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Artwork for 99% Invisible

99% Invisible

Roman Mars
Robert Moses
New York City
Climate Change
The Power Broker
Urban Planning
Robert Caro
Constitution
Los Angeles
California
Covid-19
Infrastructure
Urban Design
Congress
Video Games
Chicago
Tennessee Valley Authority
Supreme Court
Homelessness
Environmental Law
Design

Design is everywhere in our lives, perhaps most importantly in the places where we've just stopped noticing. 99% Invisible is a weekly exploration of the process and power of design and architecture. From award winning producer Roman Mars. Learn more at 99percentinvisible.org.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes826Founded16 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DesignArts

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Artwork for 99% Invisible

Latest Episodes

Producer and reporter Ramtin Arablouei (co-creator of the NPR show, Throughline) has a simple question: why are so many NBA players wearing a compression sleeve on their arm? It seems like everyone has one. Do they all have elbow issues? The answer i... more

Two rival paleontologists turn a hunt for dinosaur bones into an all-out scientific war.

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This episode is sponsored by Claude. For problems worth solving, get started with Claude at Claude.ai.

On his deathbed, President Chester Arthur ordered that all of his personal and professional papers be burned. Three barrels of documents went up i... more

A devastating fire put one of Hong Kong's oldest building traditions on trial, but the real story runs much deeper.

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Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Soh Tee Fai
Timmy So's father, scaffold worker
Bamboo scaffolding family business
Episode: Bamboo Is Innocent
Ma Ming
Local resident
Hong Kong resident
Episode: Bamboo Is Innocent
Ma Meng
Public defender of bamboo (per interview)
Public/online advocate underlining bamboo innocence
Episode: Bamboo Is Innocent
Chun-Geep K
26-year-old rapper
Hong Kong artist
Episode: Bamboo Is Innocent
Timmy So
Bamboo scaffold master
Bamboo scaffolding company in Hong Kong
Episode: Bamboo Is Innocent
Seth Rockman
George L. Littlefield Professor of American History at Brown University; author of Plantation Goods, A Material History of American Slavery
Brown University
Episode: 100 Objects #12: "Negro Cloth"
Tim Follett
Current Brannock Device Company president
Brannock Device Company
Episode: 100 Objects #11: Brannock Device
Paul Lucas
Journalist specializing in writing about overlooked or taken-for-granted objects
Independent journalist
Episode: 100 Objects #11: Brannock Device
Michelle Miller-Fisher
Design historian featured in the exploration of the box
Independent/University context mentioned
Episode: The Finnish Baby Box

Host

Roman Mars
Host of 99% Invisible

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 45.9k ratings
  • Just my favorite podcast

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Gal-they
    21 days ago
  • Wish this in Spanish for my immigrants parents

    I wish this was in Spanish so my parents who don’t speak English would be able to listen and get an intro into understanding the law and how it’s applied and how it affects them.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GoldenSpiralGuy
    United States21 days ago
  • Nother??

    •Episode 568: Memorials, in which the reporter invents a word: “… a whole NOTHER …”.

    ~

    •EPISODE: Megachurch, in which the contributor “hones in” on the building; “hone” means sharpen. It should be “home in”.

    ~

    •EPISODE: Constitution Breakdown No.2. Annoying guest catchphrase: “Does that make sense?”

    ~

    •EPISODE: “A Man, a Plan, a Canal — Mars”. Annoying Host Catchphrase: “Can you talk a little about …”

    ~

    •EPISODE: 100 Objects (Nunchukus): Annoying Guest Catchphrase s: “… right... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    (Gibberer)
    Australia23 days ago
  • The Sharpened Screwdriver???

    One of my favorite podcasts, HOWEVER this story of the Sharpened Screwdriver while 100% worthy of your podcast, it is simply not worthy of one of the most important objects in American History.

    Great story but disagree with it being one of the most important objects in US History.

    Perhaps I misunderstood the purpose of this series.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Andrew Bond of Glencoe
    United States24 days ago
  • Intelligent.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    JesusGotWhatHeDeserved
    a month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

A few listeners enjoy the nerdy object deep-dives; others push back on ads and pacing.
Rigorous research, engaging interviews, and broad topic range.
Thoughtful design history storytelling that connects past and present.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Original 100 Objects
Q: Why interview the makers of objects, like David Hockney, instead of only discussing the artifacts themselves?
Interviewing makers adds a dimension of agency and intention, showing how objects embody freedom, creativity, and social change, and it marks a turning point in the storytelling approach.
The Original 100 Objects
Q: What was it like to shift from a traditional narrative of world history to a hundred-object approach that includes everyday items?
The approach allows us to tell a more inclusive, interconnected story of humanity, highlighting the biographies of objects and the voices of those who weren't always heard.
The Score
Q: How do we use scores and scoring systems in an effective way to make the world a better place, and have them not dominate our lives in a bad way?
Use scores to coordinate at scale where appropriate (like lifespan metrics), but guard against over-relying on single metrics; cultivate ironic distance; allow for context and nuance; and create spaces where people design their own metrics to reflect values beyond simple counts.
The MAPL Test
Q: Okay, and do you have an answer for this, Max? What is your big solution to all of this?
Max suggests increased public funding, tax credits, and bursaries as practical ways to sustain and grow the arts ecosystem in Canada, balancing support with market-driven success to ensure broader inclusion beyond CanCon mandates.
100 Objects #1: The Century Safe
Q: Do you have some advice for telling the history of the United States through objects, given the imperfect archive we have?
Lepore emphasizes the need to look beyond official records, engage with various voices, and balance sensational artifacts with quieter, personal objects to repair gaps in the historical record.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About 99% Invisible

What is 99% Invisible about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show repeatedly explores how design and artifacts shape culture, society, and everyday life. Recent episodes thread together themes like the social power of consumer goods, design history, and how objects carry meaning beyond their utilitarian use. Guests range from historians and design scholars to journalists and industry practitioners, offering deep dives into topics like slavery's material culture, public policy around welfare programs, and iconic design instruments. The series stands out for connecting archival research with contemporary critique, often weaving in manufacturing, policy, and cultural storytelling to illuminate how small objects reflect broader historical forces. Potential listeners will likely appreciate rigorous r... more

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3. What Trump Can Teach Us About Con Law
4. Twenty Thousand Hertz
5. This American Life

How many episodes of 99% Invisible are there?

99% Invisible launched 16 years ago and published 826 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on 99% Invisible?

Recent guests on 99% Invisible include:

1. Soh Tee Fai
2. Ma Ming
3. Ma Meng
4. Chun-Geep K
5. Timmy So
6. Seth Rockman
7. Tim Follett
8. Paul Lucas

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