Part-Time Genius
303 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 1.8K ratingsWill and Mango have lots of questions. Will we ever live without sleep? How do rats keep outsmarting humans? Where are the sunniest tax havens to hide your money? Join these Part-Time Geniuses as they dive into ridiculous topics... and discover some pretty smart stuff along the way.
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Episodes
Can Showing Gratitude Help You Live Longer?
October 03, 2018 20:57 - 26 minutes - 24 MBWill and Mango have their good pal AJ Jacobs on the program to talk about his new book Thanks a Thousand, where he decided to thank the thousands of people who made his cup of coffee possible. Along the way they hear stories of "the Elon Musk of coffee lid design," how gratitude can help you sleep better, and why Jonas Salk was kind of a terrible person. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
9 Facts to Get You in the Apple-Picking Mood
September 28, 2018 16:39 - 14 minutes - 13.4 MBFrom the most heavy metal apples out there, to the reason New York City transitioned from a New Orange to the Big Apple, to the insane lengths Japanese farmers go to to grow the perfect apple, Will and Mango pluck some the best apple stories they can find. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Introducing: Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe
September 27, 2018 20:45 - 33 minutesWhat could have caused the Big Bang, and what came before it? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers
Secrets from the World’s Most Unique Airports
September 26, 2018 22:37 - 48 minutes - 44.1 MBWhich airport should you hang out at if you want to meet a mini-horse? Why is the art in the Denver Airport so evil? And are TSA agents more likely to search you if you're carrying an Almanac? Will and Mango investigate. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Controversial Origins of Famous Dance Moves
September 21, 2018 21:35 - 40 minutes - 37 MBWhy do we square dance in class? Where did Madonna learn to vogue? Did David Bowie actually inspire Michael Jackson's dance moves? And what does the Chicken Dance have to do with skiing? Will and Mango get to the bottom of the biggest dance mysteries. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
9 Genius-Approved Ways to Avoid Writer's Block
September 20, 2018 19:18 - 15 minutes - 14.1 MBOkay, maybe some of these tricks aren't that genius (building your office on a giant Lazy Susan, for instance). Dig in as Will and Mango investigate the tricks artists have used to claw their way out of creative slumps. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What are the Strangest Mating Habits in the Animal Kingdom?
September 20, 2018 00:39 - 38 minutes - 34.8 MBWhy does a female camel need to see a gross neck bubble before she'll swipe right? Why do bald eagles need to hug it out before they decide they're right for one another? And what do tennis grunts have to do with any of this? Will and Mango take a look at the world's strangest dating techniques, all plucked from Animalia. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How do you Build a Civilization from Scratch?
September 15, 2018 15:31 - 32 minutes - 29.4 MBIf your time machine got jammed in the past, what would you need to rebuild all of modern civilization? Mango sits down with Ryan North, author of the new book How to Invent Everything, to talk about how to make soap, why leeches were pretty useful for a very short period, how to invent a better horse harness, and why windmills just might be superior to waterwheels. Oh, and how to understand all of Western religion and philosophy through high-fives. Learn more about your ad-choices at http...
Fan Favorite: Will we ever Travel Faster than Light Speed?
September 14, 2018 14:52 - 42 minutes - 39.3 MBIn honor of the new show, Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe, Will and Mango revisit some of their favorite questions: What is Quantum Teleportation? Are we all swimming in Dark Matter? And why are scientists so obsessed with smashing particles together? And we've got astrophysicist Daniel Whiteson, co-author of the wonderful new book We Have No Idea, ready to answer them all. Buckle up! Daniel & Jorge Explain the Universe starts September 25th. Learn more about your ad-choices at http...
What's the Secret Science Behind Whales?
