99% Invisible (Director's Cut)

Series produced by Roman Mars

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Trying to comprehend the 99% invisible activity that shapes the design of our world.

A tiny radio show about design, architecture & the 99% invisible activity that shapes our world. From producer Roman Mars and KALW in San Francisco.

In August 2012, 99% Invisible became the highest-funded journalism project in Kickstarter history, raising over $170,000 from 5661 backers.

With over 4 million downloads online, 99% Invisible recently peaked at #2 in iTunes ranking for all podcasts in the US, and had occupied the #1 spot in both the Arts and Design categories.

"Roman Mars lights the radio. His pieces conjure other worlds, grapple with big ideas, make sound three dimensional. They are smart and funny and original. The Kitchen Sisters would like to be Presidents of his Fan Club."
-The Kitchen Sisters, Peabody Award-winning producers for NPR

"We think what he’s doing is inspiring. It has a kind of rhythm and musicality that you don’t normally find in radio or podcast storytelling."
-Jad Abumrad, Radiolab

"I love the show. It's wonderful. [It] actually reminded me of why I love radio."
-Jonathan Goldstein, CBC's WireTap

"Mars is the Ira Glass of design."
-Allison Arieff, The New York Times Opinionator design columnist

Learn more: http://99percentinvisible.org Hide full description

A tiny radio show about design, architecture & the 99% invisible activity that shapes our world. From producer Roman Mars and KALW in San Francisco.

In August 2012, 99% Invisible became the highest-funded journalism project in Kickstarter history, raising over $170,000 from 5661 backers.

With over 4 million downloads online, 99% Invisible recently peaked at #2 in iTunes ranking for all podcasts in the US, and had occupied the #1 spot in both the Arts and Design categories. "Roman Mars lights the radio. His pieces conjure other worlds, grapple with big ideas, make sound three dimensional. They are smart and funny and original. The Kitchen Sisters would like to be Presidents of his Fan Club." -The Kitchen Sisters, Peabody Award-winning producers for NPR "We think what he’s doing... Show full description


197 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
99% Invisible #221-America's Last Top Model (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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One of the most reliable river models is now washed up.

  • Added: Jul 21, 2016
  • Length: 19:14
99% Invisible #220-The Mind Of An Architect (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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A study on creativity where famous architects contemplate life's big questions...like where we a third arm should be placed on a human body.

  • Added: Jul 22, 2016
  • Length: 21:27
99% Invisible #219-Unpleasant Design And Hostile Urban Architecture (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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User un-friendly design in the urban landscape.

Bought by XRAY.fm, KALW, and WABE


  • Added: Jul 22, 2016
  • Length: 14:05
  • Purchases: 3
99% Invisible #217-Home On Lagrange (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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While others predicted the end of the world, Gerry O'Neill designed a new era of space colonies that would capture the imagination of the world in ...

Bought by XRAY.fm


  • Added: Jul 25, 2016
  • Length: 26:06
  • Purchases: 1
99% Invisible #222-Combat Hearing Loss (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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The most common wartime injuries often go unheard.

  • Added: Jul 29, 2016
  • Length: 16:22
99% Invisible #227-The Road Taken (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
An interview with Henry Petroski about in's and out's of infrastructure.

  • Added: Sep 23, 2016
  • Length: 14:04
99% Invisible #226-On Average (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
The Average Joe is a myth.

  • Added: Sep 23, 2016
  • Length: 17:42
99% Invisible #228- Making Up Ground (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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Throughout history, the absence of land has proved to be a surprisingly small obstacle for people who want to build. From the buried Gold Rush ship...

  • Added: Sep 30, 2016
  • Length: 18:47
99% Invisible #229- The Trend Forecast (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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There are a couple companies that determine what you are wearing...and buying...and eating. Avery visits the trend forecasters.

Bought by New Hampshire Public Radio


  • Added: Sep 30, 2016
  • Length: 15:35
  • Purchases: 1
99% Invisible #124-Longbox (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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Whitney Jones of Pitch argues that R.E.M.'s Out of Time is the most politically important album in US history. How package design changed a law and...

  • Added: Oct 04, 2016
  • Length: 18:28
99% Invisible #231- Half A House (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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In the wake of a devastating earthquake in Chile, architects of Elemental were called in to build a new community for families displaced by the dis...

Bought by HowSound


  • Added: Oct 26, 2016
  • Length: 18:02
  • Purchases: 1
99% Invisible #230- Project Cybersyn (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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Running a country in a new way and the fab, space-age, midcentury modern ops room at the center. Katie Mingle has the story.

  • Added: Oct 26, 2016
  • Length: 20:53
99% Invisible #233- Space Trash, Space Treasure (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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When we started launching stuff into space, no one thought we'd have to worry about running out of space. As we've discovered time and time again, ...

  • Added: Oct 31, 2016
  • Length: 16:31
99% Invisible #232- McMansion Hell (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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If it's not already, McMansion Hell will be your new favorite website. Kate Wagner uses her keen eye for detail and razor sharp wit to teach princi...

  • Added: Oct 31, 2016
  • Length: 13:17
99% Invisible #235- Ten Letters For The President (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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When President Barack Obama took office, he requested that his staff pass along ten letters each night from the American people. Unlike almost ever...

  • Added: Nov 18, 2016
  • Length: 13:57
99% Invisible #236-Reverb (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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Today, through a combination of passive and active acoustics, architects and acousticians can control the sounds of spaces to fit any kind of need....

  • Added: Nov 18, 2016
  • Length: 18:43
99% Invisible #237- Dollar Store Town (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
Dollar stores are everywhere. They can be found in Australia and the United Kingdom, the Middle East and Mexico. And a lot of the stuff—the generic...

  • Added: Dec 05, 2016
  • Length: 15:49
99% Invisible #239-Guano Mania (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
In 2014, President Obama expanded the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, making it the largest marine preserve in the world. But how ...

  • Added: Dec 13, 2016
  • Length: 18:42
99% Invisible #240-Plat Of Zion (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
The urban grid and coordinate-style address system of Salt Lake City are designed to tell you exactly where you are in relation to Temple Square. P...

  • Added: Dec 14, 2016
  • Length: 16:54
99% Invisible #225-A Sea Worth Its Salt (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
It's unloved, salty, and stinky, but this accidental sea in the middle of the California desert is important. How do we handle the conservation of ...

Bought by WDBM


  • Added: Dec 15, 2016
  • Length: 17:34
  • Purchases: 1

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