Part-Time Genius

Will and Mango dig into the surprising stories behind our favorite fictional characters. Like: who was the ridiculous personality who inspired the Muppets' Swedish chef? Who was the (stinky) ladies man behind Pepe LePew? And is the Godfather actually based on a terrifying mom? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyone loves Dolly Parton. The American country singer has sold over 100 million albums worldwide, and her career has included six decades of chart-topping songs. But how did Dolly become Dolly? Where does she find inspiration for her lyrics? And why do people in Zimbabwe love her so darn much? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will and Mango abused the English language with vigor as they discuss the Apostrophizer, the QuizDing, and why you should never (ever) mess with a Bengal finch's sentence structure. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Will and Mango sniffle through their hay fever they answer this season's biggest questions: What are allergies? How close are we to a cure? And is putting Vaseline up your nose a good lifehack for stopping pollen? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will and Mango try to pinpoint some famous firsts, from the first dog to work as a guide dog (way back in the first century!), to the first dog trained as an Archaeologist, to the first dog to drive a car, these are the essential stories you'll need to impress your pooch on your next walk together. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the strange reason Abe Lincoln started the Secret Service to how to use the phrase Horse Blanket in a sentence (we know you've been wondering!) to the weirdest prank people used to play on Rembrandt, Will and Mango are making it rain with money facts. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you realize that when your fingers get wrinkly in the bath, there's a crazy, superhero reason for it? Or that everyone's body is covered in invisible stripes? Or that a single snipped foreskin can yield a football field full of new skin in the lab? Will and Mango investigate the wonders (and strangeness!) of the human body. Featuring Jonathan Strickland. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stand back far enough, and most American presidents look smart, polished and the picture of decorum... but not these gents! From a rabble-rousing arsonist to a fancy pants gossip, to a card-playing Do Nothing, Will and Mango look back at some of the greatest men to squander their time in the Oval Office. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We know these statues are supposed to be art, but they also kind of feel like mistakes. Will, Gabe and Mango discuss some colorful and confusing tributes... and the ridiculous stories behind them! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Gabe and Mango as they trace the birth of the supermarket and answer tons of ridiculous questions along the way. From why flexing your arm is terrible for impulse shopping, to the reason North Korean spies train in grocery stores, to how Johannes Kepler made the world better for grocers, we've got tons of facts to load up your cart with. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Cassowary? Mango and Gabe run through their biggest questions about the world’s biggest birds. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is aiming for your opponent's caddy a good strategy in golf? Did old-timey baseball umpires really sit in rocking chairs? And why are there 8-pointers in North Korean basketball? Will and Mango explore the hilarious ways games ought to be played. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After author Danny Wallace received the world's worst customer service (and possibly the world's worst hotdog) from a hotdog vendor, he decided to search for the root cause of rudeness. Danny joins Will and Mango on this week's episode to talk about snarky celebrity judges, why surgeons are in dire need of a rudeness vaccine (it's for our own safety!), and how one politician effectively fought rudeness... with mimes! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the world becomes more and more polarized, and people become more entrenched in their ideas, Will and Mango explore how we can find consensus, and what the science tells us about shifting public opinion. Plus, we look at how Heinz's disastrous attempt to change Australia's opinion on condiments and why it took such a long time for the pie chart to catch on. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From houses the clean themselves to how a merry-go-round helped Eggo's waffle business grow, Will and Mango explore the world of hobbyist inventors and the incredible ideas they brought forth. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spoiler: it involves lots of slime! Will and Mango explore the channel's early history from how Double Dare horrified the sanitation department, the (savvy) reason one TV show never used purple, and why a channel that had no business getting into cartoons staked their business on 3 groundbreaking shows. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do movie theaters limit their audiences to 299 seats? Did dishware really save the movie industry? And why is Lara Croft: Tomb Raider considered a Hollywood masterpiece? (spoiler: it has nothing to do with the plot!) Grab your popcorn and turn off your ringers as Will and Mango head to the movies. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can a daily banana basket help players feel less homesick? Should goalies be given more bathroom breaks? And did Kim Jung-Il invent a top secret technology to guarantee more wins? Will and Mango share some strange facts about soccer's biggest tournament. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s the timing in the womb that leaves some twins conjoined? Where did the idea of evil twins and doppelgängers come about? And how does facial recognition technology work when you look so alike? Will and Gabe answer some of your biggest questions about twins. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Cap'n Crunch Really a Captain? Is the Silly Rabbit using psychological tricks on kids? And why did everyone stop putting prizes in cereal boxes? In this classic episode, Will and Mango take a trip down memory lane, exploring why America is so nostalgic for those sugary sweet breakfast treats. Featuring Cereal Time TV's Gabe Fonseca. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scientists have made all sorts of discoveries about Alzheimer's in the last 20 years. But can changing your diet, the way you sleep, or even picking up Portuguese really protect your mind? Will and Mango take a look at the earliest cases of Alzheimer's, and discuss some of ways you might be able to keep the disease at bay. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is the Michelin Man white when tires are always black? What do Tony the Tiger and Christopher Columbus have in common? And why did they give The Noid a video game? Will and Gabe tackle the strange world of corporate mascots. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From electric toothbrushes to Belgian waffles, banana splits to robot presidents, plenty of wonderful things have been introduced at World's Fairs. But does the event still occur, and why doesn't America host them anymore? Will and Mango dig into their favorite World's Fairs, their historical importance, and why we might not have Disney World without them. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every week, the FBI, CIA and Treasury Department would show up to Elizebeth Friedman's door and hassle the mother of two-- not for any crime, but because she had an insane talent: she solved puzzles to protect America. Meet the Quaker poet who caught gangsters, defeated Nazis and unlocked a new world of Codebreaking in this classic episode-long interview with "The Woman Who Smashed Codes" author Jason Fagone. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the greasy joint where everyone’s rooting for a heart attack, to the insanely exclusive cafe where Alice in Wonderland meets The Little Mermaid, Will and Mango get obsessive about 9 restaurants they probably won’t visit, but can’t stop talking about. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before he was a beloved poet, children's author and songwriter for Johnny Cash, Shel Silverstein started out his career as a cartoonist for Playboy. Will and Mango dig into why you probably shouldn't read his ABC book to your newborn, how he almost got courtmartialed, and what makes his poetry so uniquely appealing to kids. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To celebrate Father’s Day, Will and Mango share 9 of their favorite dad facts. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the strangest commercial Reebok ever used to sell the Reebok Pump, to the Zen shoemaker who custom-builds sneakers for marathon runners, Will and Mango dive into the funniest stories they can find about shoes. Including why Kevin Durant better at basketball when he's only wearing one sneaker, and why one Australian's idea for Pork Chop Shoes hasn't taken off yet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the Canadian professor who found patterns in Scratch-off lottery tickets to the Michigan couple that turned a lottery flaw into their retirement savings plan to the strange reason you should hold onto any lottery ticket that has Herbert Hoover's face on it, Will and Mango look into the long history of lotteries and the geniuses who've managed to game them. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sure, invisibility is about Harry Potter cloaks and invisible inks. But it’s so much more than that, too! From the way butterflies see a secret world of light that humans can’t, to the reason polar bears are completely undetectable to infrared cameras, there’s a whole big world you ought to hear about… even if you can’t see it. Featuring author Bob Berman. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're tired of striking out at clubs and coffee shops, maybe one of these dating techniques will work for you? From whispering into a Courtship Stick to incorporating a ripe fruit into your dance routine, Will and Mango explore some highly suspect methods for luring your potential mate. Featuring Jo Piazza, author of the new podcast Committed. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From toilet paper to Norwegian butter, people are quick to panic in a shortage. But why are gangs around the world stealing truckloads of sand from beaches? What should we be stockpiling? And what are the resources Earth is truly running short on? Will and Mango investigate. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will 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? It's a Gabe and Mango ice cream episode (with plenty of extra facts sprinkled on top!) Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will and Mango pester co-host Kari Byron on how to build a human catapult, what the worst smells on set were, why Jamie's safety lectures might make you terrified of building anything... and how her new book 'Crash Test Girl' uses the Scientific Method to answer your biggest life questions. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Want to know who to blame for your coffee addiction? From goats, Turks to the Archangel Gabriel, Will and Mango chase down a whole world of (coffee) pot stirrers while shedding light on whether monkey spit coffee is tastier than your traditional beans and whether coffee is good for cats (Spoiler: probably). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the robot who desperately wants to feed you tomatoes to the one that likes to hitch rides on turtles, Will and Mango explore the strange, hilarious world of robots (including at least two of them that might want to eat you.) Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are a lot of things we don't know about the Vatican: How did Doc Martens become the unofficial walking shoe of the Pope? Why has no one told you about the Vatican's top-notch cricket team? Will and Mango explore Vatican secrets in this classic episode featuring Jo Piazza, host of the new podcast Committed. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Space Race is on! With Elon Musk, NASA and plenty of other countries all hustling to get to Mars, just how long will it actually us to get there? And how hard will it be to build a space civilization? From sucking oxygen from the soil to 3D printing villages to the Dutch reality TV shows that might finance the whole thing, Will and Mango dive into the many angles of the Mars Mission we should all get excited about. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When America declared May National Salad Month, these weren't the salads they were thinking about. Will and Mango dive into the world of Coke Salads, why successful CEO's remove olives from their salads, and how to trick a hungry kid into trading in his Sloppy Joe for a salad fork. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Priya Parker hasn't just studied how gatherings work; she's lived it. From running conflict negotiations with high level diplomats, to making conference goers feel comfortable, to creating more intimate and memorable experiences at dinner parties, Priya's new book The Art of Gathering includes tricks and tips for rethinking your next event. Join Will and Mango as they pester Priya for advice on throwing better parties and how to get onto more invite lists. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In honor of Mother's Day, Will and Mango talk about what make Mom special: from why mothers' hearts are so in sync with their infants, to the moms who hold shotguns up to a gang leaders to tell them to stay away from their kids. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Few men held as many secrets as the long-lasting FBI director J. Edgar Hoover. And while he had thousands of files documenting the secret lives of intellectuals, celebrities and politicians, Hoover had no shortage of secrets of his own. Will and Mango dig into the man, how his PR genius saved the FBI's reputation, and why Richard Nixon just couldn't work up the nerve to fire him. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where's Waldo isn't allowed in prisons, Winnie the Pooh can't set foot in China, and Brown Bear, Brown Bear is forbidden from schools in... Texas?! From Ulysses to sinful Bibles, Will and Mango dive into the story of banned books to tell you all about the titles they don't want you to read. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What part of the turkey are turkeys most attracted to? Can a scene out of a ghost story make you stop biting your nails? And what's the best music to play for your house guests, if your house guests are rats and they're high on cocaine? Will and Mango explore some of the strangest science experiments and the reasons they got funded in the first place. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Bear Jail, why Pizzlies are taking over the world, and how Paddington Bear was once the pride of Africa. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does a fondness for spicy food mean you've got an aggressive personality? Did putting spices on our foods help cavemen avoid illnesses? And if you shouldn't drink water after a hot bite, what should you guzzle to put out your blazing mouth fire? Will and Mango investigate all the ups (and a few downs) of an incredibly spicy diet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While America has been smugly eating their guacamole and avocado toast, the rest of the world has been making all sorts of avocado advances. Why aren't you using an avocado sock? Should you be investing in the new Diet Avocados from Spain? And why aren't you drinking your lattes out of avocado shells like Australians do? Will and Mango dive deep into the world of avocados to determine why they took so long to catch on, and what Baywatch Nights has to do with their popularity. (Spoiler: Very little.) Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will and Mango pay tribute to pickles! From a Mississippi variation on Fun Dip, to the most romantic overture ever made with a pickle jar, to some of the very worst pickle jokes you'll hear all year, we're serving up a 9-course meal of delicious pickle facts. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Next year Children's Television Workshop turns 50, and Will and Mango are scouring the street for all the best dirt. From why the show started out on NBC, to how Ernie and Bert got downgraded from being the show's only stars, to the reason Jim Henson was so against children's programming, we'll explore the evolution of show and why it continues to be one of the most important experiments in American television. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The idea that "stress kills" is all over the internet. But are there good and bad stresses? Why does stress affect our appetites? And why do scientists think that mowing the lawn can make you less tense? Will and Mango take a care-free dive into stress: what it does to our bodies, how we can use it for good, and what are the best ways to relieve it. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.