Ologies with Alie Ward

Columbidology (PIGEONS? YES) Part 1 with Rosemary Mosco

<p>You love pigeons. You might not know it yet. Espionage! Fancy breeds! Internal GPS! Weird feet! Should you be afraid of them? Should you adopt one? Pigeon advocate, comic a...

Smologies #42: TREES with J. Casey Clapp

<p>Do trees have feelings? How do they talk? Which trees can you use to make syrup? Do bananas really grow on trees? Possibly the world's most enthusiastic tree expert, J. Cas...

Field Trip: I Chased the 2024 Eclipse with Umbraphiles

<p>Come along like a frog in my pocket for an adventure to see an eclipse. After last week’s Heliology episode on the Sun, I rushed out of state to see what the fuss was about...

Heliology (THE SUN/ECLIPSES) with India Jackson and Michael Kirk

<p>Sunset flimflam! Auroras! Eclipse tips! Let’s get to know the center of our solar system, the Sun,  as the April 8th eclipse approaches. What is it made of? How big is it? ...

Smologies #41: PELICANS with Juita Martinez

<p>Spine mysteries, face purses, limericks, flim flam, flags, divebombs, sibling rivalries, and more! The warm and wonderful pelicanologist Juita Martinez studies these glorio...

Disgustology (REPULSION TO GROSS STUFF) with Paul Rozin

<p>Taboos. Intolerable foods. Sad songs. Sexy kinks. Candy that looks like poo. Let’s get a little gross, shall we? The foremost expert in disgust, Dr. Paul Rozin, chats about...

Field Trip: Alie’s Mystery Surgery!

<p>Where have I been? What surgery did I have? Am I going to die? I took you along for the whole wacky, sometimes scary process in hopes it might help someone and urge you all...

Smologies #40: HAIR with Valerie Horsley

<p>Peach fuzz. Chin hairs. Mammalian ponytails. WHY DO THEY HAPPEN. Yale researcher and associate professor Dr. Valerie Horsley stops by California to chat with Alie about the...

Oikology (DECLUTTERING) Encore with Jamie & Filip Hord + Joe Ferrari

<p>Why does clutter happen? How can we get rid of it and how will it affect us psychologically if we do? Buckle up for an encore that will lift your spirits and quite possibly...

Functional Morphology (ANATOMY) Encore with Joy Reidenberg

<p>Ever poked at roadkill? Watched videos of whales exploding? Drooled over a curio cabinet full of claws & bones? Peered into a jar with a pickled toad? Then this one is for ...

Smologies #39: ANCIENT ROME with Darius Arya

<p>Classical Archaeologist and TV host Dr. Darius Arya is back for a smologized version of this classic  episode to dish about priceless garbage piles, pottery graveyards, tom...

Black Hole Theory Cosmology (WHAT ARE BLACK HOLES?!) Part 2 with Ronald Gamble, Jr.

<p>Part 2! Black hole suns, black hole movies, wormholes, time travel, matter evaporation, scientists being bitches, risk-taking advice, Italy’s favorite pastry, and more awai...

Black Hole Theory Cosmology (WHAT ARE BLACK HOLES?!) Part 1 with Ronald Gamble, Jr.

<p>How big are black holes? Is time elastic? What is spacetime foam? Why is there a place called “elsewhere?” Enjoy this dazzling two-parter that starts with the absolute basi...

Smologies #38: CARNIVORES with Rae Wynn-Grant

<p>Ah, charismatic megafauna! Teeth, claws, fur, poop, hibernation, hiking, nature preserves, and living your childhood dreams with Alie’s longtime -ologist crush, Dr. Rae Wyn...

Hydrochoerology (CAPYBARAS) with Elizabeth Congdon

<p>CAPYBARAS! Blocky faces. Chill vibes. Spa days. Finally. Hydrochoerologist, Dr. Elizabeth Congdon, leads us into the muddy pond of Rodents of Unusual Size, weird feet, pet ...

Theoretical & Creative Ecology (SCIENCE & ECOPOETRY) with Madhur Anand

<p>Environmental models! Poetry! Scientists who are poets! Novelists who are scientists! Art + science =  an actual -ology. Creative Ecologist, climate scientist, theoretical ...

