1 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:17,920 Speaker 1: You're listening to Part Time Genius, the production of Kaleidoscope 2 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:19,040 Speaker 1: and iHeartRadio. 3 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:24,760 Speaker 2: Guess what Mango? 4 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:25,640 Speaker 1: What's that gave? 5 00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 2: So you know how the capital of Mexico is Mexico City. 6 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean I've played a lot of carbon San 7 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 1: Diego as a kid. All right. 8 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:37,479 Speaker 2: Well, the funny thing is that it wasn't technically true 9 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:41,360 Speaker 2: when you first learned it. How do you mean, Well, 10 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:44,920 Speaker 2: until recently, the official name of Mexico's capital was the 11 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 2: Distrata Federal, the Federal District, or DF for short, and 12 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:51,479 Speaker 2: that was the name that was on the books for 13 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 2: nearly two hundred years, but it never caught on in 14 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 2: other countries. 15 00:00:55,720 --> 00:01:00,480 Speaker 1: So Mexico City wasn't officially called Mexico City. That's so bizarre. 16 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:00,880 Speaker 1: How come? 17 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 2: Well it's because most countries have their own federal districts, 18 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:07,640 Speaker 2: so you know, it could get confusing if people don't 19 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 2: know which one you're referring to. So instead, people just 20 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:13,920 Speaker 2: kept calling the capital Mexico City, which was the district's 21 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 2: original name. That's what it was called prior to Mexico 22 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:20,680 Speaker 2: winning its independence from Spain way back in the eighteen twenties. 23 00:01:20,959 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 1: Oh, that's fascinating. So it was Mexico City, then it 24 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:27,520 Speaker 1: was in Mexico City, and now it's Mexico City again, 25 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:28,720 Speaker 1: Like why to change? 26 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:31,440 Speaker 2: All right? Well, so you know how in Washington, DC, 27 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:35,400 Speaker 2: there's a movement to get representation in Congress. Sure, Well, 28 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:38,320 Speaker 2: in Mexico City, there's been this ongoing effort for the 29 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:42,199 Speaker 2: last forty years to help the district become more autonomous, 30 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:47,200 Speaker 2: and in twenty sixteen, then President Enrique pinonetto champion that 31 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 2: caused in a big way when he officially rebranded the 32 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 2: capital Mexico City. The restructuring from a district to a 33 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 2: city granted it new political rights, including the ability to 34 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:00,800 Speaker 2: set its own budgets and even adopt its own constitution, 35 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 2: which it did in twenty seventeen. 36 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 1: So there's so much trivia, like global trivia that I loved, 37 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:09,400 Speaker 1: like that there was a part of Bangladesh that was 38 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 1: in India, that was in Bangladesh that was in India. Similarly, 39 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 1: the idea that Mexico City is not Mexico City. But 40 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 1: I feel like that's a fact I would have dined 41 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 1: out on for a very very long time. 42 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's tough to keep straight, but in this case, 43 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,120 Speaker 2: it's actually more than just trivia. And that's because one 44 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:32,320 Speaker 2: of the most unique aspects of Mexico City is the 45 00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:36,360 Speaker 2: way it embraces both tradition and modernity. So on one hand, 46 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:39,399 Speaker 2: adopting the old name of Mexico City is a nod 47 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:42,080 Speaker 2: to the region's past, but it's also a nod to 48 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:45,240 Speaker 2: the future, like one where the city is hopefully less 49 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:47,919 Speaker 2: beholden to the federal government and has more of a 50 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 2: voice in how it's governed. But that's just one of 51 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 2: the many connections between the past and the present in 52 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 2: Mexico City. There's a lot more to explore in today's travelogue, 53 00:02:58,000 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 2: so let's dive in. 54 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:22,400 Speaker 1: Hey, their podcast listeners, and welcome to Part Time Genius. 55 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 1: I'm Mongish particular, and today I'm joined by my good 56 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:30,560 Speaker 1: friend and writer researcher extraordinary for this show, Gabe lucy A. 57 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:34,359 Speaker 1: And on the other side of the soundproof glass downing 58 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 1: a bottle of coconut flavored electro lit that is our 59 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 1: friend and producer Dylan Fagan and watch him go. Apparently, 60 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 1: the drink is a summer staple in Mexico City because 61 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:48,840 Speaker 1: it's load with electrolytes to help you stay hydrated in 62 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 1: the high heat. 63 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, but our studios air conditions. So why is Dylan drinking? 64 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 1: I'm guessing it has something to do with the fact 65 00:03:57,640 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 1: that he was doing all those guitar solos with shredding 66 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 1: in there for hours and hours. When you're practicing to 67 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 1: leave it out all on the stage, you really need 68 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 1: to hydrate. 69 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, I've heard Keith Richards was also big on hydration 70 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 2: for that same reason. So is this kind of like 71 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:18,840 Speaker 2: Mexico's answer to Gatorade because this bottle looks way more medicinal. 72 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, apparently electroly it tends to be less sugary, and 73 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:24,840 Speaker 1: it's a little closer to what you'd find in an 74 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:28,040 Speaker 1: actual IV drip. But just like Gatorade, the drink is 75 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:31,360 Speaker 1: stocked at convenience stores and consumed by just about everyone, 76 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 1: not just athletes. It also predates Gatorade by about fifteen years, 77 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 1: having been invented in nineteen fifty, and this was in 78 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:43,640 Speaker 1: the midst of a cholera epidemic. The oral rehydration solution, 79 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:47,799 Speaker 1: which is also known as suero in Mexico. It helped 80 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 1: save thousands of children's lives during this crisis, and ever 81 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 1: since it's been the drink of choice not just for 82 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 1: sick children, but for local athletes, hikers, or anyone else 83 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 1: who feels a little out of sorts in the there. 