Part-Time Genius

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 discovering what happens in our brains when we experience curiosity, why some things make us curious and others don’t, how a lack of novelty can lead to pretty strange behavior, and how all of this ties in to our willingness to buy oat milk.  Take the Which Part-Time Genius Co-Host Are You? quiz! Leave a comment on our Instagram (@parttimegenius) or Bluesky (parttimegenius.bsky.social) and tell us your result. We’ll pick one comment at random to win a prize! For a bonus entry, make a post about your result and tag us. Deadline is 11:59pm ET, Sunday Oct. 26. Learn more about Celeste Kidd’s work at the Kidd Lab. Subscribe to Jack Shepherd’s newsletter, On Words and Up Words.   Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925. Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Want to know which billionaire speaks Esperanto fluently? Or what country almost adopted Esperanto as its national language? Or why Hitler and Stalin were both afraid of Dr. Esperanto (actually Doktoro Esperanto)? Join Will and Mango as they dive into the incredible world of constructed languages and also discover why William Shatner isn't just the greatest Esperanto actor of all time... but also probably the worst. This episode originally aired on May 2, 2024. Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Photo by Volodymyr Hyrshchenko via Unsplash. Thanks, Volodymyr! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 garbology is an actual science that can teach us a lot about ourselves. Plus, we take a look at the most creative modern garbage disposal technologies, from underground tubes to robot sharks to giant anthropomorphic wheels, and dig up some incredible things that were found in the trash. Meet Baltimore’s Trash Wheel family here! Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Pittsburgh travel tips? Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Photo of a garbage pile in the Himalayas by Sylwia Bartyzel via Unsplash. Thanks, Sylwia! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 plants.  This episode originally aired on November 9, 2018. Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Photo by Andi Superkern via Unsplash. Thanks, Andi! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Steven Spielberg’s hit movie (which was forever changed by a random encounter in a grocery store) and two long-lost stage plays co-authored by Hergé himself. We also unpack Hergé’s legacy: from questions about his actions during WWII to his depictions of other countries, and the importance of having conversations about flawed art. Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Photo of a Tintin mural in Bruxelles by Johan Mouchet via Unsplash. Thanks, Johan! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 seven days in a week, anyway? Will and Mango dive into your calendars, and emerge with some pretty surprising answers. Featuring author Melissa Heckscher. This episode originally aired on August 25, 2017. Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Photo by Bich Tran via Pexels. Thanks, Bich! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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, Snowy. But it turns out the story behind the stories is just as interesting! Today Mango and Gabe bring you part one of our two-part dive into all things Tintin. We’ll meet the failed characters who served as prototypes (shout out Totor and Flup!), and we’ll discover how Tintin’s creator, Hergé, became more open-minded about other cultures… all thanks to a friendly art student. Tune in next week for part two! Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Photo by Gang Hao via Unsplash. Thanks, Gang! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 secret to the biggest, sweetest apples in the world? Grab a flannel shirt and a bag of fresh cider doughnuts, because today Will and Mango are taking you apple-fact picking!  This episode originally aired on September 28, 2018. Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Photo by Ryan Arnst via Unsplash. Thanks, Ryan! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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, flutter our fans, or tattoo some information on a hapless intern’s scalp. But that’s pretty complicated, so Mango and Gabe made a podcast about it instead. Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Photo of wigwag flags by the U.S. Army Center of Military History via Wikimedia Commons. Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Mango go deep on the mysterious beauty and discover what—and who!—is behind that sly smile.  This episode originally aired on May 30, 2024. Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 of this itchy critter (including mummies with lice!), explore bizarre superstitions and home remedies you shouldn’t try (please don’t dunk your head in kerosene!), and finally, talk to some experts about treatments that do work… and why you might want to take a moment to appreciate your lice before you destroy them.  Check out Dale Clayton’s Clayton & Bush Lab at the University of Utah. Learn more about Dale’s AirAlle device. Watch Laurie Moyer’s videos on YouTube and TikTok, or visit Lice Centers of Wisconsin. Learn more about Ian Burgess’s work at Insect Research & Development. Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! “Hunting for Lice” (1652) by Gerard ter Borch, via Wikimedia Commons. Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 pan, really) to discuss pizza wars, mafia ties, and why the proper term for a pizza rat in Australia is a Charlie Cheese. Featuring Scott Weiner from Scott’s Pizza Tours. This episode originally aired on August 30, 2017. Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Photo by Sylwia Pietruszka via Unsplash. Thanks, Sylwia! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 of modern ballgames, and take a trip back to antiquity to meet the avian mascots of ancient Greece and Rome. Plus: the Muppet-y pedigree of the Philly Phanatic, the wacky world of Japanese civic mascots, and the tragic tale of the most maligned mascot in MLB history (RIP Crazy Crab). Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Photo by Chris Chow via Unsplash. Thanks, Chris! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do so many smart people procrastinate? Is there a link between extreme achievement and putting off your work? And should you behead a roadside statue of St. Expedite if you miss a deadline? Will and Mango chat with author Andrew Santella about his book SOON: An Overdue History of Procrastination, from Leonardo and Darwin to You and Me, to discuss why taking a lazy approach to your responsibilities may not be the worst thing. Plus: Why to-do lists might be the ultimate vehicle for procrastination! This episode originally aired on April 13, 2018. Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925. Photo by Vitaly Gariev via Unsplash. Thanks, Vitaly! Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social!    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the grand finale! Our last four greatest science ideas of the past 25 years include a very hungry super fungus, a chemical-free (but not dubstep-free) insect repellent, a poignant story of agricultural polymers and wet books, and a cure for sleep apnea that may require some negotiations with your neighbors. Check out the Zorbix website and YouTube channel! This episode originally aired on March 7, 2025. Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the home stretch! Buckle up for ideas 8 through 5, which include some magical molecules, a sea creature that helped reinvent plywood, a medical treatment with terrifying origins, and a discovery that practically upended the world of classical music. This episode originally aired on March 6, 2025. Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we’re covering ideas 13 through 9! These include a fascinating discovery about NASCAR and psychology, a clock that’s so accurate it’s reshaping our understanding of time, a tasty way to make concrete stronger (and more environmentally friendly), and some truly delightful revelations about dinosaurs. Plus: We explain particle physics through song. Check out musician David Nagler’s website and his band, As For the Future! This episode originally aired on March 5, 2025. Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The countdown continues with ideas 19 through 14, and today we’re talking virtual dolphins, a bike helmet you’ll actually want to wear, glass that un-breaks itself, unusual diet tips from the Amazon, personal germ clouds, and a high-tech approach to eating lobster. Check out Shucks Maine Lobster here! This episode originally aired on March 4, 2025. Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While we take a short break this week, we're revisiting our countdown of the 25 greatest science ideas of the past 25 years! It all kicks off right here with a breakthrough for jetlagged hamsters, a hot tub that’ll take you on a journey, a better ketchup bottle, a solution for one of the world’s most common tech annoyances, and some very bad news: chickens are definitely judging you. Plus, we meet the man who brought the smell of outer space to earth. Learn more about Steve Pearce’s work with fragrances and flavors here! This episode originally aired on March 3, 2025. Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Babies! We’ve all been one, and some of us have them. But did you know that baby talk serves an important purpose? Or that babies can fake tears to get attention? Today Mango and producer Gabe dig into some big science about tiny humans. Plus: What are zusers and bofels? Only a well-rested baby can answer that! Check out Candy Is Dandy: The Candy Review Podcast wherever you get your podcasts! Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Photo by Minnie Zhou via Unsplash. Thanks, Minnie! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When's the best time to surf the Amazon? Can Brazilian termites help you make a better pizza? And did you pay too much for that venomous snake? (Spoiler alert: You probably did.) Today Will and Mango are uncovering some little-known facts about the big, beautiful country of Brazil! This episode originally aired on March 1, 2019. Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Photo of Rio de Janeiro street art by Milos Hajder via Unsplash. Obrigado, Milos! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grab your riding crop and hold on tight, because today we’re taking a spin through the history of merry-go-rounds! Why do British carousels rotate in the opposite direction from the rest? Which future U.S. president had a summer job sanding ponies? And what’s the connection between carousels and Eggo waffles? Saddle up your speakers, because Will and Mango have the answers! Plus: The world’s first rocket-powered carousel, and the Michelangelo of horse carving. Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Photo by Katneyl via Unsplash. Thanks, Katneyl! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is there a bull on the Elmer's glue bottle? What did kids use to carry their books around before they had backpacks? And why does a giant cone tree get everyone excited about starting school in Germany? Will and Mango dig deep into their Trapper Keepers to bring you some stories you definitely didn't learn in school.  