Ologies with Alie Ward cover art

Ologies with Alie Ward

Ologies with Alie Ward

By: Alie Ward
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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.2026 Alie Ward Science Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Special Episode: Wall to Wall Secrets, Sorry!

    Special Episode: Wall to Wall Secrets, Sorry!
    May 14 2026

    Listen. Sometimes we like to shake it up. So while we’re finishing up next week’s episode, I decided to open a sound file and spilled only secrets. This was an exercise in just chilling with you, and not editing a thing. Think of it as my exposure therapy + life advice and embarrassing tales from me, your actual biological father from the internet. Is it too long? Too bad! Is it too boring? I don’t know! But in these uncertain times, it’s important to remember that showing up is what matters. I don’t know, probably.

    A donation went to the Hand of Salvation Initiative

    More episode sources and links

    Other episodes you may enjoy: Oikology (DECLUTTERING), Entomophagy Anthropology (EATING INSECTS), Disgustology (REPULSION), Enigmatology (WORD GAMES), Political Sociology (VOTER TURNOUT & SUPPRESSION)

    400+ Ologies episodes sorted by topic

    Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes

    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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    53 mins
  • Meleagrology (TURKEYS) with Cyler Conrad

    Meleagrology (TURKEYS) with Cyler Conrad
    May 6 2026
    Wattles. Snoods. Struts. Vibes. It’s not November, which is exactly why we’re putting this episode out. All day every day, turkeys are out there like beanbags with stick legs. Let’s take a moment, or 90 minutes, with Archaeologist, Meleagrologist, and turkey researcher, Dr. Cyler Conrad. We’ll find out if they can fly, do they like to kiss, where did they get their audacity, turkeys versus my car door, if they can survive a rainstorm, the deep connections between Indigenous cultures and North American turkeys, creepy turkeys, alternative universes, if one can eat turkey eggs, where do they nest, what’s up with the wishbone and so many inconvenient facts that will have you questioning what you thought you knew about these so-called thunder chickens. Follow Dr. Conrad on Google Scholar A donation went to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center More episode sources and links Other episodes you may enjoy: Chickenology (HENS & ROOSTERS), Condorology (CONDORS & VULTURES), Ornithology (BIRDS), Food Anthropology (FEASTS), Indigenous Cuisinology (NATIVE COOKING), Plumology (FEATHERS), Indigenous Pedology (SOIL SCIENCE), Oology (EGGS), Experimental Archeology (OLD TOOLS/ATLATLS), Araneology (SPIDERS) 400+ Ologies episodes sorted by topic Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes 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 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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    1 hr and 26 mins
  • Antarcticology (ANTARCTIC RESEARCH) with Ariel Waldman

    Antarcticology (ANTARCTIC RESEARCH) with Ariel Waldman
    Apr 29 2026
    Mile-thick ice. Dry, rocky valleys. Tiny creatures. Red parkas. Seal mummies. We’re going to Antarctica with National Geographic Explorer, microscopic photographer, and Antarcticologist Ariel Waldman. She hosts the gorgeous PBS series “Life Unearthed” and answers a blizzard of questions about camping in the middle of an ice sheet, hauling microscopes to the ends of the Earth, what’s living in a drop of melted snow, potty protocols, microplastics, and the research that happens on a giant continent that carries many mysteries. Also: why you should cold email someone. Like, today. Visit Ariel’s website and follow her on Instagram, YouTube, and Bluesky Watch Life Unearthed with Ariel Waldman on PBS A donation went to the San Francisco Microscopical Society More episode sources and links Other episodes you may enjoy: Cryoseismology (ICEQUAKES), Oceanology (OCEANS), Snow Hydrology (SNOW/AVALANCHES), Tardigradology (TINY SEMI-INDESTRUCTIBLE WATER BEAR MOSS PIGLET CREATURES CALLED TARDIGRADES), Penguinology (PENGUINS), Pinnipedology (SEALS & WALRUSES), Dipterology (FLIES), Carcinology (CRABS), Ursinology (BEARS), Astrobiology (ALIENS), Thermophysiology (BODY HEAT) 400+ Ologies episodes sorted by topic Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes 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 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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    1 hr and 13 mins
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All stars
Most relevant
this is THE BEST podcast series I've ever come across. I've been listening to Dadward (Allie) for over a year now and I've learnt so much from these podcasts! The range of sciences that she shares with us is amazing and the interviews are always amazing with so many great questions, facts and secrets. it's gives me life, so yeah if u wanna learn about THE MOST random things, like trains, and cicadas and planet saving tech, then tune it.

If you aren't listening you should be

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A range of fascinating subjects, all set forth by experts with Alie Ward asking all the questions we all want to know and are afraid to, in case we look stupid. Never thought I could be interested in so many random ologies, and yet not one of these shows have I found boring. This is the podcast I tell everyone to listen to, and when moving to audible, it was the one podcast I knew had to be available to me here, or it wasn't worth paying for the subscription!

Great stuff, Alie! I know you read all these, so be aware of my huge respect for you, love for the podcast, and admiration for the idea in the first place.

Probably the best podcast I've heard

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I love this podcast. It makes me giggle, it makes me learn, it makes my commute so much better. Thank you Alie !!

Best podcast I’ve listened to.

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This podcast slaps. Great for filling the void, learning, and laughing. I love you Alie!!!!

Incredible

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its like my inner child (brain?heart?) has been brought back to life. i spend my days learning, reading, watching, thinking and INTERESTED in the world again. thank you for filling me with energy (facts, stories) which i am sharing with literally anyone who will listen xxx

this is the best podcast

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