84 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:03,240 Speaker 1: But there's actually another reason why the drink is so 85 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:06,280 Speaker 1: popular in Mexico City in particular, and that's because the 86 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:10,039 Speaker 1: region's high altitude. It's sometimes easy to forget since we 87 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:14,160 Speaker 1: usually associate high altitudes with cold temperatures, but Mexico's capital 88 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 1: is actually twenty two hundred meters above sea level, or 89 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 1: nearly a mile and a half. So it's pretty common 90 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 1: for visitors to feel lightheaded or tired shortly after their arrival. 91 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:29,240 Speaker 1: But thankfully that can be easily fixed with a bottle 92 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:31,119 Speaker 1: or two of electrolt. 93 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:32,680 Speaker 2: All right, well, I just want to point out that 94 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:37,280 Speaker 2: part time Genius is not sponsored by Electrolyte. 95 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:40,280 Speaker 1: I mean, I just want to point out to the 96 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:42,839 Speaker 1: sponsors that we are open to it. 97 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, okay, obviously, But now, okay, So I know you 98 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 2: mentioned the elevation, but Mexico City's geography is unusual in 99 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 2: lots of other ways too. For instance, another thing that's 100 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 2: easy to overlook is that the current city is built 101 00:05:57,480 --> 00:06:00,520 Speaker 2: on top of a dried up lake bed those seven 102 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:03,960 Speaker 2: hundred years ago the Mashika, who later became known better 103 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:07,239 Speaker 2: known as the Aztecs. They built the original Mexico city 104 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:10,039 Speaker 2: on an island in Lake tex Coco, but after the 105 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:13,120 Speaker 2: Spanish invaded in the fifteen twenties, the lake was drained 106 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:14,720 Speaker 2: to allow for greater expansion. 107 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 1: You know, I've always loved that story that the Aztecs 108 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:20,279 Speaker 1: built their city on an island in the middle of 109 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:23,159 Speaker 1: a lake. But do you actually know the rationale for that, 110 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 1: because I feel like I've always heard that but never 111 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:27,159 Speaker 1: knew why they chose to do that. 112 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, it seems like a strange place to build a city, 113 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 2: but with the lake and the surrounding mountains, it was 114 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:35,159 Speaker 2: a pretty secure place to build a city. Plus it 115 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:38,360 Speaker 2: had its own built in water supply. But according to legend, 116 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 2: the real reason why the Aztec settled there was the 117 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 2: fulfillment of an ancient prophecy. They were in their nomadic 118 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:47,880 Speaker 2: phase in the early fourteenth century, wandering from one place 119 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:50,240 Speaker 2: to the next, but they believed that their gods would 120 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 2: eventually show them where to settle by sending a very 121 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:58,080 Speaker 2: distinctive sign an eagle perched atop a cactus eating a snake, 122 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:01,200 Speaker 2: and what do you know, it one day thirteen twenty five, 123 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:04,279 Speaker 2: while passing by Lake tex Coco, they looked out to 124 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:07,120 Speaker 2: a small island and saw exactly that. So with that 125 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 2: divine stamp of approval, the Aztec set out to build 126 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:14,240 Speaker 2: an elaborate floating city, which they called Tenosh Teethlon, or 127 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 2: Place of the Prickly Pear Cactus. 128 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:20,720 Speaker 1: It's funny because I hadn't associated the two with one another, 129 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:23,840 Speaker 1: but like that image of a golden eagle standing on 130 00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:26,720 Speaker 1: a cactus chomping on a snake, that's actually the image 131 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 1: on Mexico's flag. 132 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 2: Right, yeah, exactly. It became a foundational symbol pretty much 133 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:34,920 Speaker 2: for the entire country, with the eagle representing the spirit 134 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 2: of the Mexican people, and Tanosh Teethlan itself was, you know, 135 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 2: pretty incredible. The city was built across a series of 136 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 2: natural and artificial islands, the ladder of which were created 137 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 2: using soil dredged from the lake bottom, and the city 138 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 2: was laid out in a symmetrical grid, with four sectors 139 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 2: surrounding a central area, which is where all the temples 140 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 2: and palaces were located. But most impressively, the different sectors 141 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 2: were connected to each other by four causeways or elevated roads, 142 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 2: which also acted as barriers to separate the lake's brackish 143 00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:10,560 Speaker 2: saltwater from its fresh water, so residents could also get 144 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:14,000 Speaker 2: around the city by boat thanks to this elaborate system 145 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 2: of canals, a feature for which the Spanish would later 146 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:20,680 Speaker 2: dub tanosh Titlan the Venice of the New World. So 147 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:24,080 Speaker 2: for the next two hundred years, the Aztecs thrived in 148 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 2: this floating capital. They conquered other tribes throughout the region, 149 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 2: and eventually they became the largest and most populous city 150 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 2: in pre Columbian America, covering more than five square miles 151 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:38,800 Speaker 2: and boasting upwards of two hundred thousand citizens. 152 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 1: You think about this then, like the symmetry of the 153 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:45,560 Speaker 1: structures here, the fact that they built islands, It just 154 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 1: sounds so impressive. They built up this real civilization. And 155 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:51,360 Speaker 1: then the Spanish cam right. 156 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:56,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, Spanish explorer Hernand Cortes showed up in fifteen nineteen 157 00:08:56,559 --> 00:08:59,920 Speaker 2: and he immediately set his eyes on the Aztec sophisticated 158 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,200 Speaker 2: city and all the treasure that he assumed was stored 159 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:06,120 Speaker 2: inside of it. He spent the next two years securing 160 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 2: the support of local tribes who were you know, itching 161 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:12,080 Speaker 2: to overthrow the Aztecs, and then in fifteen twenty one, 162 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:15,000 Speaker 2: he and his troops laid siege to tein O Schtiethln. 