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.
This episode of "Hidden Levels" explores the US Army's engagement with the gaming world as a recruitment strategy. It details the history of the Army's involvement, starting with the creation of the "America's Army" video game in 2002, designed to offer potential recruits a virtual experience of army life. The episode ...
This episode of "Hidden Levels," a collaboration between 99% Invisible and Endless Thread, explores the history and impact of the joystick. The hosts, Ben Brock Johnson and Roman Mars, introduce the topic by discussing the Konami code and its relevance to gaming culture. The episode traces the joystick's origins from e...
In this episode of 99% Invisible's collaborative series "Hidden Levels," Roman Mars and Ben Brock Johnson delve into the impact of video games on the broader world, starting with the story of NBA Jam and its iconic voice actor, Tim Kitzrow. The episode explores how NBA Jam captured the energy of 90s basketball with dig...
This podcast episode features Roman Mars and Ben Brock Johnson, creators of the new miniseries "Hidden Levels," discussing their show with Heather Anne Campbell and Matt Apodaca from the "Get Played" podcast. "Hidden Levels" explores the impact of video games on modern culture, delving into how gaming concepts and desi...
In this episode of 99% Invisible, Roman Mars and Elliott Kalan discuss the documentary "Drop Dead City," which explores New York City's financial crisis in the 1970s. They delve into the historical context, including Robert Moses' influence, the city's fiscal mismanagement, and the social contract between the city, its...
In this episode of 99% Invisible's breakdown of the Constitution, Roman Mars and Elizabeth Chapp interview Representative Sharice Davids about Article One of the Constitution, which establishes the legislative branch. Representative Davids shares her unique perspective as a member of Congress and a lawyer specializing ...
This episode of 99% Invisible explores the reliance of the American meatpacking industry on refugee labor. It begins by describing Greeley, Colorado, a meatpacking town where JBS, the world's largest meat processor, has its U.S. headquarters. Reporter Esther Honig interviews Mohamed, a refugee from Burma working at JBS...
In this episode of 99% Invisible, Roman Mars interviews author Mary Roach about her new book, "Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy," which explores the science and design challenges of creating replacement parts for the human body. They discuss the difficulties of integrating replacement parts due to the immun...
In this episode of 99% Invisible, Roman Mars and Kurt Kohlstedt revisit a special episode created to launch their book, "The 99% Invisible City," five years prior. They explore the design stories behind everyday objects found right outside their Oakland headquarters, such as anchor plates, fire escapes, planters with d...
In this 15th-anniversary episode of 99% Invisible, host Roman Mars answers 15 questions from listeners and producer Vivian Leigh, covering a range of topics related to design, the show's history, and Mars' personal experiences. Questions include how to improve a city without spending money, the evolution of the definit...
This episode of 99% Invisible explores the history and impact of the Ambassador Bridge, a privately-owned international crossing between Detroit and Windsor, Canada. It details the controversial ownership of the bridge by the Maroons, their real estate practices that negatively affected the surrounding community, and t...
This episode of 20,000 Hertz, shared on 99% Invisible, explores the history and impact of the Roland TR-808 drum machine. It traces the evolution of drum machines from simple home organ accompaniments to the revolutionary 808, highlighting its initial lack of popularity due to its artificial sound compared to the new s...
This episode of 99% Invisible explores the history of the Angelus Temple in Los Angeles and its founder, Aimee Semple McPherson. Opened in 1923, the Angelus Temple is considered the first megachurch in the United States, predating the modern megachurch movement by about half a century. The podcast details McPherson's r...
This episode of 99% Invisible explores the practice of "weeding" at libraries, which involves removing books to make space for new ones. The story focuses on the San Francisco Public Library after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, when a large number of books were discarded under the direction of city librarian Kenneth ...
In this episode of 99% Invisible, Roman Mars interviews science writer Carl Zimmer about his new book, "Airborne," which explores the history of our understanding of the air and its relationship to disease. The conversation begins with the ancient concept of miasmas and progresses to the germ theory, highlighting the w...
In this episode of 99% Invisible, Roman Mars and Elizabeth Jo delve into the U.S. Constitution, beginning with an analysis of the Preamble. They are joined by journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, creator of the 1619 Project, to discuss the historical context and interpretations of "We the People," particularly concerning th...
This episode of 99% Invisible explores the history and cultural impact of "The Quiet Storm," a radio show that originated at WHUR in Washington, D.C., in the mid-1970s. Created by Cathy Hughes and hosted by Melvin Lindsey, the show featured a mellow mix of soulful ballads and love songs, targeting the black middle clas...
This episode of 99% Invisible explores Neil Young's foray into the world of digital music players with his high-quality audio device, the Pono. The podcast details Young's motivations for creating the Pono, stemming from his dissatisfaction with the sound quality of compressed digital music formats like MP3s. It discus...
In this bonus episode of 99% Invisible, Roman Mars shares his favorite stories about San Francisco, beginning with the Transamerica Pyramid and its controversial history, followed by an exploration of privately owned public spaces (Popos) and their functional design, referencing urban sociologist William White's princi...
This episode of 99% Invisible explores the rise of food deserts in America, focusing on Woonsocket, Rhode Island, as a case study. It argues that food deserts are not simply a result of poverty, but are linked to antitrust policies and the dominance of large grocery chains like A&P and Walmart. The podcast traces the h...
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