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.
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Cicadology (CICADAS) with Gene Kritsky
They are numerous. They are patient. They are COMING for the United States in droves this spring: They are cicadas. *The* Cicada guy Dr. Gene Kritsky joins to chat all about the annual cicadas you may see every summer vs. the periodical ones that cycle through the states in broods of giant numbers. Learn how they survive underground for decades, what they are doing down there, all about their lifecycle, who eats them and why, plus get inspired to take a cicada safari, download Cicada Safari, and appreciate their sexually desperate songs, which can be as loud as an ambulance. By the end, you’ll want to don a bug costume and hitchhike to the Midwest. (Don’t do that.) Dr. Gene Kritsky’s new cicada book: Periodical Cicadas: The Brood X Edition Download the Cicada Safari app at the Apple Store or Google Play Store. Gene’s website: genekritsky.com Also see CicadaMania.com, and follow Instagram.com/CicadaMania A donation was made to Mount Saint Joseph’s cicada research in the School of Behavioral and Natural Sciences Sponsor links: www.alieward.com/ologies-sponsors More links at: alieward.com/ologies/cicadalogy Gene’s wife Jessee J. Smith is a silversmith who makes bug jewelry. Check it out! Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month: www.Patreon.com/ologies OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, pins, totes! Follow twitter.com/ologies or instagram.com/ologies Follow twitter.com/AlieWard or instagram.com/AlieWardSupport the show: http://Patreon.com/ologies
Gluteology (BUTTS) with Natalia Reagan
Yes, an entire episode on butts. Primatologist and anthropologist Natalia Reagan joins to chat about the caboose: why do we have butts? Why do we like butts? How do we appreciate ours even more? She drops knowledge on bidets, wiping, twerking, the mystical field of Rumpology, how our derrieres have our back, plus butt dimples, and crack formations. Also: some personal revelations and getting back on your feet after a curveball. This one is goofy as hell and you’re in for more puns than you’ll know what do do with. Follow Natalia at Twitter.com/Natalia13Reagan and Instagram.com/Natalia13Reagan Natalia’s website: https://nataliareagan.com A donation was made to https://projectchimps.org/ Sponsor links: www.alieward.com/ologies-sponsors More links at: alieward.com/ologies/gluteology If you want a bidet, here's a code for 10% off: HelloTushy.com/ologies Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month: www.Patreon.com/ologies OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, pins, totes! Follow twitter.com/ologies or instagram.com/ologies Follow twitter.com/AlieWard or instagram.com/AlieWard Sound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media & Steven Ray Morris Theme song by Nick ThorburnSupport the show: http://Patreon.com/ologies
Molecular Biology (PROTEINS + SCIENCE COMMUNICATION) with Raven “The Science Maven” Baxter
This one’s got it all: teeny tiny cellular factories, obscure trivia, historical gossip, sick beats, mitochondrial relevancy, viral popularity, a backstory that with charm you to death, sports cars, lab coats, smelly vats, Space Camp and mysteries of the brain. Raven The Science Maven has a background in molecular biology and is getting her Ph.D in Science Communication and shares stories from both disciplines, while Alie generally does her best to suppress high pitched noises of excitement. Learn to appreciate your proteins and pick up some ADHD tips and noodle analogies while you’re here. That’s so Maven! Follow Raven at https://www.instagram.com/raventhesciencemaven or https://twitter.com/ravenscimaven Raven’s website: scimaven.com and YouTube A donation was made to Projectforawesome.com Sponsor links: www.alieward.com/ologies-sponsors More links and info at alieward.com/ologies/molecularbiology Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month: www.Patreon.com/ologies OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, pins, totes! Follow twitter.com/ologies or instagram.com/ologies Follow twitter.com/AlieWard or instagram.com/AlieWard Sound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media & Steven Ray Morris Theme song by Nick ThorburnSupport the show: http://Patreon.com/ologies
Carobology (NOT-CHOCOLATE TREES) with Megan Lynch
