406 episodes

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.

Ologies with Alie Ward Alie Ward

    • Science
    • 4.9 • 22K Ratings

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.

    Ambystomology (AXOLOTLS… AND LIMB REGROWTH?) with Jessica Whited

    Ambystomology (AXOLOTLS… AND LIMB REGROWTH?) with Jessica Whited

    Feathery gills! Adorable smiles! Cultural icons! Habitat ecology! And superhuman limb regeneration? It’s an entire episode on axolotls. You either love these aquatic salamanders, or you’ve never heard of them. Clap your tiny slimy hands for Ambystomologist Dr. Jessica Whited of Harvard Medical School’s Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology who raises and studies these beautiful creatures — including the biomedical marvels being discovered. Also discussed: their narrow niche, the ecology movement to save them from wild endangerment, pet care ethics, color morphs, green glowing genetically modified ones and so much more. And of course: Minecraft.

    • 1 hr 28 min
    Psychedeliology (HALLUCINOGENS) Part 2 with Charles Grob

    Psychedeliology (HALLUCINOGENS) Part 2 with Charles Grob

    Part 2 is here! It’s wall to wall listener questions about magic mushrooms, LSD, ayahuasca ceremonies, set and setting, how mushrooms go stale, decriminalization, strains and potencies, placebos, the “Stoned Ape Theory,” neurodivergence, tripping in an MRI, recent F.D.A. hearings, astrophysics and psychedelics, and how to be a good trip sitter with a professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine and co-editor of the Handbook of Medical Hallucinogens, Dr. Charlie Grob. Also: the safest way to take psychedelics, what is reality, avoiding barfing and at the very end, my own first-person ramble about following clinical guidelines for a big trip. In Oregon.

    • 1 hr 6 min
    Psychedeliology (HALLUCINOGENS) Part 1 with Charles Grob

    Psychedeliology (HALLUCINOGENS) Part 1 with Charles Grob

    Magic mushrooms, LSD, ayahuasca ceremonies, DMT, ketamine: take a trip into the science and research of hallucinogens. Renowned psychiatry professor and psychedelics researcher Dr. Charles Grob of Harbor-UCLA Medical Center sits down to talk about ethnobotanical origins of psychedelics, how much LSD is too much LSD, what juices are squirting in the brain when you're tripping out, who should NOT take psychedelics, talking to dead people, antidepressants and mushrooms, the murky history of psychedelic research, and future paths of study that may help the world. Next week, wall-to-wall listener questions and some tales from your internet dad’s own  journey.

    • 1 hr 8 min
    Disability Sociology (DISABILITY PRIDE) with Guinevere Chambers

    Disability Sociology (DISABILITY PRIDE) with Guinevere Chambers

    Sexuality and disability! Invisible illnesses! Airline frustrations! How many of us are disabled! July is Disability Pride Month, and professor, researcher, activist, and Disability Sociologist Guinevere Chambers joins to bust myths and provide perspective on everything from the history of ableism to sign language to eyeglasses, the criminal justice system, caregiving, how to ask for what you need, handling curious strangers, disclosing disabilities, where ADHD and autism come into play, and how to follow this study path.

    • 1 hr 35 min
    Puffinology (PUFFINS) with Jill Taylor

    Puffinology (PUFFINS) with Jill Taylor

    What exactly IS a puffin? Who are they related to? Are they disco birds? WHY are they so cute? Should you kiss one? Throw one? Are they in danger? Get up in a blanket burrow and listen to field researcher and legit Puffinologist, Jillian Taylor, give us all the details on who eats them, if they are neat freaks or not, their surprising life expectancy, and how they make their long marriages work. Also: the toilets with the best views, Star Wars trivia, a cereal lore, and who should NOT become a puffinologist.

    • 1 hr 7 min
    Andragogology (300TH EPISODE SPECIAL) with Alie Ward

    Andragogology (300TH EPISODE SPECIAL) with Alie Ward

    Boy howdy hot dang, Ologies has hit its 300th new episode! In celebration of this milestone, we’ve turned the tables and lead editor Mercedes Maitland hosts this episode with special guest… Alie Ward! We talk about Alie’s twists and turns finding her way into a career in science communication, selling art to child actors in LA, how she built Ologies from a small indie podcast into a chart-topping favorite, why it’s important to give adults a fun space in SciComm, putting yourself out there, how fear can kill curiosity, what it takes to be a science communicator and so much more. Buckle in for Mercedes’ debut as a host and find out whether she can be trusted to carry this beloved Fabergé egg we know as Ologies.

    • 1 hr 56 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
22K Ratings

22K Ratings

noahdone ,

Dear Ali

Find that airport where you found all those scientists. Set up a booth to enter view all of them 📸🦠

safhjkfx ,

Smarter than the New York Times?

The New York Times Spelling Bee game does not recognize ’atlatl’ as a word. But I know it is! I learned all about them on Ologies! Thanks for the knowledge.

gi_mic111 ,

Overall Okay (3/5)

Hit or miss, depends on the guest speaker. Testudinology podcast was cringey because the ologist kept saying “I think,” and host kept providing the facts later after doing the research. On the other hand, the Oneirology podcast was incredible, guest speaker was astounding.

Host is clearly passionate (which is great because more people need access to science), but tries too hard at times to be relatable. Just be confident in the show - no need to be overly giggly or profane. Keep strong - be confident in the content.

Overall, as a woman in healthcare, I recommend this show to people with an interest in learning, but may not have a strong background. My husband and I also use it for road trips. Also - use Smologies for kids, it’s great idea to include shows that are focused (obviously without swearing).

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