Part-Time Genius
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Part-Time Genius
Are you a knowledge junkie who loves when facts are stranger than fiction? Do you find yourself constantly tripping down Wikipedia rabbit holes (and delighting in the journey)? Have you ever been told you ask a lot of questions? If so, congrats! You’re one of us: a Part-Time Genius! Join Will,...
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437 epizód
9 High-Flying Facts About Skywriting!
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s… an ad for cigarettes?! For the past 102 years, people have been using airplanes to turn exhaust into ads, political s...
Cake in Space, a Musical Mushroom, and a Very Lonely Snail
It’s the 44th annual Part-Time Genius Awards! We’re honoring the people—and creatures—behind the year’s best stories, including a fungus that plays ke...
9 Very Important Facts About Bears
Whether you're an amateur bear enthusiast or prepping for a bear convention, these are the bear facts you'll need! Will and Mango explore a Canadian b...
From Business History: Thomas Edison and the Movie Murder Mystery
We’re sharing a preview of another podcast we think you’ll enjoy, Business History. Former Planet Money hosts Jacob Goldstein and Robert Smith examine...
Is Flavor Really All In Your Brain?
Believe it or not, heavier bowls, a pair of headphones, and an electronic lollipop can trick your mind grapes into making tasty food even tastier. But...
How Much Did Jane Austen Earn From Her Books (And Why Wasn’t It More)?
Jane Austen worked at a 12-sided desk, was great at singing, and earned shockingly little money from her novels. Today’s her 250th birthday, so we’re...
9 Weird Things Hiding Underground
From the world's most secretive cinema to an internet for plants, to the perfect job for lazy people who also want to hide underground, Will, Gabe, an...
Why Were C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien Frenemies?!
This year marks the 75th anniversary of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, so Will and Mango are uncovering some seriously surprising stories abou...
9 Wonderful Wintertime Inventions
Did a 15-year-old really invent the snowmobile? What was the original use for a Kleenex? How come Eddie Bauer gets zero credit for his genius idea? An...
9 Door-Busting Facts About Holiday Shopping
Tis the season for commerce, and Gabe and Mary are standing by with answers to all the questions you didn’t know you had. Like: What was the Tickle Me...
What Are the Secrets of the World’s Largest Birds?
Is Florida the birthplace of ostrich racing? Why do male Emperor penguins get an extra stomach flap? And why should you be extra wary of a loose casso...
Taking Risks and Traveling the World, with Tom Freston!
Tom Freston’s resume is real, but reads like fiction: he served cocktails in the Caribbean, created a fashion brand in India, co-founded MTV, became C...
How Scientists Are Reviving Lost Smells
Want to know what the Chanel No. 5 of Ancient Egypt smelled like? Or how the interior of Queen Elizabeth's royal car smelled? Or maybe you'd like to e...
Super Food Science Excellence Trivia Blow Out! with Science Friday
What a treat! It’s a fact-packed food science trivia game, created in collaboration with our good pals at Science Friday. Mango and SciFri’s Flora Lic...
Why Does New Zealand Have an Official Wizard?
Everything Will and Mango read about New Zealand made them want to visit! From how Hokey Pokey became the country's favorite ice cream flavor, to why...
9 Saucy, Savory Facts About Pasta
Whether you love fusilli or spaghetti (actually, turns out many of you don’t love spaghetti), today’s episode will whet your appetite… for pasta facts...
What Did Teddy Roosevelt Do to Dr. Seuss?!
Today Mango sits down with Erin McCarthy, editor-in-chief of Mental Floss, to talk about our 26th president, Teddy Roosevelt… from whether he really c...
Introducing: Health Stuff
Hi, Part-Time Genius listeners! We're excited to share with you a sneak peek at iHeartPodcasts' latest release, Health Stuff!
Health Stuff: On H...
9 Mustache Facts to Kick Off Movember!
From the super strange reason Burt Reynolds grew a mustache to why you need to invest in a mustache spoon, Will and Mango chat all things facial topia...
