We bake them, fry them, mash them, and even turn them into toys, but potatoes weren't always so beloved. In fact, there was a time when they were considered such a threat to humanity, they were declared illegal! Today Will and Mango are serving up nine starch-tastic facts about the humble spud, from its long journey to our tables, to Ben Franklin's role as a potato influencer, to the ridiculous parade float that inspired the term "couch potato."

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This episode originally aired on July 15, 2022.

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Photo by Wouter Supardi Salari via Unsplash. Thanks for the new nightmare, Wouter!

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From ancient Chinese lie detection methods involving a mouthful of rice, to the clever ways toddlers and birds stretch the truth, to the surprisingly honest way that Charles Ponzi got his start in business, Will and Mango have a whole lot to say about lying (honestly!).

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This episode originally aired on January 25, 2025.

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Photo by Eleonora Francesca Grotto via Unsplash. Thanks, Eleonora!

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While Mangesh (aka Mango) is busy working on season 2 of his other show, Skyline Drive, we’re revisiting season 1 right here!

We’re up to episode 4. Michelle’s friends are desperate to get her a reading. But Michelle, a devoted ARMY, is more interested in seeing what the future holds for BTS. Plus, we dig into baseball astrology and discover why you might want to swap your emeralds for bananas.

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Cassius Marcellus Coolidge’s name isn’t widely known, but his painting of dogs playing poker (aka “A Friend in Need”) is iconic. Today we discover the truth about one of America’s most forgotten artists, from his early days in banking to his hijinks in the Freemasons. Plus: Why we love dogs and kitsch in art.

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This episode originally aired on November 12, 2024.

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For all our schooling, no one ever taught us the best way to sit. Also, no one told us the ideal office temperature for maximum productivity. Or explained why cracking jokes might be helpful for elevating status in the workplace. And certainly none of our professors told us why writing in the nude is a great hack for hitting deadlines. To bridge these important educational gaps, today Will and Mango explore all the very best ways to work. (Note: the answer may involve Amtrak.)

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This episode originally aired on August 9, 2024.

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Photo by Jonathan Cosens via Unsplash. Thanks, Jonathan!

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Hey PTG fans, Mangesh (aka Mango) has another show, Skyline Drive! On Sundays we’ll be sharing episodes from season 1 right here, so you can get excited for season 2, which drops in June.

We’re up to episode 3, in which Mangesh and producer Mary travel back in time to the 1980s, to uncover the truth about Nancy Reagan’s obsession with astrology and how that changed the course of American history.

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How did a beloved children’s author become an expert on a rare breed of sheep? Which rock star is also an astrophysicist? And what happens when a famous actor becomes a clown, literally? Today, Will and Mango are pulling back the curtain on celebrity side hustles!

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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It’s National Superhero Day, so we’re celebrating the animals who deserve their own Marvel spin-offs. Move over, Wolverine and Iron Man, we only care about mole rats, alligators, and salamanders now. Featuring science communicator and YouTuber Emily Graslie!

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 21, 2017.

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Salamander photo by Iuliu Illes via Unsplash. Thanks, Iuliu!

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