Joshua Leeds

Full Biography

Joshua Leeds began his study of psychoacoustics in 1986, after stepping away from a fledgling career composing for film in Hollywood, CA. His early work was shaped by the pioneering research of French ear, nose, and throat specialist Dr. Alfred Tomatis (1920 to 2001), whose theories on listening and sound and the nervous system became a foundation for Leeds' own practice. Throughout the 1990s and into the early 2000s, Leeds wrote books, produced specialized recordings, and taught psychoacoustic principles throughout the United States and Europe.

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In 2003, a collaboration with a CA-based concert pianist led Leeds to ask whether the same psychoacoustic principles that calm the human nervous system could calm pets. That question opened a new chapter in his research and led to the founding of BioAcoustic Research, Inc. Working alongside veterinary neurologist Susan Wagner, DVM, MS, Leeds co-authored Through a Dog's Ear (Sounds True, 2008), a book grounded in pilot studies involving more than 150 canines in shelters, clinics, grooming facilities, and homes. Leeds provided specially-designed classical-oriented soundtracks for the research studies, consisting of progressive degrees of harmonic and auditory complexity. The ensuing research found that slower, simplified classical music produced stronger calming effects than more complex musical styles, a finding consistent with earlier work by Irish researcher Deborah Wells on shelter dog behavior.

Through the 2010s, Leeds expanded this work to felines and explored new animal-based musical territory, based on evolving research, with releases such as  iCalmDog Reggae, while continuing to teach internationally. While his work with canines was primarily based on principles of tone, tempo, and pattern, Leeds' recordings for felines included tone, tempo, and pattern, the primary theoretical foundation was based on establishing and maintaining (auditory) consistency, based on the 2013 University of Ohio research of Dr. C.A. Buffington (stress, environmental enrichment, and cats). 

His most recent book, Sound & Breath for Autonomic Balance (BioAcoustic Press, 2026), returns his research to its human roots, applying decades of psychoacoustic, therapeutic sound (Dr. Alfred A. Tomatis) and polyvagal-informed principles (Stephen W. Porges, Ph.D.) to help people regulate sympathetic overdrive through breath, supported by sound and gentle movement. That book is the foundation of a new stress resilience and anxiety relief practice, Sound Breath Toolkit (SBTK).
 

Timeline

• 1985: Leaves composing career in Hollywood to begin studying psychoacoustics, the effects of sound and music on the human nervous system. 

• 1986-2000: Begins producing specialized recordings with self-help author and NY Times Bestselling author, Louise L. Hay. (You Can Heal Your Life)

• 1990s to early 2000s: Writes early books, produces multiple psychoacoustically-oriented recordings (with Dr. Andrew Weil, The Monroe Institute, Advanced Brain Technologies, etc.) and teaches psychoacoustic principles throughout the USA and Europe as co-producer of The Listening Program, the first U.S. Tomatis derivative.

• 2003: Creates BioAcoustic Research and a new focus on applying psychoacoustic principles of tone, tempo, and pattern to companion animals. The project was known as Through a Dog's Ear and is now known as iCalmPet.

• 2007: Co-founder and Executive Director of the Sound & Music Alliance (SAMA). Now defunct.

• 2008: Co-authors the book, Through a Dog's Ear (Sounds True), with veterinary neurologist Susan Wagner, DVM, MS, grounded in pilot studies with more than 150 dogs.

• 2010s: Publishes 2nd edition of seminal work, The Power of Sound (Inner Traditions), expands auditory work to cats, releases iCalmDog Reggae, and continues teaching at The Globe Institute and California Institute for Integral Studies (SF) and the New York Open Center. 

• 2020's: Teaches online through the Shift Network.

• 2026: Publishes Sound & Breath for Autonomic Balance (BioAcoustic Press), and creates the Sound Breath Toolkit (www.SoundBreathToolkit.com) to bring nearly four decades of psychoacoustic research to human nervous system regulation.

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Publications:

1997  Sonic Alchemy: Conversations with Leading Sound Practitioners (InnerSong Press)
2001  The Power of Sound: How to Manage Your Personal Soundscape for a Vital, Productive, & Healthy Life (Inner Traditions/Healing Arts Press)
2008 Through a Dog's Ear: Using Sound to Improve the Health & Behavior of Your Canine Companion
(Co-written with Susan Wagner, DVM) (Sounds True/Macmillan)
2010  The Power of Sound–Revised 2nd edition (Inner Traditions/Healing Arts Press)
2026  Sound & Breath for Autonomic Balance: Stress & Anxiety Relief in Turbulent Times (BioAcoustic Press)

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Leeds' books are published in multiple languages, including English, Russian, Chinese, Hebrew, and German.

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Recordings:

• Songs of Affirmation with Louise L. Hay (1986 Hay House)

• Gift of the Present with Louise L. Hay (1987 Hay House)

• Rhapsody for Louise (1988 Hay House)

• Safe Passage (1989 InnerSong Press)

• Masterworks  (1996 Monroe Products)

• Baroque Garden for Concentration (1997 Monroe Products)

• 8 Meditations for Optimum Health with Andrew Weil, M.D. (1997 Upaya Music/Tommyboy)

• Sound Body, Sound Mind with Andrew Weil, M.D. (1998 Upaya Music/Tommyboy)

• The Listening Program (1999 Advanced Brain Technologies)

• Sound Health Series (8 recordings): Concentration, Learning, Thinking, Relax, Productivity, De-Stress, etc. (2000 Advanced Brain Technologies)

• Joyful Birth (2002 Rodale Press)

• Relax and De-Stress (2006 Sounds True)

• Through a Dog's Ear (2007  Sounds True)

• Driving Edition-Through a Dog's Ear (2007 Sounds True)

• Deep Calm (2009 Sounds True)

• Hemi-Sync Support for Healing (2009 Monroe Products)

• Goodnight, Baby (2011 Sounds True)

• Anxiety and Depression Relief, Pain Management, Cancer Treatment, Surgical Support, Sleep, Relax
  (2012 Monroe Products app suite)

• Calm Mama (2013 Sounds True)

• Through a Dog's Ear, Music to Comfort Your Elderly Canine (2012-2014 BioAcoustic Research)

• Through a Cat's Ear series (2013-2018 BioAcoustic Research)

• iCalmDog Reggae (2019 BioAcoustic Research)

• Essential Sound Series: Still Waters, Finding Flow, Full Stride (2026 BioAcoustic Press)

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Teaching & Appearances

Leeds has taught the psychoacoustic applications of music and sound to educators, healthcare professionals, and students at institutions including the California Institute for Integral Studies (San Francisco), the New York Open Center, The Shift Network (online), and University of Cambridge (UK). 

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From 1999-present, conference presentations and multi-day trainings include:

• Sound Breath Toolkit

• Future of Soundwork Series

• Music and Sound in Disrupted Times–Expanding the Relevance of Soundwork for Cultures in Crises

• Our Culture is the Patient–Music in the Age of Covid & Climate

• Through a Dog’s Ear: The Effect of Human Soundscape on Animals… and Their People!

• Soundwork for Musicians, Educators, and Therapeutic Professionals

•  Psychoacoustics: Tone, Tempo, and Pattern

• Advanced Psychoacoustics for Musicians and Therapeutic Professionals

• Music, Sex & Chocolate: Finding Balance in an Over-Stimulated World

• Music, Medicine, and Sound Therapy

• The Listening Program​