163 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 2: The battle lasted for ninety three days and a large 164 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 2: portion of the city was destroyed in the fighting. So 165 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:24,880 Speaker 2: once the Aztec surrendered, the Spanish looted and burned most 166 00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:27,960 Speaker 2: of what remained. Then they drained the surrounding lake and 167 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:31,680 Speaker 2: built Spain's new colonial center right on top of the ruins, 168 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 2: creating what we know today as Mexico City. 169 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 1: You know, it's one of those things that, like, it 170 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:39,560 Speaker 1: always astounds me that the conquistadors just like came in 171 00:09:39,640 --> 00:09:43,640 Speaker 1: as one culture, wiping out another culture just to take 172 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:44,680 Speaker 1: what they wanted. 173 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:47,439 Speaker 2: Right, Yeah, it's a shame. And you know, the detail 174 00:09:47,480 --> 00:09:49,720 Speaker 2: that really gets to me is that the Spanish used 175 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:52,720 Speaker 2: many of the same stones from Tano Schteethlan in the 176 00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 2: construction of their new city. So, for instance, one of 177 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 2: the most famous buildings in the Zocallo that's Mexico City's 178 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:03,440 Speaker 2: main PubL book square is the Metropolitan Cathedral. It's the 179 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 2: largest cathedral in Latin America and it was built directly 180 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:10,720 Speaker 2: on top of the Templo Mayor, the Sacred Temple complex 181 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 2: at the heart of the Aztec capital. It's such a 182 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:17,400 Speaker 2: stark physical symbol of one culture, just kind of railroading 183 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:20,920 Speaker 2: and building over another. Like there's no subtext here, it 184 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:22,000 Speaker 2: is all text. 185 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:25,560 Speaker 1: There's actually an interesting PostScript to this that might make 186 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:29,080 Speaker 1: you feel a bit better. So the Metropolitan Cathedral is 187 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 1: a very very big building, as you said, and since 188 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:37,160 Speaker 1: it's made of stone, it's also incredibly heavy, and it 189 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:40,160 Speaker 1: is so heavy, in fact, that it's actually sinking into 190 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:43,280 Speaker 1: the ground, with its south wing now almost a full 191 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 1: meter lower than the rest of it. This development wasn't 192 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:49,559 Speaker 1: surprising in itself, because all of Mexico City is sinking 193 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:52,880 Speaker 1: by as much as fifteen inches per year because it's 194 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:56,559 Speaker 1: built on a lake bed right exactly. But the cathedral 195 00:10:56,600 --> 00:10:59,280 Speaker 1: slow descent turned out to be a special case because 196 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:02,840 Speaker 1: the lower got, the more visible the ancient structures beneath 197 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 1: it became. And what's amazing is that, like archaeologists hadn't 198 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:10,480 Speaker 1: been able to pinpoint the temple's exact location, but in 199 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:14,320 Speaker 1: the nineteen seventies they started finding engraved stone discs and 200 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:18,960 Speaker 1: other artifacts around the cathedral sinking base, and these discoveries 201 00:11:19,040 --> 00:11:22,520 Speaker 1: led to extensive excavation, and now the remains of this 202 00:11:22,679 --> 00:11:26,440 Speaker 1: temple Mayora are actually on full display for visitors. There's 203 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:28,680 Speaker 1: even a museum next door that spotlights many of the 204 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:29,720 Speaker 1: relics unearthed there. 205 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:31,679 Speaker 2: It really just goes to show you can't keep a 206 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:38,880 Speaker 2: good temple down. My mom always said that, Yeah. It 207 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 2: is amazing though, that the European conquerors they tried to 208 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:45,160 Speaker 2: bury the region's past, but it literally rose to the 209 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:47,520 Speaker 2: surface in this case, and now it sounds like the 210 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 2: city's kind of safeguarding it for the future. It actually 211 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 2: reminds me of this quote. I came across on a 212 00:11:52,920 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 2: site called Escaping Worlds. So this reporter, Lisy, she spoke 213 00:11:57,400 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 2: to a bunch of Mexico City natives to get, you know, 214 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:02,959 Speaker 2: local perspective on the culture. And one of the people 215 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 2: she talked to was this middle aged mechanic named Pedro. 216 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:08,320 Speaker 2: He tied the city's pass to the president in a 217 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:11,959 Speaker 2: really lovely way, so I wanted to share it, he said. 218 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 2: Quote as tech legend says, Cortes burned the feet of 219 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:18,520 Speaker 2: our last as tech emperor because he was looking for 220 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:21,880 Speaker 2: his treasure. He would ask where is the treasure? And 221 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:25,560 Speaker 2: the emperor said, admire my treasure. It is before your eyes. 222 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:29,080 Speaker 2: He never understood that the Mexican treasure is the people, 223 00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:32,040 Speaker 2: the town. Get to know the people and the country. 224 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:34,920 Speaker 2: Don't base your thoughts of Mexico on what the news says. 225 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:38,239 Speaker 2: We are more than bad news, tacos and beer. 226 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:43,440 Speaker 1: Although I do love tacos, and I feel like that's 227 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:46,520 Speaker 1: a lot more insightful than I think my mechanic has 228 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:48,079 Speaker 1: ever told me. Who just tells me I need to 229 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 1: rotate my tires more? 230 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:54,120 Speaker 2: Well, I mean I've heard that's important too. But before 231 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:57,280 Speaker 2: before we start the next leg of our tour, why 232 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:08,960 Speaker 2: don't we take a quick break. 233 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:13,400 Speaker 1: You're listening to part Time Genius, and we're talking all 234 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:17,720 Speaker 1: about the many links between ancient Aztec civilization and modern 235 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 1: Mexico City today. So, Gabe, we just spent a little 236 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:24,320 Speaker 1: time on Zacalo, which of course is a must for 237 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:27,760 Speaker 1: anyone who visits the Mexican capital, but now want to 238 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 1: head south to a neighborhood called Hochi Milco, or as 239 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:34,679 Speaker 1: it's known in English, the Land of Flowers. It is 240 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:36,920 Speaker 1: a very special part of the city because it's home 241 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:40,480 Speaker 1: to the original Aztec cities last remaining waterways. 