We all know the American places in America (Cleveland is one). But where should a U.S. citizen go to feel at home abroad? Will and Mango visit a wee America in Brazil (?!), tour the territories, and look for the Kentucky in Japan’s KFCs. Featuring our pal and Snack Stack author Doug Mack.

This episode originally aired on July 14, 2017.

Photo of a KFC in Toyohashi, Japan by Huu Huynh via Pexels. Thanks, Huu!

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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 we should explore? Send an email or voice memo to [email protected], and we might use it in an upcoming episode.

Photo via the Library of Congress. Check out our episode “9 Page-Turning Secrets of the Library of Congress” to learn more about this incredible institution! 

We're on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social!

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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 executive producers are Neely Lohmann and Adam Neuhaus of Neuhaus Ideas, and Lindsay Hoffman of iHeart Podcasts.

The show is produced by Jody Avirgan and Brittani Brown of Roulette Productions. 

Our Chief Puzzle Officer is Greg Pliska. Our associate producer is Andrea Schoenberg.

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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! 

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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 Bruno Guerrero via Unsplash. Thanks, Bruno!

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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!

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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!

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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 or voice memo to [email protected], and we might use it in an upcoming episode.

Trajineras photo by Roberto Carlos Román Don via Unsplash. Thanks, Roberto!

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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!

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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 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.

Padlock photo by Yogesh Pedamkar via Unsplash. Thanks, Yogesh!

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