Ologies with Alie Ward

Written by: Alie Ward
  • Summary

  • 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.
    2024 Alie Ward
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Episodes
  • Field Trip: Activism Art Panel Recorded at WonderCon
    Mar 1 2025

    Exactly the inspiration you need. Exactly the perfect time. Pass it on to anyone who loves art and/or speaking up. I went to Comic-Con’s little sister, WonderCon, to moderate a panel on protest art with expert Carol Wells, the founder of the Center for the Study of Political Graphics and C. Andrew Hall, from the Spesh Ep: Functional Magic's Environmental Art episode we did in 2021 about the non-profit he founded. So come along to WonderCon – free admission – as we chat about protest art, different approaches graphically, camouflage among ads, defining propaganda, the tiniest mightiest posters, collectible gig posters for the climate, and how the anti-war movement affected history. Also, short warning, we do discuss a few images of war photojournalism in this episode.

    Donations were made to the Center for the Study of Political Graphics and Functional Magic

    Yay! Functional Magic t-shirt Kickstarter!

    Zoom: March 3, 8pm EST: A Beginners Guide to Street Art with Dr. Sarah McAnulty

    More episode sources and links

    Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes

    Other episodes you may enjoy: Spesh Ep: Functional Magic's Environmental Art, Modern Toichographology (MURALS & STREET ART), FIELD TRIP: I Take You to the Making of a Mural, Genocidology (CRIMES OF ATROCITY), Agnotology (WILLFUL IGNORANCE), Critical Ecology (SOCIAL SYSTEMS + ENVIRONMENT), Theoretical & Creative Ecology (SCIENCE & ECOPOETRY)

    Sponsors of Ologies

    Transcripts and bleeped 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

    Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jake Chaffee

    Managing Director: Susan Hale

    Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth

    Transcripts by Aveline Malek

    Website by Kelly R. Dwyer

    Theme song by Nick Thorburn

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    35 mins
  • Cardiology (THE HEART) with Herman Taylor
    Feb 26 2025

    It beats. It throws blood. It breaks – but not if Dr. Herman Taylor can help it. He is a physician, professor and director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, and an absolute legend. Cardiology is a vast field but Dr. Taylor joined for a 101 on how the heart works, and how to take care of it. Get pumped for valves, tubes, electrical shocks, Grey’s Anatomy glossaries, heavy metal hearts, the effects of long term stress and systemic oppression on the heart, what those blood pressure numbers mean, what to do in an emergency, cardiac disease symptoms, what your heart wants you to eat, how to decipher your cholesterol numbers and why you would want to. Also: the worst heart tattoos out there.

    Browse Dr. Taylor’s publications on ResearchGate and follow Dr. Matthew Evan Taylor

    A donation went to the Center for Black Agency and Resilience

    More episode sources and links

    Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes

    Other episodes you may enjoy: Surgical Angiology (VEINS & ARTERIES), Hematology (BLOOD), BlackAFinSTEM with various Ologists, Black American Magirology (FOOD, RACE & CULTURE), Surgical Oncology (BREAST CANCER), Thyroidology (THYROID GLAND), Addictionology (ADDICTION), Somnology (SLEEP), Chronobiology (CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS), FIELD TRIP: My Butt, a Colonoscopy Ride Along & How-To

    Sponsors of Ologies

    Transcripts and bleeped 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

    Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jake Chaffee

    Managing Director: Susan Hale

    Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth

    Transcripts by Aveline Malek

    Website by Kelly R. Dwyer

    Theme song by Nick Thorburn

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 21 mins
  • Erethizonology (PORCUPINES) with Tim Bean
    Feb 19 2025

    Barbs. Grunts. Bone caves. Dogs who got too close. We got porcupines, folks. Dr. Tim Bean of Cal Poly is as charming an ologist you can get, fielding questions about porcupine squeaks, stanks, cartoonish noses, and some romantic gestures that will leave you wanting to bleach your brain. We also cover counting quills, male models, flim-flam about quill removal, how to spot a porcupine in the wild, how to gently detain one for research, and so much more. An absolute instant classic.

