Talks & Entertainment

Have you ever wondered what those bright, squiggly graffiti marks on the sidewalk mean? Or who gets to name the streets we walk along? Or what the story is behind those dancing inflatable figures in car dealerships?

“99% Invisible” is a big-ideas podcast about small-seeming things, revealing stories baked into the buildings we inhabit, the streets we drive, and the sidewalks we traverse. The show celebrates design and architecture in all of its functional glory and accidental absurdity, with intriguing tales of both designers and the people impacted by their designs.

In The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design, show host and creator Roman Mars and producer Kurt Kohlstedt explore the fascinating stories behind everything from power grids and fire escapes to drinking fountains and street signs. With deeply researched entries and beautiful line drawings, The 99% Invisible City is a guidebook to the unnoticed yet essential elements of our cities.

In conversation with Kristen Meinzer, a culture critic, podcast host, and author. Her hosting credits include “By The Book,” “Movie Therapy with Rafer & Kristen,” “Innovation Uncovered,” and “When Meghan Met Harry.” Her books include So You Want to Start a Podcast and How to Be Fine (co-written with Jolenta Greenberg).