99% Invisible is an absolute gem in a sea of podcasts. Roman Mars's exploration of design is not only informative but also incredibly captivating. Each episode dives into the unnoticed aspects of our surroundings, revealing the thoughtfulness behind everyday spaces. Whether you're a design enthusiast or simply curious about the world around you, this podcast is a must-listen!

Love it.

Like every good New Yorker, I’ve had The Power Broker on my book shelf for years. Something I’ll bet Mr. Caro doesn’t know is that during the pandemic when all meetings were held via zoom, it was important to have the book in the background. That said, I had never opened the book. Your podcast has changed that. Reading the book is not easy, although it is beautifully written and tells a compelling story. Why? It weighs 3.5 pounds—too heavy to read in bed. The font is pretty small—one needs good light and reading glasses. I found a stand to hold it and a third impediment arose—the pages won’t lie open. I thought to buy it again in kindle format, but no! Does anyone know why there is no kindle version? I persist and I love the book anyway. So, thank you.❤️

Been listening for years, my favorite podcast EVER. Love Roman Mars and the entire 99 team through the years. Don’t stop!

Roman has a great show concept and I do find many of his topics quite interesting. Roman’s downfall is due to the fact that he lives in Oakland, California, and so he’s surrounded by far-left political leanings, most of which he seems to have adopted. That’s fine actually, I have no issues with that, but he has let it bleed over into his podcast and I feel like he’s just become a mouthpiece for those left-wing positions. Because Roman lives in an echo-chamber in Oakland, he probably thinks most of the U.S. feels the same way he does, and that’s simply not the case. In fact, he’s probably alienating at least half of his audience when those moments arise, and I quite frankly am just tired of listening to it. If he had stuck to his show and not made it political, then he’d have a winning formula, but those moments of, dare I say “activism” under the guise of a podcast about design is what has me saying, goodbye. I enjoyed the good times, but will not miss the emphasis of left-wing talking points.

Most episodes lately feel like their writing a story around tone deaf product placement ads. I’ve followed the work y’all do for many years now, and I get that you have to pay bills, but listening to Roman not-so-cleverly using “trusted expert” style testimony to sell me on a $65,000 vehicle was gross. Bonus you get XM radio for 3 months which is a $1 trial for everyone who didn’t just spend 65k. Luxury consumerism is one of many significant problems caused by late stage capitalism, and 99% Invisible used to provide commentary and insight into the effects of unseen institutions, economic processes, etc. Do better.

I love Roman Mars he is my only reason I listen to 99% invisible-well I also love the interesting things it covers-besides that my point is Roman knows how to tell an intriguing and well thought out story. I also love how comedic he is. So if you see this Roman Mars know that your doing a fine job.

I enjoyed your story particularly since I attended UGA in 1970. I never did get to walk under the gate as a graduate. The 1st Women’s Garden Club was on campus. A beautiful place to study. The B 52's popular song "Love Shack" is , I understand, written about a place outside of Athens. Thanks for the memories.

I don't know what everyone's beef is with people providing well researched information AND good quips and giggles. I like to be an informed and have a good time. This is a good combination of the two. Mostly serious with breaks to acknowledge that some of this stuff is comical. Cheers!

One of the best poscasts around, as long as ads-before-intro isnt a deal-breaker for ya. Me? It is. I was spoiled as an early adopter, so Ill probably go back to cherry-picking eps and fiercely mashing skip through the big ad breaks

I just listen to “The Power Broker” episodes but the host with the nasally voice should stop trying so hard to be funny or clever. He’s not that funny and it detracts from the quality of the discussion.

I just started listening to a different podcast and was not very engaged with that new one. 99% Invisible has had a number of really good episodes. I can’t name them right now because I’ve been listening to this other one, but I will say it is a standup better podcast series. I’ll try to add specifics later! Good job guys.

This long-form episode about Robert Moses is tops. I’ve been listening to your 1/2 hour episodes for years, but this format with two other guests is killer! Thanks

Please take this seriously if you can: the constant giggling and guffaws is at best annoying but in fact diminishes the history you are trying to explain! It’s not silly circus antics that you are describing! Why are you constantly giggling? Are you wildly nervous? Stop it already, Roman Mars!

