Roman Mars

Roman Mars
Name	Roman Mars
Birth date	1974
Birth place	Akron, Ohio, United States
Occupation	Radio producer, podcaster, writer
Years active	2008–present
Known for	99% Invisible

Roman Mars Roman Mars is an American radio producer, podcaster, and writer best known as the creator and host of the design and architecture podcast 99% Invisible. He has worked in public radio and independent media, producing narrative audio that focuses on design, urbanism, infrastructure, and cultural artifacts. Mars's work has intersected with institutions in broadcasting, journalism, and the creative arts, drawing attention from peers across NPR, This American Life, and the podcasting community.

Early life and education

Mars was born in Akron, Ohio, and grew up amid the cultural landscapes of the American Midwest, including connections to Cleveland and regional institutions such as the University of Akron and music scenes around Kent, Ohio. He pursued higher education on the West Coast, engaging with programs and communities linked to San Francisco State University, California College of the Arts, and local public media outlets. Early influences included exposure to public radio personalities and production practices associated with National Public Radio and independent documentary producers like Ira Glass and Roman Mars-era contemporaries (note: do not link subject). He later moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he became involved with organizations such as KALW (San Francisco) and creative collectives connected to SF MOMA and design schools.

Career

Mars began producing audio for public radio and independent projects, collaborating with outlets including KALW (San Francisco), KQED, and WNYC. His early professional network comprised producers and journalists from This American Life, Radiolab, and Marketplace, fostering skills in storytelling and sound design that align with the practices of Joe Richman and Ira Glass. Mars's career progressed through roles in program development, editorial production, and podcast innovation, intersecting with platforms like Stitcher, PRX, and the then-emerging podcasting industry infrastructure. He worked alongside producers from Snap Judgment and institutions such as The New Yorker Radio Hour while engaging with design organizations like AIGA and Design Observer.

99% Invisible

Mars founded and hosts 99% Invisible, a podcast that examines the unnoticed design and architecture shaping everyday life. The show has partnered with producers and organizations including Radiotopia, PRX, Stitcher, and independent producers from KALW (San Francisco), facilitating collaborations with creators from This American Life, Radiolab, and The Moth. Episodes have explored topics tied to places like Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Detroit, and to designers and firms such as Eero Saarinen, Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, Zaha Hadid, and institutions including MoMA and Cooper Hewitt. 99% Invisible has been recognized by award-granting bodies such as the Peabody Awards, the Webby Awards, and has been discussed in publications including The New York Times, The Guardian, Wired (magazine), and The Atlantic. The program's storytelling style reflects influences from documentary traditions exemplified by Studs Terkel and contemporary audio innovators at NPR and WNYC.

Other projects and collaborations

Beyond 99% Invisible, Mars has co-created projects and supported initiatives involving organizations like Urban Land Institute, American Institute of Architects, Smithsonian Institution, and cultural producers including TED, SXSW, and Design Indaba. He was involved in producing live shows and special series with collaborators from Radiotopia and producers who worked on Serial (podcast). Mars has worked with journalists and creators such as those at The New Yorker, Vox Media, The Atlantic, and design journalists from Architectural Digest and Dwell (magazine). Collaborative endeavors include partnerships with musicians, sound designers, and visual artists from San Francisco Conservatory of Music-adjacent communities and galleries tied to SFMOMA. He has participated in editorial and advisory roles for projects connected to Monocle (magazine), The New Republic, and non-profit initiatives like StoryCorps and Public Radio Exchange (PRX).

Public speaking and recognition

Mars has delivered talks at conferences and institutions including TED, SXSW, AIGA, Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, and universities such as Stanford University, Harvard University, and Columbia University. His TED talk on design and the unnoticed won wide attention and was featured by TED Conferences and cited in coverage by Fast Company, The New York Times, and The Guardian. Mars and his program have received honors and nominations from organizations including the Peabody Awards, the Webby Awards, and journalism awards from entities like Investigative Reporters and Editors and Society of Professional Journalists. He has been profiled by media outlets such as NPR, WNYC, The New Yorker, and The Atlantic.

Personal life

Mars resides in the San Francisco Bay Area and is active in local media, arts, and design communities with connections to institutions including KALW (San Francisco), San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and regional universities like San Francisco State University and California College of the Arts. He has participated in mentorship and educational programs affiliated with AIGA and community radio collaboratives. Mars maintains relationships with peers across public radio and independent media networks including PRX, Radiotopia, and WNYC.

Category:Living people Category:1974 births Category:American podcasters Category:People from Akron, Ohio