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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.

Part-Time Genius

Turns out, the history of board games isn't as simple as passing Go and collecting $200. From the surprising way Abraham Lincoln's beard changed Milton Bradley's career, to the dramatic shift in Monopoly's political orientation, to the ancient Sumerian board game you can play online right now, today Will and Mango go wild game hunting... and come back with plenty of stories to tell. 
 
This episode originally aired on January 6, 2025.
 
Got a question or idea for the show? Call our hotline at (302) 405-5925 or email higeniuses@gmail.com.
 
Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social!
 
Photo by Maria Lin Kim via Unsplash. Thanks, Maria!
 
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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Monopoly Socialist?

Will thinks sleep is a waste of time. But will scientists ever find a way to let us survive without it? Why do we sometimes wake up feeling so groggy? And is it true that eating certain foods before bed leads to crazy dreams? Plus, our pal Simone Giertz stops by!
 
This episode originally aired on June 7, 2017.
 
Got a question or idea for the show? Call our hotline at (302) 405-5925 or email higeniuses@gmail.com.
 
Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social!
 
Possibly the greatest photo in the world by Kate Stone Matheson via Unsplash. Thanks, Kate!
 
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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will We Ever Live Without Sleep? Featuring Simone Giertz!

What can't gummy candies do? From helping kids gross out their parents (thank you gummi worms!), to helping Disney revive their animation division (Adventures of Gummy Bears was a catalyst!), to aiding senior citizens in regaining jaw strength (seriously!), these little treats have a big story to tell. 
 
This episode originally aired on September 12, 2024.
 
Got a question or idea for the show? Call our hotline at (302) 405-5925 or email higeniuses@gmail.com.
 
Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social!
 
Photo by Adriana Saraceanu via Unsplash. Thanks, Adriana!
 
Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are Gummy Bears Good For Your Muscles?

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 a legendary comedy partnership, Mango and producer Mary go looking for historical beef and find plenty of sizzle!
 
This episode originally aired on January 10, 2025.
 
Got a question or idea for the show? Call our hotline at (302) 405-5925 or email higeniuses@gmail.com.
 
Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social!
 
Photo by Ibrahim Guetar via Unsplash.Thanks, Ibrahim!
 
Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Did a Family Feud Launch Aldi Supermarkets?

If you think about it, burying a bunch of random stuff in the ground isn’t the most logical practice. But for centuries, people have created time capsules for future generations to find. Today Will and Mango dig in, literally, to this strange phenomenon. What counts as a time capsule? Are there limits to what can be preserved? What are the most surprising (and disappointing) objects ever hidden away? Plus: The shocking true story of Blinky, the little lizard who could. Or couldn’t, as the case may be.
 
Got a question or idea for the show? Call our hotline at (302) 405-5925 or email higeniuses@gmail.com.
 
Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social!
 
Photo of the Crypt of Civilization via Wikimedia Commons.
 
Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why Are We So Obsessed with Time Capsules?

From the history of recorders (the OG flute), to a celebrity fart-flute performer, to the flautist who pulled off a museum heist in order to buy a new instrument... today's episode features nine fascinating facts about flutes!
 
This episode originally aired on May 9, 2024.
 
Got a question or idea for the show? Call our hotline at (302) 405-5925 or email higeniuses@gmail.com.
 
Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social!
 
Photo by Tsuyoshi Kozu via Unsplash. Thanks, Tsuyoshi!
 
Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why Do Kids Play Recorders in School?

Rats! For centuries, we've tried (and failed) to keep them under control, because not only are rats brave enough to swim out of toilets, they're also kind of brilliant. Find out how they foiled Pablo Escobar, why some rat owners let their pets play dentist, and why tiny trousers are their kryptonite. Featuring author and longtime friend of the show AJ Jacobs.
 
This episode originally aired on June 7, 2017.
 
Got a question or idea for the show? Call our hotline at (302) 405-5925 or email higeniuses@gmail.com.
 
Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social!
 
Photo by Nikolett Emmert via Unsplash. Thanks, Nikolett!
 
Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Have Rats Outsmarted Us for So Long?

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. Today Will and Mango explore the sunnier side of climate resilience. 
 
This episode originally aired on March 21, 2025.
 
Got a question or idea for the show? Call our hotline at (302) 405-5925 or email higeniuses@gmail.com.
 
Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social!
 
Photo by Jean Carlo Emer via Unsplash. Thanks, Jean Carlo!
 
Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are Cow Burps Hurting the Environment?

Are you a careful observer of seagulls? Do you have a passion for paddling in shallow, murky water? Could you spend an entire month circling the same city block? Do you like oatmeal? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, great news: there’s a world championship event for you. Grab your entry forms and be sure to let us know how it goes!
 
Got a question or idea for the show? Call our hotline at (302) 405-5925 or email higeniuses@gmail.com.
 
Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social!
 
Photo of the World Bog Snorkelling Championship via Wikimedia Commons.
 
Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

9 Weird Championships You Can Win!

Sure, invisibility is about magic cloaks and invisible inks. But it’s so much more than that! From the way butterflies see a secret world of light that humans can’t, to the real reason polar bears are completely undetectable to infrared cameras, there’s a whole big world you ought to hear about… even if you can’t see it. Featuring author Bob Berman.
 
This episode originally aired on September 1, 2017.
 
Buy Bob's book, Zapped: From Infrared to X-rays, the Curious History of Invisible Light.
 
Got a question or idea for the show? Call our hotline at (302) 405-5925 or email higeniuses@gmail.com.
 
Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social!
 
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Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the Science of Invisibility?

Every week, the FBI, CIA and Treasury Department would show up to Elizebeth Friedman's door and hassle the mother of two-- not for any crime, but because she had an insane talent: she solved puzzles to protect America. Meet the Quaker poet who caught gangsters, defeated Nazis and unlocked a new world of Codebreaking in this episode-long interview with "The Woman Who Smashed Codes" author Jason Fagone.

 
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Who Was the Woman Behind American Codebreaking?

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