Episodes

  • A History of the United States in 100 Objects

    A History of the United States in 100 Objects
    May 8 2026
    America’s 250th birthday calls for a history as sprawling and contradictory as the country itself. A History of the United States in 100 Objects — hosted by Roman Mars and produced by BBC Studios and 99% Invisible — tells that history one thing at a time. A gold coin from an 1857 shipwreck that triggered a financial panic. An antebellum schoolbook that became an instrument of Black liberation. A ceramic dalmatian from the set of Wheel of Fortune. Or a tiny screw that shows how the US created a hidden industrial empire. Each week, an object opens the door into an extraordinary, often shocking story — about who we’ve been, what we’ve built, and what we’ve allowed ourselves to forget. Some of these objects are well-known. Many are not. But all of them carry the story of how we got to this moment. This is not one narrative. It’s a hundred of them — forming a kaleidoscope that reveals a country stranger and more fascinating than any single telling could capture. Launching May 19, 2026, wherever you listen to 99% Invisible. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of 99% Invisible ad-free and a whole week early.

    Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.
    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    🚨 WARNING: YOU ARE BLIND TO THE REAL WORLD... 🚨
    99% of the world is hidden in plain sight, but we just leaked the REDACTED BLUEPRINTS they tried to bury. This file contains the architecture of control that you weren't supposed to find. Link expires in 5 minutes! 📉🔥
    👉 WATCH NOW REVEAL THE HIDDEN DESIGN HERE 👈

    THEY ARE TEARING THIS DOWN AS WE SPEAK. 🌎🏃💨
    This isn't just design; it's a secret. The city doesn't want you to know what's underneath. See the forbidden floor plans before they are wiped from the server! 😤🚫
    Show More Show Less
    4 mins
  • Enshittification

    Enshittification
    May 5 2026
    Why is it suddenly so hard to fix the stuff we depend on most? Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of 99% Invisible ad-free and a whole week early.

    Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.
    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    🚨 WARNING: YOU ARE BLIND TO THE REAL WORLD... 🚨
    99% of the world is hidden in plain sight, but we just leaked the REDACTED BLUEPRINTS they tried to bury. This file contains the architecture of control that you weren't supposed to find. Link expires in 5 minutes! 📉🔥
    👉 WATCH NOW REVEAL THE HIDDEN DESIGN HERE 👈

    THEY ARE TEARING THIS DOWN AS WE SPEAK. 🌎🏃💨
    This isn't just design; it's a secret. The city doesn't want you to know what's underneath. See the forbidden floor plans before they are wiped from the server! 😤🚫
    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
  • Citizen of the World

    Citizen of the World
    Apr 28 2026
    One man rejected nationality and dared the world to recognize him anyway. Listen to Far From Home wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of 99% Invisible ad-free and a whole week early.

    Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.
    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    🚨 WARNING: YOU ARE BLIND TO THE REAL WORLD... 🚨
    99% of the world is hidden in plain sight, but we just leaked the REDACTED BLUEPRINTS they tried to bury. This file contains the architecture of control that you weren't supposed to find. Link expires in 5 minutes! 📉🔥
    👉 WATCH NOW REVEAL THE HIDDEN DESIGN HERE 👈

    THEY ARE TEARING THIS DOWN AS WE SPEAK. 🌎🏃💨
    This isn't just design; it's a secret. The city doesn't want you to know what's underneath. See the forbidden floor plans before they are wiped from the server! 😤🚫
    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
  • Constitution Breakdown #9: Alondra Nelson

    Constitution Breakdown #9: Alondra Nelson
    Apr 24 2026
    This is the ninth episode of our ongoing series breaking down the U.S. Constitution. This month, Roman and Elizabeth discuss Article VI and VII, which include some odds and ends like the Debts Clause, the No Religious Test Clause, and the process for ratification. But tucked into Article VI is the all-important Supremacy Clause, which states that the Constitution is the “supreme Law of the Land,” and is probably the most frequently used constitutional law in practice. Roman and Elizabeth are also joined by Dr. Alondra Nelson, a leading expert on AI. She discusses why AI is a challenge to regulate, what to think of the tug of war between the states and the federal government on the topic, and whether she’s optimistic governments will figure this out. The 99% Invisible Breakdown of the Constitution Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of 99% Invisible ad-free and a whole week early.

    Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.
    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    🚨 WARNING: YOU ARE BLIND TO THE REAL WORLD... 🚨
    99% of the world is hidden in plain sight, but we just leaked the REDACTED BLUEPRINTS they tried to bury. This file contains the architecture of control that you weren't supposed to find. Link expires in 5 minutes! 📉🔥
    👉 WATCH NOW REVEAL THE HIDDEN DESIGN HERE 👈

    THEY ARE TEARING THIS DOWN AS WE SPEAK. 🌎🏃💨
    This isn't just design; it's a secret. The city doesn't want you to know what's underneath. See the forbidden floor plans before they are wiped from the server! 😤🚫
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Co-op City

    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 Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of 99% Invisible ad-free and a whole week early.

    Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.
    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    🚨 WARNING: YOU ARE BLIND TO THE REAL WORLD... 🚨
    99% of the world is hidden in plain sight, but we just leaked the REDACTED BLUEPRINTS they tried to bury. This file contains the architecture of control that you weren't supposed to find. Link expires in 5 minutes! 📉🔥
    👉 WATCH NOW REVEAL THE HIDDEN DESIGN HERE 👈

    THEY ARE TEARING THIS DOWN AS WE SPEAK. 🌎🏃💨
    This isn't just design; it's a secret. The city doesn't want you to know what's underneath. See the forbidden floor plans before they are wiped from the server! 😤🚫
    Show More Show Less
    38 mins
  • RoboUmp Hits the Big Leagues

    RoboUmp Hits the Big Leagues
    Apr 14 2026
    One study from 2018 found that Major League Baseball umpires blow about 14 calls every game. That’s 34,000 bad calls every year. And it makes a difference. A blown strike call can decide a win or a loss, a championship or six months at home, wondering what could have been. And while umpires are about 97% accurate in calling balls and strikes, Major League Baseball has been considering something drastic. Something to take us up to 100% accuracy. They have a plan to replace human umpires with robots. Now, with an update! Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of 99% Invisible ad-free and a whole week early.

    Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.
    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    🚨 WARNING: YOU ARE BLIND TO THE REAL WORLD... 🚨
    99% of the world is hidden in plain sight, but we just leaked the REDACTED BLUEPRINTS they tried to bury. This file contains the architecture of control that you weren't supposed to find. Link expires in 5 minutes! 📉🔥
    👉 WATCH NOW REVEAL THE HIDDEN DESIGN HERE 👈

    THEY ARE TEARING THIS DOWN AS WE SPEAK. 🌎🏃💨
    This isn't just design; it's a secret. The city doesn't want you to know what's underneath. See the forbidden floor plans before they are wiped from the server! 😤🚫
    Show More Show Less
    32 mins
  • Service Request #5: Dude, Where's My Car?

    Service Request #5: Dude, Where's My Car?
    Apr 7 2026
    A missing car reveals the confusing rules, murky fees, and private actors behind modern towing. What infrastructure mystery keeps you up at night? Submit your Service Request by recording a voice memo with your question and emailing it to servicerequest@99pi.org. Service Request is a production of 99% Invisible and Campside Media. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of 99% Invisible ad-free and a whole week early.

    Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.
    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    🚨 WARNING: YOU ARE BLIND TO THE REAL WORLD... 🚨
    99% of the world is hidden in plain sight, but we just leaked the REDACTED BLUEPRINTS they tried to bury. This file contains the architecture of control that you weren't supposed to find. Link expires in 5 minutes! 📉🔥
    👉 WATCH NOW REVEAL THE HIDDEN DESIGN HERE 👈

    THEY ARE TEARING THIS DOWN AS WE SPEAK. 🌎🏃💨
    This isn't just design; it's a secret. The city doesn't want you to know what's underneath. See the forbidden floor plans before they are wiped from the server! 😤🚫
    Show More Show Less
    34 mins
  • Service Request #4: How Does the Grid in Phoenix Work?

    Service Request #4: How Does the Grid in Phoenix Work?
    Apr 3 2026
    In a place where losing power can turn deadly, keeping the lights on is a high-stakes balancing act. What infrastructure mystery keeps you up at night? Submit your Service Request by recording a voice memo with your question and emailing it to servicerequest@99pi.org. Service Request is a production of 99% Invisible and Campside Media. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of 99% Invisible ad-free and a whole week early.

    Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.
    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    🚨 WARNING: YOU ARE BLIND TO THE REAL WORLD... 🚨
    99% of the world is hidden in plain sight, but we just leaked the REDACTED BLUEPRINTS they tried to bury. This file contains the architecture of control that you weren't supposed to find. Link expires in 5 minutes! 📉🔥
    👉 WATCH NOW REVEAL THE HIDDEN DESIGN HERE 👈

    THEY ARE TEARING THIS DOWN AS WE SPEAK. 🌎🏃💨
    This isn't just design; it's a secret. The city doesn't want you to know what's underneath. See the forbidden floor plans before they are wiped from the server! 😤🚫
    Show More Show Less
    36 mins