Ologies with Alie Ward

Ologies with Alie Ward

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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.

Episode List

Bonus Episode: How to Beat Perfectionism and Make a Quilt

Mar 5th, 2026 8:00 AM

Our Culcitology (QUILTS) episode taught you why quilts are agents of rebellion, community, and chill vibes all in one. This bonus episode  will tell you how to start and how to dive into anything creative without freaking out first, featuring advice from Joe Cunningham and Kule Haynes, plus dozens of friendly Ologies listeners/quilters. Cut up some scraps, pick up a needle,  and make something. You never know where it might lead you, and who it could help in the future. Including you, kiddo.  Luke Haynes Ologies quilt pattern The quilt Luke made for Alie! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Quantum Ontology (WHAT IS REAL?) Encore with Adam Becker

Mar 4th, 2026 8:00 AM

Is anything real? How many universes are there? Is everything a simulation being run by a quantum computer through a wormhole from a future era? Is the answer to everything really ... 42? The affable and charming astrophysicist, author and philosopher of tiny particles Dr. Adam Becker pulls up a seat. And enjoy this encore episode as Alie has an existential crisis or two as they discuss the drama, intellectual battles and drunken debates of science past, and the hope that a new era of thinkers will figure out what exactly is going on in the world. Either way: cut bangs and text your crush. Follow Dr. Adam Becker on BlueSky and Instagram Purchase his book "What is Real? The Unfinished Quest for the Meaning of Quantum Physics” Or his new book More Everything Forever: AI Overlords, Space Empires, and Silicon Valley's Crusade to Control the Fate of Humanity A donation went to Techbridge Girls More episode sources & links Sponsors of Ologies Transcripts & bleeped episodes Support Ologies on Patreon for as little as a buck a month OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, pins, totes! Follow @Ologies on Twitter and Instagram Follow @AlieWard on Twitter and Instagram Sound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media & Steven Ray Morris Music 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.

Culcitology (QUILTS) with Luke Haynes, Olivia Joseph, and Joe Cunningham

Feb 26th, 2026 8:00 AM

Scrap quilts. Sewing bees. Secret codes. Political activism. Controversies. Three of your new favorite Culcitologists – Olivia Joseph, Luke Haynes, and Joe Cunnignham – are stitched together for one mega episode on one of the most underappreciated and widely practiced arts in the world: quilting. We cover donated quilts, galleries vs. linen closets, incarcerated quilters, the ONE person you do not want to enter a fair with, quilting and covid, the Gee’s Bend Alabama quilters who turned modern art criticism on its head, and the icons you need to know about. Also: washing, preserving, appraising, repairing, and enjoying quilts. It’ll change the way you interact with your aunt, your local thrift store, art shows, and your very bed itself.  Visit Joe’s website and follow him on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook Visit Luke’s website and follow him on Instagram Follow Olivia on LinkedIn Donations went to the National AIDS Memorial, Visit Gee’s Bend, San Diego Craft Collective, and Crafting the Future Download the FREE Ologies x Luke Haynes Quilt Pattern PDF More episode sources and links Other episodes you may enjoy: Museology (MUSEUMS), Genealogy (FAMILY TREES), Indigenous Fashionology (NATIVE CLOTHING), Cabinology (CABINS), Modern Toichographology (MURALS & STREET ART), Canistrumology (BASKET WEAVING), Mythology (STORYTELLING), Venereology (SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS) 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.

Zoohoplology (ANIMAL DEFENSES) with Ted Stankowich

Feb 19th, 2026 9:00 AM

Barbs. Spurs. Stinks. Scutes. Shrieks. Fashion. Drama. Animal behaviorist, evolutionary biologist, Cal State Long Beach professor, and your new favorite Zoohoplologist, Dr. Ted Stankowich, divulges about putting your dukes up or curling into a ball so you don’t die. Either/or, sometimes both. I went to his lab down at California State Long Beach, for a tour and a chat about armadillos, skunks, pangolins, horned lizards, wombats, coyotes, kit foxes, poodles, porcupines, tigers, deer and the will to keep living. Visit Dr. Stankowich’s Mammal Lab and follow him on Instagram, Bluesky, and Google ScholarA donation went to the Pangolin Crisis FundMore episode sources and linksOther episodes you may enjoy: Mammalogy (MAMMALS), Ornithorhynchology (PLATYPUSES), Erethizonology (PORCUPINES), Carnivore Ecology (LIONS, TIGERS, & BEARS), Cervidology (DEER), Myrmecology (ANTS), Paleohistology (WHY TEETH EXIST), Behavioral Ecology (REPRODUCTIVE TRADEOFFS), Screamology (LOUD VOCALIZATIONS), Fearology (FEAR), Vampirology (VAMPIRES)400+ Ologies episodes sorted by topicSmologies (short, classroom-safe) episodesSponsors 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bonus Episode: ICYMI Moments of 2025 with newly beloved Ologists

Feb 17th, 2026 8:00 AM

In case you missed it, ICYMI stands for In Case Y’all Missed It. And while 2025 was a weird year (not as weird as 2026!) it was filled with some favorite new Ologists and episodes. So since things have been a bit of a busy blur for many of us, we wanted to give you a sampler platter/refresher on some of the best moments of last year’s episode. Because it's not just what we learned, but it’s the friends we made along the way, RIGHT? And if you haven’t heard the full ep, hop over and enjoy it! Or send this to a friend as an intro to Ologies. Either way, kick back for a quick episode with stellar curation.  400+ Ologies episodes sorted by topicSmologies (short, classroom-safe) episodesSponsors 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 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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