Part-Time Genius

Discover the quirks that make New Zealand unique! From the rise of an official wizard to the creativeness of roadside parrot gyms, the hosts explore fascinating topics. Learn why Hokey Pokey is the nation's favorite ice cream and uncover the secrets of Kiwi coffin clubs, where personalization meets social bonding. Marvel at Baldwin Street’s steepness and hear about dogs driving cars to promote adoptions. Dive into this captivating cultural journey full of fun facts and odd laws!

Dive into the fascinating world of pasta with quirky facts that will leave you craving more! Discover the staggering variety of over 350 pasta shapes and the quirky myth that Marco Polo brought noodles to Italy. Learn about Casanova's daring macaroni-powered prison escape and the bizarre BBC prank about spaghetti trees. Plus, hear about the rarest pasta threads used in rituals and the history behind Italy's pasta purity law. It's a delicious mix of history, humor, and culinary trivia!

In a lively discussion, Erin McCarthy, editor-in-chief of Mental Floss, explores the eccentricities of Theodore Roosevelt. They dive into how TR’s unusual eating habits, like drinking coffee from a giant mug, fueled his legendary productivity. Erin shares amusing tales, including how a dead seal ignited Roosevelt's passion for nature, and recounts a hilarious mix-up between a young Dr. Seuss and TR. From family dynamics to the infamous bear hunt, this conversation paints a vivid picture of a larger-than-life president.

Eves Jeffcoat, a HowStuffWorks staff member and mustache aficionado, joins the fun with some eyebrow-raising mustache facts. Discover how mustaches can shield your skin from UV rays and the surprising reason Burt Reynolds donned his iconic facial hair. Delve into the eccentricities of Groucho Marx and learn about Salvador Dalí's mustache being found intact after his exhumation. Plus, hear about the historic mustache spoon, designed to protect that carefully styled mustache while enjoying food!

In this insightful discussion, Daniel Whiteson, a particle physicist and author of *Do Aliens Speak Physics?*, dives into the fascinating intersections of physics and extraterrestrial life. He explores how pondering alien communication can reveal much about our own understanding of science and the universe. Topics include the universality of physics, the cultural influences on scientific practice, and whether mathematics is human-made or a cosmic constant. Whiteson also reflects on sci-fi's role in shaping our perceptions of alien science.

On today's Rec Center, Mango introduces listeners to his pal Matthew Shaer's brand new podcast Origin Stories. If you're someone who misses the Longform podcast, loves to learn about the craft of writing, or just want to hear more from your favorite author and filmmaker, Origin Stories is probably what you've been looking for. On today's episode, Matthew interviews the bestselling author Stephanie Foo about her memoir "What My Bones Know." If you want to hear about why morning pages don't work for everybody, how to approach a rewrite, and why it's ok to include more fart jokes than your editor might want, give it a listen.  For more Origin Stories, including Stephanie's episode, be sure to click here. Or find it wherever you get your podcasts.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all know the famous family—but what about the man behind them, lurking in the shadows? Mango and Gabe decided to celebrate Halloween by unearthing some weird, delightful, and weirdly delightful stories about cartoonist Charles Addams, from his childhood love of creeping around vacant houses to the unexpected way his TV show made tech history. Want an official, numbered, limited edition Part-Time Genius membership card? Of course you do. Get in touch and share a fun fact, your name, and your mailing address and we’ll send you one for free. Email higeniuses@gmail.com, DM us on our socials, or leave a message at (302) 405-5925. (We may share your fact on an upcoming episode, but don’t worry, your contact info is private.)  Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social!   Photo of Addams by Irving Penn, via Wikimedia Commons. Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Iowa, you can't just show up on your neighbor's doorstep with a costume... kids have to work for the treats! Grab your pillowcase, bucket, or plastic pumpkin-shaped pail and join Will, Mango, and Gabe for a very sweet-and-spooky episode to get yourself excited for Halloween This episode originally aired on October 26, 2017. 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 by Beth Teutschmann via Unsplash. Thanks, Beth! Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant, the dynamic duo behind Stuff You Should Know, delve into their unusual journeys of curiosity. They explore how childhood obsessions shaped their careers and share quirky pre-show rituals that keep them grounded. The conversation spins into how they select fascinating topics for their show and the challenges of researching in the AI era. With playful banter, they even figure out which Muppet they are, and Josh reflects on finding wonder through his dog. This lively chat reveals the joy of being curious for a living!

Today Will and Mango explore the science of curiosity at different ages: how school can help (or hurt) kids’ curiosity, why middle age may make you less curious, and what we know about babies’ curiosity, even though they can’t fill out questionnaires. Plus: A conversation with a researcher who made a surprising discovery about elderly people, and expert tips for practicing curiosity, whether you’re 1 or 100. Join our slow(er) curiosity exercise! Think of something you’re curious about—big or small—then don’t Google it. Instead, go for a walk or sit someplace quiet. Use a pen and paper to jot down any ideas that come to mind. Then head over to our Instagram (@parttimegenius) or Bluesky (parttimegenius.bsky.social) and tell us how it went. We’ll pick one comment at random to win a prize! For a bonus entry, take a photo or video of your walk/quiet place, upload it and tag us. Deadline is 11:59pm ET, Sunday Oct. 26. Learn more about Jamie Jirout’s work at the UVA REAL lab. Learn more about Mary Whatley’s work at the Motivated Memory & Successful Aging Lab. Learn more about Celeste Kidd’s work at the Kidd Lab.   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. Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.