    Follow Dr. Bean on Google Scholar and visit the Bean Lab website

    A donation went to NAFWS: Native American Fish & Wildlife Society

    More episode sources and links

    Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes

    Other episodes you may enjoy: Castorology (BEAVERS), Lepidopterology (BUTTERFLIES), Ethnocynology (ANCIENT DOGS AND HUMANS), Lupinology (WOLVES), Road Ecology (ROAD KILL)

    Sponsors of Ologies

    Transcripts and bleeped 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

    Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jake Chaffee

    Managing Director: Susan Hale

    Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth

    Transcripts by Aveline Malek

    Website by Kelly R. Dwyer

    Theme song by Nick Thorburn

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 13 mins

11 of the Best Science Podcasts that Will Boost Your Curiosity

Life science, neuroscience, space science, earth science – it’s all here in our collection of podcasts on the latest science, including some boundary-pushing thinking for the truly open-minded.

What listeners say about Ologies with Alie Ward

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  • Overall
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Great!

I am really like this podcast. nice content. fantastic and excellent narration in this content.

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Absolutely positively Fun in every Way imaginatable

The positive and lively uplifting fun creative and fullfilling energy of Alie W. combined with the guests passion for their feild of interest and expertise truly creates an inspiring and we'll rounded in depth all encompassing narrative to really pull the listener in I used to be okay with science now it's my favorite thanks Alie!

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Love Love Love!

This podcast was recommended to me and from the moment I pushed play I have been obsessed!! Seriously, my family and friends are now teasing me based on how often I recommend it. This podcast is a dream for anyone with a curious brain. I have learned so much from the wonderful, nerdy, passionate people featured. The sheer enthusiasm for life and science is infectious.

My only complaint is that there isn’t enough chemistry! I mean straight up chemistry because chemistry is at the heart of all science. I get it, chemistry doesn’t end in “ology” but seriously Alie, we can get around that. I can help! I will talk about chemistry all damn day. Why can that plant kill you if you eat it? Chemistry! What is a fire? Chemistry! Why do we salt sidewalks in the winter? Chemistry!

But anyway - give this podcast a listen and your curious mind will be hooked on it!

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Fantastic podcast that makes topics interesting and fun

Alie can make any topic interesting and entertaining.
Her enthusiasm is infectious and her ability to break down complex explanations into easy to understand portions, without seeming to dumb it down or speak down to people is amazing. It’s more about translating to real world language and dispensing with all the jargon.
Real world language includes the odd swear word, which I love and appreciate!
Incredibly passionate guests present the things they know so much about. It’s hard not to want to strive off into the sunset after each episode, determined to become the next entomologist, paleontologist, experimental archeologist, or even create your own new ology by following your own weird personal niche interest

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Humor, enthusiasm.

I really like everything I listen too from this podcast. the pace, the side notes, the humor, the sound effects, the personal relatability. and of course all of the learning about things I've wondered about as well as things I've never heard about.

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Mushrooms instead of meat... interesting

I love listening to these episodes and learning new cool things 😍 Alie is funny and seems very caring and thoughtful. This mushrooms one is a good one; and I particularly liked thinking about eating mushrooms to replace meat. I usually avoid eating mushrooms, but the chicken of the woods sounds like a good thing for me to try.

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A podcast made for adhd brains

I am absolutely in love with this podcast. I have adhd and love learning new things with a specific passion for science. Aly your asides with definitions and explanations are the best for my adhd brain. I love listening at work when my brain wants to wander. Keep being awesome!

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Learning in a fun package

Alie is funny, smart, real, and honest. Her guests are interesting, and I've been repeatedly drawn into episodes that I thought would be less than enticing. Keep up the good work, Alie and team!

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