242 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 2: Oh no way. I thought the Spanish strained the city's 243 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:44,760 Speaker 2: lake when they took it over. 244 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:49,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, but apparently like a handful of lagoons remained in 245 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:52,560 Speaker 1: the Mexico City basin, and the ones here are especially 246 00:13:52,559 --> 00:13:56,160 Speaker 1: notable because they were and still are a vital source 247 00:13:56,160 --> 00:13:59,160 Speaker 1: of food for the city. You know, you mentioned earlier 248 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:02,640 Speaker 1: that the Aztec extended the city's area by creating all 249 00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:06,640 Speaker 1: these man made islands that were just above the water line. Well, 250 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 1: those basically functioned as floating gardens, and farmers built rafts 251 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:14,439 Speaker 1: out of reeds, covered them in mud, and cultivated fruit 252 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:17,600 Speaker 1: and vegetables right there on the water. And as time 253 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:19,960 Speaker 1: went on, the rafts gradually rooted to the bottom of 254 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:21,680 Speaker 1: the lake and became islands. 255 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:24,680 Speaker 2: That's incredible. These guys are so ahead of their time. 256 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:28,000 Speaker 2: But you said these gardens are still in use today. 257 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:31,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, so some of them are. Chinampas, as the islands 258 00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:33,800 Speaker 1: are called, were a main source of food for the 259 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:37,840 Speaker 1: city prior to the twentieth century, but rapid urbanization it 260 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:40,880 Speaker 1: obviously took a heavy toll on the practice. That said, 261 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:45,840 Speaker 1: Chinampa farming has been making this steady comeback in recent decades, 262 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 1: and as many of these sort of like homegrown practices did. 263 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:52,960 Speaker 1: It actually got quite a boost from COVID nineteen and 264 00:14:53,080 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 1: the pandemic when the industrial food supply was disrupted, and 265 00:14:56,560 --> 00:14:59,440 Speaker 1: that whole chain was sort of like picked apart local 266 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:03,320 Speaker 1: farmers and rehabilitating chinampas to feed their city. And the 267 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 1: project proved so successful that it's continued ever since, with 268 00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:09,200 Speaker 1: more chinampas being restored every year. 269 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 2: I'm kind of surprised they were able to grow enough 270 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:14,760 Speaker 2: food to make a difference like that, because I pulled 271 00:15:14,800 --> 00:15:17,800 Speaker 2: up a picture here and these aren't very big islands. 272 00:15:17,840 --> 00:15:20,360 Speaker 2: It's like maybe an acre or two tops. 273 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:22,800 Speaker 1: Don't let their size fool you, because according to our 274 00:15:22,840 --> 00:15:25,600 Speaker 1: friends at Atlas Obscura, chinampas are actually one of the 275 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 1: most productive forms of agriculture in the world. They produce 276 00:15:29,120 --> 00:15:31,840 Speaker 1: as many a seven harvest per year, which this is 277 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 1: astounding to me. And because of the rich lake soil 278 00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:38,960 Speaker 1: and warm climate, they can grow just about anything, so 279 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:42,280 Speaker 1: you can have greens, herbs, flowers, fruits, you name it, 280 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:44,760 Speaker 1: which is how the Aztecs were able to sustain two 281 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:47,320 Speaker 1: hundred thousand people in such a small space. 282 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:50,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, that explains it. I mean seven harvests a year 283 00:15:50,760 --> 00:15:51,920 Speaker 2: is really quite a lot. 284 00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:53,160 Speaker 1: That's crazy. 285 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:56,880 Speaker 2: I am curious though, are the Chinampas off limits to 286 00:15:56,920 --> 00:15:59,640 Speaker 2: everyone but farmers or is this something that's you know, 287 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:00,520 Speaker 2: opened to the public. 288 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:05,560 Speaker 1: I love that idea that like I would tease you 289 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 1: about going there and then like you would actually show 290 00:16:07,840 --> 00:16:08,880 Speaker 1: up and couldn't visit. 291 00:16:09,680 --> 00:16:11,440 Speaker 2: Travel destination you can't visit. 292 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:15,560 Speaker 1: I mean, we probably should do an episode on just 293 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:19,440 Speaker 1: travel destinations you can't visit. But uh, you should absolutely 294 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:22,080 Speaker 1: check this one out. There's about one hundred miles of 295 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 1: murky canals weaving through the Chinampas there, and visitors are 296 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:29,480 Speaker 1: welcome to explore them aboard these colorful flat bottomed boats 297 00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:32,960 Speaker 1: they're called trahinneras, and you can do that or you 298 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 1: can actually take a guided kayak tour. You should keep 299 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:40,640 Speaker 1: in mind that the trahinias provide more of a party atmosphere, 300 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:43,520 Speaker 1: so they can cloud and crowded, and they tend to 301 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:46,280 Speaker 1: like bump into each other a lot. So if you're 302 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:50,080 Speaker 1: looking for a more relaxed, informative visit, maybe the kayak 303 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:53,920 Speaker 1: tours more your speed. Uh. The kayak tours also provide 304 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:56,600 Speaker 1: a great chance to see the wildlife up close in 305 00:16:56,640 --> 00:16:59,800 Speaker 1: this region, including more than two hundred species of birds, 306 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:03,000 Speaker 1: as well as the elusive axe lottel. 307 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:07,159 Speaker 2: Oh okay, you've piqued my interest. I love those weird 308 00:17:07,160 --> 00:17:10,480 Speaker 2: looking salamanders. They've got those feathery gills on the side 309 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:10,920 Speaker 2: of their heads. 310 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:14,359 Speaker 1: I know, they are so cute and so weird and 311 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:17,359 Speaker 1: just so great. You know. And while most of the 312 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:21,480 Speaker 1: axe lottles actually alive today were bread and captivity, either 313 00:17:21,520 --> 00:17:25,919 Speaker 1: as pets or as research subjects. That's actually what makes 314 00:17:26,119 --> 00:17:28,960 Speaker 1: Mexico City so special in this regard. They are the 315 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 1: last wild population of Acx lottls in the world. And 316 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:35,199 Speaker 1: these foot long amphibians, I actually didn't realize they were 317 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:38,160 Speaker 1: foot long, like I thought they were tinier. They used 318 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 1: to thrive in the lakes surrounding Mexico City, but thanks 319 00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:45,400 Speaker 1: to habitat loss and water pollution, they now exist solely 320 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:46,720 Speaker 1: in these canals. Wow. 321 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:49,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, I had no idea they could get that big either, 322 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:51,879 Speaker 2: And I also didn't know that Mexico City was the 323 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:54,600 Speaker 2: best place to find them. Do we know how many 324 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:56,160 Speaker 2: of these little critters are left out there? 