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You're listening to Part-Time Genius,

a production of kaleidoscope and IHeart Radio.

Guess what, Gabe? What's that, Mango?

So, as you know, I love spy stuff. I love detective stuff. And as a kid, I was very into creating secret codes and ridiculous ways to communicate

to my friends and stuff like that. Like what exactly? What are we talking about? It was like

secret knocks to get into a clubhouse or passwords or phrases, sometimes code words for other people.

My friend Rajesh made up this nonsensical language that was honestly just goofy. And so it was funny

phrases for like passing the salt or pepper at the table and things that would make our parents

confused. And then I had a friend later, this is more like sixth grade, we came up with a way of

writing and passing notes that was really easy to write super quickly, but really hard to decipher

if a teacher or, like,

another kid found it.

And so I was into that type of stuff.

It was just, like, fun to do.

And this week, I was reading about one of the earliest secret languages.

And honestly, it might be the weirdest communication method I've ever heard of.

And not one I would have ever schemed

up. It is scalp tattoos.

Ooh.

Sounds painful. What is this?

It definitely was, but sometimes you have to deliver a message.

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