99% Invisible (Director's Cut)

Series produced by Roman Mars

Series image

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 #27- Bridge to the Sky (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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There are rules that dicate how high you can build. Bradford Gilbert just didn't believe in them.

Bought by KUOW and North Country Public Radio


  • Added: Dec 20, 2011
  • Length: 04:44
  • Purchases: 2
99% Invisible #42- Recognizably Anonymous (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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A group accidentally created what ad execs dream of: a unique brand identity that rapidly achieved world-wide appeal and renknown. Except this gr...

  • Added: Dec 10, 2012
  • Length: 10:36
99% Invisible #43- The Accidental Music of Imperfect Escalators (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
Sometimes it's an object's imperfections that makes you fall in love with it. And sometimes that object is an escalator.

Bought by New Hampshire Public Radio, WJCT, and The Story


  • Added: Dec 10, 2012
  • Length: 07:21
  • Purchases: 3
99% Invisible #44- The Pruitt-Igoe Myth (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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How a St. Louis public housing marvel became "hell on earth."

Bought by KPIK-LP


  • Added: Dec 10, 2012
  • Length: 11:27
  • Purchases: 1
99% Invisible #45- Beauty Pill's Immersive Ideal
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
The closest one could ever hope to get to dancing about architecture.

Bought by New Hampshire Public Radio and WTJU


  • Added: Dec 10, 2012
  • Length: 09:30
  • Purchases: 2
99% Invisible #46- Vulcanite Dentures, or When Patent Violators Strike Back
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
These false teeth were to die for. To kill for, even.

Bought by New Hampshire Public Radio, New Hampshire Public Radio, and XRAY.fm


  • Added: Dec 10, 2012
  • Length: 08:51
  • Purchases: 3
99% Invisible #47- US Postal Service Stamps (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
They are NOT tiny paintings.

Bought by WABE


  • Added: Dec 10, 2012
  • Length: 12:27
  • Purchases: 1
99% Invisible #48- The Bathtubs or the Boiler Room (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
Discovering marble bathtubs in the basement of the US Capitol.

Bought by New Hampshire Public Radio


  • Added: Dec 10, 2012
  • Length: 11:07
  • Purchases: 1
99% Invisible #49- Queue Theory and Design (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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In the US, it’s called a line. In Canada, it’s often referred to as a line-up. Pretty much everywhere else, it’s known as a queue.

Bought by New Hampshire Public Radio


  • Added: Dec 10, 2012
  • Length: 09:54
  • Purchases: 1
99% Invisible #50- DeafSpace (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
The acoustics of a building are a big concern for architects. But for designers at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC, it’s the absence of soun...

Bought by KZYX and WABE


  • Added: Dec 10, 2012
  • Length: 11:42
  • Purchases: 2
99% Invisible #51- Arsenal of Exclusion (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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“Cities exist to bring people together, but cities can also keep people apart” - Daniel D’Oca, Urban Planner, Interboro Partners.

Bought by KALW


  • Added: Dec 10, 2012
  • Length: 10:29
  • Purchases: 1
99% Invisible #52- Galloping Gertie (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
Even during the construction of the original Tacoma Narrows Bridge, the deck would go up and down by several feet with the slightest breeze. Constr...

Bought by KMUZ


  • Added: Dec 10, 2012
  • Length: 11:30
  • Purchases: 1
99% Invisible #54- The Colour of Money (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
Australia made its money better. Why can't the US?

Bought by XRAY.fm and WJCT


  • Added: Dec 10, 2012
  • Length: 16:44
  • Purchases: 2
99% Invisible #55- The Best Beer in the World (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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They made it perfect--but not for you.

  • Added: Dec 10, 2012
  • Length: 13:02
99% Invisible #56- Frozen Music
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
Composer Jon Brion reminds us the difference between a performance and a song

Bought by WABE, KSRQ, KUT, WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass., and KPVL


  • Added: Dec 10, 2012
  • Length: 10:08
  • Purchases: 5
99% Invisible #57- What Gave You That Idea (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
What Charles Dickens has to do with those insurance commercials on TV.

Bought by XRAY.fm


  • Added: Dec 10, 2012
  • Length: 14:29
  • Purchases: 1
99% Invisible #58- Purple Reign (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
What’s the difference between what the public sees and what an architect sees when they look at a building?

Bought by WABE, KUT, The Story, and KUOW


  • Added: Dec 11, 2012
  • Length: 14:59
  • Purchases: 4

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