Épisodes

  • CANDY with Susan Benjamin
    Oct 23 2025

    Licorice opinions! Chocolate rations! Candy corn origins! The incredibly charming author, journalist, candy historian, and Confectiologist Susan Benjamin chats about everything from the sourest of sour candies, ancient chewing gum, sugar sources from beets to grains to honey, Turkish temptations, what a sugar plum even is, and how candy became a treat made for anyone to enjoy. An instant classic.

    Visit Susan Benjamin’s historic candy company True Treats

    Buy Susan’s latest book, Fun Foods of America: Outrageous Delights, Celebrated Brands, and Iconic Recipes, on Amazon or Bookshop.org

    A donation went to the Animal Welfare Society of Jefferson County

    Full-length (*not* G-rated) confectionology episode + tons of science links

    More kid-friendly Smologies episodes!

    Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month

    OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes!

    Follow Ologies on Instagram and Bluesky

    Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok

    Sound editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jake Chaffee

    Made possible by work from Noel Dilworth, Susan Hale, Kelly R. Dwyer, Aveline Malek and Erin Talbert

    Smologies theme song by Harold Malcolm


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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    28 min
  • BATS with Merlin Tuttle
    Oct 16 2025

    “People fear most what they understand least." Words of wisdom from explorer, American treasure, and bat expert Dr. Merlin Tuttle. Alie headed to the bat capital of Austin and sat down with the legendary chiropterologist to discuss what a bat actually is and why we don’t need to be so frightened of them, how big they get, what's up with their smushy noses, bat chatter, echolocation, sleeping upside down, bat besties, how to spot them after the sun sets, and how it feels to get slapped by a bat.

    Follow Merlin Tuttle’s Bat Conservation on Instagram and Facebook

    Check out Dr. Merlin Tuttle's bat books

    A donation was made to MerlinTuttle.org, where you can learn more about bats & Dr. Merlin Tuttle's photography & work in conservation

    Full-length (*not* G-rated) Chiropterology episodes + tons of science links

    More kid-friendly Smologies episodes!

    Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month

    OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes!

    Follow Ologies on Instagram and Bluesky

    Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok

    Sound editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions, Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media, and Steven Ray Morris

    Made possible by work from Noel Dilworth, Susan Hale, Jacob Chaffee, Kelly R. Dwyer, Aveline Malek and Erin Talbert

    Smologies theme song by Harold Malcolm


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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    28 min
  • PUMPKINS with Anne Copeland
    Oct 9 2025

    PUMPKIN PUMPKIN! Not only a thing to scream while passing a patch, but also the name of the book by author and human delight Anne Copeland. Yes, she's so charmed by pumpkins that she dedicated a whole book to exploring their folklore, history, planting protocol, care, and cooking. Alie stops by her house in the rural hamlet of Yucaipa, California to chat about everything from creation myths surrounding pumpkins to the secret medicinal properties of pipitas, loving pumpkins (warts and all), and the big flimflam Anne needs the world to know about the pumpkin origin story. Also: who is Jack and why does he have a lantern?

    Anne Copeland's book "Pumpkin, Pumpkin: Folklore, History, Planting Hints and Good Eating" is available via Amazon

    Full-length (*not* G-rated) Cucurbitology episode + tons of science links

    More kid-friendly Smologies episodes!

    Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month

    OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes!

    Follow Ologies on Instagram and Bluesky

    Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok

    Sound editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions, Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media, and Steven Ray Morris

    Made possible by work from Noel Dilworth, Susan Hale, Jacob Chaffee, Kelly R. Dwyer, Aveline Malek and Erin Talbert

    Smologies theme song by Harold Malcolm


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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    25 min
  • PELICANS with Juita Martinez
    Oct 2 2025

    Spine mysteries, face purses, limericks, flim flam, flags, divebombs, sibling rivalries, and more! The warm and wonderful pelicanologist Juita Martinez studies these glorious dinosaurs and shares what it’s like to hold a floofy baby sea bird, how these birds’ ecosystems are being restored, and what she loves about being in nature. Also: How much fish can they fit in there, anyway?

    A donation went to BackyardBasecamp.org

    Full-length (*not* G-rated) Pelicanology episode + tons of science links

    More kid-friendly Smologies episodes!

    Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month

    OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes!

