Part-Time Genius

By iHeartRadio

Society & Culture

What's Part-Time Genius about?

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.

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How did P. T. Barnum Trick ...

03.30.2020

Elevators seem pretty mundane, until you realize a certain king used them to hide his mistresses; a certain politician used them to exaggerate the height of his buildings, and all of America refused to ride them until a certain marketing ...

Part-Time Genius episodes:

04.03.2020 9 Stompy Facts about Godzilla Gabe loves monster moves! And Will and Mango... tolerate them. But, it turns out, we all love facts about Godzilla. From how Godzilla changed paleontology, to the giant monster's (secret) signature move, to why flattened buildings aren't the worst part ...
03.30.2020 How did P. T. Barnum Trick the World into Riding Elevators? Elevators seem pretty mundane, until you realize a certain king used them to hide his mistresses; a certain politician used them to exaggerate the height of his buildings, and all of America refused to ride them until a certain marketing ...
03.25.2020 9 Oddball Comic Book Characters (Who Won't Be Getting Their Own Movie) Will, Mango and Gabe are stuck inside this week, and decide to hop on the phone to chat comics... specifically, some of the worst comic creations in all of history. Want to know what killed Captain Tootsie? Or why Arm-Fall-Off-Boy ...
02.19.2020 What did Teddy Roosevelt do to Dr. Seuss?! In today’s special episode, Mango sits down with Erin McCarthy, editor-in-chief of Mental Floss to talk about everything Teddy Roosevelt… from whether he really climbed a mountain out of spite, to how a seal inspired his fossil collection, to what ...
12.30.2019 Fan Favorite: 9 Reasons to Love Raccoons (Yes, Raccoons) Trash pandas. Nature's ninjas. Sure, these ring-tailed rascals go by plenty of names. But whether you love 'em or hate 'em, they're clearly taking over Toronto. Will and Mango discuss everything raccoons, and why they deserve a little respect. Learn ...
12.26.2019 Fan Favorite: Why are Russians so good at Chess? 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 ...
12.23.2019 Fan Favorite: What are the Secret Rules the Royal Family has to Obey? Why can't princes wear pants? Why does Prince Charles carry a bag of blood with him on his vacations? Is the Queen allowed to use a Pooper Scooper? Why is it so hard to make a perfect tuna sandwich for ...
12.19.2019 9 Ridiculous Things about "The 12 Days of Christmas" Researcher Gabe joins Will and Mango in the studio to talk about why his family likes to Christmas carol so slowly. (They take over a week to to sing one song!) Plus, the crew discusses bird boxes, conspiracy theories and ...
12.18.2019 What are the Craziest Applications for Lasers? (Including washing your dishes!) Forget Dr. Evil and his ridiculously evil plans... lasers are so much more practical than that! In this episode, Will and Mango discover why lasers are perfect for precision-cooking your bacon, how they can be used as chopsticks, why washing ...
12.05.2019 Why Does New Zealand Have an Official Wizard? Everything Will and Mango read about New Zealand made them want to visit! From how Hokey Pokey became the country's favorite ice cream flavor, to why the nation is giving away free gym memberships... to birds, to the reason the ...
11.27.2019 Fan Favorite: How did Charlie Brown win over America? Every holiday season, Will and Mango rewatch The Peanuts classics. But how did Charles Schulz get his inspiration for the comic strip? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers
11.14.2019 Do Lucky Charms Really Work? (Plus, other ways to get the upper hand) Why do short people dominate soccer? Is owning a library more important than actually reading the books? And is being handsome important to being taken seriously as a scientist? Will and Mango delve into some super weird ways people wield ...
11.07.2019 Did a Volcano Eruption Really Help Invent the Bicycle? Will and Mango dig into all the biggest bicycle questions: From how bikes seriously altered the dating scene, to how blind people ride bikes through traffic, to the ingenious way Kermit pedaled his Schwann in the Muppets Movie. Grab a ...
10.31.2019 Halloween Special: The Mystery Show! How did Agatha Christie churn out so many novels? Was Woodrow Wilson more important to the mystery genre than Sherlock Holmes? And what happened to Inspector Gadget's mustache (because he used to have one!) Also, Mango uses incredible deduction skills ...
10.23.2019 How do Dollar Stores stay in Business? Will and Mango have so many questions about the dollar store business: Why have so many more of these stores cropped up recently? How do you make a profit when everything in your store sells for under a buck? Is ...
10.16.2019 Who Invented the Dunce Cap? (And other unusual School Supplies) Why is there a bull on the Elmer's glue bottle? What did kids use to carry their books around before they had backpacks? And why does a giant cone tree get everyone excited about starting school in Germany? Will and ...
08.26.2019 How did settlers create New Orleans from swampland? New Orleans is one of the most charming and distinct cities in America… but 300 years ago, it would have been hard to see that potential. In this episode, Will and Mango dig into how French the French quarter really ...
08.22.2019 Introducing: Hush Money Let’s talk about money — but not boring money. Entrepreneur editor-in-chief Jason Feifer and money expert Nicole Lapin go straight at the most taboo, awkward situations where money impacts our lives, relationships, and careers. In each episode they debate the ...
08.16.2019 Is a Funny Boss better for your Workplace? (And other Secrets from Office Culture!) Will and Mango take a look around the office, from why cubicles were actually a forward-thinking invention, to how knives became a wonderful way to show your applause at the workplace in Cuba to why that office rumor we’re spreading ...
07.11.2019 Are Pigeons Smarter Than They Look? Sure, they nuzzled their way into Mike Tyson's heart (and Nikola Tesla; and Bert from Bert and Ernie!), but how intelligent are pigeons? Have scientists really trained the birds to read? Did they actually play a role in discovering the ...
06.20.2019 Fan Favorite: Why are we so Nostalgic for Sugary Breakfast Cereals? Is Cap'n Crunch Really a Captain? Is the Silly Rabbit using psychological tricks on kids? And why did everyone stop putting prizes in cereal boxes? Will and Mango take a trip down memory lane, exploring why America is so nostalgic ...
06.07.2019 Fan Favorite: What are the Movie Industry's Biggest Secrets? Why 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 ...