325 00:17:56,560 --> 00:17:59,879 Speaker 1: So the current estimate is between fifty and one thousand, 326 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:03,679 Speaker 1: which is few enough to qualify the species as critically endangered, 327 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:06,320 Speaker 1: but it is so hard to get an exact count 328 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:10,320 Speaker 1: because these little guys aren't easy to spot in this 329 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:14,880 Speaker 1: like murky water. And that's partially because there's another difference 330 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:18,720 Speaker 1: between the axe lottles that are bred, which are pink 331 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:23,560 Speaker 1: and white in color due to a genetic mutation, but 332 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:27,159 Speaker 1: these wild axe lottles, they're basically brown or gray, so 333 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:28,800 Speaker 1: they kind of blend in with the water. 334 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:31,600 Speaker 2: But they're amphibians, right, So why can't we just you know, 335 00:18:31,680 --> 00:18:33,320 Speaker 2: count them when they come onto the land. 336 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:35,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's something I was wondering too. But it turns 337 00:18:35,400 --> 00:18:37,600 Speaker 1: out that axe lottels do this strange thing where they 338 00:18:37,640 --> 00:18:42,040 Speaker 1: retain their juvenile characteristics into adulthood. So that's why their 339 00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:44,480 Speaker 1: like eyes and limbs look too small for their bodies. 340 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:47,639 Speaker 2: And they've got that fin thing that runs down the 341 00:18:47,720 --> 00:18:48,679 Speaker 2: length of their whole body. 342 00:18:49,160 --> 00:18:52,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, and that external guill, that feathery thing that you mentioned. 343 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:55,800 Speaker 1: Most amphibians lose those by the time they reach adulthood, 344 00:18:55,840 --> 00:18:59,160 Speaker 1: but axe lottles keep theirs, and they actually stay aquatic 345 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:02,880 Speaker 1: for life. They do have functional lungs, so they could 346 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:04,879 Speaker 1: go on land. It's not off limits to them, but 347 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:06,879 Speaker 1: they just prefer life in the water. 348 00:19:07,560 --> 00:19:10,000 Speaker 2: Well fair enough. I mean, I love how bas are 349 00:19:10,040 --> 00:19:14,199 Speaker 2: they are. It's really quite endearing. But it makes you wonder, like, 350 00:19:14,280 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 2: what did the Aztecs think of these little weirdos swimming 351 00:19:17,800 --> 00:19:20,640 Speaker 2: all over their city? 352 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:22,680 Speaker 1: They must have been aware of them, yeah, I mean, 353 00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:25,840 Speaker 1: they definitely were. The word axe lottle comes from the 354 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 1: name for the Aztec god of fire and lightning, So 355 00:19:30,119 --> 00:19:32,200 Speaker 1: I mean, I guess they have a pretty high opinion 356 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:34,639 Speaker 1: of these creatures, or at least thought there was, you know, 357 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:37,359 Speaker 1: something cool about them or unusual about them, which of 358 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:38,399 Speaker 1: course there is. You know. 359 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:40,520 Speaker 2: It is sad to think, though, that the species could 360 00:19:40,560 --> 00:19:43,160 Speaker 2: disappear from Mexico after all this time. 361 00:19:43,560 --> 00:19:46,080 Speaker 1: So there is a little bit of promising news on 362 00:19:46,119 --> 00:19:48,320 Speaker 1: their front. Over the last few years, researchers have been 363 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 1: working closely with Chinampa farmers or chinamperos to create dozens 364 00:19:53,840 --> 00:19:58,800 Speaker 1: of axe lottle sanctuaries among the floating gardens. They've installed 365 00:19:58,840 --> 00:20:02,160 Speaker 1: these bamboo cates along the shores to protect the creatures 366 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:05,960 Speaker 1: from invasive species. These are things like carp or tilapia, 367 00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:09,919 Speaker 1: and they've also started relocating some of the ax lottels 368 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:13,119 Speaker 1: from the main canal systems to a series of interconnected 369 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:17,359 Speaker 1: ditches in the middle of certain shinapas. Of course, there 370 00:20:17,359 --> 00:20:19,680 Speaker 1: are also a couple of places to see axe lottls 371 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:23,120 Speaker 1: outside of the canals. The Chapultepec Zoo has a special 372 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:26,320 Speaker 1: section devoted to the Mexican amphibians, and there's another museum 373 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:30,520 Speaker 1: in Preserve located in Park Tarango, which is an eco park. 374 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:33,240 Speaker 2: I love that. Lots of options to see these guys. 375 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:35,879 Speaker 2: And you know, we've talked a little bit about exploring 376 00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:39,320 Speaker 2: Mexico by boat, but there's a super strange and important 377 00:20:39,359 --> 00:20:42,879 Speaker 2: rule about driving in Mexico City that every visitor should 378 00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:45,040 Speaker 2: know ahead of time, and I want to tell you 379 00:20:45,080 --> 00:20:46,920 Speaker 2: all about it right after this break. 380 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:59,879 Speaker 1: Can't wait. 381 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:05,880 Speaker 2: Welcome back to part time genius. Okay, Mango. So, one 382 00:21:05,880 --> 00:21:08,960 Speaker 2: thing that might surprise first time visitors to Mexico City 383 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:12,560 Speaker 2: is the sheer size of the place. The metropolitan area 384 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:15,960 Speaker 2: spans five hundred and thirty seven square miles and is 385 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:19,360 Speaker 2: home to just under twenty three million people. That's over 386 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:22,280 Speaker 2: one hundred square miles more than New York City and 387 00:21:22,359 --> 00:21:24,520 Speaker 2: nearly three times the population. 388 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:27,720 Speaker 1: That is so many people to cram into a lake 389 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:32,560 Speaker 1: bed it I know in one place where you'll really 390 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:36,040 Speaker 1: feel the pinch is on the city's crowded highways. There 391 00:21:36,040 --> 00:21:39,399 Speaker 1: are about five million vehicles registered in Mexico City and 392 00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:42,080 Speaker 1: just as many more in the surrounding state of Estado 393 00:21:42,119 --> 00:21:46,000 Speaker 1: de Mexico, and as you'd expect, the resulting gridlock is 394 00:21:46,160 --> 00:21:50,440 Speaker 1: pretty unbearable, with the average resident spending roughly two hundred 395 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:54,920 Speaker 1: and twenty seven hours stuck in traffic each year. That 396 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:59,440 Speaker 1: is insane. You know, I have lived in Atlanta, which 397 00:21:59,440 --> 00:22:03,000 Speaker 1: has a traffic issue. I've lived in New York, I've 398 00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:07,480 Speaker 1: lived in Bombay, which also has insane traffic. But spending 399 00:22:07,560 --> 00:22:10,200 Speaker 1: two hundred and twenty seven hours stuck in traffic each year, 400 00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:12,720 Speaker 1: that's like ten full days in traffic. How do people 401 00:22:12,760 --> 00:22:14,159 Speaker 1: stand that? 402 00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:17,040 Speaker 2: It's awful? You know, that's been one of the main 403 00:22:17,119 --> 00:22:19,919 Speaker 2: knocks against the city for decades, which is not to 404 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:22,840 Speaker 2: say the city officials haven't tried to solve the problem. 