Sure, we know Lafayette as a street. And a college. And some of us know him as the charismatic Frenchman from Hamilton. But did you know he was France's richest orphan? And that his real name was Gilbert? And he might have been closer to George Washington than anyone really knew. Best-selling author Nathan Hale stops by to talk about his book Lafayette! and the man who inspired it.

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This episode originally aired on February 16, 2019.

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Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

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When did humans develop a taste for other animals’ milk, and how did dairy go from being a public health threat to a daily cereal topping? Why are some people lactose intolerant, while others chug milkshakes without a care in the world? Is A2 milk really better for you? And who’s behind those iconic milk ads? Grab a glass, because Will and Mango are serving up the answers—plus a sneak preview of the plant milks of the future.

Check out Sarah Wassberg Johnson's website, The Food Historian, and read her essay "Ice Cream and Hospital Ships"

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Photo by Daniela Díaz via Unsplash. Thanks, Daniela!

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There’s a reason the Guinness Book of World Records keeps getting stolen from libraries! Learn just how hard it is to grow the world’s longest fingernails, why India’s lone records judge has the hardest job in the world, and how chainsawing apples out of your mouth can lead to glory. Featuring Dan Rollman.

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This episode originally aired on July 7, 2017.

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Photo of John Roy and his record-setting mustache via the Netherlands National Archives on Flickr.

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Music festivals? Ho hum. This summer, treat yourself to a real adventure—like a super-gloopy mud festival, or the world’s greatest (and only, as far as we can tell) belly button festival.

Download SAILY in your app store and use our code PTG at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase! For details go to https://saily.com/PTG.

This episode originally aired on June 13, 2024.

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Photo of the Boryeong Mud Festival by Hypnotica Studios Infinite via Wikimedia Commons. Thanks, HSI!

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Happy Father’s Day! Will and Mango are celebrating with nine facts about dads, from the origin of the term “founding fathers” to the oldest dad on record.

Download SAILY in your app store and use our code PTG at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase! For details go to https://saily.com/PTG.

This episode originally aired on June 16, 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 Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash. Thanks, Kelly!

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Why is Z the last letter of the English alphabet (and why do British people insist on calling it zed)? Who stuck a tail on C and called it G? And is there a reason why the I in ‘child’ and ‘children’ sounds different? (Spoiler alert: Yes!) Linguist Danny Bate stops by to unpack the mysteries of the alphabet and discuss his delightful new book, Why Q Needs U: A History of Our Letters and How We Use Them.

Buy Why Q Needs U here, or inquire at your local bookstore or library!

Download SAILY in your app store and use our code PTG at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase! For details go to https://saily.com/PTG.

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Should goalies get more bathroom breaks? Can a daily banana basket help players feel less homesick? And did a North Korean dictator invent a secret technology to guarantee more wins? Gear up, because Will and Mango have nine strange-but-true facts about the biggest tournament in soccer (which some of you call football)!

Download SAILY in your app store and use our code PTG at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase! For details go to https://saily.com/PTG.

This episode originally aired on July 5, 2018.

Photo by Connor Coyne via Unsplash. Thanks, Connor!

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Want to know why Indonesian postal workers have one of the hardest jobs in the world? Or why the country is the best place to find new bird species? Or why it's an honor when someone makes you a tall glass of jammu? From the best types of fabric to throw into a volcano to make it stop erupting, to how to track a super-short Sasquatch, Will and Mango scour the country's 17,000+ islands to bring you Indonesia's best facts.

Download SAILY in your app store and use our code PTG at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase! For details go to https://saily.com/PTG.

This episode originally aired on December 20, 2024.

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Photo by Jeremy Bishop via Unsplash. Thanks, Jeremy!

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