Smologies #37: PROTEINS + DNA with Raven “The Science Maven” Baxter

<p>This one’s got it all: teeny tiny cellular factories, mitochondrial relevancy, what big smelly vats of poop have to do with curing cancer, how many trips to the sun your un...

Evolutionary Anthropology (METABOLISM) with Herman Pontzer

<p><i>*Content warning up top: This episode discusses sensitive themes like diet culture, caloric intake, the psychological & physical effects of food restriction and includes...

Carcinology (CRABS) Part 2 with Adam Wall

<p>Hairy crabs! Shell swaps! Carcinization! Will we all evolve to be crabs? What’s with having one giant claw? Why would a crab stab you? Adam Wall, a carcinologist at the Nat...

Smologies #36: FEATHERS with Allison Shultz

<p>Plumage! Dance battles! Possible holographic disco birds? Natural History Museum of LA ornithology curator Dr. Allison Shultz is a professional plumologist aka feather expe...

Carcinology (CRABS) Part 1 with Adam Wall

<p>Claw hands! Beady eyes! Pinching forces that could crack your skull! Gentleman, scholar, curator of the Natural History Museum’s crustacea collection and Carcinologist Adam...

Ethnoecology (ETHNOBOTANY/NATIVE PLANTS) with Leigh Joseph

<p>The what, where, and who of native plants is … ethnobotany! Which is under the umbrella of Ethnoecology! The wonderful botanist Leigh Joseph shares what steered her to this...

Smologies #35: COMPUTER PROGRAMMING with Iddris Sandu

<p>At just 22, Iddris Sandu’s life story was already legendary. This Architectural Technologist learned to program at the age of 11 and has worked with everyone from Kanye Wes...

Alieology (YOUR HOST): an Ask-Me-Anything Goofy Hang

<p>It’s like a whole episode of secrets. And your questions. And your podmom, Jarrett, hanging out in a guest room answering all kinds of inquiries. This week between the holi...

Smologies #34: PENGUINS with Tom Hart

<p>Do penguins have flippers or wings? What’s up with pebble gifts? Are they squishy or dense? And why why why are they so cute?  We sit down with renowned penguinologist Dr. ...

Lemurology (LEMURS) with Lydia Greene

<p>How did these tree-hopping furry angels evolve to be the cutest thing in the world, objectively speaking? They have saucer eyes, wet noses, chunky tails, toe claws, matriar...

Quasithanatology (NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES) with Bruce Greyson

<p>Tunnels of light. Unconditional love. Visions of dead aunts. And a lot of questions. What happens when you die…  or almost die? GOOD QUESTION. Dr. Bruce Greyson chats about...

Smologies #33: SCORPIONS with Lauren Esposito

<p>Scorpions: the victims of undue shade. A handful of people on planet Earth have a PhD in scorpions and Dr. Lauren Esposito is one of them. She spills the beans on how venom...

Syndesiology (CONNECTIONS) with James Burke

<p>He’s the guy pointing to a NASA launch behind him, in the most legendary shot in television history. He’s a science historian and Apollo Program correspondent. He’s the cre...

Audiobook Mixtape 3: Gift Ideas from the Ologists’ Brains

<p>You like Ologists. Ologists write books. You like books, so let’s dive into a new, curated sampler platter from your favorite guests’ books.. Fill your ears with dark carni...

Smologies #32: CLOUDS with Rachel Storer

<p>Cumulus! Lenticular! Venti sugar-free stratocumulus stratiformis translucidus undulatus! Those light and fluffy things that hang overhead weigh thousands of pounds and form...

Abstract Mathematology (UH, IS MATH REAL?) with Eugenia Cheng

<p>Math wants to be friends. Let mathematician, author and Abstract Mathematologist Dr. Eugenia Cheng introduce you to a secret world: the artsy and emotional side of math. Dr...

Road Ecology (ROAD KILL) with Ben Goldfarb

<p>Deer in headlights! Alligators in crosswalks! A possum in the oven? If you love wildlife, this is a must-listen to avoid killing critters with your car. Ben Goldfarb wrote ...

Smologies #31: INDIGENOUS COOKING with Mariah Gladstone

<p>Dig in for a bite-sized episode about how native foods aren’t just a part of a past, but an essential and exciting aspect of the future. We talk flower bulbs, acorns, sunfl...

