Ologies with Alie Ward

Mile-thick ice. Dry, rocky valleys. Tiny creatures. Red parkas. Seal mummies. We’re going to Antarctica with National Geographic Explorer, microscopic photographer, and Antarcticologist Ariel Waldman. She hosts the gorgeous PBS series “Life Unearthed” and answers a blizzard of questions about camping in the middle of an ice sheet, hauling microscopes to the ends of the Earth, what’s living in a drop of melted snow, potty protocols,...

In an encore of one of our top episodes ever, Dr. Zoffness is back to chat about her brand new book, Tell Me Where It Hurts.

PAIN. What is it? Where does it come from? And how can we hurt less? Which hurts more, a kidney stone or heartache? Why does chronic pain persist? Can we turn down our pain dials? To answer these huge questions, pain psychologist Dr. Rachel Zoffness enthusiastically explains the brain, pain and how to retrain...

Neurodivergence and weed. Munchie remedies. Long term toking. The Entourage Effect. Drag a bean bag into the circle and kick back for Part 2 of Cannabinology with UCLA’s Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids director Dr. Ziva Cooper and Smith College cannabis anthropologist Dr. Caroline Melly. We’ll probe the great mystery and misfortune of hyperemesis, the effect of THC on memory and neuroplasticity, why edibles sometimes send you ...

Gummies vs. pre-rolls. THC vs. CBD. Indica vs. sativa. Hemp vs. marijuana. Dad grass vs. modern trees. This extended 2-part deep dive with UCLA’s Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids director Dr. Ziva Cooper and Smith College cannabis anthropologist Dr. Caroline Melly covers the storied history of the weed’s trek across continents, the endocannabinoid system,  the “bliss” molecule, brain receptors, cancer therapeutics, edible misha...

Discovery. Drama. Diversity. Design inspo. Let’s squirm into the sea grass and the tidal crevices with California Academy of Sciences legend Dr. Terry Gosliner and the American Museum of Natural History’s Dr. Jessica Goodheart to discover bunny horns, finger backs, stolen weaponry, “buttflowers,” doomed first dates, high fashion, tiny eyes, gender fluidity, “Finding Nemo” cameos, the boardgame you need, and how your phone can warm ...

Cheetahs. Tigers. Jaguars. Pumas. Panthers. Snow leopards. How big is a big cat? And who decides? Let’s ask the charming wildlife biologist, science communicator, and Megafelinologist Dr. Imogene Cancellare. She shares tales of remote field work, snow-capped mountains, narrow escapes, camera trap revelations, DNA discoveries, brinks of extinction, if big cats like big boxes, why tails can be bobbed, lioness manes, big cat attacks, ...

Dander enemies. Gluten intolerances. Runny noses. Shellfish bummers. Skin prick tests. Epipen pockets. Allergies? WE GOT ‘EM, folks. And we’ve got double board-certified allergist, immunologist, and author of the New York Times Bestseller “All About Allergies” Dr. Zachary Rubin. The Doc takes a quick break from his many demanding jobs to let me pepper him with questions about sneezing, allergy shots, Benadryl naps, home testing vs....

Come check out my butt with me (again)! 1 in 16 people in the U.S. will have colon cancer, and 0 in 16 want to talk about getting a camera up your guts to check things out. I am one of them, but after losing loved ones to colon cancer – and staring down the barrel of my first-ever colonoscope — I recorded tips, tricks, taste tests, foggy drug hazes, bar room advice, and finally my surprising results. It may save a life. Possibly yo...

So, you don’t want colon cancer, but you DO want buttsex secrets? Have we got an episode for you. Coloprotocolgist Dr. Carmen Fong charms us in a brand-new episode about prostate orgasms, shady polyps, fibermaxxing, colon cancer branding, butt plugs, heartburn, douches, bidets, farts, vacation constipation in the nation, ostomy awareness, second sphincters, Crown Jewels, pregnancy agonies, ‘roids, fissures, fixes, endometriosis, di...

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 yo...

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 d...

Scrap quilts. Sewing bees. Secret codes. Political activism. Controversies. Three of your new favorite Culcitologists – Olivia Joseph, Luke Haynes, and Joe Cunningham – 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, quiltin...

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, co...

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?...

You’ve got junk, and we have info. The charming and hilarious researcher, professor, sex-positive health advocate, and author of the science book “Strange Bedfellows,” Dr. Ina Park, joins to talk about sores, symptoms, muffs, condoms, testing schedules, titillating vaccine developments, miracle medications, Brazilians, HIV magic, stepping out vs. opening up, toilet seats, antibiotics, new scientific shockers about bacterial vaginos...

Histories, mysteries, memories and families: it’s time to clamber up our ancestral trees. Author and genealogist Stephen Hanks -- who teaches genealogy classes in Portland, Oregon and has contributed to PBS genealogy documentaries -- sits down to chat in this encore episode about what ignited a passion for learning about his own history. Also: how to find your family through census records, county archives, death certificates and m...

Tall ears. Huge teeth. Underestimated wit. And vocalizations that would make a songbird envious. Let’s talk donkeys with researcher and Director at The Donkey Sanctuary, Asinologist Dr. Faith Burden. We cover pop culture donkeys, their road to domestication, how much they can carry, whether you should ever saddle up on a donkey, mule genetics, zoo sexism, how to care for a donkey, what their noises mean, milky baths, emperor gossip...

Excuse me, why do you have teeth? How did they get in your mouth and where did they come from? Let’s ask researcher, tooth enthusiast, and Paleohistologist Dr. Yara Haridy.  She opened up the archives at Chicago’s Field Museum to chat about ancient skulls, drawers of bones, and the evidence that changed how we think about chompers. Drop your jaws as we discuss the origins of teeth, why yours hurt, the long-debated rumors of extinct...

Tongue twisters. Frosty holidays. Scandals. Big ol’ rodent butts. Let’s talk groundhogs with UCLA conservationist, field biologist, professor and Marmotologist, Dr. Daniel Blumstein. We cover what broadly is a marmot, the Buddhism and paganism of the midwinter slump, marmot parenthood, what they are singing into the wind, how to co-exist with one in your garden, why they don't get stressed about holiday bingeing, the real estate la...