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. A proud member of Radiotopia, from PRX. Learn more at radiotopia.fm.
100 Objects #8: Billy Possum
In 1902, an American classic was born: the teddy bear. Named after President Theodore Roosevelt, the...
Listen100 Objects #7: The Otis Pamphlet
Before the Declaration of Independence was even a twinkle in the founding fathers' eyes, there was James...
ListenTransatlantic Fiber-Optic Expialidocious
Before the internet went global, one undersea gamble made it possible. Jane Ruffino’s story, "Say...
Listen100 Objects #6: "Sharpened Screwdriver"
In this episode, Roman and historians Heather Ann Thompson and Elliot Williams tell the story of the...
ListenThe Most Exciting Change America Has Ever Seen
Billions of state quarters disappeared from circulation...and that was exactly the plan. Subscribe to...
Listen100 Objects #5: Blue Back Speller
In this episode, Roman and historian Imani Perry follow the Webster Blue Back Speller from the early...
ListenThe Horn That Divided the World Cup
Love it or hate it, one buzzing horn changed the sound of the World Cup forever. Subscribe to SiriusXM...
Listen100 Objects #4: Lowe's Gas Bag
In 1861, one man and a “gas bag” filled with hydrogen sparked America's obsession with going higher,...
ListenKaraoke Videos
Behind every cheesy karaoke track was a surprisingly ambitious filmmaking experiment. Subscribe to SiriusXM...
Listen100 Objects #3: The Pension Files
What do Civil War pension files reveal about one of history's most successful slave rebellions? Historian...
ListenThe MAPL Test
Canada reshaped its music industry with a quirky radio rule that changed who got heard. Subscribe to...
Listen100 Objects #2: 60-Degree Screw
In the early 20th century, nothing quite fit — fire hoses couldn't connect to one another, football...
ListenDrug Story: Ivermectin
What started as a revolutionary treatment for river blindness became something far messier. Listen to...
Listen100 Objects #1: The Century Safe
In 1876, Americans filled an iron safe with objects meant to tell their story — to be opened a century...
ListenAsk Your Doctor About
As wild and random as they might seem, a lot of work—and even poetry—goes into coming up with today's...
ListenA History of the United States in 100 Objects Trailer
America’s 250th birthday calls for a history as sprawling and contradictory as the country itself. A...
ListenEnshittification
Why is it suddenly so hard to fix the stuff we depend on most? Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen...
ListenCitizen of the World
One man rejected nationality and dared the world to recognize him anyway. Listen to Far From Home wherever...
ListenConstitution Breakdown #9: Alondra Nelson
This is the ninth episode of our ongoing series breaking down the U.S. Constitution. This month, Roman...
ListenCo-op City
The world’s largest housing co-op—built to save New York City’s middle class—became the unlikely...
ListenRoboUmp Hits the Big Leagues
One study from 2018 found that Major League Baseball umpires blow about 14 calls every game. That’s...
ListenService Request #5: Dude, Where's My Car?
A missing car reveals the confusing rules, murky fees, and private actors behind modern towing. What...
ListenService Request #4: How Does the Grid in Phoenix Work?
In a place where losing power can turn deadly, keeping the lights on is a high-stakes balancing act. What...
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