Garology (LONG CUTE ANCIENT PATIENT BOOPABLE NIGHTMARE FISH) Encore for GAR WEEK with Solomon David

<p>November 6-12 is GAR WEEK! What is a gar, you ask? Picture: A long snout. Hundreds of teeth. Scales that could slice you. Should we fear it? Should we hug it? One of the wo...

Neuroparasitology (NATURE ZOMBIES) with Matt Simon

<p>What’s on your mind? ZOMBIES. The planet is full of mind-controlling foes, and “Plight of the Living Dead” author Matt Simon researched deep and traveled the world to docum...

Smologies #30: SPIDERWEBS with Randy Lewis

<p>Invisible but stronger than steel. Complex architectural marvels. Things that stick to your face. Spiderwebs are much more than just Halloween decor or something to feather...

Teratology (MONSTERS) with W. Scott Poole

<p>Frankenstein’s Monster! Hungry ghosts! Moaning bloodsuckers! Goat draining goblins. Babadooks. Gorilla-whales. Slasher films. Body horror… and what these folk stories, film...

Pomology (APPLES) with Susan K. Brown

<p>Green, yellow, striped, red, shiny, russet. Tart, sweet, sour, crunchy. Big, small, wild, heirloom, cultivated. How will you like them apples? Very much, once you hear all ...

Smologies #29: PUMPKINS with Anne Copeland

<p>PUMPKIN PUMPKIN! Not only a thing to scream while passing a patch, but also the name of the book by author and human delight Anne Copeland. Yes, she's so charmed by pumpkin...

Witchology (WITCHES & WITCHCRAFT) Part 2 with Fio Gede Parma

<p>More witches! History! Lore! Wardrobes! Movie trivia! And some advice from your elders? Part 2 is here with the wonderful, informed, and charming writer, speaker, spirit-wo...

Witchology (WITCHES & WITCHCRAFT) Part 1 with Fio Gede Parma

<p>IT’S HERE. Witches. Not just a witch expert, but also a witch. Author Fio Gede Parma is a practicing witch and highly respected writer, speaker and teacher. They cover witc...

Smologies #28: AGING with Caleb Finch

<p>How long can we live? How much of aging is genetics vs. environment? How old are your cells? What can we learn from the world’s oldest people? World-renowned aging expert a...

Benthopelagic Nematology (DEEP SEA WORMS) with Holly Bik

<p>Weird little mouths! Hairy skin tubes! Demon nematodes! Antarctic explorer and Nematologist Dr. Holly Bik charms us into loving deep sea (benthopelagic) worms in a way you ...

Gustology (TASTE) with Gary Beauchamp

<p>Sweet! Salty! Umami? What’s up with MSG? Why do you like your coffee black? Come down to flavortown and let’s talk tongues. Gustologist Dr. Gary Beauchamp is a chemosensory...

Cosmology (THE UNIVERSE) Part 2 Encore with Katie Mack

<p>Dr. Mack returns with a new introduction and updates on… listener questions! The universe, dimensions, asteroid bags and cosmic vertigo with the amazing Astro Katie, AKA Dr...

Smologies #27: MARS with Jennifer Buz

<p>The Red Planet. A mysterious dusty orb millions of miles away. Our emergency escape bunker. Alie sits down with Dr. Jennifer Buz to talk about what Mars’s DEEEEAL is, why w...

Cosmology (THE UNIVERSE) Part 1 Encore with Katie Mack

<p>Stars. Black holes. THE GAWDANG UNIVERSE. Astrophysicist and cosmologist Dr. Katie Mack (@astrokatie) re-introduces us to this 2017 episode along with some bonus updates on...

LIFE ADVICE Encore: For anyone who is tired & needs some hacks

<p>Alie takes a teeny tiny break from her vacation to reintroduce you to this laid back, super helpful fan favorite episode. Listen in for: Pomodoro timers! Bullet journals! A...

Smologies #26: POOP with Rachel Santymire

<p>Yep. Here it is. A kid-friendly episode on… poop. Camel poop. Rhino poop. Dog poop. Cat poop. Your poop. The charming and informative Dr. Rachel Santymire -- aka Dr. Poop -...

