From the Canadian professor who found patterns in scratch-off lottery tickets, to the Michigan couple that turned a lottery flaw into their retirement savings plan, to the strange reason you should hold onto any lottery ticket that has Herbert Hoover's face on it, Will and Mango look into the long history of lotteries... and the geniuses who've managed to game them.

This episode originally aired on June 13, 2018.

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Photo by Erik Mclean via Unsplash. Thanks, Erik!

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While no one is going to malls (or so it seems), everyone seems to be talking about them: the CDC is writing up reports on mall walkers, people are growing beards to get into the mall Santa game, and writers are waxing nostalgic about them. But what exactly were malls intended to be? Why did the inventor of the mall try to distance himself from his greatest invention? And why are there never any escalators in the middle of them? Will and Mango dig in.

This episode originally aired on May 28, 2019.

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Photo of Boston's Copley Place Mall by Ethan Hansen via Unsplash. Thanks, Ethan!

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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?

This episode originally aired on December 3, 2024.

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It’s the 44th annual Part-Time Genius Awards! We’re honoring the people—and creatures—behind the year’s best stories, including a fungus that plays keyboards, a rare snail looking for love, a very nerdy math holiday, an incredible invention for astronauts who enjoy baking, an experiment with Batman, and more. Grab your tuxedo and let’s send 2025 off in style.

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Whether you're an amateur bear enthusiast or prepping for a bear convention, these are the bear facts you'll need! Will and Mango explore a Canadian bear jail, learn why Pizzlies are taking over the world, and discover why Paddington Bear was once the pride of Africa.

This episode originally aired on May 3, 2018.

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Photo by Mark Basarab via Unsplash. Thanks, Mark!

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We’re sharing a preview of another podcast we think you’ll enjoy, Business History. Former Planet Money hosts Jacob Goldstein and Robert Smith examine the surprising stories of businesses big and small, bringing to life the greatest innovations, the boldest entrepreneurs and the craziest mavericks in the archives of commerce. They share why some company stocks soar, while other business ideas crash, and explore the ideas that shaped our economy—and the lessons behind their success and failure.

Today’s episode: Thomas Edison and the murky start to the movies. The man who invented the movie camera got on a train in France in 1890 and was never seen again.The wife of Louis Le Prince thought she knew who’d ordered her husband’s disappearance and presumed murder: Thomas Edison. Many people were simultaneously racing to develop moving pictures—had Edison decided to bump off his closest rival so he could win?

This is Part 3 of Business History’s series on Thomas Edison. For Parts 1 & 2, and to hear more from Jacob and Robert, find Business History on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

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Believe it or not, heavier bowls, a pair of headphones, and an electronic lollipop can trick your mind grapes into making tasty food even tastier. But how? And why?! Plus, the legend of the PB-and-mayo sandwich, and one very cute pepper to avoid. Featuring Bob Holmes.

This episode originally aired on June 30, 2017.

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Photo of tasty, tasty potato chips by Emiliano Vittoriosi via Unsplash. Thanks, Emiliano!

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Jane Austen worked at a 12-sided desk, was great at singing, and earned shockingly little money from her novels. Today’s her 250th birthday, so we’re celebrating with nine niche literary facts about the beloved author, from the way she helped soldiers in WWI to the reason why Kelly Clarkson couldn’t buy her ring. (Sorry, Kelly.)

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Drawing of Jane Austen by her sister Cassandra via Wikimedia Commons.

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