405 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:25,800 Speaker 2: For example, the most sweeping measure they've tried is this 406 00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:29,280 Speaker 2: government program where you're only allowed to drive on certain 407 00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:32,080 Speaker 2: days of the week, and the days when you can't 408 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:36,119 Speaker 2: drive are determined by the last digit on your license plate. So, 409 00:22:36,240 --> 00:22:38,560 Speaker 2: for example, if your plate ends in a seven or 410 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:41,320 Speaker 2: an eight, then you can't drive your car on Tuesdays, 411 00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:43,440 Speaker 2: and if it ends in a one or two, then 412 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:46,679 Speaker 2: you're barred from the road on Thursdays. That is wild, 413 00:22:46,720 --> 00:22:49,119 Speaker 2: but I guess there's a certain logic to it. So 414 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:51,560 Speaker 2: what do you think is the worst number to get 415 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:53,640 Speaker 2: stuck with? Like, is there one that blocks you from 416 00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:54,720 Speaker 2: driving on Saturdays? 417 00:22:54,800 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 1: Or yeah? 418 00:22:56,160 --> 00:22:59,160 Speaker 2: Kind of So. The program was started in nineteen eighty 419 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:01,680 Speaker 2: nine as a way to help improve the city's air 420 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:05,400 Speaker 2: quality while also cutting down on commuter traffic. So at first, 421 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:08,800 Speaker 2: the restrictions only applied on weekdays and only to drivers 422 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:12,280 Speaker 2: whose cars didn't meet certain emission standards. But as time 423 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:16,520 Speaker 2: went on and as pollution and traffic congestion continued to worsen, 424 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:20,040 Speaker 2: the scope of the program broadened a bit. So as 425 00:23:20,080 --> 00:23:23,600 Speaker 2: a result, vehicles that only meet the weakest emission standards 426 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:27,000 Speaker 2: are now barred from the road on certain Saturdays as well. 427 00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:30,199 Speaker 2: Vehicles with odd numbered plates have to stay home on 428 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:32,960 Speaker 2: the first and third Saturdays of the month, and those 429 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:35,959 Speaker 2: with even numbered plates can't go out on the second 430 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:41,040 Speaker 2: and fourth Saturdays. It's a lot to keep track of, 431 00:23:41,119 --> 00:23:44,639 Speaker 2: but it's worth noting that the no Drive program only 432 00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:48,160 Speaker 2: applies between the hours of five am and ten pm, 433 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:52,120 Speaker 2: so there is the seven hour window each day when 434 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:56,080 Speaker 2: anyone can drive without restriction. 435 00:23:56,119 --> 00:23:58,520 Speaker 1: It's when the teens hit the cars and just cruise. 436 00:24:01,160 --> 00:24:02,960 Speaker 1: I do feel like there should be an app to 437 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:06,240 Speaker 1: keep track of all this, right, Like, I honestly feel 438 00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:09,119 Speaker 1: like I would be so bad at maintaining the calendar 439 00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:09,480 Speaker 1: for this. 440 00:24:10,080 --> 00:24:13,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, it is not the most popular program in Mexico City, 441 00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:16,760 Speaker 2: as you can imagine. Opponents argue, you know that it's 442 00:24:16,760 --> 00:24:19,680 Speaker 2: a pain to navigate, which it is, and it hasn't 443 00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:22,240 Speaker 2: accomplished either of its stated missions so far. 444 00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:23,720 Speaker 1: And oh noll. 445 00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:27,680 Speaker 2: Worst of all, though, it mostly restricts low income residents 446 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:31,159 Speaker 2: as they tend to drive older, high emission vehicles. And 447 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:33,879 Speaker 2: of course it's led to some funny skirting of the 448 00:24:33,960 --> 00:24:37,920 Speaker 2: rules because of that, Like some folks own multiple license 449 00:24:37,920 --> 00:24:40,280 Speaker 2: plates and swap them out as needed, you know, to 450 00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:42,320 Speaker 2: get that terminating digit for the day. 451 00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:47,280 Speaker 1: That is very sneaky. So in theory, if someone was 452 00:24:47,320 --> 00:24:51,240 Speaker 1: able to source five license plates with the right end digits, 453 00:24:51,320 --> 00:24:54,879 Speaker 1: that they could drive with impunity any day of the week, 454 00:24:55,040 --> 00:24:57,040 Speaker 1: whatever hoop do you were driving, you could get away 455 00:24:57,040 --> 00:24:57,240 Speaker 1: with this. 456 00:24:57,359 --> 00:25:02,000 Speaker 2: Right, yeah, right, but again, theoretically, we're not suggesting that 457 00:25:02,080 --> 00:25:04,920 Speaker 2: listeners break international law just to avoid riding the bus 458 00:25:04,920 --> 00:25:05,679 Speaker 2: on a Wednesday. 459 00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:09,280 Speaker 1: Don't do that. So is this like a locals only 460 00:25:09,359 --> 00:25:11,159 Speaker 1: kind of thing, or is this something that applied to 461 00:25:11,960 --> 00:25:13,240 Speaker 1: unite like foreigners as well? 462 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:17,080 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, yeah, no, the program absolutely applies to Taurus. 463 00:25:17,280 --> 00:25:20,920 Speaker 2: In fact, it's even more stringent for US because drivers 464 00:25:20,920 --> 00:25:24,040 Speaker 2: with foreign plates are actually barred from driving on every 465 00:25:24,160 --> 00:25:25,160 Speaker 2: Saturday as a month. 466 00:25:26,240 --> 00:25:30,399 Speaker 1: That's almost easier though, twitch ones. 467 00:25:30,560 --> 00:25:34,240 Speaker 2: Consult your calendar, right, But you know, while visitors can 468 00:25:34,400 --> 00:25:37,520 Speaker 2: register for an exemption ahead of their visit, if you forget, 469 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:40,639 Speaker 2: you'll be subject to the same penalties for non compliance 470 00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:43,479 Speaker 2: as the locals are. What does that mean Exactly, it's 471 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:45,879 Speaker 2: just a small fine, but when you factor in the 472 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:48,919 Speaker 2: towing and impound fees, you're still probably looking at a 473 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:52,040 Speaker 2: few hundred US dollars, not to mention at least half 474 00:25:52,080 --> 00:25:54,879 Speaker 2: a day lost of your vacation. I mean nothing to 475 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:55,600 Speaker 2: sneeze at. 476 00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:58,680 Speaker 1: No, completely. I feel like I've been on trips where 477 00:25:58,720 --> 00:26:00,879 Speaker 1: a car is conked out like a rental car. It 478 00:26:00,920 --> 00:26:03,960 Speaker 1: really throws off your timeline and schedule and feels a 479 00:26:04,080 --> 00:26:07,879 Speaker 1: waste of time. So I feel like anyone who's listening 480 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:10,240 Speaker 1: should definitely apply for that tourist pass if you plan 481 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:11,760 Speaker 1: to visit my car right. 482 00:26:11,920 --> 00:26:14,560 Speaker 2: Or better, yeah, leave your car at home and travel 483 00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:17,960 Speaker 2: some other way instead. It will still be intensely crowded 484 00:26:17,960 --> 00:26:20,640 Speaker 2: at the airport and on the subway, but at least 485 00:26:20,640 --> 00:26:23,000 Speaker 2: you won't get fined for, you know, forgetting what day 486 00:26:23,040 --> 00:26:23,800 Speaker 2: it is. 487 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:26,880 Speaker 1: Speaking of the subway system, El Metro, as it's known 488 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:30,320 Speaker 1: in Mexico City, that's another thing that might seem overwhelming 489 00:26:30,320 --> 00:26:33,080 Speaker 1: to first timers. It has three lines, one hundred and 490 00:26:33,160 --> 00:26:36,440 Speaker 1: ninety five stations, and about five million people rid it 491 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:40,760 Speaker 1: every day. But the surprising part is that it is 492 00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:45,119 Speaker 1: shockingly easy to navigate. All of the stations are clearly 493 00:26:45,160 --> 00:26:48,880 Speaker 1: marked above ground, and each one has a unique icon, 494 00:26:49,440 --> 00:26:52,720 Speaker 1: which is usually something associated with the history or culture 495 00:26:52,760 --> 00:26:54,760 Speaker 1: of that location. So, for example, if you want to 496 00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:58,560 Speaker 1: visit the famous Chapultepec Park, you'd look for the stop 497 00:26:58,640 --> 00:27:02,720 Speaker 1: labeled with the grasshopper, because Chapultepec means the hill of 498 00:27:02,720 --> 00:27:03,560 Speaker 1: the grasshoppers. 