OK, so stomaching Roman Mars’s smarminess was always part of the package. Which was fine – the storytelling really did make up for it. However, shortly after the end of the “fiercely independent” era (he sold it to SiriusXM), it rapidly went downhill. More re-airings of past eps or airings of other podcasts – basically a lot of filler content. And as others have noted, the ad lengths have really gotten out of hand. There are still some fine eps – about 1 in every 3 or 4 are keepers – but it does feel like it’s being a bit phoned in at this point. It’s a shame. But, hey, Roman still retains his upper-middle class smarm – so there’s that.

Fan of the show but super disappointed that talk of adobe architecture in Santa Fe didn’t include one word about the Pueblo architecture that “Santa Fe style” copied. Would have been so simple to acknowledge the contribution and inspiration from indigenous peoples’ unique architecture, people who lived here for thousands of years before colonization and the ‘founding’ of Santa Fe. Perhaps an Indigenous person or at least Santa Fe Native would have been a helpful tour companion.

Love the show, been listening for years. But please Christ don’t put loud sirens in your podcast when you know a huge % of people listen in their cars.

👌🏻

I love The power Broker podcast! However, in the last half of part two episode two, I found myself talking back to the broadcast. Yes, probably there aren't many people like Robert Moses writing laws from the inside to benefit themselves, but I'm sure there are some. And there are certainly many many others who have strong influences in government who are slipping in references to obscure clauses to benefit their constituents in a way that no one could readily understand. When I worked at state legislatures from the mid 80's - mid 2000s on health issues, it was a constant challenge to keep up with the slippery efforts of hospital and physician assns and insurers. I am certain it is still going on.

Really enjoyed 99% Invisible until the recent episode on the COVID-19 memorial. That clip from the Republican about how a memorial should stand for people who were “forced to take a vaccine that didn’t work” made me stop the episode and delete it immediately. Why play that clip? Why give a platform to stupid, ignorant bigots? Stop legitimizing idiocy and we may just be better prepared for the next pandemic. Don’t give these science deniers a platform. A podcast about design and intelligence should know better.

I love all the 99PI episodes. Engaging, informative and entertaining. The Power Broker series is incredibly fun and interesting, even though I haven’t read the book or spent much time in New York. Keep them coming!

I like Roman Mars and Roman Mars likes me

The read along to The Power Broker was a stellar surprise. It’s the best. Thanks, guys, for making the best walk and talk book club around my favorite author while we wait for LBJ #5. Listening from the Deep South.

99% Invisible was already basically perfect, but The Power Broker series is everything. Love this show.

I can’t believe how many ads they have now. It’s horrible.

I never miss an episode. These podcasts make me ask important questions about life and our world!

99% MAGA, where’s your constitutional law podcast on Biden…

Always an absolute joy to listen to

I could no longer stomach this podcast after they aired a boldfaced fabrication about my hometown and laughed about it on the podcast. It felt humiliating. They never responded to my emails to correct the inaccuracy. If the “fact checker” had merely googled the item, the truth would have been the first result. I was no longer able to believe anything they said after such a lazy falsehood made it on air and I found out they don’t readily issue corrections.

It cost 50$ to listen to the book. The library has digital 25 copies. I am 127 on the wait list!! For a 50 year old book!!

Please, Roman 😂 I hope she was playing dumb and had a script for the Chicago episode. There is no way you are with a woman who is so empty minded and clueless. Please tell me that was scripted. You speak to her like she is 7 years old.

This show is fantastic for anyone curious about the world around them. Understanding the design behind so many things is always interesting and exploring the stories of these things is always entertaining when presented by Roman Mars and his excellent team. I think this is one of the best podcasts out there.

In the episode about describing Chicago, Roman seemed so excited! You can feel him struggling to stay on topic. He cuts her off a lot because he just wants to get to the point. It’s obvious how much he just loves the subject! You can tell there was less editing and it was the perfect approach for that particular episode.

