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.
160episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Do Dad Jokes Help Kids’ Brains?
Today00:16:16Tap to summarizeHappy Father’s Day! Will and Mango are celebrating with nine facts about dads, from the origin of the term “founding fathers” to the oldest dad on record. 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 June 16, 2018. 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 Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash. Thanks, Kelly! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Where Did the Alphabet Come From? with Danny Bate!
3d ago00:36:55Tap to summarizeWhy is Z the last letter of the English alphabet (and why do British people insist on calling it zed)? Who stuck a tail on C and called it G? And is there a reason why the I in ‘child’ and ‘children’ sounds different? (Spoiler alert: Yes!) Linguist Danny Bate stops by to unpack the mysteries of the alphabet and discuss his delightful new book, Why Q Needs U: A History of Our Letters and How We Use Them. Buy Why Q Needs U here, or inquire at your local bookstore or library! 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. 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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Secrets of the FIFA World Cup
1w ago00:17:08Tap to summarizeShould goalies get more bathroom breaks? Can a daily banana basket help players feel less homesick? And did a North Korean dictator invent a secret technology to guarantee more wins? Gear up, because Will and Mango have nine strange-but-true facts about the biggest tournament in soccer (which some of you call football)! 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 July 5, 2018. Photo by Connor Coyne via Unsplash. Thanks, Connor! 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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Let's Travel to Indonesia!
1w ago00:34:33Tap to summarizeWant to know why Indonesian postal workers have one of the hardest jobs in the world? Or why the country is the best place to find new bird species? Or why it's an honor when someone makes you a tall glass of jammu? From the best types of fabric to throw into a volcano to make it stop erupting, to how to track a super-short Sasquatch, Will and Mango scour the country's 17,000+ islands to bring you Indonesia's best facts. 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 December 20, 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 Jeremy Bishop via Unsplash. Thanks, Jeremy! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Skyline Drive: Homecoming
2w ago00:35:06Tap to summarizeSkyline Drive season 2 starts June 9! Subscribe on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. While Mangesh (aka Mango) is busy working on season 2 of his other show, Skyline Drive, we’re revisiting season 1 right here, and we’ve reached the finale! Mangesh makes some trips to an old family home, a seaside town in South Goa, and visits with a Tantric astrologer (it's not what you think!), as he tries to get closure. Skyline Drive was selected as an Apple Podcasts Series Essential! Listen ad-free for a limited time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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What's in Antarctica? (An ATM, for One Thing!)
2w ago00:40:05Tap to summarizeAntarctica has lots of penguins, but only one ATM. Will and Mango bundle up for this look at everyday life on the iciest continent, from the plumbing challenges to the reason why the South Pole moves every year. Featuring all-star Antarctica Artist-in-Residence Jynne Dilling Martin. 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 27, 2017. Photo 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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What’s the Plural of Platypus? Plus More Platypus Facts!
2w ago00:25:52Tap to summarizeThey’re nature’s biggest weirdo: adorable egg-laying mammals that can inflict some serious pain. Today Will and Mango drop nine facts about the platypus, including the actual correct pluralization (hint: it’s not what you think it is) and the time scientists were convinced its existence was a prank. Which, fair! EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/ptg Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! 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! Drawing of a platypus (1809) via the New York Public Library Digital Collections. Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Skyline Drive: Chalta Hai
3w ago01:01:24Tap 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 7! Mangesh travels to India to find a horoscope written about him centuries ago and waiting for him in a shop in rural Tamil Nadu... but it isn't long before everything starts going wrong! 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 a Sousaphone, and Why Is It So Funny?
3w ago00:20:27Tap to summarizeWho invented the vuvuzela, and why? Should every party include a sousaphone? And is it possible to make music with vegetables? Today Will and Mango discuss 9 instruments they don't want their kids practicing inside the house! EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/ptg Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! This episode originally aired on August 23, 2018. Photo 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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Were Real Ninjas Sneaky?
3w 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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