499 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:07,520 Speaker 2: A subway icon system is such a good idea, But 500 00:27:08,080 --> 00:27:10,960 Speaker 2: what's the significance of the grasshopper is the you know, 501 00:27:11,080 --> 00:27:13,840 Speaker 2: is the park just like swarming with him or what 502 00:27:13,920 --> 00:27:14,200 Speaker 2: is it? 503 00:27:14,520 --> 00:27:16,600 Speaker 1: So no one really knows if the name is meant 504 00:27:16,600 --> 00:27:18,920 Speaker 1: to refer to the shape of the hill or its 505 00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:22,600 Speaker 1: abundance of grasshoppers, but the insects have obviously been this 506 00:27:22,720 --> 00:27:26,600 Speaker 1: important part of Mexican culture and cuisine. This goes all 507 00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:28,959 Speaker 1: the way back to the Aztec, so it's only fitting 508 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:33,640 Speaker 1: that they get their own metro stop. But the coolest 509 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:36,119 Speaker 1: part of the Mexico City subway system is that some 510 00:27:36,200 --> 00:27:40,000 Speaker 1: of the stations also double as attractions in their own right. So, 511 00:27:40,280 --> 00:27:44,320 Speaker 1: for instance, the Vivero's station is named for the popular 512 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:48,320 Speaker 1: plant nursery nearby, but there's also plenty of greenery right 513 00:27:48,359 --> 00:27:51,800 Speaker 1: there underground. The entire station is made to look like 514 00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:56,440 Speaker 1: a rainforest. It is complete with all these like imitation trees, animals, 515 00:27:56,440 --> 00:28:01,280 Speaker 1: and even a suspended rope bridge above this salters. It's 516 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:05,840 Speaker 1: really pretty remarkable, and if you prefer your subway animal 517 00:28:05,880 --> 00:28:09,320 Speaker 1: exhibits to be a bit more authentic, you also can 518 00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:13,879 Speaker 1: hop over to the Talisman station, which uses a woolly 519 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:15,119 Speaker 1: mammoth for its logo. 520 00:28:15,560 --> 00:28:18,600 Speaker 2: Oh WHOA please make my day? Tell me they've got 521 00:28:18,600 --> 00:28:20,160 Speaker 2: a livew myth down there. 522 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:25,560 Speaker 1: Not a live mammoth, but at least not yet. They 523 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:29,879 Speaker 1: have bought one from Colossal Bussi. But they do have 524 00:28:29,920 --> 00:28:33,120 Speaker 1: the next best thing. Back in nineteen seventy eight, when 525 00:28:33,160 --> 00:28:36,800 Speaker 1: the station was under construction, the workers unearthed this nearly 526 00:28:36,880 --> 00:28:40,840 Speaker 1: complete mammoth skeleton and the states all the way back 527 00:28:40,880 --> 00:28:44,120 Speaker 1: to the ice age. But rather than ship it off 528 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:47,360 Speaker 1: to the museum, they decide to put the fossils right 529 00:28:47,360 --> 00:28:51,360 Speaker 1: on display there where the animal died. It is pretty remarkable. 530 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:53,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's so fun. And you know, I love the 531 00:28:53,840 --> 00:28:57,960 Speaker 2: idea of visiting Mexico City, specifically for the metro stops. 532 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:02,520 Speaker 2: Would it be to just tour all the station attractions 533 00:29:02,560 --> 00:29:04,240 Speaker 2: and not actually go above ground? 534 00:29:06,320 --> 00:29:07,680 Speaker 1: I feel like it would be a good story. I'm 535 00:29:07,680 --> 00:29:09,920 Speaker 1: not sure it's how I would want to spend my vacation, 536 00:29:10,080 --> 00:29:13,840 Speaker 1: but I like it. On the plus side, it would 537 00:29:13,880 --> 00:29:17,120 Speaker 1: be pretty cheap or budget friendly, Like the Metro fair 538 00:29:17,160 --> 00:29:19,880 Speaker 1: for one ride is just five pesos, so about twenty 539 00:29:19,920 --> 00:29:20,680 Speaker 1: five US cents. 540 00:29:20,960 --> 00:29:23,240 Speaker 2: Oh well, I mean that settles it right there. Pack 541 00:29:23,280 --> 00:29:25,400 Speaker 2: your bags, kids, we're heading for l Metro. 542 00:29:28,480 --> 00:29:30,200 Speaker 1: I mean, you can take my kids. I'm totally happy 543 00:29:30,240 --> 00:29:34,760 Speaker 1: with that. But before you go, let's take a quick 544 00:29:34,840 --> 00:29:44,040 Speaker 1: detour and they hit up our back off. You could 545 00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:47,320 Speaker 1: sapple dishes from all thirty one states in the Mexican capital. 546 00:29:47,400 --> 00:29:50,280 Speaker 1: But if you want to try a homegrown specialty, head 547 00:29:50,280 --> 00:29:53,120 Speaker 1: to a vendor on just about any street in Mexico 548 00:29:53,160 --> 00:29:57,400 Speaker 1: City and grab yourself a guahalota. This simple carb on 549 00:29:57,720 --> 00:30:02,640 Speaker 1: carbs which this of a steamed corn dough toamaal stuffed 550 00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:06,360 Speaker 1: inside a bread roll. That is it. It is cheap, 551 00:30:06,640 --> 00:30:10,240 Speaker 1: it is filling, it is highly portable. These sandwiches are 552 00:30:10,240 --> 00:30:14,440 Speaker 1: typically eaten at breakfast and especially popular with commuters and students. 553 00:30:14,480 --> 00:30:18,280 Speaker 1: And although the name is derived from the Nawattle word 554 00:30:18,440 --> 00:30:22,560 Speaker 1: for turkey, the bird actually isn't an ingredient. Instead, most 555 00:30:22,600 --> 00:30:26,720 Speaker 1: vendors use tamales filled with chicken, pork or chile pablana. 556 00:30:26,760 --> 00:30:30,520 Speaker 2: That is quite a hearty breakfast. But why call the 557 00:30:30,560 --> 00:30:32,560 Speaker 2: sandwich turkey if it doesn't include turkey? 558 00:30:32,920 --> 00:30:34,440 Speaker 1: You know, it's another one of these things that no 559 00:30:34,440 --> 00:30:36,440 Speaker 1: one really knows. But some people think it's because the 560 00:30:36,680 --> 00:30:41,880 Speaker 1: round bread rolls resemble a turkey breast, and others say 561 00:30:41,920 --> 00:30:43,880 Speaker 1: it's because of the sandwich is so high in calories 562 00:30:43,880 --> 00:30:45,719 Speaker 1: that it'll fatten you up like a turkey. 563 00:30:46,080 --> 00:30:49,440 Speaker 2: Oh, well, I suppose both could be true. But okay, 564 00:30:49,680 --> 00:30:52,200 Speaker 2: here's a dish to try if you're feeling fancy and 565 00:30:52,240 --> 00:30:55,320 Speaker 2: a little daring on your next vacation. It's often referred 566 00:30:55,360 --> 00:30:58,880 Speaker 2: to as Mexican caviar, but locals know it better as 567 00:30:59,080 --> 00:31:02,680 Speaker 2: awa utla, or seeds of joy. Your own level of 568 00:31:02,760 --> 00:31:05,520 Speaker 2: joy may vary when you try this dish, though, because 569 00:31:05,560 --> 00:31:08,400 Speaker 2: these seeds in question are actually the eggs of an 570 00:31:08,440 --> 00:31:14,640 Speaker 2: ancient aquatic insect, the axayactyl, the waterfly said to have 571 00:31:14,680 --> 00:31:18,400 Speaker 2: an intense fishy flavor. The tiny golden eggs are often 572 00:31:18,480 --> 00:31:21,440 Speaker 2: used to make a savory pancake that's traditionally served with 573 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:25,480 Speaker 2: a tomatillo and serrano chili sauce. The practice dates back 574 00:31:25,480 --> 00:31:27,840 Speaker 2: to the days of the Aztec Empire, when the fli's 575 00:31:27,920 --> 00:31:30,760 Speaker 2: eggs were considered a sacred food of the gods. They 576 00:31:30,760 --> 00:31:33,840 Speaker 2: were harvested from Lake tex Coco during the rainy season 577 00:31:34,080 --> 00:31:36,720 Speaker 2: and were used for religious ceremonies as well as in 578 00:31:36,760 --> 00:31:39,720 Speaker 2: the emperor's meals. And while they may no longer be 579 00:31:39,760 --> 00:31:42,760 Speaker 2: thought of as sacred, the eggs are still a prize 580 00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:46,240 Speaker 2: delicacy in the Mexican capital. The only problem is there's 581 00:31:46,280 --> 00:31:48,960 Speaker 2: a lot less water in the lake today, which means 582 00:31:49,080 --> 00:31:52,160 Speaker 2: much fewer eggs to harvest. As a result, only a 583 00:31:52,200 --> 00:31:55,880 Speaker 2: handful of restaurants in Mexico City still serve awa utle, 584 00:31:56,360 --> 00:31:59,080 Speaker 2: and the ones that do charge a pretty peso for it. 585 00:32:00,120 --> 00:32:03,600 Speaker 2: Into the Mexico News Daily, the average price of waterfly 586 00:32:03,720 --> 00:32:06,960 Speaker 2: eggs was about twenty three dollars per pound in twenty 587 00:32:07,000 --> 00:32:10,000 Speaker 2: twenty two, and with more of lake text cocoa drying 588 00:32:10,080 --> 00:32:13,760 Speaker 2: up each year, that price is bound to rise even higher. 