This is 99% Invisible. I'm Roman Mars.

This is part two, the 2018-2019 mini-stories episodes, where I interview the staff about their

favorite little design stories and stories about the built world that don't quite fill out an

entire episode for whatever reason, but they are quintessential 99PI stories nonetheless.

We have stolen artifacts, mythical alleys, detached US territories,

machines that bring joy to people's lives in a 50-foot screaming monster that we will burn to

the ground. If you are ever in need of a conversation starter, the mini-stories are our gift to you.

Stay with us.

First, producer Joe Rosenberg.

Okay, so Roman, imagine you're watching a TV show set in New York, and let's say it's one of those

buddy-cop comedies where they pair the rookie with the grizzled veteran.

Okay. It opens on a foot chase. They're closing in on their suspects, streets of Manhattan are

whizzing by. Let me ask you, like nine times out of ten. If the suspect ducks around a corner to

get away from them, he usually ducks into a what? And Ali, is that what you're looking for?

Yes, okay. I'm kind of leading you on. You are correct.

Okay, now imagine another episode, same television show. The rookie cop is woken in the middle of the

night because there's a fresh body. There's been a murder. They need him at the crime scene.

Now picture the crime scene, the police day, the chalk outline. Where is this crime scene?

That is definitely in an alley.

Correct. Yes, again, and now imagine a humor view for what just to complete the rule of three.

In another episode, the grizzled cop breaks up a drug deal. It's going to be in an alley.

Yeah, right. And that's just for like, you know, a television crime procedural. I mean, imagine,

...