05.28.2019 Why did the Inventor of Shopping Malls Hate Malls? While no one is going to malls (or so it seems), everyone seems to be talking about them: the CDC is writing up reports on mall walkers, people are growing beards to get into the mall Santa game, and writers ...
05.10.2019 How Close Are We to Resurrecting a Woolly Mammoth? Will and Mango dig wonder: how hard it is to bring a species back from extinction? Plus: why do people wake up in the morgue after being declared dead? Why are fish markets the best places to look for extinct ...
05.03.2019 Introducing Sleepwalkers: Sleepwalking Welcome to the A.I. revolution that is already transforming our lives, for good and evil. But what exactly are we sleepwalking into? We start by investigating the connections between online dating, terrorism, and screen addiction.In this episode we hear from: ...
04.26.2019 How did Thurgood Marshall become such an Incredible Lawyer? Maybe it was his dad? Or all the punishments he got as a naughty high schooler? Or perhaps it was inspired by watching so many Soap Operas? Whatever the cause, Thurgood Marshall's life story is remarkable. From watching trials as ...
04.12.2019 Fan Favorite: How Did Wine Fraud Become Such a Big Business? When a billionaire realized his $125,000 bottle of wine might be fake, he hired a crack team to solve the case. This is the story of a private investigator, a motley crew of geniuses, and a fine wine that supposedly ...
03.22.2019 Fan Favorite: How does Rick Steves Think You Should Travel? 9/11 changed Rick Steves and how he wanted to approach writing about the world. In this special interview, Will and Mango sit down with legendary PBS host and travel writer Rick Steves to talk about the newest edition of "Travel ...
03.15.2019 Fan Favorite: 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 ...
03.07.2019 Fan Favorite: What's the Science of Painkillers? When you've got a headache, those bottles of over-the-counter medicines can feel interchangeable. But the truth is, the drugs work in different ways... and each has their own benefits and side-effects. From which drugs work best on toothaches, to which ...
03.01.2019 What are the Greatest Things We Didn't Know about Brazil? When's the best time to surf the Amazon? Can Brazilian termites help you make a better pizza? And: did you overpay on the black market for that venomous snake? Will and Mango scour the web for some fun facts on ...
02.22.2019 Fan Favorite: What Makes the Happiest Places on Earth? What do sauna culture, "Right to Roam" laws and all-you-can-eat buffets (for monkeys!) have to do with putting smiles on citizens faces? Will and Mango explore why some countries always end up at the top of the Happiness Index, and ...
02.16.2019 Did (Everyone's Favorite Frenchman) Lafayette Really Save America? Sure, we know Lafayette as a street. And a college. And some of us know him as the charismatic Frenchman from Hamilton. But did you know he was France's richest orphan? And that his real name was Gilbert? And he ...
02.14.2019 9 Valentine's Day Facts You'll Want to Share From the worst Valentines cards in history, to why candy necklaces are so meaningful in Alabama, to a few salmon that are not excited about this special day, Will and Mango have cobbled facts to warm your heart. Learn more ...
02.08.2019 9 Delightful Corners of the Internet From the best place to do your book shopping to a very sweet rodent with too much to carry, Will and Mango explore some of the World Wide Web's weirdest corners. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers
02.05.2019 How Did Jacques Cousteau Fall in Love with the Sea? Whether you knew him as a conservationist, an explorer, a spy or a fashion icon, Jacques Cousteau showcased the sea's mysteries to a curious world. But how did the rebellious teenager with a penchant for breaking windows grow up into ...
01.31.2019 9 Things Hiding on your Money From the treasury joker who snuck his face on some cash, to Theodore Roosevelt’s drastic redesign for the penny, to the very best reason Harriet Tubman belongs on the $20, Will and Mango are diving into dollar bill facts Scrooge ...
01.25.2019 What does Plastic Surgery have to do with the Civil War? Why are people getting plastic surgery on their fingerprints? Why was the Civil War such a golden era for procedures? And why is everyone suddenly obsessed with the length of their philtrums? Will and Mango take a brisk walk through ...
01.25.2019 9 Wonderful Wintertime Inventions Did a 15-year old really invent the snowmobile? Why was the original use for a Kleen-Ex? How come Eddie Bauer gets zero credit for his genius idea? And what's so special about the Greenwood Champion Ear Protectors? Will and Mango ...
01.18.2019 Why Can’t You Copyright a Chicken Sandwich? 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, ...
01.16.2019 The Surprising Origins of 9 TV Spin-Offs What was the worst cartoon inspired by Happy Days? Why did The Golden Girls try to open a hotel? And which dysfunctional character from The Office almost got a starring role on Parks and Rec? Will and Mango explore the ...
01.11.2019 Fan Favorite: 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 ...
01.10.2019 Why Did Ben Franklin Look Up to Genghis Khan? Sure, Genghis Khan pillaged lands with glee and killed millions of people in his ruthless quest for power. But was he kind of a good person? Like, was he pro-justice and pro-environment? And also, did he invent the hamburger? Will ...
01.04.2019 Fan Favorite: 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 ...
01.02.2019 Fan Favorite: 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 ...
12.20.2018 9 Christmas Tree Facts that are totally lit! From why a giraffe might want your Christmas tree leftovers, to why your tree is so darn thirsty all the time, to why a traditionalist might want to start mounting their trees upside-down, Will and Mango explore some Griswold-sized Christmas ...
12.19.2018 Fan Favorite: What's Everyday life like on Antarctica? From plumbing to catering, everything’s a little harder in Antarctica. Will and Mango dive into everyday life on The Ice. Plus, we talk glamping on the continent, why the South Pole pole moves every year, and why the Antarctica only ...
12.14.2018 9 Great Facts about People Named Tony There are a lot of people named Tony. (Tony Hawk is one of them!) Will and Mango share some wonderful facts about 8 Tonys (Tony Hawk is not one of them.) Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers
12.13.2018 What are the Secret Rules the Royal Family has to Obey? Why can't princes wear pants? Why does Prince Charles carry a bag of blood with him on his vacations? Is the Queen allowed to use a Pooper Scooper? Why is it so hard to make a perfect tuna sandwich for ...
12.07.2018 Fan Favorite: 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 ...

