going missing, he calls on Detective Hunch and Audie the Ear to solve the case! However, there may be more to LeVar than they realize…

Detective Hunch

Detective Hunch is an award-winning private eye. He cracked his first case as a child, spending hours obsessively reading Detective Solvall's Handbook for Young Detectives. Over the years, he's grown used to working alone, tirelessly traveling around the world, and investigating late into the night. He relies on his memories of the sights and sounds from past cases to solve new ones. He enjoys painting, is friendly with lizards, and prefers his bread... lightly toasted.

Audie the Ear

Audie the Ear is a 3-foot, 5-inch walking, talking human ear... and Detective Hunch’s new partner! While Audie may be brand new to the detective game, she quickly proves that she’s got what it takes to crack the case! She's smart, observant, and is always ready with a fun fact about ears. Audie loves adventure and invents some of the most creative flavors of toast you’ve ever tasted!

Meet the Cast

LeVar Burton

LeVar Burton
LeVar Burton is an actor, director, and literacy advocate who has inspired generations of children through his work on Reading Rainbow. His podcast, LeVar Burton Reads, has been downloaded more than 25 million times. Burton is the honored recipient of 14 Emmy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award. He is the author of The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm, A Kids Book About Imagination, and the Grammy-nominated, Aftermath.

Vinny Thomas

Detective Hunch
Vinny Thomas first gained prominence through his satirical online videos, and he has been recognized by Vanity Fair, The Hollywood Reporter, USA Today, and Vulture as an upcoming comedian to know. After launching his comedy career in Chicago at The Second City, Vinny was named a Characters New Face at the 2021 Just For Laughs Festival. Shortly after, he joined the staff of NPR’s iconic favorite Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me as a guest writer. Vinny was recently featured as writer and performer in the 2023 CBS Comedy Showcase, and can be seen recurring opposite Seth Rogen throughout the Apple TV+ series Platonic.

Jessica McKenna

Audie
Jessica McKenna is an incredibly talented multi-hyphenate comedic performer who has starred in programs like Little Big Awesome, The Mighty Ones, and the FOX sketch show Party Over Here produced by The Lonely Island. She is also the creator, writer and star of the ABC digital series Serious Music. Other TV credits include Curb Your Enthusiasm, Space Force, Modern Family, Comedy Bang! Bang!, Big City Greens, and American Dad. Jess co-hosted the long-running hit podcast Off Book! The Improvised Musical. She was recently featured as one of Vulture’s Comics to Watch.

Who Makes This Podcast?

Julia Smith + Joanna Sokolowski have developed and produced a diverse slate of podcasts, documentary films and television focusing on wonder, curiosity, empathy and connection that spark conversations in the real world.

‍LeVar Burton Entertainment creates entertainment that builds community, fosters empathy, and champions diversity.

‍Stitcher Studios is home to award-winning podcasts including LeVar Burton Reads, The Mel Robbins Podcast, 99% Invisible, The Atlas Obscura Podcast, The New Rory and Mal, Vibe Check, Podcrushed, and The Sporkful.

Writers: Julia Smith, Joanna Sokolowski and Isabelle Redman Dolce
Additional Dialogue: Jess McKenna and Vinny Thomas
Story Editors: Josephine Martorana and John DeLore
Additional Story Editing: Matt Powers
Sound Design, Engineering, Mixing and Additional Original Music: Brendan Byrnes
Additional Sound Design: Tomeka Weatherspoon
Senior Producers: Julia Smith and Joanna Sokolowski
Associate Producer: Talon Stradley
Original Theme Music: Adam Deibert and Jess McKenna
Artwork: Aaron Nestor
Creators: Julia Smith and Joanna Sokolowski
Managing Producer: Tomeka Weatherspoon 
Executive Producers: Josephine Martorana for Stitcher, LeVar Burton, Isabelle Redman Dolce and Sangita Patel for LeVar Burton Entertainment, Julia Smith and Joanna Sokolowski
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