For fans of “99% Invisible” who find themselves craving more content that explores the hidden design and architecture of our world, there’s good news: the podcast landscape is rich with shows that share a similar spirit of curiosity and revelation. While Roman Mars and his team have carved out a unique niche, their success has inspired a wave of podcasts that dive into the overlooked aspects of our daily lives, uncover fascinating histories, and examine the invisible forces shaping our society.
The Anthropocene Reviewed
Listen to The Anthropocene Reviewed
The Human Era marks our present geological epoch, where mankind’s influence has dramatically altered Earth and its myriad life forms. In his podcast “Rating the Human Era,” chart-topping writer John Green (known for “Love Amidst Illness” and “Infinite Regression”) evaluates various aspects of our species-dominated world using a five-point grading system.
Extremities
The motivations and methods behind human habitation in the world’s most remote and challenging environments.
Cautionary Tale with Tim Harford
Listen to Cautionary Tale with Tim Harford
Adults share unsettling fables with kids to impart wisdom, but these “Educational Anecdotes” aim to enlighten mature listeners – and every story is factual. Tim Harford (columnist, broadcaster, and writer of “The Number Sleuth”) presents accounts of grave human missteps, devastating disasters, and comical blunders. These tales will amuse and alarm you, while ultimately expanding your understanding.
Planet Money
Curious about a neat feat? Name any subject and we’ll link it to finance. On Cash World, we delve into the hidden influences shaping our daily existence and invite you along for the journey. Move beyond grasping economics – gain insight into the entire world around you.
Twenty Thousand Hertz
Listen to Twenty Thousand Hertz
A meticulously produced audio series uncovering the tales and origins of the globe’s most iconic and intriguing noises.
Freakonomics Radio
“Freakonomics” co-writer Stephen J. Dubner explores the unexpected aspects of everyday life. What makes air travel less risky than road trips? How do we choose our life partners? What drives the media’s focus on negative events? Plus: fascinating tidbits about canines, tropical fruits, environmental contamination, internet algorithms, and the peculiarities of human conduct that you never realized you were curious about. Read our review of Freakonomics Radio.
Under understood
Some queries stump even the vast web. But that won’t stop us from uncovering solutions. Each installment of “Mysteries Unraveled” tackles a riddle that stumps online searches – perhaps an incomplete encyclopedia entry, a deserted forum discussion, or an unresolved social media inquiry – and we piece together the missing information. Our show blends casual conversation with investigative reporting, often leading to unexpected discoveries.
Revisionist History
“Revisionist History” is Malcolm Gladwell’s exploration of neglected and misconstrued topics. Each installment takes a new perspective on a historical element—be it an occurrence, an individual, a concept, or even a melody—and questions if our initial understanding was accurate.
The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week
Listen to The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week
Popular Science’s team uncovers and crafts numerous scientific and technological articles each week. While many intriguing tidbits find their way into their published pieces, the staff accumulates a wealth of peculiar information that often remains confined to their workspace. They’ve decided to extend these captivating snippets beyond their office walls, sharing this treasure trove of curiosities with their audience.
Ologies
Volcanoes. Forests. Tipsy butterflies. Mars expeditions. Slug mating rituals. Mortality. Societal beauty ideals. Stress relief hacks. The science of beer. The intrigue of bees. You’ll walk away with a brain packed full of fascinating science facts and quirky tales that drive these expert -ologists’ passions. Humorist and science communicator Alie Ward poses ridiculous questions to brilliant minds, and their answers just might change your perspective on life. Read our review of Ologies.
Endless Thread
Presenters Ben Brock Johnson and Amory Sivertson explore the expansive and intriguing landscape of digital gatherings, unearthing hidden chronicles, unresolved enigmas, and other astounding tales from both the virtual realm and tangible reality.
The Moth
Twice weekly, The Moth releases award-winning radio episodes and original podcasts. For over two decades, they’ve showcased authentic, unscripted narratives before live audiences globally. Speakers perform solo, armed only with their words and a mic, creating an intense, shared experience with listeners. Since 2008, the podcast has highlighted standout tales from these live events.
