Part-Time Genius

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

18 Des 202424min

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12 Des 202435min

'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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10 Des 202433min

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.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

5 Des 202439min

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).  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

3 Des 202425min

Which airport should you hang out at if you want to meet a mini-horse? Why is the art in the Denver Airport so evil? And are TSA agents more likely to search you if you're carrying an Almanac? Will and Mango investigate. You don’t need to travel to find us on Instagram. Just go to @parttimegenius.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

29 Nov 202448min

This week Will and Mango celebrate their own wonderful grandmas by paying tribute to a whole world of awesome grandmothers. From a cuddly graffiti gang in Europe, to a group of grandmas who advanced our understanding of marine science, to a few celebrities who never would have gotten where they were if it weren't for their Mamaws, here's to all the grandmothers and grandmother-figures we're so lucky to have in our lives.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

26 Nov 202424min

Today’s an important day in Holmes history, so Mango is joined by Part-Time Genius super producer/Sherlockian Mary to explore some lesser-known facts about the greatest detective ever written. Grab a magnifying glass and your deerstalker, and  discover the weird connection between Sherlock and Popeye, the real-life man who may have inspired Professor Moriarty, and the unsolved mystery of the first Sherlock Holmes movie!  Yes-- that's a photo of Mangesh as a 3rd grader the first of two years in a row that he went as Sherlock Holmes for Halloween.  You don’t need any deductive skills to find us on Instagram. Just go to @parttimegenius. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

21 Nov 202429min