Part-Time Genius

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Latest Episodes:

What are the World's Oldest Board Games? Jan 07, 2025

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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.

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Fan Favorite: Easy Tricks to Improve Your Life this New Year! Jan 03, 2025

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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.

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Fan Favorite: 9 Snowy Facts to get you through your Snow Day Dec 26, 2024

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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.

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Riots, Donkeys and Pretty Lights: History's Most Memorable Holiday Parties! Dec 23, 2024

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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.

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Let's all go to... Indonesia! Dec 20, 2024

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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 Indonesia's best facts.

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The Latest Advances in Doggy Science Dec 18, 2024

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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.

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What's the Story Behind Our Favorite Pens? Dec 12, 2024

Show notes

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. (Yes, we recognize the irony of typing that.)

Photo by Lucia Macedo via Unsplash. Thanks, Lucia!

Have a favorite pen? Upload a photo and tag us on Instagram @parttimegenius.

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9 Warm, Cozy Facts About Sweaters Dec 10, 2024

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'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, and… Sting? Look, if this episode doesn’t give you the warm fuzzies, we don’t know what will.

Show us your best, weirdest, and/or ugliest sweaters! Tag us on Instagram @parttimegenius.

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Liechtenstein: The Little Country with A Lot of Teeth! Dec 05, 2024

Show notes

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 the country’s only McDonald’s, and learn about the world-famous Liechtenstein wines (Liechtenwines?).

If you have a Liechtenstein travel story of your own, please share it with us on Instagram! We’re @parttimegenius.

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9 ✈️ ✈️ ✈️ High-Flying Facts ✈️ ✈️ ✈️ About Skywriting! Dec 03, 2024

Show notes

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 up on Instagram @parttimegenius (it’s easier than renting a plane).

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