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.
    2024 Alie Ward
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Science Social Sciences
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Episodes
  • Medieval Codicology (WEIRD MEDIEVAL MANUSCRIPT ART & MEMES & SNAILS)

    Medieval Codicology (WEIRD MEDIEVAL MANUSCRIPT ART & MEMES & SNAILS)
    Apr 2 2025

    Medieval art memes! Human-faced animals! Drunk monks! And a preponderance of snails. Middle Ages manuscript expert, art history communicator, and Medieval Codicologist Evan Pridmore covers: what those golden illuminated Middle Ages manuscripts were made of, who drew them, why were people sometimes naked in them, what art trends came and went – and what does it say about our history and future, immigration politics, antisemitism, what exactly is a Salisbury steak, and so much more. Also: the perfect tree for your home orchard.

    Follow Evan on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky

    Donations went to the World Central Kitchen and the American Civil Liberties Union

    More episode sources and links

    Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes

    Other episodes you may enjoy: Anthropodermic Biocodicology (HUMAN LEATHER BOOKS), Malacology (SNAILS & SLUGS), Classical Archeology (ANCIENT ROME), Metropolitan Tombology (PARIS CATACOMBS), Museology (MUSEUMS) Encore in Memory of Ronnie Cline, Modern Toichographology (MURALS & STREET ART), Proptology (THEATER & FILM PROPS), Pectinidology (SCALLOPS), Anagnosology (READING), FIELD TRIP: I Go France and Learn Weird France Stuff

    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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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • Domestic Phytology (HOUSEPLANTS) with Tyler Thrasher

    Domestic Phytology (HOUSEPLANTS) with Tyler Thrasher
    Mar 26 2025
    Fungus gnats. Overloved cacti. Fiddle fig failures. $20,000 specimens. It’s house plants — and it’s wild, folks. Widely beloved author, artist, house plant expert and Domestic Phytologist Tyler Thrasher joins to talk about root rot, what to grow in a dark basement, the rarest plants in the world, the punishments for poaching them, grow lights for people and plants, houseplant ethics, how to keep your cats from taking whizzes in them, if you should name your plants, how often to repot them, how to keep an orchid out of your trash can, pet-safe, plants, if one should use their own surplus blood to feed them, and what botany crimes I have committed against my own plants.Visit Tyler Thrasher’s website and follow him on Instagram, Bluesky and TikTokBuy his book, The Universe in 100 Colors, at Bookshop.org or Amazon, and his journal, Grow a Damn Plant JournalSee Tyler at San Diego’s Oddities Flea Market March 29 & 30, 2025A donation went to The Loveland FoundationMore episode sources and linksSmologies (short, classroom-safe) episodesOther episodes you may enjoy: Cycadology (RARE PLANT DRAMA), Dendrology (TREES), Indigenous Pedology (SOIL SCIENCE), Mycology (MUSHROOMS), Pomology (APPLES), Attention-Deficit Neuropsychology (ADHD), Genocidology (CRIMES OF ATROCITY), Zymology (BEER), FIELD TRIP: I Go France and Learn Weird France Stuff, Carnivorous Phytobiology (MEAT-EATING PLANTS), Suicidology (SUICIDE PREVENTION & AWARENESS), Carobology (NOT-CHOCOLATE TREES), Cicadology (CICADAS), Chronobiology (CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS), Tiktokology (THE TIKTOK APP) with Hank Green, Erethizonology (PORCUPINES), Coffeeology (YEP, COFFEE), Foraging Ecology (EATING WILD PLANTS) with @BlackForager, Alexis Nikole NelsonSponsors of OlogiesTranscripts and bleeped episodesBecome a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a monthOlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes!Follow Ologies on Instagram and BlueskyFollow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTokEditing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jake ChaffeeManaging Director: Susan HaleScheduling Producer: Noel DilworthTranscripts by Aveline Malek Website by Kelly R. DwyerTheme song by Nick Thorburn
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    1 hr and 34 mins
  • Post-Viral Epidemiology (LONG COVID) Part 2 with Wes Ely

    Post-Viral Epidemiology (LONG COVID) Part 2 with Wes Ely
    Mar 19 2025

    Long Covid Part 2: Treatments. Studies. Histamines. Hormones. POTS. Clots. Hearts. Hope. Highly-respected Long Covid expert, Dr. Wes Ely, is back for all of your listener questions. We also check in with Physics Girl Diana Cowern on her years-long struggle with the disease. So start with Part 1, and then finish up with this episode addressing all your straggling questions, and great advice for patients and caregivers.

