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99% Invisible

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99% Invisible
Presentation
Hosted byRoman Mars
Genre
LanguageEnglish
UpdatesActive, weekly
Length< 10 minutes (early seasons)
< 60 minutes (later seasons)
Production
Production
  • Roman Mars (2010–present)
  • Sam Greenspan (2010–17)
Audio formatMP3
No. of episodes559 (as of November 2023)
Publication
Original releaseSeptember 3, 2010 (2010-09-03)
RatingsAll audiences
Provider
Related
Websitehttps://99percentinvisible.org/ Edit this on Wikidata

99% Invisible is a radio show and podcast produced and created by Roman Mars that focuses on design.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3]

History

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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."[4]

In 2014, 99% Invisible began its fourth season, the first in which it had a weekly release schedule.[5]

2020 staff includes episode producers Delaney Hall, Christopher Johnson, Kurt Kohlstedt, Chris Berube, Emmett FitzGerald, Vivian Le, Joe Rosenberg and assistant producer Lasha Madan. The musical composer and Director of Sound is Swan Real and the VP of Strategic Development is Sofia Klatzker Miller.[6] Former staff include Sam Greenspan, Katie Mingle, Sharif Yousseff[7][8][9] and Avery Trufelman. Trufleman left to host "Articles of Interest," "Nice Try!" and "The Cut" podcasts.[10]

In April 2021 the company that produces the show (99% Invisible Inc.) was acquired by SiriusXM.[11]

Reception

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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,"[12] 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."[13] In 2013, Yahoo! News included 99% Invisible on its list of "best podcasts you aren't listening to but should be,"[14] and Miranda Sawyer of The Observer highlighted the show, saying "it's just great."[15]

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,[16] and included on the Most Creative People in Business 1000 in 2014.[17]

As of January 2014 the show was listed in the top fifty podcasts of the iTunes Top Podcasts chart.[18] In 2014, the show had greater than 4,000 listener ratings on iTunes and upwards of 97% gave the show five stars.[19] The show's 2014 episode Structural Integrity was one of nine award winners at the 2015 Third Coast International Audio Festival.[20]

In 2017, 99% Invisible was named as one of the "50 best podcasts" by Time magazine.[21]

Awards

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Award Date Category Result Ref.
Discover Pods Awards 2019 Best Overall Podcast Won [22]
2021 Society & Culture Podcast Won [23]
Webby Awards 2016 Best Podcast Won [24]
2017 People's Voice Winner for Best Podcast Host Won [25]
2020 Arts & Culture Podcasts Nominated [26]
Third Coast International Audio Festival 2015 Best Documentary bronze [20]
Academy of Podcasters Awards 2015 Society & Culture Won [27]
2015 People's Choice Award Won
2016 Arts Won
2017 Arts Finalist [28]

Guest hosts and collaborations

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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.[29] 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.[30]

Episodes

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Main article: List of 99% Invisible episodes

Articles of Interest

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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.[31]

Book

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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."[32] The book was released a decade after the podcast started,[33] in the fall of 2020;[34][35][36] and consists of short stories on the history behind everyday urban features and architecture.[37] Roman Mars was interviewed by NPR radio host Lois Reitzes[38] and by MPR's radio host Kerri Miller[39] about the book. Mars also recorded the audiobook version.[40] 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.[41]

