

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

4 snips
Nov 22, 2017 • 15min
Minisode: Grateful-ology is not a real word...
As a friend of a friend's hairdresser once said: "it's hard to be hateful with a plateful of grateful." Is it? In this pre-holidays quickie episode, Alie is grumpy as hell and decides to research the neuroscience of gratitude. Does it work? Who's studying it? Does she need to buy a journal? Find out how jotting down things you don't hate on the back of a receipt or opening a secret Twitter account may be worth more than whatever you get in your office Secret Santa exchange.Support the show on Patreon Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

22 snips
Nov 14, 2017 • 1h 9min
Cosmetology (GLAM/GROOMING) with Alysha Sherri Marcantonio
Skin care! Beard care! History! Grooming! Men's concealer! Make-up! And most importantly: what is self-confidence and where does it come from? The incredibly charming Alysha Marcantonio has been Alie's make-up artist for years and stepped in the booth to dish about HOW IN THE HECKERS she always has perfect skin (Alysha, not Alie), what it's like to hear all the gossip on set, creature prosthetics vs. glam squad and why beauty truly does come from the inside. Emotionally and from a molecular level.Follow Alysha on InstagramMore episode sources and linksBecome a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a monthOlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, pins, totes!Follow @Ologies on Twitter and InstagramFollow @AlieWard on Twitter and InstagramTheme song by Nick Thorburn Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

8 snips
Nov 7, 2017 • 54min
Ornithology (BIRDS) with James Maley
Birds! Horned screamers! Winged pirates! Professional bird-person and all around cool dude James Maley joins Alie to talk about bird mating, monogamy, the cult of ornithology, absurd birds, parrots that are smarter than your friends' kids, a surprising fact about owl ears and history's most tragically zealous bird nerds. If you love birds, you'll be at home. If a bird did you dirty, you'll open your heart and learn to love again.Follow Moore Lab of Zoology on InstagramMore episode resources and linksBecome a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a monthOlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, pins, totes!Follow @Ologies on Twitter and InstagramFollow @AlieWard on Twitter and InstagramTheme song by Nick Thorburn Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

102 snips
Oct 31, 2017 • 1h 23min
Thanatology (DEATH & DYING) with Cole Imperi
Hoooo boy. We're all up in death and dying's bizness and to Alie's shock, it's not a bummer. Confront and perhaps OVERCOME existential anxiety as we discuss not only the science of death but the nature and goddamn beauty of life. Everything from burial methods, the latest in eco funerals, what a funeral director hates most, how gnomes die, and how to regret less. Meet your new favorite thanatologist and oddly, get the guts to be the you you want to be.For more on Cole ImperiMore episode resources & linksTees, mugs, totes available at ologiesmerch.comFollow @ologies on Twitter and Instagram Follow @alieward on Twitter and Instagram Support the show on PatreonMusic by Nick ThorburnProduction by Steven Ray Morris Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

6 snips
Oct 24, 2017 • 8min
Minisode: Fall Ologies! ... Fallogies?
It's hot and Alie is nostalgic for fall. So here's a mini episode on the world's best autumn ologies to cozy up your week. Considerate blood bats, pumpkin hacks, leaf phenology, and ... Real. Life. ZombiesMore episode info and linksFollow Ologies on Twitter and InstagramShirts, tees, more at OlogiesMerch.comMusic by Nick ThorburnSupport the show on Patreon Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

37 snips
Oct 18, 2017 • 40min
Horology (WATCHES) with Cameron Weiss
Million-dollar watches, World War II's role in watchmaking, and how much caffeine a watchmaker drinks. Twenty-something horologist Cameron Weiss also dishes about mechanical vs. quartz, little tiny springs, patience, S-Town and the history of timekeeping. Also we address rap lyrics and some existential boolsheet.More info on Cameron's watchesMore episode sources and linksSupport the show on PatreonT-shirts, mugs, etc. at ologiesmerch.comFollow Ologies on Twitter and InstagramMusic by Nick Thorburn Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

22 snips
Oct 10, 2017 • 56min
Gemology (CRYSTALS & GEMS) with Kelly Sitek
Professional gemologist Kelly Sitek talks about adventures in mining, the chemical composition of different gems, breaks down the test taking process for gemology and gives advice on haunted stones. We also spill some tea on cultured pearls and address the psychology and neurological merits of crystals/the placebo effect. Whether you are a staunch skeptic or all about woo-woo, you may end up shoving a crystal down your pants just for good luck. A.k.a. neural top-down control of physiology.Follow Kelly Sitek on Instagram More episode links and infoFollow Ologies on Twitter and Instagram Shirts, mugs, etc. OlogiesMerch.comSupport the show on Patreon Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

39 snips
Oct 4, 2017 • 48min
Paleontology (DINOSAURS) with Michael Habib
Did Ross Gellar ruin being a paleontologist? What's the hot goss on dino feathers? How did some dinos have four wings and which costs more: a used sedan or a dinosaur? Featuring guest Michael Habib of the Natural History Museum of LA County. Also covered: why Alie used to feel meh about dinos (DON'T JUDGE) and the realities of cloning. Oh and penis implants.Tees, mugs, totes available at ologiesmerch.comFollow Ologies on Twitter and InstagramFollow Alie on Twitter and Instagram Support the show on Patreon Music by Nick ThorburnEditing/production by Jason Scardamalia Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

93 snips
Sep 26, 2017 • 1h 16min
Primatology (MONKEYS & APES) with Kate Gilmore
Settle in with Alie Ward and guest Kate Gilmore, a professional primatologist and lead keeper of the great apes and Old World monkeys at the Los Angeles Zoo. Learn about chimpanzee mating, why zookeepers don't wear FitBits, primate DRAAAMA, the erroneous philosophy behind truck nuts and what happens in the middle the night at the zoo. Also get some good info on primate conservation and how to be a friend to orangutans.More info including links on ape conservationBecome a patron on PatreonShirts now available at OlogiesMerch.comFollow Ologies on Twitter and InstagramMusic by Nick ThorburnMixing and final production by Jason Scardamalia Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

39 snips
Sep 19, 2017 • 57min
Volcanology (VOLCANOES) with Jess Phoenix
In this first episode of Ologies, Alie Ward chats with volcanologist Jess Phoenix who also happens to be running for Congress. Learn how hot magma is, how volcanoes are formed, how screwed the Pacific Northwest is, what thrills Jess about volcanoes, and what to do if surrounded by horse bandits. Also: some valuable information about haunted lava tubes.Follow Ologies on Instagram and TwitterFollow Jess Phoenix on TwitterMore episode info and linksSupport the show on PatreonMusic by Nick ThorburnProduction by Jason Scardamalia and Steven Ray Morris Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.