You might only know carob as not-chocolate, which is a tragedy of its disco-era branding. This tough, gnarly, drought-resistant plant is the real-life Giving Tree, explains passionate Carobologist Megan Lynch. Dripping with leathery banana-shaped legume pods, this tree quietly dots suburban streets but has kept people alive through wars and famines, can feed livestock, makes beautiful furniture, and might cure ailments from neurodegenerative diseases to the dark depths of your irritable bowels. Oh also? It can stand in for chocolate if you need it to. LET’S SHOW SOME RESPECT. Megan also chats about the #DisabilitiesinSTEM movement, academic gatekeeping, and making science more accessible. And cheesecakes. Follow Megan Lynch at Twitter.com/May_Gun Megan’s website: http://meganlynch.net/ A donation was made to STEMd.org Sponsor links: www.alieward.com/ologies-sponsors More links and info at alieward.com/ologies/carobology Buy Megan’s album! “Songs the Brothers Warner Taught Me” Other Ologies episodes mentioned: Matrimoniology (MARRIAGE), Sexology (SEX), Entomophagy Anthropology (EATING BUGS), Corvid Thanatology (CROW FUNERALS), Molecular Neurobiology (NEUROTRANSMITTERS), Experimental Archeology (ATLATLS) Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month: www.Patreon.com/ologies OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, pins, totes! Follow twitter.com/ologies or instagram.com/ologies Follow twitter.com/AlieWard or instagram.com/AlieWard Sound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media & Steven Ray Morris Theme song by Nick ThorburnSupport the show: http://Patreon.com/ologies
Economic Sociology Pt. 2 (MONEY/FREAKONOMICS) with Steven Levitt and Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman
Part 2 is here! Gamestop, #stonks, Universal Basic Income, how to incentivize things that are good for us, whether or not kids should have an allowance, Trekonomics and more. Economist, professor and “Freakonomics” co-author Steven Levitt joins to chat about everything from being cheap and what decision making costs our minds to the worth of the Amazon rainforest. Rising economics star and Harvard Fellow Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman graces us with her thoughts on the subreddit WallStreetBets, how we measure the health of the economy, dealing with bullies, and Gossip Girl. Hey, watch out: you’re about to like Economics. Follow Anna Gift Opoku-Agymen at Twitter.com/itsafronomics and Instagram.com/itsafronomics Follow Steven Levitt at Twitter.com/stevendlevitt or Twitter.com/Freakonomics A donation was made to RISC: risc.uchicago.edu Steven’s podcast is People I (Mostly) Admire: https://freakonomics.com/pima/ Sponsor links: www.alieward.com/ologies-sponsors More links and info at alieward.com/ologies/economicsociology Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month: www.Patreon.com/ologies OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, pins, totes!Support the show: http://Patreon.com/ologies
Economic Sociology Pt. 1 (MONEY/FREAKONOMICS) with Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman and Steven Levitt
Choices! Trade-offs! Money! How much should you save? And how much should stimulus checks be? Don’t be scared by the term “economics,” especially since it doesn’t end in -ology. This 2-part Economic Sociology bonanza addresses the behavior that motivates the fiscal systems of the world, from avocado toast to retirement funds. Economist, professor and “Freakonomics” co-author Steven Levitt joins to chat about why we learn too much of the wrong math and how everything from marriage to dinner parties involves little choices rooted in economic principles. Rising economics star and Harvard Fellow Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman graces us with her thoughts on macroeconomics, human capital, when to outsource your work and how she realized she loved Econ. Also: how these interviews helped me make one of my life’s biggest decisions. Follow Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman at Twitter.com/itsafronomics and Instagram.com/itsafronomics Follow Steven Levitt at Twitter.com/stevendlevitt or Twitter.com/Freakonomics A donation was made to: https://www.sadiecollective.org/ Steven’s podcast is People I (Mostly) Admire: https://freakonomics.com/pima/ Sponsor links: www.alieward.com/ologies-sponsors More links and info at alieward.com/ologies/economicsociology Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month: www.Patreon.com/ologies OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, pins, totes!Support the show: http://Patreon.com/ologies
Bilharziology (BLOOD FLUKES) with Anouk N. Gouvras
