Will and Mango go deep into their chess cave to determine: what's the most dangerous styles of chess, why did the game move from the battlefield to the royal court, and if a billion people to play chess, can that stop an alien invasion?

Fan Favorite: Why are Russians so good at Chess?

Will 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.

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Want to know which billionaire speaks Esperanto fluently? Or what country almost adopted Esperanto as its national language? Or why Hitler and Stalin were both afraid of Dr. Esperanto (actually Doktoro Esperanto). Join Will and Mango as they dive into the incredible world of constructed languages and also discover why William Shatner isn't just the greatest Esperanto actor of all time... but also probably the worst. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Come Esperanto Never Took Off?!

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

Why Are There So Many Cheese Crimes?

Whether you're trying to spot a Michelin critic in the wild, or you're on the hunt for the world's best reindeer tartar with moss and fermented mushroom (a very common thing listeners ask us about), we've got you covered. From Katy Perry's Michelin mishap, to chefs trying to sue the guide because they want more stars, to the bizarre reason the Michelin Man prefers to pair his meals with a goblet full of nails, we've prepared a piping hot plate of facts for you. (Go ahead and tuck in!)   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do Michelin Stars Work?

Will and Mango are back in studio to form a slime appreciation society! From the first time astronauts took slime to space, to the incredible way snails surf (SURF!) their own slime, to the architectural beauty of slime molds, put on your galoshes and jump right in!   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why are we so Obsessed with Slime?

In March 2020, while the entire world was shutting down, Doug and Jason Barrow, brothers and owners of Luna Gourmet Coffee & Tea, had other problems. One morning at the office, one of their employees said the building smelled like campfire. Now roasting coffee does get a little toasty—but never like this.
 
Join Ben and Tanya as they chat with the Barrow brothers about their business's phoenix-like comeback. Discover how they rebounded, securing fresh funding, finding unexpected allies, and building a dedicated support team that propelled them to greater heights. These are The Unshakeables.
 
The Unshakeables is brought to you by Chase for Business and Ruby Studio. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fan Favorite: Why are Russians so good at Chess?

Download our free app to listen on your phone