    Follow Dr. Ely on GoogleScholar

    Buy Dr. Ely’s book, Every Deep-Drawn Breath, on Bookshop.org or Amazon

    Donations went to: Critical Illness, Brain Dysfunction, And Survivorship (CIBS) Center, Cohen Center for Recovery from Complex Chronic Illness, and Open Medicine Foundation – Diana Cowern’s favorite cause to support clinical trials

    More episode sources and links

    Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes

    Other episodes you may enjoy: Surgical Angiology (VEINS & ARTERIES), Cardiology (THE HEART), Disability Sociology (DISABILITY PRIDE), Molecular Biology (PROTEINS + SCIENCE COMMUNICATION), Nephrology (KIDNEYS), Diabetology (BLOOD SUGAR)

    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

Featured Article: Go Beyond the Lab with the Best Science Podcasts for Curious Listeners


Our picks for the best science podcasts run the gamut from general scientific trivia to earth science, outer space, food, plants, the human body, and much more. They're all accessible—any listener can learn about scientific history, breaking science news, and visions for the future from these shows, which often feature interviews with a variety of interesting experts who provide valuable insight, perspective, context, and clarity.

Featured Article Go Beyond the Lab with the Best Science Podcasts for Curious Listeners

What listeners say about Ologies with Alie Ward

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Profile Image for M Crow

Love Alie

I first ‘met’ Alie on Forever35 pod and my fav murder pod when they had her share her hometown murder - I gave it a try for the ADHD episode and stuck around! Finally a science pod I enjoy and listen to and the Smologies are really great for the family -a benefit that they’re shorter, hold the kids attention longer and we can generally listen to in one car ride.

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Profile Image for Charity Johnston

love science

Recently discovered podcasts and Ologies, so I'm starting from the beginning. Simply amazing! Love the variety.

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Profile Image for Ali M.

always solid and time well listened

been listening for years - it's a delight to get glimpses into the knowledge of so many different folks who have dedicated precious time and energy to learning about their "thing." easily one of my favorite podcasts

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Profile Image for Ivy Luna

Dad Von Podcast Ward a must have in your earhole

LOVE this podcast. Cannot get enough of each topic. Learning something new in every episode that just blows my mind and great humor. I want all the Ologiest to be my friends and Ali to be my big sister. SMITTEN! Okay Bur bye! :-)

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Profile Image for critical consumer

Fascinating!

Having grown up in Florida, near Marineland in St. Augustine, I love dolphins and this episode touched my inner child's curiosity. Taking the deep dive into this subject brought back memories of summer camps at Marineland, watching the dolphins for hours and imagining their conversations. Marineland is no more and now the dolphin center is focused on education rather than entertainment. These wonderful creatures deserve our respect and yes, they will rule the future water world with Kevin Costner as their court jester!! Thanks for another great interview Alie!

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Profile Image for Teresa Friden

Mind blown!

You just proved my kid was right! An aha moment for mom! My kid has anxiety, makes so much more sense now why games are a happy place!

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Profile Image for Tres Carrillo

Another great show

Great show. Enjoyable and entertaining. Knowledgeable and funny. Thank you for making your podcasts.

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Profile Image for Kamryn

Exactly what I needed

I have had several life altering changes recently, and this helped me so much💗 When I was 20, I got diagnosed with cancer while I was pregnant with my miracle of a daughter 3 years ago. While it's not terminal, it changed so much within me and within my family. I have struggled with my feelings about it ever since. Then, our daughters birth almost resulted in both of us dying. I grew up in a household where I wasn't really taught to confront emotions, but more so shove them down and cover them up. This specific podcast made me feel so at ease with everything, and I literally learned so much. I can not thank you enough. please pass along my thanks to Cole too if you have the time🥹💗

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Profile Image for Anonymous User

Pure joy for my curious inner child

I love this podcast, been listening for over a year and finally today I can write a Review. This podcast makes me feel like a little girl discovering the world again, there are so many episodes to hear. I love the passion that all this academics put in their research, it brings me pure joy.

I love this podcast.

bye.

Ali please read it.

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Profile Image for Jenny

My favorite science show!

A wonderful science show for everyone out there. No need to speak science to love it!

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