A LOST EPISODE! Three years in the making, this interview features vials of vile creatures, worm drama, febrile hallucinations, spooning, and unfortunate snacks. It has waited a long time to meet you, so let’s get weird, take a trip back to summer of 2017 -- before Ologies existed -- and unearth one of the very first, never-before-heard interviews. Alie absolutely bungles her way through a chat with Dr. Anouk Gouvras, a London-based parasitologist studying the flatworms that cause schistosomiasis. Consider this an awkward baby photo of Ologies: before the show had any format or structure, and before your host learned how to properly use sound equipment. Stay tuned for a surprise ending to the conversation, and then follow Dr. Gouvras on Twitter and tell her you’re glad to finally get an introduction. Follow Dr. Anouk Gouvras at Twitter.com/SciAnouk Sponsor links: www.alieward.com/ologies-sponsors A donation went to the The Global Schistosomiasis Alliance: eliminateschisto.org More links and info at alieward.com/ologies/bilharziology Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month: www.Patreon.com/ologies OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, pins, totes! Follow twitter.com/ologies or instagram.com/ologies Follow twitter.com/AlieWard or instagram.com/AlieWard Sound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media & Steven Ray Morris Theme song by Nick ThorburnSupport the show: http://Patreon.com/ologies
Urban Rodentology (SEWER RATS) with Bobby Corrigan
RATS: They love pizza. They invade taquerias at midnight. They scurry. They cuddle. They outsmart. They inspire movies that inspire musicals. Proving that not just woodsy megafauna can be charismatic, rats have lives we would never suspect. Globally-lauded Urban Rodentologist Dr. Robert Corrigan, or Bobby if you like, has been studying these animals in their big-city ecosystem for decades and he is a wonder-filled joy. Learn about rats’ origin story, the difference between a rat and a mouse, where they live, their preferred “food dialects,” and how to (hopefully humanely) keep one out of your house -- or car? Might as well start to love and respect them, because we’re not-too-distantly related and one day… they may be steering the ship. Follow Bobby at Twitter.com/Rodentologist Sponsor links: www.alieward.com/ologies-sponsors A donation went to the Yash Gandhi Foundation: https://www.ygf4icell.org/ More links and info at alieward.com/ologies/rodentology Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month: www.Patreon.com/ologies OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, pins, totes! Follow twitter.com/ologies or instagram.com/ologies Follow twitter.com/AlieWard or instagram.com/AlieWard Sound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media & Steven Ray Morris Theme song by Nick ThorburnSupport the show: http://Patreon.com/ologies
Vaccine Infodemiology (COVID-19 IMMUNITY) with Jessica Malaty Rivera
The Coronasode we’ve been waiting for! Vaccines. Finally. But what does this mean? As a Vaccine Infodemiologist and science communication lead for The COVID Tracking Project, Jessica Malaty Rivera specializes in infectious disease epidemics and the surge of misinformation that accompanies them. The very first human trials of the COVID-19 vaccine occurred in March 2020, and Alie asks Jessica one million questions about the differences between the two available vaccines, rollout schedules, herd immunity, mRNA, vaccine hesitancy, mutated virus strains, picnics, vision boards, the post-holiday spike, how history can influence current vaccine rates, whether you should wipe down your groceries and more. Consider it a critical booster shot to the info we’ve gathered all year. Follow Jessica at instagram.com/jessicamalatyrivera and Twitter.com/jessicaMalatyRivera More info on Jessica Malaty Rivera: https://linktr.ee/jessicamalatyrivera Sponsor links: www.alieward.com/ologies-sponsors A donation went to 500WomenScientists.org More links and info at alieward.com/ologies/vaccineinfodemiology Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month: www.Patreon.com/ologies OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, pins, totes! Follow twitter.com/ologies or instagram.com/ologies Follow twitter.com/AlieWard or instagram.com/AlieWard Sound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media & Steven Ray Morris Theme song by Nick ThorburnSupport the show: http://Patreon.com/ologies
Part 2: Dendrology (TREES) with Casey Clapp -- UPDATES + NEW INTERVIEW
