Part-Time Genius

iHeartPodcasts and Kaleidoscope

4.5 (1.8K)
SOCIETY & CULTURE
UPDATED WEEKLY

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.

3D AGO

Inside Baseball: Magic Mud, Torpedo Bats, and High-Altitude Homers

Baseball season is underway, so Will and Mango are celebrating with a deep dive into America’s pastime. What’s the secret feminist message of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”? Why are you more likely to hit a home run in Denver than in Miami? And how did the pipe organ become baseball’s semi-official soundtrack? Our brain-bases are loaded and we’re ready to answer these questions, plus many more! Photo by Jose Francisco Morales via Unsplash. Thanks, Jose! Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

37 min
6D AGO

PTG Classic: 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 genius (the one and only P. T. Barnum!) designed a stunt to get everyone on board.

32 min
APR 18

9 Extremely Valuable Facts About Pennies

It may be on the verge of extinction, but the humble penny is rich with history. Will and Mango dig deep into their pockets and discover stories like the origin of the phrase “a penny for your thoughts,” the rare penny that’s worth $2.4 million, and an English trend of chopping pennies in half. Plus: The real reason why you shouldn’t swallow a penny from 1982. (Actually, just don’t swallow any pennies ever, please.) Will you miss the penny if it’s taken out of circulation? Tell us on Instagram @parttimegenius! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

20 min
APR 15

PTG Classic: Why Are We So Fascinated By the Titanic?

For some reason our hearts keep going on and on for the Titanic. But what was life actually like on the ship?

42 min
APR 11

PTG Classic: What Flavor Is Dr Pepper?

Dr Pepper's flavor is just one of many questions we have about the drink. Who is the doctor behind Dr Pepper? Is tomato one of the soda's 23 secret ingredients? Should you actually be drinking your Dr Pepper hot? And why doesn't Dr Pepper have a period in its name? (Does the good doctor think it's above the laws of grammar?!) Also, what did Dr Pepper do to make Guns 'n Roses so angry? Will and Mango have a lot of questions... and at least 9 answers for you. What's your favorite soda (or do you call it pop)? Tell us about it on our Instagram @parttimegenius! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

22 min
APR 8

9 Page-Turning Secrets of the Library of Congress

Shh! Today Will and Mango are exploring the Library of Congress, one of the world’s greatest repositories of literature, science, art, and… old cake? They also discover how this legendary institution came to be, and what the Librarian of Congress actually does all day (no, it doesn’t involve stamping books). Plus: The inside story of Thomas Jefferson’s short-lived pasta-making career. Check us out on Instagram @parttimegenius! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

21 min
APR 6

PTG Classic: What's the Science Behind Introverts?

Are extroverts happier than introverts? Is coffee bad for an introvert's brain? And does your personality type make you more likely to be arrested?

38 min
APR 2

Drama Kings: Meet Emperor Norton, the Pickle King & other Self-Declared Royalty

Want to know how a British pickle merchant was almost crowned Chinese royalty? Or why San Francisco's policemen regularly doffed their caps to a man who claimed to be America's Emperor? And what happened when a lion tamer just started wandering around pretending to be King of Albania? This week Will and Mango dive into the ridiculous stories of some very unusual royals and what happened when they declared themselves king. Photo of Emperor Norton on his royal chariot, via the Emperor Norton Trust. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

32 min

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TRAILER

9 Thrilling Mysteries... Solved!

Why was FDR so obsessed with mysteries? What's hiding in KFC's super secret Spice Mix vault? And what was the murder rate in the town from Murder She Wrote? (Pretty darn high!) Will and Mango put on their Sherlock Holmes hats and try to solve some cases.

02/01/2018

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15 min

4.5

out of 5

1,817 Ratings

I like this podcast

Mar 18

JamesDaDragon 3

It is one of my favorites and I love all the episodes. Sincerely James
I love this podcast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mar 13

Sruss700

This is my favorite podcast. I listen to at least 2 episodes a day. I love all the random facts, and I love learning new science facts. I am in 6th grade, and I’m 100% sure that I’m the only person in my grade who knows what the world’s greatest tiny museum is!
The best

Feb 8

🐧🐔🐒

The best podcast! My name is elliott
So fun! I love it!

11/15/2024

Laodeejay

I love this podcast! I was so happy when it showed back up in my feed a few months ago! I always hoped it would come back 😁 I love the random things I learn while listening, and also the genuine laughter and friendship between Will and Mango that come through. This is one I always suggest when friends ask for podcast recommendations. Thanks for the great listen!

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.

Creator

iHeartPodcasts and Kaleidoscope
Years Active

2017 - 2025
Episodes

373
Rating

Clean
Copyright

2025 iHeartMedia, Inc. © Any use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from iHeartMedia
Show Website

Part-Time Genius