Exploring Alien Science with Daniel Whiteson!
What if aliens came to earth… and helped us unlock the mysteries of the universe? That’s the premise of our pal Daniel Whiteson’s new book, Do Aliens...
PTG Recommends: Origin Stories!
On today's Rec Center, Mango introduces listeners to his pal Matthew Shaer's brand new podcast Origin Stories. If you're someone who misses the Longfo...
9 Spooky, Ooky Facts About Charles Addams
We all know the famous family—but what about the man behind them, lurking in the shadows? Mango and Gabe decided to celebrate Halloween by unearthing...
9 Halloween Facts to Stuff in Your Pillowcases!
In Iowa, you can't just show up on your neighbor's doorstep with a costume... kids have to work for the treats! Grab your pillowcase, bucket, or plast...
Being Curious for a Living with Josh & Chuck from Stuff You Should Know
We’re closing out this week of curiosity with our good pals Josh and Chuck (and super producer Jeri!) from Stuff You Should Know. It’s a wide-ranging,...
Are We Doomed to Lose Curiosity As We Age?
Today Will and Mango explore the science of curiosity at different ages: how school can help (or hurt) kids’ curiosity, why middle age may make you le...
Can Pets Be Curious? How About Wild Chimps?
Today we’re taking a break from human curiosity and turning our attention to other animals. What makes hummingbirds explore different flowers? Are we...
Is Curiosity Dangerous?
Where did the saying “curiosity killed the cat” come from, and is it just a way for the rich and powerful to oppress everyone else? (Hint: yes.) Today...
What Does Curiosity Really Do To Our Brains?
Every day this week, we’re exploring a different aspect of curiosity—you know, the thing that makes you listen to this show. We’re starting off by dis...
How Come Esperanto Never Took Off?!
Want to know which billionaire speaks Esperanto fluently? Or what country almost adopted Esperanto as its national language? Or why Hitler and Stalin...
Can Pneumatic Tubes and Robot Sharks Solve Our Garbage Crisis?
Today Mango and producer Mary are talking trash! Discover how people used to deal with trash (hint: it involved thousands of feral pigs), and why garb...
Why did Venus Flytraps Develop a Taste for Meat?
From plants that eat rats and frogs, to the strange reason bats curl up in pitcher plants, Will and Mango explore the eerie world of carnivorous plant...
The Mystery of the Missing Tintin Plays
It’s the second episode of our two-part series about Tintin! Today Gabe and Mango look beyond the books to discuss Tintin adaptations, including Steve...
What’s the Best Day of the Week?
We all know which day Garfield hates. But what’s the best day to avoid a bank robbery? And when can you get the freshest sushi? And why are there seve...
Was Tintin a Real Person?
Millions of readers have been captivated by the adventures of Tintin, a swoopy-haired young journalist who races around the world with his little dog,...
9 Facts to Get You in the Apple-Picking Mood
Which apple could also be a hair metal band? Why is New York City the Big Apple and not the New Orange? And how did Japanese farmers figure out the se...
9 Sneaky Ways to Send a Message
There are lots of ways we could tell you about the art of secret messaging: we could waggle a blanket, grab a bucket of gallnuts and iron supplements,...
Did Picasso Try to Steal the Mona Lisa?
How did the Mona Lisa get so famous? Why doesn't she have any eyebrows? And why was Picasso investigated for the painting's theft? Today, Will and Man...
Why Is It So Hard to Get Rid of Lice?!
For a tiny insect, lice sure can cause big problems! Today Mango and producer Mary—both veterans of the head lice wars—dive into the ancient history o...
Does Pizza Bring Out the Worst In People?
Everyone says money is the root of all evil... but are you 100% certain it isn’t pizza? Will and Mango take a deep dive into a shallow dish (more of a...
What's the Worst Mascot of All Time? (And Who Invented Mascots, Anyway?)
Today Will and Mango are tipping their hats to the true MVPs of competitive sports: mascots! Find out how these costumed characters became a fixture o...