Episode notes
Canada reshaped its music industry with a quirky radio rule that changed who got heard.
Podcast
99% Invisible
Roman Mars · Arts & Books · English
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.
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19 Jun 2026 · 46 min
100 Objects #5: Blue Back Speller
Why did an ordinary schoolbook become so treasured that enslaved people risked their lives to possess it?
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Love it or hate it, one buzzing horn changed the sound of the World Cup forever.
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12 Jun 2026 · 39 min
100 Objects #4: Lowe's Gas Bag
In 1861, one man and a “gas bag” filled with hydrogen sparked America's obsession with going higher, farther, into the unknown.
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E670 · 9 Jun 2026 · 35 min
Karaoke Videos
Behind every cheesy karaoke track was a surprisingly ambitious filmmaking experiment.
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5 Jun 2026 · 43 min
100 Objects #3: The Pension Files
Unearthing a remarkable slave rebellion through dusty Civil War paperwork.
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29 May 2026 · 36 min
100 Objects #2: 60-Degree Screw
A tiny screw. A precise angle. How America built a hidden empire, one standard at a time.
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E668 · 26 May 2026 · 48 min
Drug Story: Ivermectin
What started as a revolutionary treatment for river blindness became something far messier.
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19 May 2026 · 30 min
100 Objects #1: The Century Safe
A locked iron safe, sealed for 100 years. What objects did Americans choose to remember?
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E667 · 12 May 2026 · 32 min
Ask Your Doctor About
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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8 May 2026 · 4 min
A History of the United States in 100 Objects Trailer
100 objects. 100 stories. A new history of the US hiding in plain sight.
