99% Invisible

Roman Mars

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.

  • 26 minutes 30 seconds
    What’s in a Name

    Throughtout 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 journey from colonial rule to independence shaped the nation's unique naming traditions.

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    27 January 2026, 6:15 pm
  • 37 minutes 24 seconds
    Audio Flux

    This 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 Flux on Instagram: @audiofluxing

    Featured Audio Flux stories include:

    • The Sound of Silence by Gregory Warner and Sana Krasikov
    • In Between Silence by Talia Augustidis
    • The Ghost on Side B by Katelyn Hale Wood with sound design by Alan Goffinski
    • First Words by Peter Lang-Stanton
    • Red Card by Vivien Schütz and Laura Rojas Aponte

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    20 January 2026, 6:15 pm
  • 36 minutes 7 seconds
    Exit Interview With Michael Bierut

    A young designer faces an impossible brief and discovers the spark that will define his legendary career.

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    13 January 2026, 6:15 pm
  • 33 minutes 1 second
    Mini-Stories: Volume 22

    Performance changing gear, a Titanic era nurse with unbelievable resilience, and an ingenious art vending project reveal how innovation and endurance shape unexpected worlds.

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    6 January 2026, 6:15 pm
  • 39 minutes 46 seconds
    Beyond the 99% Invisible City

    From rogue stop signs to rooftop mini golf, discover how chaos and creativity quietly shape the urban world.

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    30 December 2025, 6:15 pm
  • 1 hour 19 minutes
    Constitution Breakdown #5: Dr. Tom Frieden

    This 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 about the experience of being a highly trained expert in an inherently political institution within the executive branch. Dr. Frieden was also the New York City Public Health Commissioner under Mayor Bloomberg from 2002 to 2009, and he discusses the difference between running a city and a federal health agency.

    Elizabeth also explains the constitutional powers and limitations of the presidency, including hiring and firing, impeachment, pardons, and presidential duties—and how President Trump and the current Supreme Court are upending those powers.

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    26 December 2025, 6:15 pm
  • 29 minutes 2 seconds
    Mini-Stories: Volume 21

    A glowing Vegas pyramid, a famously mistyped domain, and a long-delayed miracle investigation unfold in three unexpected tales.

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    23 December 2025, 6:15 pm
  • 43 minutes 37 seconds
    Sax Appeal

    From military parades to smoky clubs, one invention’s wild journey reveals how an instrument can become a symbol of rebellion and reinvention.

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    16 December 2025, 6:15 pm
  • 38 minutes 5 seconds
    The Checkerboard

    A single diagonal step on a map sparks a legal war with huge consequences.

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    9 December 2025, 6:15 pm
  • 38 minutes 24 seconds
    U Is for Urbanism

    How Jane Jacob's urbanism dreams came to life on the most beloved kids' TV block.

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    2 December 2025, 6:15 pm
  • 1 hour 22 minutes
    Constitution Breakdown #4: Janet Napolitano

    This 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 Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. Elizabeth also explains why Trump administration’s attacks on Venezuelan boats defy even the broadest interpretation of the president's war powers.

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    28 November 2025, 5:00 pm
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