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 fro

Oneirology Part 1 (DREAMS) with G. William Domhoff

2 Jan 4th, 2023 1h 14m

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 expert on the topic, for this dream-come-true episode. Learn about histo

Ciderology (DELICIOUS APPLE BEVERAGE) with Gabe Cook

1 Sep 15th, 2021 1h 21m

How ya like them apples?! Well, liquified. And fermented. Author, podcaster, cider-maker and globally lauded beverage historian Gabe Cook, aka The Ciderologist, is an enthusiastic champion of this tragically overlooked drink, and he joins with

Dendrology (TREES) with J. Casey Clapp

2 May 8th, 2018 1h 29m

Do trees have feelings? How do they talk? How old can they get? Are there any tree stories that will make me cry? Spoiler: YES. Possibly the world's most enthusiastic tree expert, J. Casey Clapp, shows Alie his many tree tattoos, explains how r

Volcanology (VOLCANOES) with Jess Phoenix

Sep 19th, 2017 57m 1s

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 volca

Fearology Pt. 1 (FEAR) with Mary Poffenroth

2 Apr 24th, 2018 1h 13m

Every day, your brain tries to save your life by being terrified. Thanks, brain! Also, calm the f*ck down, brain. Alie hunted down Mary Poffenroth, an expert in the biological and sociological causes/effects of fear and it is riveting. This rea

Smologies #7: CATS with Mikel Delgado

Dec 7th, 2021 33m 16s

CATS! Kittens. Tigers. Purring. Toys. Litterboxes. We cover it all in this abridged and G-rated Felinology version for Smologites, or just anyone who doesn’t want to listen to swearing with their science. Professional cat behavior expert Dr. Mi

Is Your Carbon Footprint BS?: How to Save a Planet takes over Ologies

1 Aug 24th, 2021 51m 42s

Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. You loved her Oceanology episode and now she is in your feed to address everyone’s agonizing internal question: IS MY CARBON FOOTPRINT BS?! I don’t drop a lot of podcast episodes into my precious Ologies feed, but t

Forensic Ecology (NATURE DETECTIVE) with Tiara Moore

Nov 30th, 2021 1h 4m

Yep -- it’s detective work! But instead of crime scenes, environmental scientist, marine biologist and Forensic Ecologist Dr. Tiara Moore travels the world to sample the sea and the soil looking for the ghosts of larvae past, whispers of frog s

Fearology Pt. 2 (FEAR) with Mary Poffenroth

1 May 1st, 2018 59m

FEAR. Anxiety. Stress. Dread. It's all the same dang thing, as it turns out. Biologist and fear expert Mary Poffenroth is back for Part 2 of what has been one of the most helpful interviews of ol' Alie Ward's life. Learn how super successful pe

Philematology (KISSING) with Robin Dunbar

2 Apr 7th, 2020 1h 6m

Why do we kiss? What makes a good kiss or a bad kiss? How many microbes do we exchange? Is it good for us? One of the world’s most accomplished researchers on kissing, social behavior and relationships, Dr . Robin Dunar of Oxford University rel

Benthopelagic Nematology (DEEP SEA WORMS) with Holly Bik

1 Sep 27th, 2023 1h 17m

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 never thought possible. We also cover tiny worm brains, the smell of Ant

Sciuridology (SQUIRRELS) with Karen Munroe

1 Jul 26th, 2023 1h 41m

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. Karen Munroe. This Baldwin Wallace University professor has studied squ

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

1 Apr 13th, 2023 43m 41s

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 one of them, but after losing loved ones to colon cancer – and staring dow

Oneirology Part 2 (DREAMS) with G. William Domhoff

2 Jan 11th, 2023 1h 27m

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 dreams for decades and returns to answer an absolute deluge of questions wit

Cycadology (RARE PLANT DRAMA) with Nathalie Nagalingum

Feb 16th, 2022 1h 5m

Gather 'round fellow nerds, you’re about to learn about the wildest not a fern not a bush not a cactus plant you never knew you never knew about: CYCADS. These endangered ancient plants have been around for 270 million years, give or take, and

Carnivore Ecology (LIONS, TIGERS, & BEARS) with Rae Wynn-Grant

1 1 Feb 9th, 2022 1h 41m

Ah, charismatic megafauna! Teeth, claws, fur, hibernation, bear hugs, hiking, cougar attacks, nature preserves, and living your childhood dreams with Alie’s longtime -ologist crush, Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant. The large carnivore ecologist, researcher

Neuropathology (CONCUSSIONS) with Mary Alexis Iaccarino

Jan 5th, 2022 1h 17m

Hi, last week I fell down a flight of stairs. Then I went to the hospital. Then I emailed Dr. Mary Alexis Iaccarino, a Harvard Medical School professor and specialist in rehabilitation from traumatic brain injuries. I asked her all about what h

Genicular Traumatology (BAD KNEES) with Kevin Stone

1 Dec 16th, 2021 1h 28m

How do your knees feel? How do YOU feel about your knees? Buckle up to better your relationship with what some listeners call their most hated and contentious joint. Globally-lauded orthopedic surgeon Dr. Kevin Stone agreed to sit on a porch an

Audiobook Mixtape 2: Gift Ideas from the Ologists’ Brains

Dec 10th, 2021 1h 10m

From crisp cider to blistering lava, life advice, climate solutions, the comforts of venison stew, cockroaches in orbit, UFO culture, social justice, dongs, worms, wasps, fireflies, bear orgies, makeouts, disasters, the deep ruts of the patriar

Corvid Thanatology (CROW FUNERALS) Encore with Kaeli Swift

2 1 Oct 5th, 2021 1h 12m

Crows have funerals? CROWS HAVE FUNERALS. The inky black bird with the big brain warns and maybe mourns around their fallen friends and Dr. Kaeli Swift is here to tell us all about it. As an avid wildlife researcher and corvid specialist, she's

Pyrotechnology (FIREMAKING) with Ellery Frahm

1 Sep 28th, 2021 1h 19m

Grab your fire extinguisher and hang on to your eyebrows, we’re building FIRES today. Now, this is pyrotechnology in the anthropological sense; the kind covered in hair metal concert venue liability insurance will have to wait for another day,

Opossumology (O/POSSUMS) with Lisa Walsh

1 1 Sep 21st, 2021 1h 9m

Teeth. Tails. Concentric nipples. This not-at-all-rodent has the distinction of being North America’s sole marsupial and so Alie hunted down lauded Opossumologist Dr. Lisa Walsh and launched an absolute torrent of giddy questions. How many tick

Fire Ecology (WILDFIRES) with Gavin Jones

1 Aug 10th, 2021 1h 16m

As Smashmouth said, “My world’s on fire, how ‘bout yours?” Why yes, Mr. Mouth, it is, indeed, on fire. As so many of us around the globe are sharing in this burning sensation, what better time than now to sit down and fire off a lot of question

Space Archaeology (SPACE JUNK) with Alice Gorman

Dec 8th, 2020 1h 17m

Gaze into the cosmos and wonder at broken satellites, retired rockets and shattered contraptions. Archaeologist Dr. Alice Gorman is a leading expert on orbital debris and chats about what’s up there, how it got there, and how to get it down. St