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
  • Salugenology (WHY HUMANS REQUIRE HOBBIES) Part 1 with Julia Hotz

    Salugenology (WHY HUMANS REQUIRE HOBBIES) Part 1 with Julia Hotz
    Apr 23 2025
    Crafting. Motorcycle repair. Banjo lessons. Hobbies aren’t a reward, but tools to save your mental and physical health. Journalist/author of “The Connection Cure,” — and professional Salugenology expert — Julia Hotz explains the science behind going outside, rediscovering what makes you happy, scheduling time for hobbies if you have no time for hobbies, free support, how quarantine affected mental health, what if social interaction gives you the willies, what if depression keeps you from doing the things that lift depression, the scientific deal with cold-plunging, where to volunteer, saving money by joining knitting circle or fishing club, if protesting is a good hobby, how capitalism can literally kill us, and why she hates the title of her own book.Visit Julia’s website and follow her on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and SubstackBuy her book The Connection Cure: The Prescriptive Power of Movement, Nature, Art, Service, and BelongingA donation went to GrowNYCMore episode sources and linksSmologies (short, classroom-safe) episodesOther episodes you may enjoy: Dolorology (PAIN), Eudemonology (HAPPINESS), Critical Ecology (SOCIAL SYSTEMS + ENVIRONMENT), Post-Viral Epidemiology (LONG COVID), Disability Sociology (DISABILITY PRIDE), Ergopathology (BURNOUT), Biogerontology (AGING), Canistrumology (BASKET WEAVING), Domestic Phytology (HOUSEPLANTS), Ethnoecology (ETHNOBOTANY/NATIVE PLANTS), Dendrology (TREES) Sponsors 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 7 mins
  • Climate Fervorology (ECO-ADVOCACY WITHOUT IT BEING A BUMMER) with AJR’s Adam Met

    Climate Fervorology (ECO-ADVOCACY WITHOUT IT BEING A BUMMER) with AJR’s Adam Met
    Apr 16 2025
    Cleaner energy! Reasoning with climate deniers! Using fandom to pass policy! And not burning out. Adam Met, of the colossal indie pop band AJR is also a career climate activist, an International Human Rights Law PhD, adjunct professor at Columbia University, and the author of the upcoming book “Amplify: How to Use the Power of Connection to Engage, Take Action, and Build a Better World.” He joins to chat about breaking through the overwhelm of climate causes, what action actually matters, if petitions even work, what happens to our brains at a rock concert, how human rights and climate policy intersect, if you should drive a gas or an electric car, how to solve problems that are vexing you by not working on them, carbon footprint guilt, the similarities between writing an album and writing a book, and how to do something about climate change without bumming everyone out. It’s possible. Visit Dr. Met’s website and follow him on Instagram, Bluesky, and LinkedInPre-order his book releasing June 3, 2025, Amplify: How to Use the Power of Connection to Engage, Take Action, and Build a Better World, on Bookshop.org or AmazonA donation went to Planet ReimaginedMore episode sources and linksSmologies (short, classroom-safe) episodesOther episodes you may enjoy: Critical Ecology (SOCIAL SYSTEMS + ENVIRONMENT), Conservation Technology (EARTH SAVING), Meteorology (WEATHER & CLIMATE), Culicidology (MOSQUITOES), Oceanology (OCEANS), Pedagogology (SCIENCE COMMUNICATION) with Bill Nye, Political Sociology (VOTER TURNOUT & SUPPRESSION), Fanthropology (FANDOM), Coffeeology (COFFEE)Sponsors 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 20 mins
  • Discard Anthropology (GARBAGE) Encore with Robin Nagle

    Discard Anthropology (GARBAGE) Encore with Robin Nagle
    Apr 9 2025
    Landfills! Treasures in the trash! Corporate conspiracies! Composting! An instantly classic conversation with the incredibly knowledgeable, frank and wonderful Dr. Robin Nagle of New York University’s Liberal Studies! She is a clinical professor, author, TED speaker and former New York City sanitation worker and truly the best person on Earth to trash talk with. We cover what you can and can’t actually recycle, sticky mustard bottles, drugs in the trash, Swedish Death Cleaning, mobsters and landfills, Bitcoin in the dump, the future of garbage and exactly how screwed we are. Enjoy. Visit Robin Nagle’s websiteFollow Robin on Instagram and BlueskyRead Robin’s book Picking Up, an ethnography of New York City's Department of SanitationA donation was made to the Sanitation FoundationMore episode sources and linksSmologies (short, classroom-safe) episodesOther episodes you may enjoy: Oceanology (OCEANS), Urban Rodentology (SEWER RATS), Space Archaeology (SPACE JUNK), Critical Ecology (SOCIAL SYSTEMS + ENVIRONMENT), Futurology (THE FUTURE), Disasterology (DISASTERS), Ursinology (BEARS), Eschatology (THE APOCALYPSE), Conservation Technology (EARTH SAVING), Scatology (POOP), Agnotology (IGNORANCE), Xylology (LUMBER)Sponsors 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 Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam MediaManaging 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 30 mins
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Featured Article: Go Beyond the Lab with the Best Science Podcasts for Curious Listeners


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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 kortney

this is good for your brain.

over and over again, I share with people the amazing personality and all the information that Allie shares with us. she is such a great conduit of information.
My favorite part. another thing I learned over and over again is you don't always know where you are going to end up and to follow your inspiration.
I love when people can't find the worst part about their job.
cup bangs call your crush,we're all going to die anyways.

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Profile Image for Laura Lee Queen Bee 👸🐝

FAVE PODCAST EVER! AND THE HOST...EVEN BETTER!!!

The GOAT podcast for those of us who love to learn, with literally, the BEST host! Everything she says is fun to listen to... she has the greatest sense of humor! A MUST LISTEN for any & everyone!

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Profile Image for Melissa

CANT GET ENOUGH!

I am literally so addicted to this amazing host and her quirky enthusiastic approach to bring all the needed knowledge to the masses! PLEASE keep it up Alie (dad Ward) and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do an episode on Otters and Sloths! its very needed!

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Profile Image for Jessica Trites

Big Brain Life Goals

This Podcast is Big Brain Life Goals. I cannot recommend this podcast enough. Alie is funny, engaging and so refreshing. There are so many different categories to choose from and something for everyone. I think my spouse may divorce me because all I do all day is repeat new things I've learned from this podcast. 110% worth it. Thank you Alie and every amazing scientist on this show!!

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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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