Part-Time Genius - podcast cover

Part-Time Genius

iHeartPodcasts and Kaleidoscopewww.iheart.com

Are you a knowledge junkie who loves when facts are stranger than fiction? Do you find yourself constantly tripping down Wikipedia rabbit holes (and delighting in the journey)? Have you ever been told you ask a lot of questions? If so, congrats! You’re one of us: a Part-Time Genius! Join Will, Mango, and the team as we scour the globe in search of obscure facts, offbeat locales, and hidden histories. Along the way, we’ll chat with experts, play some games, get in touch with our silly side, and celebrate the fine art of staying curious.

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Episodes

How Do People Game the Lottery?

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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Jun 13, 201838 min

Fan Favorite: What's the Science of Invisibility?

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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Jun 08, 201843 min

9 Highly Unusual Courting Techniques

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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Jun 07, 201819 min

Is the Earth really Running Out of Sand, Dirt and Bacon?

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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Jun 01, 201832 min

9 Deliciously Frosty facts about Ice Cream

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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

May 31, 201816 min

How Did MythBusters Work?

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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

May 30, 201824 min

Will Coffee Make Me Live Longer?

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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

May 25, 201839 min

9 Highly Specific Robots You Need to Meet

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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 25, 201818 min

Fan Favorite: What are the Greatest Secrets Hiding in the Vatican?

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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

May 23, 201839 min

Who's Going to Put a Colony on Mars First?

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.com See ...

May 18, 201839 min

9 Somewhat Tasteful Facts about Salad!

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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

May 17, 201815 min

What's the Science Behind the Perfect Party?

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 htt...

May 16, 201838 min

9 Surprising Facts about Moms

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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 12, 201814 min

What do we actually Know about J. Edgar Hoover?

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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

May 11, 201839 min

Why Were These Books Banned?

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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

May 10, 201835 min

What are the Weirdest Experiments in Science?

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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

May 04, 201840 min

9 Very Important Facts about Bears

Whether you're an amateur bear enthusiast or prepping for a bear convention, these are the bear facts you'll need! Will and Mango explore a Canadian 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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 03, 201815 min

Can Spicy Foods Make Us Live Longer?

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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

May 02, 201832 min

How did the Avocado Conquer the World?

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 litt...

Apr 27, 201832 min

9 Mouth-puckering Stories about Pickles!

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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Apr 26, 201819 min

How did Sesame Street Change TV Forever?

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.com See omnystud...

Apr 25, 201841 min

What Does Stress Really do to our Bodies?

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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Apr 20, 201835 min

9 Incredible Stories about Accountants! (Yes, Accountants.)

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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 19, 201814 min

Do Superstar Athletes Have Superior Brains?

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.com See omnystudio.com/listener ...

Apr 18, 201827 min

Are there Benefits to Procrastinating?

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 procrast...

Apr 13, 201828 min

9 Incredible Classic Toys (and How They've Changed)

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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Apr 12, 201817 min

What are the Greatest Things We Just Learned about Hawaii?

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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Apr 11, 201838 min

Why is it more dangerous to be a Park Ranger than an FBI Agent?

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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...

Apr 06, 201836 min

9 Fresh Ideas in Science

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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 05, 201814 min

What Makes Waffle House Such a Brilliant Business?

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.com See omnys...

Apr 04, 201831 min
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