

Part-Time Genius
iHeartPodcasts and Kaleidoscope
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 30, 2018 • 34min
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 belonged to Thomas Jefferson! Plus: Will and Mango discuss Prohibition wines, the Scottish Four Loko, and why badminton gave wine crimes a bad name. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 29, 2018 • 16min
9 Crazy Newspapers Worth Getting Your Hands On
This week Gabe and Mango scour the library for the strangest newspapers they can find-- from an elementary school paper that nabbed a landmark scoop to a progressive Civil War rag filled with useful lifehacks. Plus, why you'll never want to get on this Alaskan paper's bad side. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 28, 2018 • 35min
What's the Science of Anger?
Will and Mango have lots of questions about why people get angry. Like: Why do humans all make the same angry face? Is lying down while angry better for your health? And will being angry actually make you more creative? (Spoiler: your boss and kids might be working overtime to make you more creative.) Plus, we look at the science of tickling and solve the puzzle of how to tickle yourself! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 23, 2018 • 30min
Why Doesn't Disney Celebrate these Princesses?
There are plenty of princesses with fairy tale endings. These aren't those princesses! Will and Mango chat with Princesses Behaving Badly author Linda Rodriguez McRobbie to determine which princess you'd want on your wrestling team, which princess left royalty for the circus, and which princess parties you definitely want to avoid. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 22, 2018 • 11min
9 Last Words worth Remembering
On his deathbed, Winston Churchill’s last words were: “I’m bored with it all.” What a missed opportunity! Will and Mango discuss their favorite geniuses, why their final words lived up, and how two different phrases inspired America’s greatest shoe company. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 21, 2018 • 34min
How Did Google Get Its Start?
From Youtube to Nest, Maps to Android, it's hard to imagine life without Google. But how did the web giant really get its start? Will and Mango travel back to the mid-90s to see how a horrible campus tour, some extra Lego bricks and a week at Burning Man all contributed to the making of Google. Also, the weird reason Larry Page didn't sell the company for $1.6 million when he got the chance (spoiler: it wasn't because the offer was too low!). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 16, 2018 • 35min
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 ones are best for hangovers, Will and Mango explore the strange world of painkillers. Plus: why, 5 years from now, you might be replacing your pills with a phone, a pair of goggles and some green apple air freshener. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 15, 2018 • 16min
9 Incredible Stories Imported from Remote Islands
From a dangerous island the Brazilian Navy refuses to let you visit (it's for your own good!), to a place where monkeys think they're training for the Kentucky Derby, Will and Mango are scouring the globe for water-locked lands and the incredible stories that come from them. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 14, 2018 • 33min
Why do Cats get such a Bad Rap?
Everyone knows herding cats is impossible. But is it because we never fully domesticated them? Will and Mango dig into a history of cats-- from why they were unfairly blamed for so many divorces, to how a bag of clay forever changed their prospects, to what a lion's sneeze tells us about their instincts. Plus-- the number one country you HAVE to travel to (if you want a cat to massage your back.) Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 9, 2018 • 39min
Why do NASCAR fans drive trucks and Formula One fans drive yachts?
Sure, we've watched Pixar's Cars a few times. But 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.) Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.