Etymology (WORD ORIGINS) Encore with Helen Zaltzman

<p>The brilliant and dazzling Helen Zaltzman pops in with some new asides in this encore episode of Ologies. Helen, host of the podcasts The Allusionist, Veronica Mars Investi...

Diabetology (BLOOD SUGAR) Part 2 Encore with Mike Natter

<p>Wrapping up our Diabetology 2 parter encore, diabetic diabetologist and wonderful person Dr. Mike Natter, MD is back with a little introduction covering some stuff that was...

Diabetology (BLOOD SUGAR) Part 1 Encore with Mike Natter

<p>Dr. Mike Natter hosts this encore episode of Ologies (hosted by Alie Ward), it's a classic 2 parter: Diabetology about the happy, moody-, sweaty-, unconscious-, and possibl...

Minisode: Dadward Takes a Break

<p>Listen, kids... give your father a break, okay?</p><p><a href="https://alieward.com/smologies" target="_blank">Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes</a></p><p><a href=...

Neurotechnology (AI + BRAIN TECH) with Nita Farahany

<p>Machine poets. ChatGPT fails. Neurological surveillance. Brain implants that treat depression. Is it scary? Cool? Let’s firehose some questions at Duke Law professor, neuro...

Sciuridology (SQUIRRELS) with Karen Munroe

<p>Flying squirrels. Fox squirrels. Giant squirrels. Tiny ones. Grey ones. Black ones. Fluorescent ones? Alie is losing her mind talking to dream guest and Sciuridologist, Dr....

Molecular Neurobiology (BRAIN CHEMICALS) Encore with Crystal Dilworth

<p>Hi! I’ve been in the hospital with pneumonia! But enjoy this banger of an encore about: Serotonin! Dopamine! Norepinephrine! Neurotransmitters: what's their deal? Dr. Cryst...

Smologies #25: LIGHTNING with Chris Giesige

<p>It’s a kid-friendly episode on … thunder and lightning: very, very frighteningly interesting! Wildfire researcher and lightning scientist Chris Giesige answers questions ab...

Curiology (EMOJI) Part 2 with Various Emoji Experts

<p>The thrilling conclusion of all-things-emoji! Eggplants, peaches, jumping ska dudes, gray hearts, family emojis, what NOT to text your Southern Italian friends, yellow hand...

Curiology (EMOJI) Part 1 with Various Emoji Experts

<p>Thumbs up? Thumbs down. Skulls of joy. And so many expressions of pain and comfort. This, my babies, is the  -ology that sparked this whole podcast. Curiology means “writin...

Field Trip: Birds of Prey and Raptor Facts

<p>Grab your stuff and hop in our van full of weirdos to check out Boise Idaho’s finest attraction: a 580 acre preserve of land that is absolutely flush with raptors who could...

Smologies #24: SHIPWRECKS with Chanelle Zaphiropoulos

<p>Ahoy matey, we’ve we’ve brought ye another ensmol’d episode of Ologies (which just means cleaned of filth and cut for brevity) this time on: Shipwrecks. We get to talk with...

Native Melittology (INDIGENOUS BEES) with Krystle Hickman

<p>Honeybees get all the attention, but native bees are the underbugs to root for. Photographer, author, and National Geographic Explorer Krystle Hickman shows us the wonders ...

Pectinidology (SCALLOPS) with Samantha Lynch

<p>They clap. They swim. They have dozens of eyes and 2 million babies. They are scallops. Pectinidologist Dr. Samantha Lynch climbs aboard to share stories of theft on the br...

Smologies #23: MAMMALS with Danielle N. Lee

<p>Here we are with the smol (shorter, cleaner, kid-friendly) version of another Ologies classic, in this case: Mammals. You’re one. Your dog is one. So are giant rats. What d...

Fire Ecology (WILDFIRES & INDIGENOUS FIRE MANAGEMENT) Mega Encore with Gavin Jones & Amy Christianson

<p>Once again: the world is on fire. As wildfires burn across Canada and their smoke pours down the continent, we thought it would be a good time to encore these Fire Ecology ...

