Part-Time Genius

Will and Mango dive deep on the unicorn of the sea, aka the narwhal! Find out how to tell a real narwhal tusk from a fake, why one university chose these majestic beasts as their mascot, and why everyone's on the lookout for a baby narluga (that's the hot new beluga/narwhal hybrid).

This episode originally aired on August 29, 2024.

Got a question or idea for the show? Call our hotline at (302) 405-5925 or email [email protected].

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Fanciful (and not very scientific) illustration of a "sea unicorn" by Conrad Gessner, ca. 1558, via Wikimedia Commons.

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From the strange reason people used to call funeral home directors after an accident, to the incredible train robbery that was stopped using a makeshift phone, to the heartbreaking ways that emergency operators learn to cope on the job, this week we're dialing into the surprising story of emergency hotlines. 

This episode originally aired on May 16, 2024.

Got a question or idea for the show? Call our (non-emergency) hotline at (302) 405-5925 or email [email protected].

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Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

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From Walter Isaacson, best-selling author and biographer of the era’s most ingenious minds, The Builders is a series of groundbreaking interviews with the architects of tomorrow. From Elon Musk to Fei-Fei Li, Alex Karp to Dario and Daniela Amodei, the series features candid and essential conversations about ambition, power, AI – and asks the question: whose imagination do we want to live in? Listen to The Builders every Tuesday.

Listen here or on the iHeartRadio. 

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It's time to get real about raw fish! Will and Mango have their chopsticks ready and way too many questions on hand: Is bluefin really a delicacy? How do sushi chefs apply their soy sauce? And how California is the California roll? From the dish's Chinese origins to why Japanese foodies are intrigued by American rolls, today we're going all in on sushi. Featuring The Story of Sushi author Trevor Corson.

Buy The Story of Sushi or look for it in your local library!

This episode originally aired on December 6, 2017.

Got a question or idea for the show? Call our hotline at (302) 405-5925 or email [email protected].

Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social!

Photo by Tamas Pap via Unsplash. Thanks, Tamas!

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How rude! After author Danny Wallace got the world's worst customer service (and possibly the world's worst hot dog), he decided to search for the root causes of rudeness. Danny joins Will and Mango 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!

This episode originally aired on February 23, 2018.

Got a question or idea for the show? Call our hotline at (302) 405-5925 or email [email protected].

Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social!

Photo by Walid Hamadeh via Unsplash. Thanks, Walid!

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Spoiler: No. But crystals are still pretty magical! Producer Mary visits the American Museum of Natural History’s Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals to find out how crystals are formed, what makes them so colorful, and why you should never leave your collection in a department store window. Meanwhile, Mango’s got plenty of research about ancient crystal beliefs and the modern healing crystal movement—plus, the surprisingly dark side of crystal sourcing.

• Learn more about the Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals and their incredible collections!
• Visit Rockhounding.org.
• Get a DIY education in minerals at Mindat.org.

Got a question or idea for the show? Call our hotline at (302) 405-5925 or email [email protected].

Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social!

Photo by Franco Antonio Giovanella via Unsplash. Thanks, Franco!

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What do Smokey the Bear and the Beatles have in common? How did Mr. Peanut influence Canadian politics? Whatever happened to Tony the Tiger's mom? And why on earth does a tire company represent itself with a guy who looks like a pile of marshmallows? Today Will and Gabe dive into the bizarre world of corporate mascots!

This episode originally aired on June 28, 2018.

Got a question or idea for the show? Call our hotline at (302) 405-5925 or email [email protected].

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Photo via WIkimedia Commons.

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Why do you have trouble remembering people’s names? What’s the real difference between long-term and short-term memory? Is it true that the human brain can only remember seven things at a time? And what do you need to know in order to build your very own mind palace? Today Will and Mango are taking a walk down memory lane!

Check out Dylan’s new music!

Got a question or idea for the show? Call our hotline at (302) 405-5925 or email [email protected].

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Photo by Dianne Clifford via Unsplash. Thanks, Dianne!

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Whether you're struggling with a report or the next great novel, Will and Mango have nine genius-approved ways to get through a creative slump.

This episode originally aired on September 20, 2018.

Got a question or idea for the show? Call our hotline at (302) 405-5925 or email [email protected].

Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social!

Photo by Steve A. Johnson via Unsplash. Thanks, Steve!

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Want to visit a beautiful lake in Canada? How about a stunning historic mountain in Greece? Or an island full of adorable monkeys? Well, too bad… you can’t! Enjoy sitting at home while Mango and producer Mary tell you about nine fascinating places you’ll never get to see.

Got a question or idea for the show? Call our hotline at (302) 405-5925 or email [email protected].

Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social!

Photo by Kyle Glenn via Unsplash. Thanks, Kyle!

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