From Nintendo's history with the Yakuza to its dabbling in the seedy motel business, the House of Mario has a much longer and stranger history than you might guess. Find out what happened when the company tried to make knitting popular, how America's obsession with robots helped them nudge their way into retailers, and why a grabber called the Ultra Hand was the breakthrough the company needed. Featuring Ramsey Yount. This episode originally aired on December 20, 2017. Photo by Cl&aacute;udio Luiz Castro via Unsplash. Thanks, Cl&aacute;udio! Follow us on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/parttimegenius/">@parttimegenius</a>!&nbsp; Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com. &nbsp;See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Inside the Fact Vault: Bird Drama and a Tormented Statue

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.