Part-Time Genius

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Latest Episodes:

9 Page-Turning Secrets of the Library of Congress Apr 08, 2025

Show notes

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.

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PTG Classic: What's the Science Behind Introverts? Apr 06, 2025

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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? (Spoiler: it does!) Will and Mango take a closer look at the secret talents lurking inside your friendly neighborhood introvert.

Image Via Nothing Ahead at Pexels

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Drama Kings: Meet Emperor Norton, the Pickle King & other Self-Declared Royalty Apr 02, 2025

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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.

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PTG Classic: Why Are There So Many Cheese Crimes? Mar 30, 2025

Show notes

From the Parmesan Mafia to the gas station hot dog Will accidentally ate, there are way too many cheese crimes out there! This episode Will and Mango investigate a fondue cartel, ride with food detectives, and look into an Ocean's 11... of cheese?!

Image by Polina Tankilevitch via Pexels (thanks Polina!)

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9 Extra-Spicy Facts About Atomic Fireballs Mar 28, 2025

Show notes

It’s the official candy of Part-Time Genius, but there’s so much more to know about these delicious red-hot treats, from why NASA can’t work without them to what gives them their signature burn. Along the way Will and Mango discover the story of the enterprising young law student who invented them, and reveal the recipe that takes two weeks (!) to make.

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Photo via Ferrara Pan.

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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9 Surprising Tips for Visiting Bhutan Mar 25, 2025

Show notes

So, it turns out there are a LOT of rules for visiting Bhutan. DON'T climb the mountains (it's illegal!). DO buy a stamp (especially one you can play on your record player!). DON'T ask anyone about their birthday. DO make yourself happier-- by thinking about death three times a day?! This episode, Will and Mango learn what makes the Himalayan kingdom just so special... while trying to grab a jar of fresh mountain air in the process!

Have you visited Bhutan? Or flown into their tiny airport? Drop us a line on Insta @parttimegenius... we want to hear your stories!

Photo by Peng Lim via Pexels. (Thanks Peng!)

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PTG Classic: What are the Craziest Applications for Lasers? (Including washing your dishes!) Mar 23, 2025

Show notes

Forget Dr. Evil and his ridiculously evil plans... lasers are so much more practical than that! In this episode, Will and Mango discover why lasers are perfect for precision-cooking your bacon, how they can be used as chopsticks, why washing dishes is so much better when it's done by laser, and a simple laser trick for keeping pesky pirates at bay. Plus, we take a look at the very strange way Texas tried to educate aliens about queso. (Spoiler: It involved a laser.)

Got a tip? Question? Comment? Drop us a line already on our Insta @parttimegenius!

Image by Vika Glitter via pexels. (Thanks Vika!)

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Are Cow Burps Hurting the Environment? Mar 21, 2025

Show notes

From making cows a little less gassy, to seasoning your clouds with salt, to creating floating pastures and hospitals, communities and scientists have come up with a whole lot of ingenious solutions to deal with climate change. Dig in as Will and Mango explore the sunnier side of climate resilience.

Got a fact to share? Want to drop us a line? Hit us up on our Insta @parttimegenius

Photo via Pexels by Julie Aagaard. (Thanks Julie!)

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Who is Pablo Eggs-cobar? (And why is he obsessed with bird eggs?!) Mar 18, 2025

Show notes

From climbing a tree under gunfire to dangling out of helicopters, people have gone to incredible lengths to steal wild bird eggs—risking arrest, fines, and even jail time. Why? And more importantly, who's doing this? Will and Mango discover some of the craziest stories in egg theft history, including a British club that ran a-fowl of the law by hiding 11,000 illegal eggs and the man known as Pablo Egg-scobar, a naturalist who spent decades supplying the rare egg black market. Plus: A peek inside the high-stakes world of Middle East falconry.

Photo by Rijin Raj, via Unsplash. Thanks, Rijin!

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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PTG Classic: How do Dollar Stores stay in Business? Mar 16, 2025

Show notes

Will and Mango have so many questions about the dollar store business: Why have so many more of these stores cropped up recently? How do you make a profit when everything in your store sells for under a buck? Is a $1 steak a good deal? Plus: the tea on why dollar store employees hate Hot Wheels so much!

Got a comment? Question? Drop us a line on our Insta @parttimegenius!

Photo by Liza Lova via Pexels. (Thanks Liza!)

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