Darknet Diaries
Delve into authentic accounts from the Internet’s shadowy underbelly with narrator Jack Rhysider as he guides you through the unsettling realm of digital intrusions, information leaks, and online wrongdoing.
Heavyweight
Perhaps you’ve lain restless, envisioning alternate paths and potential futures, but the opportunity for action always seemed elusive. Well, that chance has arrived, and the audio series bringing it to life is “Second Chances.” Follow Jonathan Goldstein on journeys, prickly reunions, and challenging dialogues as he reverses course into bygone days like a counselor wielding a time-traveling device. A Spotify Studios production.
This American Life
Every seven days, a central idea is selected. From there, the possibilities are endless. “Our Nation’s Tales” presents real-life narratives that unfold like audio-based short films. It features personal accounts with humorous elements, intense emotions, and unexpected turns. Current event stories aim to encapsulate the essence of contemporary existence. Read our review of This American life.
Omnibus
Each week, trivia champion Ken Jennings and musician John Roderick contribute a fresh item to their COMPENDIUM, an all-encompassing collection of bizarre-yet-factual tales they’re assembling as a historical archive for posterity.
The Atlas Obscura Podcast
Listen to The Atlas Obscura Podcast
A sonic tour of Earth’s peculiar, remarkable, and awe-inspiring locations. Co-creator Dylan Thuras and a network of Atlas Obscura correspondents investigate a fresh marvel each weekday, Monday to Thursday. In less than a quarter-hour, they’ll transport you to an extraordinary site, introducing you to intriguing individuals and sharing their narratives along the journey.
Radiolab
This podcast poses profound queries and employs thorough reporting to uncover answers. Any given installment might whisk you through scientific discoveries, legal precedents, and into the living space of someone on the opposite side of the globe. The program is renowned for its groundbreaking audio techniques, seamlessly blending facts with melodic elements. It’s presented by Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser.
Articles of interest
Listen to Articles of interest
This podcast explores the stories behind our attire and what the things we wear mean.
Secretly Incredibly Fascinating
Listen to Secretly incredibly Fascinating
A weekly podcast exploring the hidden history, science, myths, and unexpected facts that make ordinary things surprisingly captivating. Hosted by comedy writer, emoji inventor, and ‘Jeopardy!’ champion Alex Schmidt. Tune in as Alex and co-host Katie Goldin take you on an exciting journey, offering a fresh perspective on the world around you!
You Are Not So Smart
Listen to You Are Not So Smart
You Are Not So Smart is a podcast focused on psychology, celebrating both science and our own self-deceptions. In every episode, we dive into what we’ve discovered so far about thinking, biases, judgments, and the ways we make decisions.
The Memory Palace
The Memory Palace is a storytelling podcast that transports listeners through vivid, beautifully crafted narratives about historical events, people, and moments often overlooked or forgotten. Hosted by Nate DiMeo, each episode blends rich, poetic prose with atmospheric music to bring to life tales from the past, creating an emotional and reflective experience. Whether recounting significant cultural milestones or intimate, lesser-known stories, The Memory Palace offers a contemplative journey into history that feels both timeless and personal.
In Our Time
In Our Time, hosted by Melvyn Bragg, is a BBC podcast that brings together leading experts to discuss a wide range of intellectual and cultural topics, from history and philosophy to science and literature. Each episode dives deep into a specific subject, offering listeners a thorough yet accessible exploration of the ideas and events that have shaped the world.
Unexplainable
Unexplainable brings listeners to the frontier of our knowledge, and then ventures beyond it. Host Noam Hassenfeld, alongside a stellar team of reporters — Byrd Pinkerton, Meradith Hoddinott, and Mandy Nguyen — explore scientific enigmas, unresolved questions, and the discoveries that come from delving into the mysteries of the unknown.
Read our review of 99% Invisible
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