Older episodes

Part-Time Genius

What's Part-Time Genius about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Part-Time Genius episodes:

9 Stompy Facts about Godzilla

How did P. T. Barnum Trick the World into Riding Elevators?

9 Oddball Comic Book Characters (Who Won't Be Getting Their Own Movie)

What did Teddy Roosevelt do to Dr. Seuss?!

Fan Favorite: 9 Reasons to Love Raccoons (Yes, Raccoons)

Fan Favorite: Why are Russians so good at Chess?

Fan Favorite: What are the Secret Rules the Royal Family has to Obey?

9 Ridiculous Things about "The 12 Days of Christmas"

What are the Craziest Applications for Lasers? (Including washing your dishes!)

Why Does New Zealand Have an Official Wizard?

Fan Favorite: How did Charlie Brown win over America?

Do Lucky Charms Really Work? (Plus, other ways to get the upper hand)

Did a Volcano Eruption Really Help Invent the Bicycle?

Halloween Special: The Mystery Show!

How do Dollar Stores stay in Business?

Who Invented the Dunce Cap? (And other unusual School Supplies)

How did settlers create New Orleans from swampland?

Introducing: Hush Money

Is a Funny Boss better for your Workplace? (And other Secrets from Office Culture!)

Are Pigeons Smarter Than They Look?

Fan Favorite: Why are we so Nostalgic for Sugary Breakfast Cereals?

Fan Favorite: What are the Movie Industry's Biggest Secrets?

Why did the Inventor of Shopping Malls Hate Malls?

How Close Are We to Resurrecting a Woolly Mammoth?

Introducing Sleepwalkers: Sleepwalking

How did Thurgood Marshall become such an Incredible Lawyer?

Fan Favorite: How Did Wine Fraud Become Such a Big Business?

Fan Favorite: How does Rick Steves Think You Should Travel?

Fan Favorite: How Do People Game the Lottery?

Fan Favorite: What's the Science of Painkillers?

What are the Greatest Things We Didn't Know about Brazil?

Fan Favorite: What Makes the Happiest Places on Earth?

Did (Everyone's Favorite Frenchman) Lafayette Really Save America?

9 Valentine's Day Facts You'll Want to Share

9 Delightful Corners of the Internet

How Did Jacques Cousteau Fall in Love with the Sea?

9 Things Hiding on your Money

What does Plastic Surgery have to do with the Civil War?

9 Wonderful Wintertime Inventions

Why Can’t You Copyright a Chicken Sandwich?

The Surprising Origins of 9 TV Spin-Offs

Fan Favorite: Will Coffee Make Me Live Longer?

Why Did Ben Franklin Look Up to Genghis Khan?

Fan Favorite: 9 Very Important Facts about Bears

Fan Favorite: Why Were These Books Banned?

9 Christmas Tree Facts that are totally lit!

Fan Favorite: What's Everyday life like on Antarctica?

9 Great Facts about People Named Tony

What are the Secret Rules the Royal Family has to Obey?

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

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