Black American Magirology (FOOD, RACE & CULTURE) with Psyche Williams-Forson

<p>What’s the difference between Southern cooking and “soul food?” Is there a correct type of mac and cheese? And whose business is it what you eat? (Hint: no one’s). Culinary...

Field Trip: A Hollywood Visit to the Writers Guild Strike Line

<p>Jump in, we’re going to the Valley to talk to cool, funny screenwriters about ... Artificial intelligence-drafted scripts! Trillion-dollar companies pretending they’re brok...

Acaropathology (TICKS & LYME DISEASE) Updated Mega Encore with Neeta Pardanani Connally & Andrea Swei

<p>It’s 2-for-1! Ticks AND Lyme: together in one helpful, disgusting, gossipy, empowering </p><p>episode. This pair of episodes is about tiny, thirsty ticks and the diseases t...

Invisible Photology (INVISIBILITY CLOAKS) with Greg Gbur

<p>Invisibility cloaks. Transparent frogs. Stealth bombers. Gorilla mischief. Theoretical optical physicist and Invisible Photologist Dr. Greg Gbur joins Alie to chat about li...

Stem Cell Biology (CELLS MAKING CELLS) with “Science Sam” aka Samantha Yammine

<p>How do our bodies build our bodies? What does a stem cell look like? How do they know what to do? What diseases could stem cells cure? And why is Canada such a hot place fo...

Smologies #22: REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS with David Steen

<p>This shorter, kid-safe edit of the classic Herpetology episode features frilly gills, frog tornadoes, legless lizards, and reasons to appreciate snakes. Also, why you shoul...

Delphinology Part 2 (DOLPHINS) with Justin Gregg

<p>Wow. It gets weirder. Military dolphins, dolphins on drugs, sensory deprivation, deciphering dolphin language, the search for alien life, and more with the affable and know...

Delphinology Part 1 (DOLPHINS) with Justin Gregg

<p>Giant brains! Communication mysteries! Infamous sensuality! Dolphins are here to blow your relatively tiny mind with their squeaks, clicks, cliques, history, lore, zany evo...

Field Trip: My Butt, a Colonoscopy Ride Along & How-To

<p>Come check out my butt with me! 1 in 16 people in the U.S. will have colon cancer, and 0 in 16 want to talk about getting a camera up your guts to check things out. I am on...

Chickenology Part 2 (HENS & ROOSTERS) with Tove Danovich

<p>We’re back for Part 2! If you missed Part 1, start there for the chicken basics and then come back for the weird stuff like chickens eating chickens, why chickens bother la...

Chickenology Part 1 (HENS & ROOSTERS) with Tove Danovich

<p>Yes, Chickenology is a real word. And we have questions. Such as: should you get a chicken?! Chicken-haver and author of “Under the Henfluence” Tove Danovich stops in to re...

Smologies #21: SLEEP with Chris Winter

<p>A G-rated, kid-safe Smologies edit all about getting your Zzzzzs. Neurologist and somnologist Dr. W. Chris Winter is an expert on sleep, and since his first interview, he’s...

Domicology (ABANDONED BUILDINGS, RECYCLED HOUSES & GHOST TOWNS) with Rex LaMore

<p>What’s inside that boarded up house? Should you explore an abandoned mall? A vacant factory? And how much of an old house ends up in a landfill? The founder of Domicology, ...

Chronobiology (CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS) Encore + 2023 Updates with Katherine Hatcher

<p>Ahh, Daylight Savings Time: does it mess up your brain? What time should you go to bed? Are you sleeping enough? Is shift work really that bad? How dark is dark enough? The...

Smologies #20: FISHES with Chris Thacker

<p>Ichthyology is not easy to say, but fish are easy to love. Dr. Chris Thacker will get you so thrilled to stare into a pond or look up pictures of silvery sea serpent-lookin...

Detroitology (DETROIT) with Aaron Foley

<p>Why an episode on Detroit?! It’s got a great story. Standalone, this episode is a fascinating look at a metropolis that swelled and thrived during the auto boom, then decli...

Field Trip: An Airport Full of Neuroscientists

<p>I’m at the airport and there are hundreds of brain scientists everywhere. So I swallowed my dignity/anxiety and approached strangers about the neuroscience they do. The res...

