
261 episodes

Ologies with Alie Ward Alie Ward
-
- Science
-
-
4.9 • 16K 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.
-
Urology (CROTCH PARTS) with Fenwa Milhouse
We’ve done Nephrology, Gynecology, and Phallology — but nothing prepared us for this. Penis implants. Road trip pees. Kegels. Bidets. Squirting. UTIs. Clitoral flim-flam. Elephant bladders. Everyone’s favorite Urologist, Dr. Fenwa Milhouse, makes chatting about the uh, juicy stuff effortless and easy. Like peeing should be. She humbly describes herself as a crotch plumber, but she’s so much more: a surgeon, a mentor and an inspiration.
-
Acoustic Ecology (NATURE RECORDINGS) with Eddie Game
Insects humming. Birds squawking. Chainsaws buzzing? What does the rainforest sound like? Or the oceans outside of port cities? Is the world getting louder? And what can recording devices detect that our ears – especially mine, Alie’s – can’t? Acoustic Ecologist Dr. Eddie Game of the Nature Conservancy has asked conservation questions over decades of work in 20 countries, and even though his microphone for this interview sucked, his stories and wisdom are a pleasure to hear. Also: is it okay to talk to owls? How much of timber harvesting is legal? And how do communities come together to protect the lands around them? Also: the most elusive and coolest midnight parrot.
-
Classical Archaeology (ANCIENT ROME) Encore with Darius Arya
If you LIVE for drama, you will LOVE dead Romans. Wars, backstabbing, opulence and uprisings: a little something for everyone. Classical Archeologist and TV host Dr. Darius Arya is back for an encore of this 2018 classic to dish about priceless garbage piles, lead poisoning, ancient political scandals, pottery graveyards, unearthing sculptures, tomb discoveries, what's under European cities, and how Roman society was a little like America these days. But also a lot different. With new bonus material recorded in April, 2022 in my sister’s garage.
Dr. Darius Arya's website, DariusAryaDigs.com. He's also on Twitter and Instagram @DariusAryaDigs
A donation was made this week to AncientRomeLive.org
Sponsors of Ologies
Transcripts and bleeped episodes
Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes
Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month
OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, masks, totes!
Follow @Ologies on Twitter and Instagram
Follow @AlieWard on Twitter and Instagram
Sound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media
Transcripts by Emily White of The Wordary
Website by Kelly R. Dwyer
Theme song by Nick Thorburn -
Teuthology (SQUIDS) Encore with Dr. Sarah McAnulty
THE SQUIDMOBILE HAS ARRIVED. Get in losers; we’re talking cephalopods. Yes, she drives a vehicle with squid all over it and encourages people to text her, and we have this encore episode to prove it. The world's most impassioned squid nerd, Sarah McAnulty, gets locked in a basement with Alie to talk about cephalopods, alien DNA, camouflage, invisibility cloaks, why cute things make us bonkers, terrible mating strategies, cute and clever ones and why she is so charmed by squid. Also addressed: Philly accents and the Kraken. And why I am putting out an encore episode from a parking garage.
The squid facts hotline can be reached at 1-833-SCI-TEXT aka 1-833-724-8398 -
Environmental Microbiology (TESTING WASTEWATER FOR DISEASES) with Amy Kirby
Oh boy. This episode may seeeeem crappy but it is certainly not a waste of your time. We’re not kidding, while the episode is of course wonderful, mostly thanks to our wonderful guests, it is also certainly about poopy wastewater and what we can all learn from it. About those terrific guests: we mostly speak with Dr. Amy E. Kirby, Ph.D., MPH of the frickin’ CDC (yes, that CDC) about the National Wastewater Surveillance System or NWSS. Did you know sewer water is not just a feature of teenage mutant ninja turtle habitats? Epidemiologists have been using the contents of our collectively owned chocolate waterfall to track disease since polio, but it was only in response to COVID-19 that the CDC launched the NWSS “to coordinate and build the nation’s capacity to track the presence of SARS-CoV-2.” So we learn a bit about what all that means, as we talk weird waste, medication levels in the water, whether or not “silent but deadly” is flim flam, and more in this absolutely gushing sluicegate of an ep.
BUT WAIT. That’s not all. We got two little extra guests! First up, your ol’ Dadward did a prank call on Amy Narimatsu of Shorerivers.org, so she has a fun little cameo, and we conclude with previous virology guest, Dr. Shannon Bennett, of the California Academy of Sciences to discuss what’s happening with COVID these days, and why it’s important to stay safe for those who still need protection.
It’s an absolutely bursting septic tank of an episode so… Hang on to your butts. -
Echinology (SEA URCHINS & SAND DOLLARS) with Rich Mooi
The hedgehogs of the sea: echinoids are spiky, spiny, pokey, be-toothed, venomous, mysterious, gorgeous evolutionary marvels. And Dr. Rich Mooi of the California Academy of Arts & Sciences is one of their biggest champions. Come stroll through the offices for a face-to-face encounter with this infectious expert. We talk sand dollars, uni, doves of peace, fire urchins, kelp forests, tiny hats, butt placement, foot eyes and how to find your niche, even if it’s miles below the surface on a rotting log. And bonus at the very very end: a chat about the practicalities of owning an electric vehicle with a few sci-comm up-and-comers.
Customer Reviews
THIS SHOW 🙌🏼
Words cannot really express how happy this show makes both my heart and my brain. After every episode, the first person I come across has to listen to me ramble on and on about bees, butts or bats (always bats tbh). Thank you dad-ward for reminding me how it was to soak up info as a kiddo, makes me crave learning in a way I thought I had forgotten✨
Welp. Obsessed
Hello DadWard. Writing this because I NEED another way I can rave about this podcast. 3 things you should know:
-1)My partner & I did 16 hours of car traveling in the last few days & we spent the bulk of it as Ologite sponges. We. must. absorb.
-2)Currently I'm facetiming my best pal & was sending him some of my favorite Oligies episodes & decided to just temporarily swipe his face aside (sorry friend) to write this review ASAP.
-3)Me & my bladder are so excited for the Urology episode that I'm gonna stop writing & go listen. After I finish facetiming.
Much appreciation for you & your crew & your guests,
Gina
p.s. 10/10
Unfortunate levels of wokeness
Sadly I'm deleting Alie from my subscribe list. Sorry girl been with you since pod #1 but its just gotten to be too much. I can't listen to one more "people with penises" or "people with vulvas" ref. See ep on urology. You do good work but I can take only so much pandering to the .0001% before my brain starts hurting.