99% Invisible • Roman Mars

In this episode of 99% Invisible, the focus is on the Jasper Plan, an initiative launched in 1950s Jasper, Indiana to tackle organic waste management. The plan involved installing garbage disposals in households, eliminating traditional garbage collection and relying on a new wastewater treatment facility.

While addressing the plan's history and widespread adoption, the podcast also explores the environmental sustainability of garbage disposals. It delves into concerns over their impact on sewer systems, energy waste, and methane emissions. The episode presents Jasper's anaerobic digester as a greener alternative, converting food waste into compost and capturing methane for electricity generation. Additionally, eco-friendly strategies like meal planning and composting are highlighted as viable alternatives to garbage disposals.

The 99% Invisible episode explores the relentless ambition and unapologetic tactics of Robert Moses in expanding public infrastructure and green spaces in New York. It details how Moses wielded his growing power, appropriating land from farmers and landowners, often resorting to coercion, illegal methods, and ethical breaches to achieve his vision.

While his projects were hugely popular with the public and provided recreational spaces, this episode also examines the criticism Moses faced for his authoritarianism and lack of compromise, as well as the questionable legal practices he deployed to overcome obstacles. His controversial tenure as Secretary of State and his struggles with reforming the corrupt boxing industry provide insight into the depths he would go to control government operations for his grand plans.

In this episode of 99% Invisible, the rise of media-driven toy franchises is explored. From the groundbreaking He-Man and Transformers in the 1980s that combined animation and commercials to drive toy sales, to the grassroots phenomenon of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, these franchises blurred the lines between toys, cartoons, and advertising.

The creators of TMNT, Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, found themselves transitioning from comic artists to business overseers as their brand skyrocketed in popularity. Their journey highlights the challenges faced in expanding a franchise while maintaining creative control and artistic authenticity amidst commercial pressures.

Delve into the intricacies of California's Proposition 65 with Roman Mars and a diverse panel of guests, including Vivian Le, David Rowe, and Todd Cooperman, on the 99% Invisible podcast. This episode unpacks the landmark environmental protection measure mandating warnings on products with potentially harmful chemicals. The discussion highlights the positive outcomes, such as incentivized product reformulation, alongside the rise of overwarning by companies to fend off litigation. Featuring personal experiences and professional insights, this episode sheds light on the dynamic impact of the act on both consumers and businesses.

Going beyond the black-and-white text of warning labels, the podcast brings together voices like Bao Vu's and Nicole Krim's to explore the unintended consequences of one of California's most well-known laws. Experts such as Alan Hirsch weigh in on the preemptive self-regulatory steps taken by companies and the resulting nationwide consumer benefits. If you've ever puzzled over Proposition 65's ubiquitous warnings, join 99% Invisible to understand the complex legal, economic, and health implications woven into the labels we often take for granted.

Dive into the soul of Santa Fe, New Mexico with Roman Mars and his discerning co-hosts Joy, Delaney Hall, and Eric Cavanaugh on 99% Invisible, as they uncover the city's preservation of its traditional architecture and the resilience of ancient irrigation methods. Their discussion paints a vivid image of Santa Fe's unique skyline, a tapestry of adobe structures and cultural narrative shaped by guidelines dating back over a century. Drawing from the city's 1912 initiative to crafting a picturesque Southwestern aura, the team explores how ordinances and design review boards have since been integral in maintaining the region's earthen aesthetics and historical resonance, even amid modernization pressures.

Venture further into Santa Fe's rich history as the episode delves into the acequia system, an ingenious network of irrigation ditches such as the Acequia Madre, underlining 400 years of agricultural innovation still in effect today. The podcast provides insight into the operational dynamics of these ancient ditches, highlighting the critical role of community involvement in both managing water resources and preserving local farming traditions. Emphasizing the annual community events that sustain these vital systems, Mars and the team reveal how such longstanding practices have not only nurtured the land but fortified the social fabric of Santa Fe's populace.