This is an I-Heart podcast.

Welcome to part-time genius, the production of IHeart Radio.

Guess what Will?

That's right. Will is not here today.

Actually, before this episode, Will told me he loves Teddy Ruxpin and Teddy Pendergast, but he has zero interest in Teddy Roosevelt, which is what today's episode is all about. So, of course, I let him off the hook. But me, I love Teddy Roosevelt. And one of the things I love most about him is that every story you hear about the man is better than the last.

He gave the White House its name.

He invited the first black man over for dinner there.

He made things like national parks, but he also tried to bring hippos to the U.S. as a meat source.

Like, he actually wanted to farm hippos into bayou and get people into hippo bacon.

He walked his pet bear around on a leash, and one time... Like he actually wanted to farm hippos in the bayou and get people into hippo bacon.

He walked his pet bear around on a leash and one time in Montana, this guy called him four eyes. And even though the dude had two loaded guns on him, Teddy casually knocked him out.

I mean, the stories are insane. But I have so many questions from whether Roosevelt once actually climbed a mountain

out of spite to what were Teddy's productivity life hacks. And also, what is big stick energy?

So we're diving into all of that. Let's dig in.

Music Hey there, podcast listeners, it's Mungesheteeler.

You're listening to Part-Time Genius, and my co-founder, co-host, Will Pearson, decide not to come in today.

It is such a mistake because Lowell is wearing a shirt with the words Emily Spinach on it.

It's got a picture of a cartoon garter snake, and I'm guessing it has something to do with Teddy Roosevelt because he always plans for these things, but we'll have to ask our guests today about that. But I am here with a wonderful Aaron McCarthy. Aaron is the editor-in-chief of Mental Blas, a position I used to have years ago, and she's an old friend. Some of her interviews and articles are still some of my

favorites on the site. She's the one who told me all about Jelly Bellies disastrous attempt to

make a pizza-flavored jelly bean and also the oral history of traffic keepers. But today she's

here to talk exclusively about a different obsession, Teddy Roosevelt. Hey, Aaron.

Hi.

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