Environmental Toxicology (POISONS + TRAIN DERAILMENT) with Kimberly K. Garrett

<p>Chemical spills, historical disasters, water quality, airborne toxic events, clear gasses, White Noise, dead fish, dark clouds, chemistry tests, trench coats, PFAS, phthala...

Melaninology (SKIN/HAIR PIGMENT) with Tina Lasisi

<p>Skin color! Hair texture! Biological anthropology! The incredibly informed and infectiously funny Dr. Tina Lasisi joins to chat sunscreen, ashiness, redheads, light skin, d...

Scotohylology (DARK MATTER) with Flip Tanedo

<p>It’s invisible. It’s mysterious. It’s all around us – and no one knows what it is. Let’s have a fun existential crisis by pondering Dark Matter! The world’s most affable an...

Laryngology Part 2 (VOICE BOXES) with Ronda Alexander

<p>Part 2 is here! Pull up a seat for singing techniques, baby talk, baritones, whistle notes, stroke recovery, vibrato, Julie Andrews, crying jags, throat singing, accents an...

Laryngology Part 1 (VOICE BOXES) Ronda Alexander

<p>Voices! Singing! Anxiety busters! Breathing! The absolutely magnetic, charismatic Laryngologist and surgeon Dr. Ronda Alexander makes her long-awaited Ologies debut to chat...

Aperiology (MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY) Encore with Joseph Saunders

<p>Lights! Cameras! Arachnids! And lizards and bees and beetles. Macro photography is like magic: curved glass gives an entirely new take on the world, from dust on a cricket’...

Oneirology Part 2 (DREAMS) with G. William Domhoff

<p>Part 2 is here: Lucid dreaming! Teeth falling out! Medications and dreaming! The source of creativity! Even how to clean your brain. Dr. G. William Domhoff has studied drea...

Oneirology Part 1 (DREAMS) with G. William Domhoff

<p>WHY do we dream? What do dreams mean? What parts of our brain are working after-hours? We sought out UC Santa Cruz researcher and professor Dr. G. William Domhoff, a world ...

Bonus Episode: Secrets, Advice + Ask-Me-Anything

<p>It’s a weird rambling bonus episode for the lonely week between the holidays and New Years! I thought I’d serve up a mellow hang full of secrets, a retrospective of the thi...

Smologies #19: EVOLUTION with John McCormack

<p>Another G-rated edit of a classic! This Smologies with Dr. John McCormack of Occidental College is all about evolution, Darwinism, birds, bacteria, natural selection and ho...

P-22: The Life & Death of an L.A. Cougar with Miguel Ordeñana & Beth Pratt

<p>Very special episode for a very special cat. The day after the legendary Los Angeles mountain lion P-22 took his last breath, we talked with Natural History Museum wildlife...

Meteorology (WEATHER & CLIMATE) with Marshall Shepherd

<p>Bomb cyclones! Polar vortices! Atmospheric rivers! And rained out barbecues. One of the world’s leading Meteorologists, Dr. Marshall Shepherd – a former NASA scientist and ...

Enigmatology (WORD PUZZLES) with David Kwong

<p>Crosswords! Puzzles! Wordles! Magic? Ah yes, world-renowned Enigmatologist David Kwong drops in to chat about the intersection of sleight of hand and brain games, covering ...

Special Ep: Mycology (MUSHROOMS) Tom Volk Memorial Encore

<p>In celebration of Dr. Tom Volk’s life: Mushrooms! Psilocybin! Humongous fungus! Black mold! Foraging! The incredibly charming and warm Dr. Tom Volk, world-renowned mushroom...

Indigenous Pedology (SOIL SCIENCE) with Lydia Jennings

<p>Soil! Dirt! Earth. Dr. Lydia Jennings, aka Native Soil Nerd, breaks down the stuff under our feet and explains everything from mining to why soil can be different colors. A...

Smologies #18: FEASTS with Katherine Spiers

<p>Kid-friendly and quick! It’s another Smologies G-rated cut of a classic episode. Loosen your belts and tuck a napkin under your chin because feasting season is here. Kather...

Bryology (MOSS) Encore with Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer

<p>It’s November and you need chill vibes. And Native American Heritage Month is the perfect time to encore this classic. World-renowned author, botanist, Indigenous ecology p...