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Part-Time Genius

Part-Time Genius

By: iHeartPodcasts and Kaleidoscope
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About this listen

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.

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Episodes
  • Why Is It More Dangerous to Be a Park Ranger Than an FBI Agent?

    Why Is It More Dangerous to Be a Park Ranger Than an FBI Agent?
    Aug 1 2025

    Park rangers do so much more than just keeping Yogi Bear from stealing picnic baskets. Whether it’s outsmarting poachers, fending off the Klan, protecting tourists from gator attacks, or helping tiny endangered species make their way to sea, Will and Mango celebrate the heroes who keep our national parks running.

    This episode originally aired on April 6, 2018.

    Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email higeniuses@gmail.com or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925.

    Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social!

    Vintage ranger photo via the National Park Service.

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    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    36 mins
  • What Did Ancient Egyptian Bread Taste Like? with Sam Kean

    What Did Ancient Egyptian Bread Taste Like? with Sam Kean
    Jul 29 2025

    Experimental archaeology is the science (and art!) of discovering what ancient worlds smelled, tasted, sounded, and felt like… a process that often involves going to some truly incredible lengths. Author Sam Kean stops by to recount his adventures researching his new book, Dinner with King Tut—from hurling stones with a 30’ tall catapult to modern mummification to an unfortunate incident involving a piece of urine-soaked salmon skin.

    Buy Sam’s books: samkean.com

    Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email higeniuses@gmail.com or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925.

    Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social!

    Photo of the Coffin of Nesykhonsu by the Cleveland Museum of Art, via Unsplash. Thanks, CMA!

    Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    48 mins
  • Where Do the World's Best Band Names Come From?

    Where Do the World's Best Band Names Come From?
    Jul 25 2025

    What band was named as a tribute to their high school gym coach? Why did The Earwigs change their name to Alice Cooper (hint: it might have something to do with a Oujia board)? And would Chubby Checker have been as popular if he'd taken the name Chubby Chesspiece? Get ready to turn it up to eleven, because Will and Mango are exploring some of the funniest, quirkiest and greatest band names in music history.

    This episode originally aired on March 7, 2018.

    Photo by Matthew Cheng via Unsplash. Thanks, Matthew!

    Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Send an email or voice memo to higeniuses@gmail.com, and we might use it in an upcoming episode.

    Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius!

    Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
    Show More Show Less
    34 mins
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