Podcast
Part-Time Genius
Hosted by iHeartPodcasts and Kaleidoscope · EN
Are you a knowledge junkie who loves when facts are stranger than fiction? Do you find yourself constantly tripping down Wikipedia rabbit holes (and delighting in the journey)? Have you ever been told you ask a lot of questions? If so, congrats! You’re one of us: a Part-Time Genius! Join Will, Mango, and the team as we scour the globe in search of obscure facts, offbeat locales, and hidden histories. Along the way, we’ll chat with experts, play some games, get in touch with our silly side, and celebrate the fine art of staying curious.
151episodes
Episodes
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Were Real Ninjas Sneaky?
3d ago00:42:33Tap to summarizeWhy did so many ninjas walk around with crickets? Why did they like to keep pocket change on them? And what does it mean when a ninja sends you a packet of dried fish? Today Will and Mango look to the past to distinguish ninja truths from ninja fiction! EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/ptg Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! This episode originally aired on November 2, 2018. Illustration of an 18th century ninja via Wikimedia Commons. Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Skyline Drive: George and the Experience Treadmill
5d ago00:43:33Tap to summarizeWhile Mangesh (aka Mango) is busy working on season 2 of his other show, Skyline Drive, we’re revisiting season 1 right here, and we’re up to episode 6! As George navigates the Los Angeles dating scene, one thing keeps derailing his relationships: every girl he’s into is "too into astrology." Plus, Mangesh’s mom tells him about a bizarre curse that’s been plaguing his family for generations, and we discuss why your astrologer might ask you to get married to a tree. Skyline Drive was selected as an Apple Podcasts Series Essential! Listen ad-free for a limited time. Subscribe to Skyline Drive wherever you get your podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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What Causes Tony Danza Syndrome?
1w ago00:15:54Tap to summarizeTony Danza. Tony the Tiger. The Tonys. What do they have in common? (Look closely and you'll get it.) Today Will and Mango are sharing nine facts about people named Tony! EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/ptg Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Photo of Tony Danza via Wikimedia Commons. Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Secrets of the Post Office! with Nancy Pope
1w ago00:46:48Tap to summarizeWhen Ben Franklin took over the USPS, he couldn’t have predicted the crazy ways the institution would evolve. From pneumatic tubes to missiles filled with mail, Will and Mango dig into the Post Office's weirdest experiments, and find out why Olympic athletes can no longer mail themselves home when they lose a wallet. Featuring Nancy Pope of the National Postal Museum. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/ptg Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! This episode originally aired on October 18, 2017. Note: Nancy passed away in 2019, two years after we recorded this conversation. Read about her extraordinary life and work in this obituary published by the National Postal Museum. Got a question or idea for the show? Call our hotline at (302) 405-5925 or email higeniuses@gmail.com. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Photo by David Trinks via Unsplash.Thanks, David! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Skyline Drive: A Little More Asian Than I Thought
2w ago00:46:04Tap to summarizeWhile Mangesh (aka Mango) is busy working on season 2 of his other show, Skyline Drive, we’re revisiting season 1 right here, and we’re up to episode 5! As Annie attempts to clean out her parents’ garage and sort their finances, she has an unusual question for our astrologer. Meanwhile, Mangesh learns how astrology is affecting the world of C-sections, discusses reading babies' palms in utero, and hears a surprising story from his sister. Heads up: there are explicit lyrics and curses in this episode. Skyline Drive was selected as an Apple Podcasts Series Essential! Listen ad-free for a limited time. Subscribe to Skyline Drive wherever you get your podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Are Potatoes Dangerous?
2w ago00:26:34Tap to summarizeWe bake them, fry them, mash them, and even turn them into toys, but potatoes weren't always so beloved. In fact, there was a time when they were considered such a threat to humanity, they were declared illegal! Today Will and Mango are serving up nine starch-tastic facts about the humble spud, from its long journey to our tables, to Ben Franklin's role as a potato influencer, to the ridiculous parade float that inspired the term "couch potato." EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/ptg Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! This episode originally aired on July 15, 2022. Got a question or idea for the show? Call our hotline at (302) 405-5925 or email higeniuses@gmail.com. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Photo by Wouter Supardi Salari via Unsplash. Thanks for the new nightmare, Wouter! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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How to Tell When Someone Is Lying
2w ago00:36:44Tap to summarizeFrom ancient Chinese lie detection methods involving a mouthful of rice, to the clever ways toddlers and birds stretch the truth, to the surprisingly honest way that Charles Ponzi got his start in business, Will and Mango have a whole lot to say about lying (honestly!). EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/ptg Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! This episode originally aired on January 25, 2025. Got a question or idea for the show? Call our hotline at (302) 405-5925 or email higeniuses@gmail.com. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Photo by Eleonora Francesca Grotto via Unsplash. Thanks, Eleonora! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Skyline Drive: BTS Grandpas
3w ago00:48:48Tap to summarizeWhile Mangesh (aka Mango) is busy working on season 2 of his other show, Skyline Drive, we’re revisiting season 1 right here! We’re up to episode 4. Michelle’s friends are desperate to get her a reading. But Michelle, a devoted ARMY, is more interested in seeing what the future holds for BTS. Plus, we dig into baseball astrology and discover why you might want to swap your emeralds for bananas. Skyline Drive was selected as an Apple Podcasts Series Essential! Listen ad-free for a limited time. Subscribe to Skyline Drive wherever you get your podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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What’s the Story Behind the Dogs Playing Poker Painting?
3w ago00:32:08Tap to summarizeCassius Marcellus Coolidge’s name isn’t widely known, but his painting of dogs playing poker (aka “A Friend in Need”) is iconic. Today we discover the truth about one of America’s most forgotten artists, from his early days in banking to his hijinks in the Freemasons. Plus: Why we love dogs and kitsch in art. Download SAILY in your app store and use our code PTG at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase! For details go to https://saily.com/PTG. This episode originally aired on November 12, 2024. Got a question or idea for the show? Call our hotline at (302) 405-5925 or email higeniuses@gmail.com. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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What's the Best Way to Sit? (And Other Important Questions About Work)
3w ago00:40:09Tap to summarizeFor all our schooling, no one ever taught us the best way to sit. Also, no one told us the ideal office temperature for maximum productivity. Or explained why cracking jokes might be helpful for elevating status in the workplace. And certainly none of our professors told us why writing in the nude is a great hack for hitting deadlines. To bridge these important educational gaps, today Will and Mango explore all the very best ways to work. (Note: the answer may involve Amtrak.) Download SAILY in your app store and use our code PTG at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase! For details go to https://saily.com/PTG. This episode originally aired on August 9, 2024. Got a question or idea for the show? Call our hotline at (302) 405-5925 or email higeniuses@gmail.com. Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social! Photo by Jonathan Cosens via Unsplash. Thanks, Jonathan! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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