99% Invisible
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.
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Recent Episodes
Where the F*** Are We?
Mar 03, 2026For centuries, the world's greatest minds were stumped by the deadly mystery of longitude, until an obsessive underdog entered the fray and changed navigation forever. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts...
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This episode explores the deadly longitude problem that plagued 18th-century navigation, leading to catastrophic shipwrecks like the 1707 disaster that killed up to 2,000 sailors near the Isles of Scilly. The story follows John Harrison, a self-taught clockmaker who spent decades perfecting a marine timekeeper to solve longitude calculation at sea, ultimately revolutionizing navigation despite bureaucratic obstacles. The episode concludes with a fascinating exploration of traditional Polynesian wayfinding techniques that achieved similar navigational feats without any instruments.
- The Isles of Scilly and the Deadly Waters
- The 1707 Naval Disaster and the Longitude Problem
Constitution Breakdown #7: California AG Rob Bonta
Feb 27, 2026This is the seventh episode of our ongoing series breaking down the U.S. Constitution. This month, Roman and Elizabeth discuss Article IV, which outlines the relationship between states and between ...
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The Longest Fence in the World
Feb 24, 2026How a fence meant to protect sheep transformed the entire Australian landscape. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of 99% Invisible ad-free and a whole week early. Start a f...
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This episode explores Australia's dingo barrier fence, the longest fence in the world at over 5,000 kilometers. Originally built to keep out rabbits, it was repurposed to protect the wool industry from dingoes. The fence has dramatically altered Australia's ecology, splitting the continent into two distinct ecosystems visible from space. The story examines the complex relationship between humans and dingoes, from the fence's maintenance to the tragic recent events on Fraser Island (Gari), where dingoes roam free and conflicts with tourists have led to fatal encounters.
- The World's Longest Fence
- From Rabbits to Dingoes: The Fence's Origin Story
Molar City
Feb 17, 2026How a small Mexican border town transformed itself into the dental tourism capital of the world, where dental care costs up to 80% less than what it might cost in the United States. Subscribe to Sir...
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99% Invisible explores Los Algodones, Mexico, a border town nicknamed 'Molar City' where nearly 1,000 dentists serve over a million American and Canadian medical tourists annually seeking affordable dental care. The episode traces the town's transformation from cotton farming to cantina culture to its current status as a dental tourism mecca, examining the economic forces, cultural dynamics, and human stories behind this unique cross-border phenomenon.
- The Journey to Molar City
- From Cotton Fields to Cantina Town
Artistic License Redux
Feb 10, 2026Idaho was the first state to slap a slogan on a license plate, “Idaho Potatoes,” which may not seem like a big deal, but it turns out this idea would end up having outsized consequences, and not just ...
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This episode explores the surprising history and constitutional battles surrounding license plates in America, from Idaho's 1928 potato plate that started the trend of state slogans, to Supreme Court cases over compelled speech and Confederate flag imagery. The story reveals how these mundane metal rectangles became ideological battlegrounds where governments and citizens clash over identity, freedom of expression, and whose message gets displayed on millions of cars.
- Idaho's Potato Plate: The Birth of License Plate Advertising
- The Rise of State Slogans and Tourism Competition
The Em Dash
Feb 03, 2026The strange history of a punctuation mark that makes writing feel human, and why people now think it proves the opposite. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of 99% Invisible a...
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99% Invisible explores the fascinating history and cultural significance of the em dash, from its theatrical origins with Shakespeare to its controversial association with AI-generated text. The episode traces how this versatile punctuation mark became a defining feature of great literary works by Emily Dickinson, Jane Austen, and others, before becoming stigmatized as a potential indicator of AI writing. The story includes a contemporary solution: the Am dash, a specially designed punctuation mark that humans can use to prove their writing is authentic.
- The Reddit Accusation and Em Dash Controversy
- Medieval Origins: Boncompagno's Punctuation Innovation
Constitution Breakdown #6: Adam Liptak
Jan 30, 2026This is the sixth episode of our ongoing series breaking down the U.S. Constitution. This month, Roman and Elizabeth discuss Article III, which establishes the judicial branch, alongside New York Tim...
