99% Invisible
{{Short description|Radio program and podcast on design}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox podcast
| title = 99% Invisible
| image = 99% Invisible logo.svg
| hosting = Roman Mars
| language = English
| updates = Active, weekly
| length = < 10 minutes (early seasons)
< 60 minutes (later seasons)
| production = {{ubl|Roman Mars (2010–present)|Sam Greenspan (2010–17)}}
| audio format = MP3
| list_episodes = List of 99% Invisible episodes
| began = {{Start date|2010|9|3}}
| genre = {{Hlist|Arts|design|architecture}}
| ratings = All audiences
| provider = {{ubl|PRX (radio)|Radiotopia (podcast)}}
| url = {{URL|http://99percentinvisible.org/}}
| num_episodes = 625 ({{as of|2025|4|lc=y}})
| fetchwikidata = ALL
}}
99% Invisible is a radio show and podcast produced and created by Roman Mars that focuses on design.{{cite web|last=|first=|date=2014-01-31|title=About: 99% Invisible Is About All the Thought That Goes Into the Things We Don't Think About|url=http://99percentinvisible.org/about/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140212211134/http://99percentinvisible.org/about/|archive-date=2014-02-12|access-date=2014-02-17|website=99% Invisible|publisher=PRX|language=en-US}} It began as a collaborative project between San Francisco public radio station KALW and the American Institute of Architects in San Francisco. PRX has distributed the show for broadcasting on a number of radio stations and as a podcast on the Radiotopia network.{{cite web|last1=Kowalczyk|first1=Patrick|last2=Alikhan|first2=Anusha|date=2014-02-04|title=PRX Launches Radiotopia, New Podcast Network of Story-Driven Public Radio Shows by Industry's Best Emerging and Established Talent|url=http://media.prx.org/PRXRadiotopia_release_FINAL.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221174630/http://media.prx.org/PRXRadiotopia_release_FINAL.pdf|archive-date=2014-02-21|access-date=2014-02-17|website=Public Radio Exchange|publisher=PRX|language=en-US}} On April 28, 2021, Roman Mars announced in an introduction of a re-released episode that 99% Invisible had been purchased by Sirius XM and marketed as part of its Stitcher Radio brand.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/26/arts/siriusxm-99-invisible-roman-mars.html|title=SiriusXM Is Buying '99% Invisible,' and Street Cred in Podcasting|first=Reggie|last=Ugwu|work=The New York Times |date=April 26, 2021|via=NYTimes.com}}
History
The name of the show was derived from a quote by Buckminster Fuller that, "Ninety-nine percent of who you are is invisible and untouchable."{{cite web|last=Belonax|first=Tim|date=2013-01-08|title=99% Invisible: Roman Mars|url=http://designenvy.aiga.org/99-invisible-roman-mars/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221222141/http://designenvy.aiga.org/99-invisible-roman-mars/|archive-date=2014-02-21|access-date=2014-02-17|website=Design Envy|publisher=AIGA|language=en-US}}
In 2014, 99% Invisible began its fourth season, the first in which it had a weekly release schedule.{{cite web|last=|first=|date=2013-10-23|title=Kickstart Season 4- Weekly!|url=http://99percentinvisible.org/news/kickstart-season-4-weekly/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222011425/http://99percentinvisible.org/news/kickstart-season-4-weekly/|archive-date=2014-02-22|access-date=2014-02-17|website=99% Invisible|publisher=PRX|language=en-US}}
As of 2024, show staff includes Executive Producer Kathy Tu; Content Director Kurt Kohlstedt; Senior Editor Delaney Hall; Director of Sound Swan Real; Senior Audio Engineer Martín Gonzalez; Supervising Producers Christopher Johnson and Vivan Le; as well as Producers Chris Berube, Emmett FitzGerald, Joe Rosenberg and Lasha Madan.{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=About: The Staff|url=https://99percentinvisible.org/about/the-staff/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124013519/https://99percentinvisible.org/about/the-staff/|archive-date=2020-11-24|access-date=2020-12-06|website=99% Invisible|publisher=PRX|language=en-US}} Former staff include Sam Greenspan, Katie Mingle, Sharif Yousseff{{Cite web|last=Uggetti|first=Paolo|date=2017-08-02|title=Speeding up Your Podcasts Won't Solve Your Problems|url=https://www.theringer.com/2017/8/2/16095364/inefficiency-week-podcasts-speed-comprehension-f0ea43949e42|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221100345/https://www.theringer.com/2017/8/2/16095364/inefficiency-week-podcasts-speed-comprehension-f0ea43949e42|archive-date=2020-02-21|access-date=2021-01-23|website=The Ringer|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Aloi|first=Zander|date=2016-11-27|title=Growing up Arab American in West Virginia With Sharif