On June 2, 2026, the design-focused podcast 99% Invisible released Episode 669, "The MAPL Test," diving into the history of Canadian content regulations. The release comes amidst a flurry of activity for the production powerhouse, which has been aggressively expanding its collaborative portfolio beyond its traditional feed.
In their latest spin-off effort, host Roman Mars opened a recent episode of "A History of the United States in 100 Objects" by highlighting their partnership with British public media. Mars announced, "From 99% Invisible and BBC Studios, this is A History of the United States in 100 Objects," establishing a grander, more historical tone than the show's usual focus on street furniture and architectural quirks. The collaboration with BBC Studios represents a major scaling up of their co-production model.
During the episode, Mars introduced "the Enterprise gas bag and the birth of the American obsession with pushing higher and higher," using Civil War-era aeronautics to explore broader themes of national ambition. This historical pivot shows 99% Invisible leaning heavily into high-concept curation, leveraging their signature narrative style to make archival history feel immediate and design-focused.
As the network continues to balance its weekly feed with these high-profile co-productions, the challenge will be maintaining the intimate voice that built their massive audience. Whether listeners prefer the policy-heavy focus of "The MAPL Test" or the sweeping historical narratives of their British collaborations, Roman Mars and his team are clearly betting that their brand of design-thinking can stretch across any topic or era.