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This episode of 99% Invisible's Breakdown of the Constitution examines Article 3, which establishes the judicial branch. Hosts Roman Mars and Elizabeth Cho speak with New York Times Supreme Court reporter Adam Liptak about what's in—and notably missing from—this surprisingly brief article, the evolution of judicial power, the Roberts Court's legacy, and the challenges facing the modern judiciary.
- The Brevity and Gaps of Article 3
- Congress's Power Over the Supreme Court
What’s in a Name
Jan 27, 2026Throughtout Africa and beyond, Zimbabweans are known for choosing some of the most bold, head-turning English-language names. Zimbabwean producer Kim Chakanetsa tells the story of how her country's jo...
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Producer Kim Chakanetza explores the unique naming culture of Zimbabwe, where people commonly have English names like 'Suffer,' 'Medicine,' 'Lovemore,' and 'Learnmore.' The episode traces how this distinctive practice emerged from colonial history, evolved through independence, and reflects Zimbabwean identity today. Through personal stories and expert interviews, the episode reveals how these names that puzzle outsiders are deeply meaningful expressions of hope, resilience, and cultural creativity.
- Introduction: Zimbabwe's Unique Names
- Traditional Shona Naming Culture
Audio Flux
Jan 20, 2026This week we're featuring Audio Flux, a short-form audio challenge where artists squeeze surprising stories into three minutes. Find out more about Audio Flux by visiting audioflux.org Follow Audio ...
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This episode features 99% Invisible host Roman Mars in conversation with Julie Shapiro, co-creator of AudioFlux, a project that champions short-form audio documentaries in an industry increasingly dominated by long-form conversation podcasts. They discuss the origins of AudioFlux, its creative circuit structure, and share five remarkable three-minute documentary pieces that showcase the boundless possibilities of audio storytelling.
- The Birth of AudioFlux: Reviving Short-Form Audio
- The Sound of Silence: When Tinnitus Becomes Enlightenment
Exit Interview With Michael Bierut
Jan 13, 2026A young designer faces an impossible brief and discovers the spark that will define his legendary career. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of 99% Invisible ad-free and a who...
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Designer Michael Beirut reflects on his four-decade career as he steps into semi-retirement from Pentagram, discussing breakthrough projects like the reversible invitation and New York Times building signage, design philosophies learned through experience, memorable successes and regrets, and the evolution from doing design to supporting the next generation of designers.
- Career Transition and Knowing When to Step Back
- The Breakthrough: The Reversible Invitation Design
Mini-Stories: Volume 22
Jan 06, 2026Performance changing gear, a Titanic era nurse with unbelievable resilience, and an ingenious art vending project reveal how innovation and endurance shape unexpected worlds. Subscribe to SiriusXM P...
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The first mini stories episode of 2025 features three distinct design tales: controversial sports equipment that changed athletic competitions, the incredible survival story of a woman who lived through three major ship disasters, and a creative project that transforms old cigarette vending machines into art dispensers.
- The Laser Racer and Swimming's Tech Revolution
- Curling's Performance-Enhancing Brooms
Beyond the 99% Invisible City
Dec 30, 2025From rogue stop signs to rooftop mini golf, discover how chaos and creativity quietly shape the urban world. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of 99% Invisible ad-free and a ...
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Roman Mars and Kurt Kolstad present a special audio edition companion to their bestselling book 'The 99% Invisible City,' featuring four favorite short stories from the past five years. Each story corresponds to one of the book's main chapters—Infrastructure, Urbanism, Geography, and Architecture—revealing hidden design elements that shape our everyday world, from the geometric theory behind stop signs to Bermuda's ingenious water-collecting rooftops.
- The Stop Sign Story: How Geometry Became a Safety Language
- Miniature Golf's Depression Era Boom: Recreation During Economic Collapse
Constitution Breakdown #5: Dr. Tom Frieden
Dec 26, 2025This is the fifth episode of our ongoing series breaking down the U.S. Constitution. This month, Roman and Elizabeth turn to the rest of Article Two with former CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden, talking ...
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Mini-Stories: Volume 21
Dec 23, 2025A glowing Vegas pyramid, a famously mistyped domain, and a long-delayed miracle investigation unfold in three unexpected tales. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of 99% Invis...
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Roman Mars hosts the annual mini-stories episode of 99% Invisible, featuring three quick tales from producers Chris Berube, Vivian Lay, and Jason DeLeon. The stories cover the Luxor Pyramid's sky beam and grasshopper swarms, the accidental traffic goldmine of Gale.com, and the elaborate Vatican process for verifying miracles.
