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

Let’s be real: eating at Olive Garden isn’t the same as dining in Tuscany. But does that mean the food is inherently worse? Today Will and Mango explore the concept of culinary authenticity, including how it’s measured, who it benefits, and what it really means for one dish to be “more authentic” than another. Plus: The political calculus of wolfing down corn dogs, and the shocking origin of Outback Steakhouse (spoiler alert: it does not involve Australia!).
Did you know that instant mashed potatoes are authentic Canadian cuisine? Check out this episode on Great Inventions from the Great White North to learn more!

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 Maximilian Zahn via Unsplash. Thanks, Maximilian!

Let&rsquo;s be real: eating at Olive Garden isn&rsquo;t the same as dining in Tuscany. But does that mean the food is inherently worse? Today Will and Mango explore the concept of culinary authenticity, including how it&rsquo;s measured, who it benefits, and what it really means for one dish to be &ldquo;more authentic&rdquo; than another. Plus: The political calculus of wolfing down corn dogs, and the shocking origin of Outback Steakhouse (spoiler alert: it does not involve Australia!).
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Did you know that instant mashed potatoes are authentic Canadian cuisine? Check out this episode on <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/part-time-genius/thanks-canada-9-great-inventions-from-the-great-white-north">Great Inventions from the Great White North</a> to learn more!</li>
</ul>
Got a question or idea for the show? Call our hotline at (302) 405-5925 or email higeniuses@gmail.com.
Follow us on Instagram <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 Maximilian Zahn via Unsplash. Thanks, Maximilian!

Is There Such a Thing as “Authentic” Food?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/18e1ea2b-e213-4746-88c6-b3ec0163b6fe/transcript

Who's the Michael Phelps of the early winter games? Why did the 1924 British curling team just get their gold medals? And what are the greatest sports we wish were still in the Olympics (who's up for a round of Korfball)? Will and Mango dive into Olympic history and investigate how one little rule change affected how future sports were played. Featuring American ski archer Dave Bergart.

This episode originally aired on January 17, 2018.

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

Photo by Todd Trapani via Unsplash. Thanks, Todd!

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

Who's the Michael Phelps of the early winter games? Why did the 1924 British curling team just get their gold medals? And what are the greatest sports we wish were still in the Olympics (who's up for a round of Korfball)? Will and Mango dive into Olympic history and investigate how one little rule change affected how future sports were played. Featuring American ski archer Dave Bergart.
This episode originally aired on January 17, 2018.
Follow us on Instagram <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&nbsp;Todd Trapani via Unsplash. Thanks, Todd!
Learn more about your ad choices at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>.

Who's the Michael Phelps of the early winter games? Why did the 1924 British curling team just get their gold medals? And what are the greatest sports we wish were still in the Olympics (a round of Korfball, anyone?) Will and Mango dive into Olympic histo

How Did the Winter Olympics Change Sports?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/51f2002e-1e57-498d-bba7-b3d801259952/transcript

Reading a book, going to the movies, listening to your favorite band… you call them hobbies, but acclaimed scientist Daisy Fancourt calls them public health strategies. She joins producer Mary to discuss her new book, Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Save Lives, and shares insights from her research—like the fact that engaging with the arts reduces the risk of depression, and listening to music before surgery results in faster healing. Daisy also explains why she’s hopeful in the face of widespread cuts to arts funding, and why you don’t have to be good at the arts to benefit from them. 
Buy Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Save Lives

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!

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

Reading a book, going to the movies, listening to your favorite band&hellip; you call them hobbies, but acclaimed scientist Daisy Fancourt calls them public health strategies. She joins producer Mary to discuss her new book,&nbsp;Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Save Lives, and shares insights from her research&mdash;like the fact that engaging with the arts reduces the risk of depression, and listening to music before surgery results in faster healing. Daisy also explains why she&rsquo;s hopeful in the face of widespread cuts to arts funding, and why you don&rsquo;t have to be good at the arts to benefit from them.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Buy <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/art-cure-the-science-of-how-the-arts-save-lives-daisy-fancourt/5ba7caef8f2663d1?ean=9781250364531&amp;next=t">Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Save Lives</a></li>
</ul>
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>!
Learn more about your ad choices at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>.

Does Listening to Music Make You Healthier? with Daisy Fancourt

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ab91bbc5-51eb-4ab5-ae12-b3e000e16e50/transcript

Why Have Rats Outsmarted Us For So Long?

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