September 13, 2018 02:47 - 27 minutes - 25 MBWill and Mango pester their pal Nick with all their whale questions: Why are whales so large? How do they sustain those massive bodies? And also-- why do they have belly buttons? Featuring Nick Pyenson, author of Spying on Whales and curator of marine mammal fossils for the Smithsonian. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Inside the Secret World of Hotel Operations
September 07, 2018 21:57 - 38 minutes - 35.1 MBWill and Mango check out the strangest requests ever fielded at hotels. Plus, they look into how you can tell if your concierge is part of a secret society, why you probably shouldn’t use the glass cups in your room, and why you should always (always) book a hotel room that comes with a Dingle. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Introducing: Stuff To Blow Your Mind
September 06, 2018 15:56 - 55 minutesHow can humanity ever hope to thrive without Earth if it can’t even function without its morning cup of coffee? Fortunately, engineers have devised increasingly practical means of brewing and sipping coffee in space -- neither of which are easy feats in microgravity. Join Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick for a consideration of space coffee and be sure to subscribe to Stuff To Blow Your Mind wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-adver...
How Did LEGO Take Over the World?
September 05, 2018 17:24 - 42 minutes - 38.5 MBWill and Mango brick-roll the show with questions about LEGO: What are the most amazing things to be built from LEGO bricks? How have they been used to solve real-world problems? And why should you never ever pluralize it as LEGOs? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What are the Greatest Stories from the Appalachian Trail?
August 31, 2018 15:26 - 36 minutes - 33.4 MBEver since Bill Bryson wrote A Walk in the Woods, Will and Mango have been fascinated with the Appalachian Trail. But who was the first person to actually hike the path? What is a Trail Angel? And will hiking the path actually take you through Norway one day? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
9 Outrageous Stories about Cars
August 30, 2018 18:12 - 15 minutes - 14.1 MBFrom the funniest, most ridiculously cursed Porsche on record to the car that infuriated Houdini, Will and Mango test-drive some ridiculous car stories. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What is time? And why do we rely on Greenwich for it?
August 29, 2018 14:56 - 43 minutes - 39.5 MBIt's about time! From the birth of time zones, to the invention that made us rethink time travel, to the location of the world's largest cuckoo clocks, Will and Mango usher you into a very, very brief history of time. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fan Favorite: Is Exercising to Lose Weight a Myth?
August 24, 2018 20:00 - 46 minutes - 43.1 MBUsain Bolt can scarf down 47,000 calories worth of chicken nuggets and look great, while some dieters work out 4 hours a day and never shed a pound. So is exercising to lose weight a big scam? And what does Calvin Coolidge's exercise horse have to do with it? Featuring Dr. Herman Pontzer. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
9 Unusual Instruments Worth Trumpeting About
August 23, 2018 19:21 - 17 minutes - 16.2 MBFrom musical instruments that run on explosions and gasoline, to why every party needs at least one Sousaphone-player, Will and Mango discuss 9 instruments they don't want their kids practicing inside the house. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What's the Science Behind Introverts?
August 22, 2018 21:01 - 38 minutes - 35 MBAre 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. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fan Favorite: What are the most Surprising Jobs at the White House?
August 17, 2018 14:55 - 39 minutes - 36.4 MBWho decided there should be a beekeeper on staff at the White House? Who manages the First Family's budget and makes sure they're paying for their own toothpaste? And can you just find these job postings on Craigslist? Will and Mango look at some of the most surprising non-political jobs in the White House. Featuring Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
9 Surprising Ways Celebrities Made Money
August 16, 2018 20:54 - 15 minutes - 13.9 MBFrom Lyndon Johnson's ultra-smooth money-making scheme to Akoin's surprising African investments, Will and Mango discover the weird ways some famous people have filled their piggybanks. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Who are the Secret Inspirations for these Characters?
August 15, 2018 23:05 - 46 minutesWill 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.com
Who are the Secret Inspirations for these Characters?
August 15, 2018 23:05 - 38 minutes - 35 MBWill 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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Did Dolly Parton Become Such a Legend?
