Skip to content
100 Objects #8: Billy Possum episode artwork

Jul 10, 2026 36 min

100 Objects #8: Billy Possum

from 99% Invisible Hosted by Jon Mooallem

In 1902, an American classic was born: the teddy bear. Named after President Theodore Roosevelt, the toy became a huge hit, and sparked an idea…maybe every president from then on should have their own viral stuffed animal. Jon Mooallem tells the story of the ill-fated billy possum, and how our fickle feelings about animals have shaped the history—and perhaps the future—of our relationship with the natural world. A History of the United States in 100 Objects is a production of 99% Invisible and BBC Studios. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of 99% Invisible ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

Episode details come from the podcast's RSS feed.

Embed this episode

The teddy bear was a huge hit, and sparked an idea…maybe every president from then on should have their own viral stuffed animal.

Ready to play

100 Objects #8: Billy Possum

0:00 36:10

No transcript yet.

Requests help us decide what to transcribe next.

Frequently asked questions

How long is this episode of 99% Invisible?

This episode is 36 minutes long.

When was this 99% Invisible episode published?

This episode was published on July 10, 2026.

Can I download this 99% Invisible episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.