Rats are our grossest of foes. They’re also geniuses. (Respect, rats.) Hear how they foiled Pablo Escobar; why Chuck E. Cheese transitioned to a mouse; and why tiny trousers are their kryptonite. Featuring AJ Jacobs.

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

Rats are our grossest of foes. They’re also geniuses. (Respect, rats.) Hear how they foiled Pablo Escobar; why Chuck E. Cheese transitioned to a mouse; and why tiny trousers are their kryptonite. Featuring AJ Jacobs. Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>

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.

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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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

Rats are our grossest of foes. They’re also geniuses. (Respect, rats.) Hear how they foiled Pablo Escobar; why Chuck E. Cheese transitioned to a mouse; and why tiny trousers are their kryptonite. Featuring AJ Jacobs.

Why Have Rats Outsmarted Us For So Long?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/f082c420-8239-4532-ab4e-ae3200a0783e/transcript

If you enjoy biking in Finland, eating a bagel with cream cheese in New York, or avoiding the sun in Italy, bad news: you may owe tax on that. The good news is, we’ve got nine of the world’s most unusual tax laws to distract you from the pain in your pocketbook.

EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/ptg Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee!

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 Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash. Thanks, Kelly!

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

If you enjoy biking in Finland, eating a bagel with cream cheese in New York, or avoiding the sun in Italy, bad news: you may owe tax on that. The good news is, we&rsquo;ve got nine of the world&rsquo;s most unusual tax laws to distract you from the pain in your pocketbook.
EXCLUSIVE&nbsp;NordVPN Deal ➼<a href="https://nordvpn.com/ptg"> https://nordvpn.com/ptg</a> Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee!
Got a question or idea for the show? Call our hotline at (302) 405-5925 or email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:higeniuses@gmail.com">higeniuses@gmail.com</a>.
Follow us on Instagram&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/parttimegenius/">@parttimegenius</a> and Bluesky <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/parttimegenius.bsky.social">@parttimegenius.bsky.social</a>!
Photo by Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash. Thanks, Kelly!
Learn more about your ad choices at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>.

Do You Have to Pay These Strange Taxes?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/1e9a490c-7252-4c19-a368-b42b014e4137/transcript

How did an ailing Connecticut wife inspire the pay phone? Why did thousands of people flock to the Mojave Desert just to use one? And do people really talk for longer when they know someone else is waiting? Today Mango and Gabe answer the call of nostalgia by tracing the rise, fall, and possible resurgence of the public pay phone. 

EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/ptg Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee!

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 Robin Jonathan Deutsch via Unsplash. Thanks, Robin!

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

How did an ailing Connecticut wife inspire the pay phone? Why did thousands of people flock to the Mojave Desert just to use one? And do people really talk for longer when they know someone else is waiting? Today Mango and Gabe answer the call of nostalgia by tracing the rise, fall, and possible resurgence of the public pay phone.&nbsp;
EXCLUSIVE&nbsp;NordVPN Deal ➼<a href="https://nordvpn.com/ptg"> https://nordvpn.com/ptg</a> Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee!
Got a question or idea for the show? Call our hotline at (302) 405-5925 or email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:higeniuses@gmail.com">higeniuses@gmail.com</a>.
Follow us on Instagram&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/parttimegenius/">@parttimegenius</a> and Bluesky <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/parttimegenius.bsky.social">@parttimegenius.bsky.social</a>!
Photo by Robin Jonathan Deutsch via Unsplash. Thanks, Robin!
Learn more about your ad choices at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>.

Are Pay Phones Making a Comeback?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/f0796022-9a4b-4097-ab9e-b42801521127/transcript

How long do whales live, and how do scientists figure out their age? What does it take to sustain a whale's enormous size? And why do whales have mustaches and belly buttons? Featuring Nick Pyenson, author of Spying on Whales and curator of marine mammal fossils for the Smithsonian.
Buy Spying on Whales!

This episode originally aired on September 12, 2018.

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 Chinh Le Duc via Unsplash. Thanks, Chinh!

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

How long do whales live, and how do scientists figure out their age? What does it take to sustain a whale's enormous size? And why do whales have mustaches and belly buttons? Featuring Nick Pyenson, author of&nbsp;Spying on Whales and curator of marine mammal fossils for the Smithsonian.
<ul>
<li>Buy <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/spying-on-whales-the-past-present-and-future-of-earth-s-most-awesome-creatures-nick-pyenson/a2bcf761f6127227?ean=9780735224582&amp;next=t">Spying on Whales</a>!</li>
</ul>
This episode originally aired on September 12, 2018.
Got a question or idea for the show? Call our hotline at (302) 405-5925 or email higeniuses@gmail.com.
Follow us on Instagram&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/parttimegenius/">@parttimegenius</a> and Bluesky <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/parttimegenius.bsky.social">@parttimegenius.bsky.social</a>!
Photo by Chinh Le Duc via Unsplash. Thanks, Chinh!
Learn more about your ad choices at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>.

Will and Mango pester their pal Nick with all their whale questions: Why are whales so large? How do they sustain those massive bodies?

Why Are Whales So Big? with Nick Pyenson!

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7e324a97-de19-48db-adb5-b40400eecb94/transcript

Why Have Rats Outsmarted Us For So Long?

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