I was excited for “The Power Broker” episodes. I don’t know what compels someone to give away developments—even the ending!—of a 1200-page book at the beginning of the year… but I was disappointed. Power Broker episodes: 1-2 stars Rest of the episodes: 4 stars

One of my all time fav podcasts. While stories typically focus on one specific architecture or design topic, the human stories surrounding that specific topic is what makes the stories really resonate. I think my all time favorite is U.T.B.A.P.H. because I can’t ever see a Pizza Hut shaped building and not point and shout: USED TO BE A PIZZA HUT!

The number of times a week I bring up in conversation something I learned on 99PI is remarkable. You will hear wonderful stories, you will learn things, they will stick with you.

Just finished the first episode and LOVED IT. The book club format is ingenious. Did you invent that or are there others (and if so, can you point me towards them?) Thank you and keep up the good work.

The best podcast!! I am reading the book along with the hosts. Insightful, funny, intelligent discussions- I AM LOVING THIS!!!

Ratio of commercial to content just not enough to keep this on my list

Transgender propaganda everywhere. These people hate you and think you are dumb as dirt. Don’t listen to their podcast.

G-d i love this show. If you want someone who walks the tightrope of relaxing presentation without dipping into monotonous intonation, Roman Mars is your guy (Tho Avery Trufelman does a great job of this in her own right). If you have ever thought about how every element that you interact with has a story and reason for being that way, 99 PI is here to reveal some of the story of the world around you. They often claim to be a show about design but truthfully it’s a show about culture and the intricate ideas on which our world is built.

Episode 562 is beautifully executed. Roman Mars, Elliott Kalan and Conan O’Brien made me want more. I too am a fan of Robert Caro and am looking forward to 2024 and The Power Broker book club. I love 99% Invisible!

I’ve been listening to Roman and the team since episode 50 and I made the jump to listen to my first podcast after hearing the brilliant premise behind great design. The show has expanded beyond what I could have imagined but retains the wonder and storytelling that made me fall in love in the first place.

I’ve enjoyed this podcast since my son recommended it to me. There is such a wide variety of information covered. I also enjoyed Roman Mars’ book. I confess lately I haven’t listened much. Then today I happened to tune in when the announcement was made about covering Robert Caro’s book on Robert Moses, The Power Broker, for a few weeks. I could hardly believe it. This is a book I’ve been wanting to read but never thought I’d get around to it. To top it off, several people will be joining to put in their impressions. I can’t wait to listen to these episodes! You’ve just regained a listener.

This show used to be a truly amazing podcast about architecture and design, and all the little hidden elements that affect us without our knowledge or that solve a problem we’re not aware of our other hidden designs elements. Now the show is kind of about anything, but it has still retained the wonder at hidden elements that affect us. It’s just they’ve expanded to like anthropological and sociological, cultural and political hidden design elements to and sometimes still work with material/structural design. It’s way harder to predict or explain what kind of show it is but it still is about hidden elements and it is just of the highest quality.

Varied topics, but all about design. Bringing life to the mundane and making the extraordinary approachable. Primary sources used when available. Simply an excellent podcast that shouldn’t be missed.

I freaking love this podcast. Always surprisingly informative. Amazing pace. Just the best.

It may not really be about design but the episodes are good and the voice of Roman is incredible. The ads are annoying but that’s pretty normal for every podcast I listen to. It’s very left leaning but I’m more interested in the people and events than the politics. I have only been listening for a year so I get that it might have been different in years past. Keep up the good work!

The podcast has been slowly assuming an arrogant hipster attitude that is obnoxious. Mars talking about his precocious background is the kind of barely veiled narcissism we can do without. While Mars states all Radiotopia podcasts are the most original and creative in the universe, they each follow a template from NPR and This American Life. So, if you are a sort of semi urban poseur with a good education, yet superficial in a critical examination of the liberal arts, and mediocre grades, this is the kind of podcast that will make you feel smart, with it, and cool. Cookie cutter pseudo intellectualism you utterly predictable beautiful nerd. How about this. Would Roman Mars be as cool to you if his name was John Jones?

I love this podcast so much but I feel like I wait an entire week for an episode and it just turns out to be an episode from a different podcast :/ It’s very disappointing and I want to hear Roman the OG!