Radio and PodcastRadio and PodcastLive Radio & Podcasts
Ologies cover
Religion & Spirituality

Ologies

Alie Ward

Take away a pocket full of science knowledge and some insane stories about what fuels these professional ologists' obsessions. Hosted by humorist and science correspondent Alie Ward.

Episodes

20 of 535 episodes

Relational Psychology (BONDING VIA LAUGHING) with Sara Algoe and Laura Kurtz

Basement card games. Fireside reminiscing. Being forced to learn a dance. Does acting like a cornball matter? Will bits save your life? Yes....

00:52:59Oct 3, 2026

Silification Geology (OPALS) with Patrice Rey

Gems of lightning and shadows. Rainbow fossils. Underground tunnel homes. Mysterious sedimentary origins. Aboriginal dreamtime stories. Armo...

01:12:03Sep 30, 2026

Salixology (WILLOWS & SCULPTURE) with Patrick Dougherty

It’s the Ologies 9th Anniversary episode – and the customary gift is willow. So I reached out to an artist whose work means a lot to me, and...

01:13:33Sep 24, 2026

Extreme Meteorology (EL NIÑO) with Marshall Shepherd

El Niño. La Niña. United Nations Environment Programme doomerism? It’s been a helluva week for Meteorologists and the humans who live on pla...

01:03:32Sep 16, 2026

Meteorology (WEATHER & CLIMATE) Encore with Marshall Shepherd

Bomb cyclones! Polar vortices! Atmospheric rivers! And rained out barbecues. One of the world’s leading Meteorologists, Dr. Marshall Shepher...

01:16:07Sep 9, 2026

Party Psychology (WHY WE CELEBRATE) with Danielle Brick & Kelley Gullo-Wight

Rituals. Gatherings. Celebrations. Surprise parties. Weekend getaways. Campfires and birthday candles are in our DNA, and colleagues/social...

00:44:35Sep 5, 2026

Deep Sea Microbiology (UNSEEN OCEAN CRITTERS) with Peter Girguis

Creatures in inky trenches. Exploring the sea floor. Mud medicine. Tube worms. Harvard professor and Deep Sea Microbiology legend Dr. Peter...

01:24:26Sep 2, 2026

Mephitology (SKUNKS) Part 2 with Jerry Dragoo

What happens when you've been sprayed nine times in the face by a skunk? Part 2 with Mephitologist Dr. Jerry Dragoo answers that question. A...

01:07:44Aug 26, 2026

Mephitology (SKUNKS) Part 1 with Jerry Dragoo

It’s here. SKUNKS. My dream guest, Dr. Jerry Dragoo of the Institute for the Betterment of Skunks and Skunk Reputations is finally on Ologie...

01:00:51Aug 19, 2026

Noctohabitology (SLEEP PROCRASTINATION) with Vanessa “Nessy” Hill

Late night scrolling. Couchlock. Habitual insomnia. You want to sleep — so why won’t you turn off the light, dumplin’? We’ve got someone for...

01:37:32Aug 12, 2026

Hyaenidology (HYENAS) with Christine Wilkinson

Giggles. Pseudopenises. Matriarchies? Media slander. Hyaenidologist Dr. Christine Wilkinson delivers stories about the nature of matrilinear...

01:16:44Aug 5, 2026

Sciuridology (SQUIRRELS) Encore with Karen Munroe

Flying squirrels. Fox squirrels. Giant squirrels. Tiny ones. Grey ones. Black ones. Fluorescent ones? Alie is losing her mind talking to dre...

01:40:42Jul 30, 2026

Bonus Episode: Menopause Advice for You & Loved Ones

Advice. Hot tips. Book recs. Perspective. It’s the third and final installment of our Emmenology series on perimenopause and menopause, and...

00:46:16Jul 30, 2026

Emmenology (MENOPAUSE & PERIMENOPAUSE) Part 2 with Monica Christmas, Mary Claire Haver and Sarah Witkowski

Hormones or no hormones? Itchy ears. Disappearing pussy syndrome. Estrogen by land, by sea, by patch, by pill, or by cream. When is it T tim...

02:02:43Jul 23, 2026

Emmenology (MENOPAUSE & PERIMENOPAUSE) Part 1 with Monica Christmas, Mary Claire Haver and Lara Durgavich

Hormones. Mood swings. Brain fog. Night sweats. And why doesn’t your shoulder work? The time is here for this whopper of a 3-part series on...

01:05:10Jul 15, 2026

Conversational Psychology (CONNECTING WITH OTHERS) with Nicholas Epley

Social anxiety icebreakers. Third spaces. Slumber parties with old friends. Helping out strangers. And why primates are wired to be better c...

00:50:18Jul 10, 2026

Capsicumology (CHILE PEPPERS) with Paul Bosland

Scoville units. Nightshades. Hot ones. Sweet ones. Scandalous data. Pull up a seat for a wild, hot ride through New Mexico. Pepper expert, h...

01:27:14Jul 8, 2026

Collapsology (SOCIETAL COLLAPSE, LOL!) with Joseph Tainter

What is your Roman Empire? It’s about to be this episode. What causes the big dogs to stumble and fall? Do societies collapse suddenly, or w...

01:27:08Jul 1, 2026

BONUS EPISODE Creating Music with Jarrett Sleeper and David Bashwiner

The promised follow up bonus episode to our biomusicology episode with theoretical, neuro- and biomusicologist Dr David Bashwiner. This one...

00:55:11Jun 28, 2026

Biomusicology (OUR MUSICAL NATURE) with David Bashwiner

Music. Emotion. Brain waves. Whale songs. Toadfish. Distant moons. Loud apes. And why it’s worth it to practice piano. Brilliant and warm mu...

01:32:53Jun 25, 2026