Design Podcasts

99% Invisible

Roman Mars

Ever wonder why the world looks the way it does? 99% Invisible is a celebration of the unnoticed design and architecture that shape our daily experiences. Hosted by Roman Mars, the show peels back the layers of our built environment, revealing the fascinating, often surprising stories hidden behind the objects, infrastructures, and systems we usually take for granted. Whether it is exploring the vast network of undersea fiber-optic cables that keep the internet humming, investigating the historical myths surrounding everyday currency, or diving into the unintended legacies of vintage karaoke videos and plastic stadium horns, each episode is a masterclass in curiosity. The podcast frequently excels at humanizing the bureaucratic and the mechanical, turning everything from government pension files to the history of air-reconnaissance balloons into gripping narratives. A standout feature is the recurring 100 Objects series, which uses specific artifacts to anchor deep dives into larger cultural shifts—such as how a 19th-century spelling book became a tool for liberation or how a single legal pamphlet helped spark a revolution. By uncovering these overlooked connections, 99% Invisible challenges listeners to look at their surroundings with fresh eyes. It is an exploration of how the small, the mundane, and the forgotten often hold the most profound truths about who we are and how we live. If you have ever felt a spark of wonder at the "why" behind the "what," this show is your perfect guide.

Articles of Interest

Avery Trufelman

What are we actually saying when we get dressed in the morning? Articles of Interest peels back the fabric of our daily lives to reveal the hidden histories, power dynamics, and psychological baggage sewn into the clothes we wear. Host Avery Trufelman guides listeners on an investigative journey that treats fashion not as a frivolous pursuit, but as a critical lens through which to view human history, social justice, and personal identity. Whether she is tracing the evolution of high heels from Persian cavalry gear to modern status symbols, or unpacking how the tax code incentivizes billionaires to dress like the working class, Trufelman masterfully connects the dots between the aesthetic and the systemic. The show excels at blending deep-dive research with intimate storytelling, featuring insightful conversations with designers, historians, and activists. You will find yourself questioning everything from the origin of your favorite t-shirt to the moral authority carried by a simple clerical collar. The podcast moves beyond mere trends to ask why we covet certain items, how we define our own style, and how the objects we carry shape the way the world perceives us. If you have ever felt that your wardrobe is a roadmap to who you are, this series offers a brilliant, thoughtful, and endlessly fascinating look at why fashion matters far more than just what happens on a runway.