100 Objects #1: The Century Safe
May 19, 2026
A locked iron safe, sealed for 100 years. What objects did Americans choose to remember?
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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.
PodSkip has analyzed 5 episodes of 99% Invisible, averaging 2.8 ads per episode (6% of runtime).
Episodes
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Ask Your Doctor About
May 12, 2026
As wild and random as they might seem, a lot of work—and even poetry—goes into coming up with today's catchiest, most unforgettable drug names.
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A History of the United States in 100 Objects Trailer
May 08, 2026
100 objects. 100 stories. A new history of the US hiding in plain sight.
Enshittification
May 05, 2026
Why is it suddenly so hard to fix the stuff we depend on most?
Citizen of the World
Apr 28, 2026
One man rejected nationality and dared the world to recognize him anyway.
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Constitution Breakdown #9: Alondra Nelson
Apr 24, 2026
Roman and Elizabeth discuss Article VI and VII, which includes the all-important Supremacy Clause. Alondra Nelson, a leading expert on AI, is our guest.
Co-op City
Apr 21, 2026
The world’s largest housing co-op—built to save New York City’s middle class—became the unlikely site of a resident revolt
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RoboUmp Hits the Big Leagues
Apr 14, 2026
The surprisingly long history of trying to use robots to call balls and strikes in baseball. With an update!
Service Request #5: Dude, Where's My Car?
Apr 07, 2026
A missing car reveals the confusing rules, murky fees, and private actors behind modern towing.
Service Request #4: How Does the Grid in Phoenix Work?
Apr 03, 2026
In a place where losing power can turn deadly, keeping the lights on is a high-stakes balancing act.
Service Request #3: Why Is There So Much Litter in San Francisco?
Mar 31, 2026
Why did it take nearly a decade to redesign a city trash can, and why haven't more bins made the streets cleaner?
Constitution Breakdown #8: Jill Lepore
Mar 27, 2026
Roman and Elizabeth discuss Article V, which lays out the process to amend the Constitution. Jill Lepore is our guest.
Service Request #2: Why Is This Red Light So Damn Long?
Mar 24, 2026
What the world's most advanced traffic system can—and can't—do for the city that invented gridlock.
Service Request #1: What Happens When I Call 311?
Mar 17, 2026
The surprising power of a simple phone number to connect a community.
A Man, a Plan, a Canal—Mars!
Mar 10, 2026
How one wealthy, amateur astronomer convinced the world Martians were real.
Where the F*** Are We?
Mar 03, 2026
For 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.
Constitution Breakdown #7: California AG Rob Bonta
Feb 27, 2026
Roman and Elizabeth discuss Article IV, which outlines the relationship between states and between states and the federal government. California Attorney General Rob Bonta is our guest this month.
The Longest Fence in the World
Feb 24, 2026
How a fence meant to protect sheep transformed the entire Australian landscape.
Molar City
Feb 17, 2026
How 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.
Artistic License Redux
Feb 10, 2026
When Idaho put a slogan on their license plates in 1928 it started a trend across all states and this would prove surprisingly contentious.
The Em Dash
Feb 03, 2026
The strange history of a punctuation mark that makes writing feel human, and why people now think it proves the opposite.
Constitution Breakdown #6: Adam Liptak
Jan 30, 2026
This month, Roman and Elizabeth discuss Article III, which establishes the judicial branch, alongside New York Times chief legal affairs correspondent, Adam Liptak.
What’s in a Name
Jan 27, 2026
Throughout 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…
Audio Flux
Jan 20, 2026
This week we're featuring Audio Flux, a short-form audio challenge where artists squeeze surprising stories into three minutes.
Exit Interview With Michael Bierut
Jan 13, 2026
A young designer faces an impossible brief and discovers the spark that will define his legendary career.
Mini-Stories: Volume 22
Jan 06, 2026
Performance changing gear, a Titanic era nurse with unbelievable resilience, and an ingenious art vending project reveal how innovation and endurance shape unexpected worlds.
Beyond the 99% Invisible City
Dec 30, 2025
From rogue stop signs to rooftop mini golf, discover how chaos and creativity quietly shape the urban world.
Constitution Breakdown #5: Dr. Tom Frieden
Dec 26, 2025
This month, Roman and Elizabeth turn to the remainder of Article Two, which defines the scope and limits of presidential power, alongside former CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden.
Mini-Stories: Volume 21
Dec 23, 2025
A glowing Vegas pyramid, a famously mistyped domain, and a long-delayed miracle investigation unfold in three unexpected tales.
Sax Appeal
Dec 16, 2025
From military parades to smoky clubs, one invention’s wild journey reveals how an instrument can become a symbol of rebellion and reinvention.