    Follow Ologies on Instagram and Bluesky

    Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok

    Sound editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions, Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media, and Steven Ray Morris

    Made possible by work from Noel Dilworth, Susan Hale, Jacob Chaffee, Kelly R. Dwyer, Aveline Malek and Erin Talbert

    Smologies theme song by Harold Malcolm


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Voir plus Voir moins
    25 min
  • MUSHROOMS with Tom Volk
    Sep 26 2025

    Mushrooms! Spores! Fairy rings! Humongous fungus! The incredibly charming and warm Dr. Tom Volk, world-renowned mushroom expert, welcomes Alie into his office to dive deep into the underground world of fungal enthusiasts: Giant communication networks, glow-in-the-dark mushrooms, the tastiest varieties for the mushroom-averse, foraging, and the unexpected way mushrooms help gobble up the planet’s waste.

    Dr. Tom Volk's awesome fungus website

    Donations were made to DonateLife.net and The Mycological Society of America

    Full-length (*not* G-rated) Mycology episode + tons of science links

    More kid-friendly Smologies episodes!

    Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month

    OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes!

    Follow Ologies on Instagram and Bluesky

    Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok

    Sound editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions, Jacob Chaffee, Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media, and Steven Ray Morris

    Made possible by work from Noel Dilworth, Susan Hale, Kelly R. Dwyer, Aveline Malek and Erin Talbert

    Smologies theme song by Harold Malcolm


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Voir plus Voir moins
    25 min
  • ANCIENT ROME with Darius Arya
    Sep 18 2025

    Classical Archaeologist and TV host Dr. Darius Arya joins us to dish about priceless garbage piles, pottery graveyards, tomb discoveries, what's under European cities, ancient spa days, ingenious construction methods, and unlikely laundry techniques. Plus, what did Ancient Romans use before toilet paper - and perhaps more importantly, WHY??

    Dr. Darius Arya's website and Instagram

    A donation was made to AncientRomeLive.org

    Full-length (*not* G-rated) Classical Archaeology episode + tons of science links

    More kid-friendly Smologies episodes!

    Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month

    OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes!

    Follow Ologies on Instagram and Bluesky

    Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok

    Sound editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Steven Ray Morris

    Made possible by work from Noel Dilworth, Susan Hale, Jacob Chaffee, Kelly R. Dwyer, Aveline Malek and Erin Talbert

    Smologies theme song by Harold Malcolm


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Voir plus Voir moins
    25 min
  • STORYTELLING with John Bucher
    Sep 11 2025

    Fairy tales. Fables. Heroes’ journeys. Star Wars. Disney princesses. And yes, some ancient Greek and Roman myths. Professional mythologist and screenwriting consultant John Bucher spins some yarns and unravels some mysteries behind what makes a good story and why we need them. Also: why we are always re-booting old tales and what dreams have to do with mythology.

    John Bucher's website and Instagram

    Full-length (*not* G-rated) Mythology episode + tons of science links

    More kid-friendly Smologies episodes!

    Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month

    OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes!

    Follow Ologies on Instagram and Bluesky

    Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok

    Sound editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Steven Ray Morris

    Made possible by work from Noel Dilworth, Susan Hale, Jacob Chaffee, Kelly R. Dwyer, Aveline Malek and Erin Talbert

    Smologies theme song by Harold Malcolm


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Voir plus Voir moins
    25 min
  • CARNIVORES with Rae Wynn-Grant
    Sep 4 2025

    Ah, charismatic megafauna! Teeth, claws, fur, poop, hibernation, hiking, nature preserves, and living your childhood dreams with Alie’s longtime -ologist crush, Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant. The large carnivore ecologist, researcher and TV presenter tells us all about her field work, what it’s like to stuff a baby bear in your coat, carnivore microbiomes, how well carnivores can taste and smell their food (and yours), how smart the average bear really is and more. Also: Is there such thing as a vegetarian carnivore?! We love her.

    Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant’s website and Instagram

    Listen to Dr. Wynn-Grant’s podcast Going Wild

    A donation went to Black Outside

    Full-length (*not* G-rated) Carnivore Ecology episode + tons of science links

    More kid-friendly Smologies episodes!

    Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month

    OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes!

    Follow Ologies on Instagram and Bluesky

    Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok

    Sound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media and Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions

    Made possible by work from Noel Dilworth, Susan Hale, Jacob Chaffee, Kelly R. Dwyer, Aveline Malek and Erin Talbert

    Smologies theme song by Harold Malcolm


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Voir plus Voir moins
    25 min