99% Invisible

Situated right in downtown Mumbai, India is an area of about 55 acres of dense, overgrown forest. In one of the most populous cities in the world, this is a place where peacocks roam freely -- a space out of time. This forest is protected by a religious community. It has survived in a relatively undeveloped state in the middle of this gargantuan city. Importantly, it’s also home to an ancient tradition in crisis -- one that is central to the lives (and deaths) of a particular population. There’s a certain point in this forest beyond which almost no one can step -- only special caretakers of these grounds can go any further. They go by many names: khandia, nassassalar, pallbearer, corpse bearer. Their work here is holy. They carry dead bodies to their final resting place – atop stone structures that stand gray against the lush green. These buildings are called Towers of Silence. Towers of Silence [https://99percentinvisible.org/?p=42200&post_type=episode]

This is the fourth official episode, breaking down the 1974 Pulitzer Prize winning book, The Power Broker by our hero Robert Caro.  Roman and Elliott also sit down with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the U.S. representative for New York's 14th congressional district, who describes the lasting impact Moses’ highways have made on her district, and her own philosophy when it comes to political power and bringing ambitious projects to life. On today’s show, Elliott Kalan and Roman Mars will cover the second section of Part 4 of the book (Chapters 16 through the end of Chapter 20), discussing the major story beats and themes. The Power Broker #4: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez [https://99percentinvisible.org/?p=42166&post_type=episode] Join the discussion on Discord [https://discord.gg/99pi] and our Subreddit [https://www.reddit.com/r/99percentinvisible/]

This week we're featuring an episode from The Sporkful's series on the creation of "Anything's Pastable," Dan Pashman's new pasta cookbook. Dan talks with Roman about how this massive project came to be and all the design decisions required to put together a cookbook. And then, in part two of “Anything’s Pastable,” Dan embarks on an epic trip across Italy in search of lesser-known pasta dishes — and to learn about the evolution of pasta more broadly. He starts in Rome, where food writer Katie Parla [https://katieparla.com/] reveals a shocking truth about pasta. Then an Italian food historian [https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Discovery-of-Pasta/Luca-Cesari/9781639363162] challenges Dan’s thinking about carbonara. Finally, he heads south to meet a chef who was there when a regional specialty called spaghetti all’assassina (“assassin’s spaghetti”) was invented. All of this leads Dan to wonder: What does evolution look like in a food culture that’s so often depicted in sepia tones? And what’s his place in that process? Preorder Dan’s cookbook today [https://www.sporkful.com/anythings-pastable/] (including signed copies), and see if he’s visiting a city near you on his tour of book signings and live podcast tapings [https://www.sporkful.com/tour/] with special guests! Follow Dan on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thesporkful] to see photos and videos from the Anything’s Pastable journey. Anything's Pastable: Eat Sauté Love [https://99percentinvisible.org/?p=42160&post_type=episode]

Hailing from central African cities of Brazzaville and Kinshasa, sapeurs have become increasingly recognizable around the world. Since the 1970s, sapeurs (from: le sape, short for "Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes") have been known for donning technicolored three-piece suits with flamboyant accessories like golden walking sticks and leopard-print fedoras, and then cat-walking through their city streets. In recent years, Solange, Kendrick and SZA have all featured sapeurs in their music videos. The iconic British menswear designer Paul Smith did a whole spring line of sapeur-inspired suits and bowler hats. The Society of Ambiance Makers and Elegant Persons [https://99percentinvisible.org/?p=42121&post_type=episode]

A chambre de bonne is usually one small room, on the top floor of a five- or six-story apartment building, and it’s usually just big enough to fit a bed and a table. It’s affordable housing in a city where finding housing is nearly impossible. Reporter Jeanne Boëzec [https://jeanneboezec.com/en] tells about the history of the chambre de bonne apartments, and how while cute, they are also cramped and can be unpleasant spaces for people who have to live there, a living embodiment of the gap between the rich in Paris and everyone else. Chambre de Bonne [https://99percentinvisible.org/?p=42085&post_type=episode]