References

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  1. ^ "About: 99% Invisible Is About All the Thought That Goes Into the Things We Don't Think About". 99% Invisible. PRX. January 31, 2014. Archived from the original on February 12, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
  2. ^ Kowalczyk, Patrick; Alikhan, Anusha (February 4, 2014). "PRX Launches Radiotopia, New Podcast Network of Story-Driven Public Radio Shows by Industry's Best Emerging and Established Talent" (PDF). Public Radio Exchange. PRX. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
  3. ^ Ugwu, Reggie (April 26, 2021). "SiriusXM Is Buying '99% Invisible,' and Street Cred in Podcasting". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
  4. ^ Belonax, Tim (January 8, 2013). "99% Invisible: Roman Mars". Design Envy. AIGA. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
  5. ^ "Kickstart Season 4- Weekly!". 99% Invisible. PRX. October 23, 2013. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
  6. ^ "About: The Staff". 99% Invisible. PRX. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  7. ^ Uggetti, Paolo (August 2, 2017). "Speeding up Your Podcasts Won't Solve Your Problems". The Ringer. Archived from the original on February 21, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  8. ^ Aloi, Zander (November 27, 2016). "Growing up Arab American in West Virginia With Sharif Youssef". WVPB. Archived from the original on January 23, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  9. ^ Herman, Charlie; Press, Julia; Wyman, Sarah (November 4, 2020). "The House That Sears Built". Business Insider. Archived from the original on January 23, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  10. ^ "Avery Trufelman: Host of the Cut and Nice Try!". Vox Media Podcasts Network. Vox Media. Archived from the original on December 17, 2020. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  11. ^ Carman, Ashley (April 26, 2021). "SiriusXM acquires Roman Mars' 99% Invisible and a bigger stake in the podcasting world". The Verge. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  12. ^ "Roman Mars Is 99% Invisible". Eyes In. April 4, 2013. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
  13. ^ Harmon, Steph (March 17, 2013). "Featured Podcast: 99% Invisible". Junkee. Junkee Media. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
  14. ^ Walker, Rob (July 29, 2013). "The Best Podcasts You Aren't Listening to but Should Be". Yahoo News. Verizon Media. Archived from the original on February 19, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
  15. ^ Sawyer, Miranda (May 25, 2013). "Rewind Radio: 99% Invisible". The Guardian. Guardian News & Media. Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
  16. ^ Feifer, Jason (May 13, 2013). "Most Creative People 2013: 63. Roman Mars". Fast Company. Archived from the original on February 14, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
  17. ^ "Most Creative People in Business 1000: The Complete List". Fast Company. January 29, 2014. Archived from the original on February 17, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
  18. ^ "iTunes Store". iTunes. Apple. Archived from the original on June 5, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
  19. ^ "99% Invisible by Roman Mars". iTunes. Apple. Archived from the original on April 17, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
  20. ^ a b "And the Gold Goes To". Third Coast International Audio Festival. 2015. Archived from the original on October 27, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  21. ^ Dockterman, Eliana (March 30, 2017). "The 50 Best Podcasts Right Now". Time USA. Archived from the original on June 26, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  22. ^ Goldberg, Kevin (November 21, 2019). "Announcing the winners of the 2019 Discover Pods Awards". Discover Pods Awards. Archived from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  23. ^ Goldberg, Kevin (October 19, 2021). "Announcing the winners of the 2021 Discover Pods Awards". Discover Pods Awards. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  24. ^ "Webby Winner: 99% Invisible - Radiotopia". Webby Awards. 2016. Archived from the original on June 13, 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  25. ^ "People's Voice Winner: 99% Invisible - PRX". Webby Awards. 2017. Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  26. ^ "Hear Guggenheim Staff and 99% Invisible's Roman Mars on the Museum's Architecture". Webby Awards. 2020. Archived from the original on April 5, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  27. ^ "Academy of Podcasters: Past Winners". Academy of Podcasters. Podcast Movement. Archived from the original on October 3, 2017.
  28. ^ "2017 Finalist". Academy of Podcasters. Podcast Movement. August 23, 2017. Archived from the original on February 5, 2019.
  29. ^ "The Political Stage". 99% Invisible. December 10, 2012. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  30. ^ "Ladislav Sutnar + Trading Places with Planet Money". 99% Invisible. July 16, 2013. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  31. ^ "Articles of Interest". 99% Invisible. PRX. Archived from the original on December 1, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  32. ^ Mars, Roman (October 3, 2019). "Roman Mars on Twitter". Twitter. Archived from the original on October 4, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  33. ^ Dudley, Joshua (September 2, 2020). "'99% Invisible' podcast host Roman Mars looks back at 10 years of uncovering design". San Francisco Arts & Entertainment Guide. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  34. ^ Jackson, Kenneth T. (October 6, 2020). "The Hidden Wonders of a City, Made Visible". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  35. ^ Shapiro, Ari (October 7, 2020). "In New Book, Roman Mars Celebrates Little Bits Of Design That Are Left Unnoticed". National Public Radio. Archived from the original on October 8, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  36. ^ Rachini, Mouhamad; Sturino, Idella (January 11, 2021). "Roman Mars Spotlights Cool Urban Design Elements in His Book the 99% Invisible City". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  37. ^ "Roman Mars turns the 99% Invisible city into a 100% visible book". KCRW. October 8, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  38. ^ "Book, '99% Invisible,' Explores The Hidden World Of Urban Design". 90.1 FM WABE. October 19, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  39. ^ "Uncovering the mysteries of everyday design with the hosts of '99% Invisible'". MPR News. December 3, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  40. ^ "Q&A: From Podcast to Print, Roman Mars Discusses The 99% Invisible City". Metropolis. October 9, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  41. ^ Donlan, Christian (October 17, 2020). "The 99% Invisible City has a surprising amount to say about games". Eurogamer. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
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