

Ologies with Alie Ward
Alie Ward
Volcanoes. Trees. Drunk butterflies. Mars missions. Slug sex. Death. Beauty standards. Anxiety busters. Beer science. Bee drama. Take away a pocket full of science knowledge and charming, bizarre stories about what fuels these professional -ologists' obsessions. Humorist and science correspondent Alie Ward asks smart people stupid questions and the answers might change your life.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 9, 2024 • 1h 19min
Ethnoecology (ETHNOBOTANY/NATIVE PLANTS) with Leigh Joseph
Leigh Joseph, a botanist specializing in ethnoecology and native plants, discusses topics such as identifying plants, Latin names vs. traditional names, passing down or silencing knowledge, pharmaceuticals derived from Indigenous knowledge, ceremonial plants, harvesting do's and don'ts, skin remedies, and more.

9 snips
Jan 4, 2024 • 25min
Smologies #35: COMPUTER PROGRAMMING with Iddris Sandu
Architectural Technologist Iddris Sandu, who has worked with Kanye West and Nipsey Hussle, discusses coding, holograms, ancient flutes and programming. He shares his favorite programming languages, philosophies on future technology, and emphasizes the importance of being dynamic. Alie Ward seeks life advice from this inspirational guest.

Dec 27, 2023 • 1h 48min
Alieology (YOUR HOST): an Ask-Me-Anything Goofy Hang
In this Ask-Me-Anything session, Ali Ward answers questions about her childhood dreams, being a goth teen, the origin of her red hair, perspectives on holidays, animals during quarantine, favorite spots at the LA Natural History Museum, regrets and missed opportunities, recording equipment and editing tips, mythical creatures, managing ADHD, creating an inclusive online community, and personal anecdotes.

5 snips
Dec 23, 2023 • 25min
Smologies #34: PENGUINS with Tom Hart
Renowned Penguinologist Dr. Tom Hart from Oxford University talks about penguins' flippers, pebble gifts, cuteness, and life in Antarctica. Topics include penguin cities, icy cuddle parties, ocean camouflage, and the evolution of flightlessness.

10 snips
Dec 20, 2023 • 1h 16min
Lemurology (LEMURS) with Lydia Greene
Wildlife ecologist Dr. Lydia Greene discusses lemurs, their evolution, Madagascar, and lemurs' unique features and behavior. The podcast also explores misconceptions about lemurs, their intelligence, and the inaccurate portrayal of lemurs in the Madagascar movies.

8 snips
Dec 13, 2023 • 1h 28min
Quasithanatology (NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES) with Bruce Greyson
A world-renowned psychiatrist and neurobiologist, Bruce Greyson, discusses brain activity during death, out of body experiments, time dilation, deathbed visions, neurotransmitters, party drugs, and the difference between religion and spirituality. He shares his research on near-death experiences and explores the impact of NDEs on attitudes towards life and the portrayal of NDEs in media. A fascinating and thought-provoking episode.

Dec 11, 2023 • 25min
Smologies #33: SCORPIONS with Lauren Esposito
Scorpions, their anatomy, venom, fluorescence, behavior, and characteristics are discussed by Dr. Lauren Esposito. The podcast covers fascinating topics such as scorpions' evolutionary history, their nocturnal nature, courtship rituals, and debunked myths. Additionally, they talk about luxury gift ideas, home security, scorpions' age, size, and self-acceptance.

13 snips
Dec 6, 2023 • 51min
Syndesiology (CONNECTIONS) with James Burke
Science historian James Burke discusses the importance of connections in historical events and between humans. Topics covered include Napoleon's toothpick, dog pee, shipworms, writer's block, TV shoots, and his new Connections season on Curiosity Stream.

Nov 29, 2023 • 1h 22min
Audiobook Mixtape 3: Gift Ideas from the Ologists’ Brains
In this audiobook mixtape, the host introduces a curated collection of book recommendations from ologists. Topics covered include the history and science of invisibility, mental conditioning for success, the joy of making and creating, the importance of bat houses, protecting the earth and fighting the climate crisis, the significance of food acquisition, and gift ideas and book recommendations.

28 snips
Nov 25, 2023 • 25min
Smologies #32: CLOUDS with Rachel Storer
Dr. Rachel Storer, cloud doctor and nephologist, discusses various types of clouds, how they form, and why they appear white. Topics also include fog, dew point, and the joy of observing the weather. The podcast episode highlights a charity focused on pyrocumulus clouds and wildfires in Australia and touches on the potential effects of climate change on cloud formations.