Youssef|url=https://www.wvpublic.org/news/2016-11-27/growing-up-arab-american-in-west-virginia-with-sharif-youssef|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123170700/https://www.wvpublic.org/news/2016-11-27/growing-up-arab-american-in-west-virginia-with-sharif-youssef|archive-date=2021-01-23|access-date=2021-01-23|website=WVPB|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last1=Herman|first1=Charlie|last2=Press|first2=Julia|last3=Wyman|first3=Sarah|date=2020-11-04|title=The House That Sears Built|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/brought-to-you-by-podcast-btyb-house-sears-built-99pi|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123171014/https://www.businessinsider.com/brought-to-you-by-podcast-btyb-house-sears-built-99pi|archive-date=2021-01-23|access-date=2021-01-23|website=Business Insider|language=en-US}} and Avery Trufelman. Trufleman left to host "Articles of Interest," "Nice Try!" and "The Cut" podcasts.{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Avery Trufelman: Host of the Cut and Nice Try!|url=https://podcasts.voxmedia.com/host/avery-trufelman|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217142912/https://podcasts.voxmedia.com/host/avery-trufelman|archive-date=2020-12-17|access-date=2020-12-06|website=Vox Media Podcasts Network|publisher=Vox Media|language=en-US}}
In April 2021, the company that produces the show (99% Invisible Inc.) was acquired by SiriusXM.{{Cite web|last=Carman|first=Ashley|date=2021-04-26|title=SiriusXM acquires Roman Mars' 99% Invisible and a bigger stake in the podcasting world|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/26/22403852/siriusxm-roman-mars-99-percent-invisible-acquire-stitcher|access-date=2021-04-26|website=The Verge|language=en}}
Reception
Critical reception has generally been very positive, with the show garnering acclaim from many notable radio producers and media outlets. Ira Glass of This American Life described the show as "completely wonderful and entertaining and beautifully produced,"{{cite web|last=|first=|date=2013-04-04|title=Roman Mars Is 99% Invisible|url=http://www.eyesin.com/architecture/2013/roman-mars-is-99-invisible/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222194306/http://www.eyesin.com/architecture/2013/roman-mars-is-99-invisible/|archive-date=2014-02-22|access-date=2014-02-17|website=Eyes In|language=en-US}} and Jad Abumrad has said the show "has a kind of rhythm and musicality that you don’t normally find in radio or podcast storytelling."{{cite web|last=Harmon|first=Steph|date=2013-03-17|title=Featured Podcast: 99% Invisible|url=http://junkee.com/featured-podcast-99-invisible/2273|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221185122/http://junkee.com/featured-podcast-99-invisible/2273|archive-date=2014-02-21|access-date=2014-02-17|website=Junkee|publisher=Junkee Media|language=en-US}} In 2013, Yahoo! News included 99% Invisible on its list of "best podcasts you aren't listening to but should be,"{{cite web|last=Walker|first=Rob|date=2013-07-29|title=The Best Podcasts You Aren't Listening to but Should Be|url=https://news.yahoo.com/best-podcasts-itunes-193044509.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219001220/http://news.yahoo.com/best-podcasts-itunes-193044509.html|archive-date=2014-02-19|access-date=2014-02-17|website=Yahoo News|publisher=Verizon Media|language=en-US}} and Miranda Sawyer of The Observer highlighted the show, saying "it's just great."{{cite web|author=Sawyer|first=Miranda|date=2013-05-25|title=Rewind Radio: 99% Invisible|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/may/26/99-per-cent-invisible-radio-review|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203154721/http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/may/26/99-per-cent-invisible-radio-review|archive-date=2014-02-03|access-date=2014-02-17|website=The Guardian|publisher=Guardian News & Media|language=en-GB}}
The creator and host of 99% Invisible, Roman Mars, was included in Fast Company{{'}}s Most Creative People list of 2013 for his work on 99% Invisible,{{cite web|last=Feifer|first=Jason|date=2013-05-13|title=Most Creative People 2013: 63. Roman Mars|url=http://www.fastcompany.com/3009142/most-creative-people-2013/63-roman-mars|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214072427/http://www.fastcompany.com/3009142/most-creative-people-2013/63-roman-mars|archive-date=2014-02-14|access-date=2014-02-17|website=Fast Company|language=en-US}} and included on the Most Creative People in Business 1000 in 2014.{{cite web|last=|first=|date=2014-01-29|title=Most Creative People in Business 1000: The Complete List|url=http://www.fastcompany.com/3025456/most-creative-people/most-creative-people-in-business-1000-the-complete-list|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140217174705/http://www.fastcompany.com/3025456/most-creative-people/most-creative-people-in-business-1000-the-complete-list|archive-date=2014-02-17|access-date=2014-02-17|website=Fast Company|language=en-US}}