- The Luxor Pyramid and Its Sky Beam
- The 2019 Grasshopper Invasion of Las Vegas
Sax Appeal
Dec 16, 2025From military parades to smoky clubs, one invention’s wild journey reveals how an instrument can become a symbol of rebellion and reinvention. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episod...
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This episode explores the fascinating history of the saxophone, from its invention by Adolphe Sax in 1840s Belgium through its transformation into an iconic instrument of American music. The story follows Sax's unlikely survival through a death-defying childhood, his entrepreneurial pursuit of a French military contract, and how his hybrid brass-woodwind instrument eventually became synonymous with jazz, rebellion, and ultimately mainstream culture.
- The Invention Era: 19th Century Instrument Innovation
- Adolphe Sax's Death-Defying Childhood
The Checkerboard
Dec 09, 2025A single diagonal step on a map sparks a legal war with huge consequences. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of 99% Invisible ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free t...
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This episode explores the story of four Missouri hunters who challenged land access restrictions in Wyoming's checkerboard pattern of public and private land. Their corner crossing strategy to access landlocked public land sparked a legal battle that reached the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, ultimately establishing precedent for public land access across six western states and highlighting issues affecting over 8 million acres of inaccessible public land.
- Discovery of Elk Mountain and the Checkerboard
- The Checkerboard Pattern and Corner Crossing
U Is for Urbanism
Dec 02, 2025How Jane Jacob's urbanism dreams came to life on the most beloved kids' TV block. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of 99% Invisible ad-free and a whole week early. Start a...
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This episode explores how Sesame Street has quietly educated generations of children about good urbanism and healthy neighborhoods for over 50 years. Created during New York City's troubled 1960s, the show deliberately portrayed a functional, diverse urban community that embodies urbanist Jane Jacobs' principles for vibrant neighborhoods. The episode examines how the iconic children's show became a blueprint for urban design while facing ongoing threats to its existence.
- The Origins of Sesame Street's Urban Vision
- Jane Jacobs' Urban Principles on Sesame Street
Constitution Breakdown #4: Janet Napolitano
Nov 28, 2025This is the fourth episode of our ongoing series breaking down the U.S. Constitution. This month, Roman and Elizabeth turn to Article Two, which establishes the executive branch, alongside former Sec...
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In this episode of 99% Invisible's breakdown of the Constitution, Roman Mars and Elizabeth Joh discuss Article 2, which establishes the executive branch. They interview former Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano about executive power, the creation of DACA, and the relationship between Congress and the President. The episode then examines Trump's boat strikes in the Caribbean through the lens of constitutional war powers, exploring how vague constitutional language and legal precedents have enabled unprecedented military action.
- Article 2 and Executive Power with Janet Napolitano
- The Creation and Implementation of DACA
Murderland
Nov 25, 2025Writer Caroline Fraser argues a chilling link between industrial poison, deadly design, and a generation of serial killers in the Pacific Northwest. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new ...
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In this episode, Roman Mars interviews Caroline Fraser about her book 'Murderland,' which explores the connections between environmental pollution from industrial smelters, infrastructure design failures, and the spike in serial killers in the Pacific Northwest during the 1970s and 80s. Fraser weaves together personal memoir, true crime, and environmental history to examine how toxic emissions from the ASARCO smelter in Tacoma, combined with leaded gasoline and other environmental hazards, may have contributed to increased violence and the rise of notorious serial killers like Ted Bundy and Gary Ridgway.
- Caroline Fraser's Personal Connection to Pacific Northwest Violence
- The Discovery of ASARCO's Pollution Map
The Moving Walkway Is Ending
Nov 18, 2025People once dreamed of sidewalks that could whisk them across cities. Somehow, that dream ended up at the airport. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of 99% Invisible ad-free ...
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This episode explores the fascinating history of moving walkways, from their origins as a grand vision for urban mass transit in the 1870s to their current status as ubiquitous airport infrastructure. Reporter Jasper Davidoff traces how these 'endless trains' evolved from ambitious proposals to transform cities into practical solutions for airport terminals, examining why they succeeded in some contexts while failing in others.
- The Origins of Moving Sidewalks in 19th Century Manhattan
- World's Fairs Bring Moving Walkways to Life