SiriusXM Is Buying â99% Invisible,â and Street Cred in Podcasting The deal, for one of industryâs earliest success stories, is the latest salvo in an era of rapid consolidation. Roman Mars, the founder of the podcast â99% Invisible,â sold his company named for the program in an effort to free himself from administrative burdens and get greater resources for his staff. Credit...Aubrey Trinnaman for The New York Times April 26, 2021Updated 11:04 a.m. ET Roman Marsâs â99% Invisible,â a hit podcast about the hidden influence of design and architecture that helped solidify resurgent interest in narrative audio when it premiered in 2010, has a new home. SiriusXM, the satellite radio provider, has acquired Marsâs company, 99% Invisible Inc., which is responsible for the podcast, its various spinoffs â including the limited series âArticles of Interestâ and âAccording to Needâ â and a best-selling book, âThe 99% Invisible City,â released last year.