As of January 2014, the show was listed in the top fifty podcasts of the iTunes Top Podcasts chart.{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=iTunes Store|url=https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewTop?cc=us&genreId=26&popId=3|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605174116/https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewTop?cc=us&genreId=26&popId=3|archive-date=2014-06-05|access-date=2014-02-17|website=iTunes|publisher=Apple}} In 2014, the show had greater than 4,000 listener ratings on iTunes and upwards of 97% gave the show five stars.{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=99% Invisible by Roman Mars|url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/99-invisible/id394775318?mt=2|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417182915/https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/99-invisible/id394775318?mt=2|archive-date=2014-04-17|access-date=2014-02-17|website=iTunes|publisher=Apple|language=en-US}} The show's 2014 episode Structural Integrity was one of nine award winners at the 2015 Third Coast International Audio Festival.{{cite web|last=|first=|date=2015|title=And the Gold Goes To|url=http://thirdcoastfestival.org/library/1838-and-the-winners-are|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151027103201/http://thirdcoastfestival.org/library/1838-and-the-winners-are|archive-date=2015-10-27|access-date=2021-01-23|website=Third Coast International Audio Festival|language=en-US}}
In 2017, 99% Invisible was named as one of the "50 best podcasts" by Time magazine.{{Cite news|last=Dockterman|first=Eliana|date=2017-03-30|title=The 50 Best Podcasts Right Now|language=en-US|work=Time USA|url=https://time.com/4709592/best-podcasts-2017/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-01-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626181502/https://time.com/4709592/best-podcasts-2017/|archive-date=2020-06-26}}
= Awards =
Guest hosts and collaborations
99% Invisible has produced a variety of episodes in collaboration with other producers and radio shows. "The Political Stage", episode 63, was a collaboration with Andrea Seabrook and DecodeDC that focused on the production of campaign trail events.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2012-12-10|title=The Political Stage|url=https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/episode-63-the-political-stage/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124010940/https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/episode-63-the-political-stage/|archive-date=2020-11-24|access-date=2021-01-23|website=99% Invisible|language=en-US}} Episode 84B, called "Trading Places with Planet Money," was made with NPR's Planet Money podcast and discusses commodity trading in the context of the 1983 film Trading Places.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2013-07-16|title=Ladislav Sutnar + Trading Places with Planet Money|url=https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/episode-84-ladislav-sutnar-trading-places-with/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121122446/https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/episode-84-ladislav-sutnar-trading-places-with/|archive-date=2021-01-21|access-date=2021-01-23|website=99% Invisible|language=en-US}}
Episodes
{{main|List of 99% Invisible episodes{{!}}List of 99% Invisible episodes}}
''Articles of Interest''
In September 2018, a spinoff series, from producer Avery Trufelman, was released with six episodes focused on the design of clothes. Articles of Interest was published as part of 99% Invisible. Another six episodes were released in June 2020.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Articles of Interest|url=https://99percentinvisible.org/aoi/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191201001629/https://99percentinvisible.org/aoi/|archive-date=2019-12-01|access-date=2019-12-01|website=99% Invisible|publisher=PRX|language=en-US}}
Book
