Because of listening to 99% Invisible, I have added to my store of random facts, read numerous books, and added another stack to my TBR pile. I want you to do the same.
Founded by Roman Mars, 99% Invisible focuses on the often unseen elements of design in our environment. Lest you make the same mistake I did and assume this is all about architecture and therefore uninteresting, it is not. “Design” covers architecture (which turns out to be interesting after all), but also basketball uniforms, statues in New York, Enron emails, the origin of the Fler de lis, highway signs, and any other shiny objects that catch the magpie-attention of the 99% Invisible staff.
Each episode pays attention to some often overlooked detail and provides some history of the item in question. Then the discussion turns to how this design affects people. Sometimes the subject and its results are profound: How can the homeless shelter with no homes? What benefits do ADA compliant design turn out to have for all of us? What is guerilla public service and is it helpful? Some episodes seem more trivial—the aforementioned basketball uniforms, for example, or the question of toilet paper and why we all rushed to buy some. All of the episodes are fascinating when addressed by the talented writers and speakers on 99% Invisible, and each will tell you something, big or small, about what it means to be human.
Production values are high as well. This is not one of the podcasts that leaves me constantly changing the volume or giving up in frustration because I am listening with my hands full. Whatever volume you set, you will be able to keep while you drive, garden, draw, put dishes away or do whatever else it is you do while you listen.
Sometimes for me that is falling asleep. While I always ultimately play each episode while I am awake, they are also interesting enough to keep my mind from scurrying in a hundred directions while I am trying to rest, and all of the speakers have good voices. Roman Mars, in particular, has an extraordinarily soothing delivery.
What about you? What do you usually do while listening to podcasts? Let us know in the comments! And be sure to let us know if there is anything we should be listening to!
Looking for more podcasts? Find more in To Ears with Love.