589 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:15,720 Speaker 1: I mean, can you really put a price on an 590 00:32:15,760 --> 00:32:17,720 Speaker 1: ancient insect egg pancake? 591 00:32:19,960 --> 00:32:22,520 Speaker 2: Well, in my case, I don't think there's any price 592 00:32:22,560 --> 00:32:23,280 Speaker 2: I would pay. 593 00:32:23,440 --> 00:32:29,240 Speaker 1: But I mean it's not that different from like Llini's 594 00:32:29,280 --> 00:32:32,360 Speaker 1: and caviar, right if the taste it's like the image 595 00:32:32,400 --> 00:32:34,040 Speaker 1: that's hard to process in some ways. 596 00:32:34,240 --> 00:32:36,360 Speaker 2: Okay, yeah, well I'm not eating that either, But. 597 00:32:37,000 --> 00:32:40,640 Speaker 1: Well, for anyone who does try it, I've got the 598 00:32:40,720 --> 00:32:44,480 Speaker 1: perfect beverage to pair with it. It's called polke. It's 599 00:32:44,560 --> 00:32:47,840 Speaker 1: made from the fermented sap of the agave, the same 600 00:32:47,880 --> 00:32:51,760 Speaker 1: plant that's used to make tequila and mezcal. But Polke 601 00:32:51,960 --> 00:32:55,920 Speaker 1: is believed to be Mexico's oldest alcoholic drink. Oh, it's 602 00:32:55,960 --> 00:32:59,840 Speaker 1: kind of like their meat or something much like waterfly caviar. 603 00:33:00,280 --> 00:33:03,479 Speaker 1: The Aztecs considered polke a sacred gift from the gods, 604 00:33:03,520 --> 00:33:06,560 Speaker 1: and only emperors and their priests were allowed to drink it. 605 00:33:06,640 --> 00:33:10,320 Speaker 1: But when the Aztec Empire fell, polk became this drink 606 00:33:10,440 --> 00:33:15,040 Speaker 1: for the people and it was widely consumed throughout central Mexico. Now, 607 00:33:15,120 --> 00:33:17,920 Speaker 1: the popularity of the milky white beverage waned following the 608 00:33:17,960 --> 00:33:21,120 Speaker 1: introduction of beer and distilled spirits in the sixteenth century, 609 00:33:21,120 --> 00:33:25,280 Speaker 1: but polka never fully disappeared, and today the drinks experiencing 610 00:33:25,400 --> 00:33:29,520 Speaker 1: this cultural resurgence. In Mexico City, you'll find numerous bars 611 00:33:29,520 --> 00:33:34,200 Speaker 1: specializing in pulk known as pulcarias, and you can actually 612 00:33:34,280 --> 00:33:37,440 Speaker 1: buy big plastic cups of it at street markets and 613 00:33:37,480 --> 00:33:40,520 Speaker 1: also from floating vendors in the canals, which Cool's got 614 00:33:40,520 --> 00:33:44,160 Speaker 1: a special and for anyone wondering what pulk tastes like, 615 00:33:44,600 --> 00:33:48,880 Speaker 1: it's slightly sour and yeastya kind of like a kombucha 616 00:33:48,920 --> 00:33:52,640 Speaker 1: but with a touch of sweetness, and the alcohol content 617 00:33:52,720 --> 00:33:55,760 Speaker 1: is comparable to beer. You can also find flavored versions 618 00:33:55,800 --> 00:33:59,160 Speaker 1: of it, so there's everything from like guava to celery, 619 00:33:59,400 --> 00:34:02,360 Speaker 1: and as as long as you're of age, there's really no. 620 00:34:02,360 --> 00:34:05,720 Speaker 2: Excuse not to try it sounds good. But moving away 621 00:34:05,760 --> 00:34:07,920 Speaker 2: from food and drink for a second, did you know 622 00:34:07,960 --> 00:34:11,560 Speaker 2: that Mexico City boasts the most museums of any city 623 00:34:11,600 --> 00:34:15,960 Speaker 2: outside of Europe? Second only, Yeah, right, second only to London. 624 00:34:16,080 --> 00:34:18,840 Speaker 2: The Mexican capital has more than one hundred and fifty 625 00:34:18,920 --> 00:34:21,759 Speaker 2: officially recognized museums, and if you add in all the 626 00:34:21,840 --> 00:34:25,960 Speaker 2: smaller institutions and galleries, that number sore is even higher. 627 00:34:26,400 --> 00:34:29,920 Speaker 2: So some of the city's most famous repositories include the 628 00:34:29,960 --> 00:34:34,080 Speaker 2: Palazzio de Beas Artes, which is the city's premier fine 629 00:34:34,160 --> 00:34:39,680 Speaker 2: arts museum, the Museo Nacional de Entropoli HIHA, which has 630 00:34:39,719 --> 00:34:43,279 Speaker 2: the best collection of Mexico's pre Hispanic artifacts, and La 631 00:34:43,320 --> 00:34:46,120 Speaker 2: Casa Azul, or the Blue House, which is the home 632 00:34:46,200 --> 00:34:49,640 Speaker 2: turned museum of renowned Mexican artist Free to Collo. But 633 00:34:50,120 --> 00:34:52,520 Speaker 2: if you astray a little off the beaten track, you'll 634 00:34:52,560 --> 00:34:57,240 Speaker 2: also find museums devoted to the history of caricatures, vintage toys, 635 00:34:57,560 --> 00:35:01,080 Speaker 2: herbal medicine, and just about anything else you can think of, 636 00:35:01,360 --> 00:35:04,040 Speaker 2: including both tequila and polka. 637 00:35:04,239 --> 00:35:05,560 Speaker 1: That actually sounds so fun. 638 00:35:05,760 --> 00:35:06,640 Speaker 2: I'd be all about it. 639 00:35:07,560 --> 00:35:10,239 Speaker 1: Here's a quick one. Back in twenty seventeen, Mexico City 640 00:35:10,280 --> 00:35:12,040 Speaker 1: became the first city in the world to launch its 641 00:35:12,040 --> 00:35:16,240 Speaker 1: own official set of emojis. More than two thousand designs 642 00:35:16,239 --> 00:35:19,000 Speaker 1: were submitted through a contest run by the municipal government, 643 00:35:19,040 --> 00:35:22,239 Speaker 1: and from that twenty symbols were chosen to represent all 644 00:35:22,320 --> 00:35:24,840 Speaker 1: of the different aspects of the city's culture. So the 645 00:35:24,920 --> 00:35:29,160 Speaker 1: highlights were to include the popular street food elote, the 646 00:35:29,239 --> 00:35:33,839 Speaker 1: corn dish, the face of Frita Callo, one of the 647 00:35:33,880 --> 00:35:36,719 Speaker 1: party boats we talked about riding along those canals, and 648 00:35:37,160 --> 00:35:42,960 Speaker 1: of course an axe Lottel eating a torda. I love that. 649 00:35:43,000 --> 00:35:44,839 Speaker 1: Like an ax lottel was just cute enough. It also 650 00:35:44,840 --> 00:35:49,520 Speaker 1: had to be more Mexico City. There were so many 651 00:35:49,520 --> 00:35:53,080 Speaker 1: great submissions that the government ultimately decided to release way 652 00:35:53,120 --> 00:35:56,239 Speaker 1: more than the initial twenty. They planned more than two 653 00:35:56,400 --> 00:35:59,560 Speaker 1: hundred designs in total. The package was made available for 654 00:35:59,640 --> 00:36:03,800 Speaker 1: free through the emoji See You DoD the Mexico app, 655 00:36:04,040 --> 00:36:08,680 Speaker 1: and that means that anyone, including non residents, can use them. Wow. 656 00:36:08,840 --> 00:36:12,000 Speaker 2: Well, it is not quite as highbrow as the city's 657 00:36:12,080 --> 00:36:14,799 Speaker 2: museum scene or you know, an all subway tour of 658 00:36:14,800 --> 00:36:18,400 Speaker 2: the city. But I love the idea of a whole 659 00:36:18,440 --> 00:36:22,319 Speaker 2: stack of Mexico City specific emojis. I think you get 660 00:36:22,320 --> 00:36:24,200 Speaker 2: the trophy this week. Congrats Mango. 661 00:36:26,680 --> 00:36:28,879 Speaker 1: I know we've got to download them all, and it's 662 00:36:28,920 --> 00:36:32,839 Speaker 1: obviously tough to compete with the tor To eating axe Lottel. Yeah. 663 00:36:32,920 --> 00:36:36,360 Speaker 1: That wraps things up for today's Part Time Genius from Gabe, Mary, Dylan, 664 00:36:36,440 --> 00:36:39,279 Speaker 1: Will and myself. Thank you so much for listening. If 665 00:36:39,320 --> 00:36:42,600 Speaker 1: you enjoyed this episode, please come say hi on Instagram 666 00:36:42,680 --> 00:36:45,600 Speaker 1: we are waiting at Part Time Genius, or leave us 667 00:36:45,600 --> 00:36:48,879 Speaker 1: a review on Apple Podcast. We do read them all 668 00:36:48,920 --> 00:36:51,080 Speaker 1: and we take them to heart. I know we've barely 669 00:36:51,120 --> 00:36:54,359 Speaker 1: scratched the surface of all the amazing things Mexico City has. 670 00:36:54,480 --> 00:36:57,920 Speaker 1: We didn't talk about luchadors with the arts or even 671 00:36:57,960 --> 00:36:59,960 Speaker 1: get into some of the specific neighborhoods that are so fast, 672 00:37:00,520 --> 00:37:02,840 Speaker 1: So please be sure to tell us what we missed 673 00:37:02,840 --> 00:37:05,920 Speaker 1: and maybe we'll throw it all into another episode in 674 00:37:06,000 --> 00:37:22,040 Speaker 1: the meantime. Thank you so much for listening. Part Time 675 00:37:22,080 --> 00:37:25,920 Speaker 1: Genius is a production of Kaleidoscope and iHeartRadio. This show 676 00:37:26,000 --> 00:37:29,920 Speaker 1: is hosted by Will Pearson and me Mongish Heatikler and 677 00:37:30,080 --> 00:37:34,280 Speaker 1: research by our good pal Mary Philip Sandy. Today's episode 678 00:37:34,360 --> 00:37:37,319 Speaker 1: was engineered and produced by the wonderful Dylan Fagan with 679 00:37:37,400 --> 00:37:40,880 Speaker 1: support from Tyler Klang. The show is executive produced for 680 00:37:41,000 --> 00:37:44,680 Speaker 1: iHeart by Katrina Norvel and Ali Perry, with social media 681 00:37:44,719 --> 00:37:48,800 Speaker 1: support from Sasha Gay, trustee Dara Potts and buy Any Shorey. 682 00:37:49,520 --> 00:37:54,000 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from Kaleidoscope and iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, 683 00:37:54,160 --> 00:38:01,439 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows 684 00:38:00,840 --> 00:38:03,000 Speaker 1: them