This episode originally aired on October 16, 2019. Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Art by Henri-Jules-Jean Geoffroy via Wikimedia Commons. Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s more fun than financial debt? Honestly, just about anything! But the team here has a knack for finding the silly side of any subject, and the history of people owing money to each other is no exception. Today, the guys share some out-of-the-box ideas for settling a debt, including paying your rent with a bunch of dead eels (looking at you, medieval England!) and recording an IRS-themed country album (looking at you, Willie Nelson!). They also discover why a small town in Oregon decided to foot the bill for the Boston Tea Party, and reveal which country is the most reliable debtor in the EU (hint, they’re also big into saunas). Check out Dr. Greenlee’s Eel-Rents Project at historiacartarum.org! Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Photo by Towfiqu Barbhuiya via Unsplash. Thanks, Towfiqu! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you want to build a theme park, there are some big questions to answer. Is it really a theme park, or is it an amusement park? (There’s a difference!) Also, how many Santa Clauses should you have? (Important.) And what do you need to do to be more eccentric than Walt Disney? (Start by picking a favorite juice, and then act irrationally when people don’t want to drink it.) Featuring author David Younger and Theme Park Insider's Robert Niles. This episode originally aired on September 6, 2017. Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Photo by Sung Jin Cho via Unsplash. Thanks, Sung Jin! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Summer may be winding down, but we’re not done traveling yet—so grab your SPF and join Will and Mango on a big trip across the world’s smallest continent! Want to know the secret to Aussie slang? Or why the country is littered with ghost towns? We cover all that and more, including the best place to spot a pod of orcas and the least sweltering time of year to visit. Plus, we answer the age old question: Which side of the dingo fence has bigger kangaroos?  Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Photo by James Wainscoat via Unsplash. Thanks, James! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Park rangers do so much more than just keeping Yogi Bear from stealing picnic baskets. Whether it’s outsmarting poachers, fending off the Klan, protecting tourists from gator attacks, or helping tiny endangered species make their way to sea, Will and Mango celebrate the heroes who keep our national parks running.  This episode originally aired on April 6, 2018. Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Vintage ranger photo via the National Park Service. Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Experimental archaeology is the science (and art!) of discovering what ancient worlds smelled, tasted, sounded, and felt like… a process that often involves going to some truly incredible lengths. Author Sam Kean stops by to recount his adventures researching his new book, Dinner with King Tut—from hurling stones with a 30’ tall catapult to modern mummification to an unfortunate incident involving a piece of urine-soaked salmon skin. Buy Sam’s books: samkean.com Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Photo of the Coffin of Nesykhonsu by the Cleveland Museum of Art, via Unsplash. Thanks, CMA! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What band was named as a tribute to their high school gym coach? Why did The Earwigs change their name to Alice Cooper (hint: it might have something to do with a Oujia board)? And would Chubby Checker have been as popular if he'd taken the name Chubby Chesspiece? Get ready to turn it up to eleven, because Will and Mango are exploring some of the funniest, quirkiest and greatest band names in music history. This episode originally aired on March 7, 2018. Photo by Matthew Cheng via Unsplash. Thanks, Matthew! Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Send an email or voice memo to [email protected], and we might use it in an upcoming episode. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius!  Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grab your lab goggles and gloves, because today we’re taking a close look at the periodic table! From the visionary scientist who created it, to a 1980s war over element names, to the very strangest elements on the chart, Will and Mango have nine facts that’ll melt your brain like it’s made of gallium. (You’ll get the joke after you listen.) Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Photo by David Ballew via Unsplash. Thanks, David! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every living thing dies—but sometimes, they come back to life! Perhaps unsurprisingly, Will and Mango have a lot of questions about this phenomenon. For example: How hard it is to bring a species back from extinction? Why do some people wake up in the morgue after being declared dead? Are fish markets the best places to look for extinct species? And can resurrecting the woolly mammoth help solve climate change?  This episode originally aired on May 10, 2019. Photo by Thomas Quine via Wikimedia Commons. Thanks, Thomas! Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Send an email or voice memo to [email protected], and we might use it in an upcoming episode. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius!  Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today Will and Mango are exploring the world of 3D printing, from the 1940s sci-fi writer who anticipated its invention to some of its strangest modern uses, like rescuing turtles, making snacks, and solving the housing crisis. Plus: can a 3D printer 3D print a 3D printer? Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Photo of a 3D-printed Grogu by Girl with red hat via Unsplash. Thanks, Girl with red hat! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can grapefruit ice cream cure your hangovers? Have Japanese scientists really cracked the code on ice creams that won't melt? And why does seafood ice cream make patriots' mouths water? Gabe and Mango are serving up a big dish of our favorite summertime treat, with extra facts sprinkled on top!  This episode originally aired on May 31, 2018. Photo by Zach Camp via Unsplash. Thanks, Zach! Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Send an email or voice memo to [email protected], and we might use it in an upcoming episode. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius!  Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever met a pharologist? Neither have we, but we know Princess Anne is one—she’s a lighthouse expert! Also, apparently there are lighthouse experts! Today Will and Mango explore nine weird and wonderfully specific fields of study, from bell-ringing to bats to the end of the world.  Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Send an email or voice memo to [email protected], and we might use it in an upcoming episode. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Photo by Joshua Hibbert via Unsplash. Thanks, Joshua! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all know the American places in America (Cleveland is one). But where should a U.S. citizen go to feel at home abroad? Will and Mango visit a wee America in Brazil (?!), tour the territories, and look for the Kentucky in Japan’s KFCs. Featuring our pal and Snack Stack author Doug Mack. This episode originally aired on July 14, 2017. Photo of a KFC in Toyohashi, Japan by Huu Huynh via Pexels. Thanks, Huu! Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius!  Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should men and women work out differently? Are rest days really necessary? And how did a group of 19th century German gymnastics enthusiasts transform America? Casey Johnston, author of the She’s a Beast newsletter and the new book A Physical Education, stops by to share some fitness facts that will really pump you up. Plus: The importance of strength training for cat owners. Casey's links: caseyjohnston.website and shesabeast.co! Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Send an email or voice memo to [email protected], and we might use it in an upcoming episode. Photo via the Library of Congress. Check out our episode “9 Page-Turning Secrets of the Library of Congress” to learn more about this incredible institution!  We're on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hello, Puzzlers! Puzzling with us today: hosts of the "Part-Time Genius" podcast, Will Pearson and Mangesh Hattikudur! Join host A.J. Jacobs and his guests as they puzzle–and laugh–their way through new spins on old favorites, like anagrams and palindromes, as well as quirky originals such as “Ask AI” and audio rebuses. Subscribe to The Puzzler podcast wherever you get your podcasts!  "The Puzzler with A.J. Jacobs" is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and is a co-production with Neuhaus Ideas.  Our executive producers are Neely Lohmann and Adam Neuhaus of Neuhaus Ideas, and Lindsay Hoffman of iHeart Podcasts. The show is produced by Jody Avirgan and Brittani Brown of Roulette Productions.  Our Chief Puzzle Officer is Greg Pliska. Our associate producer is Andrea Schoenberg.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guess what happens when we try to pick the top 8 U.S. museums to visit? (Spoiler: we accidentally end up with 11 on the list.) From a mecca of kazoos to a dinner theater in a mine, here are some wonderfully bizarre places you shouldn’t miss. Plus, facts about SPAM! Featuring Dylan Thuras. This episode originally aired on July 5, 2017. Photo by Kindel Media via Pexels.  Going someplace interesting this summer? Take a photo and tag us on Instagram @parttimegenius!  Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We pull their strings and stick them on our hands, but puppets are so much more than toys! Today Mango and producer Mary are taking you on a whirlwind world tour of puppetry, from Indonesian puppet shows that run until dawn to an avant-garde French ice marionette to… emo puppets? That’s right, emo puppets.  Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Send an email or voice memo to [email protected], and we might use it in an upcoming episode. Photo by Bruno Guerrero via Unsplash. Thanks, Bruno! Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius!  Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nowadays we often hear about fentanyl in the context of the opioid epidemic. But it began as a medical breakthrough, created by a pharmaceutical genius who was once ranked the second-best Belgian of all time. In this excerpt from the podcast Panic World, Mango and producer Mary explain fentanyl’s fascinating origin story—and the chemistry that makes it such a lucrative investment for cartels. Want to hear the full conversation? Look for Panic World wherever you get your podcasts! Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius!  Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sure, we've watched Pixar's Cars a few times. But that doesn't mean we know anything about racing. Will and Mango dive into the strangely boozy origins of NASCAR, why you might need a yacht to enjoy Formula One, and how driver Dick Trickle made sure every race got off to a smoking start. Spoiler: it involved drilling a couple holes in his helmet. This episode originally aired on March 19, 2018. Photo by Paolo Feser via Unsplash. Thanks, Paolo! Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius!  Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the floating gardens of Xochimilco, to the sinking sights of El Zócalo, Mango and Gabe explore some of the most fascinating, offbeat attractions in Mexico City. Along the way we'll dole out some helpful travel tips, including the best drink to beat the heat (and the altitude!), a must-try carb-on-carb breakfast sandwich, and the only subway station in the world with its very own woolly mammoth! Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Send an email or voice memo to [email protected], and we might use it in an upcoming episode. Trajineras photo by Roberto Carlos Román Don via Unsplash. Thanks, Roberto! Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius!  Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2019, a new cache of works entered the public domain—from Charlie Chaplin to Jane Austen stories to Felix the Cat cartoons. But what does that really mean? Will and Mango dig into how Mickey Mouse changed copyright laws, why Woody Guthrie got foiled by his publishers, and why British clowns check a case of eggs before putting on their makeup. This episode originally aired on January 18, 2019. Photo by Ali Dashti via Pexels. Thanks, Ali! Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius!  Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today producers Gabe and Mary are opening the top-secret PTG fact vault to share bonus stories from recent episodes, including an international seagull incident, a pioneering artist who painted chickens with eggs, and a novelty space song that must be heard to be believed. Plus: Breaking news about pennies and government puns. Listen to “The Ballad of Balladonia Night,” the official PTG song of summer 2025, here! Check out Anita Magsaysay-Ho’s “Catching Chickens” here! Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Send an email or voice memo to [email protected], and we might use it in an upcoming episode. Padlock photo by Yogesh Pedamkar via Unsplash. Thanks, Yogesh! Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius!  Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Nintendo's history with the Yakuza to its dabbling in the seedy motel business, the House of Mario has a much longer and stranger history than you might guess. Find out what happened when the company tried to make knitting popular, how America's obsession with robots helped them nudge their way into retailers, and why a grabber called the Ultra Hand was the breakthrough the company needed. Featuring Ramsey Yount. This episode originally aired on December 20, 2017. Photo by Cláudio Luiz Castro via Unsplash. Thanks, Cláudio! Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius!  Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do TV listings have to do with the arc of American history? Quite a lot, it turns out! From hard-hitting journalism that exposed fake news, to billion-dollar business deals, to a photo manipulation scandal that made Oprah very angry, Will and Mango uncover the many ways this little magazine has made a big impact on our lives. Thanks to Ken at TV Guidance Counselor for the inspo—and for having Mango on his podcast! Got a question you’d like us to answer? An obscure rabbit hole you think we should explore? Send an email or voice memo to [email protected], and we might use it in an upcoming episode. TV photo by Diego González via Unsplash. Thanks, Diego! Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius!  Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve ever taken out the trash, bought eggs, or gotten immersed in Avatar, you have Canada to thank for it. Pop on your toques and join Will and Mango for a deep dive into some fascinating Canadian inventions—and yes, hockey is mentioned. Twice. Got a question you’d like us to answer? An obscure rabbit hole you think we should explore? Send an email or voice memo to [email protected], and we might use it in an upcoming episode. Photo by Maxime Doré via Unsplash. Merci, Maxime! Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sure, they nuzzled their way into Mike Tyson's heart (and Nikola Tesla's, and Bert's from Bert and Ernie!), but how intelligent are pigeons? Have scientists really trained them to read? Did they actually play a role in discovering the Big Bang? And why are they so darn good at finding their way home? Plus: Are catfish their new nemesis?  This episode originally aired on July 11, 2019. Photo via Sneha Cecil on Unsplash. Thanks, Sneha! Seen a good pigeon lately? Take a pic and tag us on Instagram @parttimegenius! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will and Mango dig into all the biggest bicycle questions: From how bikes seriously altered the dating scene, to how blind people ride bikes through traffic, to the ingenious way Kermit pedaled his Schwann in the Muppets Movie. Grab a helmet and join us! This episode originally aired on November 7, 2019. Got a bike we should see? Tag us on Instagram @parttimegenius! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You are cordially invited to this very festive episode about parties! Will and Mango unpack Italy’s history of painful confetti, the surprisingly violent origin of surprise parties, and the accidental invention of glitter. (Hint, it involved schnibbles in New Jersey.) Plus: Will makes a convincing case for having MORE clowns at parties. Photo by Aneta Pawlik via Unsplash. Thanks, Aneta! Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.