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United States Roman Mars is a prominent American radio producer, known for his work on the critically acclaimed podcast '99% Invisible' and as a co-founder of the Radiotopia podcast collective.
Radiotopia was created in 2014 through a partnership between PRX and Roman Mars (99% Invisible). PRX is a non-profit media organization that produces and distributes content for public radio. Mars was also hired by PRX to curate a radio program called Remix.
Roman Mars is the host and creator of 99% Invisible, a sound-rich, narrative podcast about the unnoticed architecture and design that shape our world. The podcast explores the hidden designs and architecture that shape our lives.
SiriusXM, through its Stitcher platform, acquired Roman Mars's company, 99% Invisible Inc., which produces the 99% Invisible podcast and its various spinoffs. This acquisition integrated Mars's work into a larger audio content network.
Roman Mars co-created the podcast collective Radiotopia in partnership with the Knight Foundation and the Public Radio Exchange (PRX). The Knight Foundation supports informed and engaged communities.
Roman Mars co-authored 'The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design' with Kurt Kohlstedt, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. This book further extends the themes explored in his podcast.
Roman Mars transitioned from a Ph.D. program in genetics to pursue a career in public radio, beginning with an unpaid internship at KALW in San Francisco. This shift marked the start of his innovative contributions to the audio landscape. In 2004, he produced ‘Invisible Ink’ on KALW, laying early groundwork for his distinctive narrative style.
His career significantly advanced with the creation of ‘99% Invisible,’ a podcast that explores the unnoticed architecture and design shaping our world. This program gained widespread recognition for its unique approach to storytelling through sound. Mars also played a key role in founding Radiotopia, a podcast collective established in 2014 through a partnership with PRX. Radiotopia aimed to broaden the radio landscape by supporting and showcasing independent narrative podcasts, challenging traditional public radio conventions.
Mars has continually demonstrated innovation in audio production, including the effective use of crowdfunding for his projects. ‘99% Invisible’ notably became one of the highest-funded journalism projects on Kickstarter, raising substantial capital for its production. In 2021, his company, 99% Invisible Inc., was acquired by SiriusXM’s Stitcher Radio, marking a significant milestone in his career. Following the acquisition, Mars donated one million dollars from the sale to Radiotopia, reinforcing his commitment to supporting independent audio creators.
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