Part-Time Genius

Join Will and Mango as they announce the very prestigious 43rd Annual Part-Time Genius Awards , where the duo celebrates everything from 2024's greatest economic innovation (it involves Seagulls) to advances in human-snail relations, to celebrating the year's best villain (you'll definitely want to invite him over to your place).      If you have a question or comment for the show,...

Whether you're trying to spot a Michelin critic in the wild, or you're on the hunt for the world's best reindeer tartar with moss and fermented mushroom (a very common thing listeners ask us about), we've got you covered. From Katy Perry's Michelin mishap, to chefs trying to sue the guide because they want more stars, to the bizarre reason the Michelin Man prefers to pair his meals with a goblet f...

From Mark Twain's bizarre hatred of Jane Austen, to the heated argument that launched two great grocery stores, to the strange prank that ended two comedians' legendary partnership, this episode, Mango and super-producer Mary go looking for historical beef and find plenty of sizzle! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Turns out, the history of Board Games isn't as simple as just passing Go and collecting $200. From the surprising way Abraham Lincoln's beard changed Milton Bradley's career, to the socialist board game that took off on Ivy League campuses, to the ancient Sumerian board game you can still play, this episode Will and Mango go wild game hunting and come back with plenty of stories to tell. &nbs...

Can smiling during running improve your marathon time? Will an old age app help you make better resolutions? And is there real science behind the Coffee Nap? Will and Mango examine big and little ways to improve your 2018, including why you'll probably need to carry a plunger around with you in the New Year. Featuring Mango's wife, Lizzie. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grab a mug of cocoa and hit play already! From Renaissance snow angels to an award-winning trick for never slipping in the snow, Will and Mango have a special wintery mix ready for your snow day. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Want to know why George Washington's eggnog was so potent? Or how new immigrants partied on Ellis Island? Or what was the wildest party to ever take place at West Point? Or the very particular way that Thomas Edison changed the way we make shrubbery more festive? You're in luck! Will and Mango get the lowdown on just a few of the historical parties they weren't invited to.   See omnystud...

Want 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...

Whether you're trying to analyze your sled dogs' athletic performance, get your pooch to stop barking at the mailman or simply trying to get an extra year or two with man's best friend, the newest doggy technologies have a solve for you and your very best boy.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People have been writing by hand for thousands of years—ever since the Mesopotamians started doodling in cuneiform. That means there’s a vast, inky world for Will and Mango to explore, from the difference between scribes and scriveners to the best feathers for quill pens. They also reveal a shocking truth about fountain pens, and discover all the ways handwriting benefits our brains. (...

'Tis the season for knitwear! So we’re celebrating sweaters of all shapes and sizes. Did you know that the ugly Christmas sweater trend got its start over a hundred years ago? Or that American soldiers in WWI had beef with amateur knitters? We cover all that and more, including the most expensive sweater ever sold and delightful facts about sweater-loving celebrities like Mr. Rogers, Weezer,...

Pack your bags! Today, Will and Mango are taking you on a trip to Europe’s second-least visited country: Liechtenstein. Along the way, we’ll discover how this tiny spot on the map came to exist (spoiler alert, it’s all thanks to a guy named Karl), and we’ll delve into its fascinating economy, which relies heavily on tax incentives and false teeth. Need a lunch break? No problem, we’ll pull over at...

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s… an ad for cigarettes?! For the past 102 years, people have been using airplanes to turn exhaust into ads, political slogans, birthday greetings, and more. But where did this strangely brilliant idea come from? What kind of sorcery do pilots use to make it happen? And why is it at risk of becoming a lost art?  If you have a question or comment for the show, hit us u...

Which airport should you hang out at if you want to meet a mini-horse? Why is the art in the Denver Airport so evil? And are TSA agents more likely to search you if you're carrying an Almanac? Will and Mango investigate. You don’t need to travel to find us on Instagram. Just go to @parttimegenius.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Will and Mango celebrate their own wonderful grandmas by paying tribute to a whole world of awesome grandmothers. From a cuddly graffiti gang in Europe, to a group of grandmas who advanced our understanding of marine science, to a few celebrities who never would have gotten where they were if it weren't for their Mamaws, here's to all the grandmothers and grandmother-figures we're so luc...

Today’s an important day in Holmes history, so Mango is joined by Part-Time Genius super producer/Sherlockian Mary to explore some lesser-known facts about the greatest detective ever written. Grab a magnifying glass and your deerstalker, and  discover the weird connection between Sherlock and Popeye, the real-life man who may have inspired Professor Moriarty, and the unsolved mystery of the first...

If you’re anything like Will and Mango, you remember playing with Transformers as a kid. Or maybe you still enjoy transforming bots, in which case you should know the correct verb is “converting.” On today’s episode, we take a closer look at this ubiquitous toy with a surprising history that includes tea-serving dolls, WWII scrap metal, and a strangely touching example of corporate collaboration....

Look, we love Lady Liberty as much as the next patriot. But why on Earth did France give America a massive and exoribitant gift that wasn't on our registry? Will and Mango dig into the bizarre Parisian dinner party that led to the idea, the mathematical word problem of a way the statue was built, why it competed with a walrus for early tourists' attention, and why Brigham Young, Ulysses S. Grant a...

Everyone knows the painting "A Friend in Need" aka Dogs Playing Poker. But did you know the artist behind it started a bank? And had patents? And also once got an apology from Far Side creator Gary Larson? We didn't either! Tune in as Will and Mango discuss the most important painting about whiskey-drinking dogs playing cards and also visibly cheating while doing those two other ridiculous things....

Need a reason to be optimistic about democracy? Will and Mango welcome best-selling author A.J. Jacobs to chat about his new book The Year of Living Constitutionally. From walking around the upper West Side with a musket (a 2nd amendment right!), to delivering quill-written petitions to Congress (he spilled a lot of ink in the process), to meeting the last person to get a new amendment added (all...

In this classic episode, Will and Mango look into 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? Tune in as we delve into some super weird ways people wield advantage. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today’s extra-tasty episode, Mango is joined by Doug Mack, the brilliant and hilarious author of the Snack Stack newsletter (which you should subscribe to right now). Doug breaks down the most fascinating snack stories, including the link between astrology and Goldfish crackers, the chaotic launch of Pop Rocks, and why Tajikistanis have such a love for one underdog American soda. Plus, Doug sha...

From the acting blunder that historians couldn't stop talking about to a confusingly shaped pyramid to the world's most coveted bucket (yes, bucket!), Will and Mango take a tour through seven of antiquity's strangest mistakes.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Saad Mohseni hadn't seen Afghanistan since he was a kid. But when America swept in to scatter the Taliban in the early 2000s, Mohseni felt a calling to return to rebuild his beloved homeland. This is the story of how Mohseni and his three siblings took a chance launching a radio station-- a Quixotic venture that quickly blossomed into a television empire-- and the ways that he and his family helpe...

There are a lot of towns named Springfield. This week, Will and Mango learned about all of them! From the best Springfield to store your cheese (if you're looking to store 7 million pounds of cheese), to the reason so many Springfields aren't even located on springs, to the craziest mystery that involves cobras in a Springfield. So stuff your face with all the Springfield facts your heart desires!...