August 13, 2018 22:30 - 38 minutes - 35.1 MBEveryone 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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
9 Wonderful Grammar Stories for Language Nerds (like Us!)
August 10, 2018 17:17 - 15 minutes - 14.5 MBWill 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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What are Allergies and How Close Are We to a Cure?
August 08, 2018 15:18 - 37 minutes - 34.2 MBAs 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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What are the Most Important Moments in Dog History?
August 03, 2018 14:36 - 38 minutes - 35.3 MBWill 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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
9 Fascinating Facts about Money
August 02, 2018 21:57 - 14 minutes - 13 MBFrom 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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fan Favorite: What are the Most Incredible Things the Human Body Can Do?
August 01, 2018 19:37 - 43 minutes - 39.7 MBDid 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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Who is America's Worst President?
July 27, 2018 22:10 - 34 minutes - 31.3 MBStand 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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fan Favorite: 9 Hilarious Monuments (probably) not worth the Road Trip
July 26, 2018 19:30 - 11 minutes - 10.5 MBWe 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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Is your Grocery Store Trying to Manipulate You? (Plus, how a Piggly Wiggly inspired the Hoggly Woggly)
July 25, 2018 19:58 - 37 minutes - 34.8 MBJoin 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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What are the Secrets of the World’s Largest Birds?
July 20, 2018 20:00 - 35 minutes - 32.5 MBIs 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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
9 Weird and Incredible Rule Changes
July 19, 2018 15:05 - 14 minutes - 13.6 MBIs 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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fan Favorite: Are we in the middle of a Rudeness Epidemic?
July 18, 2018 17:02 - 36 minutes - 33.3 MBAfter 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.com ...
What's the Science of Changing Someone's Mind?
July 13, 2018 18:31 - 39 minutes - 36.5 MBAs 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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
9 Incredible Inventors You'll Want to Meet
July 12, 2018 15:29 - 17 minutes - 16.2 MBFrom 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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How did Nickelodeon Revolutionize Television?
July 11, 2018 19:48 - 37 minutes - 34.6 MBSpoiler: 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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What are the Movie Industry's Biggest Secrets?
July 06, 2018 20:06 - 32 minutes - 30.1 MBWhy 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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
9 Soccer-ish Facts about the World Cup
July 05, 2018 17:20 - 14 minutes - 13.2 MBCan 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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What’s so special about Twins?
July 04, 2018 10:00 - 39 minutes - 36.6 MBWhat’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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Close are we to Curing Alzheimer's?
June 29, 2018 09:00 - 42 minutes - 38.7 MBScientists 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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
9 Surprising Origin Stories Behind Corporate Mascots
June 28, 2018 09:00 - 17 minutes - 16.1 MBWhy 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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What's the Greatest World's Fair of All-Time?
June 27, 2018 09:00 - 38 minutes - 35.2 MBFrom 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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fan Favorite: Who was the Woman Behind American Codebreaking?
June 22, 2018 14:30 - 46 minutes - 43 MBEvery 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.com See omny...
9 Surprising Restaurants We Can't Stop Talking About
June 21, 2018 19:03 - 15 minutes - 14 MBFrom 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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why Are Kids So Attracted to Shel Silverstein's Poetry?
June 20, 2018 13:12 - 34 minutes - 32 MBBefore 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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Are Dad Jokes Actually Good For Kids’ Brains?
June 16, 2018 15:23 - 13 minutes - 12.4 MBTo celebrate Father’s Day, Will and Mango share 9 of their favorite dad facts. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What are the Best Shoes for Atheists, Marathon Runners, and Criminals?
June 15, 2018 19:14 - 38 minutes - 35.1 MBFrom 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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Introducing our new podcast: Committed
June 14, 2018 20:06 - 35 minutesA near-fatal brain injury, a stroke and amnesia turned Gwen and Yasir into one of the most interesting and accomplished couples you'll ever meet. Be sure to subscribe to Committed wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers