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Artwork for Ologies

Ologies with Alie Ward

Alie Ward
Ecology
Climate Change
Conservation
Evolution
Mental Health
Memory
ADHD
Neuroscience
Animal Behavior
Pigeons
Genocide
Long COVID
Murals
Philadelphia
Dopamine
Wildlife Ecology
Porcupines
Archaeology
Cannabis
Wolves

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes539Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceComedy

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Artwork for Ologies

Latest Episodes

Red eyes. Ten-foot wings. And an absolute dumptruck. Let’s get to the bottom of the great American mythology of the world’s sexiest cryptid, Mothman. Haunting the hills of West Virginia in 1966-67, he vanished as fast as he flew. Point Pleasant-raise... more

Whisks and witches. Bristles and Shakers. Potions and prisons. From making brooms to jumping them, teacher, author, broomsquire, and Broomologist Cate O'Connell Richards gives us the overlooked history of how that broom got in your garage. So light a... more

Punted seals. Sunken yachts. Beach ambushes. And salmon hats? What’s even happening with killer whales? Are they sadists, or just hungry hungry hippos turned marine mammals? The Natural History Museum of LA County’s marine mammal expert Dr. Jorge Vé... more

Thrills. Chills. Hiding behind your hands. It’s officially SPOOKTOBER month with a huge, fascinating (and I promise, mellow) episode on why humans watch horror, and what’s happening in your brain. Not only do we have the author of “Horror on the Brai... more

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Recent Guests

Cate O'Connell-Richards
Artist, educator, writer, and broom maker
Episode: Broomology (BROOMS) with Cate O’Connell-Richards
Jorge Vélez-Juarbe
Marine mammal curator and paleobiologist specializing in cetaceans
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Episode: Orcinology (KILLER WHALES) with Jorge Vélez-Juarbe
Austin Lim
Neurobiologist, horror neurobiologist
DePaul University
Episode: Horror Neurobiology (WATCHING SCARY STUFF) with Austin Lim
Sara Algoe
Professor of psychology and neuroscience; director of the Emotions and Social Interactions in Relationships Laboratory; founder of the Love Consortium
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; The Love Consortium
Episode: Relational Psychology (BONDING VIA LAUGHING) with Sara Algoe and Laura Kurtz
Laura Kurtz
Program manager at The Love Consortium; independent consultant; researcher
The Love Consortium
Episode: Relational Psychology (BONDING VIA LAUGHING) with Sara Algoe and Laura Kurtz
Patrice Rey
Opal expert; geologist and certification geologist
Monash University/Australia
Episode: Silicification Geology (OPALS) with Patrice Rey
Patrick Dougherty
Environmental sculptor and willow artist
Willow sculptures and Salixology project
Episode: Salixology (WILLOWS & SCULPTURE) with Patrick Dougherty
Dr. Marshall Shepherd
Writer, on-air correspondent, professor, climate scientist, meteorologist
University of Georgia; Weather Geeks podcast; Forbes contributor
Episode: Extreme Meteorology (EL NIÑO) with Marshall Shepherd
Marshall Shepherd
Meteorologist, professor of geography and atmospheric sciences, Weather Geeks co-host
University of Georgia; NASA; Weather Geeks
Episode: Meteorology (WEATHER & CLIMATE) Encore with Marshall Shepherd

Host

Alie Ward
Host of the show

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 66.2k ratings
  • Ever relateable Alie Ward consistently reminds me to live with enthusiasm and curiosity, while filling my well of fun facts that no one actually wants to hear because I can't remember them very well.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    ihzee
    9 days ago
  • As a scientist, my favorite science podcast. Each episode is a relaxed interview with an expert in a field, from bats to resistance movements to microbes to how to be happy. Podcast dad Alie Ward has asides with additional information based on research papers on a related topic. Each episode has useful tidbits, like how to control mosquitoes or how to handle ADHD, & some episodes are just Alie telling you about personal but important stuff, like a colonoscopy. Entertaining & educational

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Napaaqtuk
    19 days ago
  • Fun, entertaining, interesting, top quality research... and a joy to listen to, who wouldn't want to sit down and visit with Alie?!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    JennFury
    21 days ago
  • Less than 100 reviews is actually criminal…

    This deserves wayyy more hype. These episodes have become some of the favorite parts of my day, things I’d think wouldn’t be interesting always end up surprising me, and keep me hooked for the whole episode! I’ve even bought a water bear squishmallow because I learned how bad@$$ they are from this podcast! If you like learning new things, even a little bit, then I 100% recommend listening!

    Audible
    5
    Sam
    United Statesa month ago
  • Been listening to this podcast for years and loved every minute. So much so that it has been named in my masters thesis for keeping me focused during very rough lab work. Thank you Alie for the wonderful learning experience.

    Podchaser
    5
    chanidalywelle
    a month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The tone is often noted as energetic and humorous, with strong appreciation for deep-dive science and curiosity.
Listeners praise the show's wide topic variety and accessible science storytelling.
Guests and host are frequently described as engaging, enthusiastic, and credible.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Broomology (BROOMS) with Cate O’Connell-Richards
Q: Sarah asked, why are brooms associated with witches? What is going on?
O'Connell-Richards traces depictions of women on broomsticks to European manuscripts and church writings from the 15th century. The broom was one of several domestic or agricultural tools associated with witchcraft, and its long, phallic shape was linked to fears of women's sexuality and power. The host and guest also discuss folklore, flying ointments, and the persecution of marginalized women.
Broomology (BROOMS) with Cate O’Connell-Richards
Q: When you say that you are a maker of brooms, as well as someone who studies them and you're a materials artist, can you take me back a little bit to when you started crafting them, or how did you end up with fibers in your hand that became a broom?
O'Connell-Richards began exploring broom making while completing a master's degree in fine art. Her sculptural work focused on labor, agricultural tools, and the overlap between objects of work and objects associated with magic. A grant-funded trip to the Foxfire Appalachian Heritage Center, where she took a traditional broom-making class with Carol Morse, inspired her to make brooms.
Orcinology (KILLER WHALES) with Jorge Vélez-Juarbe
Q: I know it's possible to find more ethical tour providers who stay the proper distance away and try not to spend too much time following the same pods, but do whale watching tours cause harm?
Vélez-Juarbe says whale-watching tours are generally well regulated and do not cause particular harm. Ward advises choosing operators that follow distance rules and work with researchers or conservation groups.
Orcinology (KILLER WHALES) with Jorge Vélez-Juarbe
Q: Do they have language?
Vélez-Juarbe says orcas communicate in languages that vary among pods, with regional differences that can make communication across populations difficult.
Salixology (WILLOWS & SCULPTURE) with Patrick Dougherty
Q: What tips would you give to listeners who want to start crafting with sticks at home?
Start with an idea and a structure, find uniformly sized sticks from a water-loving environment, and practice interweaving and bending while keeping the project simple and safe; observe birds' nests for inspiration and learn by doing with hands-on experimentation.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ologies

What is Ologies about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A curious, accessible science show that blends deep-dive conversations with playful storytelling. Across a wide range of topics—from sleep science and menopause to coral biology, chimpanzees, wine, and the psychology of connection—experts and researchers are unpacked in a lively, humor-forward format. Listeners get both rigorous context and engaging anecdotes, often framed around practical takeaways, real-world applications, and the host's characteristic flair for making complex ideas approachable. The program stands out for its breadth of disciplines, celebrity-tinged field trips, and a knack for turning academic topics into entertaining, human-centered conversations that appeal to general audiences and industry pros alike. It probably att... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Ologies?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Ologies:

1. Smologies with Alie Ward
2. Radiolab
3. Science Vs
4. This Podcast Will Kill You
5. Unexplainable

How many episodes of Ologies are there?

Ologies launched 9 years ago and published 539 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Ologies?

Recent guests on Ologies include:

1. Cate O'Connell-Richards
2. Jorge Vélez-Juarbe
3. Austin Lim
4. Sara Algoe
5. Laura Kurtz
6. Patrice Rey
7. Patrick Dougherty
8. Dr. Marshall Shepherd

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