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What a Wonderful Thing - 99% Invisible — Phonograph

Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · Aug 9

Updike, especially after that pan from DFW (“a penis with a thesaurus”), became synonymous with misogyny. I don’t disagree. But at his best he was—with all his descriptive powers—describing misogyny from the inside. Rabbit Run is a kind of horror novel, among the bleakest ever written about men.

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · Aug 8

@agoldman.bsky.social You might’ve seen me posting about this, but I wanted to be sure I shared with you this episode of my podcast where we delved into four episodes from the early years of @99pi.org, ending on Heyoon, among my favorite episodes of all time.

www.anxiousmachine.com/phonograph/2...

Phonograph: What a Wonderful Thing - 99% Invisible

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · Aug 7

I've always thought @kottke.org and @99pi.org were kindred spirits of a sort. So it's super cool to see my podcast episode about the one on the website of the other. If you have any interest in @99pi.org, I really think you'll enjoy this show.

kottke.org @kottke.org · Aug 7

From the Phonograph podcast, a look at the early days of 99% Invisible (as that podcast’s 15th anniversary approaches). [phonograph.libsyn.com]

As the 15th anniversary of 99% Invisible approaches, Rob and Britta dig into four very different episodes from the first four years of that show’s run (as well as the story of the time Rob met Roman Mars): Episode 6: “” Episode 29: “” (Produced with Katie Mingle) Episode 103: “” (Produced wit

phonograph.libsyn.com

What a Wonderful Thing - 99% Invisible — Phonograph

Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · Aug 5

@myke.social I feel like there’s a chance you might enjoy this episode of my podcast where we dig into the early years of @99pi.org. Sort of like an Incomparable episode, but about a podcast. Or that episode you guys did about the iPhone launch with clips.

overcast.fm/+AAPC1ej4JvE

As the 15th anniversary of 99% Invisible approaches, Rob and Britta dig into four very different episodes from the first four years of that show’s run (as well as the story of the time Rob met Roman M...

overcast.fm

What a Wonderful Thing - 99% Invisible

Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · Aug 4

@juliaturner.bsky.social Considering your interest in both design and podcasts, there's a chance you might enjoy this episode of my podcast, where we do a deep dive into the early years of the show 99% Invisible, which is coming up on its 15th Anniversary:

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...

Podcast Episode · Phonograph · 07/31/2025 · 47m

podcasts.apple.com

Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · Aug 3

I wonder if we’d benefit from a term for work that’s produced without generative AI. Maybe “organic”? This bookstore only sells organic books. I only listen to organic music. This podcast only uses organic, host-read ads. Our school uses an fully organic curriculum. Something like that?

Amber Sparks @ambersparks.bsky.social · Aug 3

I’m just gonna say right now that when I die, if anyone uses AI to write my obituary I will fucking haunt them forever

Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · Aug 2

This reminds me of how I’ve always wondered if male writers — from Hemingway to Updike — *were* misogynists or if they were just *describing* misogyny. The answer is both. Not unlike Conrad’s relationship to colonialism. Men are endlessly fascinated by the corrupt systems to which they belong.

Helen Rosner @hels.bsky.social · Aug 2

Increasingly I think a major function of “masculinity” IS its crisis — a vehicle for the dominant & dominating group to justify focusing their social attentions primarily on themselves

Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · Aug 2

I will never forgive TAL for choosing Iowa over Minnesota.

This American Life @thisamericanlife.org · Aug 2

On the radio this weekend: A million people come to the Iowa State Fair, each with their own goals and dreams. We hang out with some of them to see if they get what they hoped for. bit.ly/3ZdkaMc

What a Wonderful Thing - 99% Invisible — Phonograph

Reposted by Rob McGinley Myers

Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · Jul 31

For the latest episode of Phonograph (with the approach of @99pi.org's 15th anniversary) Britta and I dig into four very different episodes from the show's first four years. And I couldn't resist telling the story of the time I met @romanmars.bsky.social.

www.anxiousmachine.com/phonograph/2...

What a Wonderful Thing - 99% Invisible — Phonograph

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · Jul 31

Anyway, @99pi.org was one of the first podcasts I fell in love with, and I think this episode of Phonograph is a really fun celebration of that show’s early years. I hope people check it out.

Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · Jul 31

For the latest episode of Phonograph (with the approach of @99pi.org's 15th anniversary) Britta and I dig into four very different episodes from the show's first four years. And I couldn't resist telling the story of the time I met @romanmars.bsky.social.

www.anxiousmachine.com/phonograph/2...

Growing up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Alex Goldman was a misfit. Bored and disaffected and angry, he longed for a place to escape to. And then he found Heyoon. The only way to find out about Heyoon for s...

Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · Jul 31

And the final episode we discuss is one of my favorites of all time: @agoldman.bsky.social's "Heyoon." Practically perfect in every way, it's also a testament to how @99pi.org kept redefining itself in order to include all the stories it wanted to tell.

99percentinvisible.org/episode/epis...

Heyoon - 99% Invisible

U.T.B.A.P.H. - 99% Invisible

Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · Jul 31

The 3rd episode we discuss is "U.T.B.A.P.H.", produced by Sam Greenspan and one of the funniest early episodes of the show — a great example of how Roman's decision to share the microphone with other reporters would expand the show's style and range.

99percentinvisible.org/episode/u-t-...

It started with some Pittsburgh humor. Pittsburgh-based comedian Tom Musial does a bit about a GPS unit that can give directions in “Pittsburghese.” Because in Pittsburgh, no one calls it “Interstate...

Cul-de-Sac - 99% Invisible

Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · Jul 31

The 2nd episode we discuss is "Cul de Sac," which might be @kmingle.bsky.social's first contribution to the show. I feel like it's a forgotten gem (at least by me) in the show's catalog, with incredibly playful, inventive sound design. That phone call to mom!

99percentinvisible.org/episode/epis...

When people critique cul-de-sacs, a lot of the time they’re actually critiquing the suburbs more generally. The cul-de-sac has become sort of like the mascot of the suburbs– like if suburbia had a fla...

99% Symbolic - 99% Invisible

Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · Jul 31

The first episode Britta and I discuss is "99% Symbolic," the original basis of @romanmars.bsky.social's TedTalk about the design of flags. I'm partial to the audio-only version, which demonstrates just how musical the early episodes of @99pi.org could be.

99percentinvisible.org/episode/epis...

Before I moved to Chicago in 2005, I didn’t even know cities had their own flags. In Chicago, the flag is everywhere. It’s incorporated into all different aspects of city life and the design elements ...

What a Wonderful Thing - 99% Invisible — Phonograph

Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · Jul 31

For the latest episode of Phonograph (with the approach of @99pi.org's 15th anniversary) Britta and I dig into four very different episodes from the show's first four years. And I couldn't resist telling the story of the time I met @romanmars.bsky.social.

www.anxiousmachine.com/phonograph/2...