Ologies with Alie Ward

I listened to the basket weaving episode while cleaning and taking care of Native American baskets. I am a museologist, which I learned that term from your museologist episode. I love your podcast, it’s such an easy listen and I love all the learning that happens while I’m working, driving or cleaning my house!!

And I’m way behind, listening from the baby beginnings so I’m just listening now to Fandomology but I literally cried in the car when I heard Meredith say that fandom is self-care. “Mood regulation and experiencing feelings in a safe way is preparation for real-world feelings and exploring new feelings in a way to get a full range of human emotions.” I had to pull over in an Aldi parking lot, rewind, listen again and write it down on the bottom of a Kleenex box. My Fandom is “The Walking Dead,” and my husband threatened to leave me over it (he did, but not over that alone); he never understood my love of all things zombie apocalypse and this quote absolutely nailed it for me. My fandom (and the ones I’ve been into in the past) has gotten me through some very tough times for this very reason. Thank you for all your hard work and for finding guests that truly live the science of their work. I love this podcast.

My best friend Becca introduced me to Ologies maybe a year ago now; I listened along with her to the Systems Biology episode with Dr. Emily E. Ackerman, and discovered that yes, a science podcast COULD actually hold my attention. Since that introduction, Ologies has quickly become my go to podcast for every activity from baking, to drawing, to postponing a spiraling mental breakdown while I focus intently on centipede facts. I excitedly look forward to the day that Becca herself ends up on an episode of Ologies, and in the meantime I get to watch her do incredible science in her pursuit to understand plants, bugs, ecology, and sustainability! Thank you, Alie, for asking smart people stupid questions, and thank you Becca, for showing me the silly little science podcast :)

Alie Ward’s infectious enthusiasm, charm and humour wins me over every time I open up an episode on a topic I would otherwise pass on. I feel not only informed but uplifted after each hour long instalment. That said, as a former skincare obsessive, I need to point out that this podcast has at multiple times (unintentionally!) repeated some myths about sunscreen I think should be redressed in an episode where you could interview a cosmetic chemist with sunscreen experience. Not just because misinformation in general is bad but especially because suspicion about benign chemicals is rising to the point of a health crisis. Anyways, I reiterate: fantastic pod otherwise!!