In October 2019, publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt announced the upcoming book The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design co-authored by podcasters Roman Mars and Kurt Kohlstedt, describing it as "an examination of the design and architecture of our shared urban environs, featuring stories behind overlooked places and things we take for granted."{{Cite web|last=Mars|first=Roman|date=2019-10-03|title=Roman Mars on Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/romanmars/status/1179967875135631366|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191004035838/https://twitter.com/romanmars/status/1179967875135631366|archive-date=2019-10-04|access-date=2019-12-01|website=Twitter|language=en-US}} The book was released a decade after the podcast started,{{Cite web|date=September 2, 2020|first=Joshua|last=Dudley|title='99% Invisible' podcast host Roman Mars looks back at 10 years of uncovering design|url=https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/books/99-invisible-podcast-host-roman-mars-looks-back-at-10-years-of-uncovering-design|access-date=2021-01-23|website=San Francisco Arts & Entertainment Guide|language=en-US}} in the fall of 2020;{{Cite news|last=Jackson|first=Kenneth T.|date=2020-10-06|title=The Hidden Wonders of a City, Made Visible|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/06/books/review/the-99-percent-invisible-city-roman-mars-kurt-kohlstedt.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-01-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101014630/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/06/books/review/the-99-percent-invisible-city-roman-mars-kurt-kohlstedt.html|archive-date=2020-11-01|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web|last=Shapiro|first=Ari|date=2020-10-07|title=In New Book, Roman Mars Celebrates Little Bits Of Design That Are Left Unnoticed|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/10/07/921287344/in-new-book-roman-mars-celebrates-little-bits-of-design-that-are-left-unnoticed|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008201521/https://www.npr.org/2020/10/07/921287344/in-new-book-roman-mars-celebrates-little-bits-of-design-that-are-left-unnoticed|archive-date=2020-10-08|access-date=2021-01-23|website=National Public Radio|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|last1=Rachini|first1=Mouhamad|last2=Sturino|first2=Idella|date=2021-01-11|title=Roman Mars Spotlights Cool Urban Design Elements in His Book the 99% Invisible City|language=en-CA|work=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-jan-11-2021-1.5868396/roman-mars-spotlights-cool-urban-design-elements-in-his-book-the-99-invisible-city-1.5868554|url-status=live|access-date=2021-01-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112014203/https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-jan-11-2021-1.5868396/roman-mars-spotlights-cool-urban-design-elements-in-his-book-the-99-invisible-city-1.5868554|archive-date=2021-01-12}} and consists of short stories on the history behind everyday urban features and architecture.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-08|title=Roman Mars turns the 99% Invisible city into a 100% visible book|url=https://www.kcrw.com/culture/shows/design-and-architecture/invisible-city-roman-mars|access-date=2021-01-23|website=KCRW|language=en}} Roman Mars was interviewed by NPR radio host Lois Reitzes{{Cite web|date=2020-10-19|title=Book, '99% Invisible,' Explores The Hidden World Of Urban Design|url=https://www.wabe.org/book-99-invisible-explores-the-hidden-world-of-urban-design/|access-date=2021-01-23|website=90.1 FM WABE|language=en-US}} and by MPR's radio host Kerri Miller{{Cite web|title=Uncovering the mysteries of everyday design with the hosts of '99% Invisible'|url=https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2020/12/04/uncovering-the-mysteries-of-everyday-design-with-the-hosts-of-99-invisible|access-date=2021-01-23|website=MPR News|date=December 3, 2020 }} about the book. Mars also recorded the audiobook version.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-09|title=Q&A: From Podcast to Print, Roman Mars Discusses The 99% Invisible City|url=https://www.metropolismag.com/cities/qa-from-podcast-to-print-roman-mars-discusses-the-99-invisible-city/|access-date=2021-01-23|website=Metropolis|language=en-US}} Christian Donlan of Eurogamer compared his experience with the book to a videogame, speaking to how both the appreciation of architecture and games require an being attuned to fine details, and both involve dynamic, complex systems.{{Cite web|last=Donlan|first=Christian|date=2020-10-17|title=The 99% Invisible City has a surprising amount to say about games|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020-10-17-the-99-percent-invisible-city-has-a-surprising-amount-to-say-about-games|access-date=2021-01-23|website=Eurogamer|language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|http://99pi.org/}}
{{podcast platform links}}
{{Authority Control}}
{{Radiotopia}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:99 Percent Invisible}}
Category:podcasts adapted for other media