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 ...
Jul 01, 2025•29 min
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 ex...
Jun 28, 2025•21 min
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 ...
Jun 27, 2025•44 min
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 Br...
Jun 24, 2025•23 min
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 In...
Jun 22, 2025•23 min
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 ...
Jun 20, 2025•39 min
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 ...
Jun 17, 2025•38 min
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 abou...
Jun 13, 2025•31 min
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 lik...
Jun 10, 2025•32 min
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 Cast...
Jun 06, 2025•42 min
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 s...
Jun 03, 2025•23 min
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...
May 30, 2025•25 min
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 @...
May 27, 2025•30 min
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....
May 23, 2025•29 min
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....
May 20, 2025•32 min
Sure, Animal Crossing is cute. But what about a Tetris sequel that features Abe Lincolns and Frankensteins? Or a game that somehow blends Honey, I Shrunk the Kids with an anti-smoking campaign? Or the greatest (and maybe only?) game based on Noah's Ark? Today Will, Gabe, and Mango try to outdo each other with funniest, silliest, and most ridiculous video games they can find. This episode originally aired on September 1, 2020. Screenshot from Untitled Goose Game. HONK. Pause whatever you're playi...
May 16, 2025•25 min
Today Will and Mango are taking you on an adventure to the far-flung Canadian island of Newfoundland, a place known for its rugged beauty, majestic icebergs, sneaky fairies, rare fossils, and... moose bologna. Along the way we'll discover some of its unique traditions, like welcoming visitors by making them smooch a fish. Pack your bags and pucker up! Photo of St. John's, Newfoundland by Ritche Perez via Pexels. Thanks, Ritche! Have you ever visited Newfoundland? Do you live there right now? Tel...
May 13, 2025•30 min
In honor of Mother's Day, Will and Mango talk about what make moms special, from why their hearts are so in sync with their babies to their impact on your driving habits. Plus: how Thomas Edison's mom challenged his teacher—and helped him believe in his own genius. Photo: Yes, that's Mango and his mom Lalita! Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius ! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
May 09, 2025•14 min
Chickens are full of surprises, from their understanding of property boundaries to their unique personalities to their ability to recognize (and name!) the humans around them. Author and longtime chicken enthusiast Sy Montgomery stops by to share some fascinating facts—and hilarious true stories—from her new book, What the Chicken Knows . Buy Sy’s book: https://symontgomery.com/what-the-chicken-knows/ If you have backyard chickens, we want to see them. Tag us on Instagram @parttimegenius ! Learn...
May 06, 2025•35 min
Will and Mango have so many questions about pirates: Did they really exaggerate their R's? Did they all have parrots? Were lady pirates more successful than male ones? And was there really a rabbi pirate who made his crew keep kosher? From buried treasure to walking the plank, Will and Mango take a good look at the Golden Age of piracy. Photo via Chris Robert on Unsplash. Thanks, Chris! We're on Instagram, mateys—follow us @parttimegenius ! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartp...
May 02, 2025•47 min
Chances are, you’ve heard all these songs made famous by film and TV… but you probably haven’t heard the stories behind them. Why did young Will Smith overrule music legend Quincy Jones? How did a contract clause influence the lyrics to one of the best-known theme songs of the 1960s? And what did Joe DiMaggio really think when Paul Simon wrote a song about him? Turn the volume up, because Will and Mango have the answers! Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius ! Learn more about your ad choices a...
Apr 29, 2025•18 min
Baseball season is underway, so Will and Mango are celebrating with a deep dive into America’s pastime. What’s the secret feminist message of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”? Why are you more likely to hit a home run in Denver than in Miami? And how did the pipe organ become baseball’s semi-official soundtrack? Our brain-bases are loaded and we’re ready to answer these questions, plus many more! Photo by Jose Francisco Morales via Unsplash. Thanks, Jose! Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius ! L...
Apr 25, 2025•37 min
Elevators seem pretty mundane, until you realize a certain king used them to hide his mistresses, a certain politician used them to exaggerate the height of his buildings, and all of America refused to ride them until a certain marketing genius (the one and only P. T. Barnum!) designed a stunt to get everyone on board. Photo via Sung Jin Cho on Unsplash. Thanks, Jin! Next time you're on an elevator staring at your phone, follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius ! Learn more about your ad choices a...
Apr 22, 2025•32 min
It may be on the verge of extinction, but the humble penny is rich with history. Will and Mango dig deep into their pockets and discover stories like the origin of the phrase “a penny for your thoughts,” the rare penny that’s worth $2.4 million, and an English trend of chopping pennies in half. Plus: The real reason why you shouldn’t swallow a penny from 1982. (Actually, just don’t swallow any pennies ever, please.) Will you miss the penny if it’s taken out of circulation? Tell us on Instagram @...
Apr 18, 2025•20 min
Today marks the 113th anniversary of the Titanic's sinking, so we're bringing back this classic episode! For some reason our hearts keep going on and on for the Titanic. But what was life actually like on the ship? Why were there so many electric horses on board? How bad did third class passengers have it? And did Hollywood really produce a silent movie about the disaster just two weeks after it occurred? Will and Mango investigate. Sorry, we know the song's stuck in your head now. Tell us about...
Apr 15, 2025•42 min
Dr Pepper's flavor is just one of many questions we have about the drink. Who is the doctor behind Dr Pepper? Is tomato one of the soda's 23 secret ingredients? Should you actually be drinking your Dr Pepper hot? And why doesn't Dr Pepper have a period in its name? (Does the good doctor think it's above the laws of grammar?!) Also, what did Dr Pepper do to make Guns 'n Roses so angry? Will and Mango have a lot of questions... and at least 9 answers for you. What's your favorite soda (or do you c...
Apr 11, 2025•22 min
Shh! Today Will and Mango are exploring the Library of Congress, one of the world’s greatest repositories of literature, science, art, and… old cake? They also discover how this legendary institution came to be, and what the Librarian of Congress actually does all day (no, it doesn’t involve stamping books). Plus: The inside story of Thomas Jefferson’s short-lived pasta-making career. Check us out on Instagram @parttimegenius ! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork...
Apr 08, 2025•21 min
Are extroverts happier than introverts? Is coffee bad for an introvert's brain? And does your personality type make you more likely to be arrested? (Spoiler: it does!) Will and Mango take a closer look at the secret talents lurking inside your friendly neighborhood introvert. Image Via Nothing Ahead at Pexels See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 06, 2025•38 min
Want to know how a British pickle merchant was almost crowned Chinese royalty? Or why San Francisco's policemen regularly doffed their caps to a man who claimed to be America's Emperor? And what happened when a lion tamer just started wandering around pretending to be King of Albania? This week Will and Mango dive into the ridiculous stories of some very unusual royals and what happened when they declared themselves king. Photo of Emperor Norton on his royal chariot, via the Emperor Norton Trust...
Apr 02, 2025•32 min
From the Parmesan Mafia to the gas station hot dog Will accidentally ate, there are way too many cheese crimes out there! This episode Will and Mango investigate a fondue cartel, ride with food detectives, and look into an Ocean's 11... of cheese?! Image by Polina Tankilevitch via Pexels (thanks Polina!) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mar 30, 2025•35 min
