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 #91- Wild Ones (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
Humans watching humans watching animals.

Bought by XRAY.fm


  • Added: Jul 13, 2015
  • Length: 30:41
  • Purchases: 1
99% Invisible #104- Tunnel 57 (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
You couldn't climb over the Berlin Wall. You couldn't go around it. The only way was under.

Bought by KPIK-LP and XRAY.fm


  • Added: Jul 13, 2015
  • Length: 20:13
  • Purchases: 2
99% Invisible #110- Structural Integrity (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
When Manhattan was almost flattened.

  • Added: Jul 13, 2015
  • Length: 22:19
99% Invisible #103- U.T.B.A.P.H. (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
The everlasting architecture of Pizza Hut.

  • Added: Jul 13, 2015
  • Length: 15:46
99% Invisible #130- Holdout (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
A story of steadfastness

Bought by KUOW, KPIK-LP, KHNS, and KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio


  • Added: Jul 13, 2015
  • Length: 15:27
  • Purchases: 4
99% Invisible #105- One Man Is An Island (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
No man is an island. Except for Busta Rhymes.

Bought by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, WABE, XRAY.fm, and WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass.


  • Added: Apr 10, 2014
  • Length: 20:50
  • Purchases: 4
99% Invisible #84a- Ladislav Sutnar (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
The man who put parentheses around area codes.

  • Added: Feb 07, 2014
  • Length: 02:26
99% Invisible #89- Bubble Houses
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
Buildings of the future, once.

Bought by WABE, XRAY.fm, WJCT, WNIJ, WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass. and more


  • Added: Oct 08, 2013
  • Length: 23:48
  • Purchases: 6
99% Invisible #88- The Broadcast Clock
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
What makes public radio tick.

Bought by Troy Public Radio, New Hampshire Public Radio, XRAY.fm, KMUZ, WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass. and more


  • Added: Oct 08, 2013
  • Length: 14:53
  • Purchases: 6
99% Invisible #87- I Heart NY, TM
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
By now, the story is well known. A man sits in the backseat of a cab, sketching on a notepad as night falls over a crumbling city.

Bought by WABE, XRAY.fm, and WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass.


  • Added: Oct 08, 2013
  • Length: 19:44
  • Purchases: 3
99% Invisible #86-Reversal of Fortune
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
When Chicago was up the proverbial creek.

Bought by WABE, XRAY.fm, and WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass.


  • Added: Oct 08, 2013
  • Length: 19:14
  • Purchases: 3
99% Invisible #85- Noble Effort
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
The man behind the most famous desert landscapes of all time.

Bought by WABE, XRAY.fm, and WJCT


  • Added: Oct 07, 2013
  • Length: 16:46
  • Purchases: 3
99% Invisible #82- The Man of Tomorrow
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
A giant leap for radio. Flight for TV.

Bought by Rhythm & News Service, WJCT, KPIK-LP, XRAY.fm, and KUT


  • Added: Oct 07, 2013
  • Length: 11:14
  • Purchases: 5
99% Invisible #81- Rebar and the Alvord Lake Bridge
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
The steal skeleton underneath the all the concrete structures that you work in, drive over, and walk under…

Bought by New Hampshire Public Radio, KRCC-FM, XRAY.fm, and KMUZ


  • Added: Oct 07, 2013
  • Length: 11:30
  • Purchases: 4
99% Invisible #83- Heyoon
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
Bored and disaffected and angry, Alex longed for a place to escape to. And then he found Heyoon.

Bought by KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, XRAY.fm, WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass., KALW, and HowSound


  • Added: Jul 08, 2013
  • Length: 27:07
  • Purchases: 5
99% Invisible #80- An Architect's Code
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
Some architects say there are just some buildings that should never have been built: buildings that violate human rights by design.

Bought by MPR News Stations, WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass., and The Story


  • Added: Jul 02, 2013
  • Length: 16:47
  • Purchases: 3
99% Invisible #78- No Armed Bandit
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
When you're in the zone, it's play to play, not play to win.

Bought by XRAY.fm and KMUZ


  • Added: Jul 02, 2013
  • Length: 17:47
  • Purchases: 2
99% Invisible #77- Game Changer
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
The two tweaks to basketball that made it the sports juggernaut it is today.

Bought by XRAY.fm, KMUZ, The Story, Louisville Public Media, and KUT


  • Added: May 13, 2013
  • Length: 11:46
  • Purchases: 5
99% Invisible #76- The Modern Moloch (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
The story of America's "love affair" with cars was as much a product of the auto industry as the car itself.

Bought by XRAY.fm, KALW, WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass., and KUT


  • Added: May 13, 2013
  • Length: 21:24
  • Purchases: 4
99% Invisible #75- Secret Staircases
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
The secret public stairs that wind through our neighborhoods

Bought by New Hampshire Public Radio, WABE, XRAY.fm, KUT, WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass. and more


  • Added: May 13, 2013
  • Length: 11:00
  • Purchases: 6

Playlists That Feature This Series: