Part-Time Genius

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.

Will and Mango celebrate our favorite number crunchers, from Mick Jagger's strange pre-concert ritual to the homeless accountant who got us fascinated with the number 70 million. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The scouts claimed that Steph Curry was too slow-footed and unathletic to play in the pros. But maybe they should have asked a neuroscientist? Will and Mango talk to Zach Schonbrun, author of The Performance Cortex, to understand why darts is so hard, how your skin helps you play sports, whether tennis stars are actually math geniuses and why Shaq had such a tough time mastering that free throw. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee 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 new 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! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why did a cucumber that changed Mr. Potato Head's world? Why are so many Cabbage Patch dolls delivered by C-section? And why didn't Go-Bots win the battle over Transformers? Will and Mango parade through the world of classic toys, and discover how many of them have changed over the years. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who knew our 50th state held so many secrets! From the ice caves hiding under a volcano, to the wonderful reason you should never bring pork to the windward side to why we should be thanking Hawaii for casual Fridays, Will and Mango take a dip into Hawaii's history. PLUS: The most disgusting reason to thank a parrot fish! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee 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. Plus, why robbing a bank then hiding in the forest isn’t a great idea. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If these new studies are right, lampposts are about to get a crazy makeover, Harry Potter should be on everyone's curriculum and cities are going to start importing leopards. (Well, probably not the last one.) Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a reason the chain doesn't have any ovens and won't serve you pancakes. Will and Mango explore the brilliant business of Waffle House. Learn why high end chefs love to hire Waffle House grill operators, how the restaurants keep open when their water lines break, and why on earth Waffle House got into the music video business. Plus, why you'll want to make a reservation at Waffle House this Valentine's Day. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will and Mango investigate one of the most important weekends of all-time. (Assuming you consider celebrations of mollusks, felt and flames as important as we do.) Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a billionaire realized his $125,000 bottle of wine might be fake, he hired a crack team to solve the case. This is the story of a private investigator, a motley crew of geniuses, and a fine wine that supposedly belonged to Thomas Jefferson! Plus: Will and Mango discuss Prohibition wines, the Scottish Four Loko, and why badminton gave wine crimes a bad name. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Gabe and Mango scour the library for the strangest newspapers they can find-- from an elementary school paper that nabbed a landmark scoop to a progressive Civil War rag filled with useful lifehacks. Plus, why you'll never want to get on this Alaskan paper's bad side. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will and Mango have lots of questions about why people get angry. Like: Why do humans all make the same angry face? Is lying down while angry better for your health? And will being angry actually make you more creative? (Spoiler: your boss and kids might be working overtime to make you more creative.) Plus, we look at the science of tickling and solve the puzzle of how to tickle yourself! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are plenty of princesses with fairy tale endings. These aren't those princesses! Will and Mango chat with Princesses Behaving Badly author Linda Rodriguez McRobbie to determine which princess you'd want on your wrestling team, which princess left royalty for the circus, and which princess parties you definitely want to avoid. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On his deathbed, Winston Churchill’s last words were: “I’m bored with it all.” What a missed opportunity! Will and Mango discuss their favorite geniuses, why their final words lived up, and how two different phrases inspired America’s greatest shoe company. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Youtube to Nest, Maps to Android, it's hard to imagine life without Google. But how did the web giant really get its start? Will and Mango travel back to the mid-90s to see how a horrible campus tour, some extra Lego bricks and a week at Burning Man all contributed to the making of Google. Also, the weird reason Larry Page didn't sell the company for $1.6 million when he got the chance (spoiler: it wasn't because the offer was too low!). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you've got a headache, those bottles of over-the-counter medicines can feel interchangeable. But the truth is, the drugs work in different ways... and each has their own benefits and side-effects. From which drugs work best on toothaches, to which ones are best for hangovers, Will and Mango explore the strange world of painkillers. Plus: why, 5 years from now, you might be replacing your pills with a phone, a pair of goggles and some green apple air freshener. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From a dangerous island the Brazilian Navy refuses to let you visit (it's for your own good!), to a place where monkeys think they're training for the Kentucky Derby, Will and Mango are scouring the globe for water-locked lands and the incredible stories that come from them. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyone knows herding cats is impossible. But is it because we never fully domesticated them? Will and Mango dig into a history of cats-- from why they were unfairly blamed for so many divorces, to how a bag of clay forever changed their prospects, to what a lion's sneeze tells us about their instincts. Plus-- the number one country you HAVE to travel to (if you want a cat to massage your back.) Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sure, we've watched Pixar's Cars a few times. But 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.) Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the imaginary daughter Dr. Seuss made up (just so he had an excuse to brag to his friends) to the remote town in Switzerland where he stole all his ideas from (it's hard to find on a map) to the one children's author he wished he'd gotten to read as a child, Will and Mango dive headfirst into the spectacular world of Dr. Seuss. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee 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 (it might have something to do with a Ouji Board)? And would Chubby Checker have been as popular if he'd taken the name Chubby Chesspiece? Setting aside the quality of the music (KISS), Will and Mango explore some of the funniest, quirkiest and greatest band names in music history. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sure, one time in the '80s a blind guy was struck with lightning and it shocked his system into seeing again. But striking people with lightning bolts isn't exactly a safe and easy procedure. So what are scientists working on? From stem cells to bat helmets to why putting some algae in your eye socket could restore your vision, Will and Mango explore the most fascinating advances in vision science today. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If chugging mead at Medieval Times and downing burgers at Johnny Rockets feels tired to you, check out these wacky theme restaurants from around the world. Will and Mango explore what happens when you surprise diners with regular earthquakes, and why filling your cafe with giant David Copperfield statues might not be the smartest thing. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Hula Hoops to Frisbees, Superballs to Slip-n-Slides, Wham-O has put smiles on generations of American kids. But how did the little toy company that could get its start? (Spoiler: a meat-pellet shooter for your pet falcon!) And what are some of their greatest duds? (Spoiler 2: Instant fish!) Join Will and Gabe as they romp through the history of WHAM-O. 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.

How did a potted plant named Jeff become an internet celebrity? Does Switzerland really manufacture 'Luxury Manure'? And what's your Valentine trying to tell you with that vase full of basil? Plus: why you should never, ever poach a Venus Flytrap! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will and Mango are on a mission to uncover chocolate's darkest secrets. What's the difference between cacao and cocoa? Why have Swiss scientists been working on a pink chocolate for so long? (And what's it taste like?) Plus, why does chocolate melt so perfectly in our mouths? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From rockets on pogo-sticks to nuclear powered toasters, there's a whole strange world of emerging technologies that will improve and/or ruin everything in our future! Will and Mango chat with author Zach Weinersmith about the hilarious, future-looking text book he and his wife Kelly wrote, Soonish. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Need some new material for the water-cooler? Will and Mango chat about the tragedy of cubicles, how a fit of rage led to better pen design, and why bread might just be the best eraser. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Between practicing judo, wrestling bears, and meddling with democracies, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has a lot on his plate. But how did the former KGB operative come to power? And how has he sustained his grip on the country for so long? Will and Mango dig into his biography to try to understand one of the most fascinating figures on the political stage. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

9/11 changed Rick Steves and how he wanted to approach writing about the world. In this special interview, Will and Mango sit down with legendary PBS host and travel writer Rick Steves to talk about the newest edition of "Travel as a Political Act", why watching a Sufi dance can be such a transcendent moment, and whether the best French cheeses really smell like "Angel's Feet." (They don't.) Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is the Walking Sausage the most romantic insect? What happens when Wallabies get high on poppies? And why do wombats have super strong wombutts? Will, Mango and Gabe explore the wonderful world of Australian animals. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is Japan's adult adoption rate so high? Why don't American car dealerships succeed in the country? And why did Colonel Sanders put a curse on a beloved Japanese baseball team? Plus, Will and Mango discover the shortest escalator in the world! (Just take the stairs, guys.) Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As sniffles and coughs abound (and Tristan tries to inoculate the whole office), Will and Mango try to figure out why some flu seasons are worse than others. Also: How do scientists know when some seasons will be particularly bad? What goes into deciding what this year’s vaccine is going to look like? And was the Spanish flu really that Spanish? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.