Part 2 of a very special duo! The fresh catch-up interview to learn what the world’s most charming and enthusiastic tree expert, Casey Clapp, has been up to since his 2018 episode aired. He’s been busy. Listen to hear if he’s gotten more pine cone tattoos, what other trees he hates, which ones he gives 10/10, musical blunders, winter pagan traditions, and why trees may play a huge role in his personality. Also: his new podcast for your ears and heart. Follow Casey Clapp at Instagram.com/Clapp4Trees and his new podcast Instagram.com/arbortrarypod Sponsor links: www.alieward.com/ologies-sponsors A donation went to EcoTrust.org Listen to Completely Arbortrary: https://linktr.ee/arbortrarypod/ Casey's tattoo artist, Shawn Hebrank at Blood Root: https://www.instagram.com/bloodroottattoo Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month: www.Patreon.com/ologies OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, pins, totes! Follow twitter.com/ologies or instagram.com/ologies Follow twitter.com/AlieWard or instagram.com/AlieWard Sound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media & Steven Ray Morris Theme song by Nick ThorburnSupport the show: http://Patreon.com/ologies
Part 1: Dendrology (TREES) with Casey Clapp -- Encore
Part 1 of a very special duo: Do trees have feelings? How do they talk? How old can they get? Are there any tree stories that will make me cry? Spoiler: YES. This episode aired in May 2018 and is worth a revisit, especially since Part 2 is a brand new 2020 interview with possibly the world's most enthusiastic tree expert, J. Casey Clapp. Learn about his many tree tattoos, new additions to those tattoos, how roots communicate to each other, "crown shyness,” social media shyness and the mental health benefits of tree proximity. Also: banana facts and Casey f*cking hates apples. Be sure to hear the fresh catch-up interview in Part 2 to learn what Casey’s been up to since this originally aired. He’s been busy. Follow Casey Clapp at Instagram.com/Clapp4Trees and his new podcast Instagram.com/arbortrarypod Sponsor links: www.alieward.com/ologies-sponsors A donation went to EcoTrust.org Listen to his podcast, Completely Arbortrary: https://linktr.ee/arbortrarypod/ Casey's tattoo artist, Shawn Hebrank at Blood Root: https://www.instagram.com/bloodroottattoo Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month: www.Patreon.com/ologies OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, pins, totes! Follow twitter.com/ologies or instagram.com/ologies Follow twitter.com/AlieWard or instagram.com/AlieWard Sound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media & Steven Ray Morris Theme song by Nick Thorburn Support the show: http://Patreon.com/ologies
Scorpiology (SCORPIONS) with Lauren Esposito: Encore Presentation
This specific episode was cited in The New Yorker this week, so we’re giving it an encore refresh with bonus material and a 2020 update from Dr. Esposito herself! Scorpions: the victims of undue shade. If you've ever wanted to impress a date with weird facts THIS IS THE EPISODE FOR YOU. A handful of people on planet Earth have a PhD in scorpions and Dr. Lauren Esposito is one of them. She spills the beans on how venom works, what's up with the blacklight glow effect, how dangerous they *really* are, what all the movies get wrong, the best names for scorpions, where she's traveled to look under rocks, where a scorpion's butt is, if scorpions dance or make out (SPOILER: YES), what good mothers they are, how big they used to be millions of years ago and how -- technically speaking -- they are not poisonous. Also: how much does a gallon of venom cost? Oh, and why she started the visibility campaign 500 Queer Scientists. Get this one in your ears right away. Follow Dr. Esposito at twitter.com/arachnologynerd or instagram.com/caribales and check out 500QueerScientists.com Mention in The New Yorker: https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/podcasts/lolita-podcast-12-28-20 This week's donation went to: www.Islandsseas.org Sponsor links: www.alieward.com/ologies-sponsors More links at alieward.com/ologies/scorpiology2 Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month: www.Patreon.com/ologies OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, pins, totes! Follow twitter.com/ologies or instagram.com/ologies Follow twitter.com/AlieWard or instagram.com/AlieWard Sound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media & Steven Ray Morris Theme song by Nick ThorburnSupport the show: http://Patreon.com/ologies
Garology (LONG CUTE ANCIENT PATIENT BOOPABLE NIGHTMARE FISH) with Solomon David
A long snout. Hundreds of teeth. Scales that could slice you. What is a gar and should we fear it? Should we hug it? One of the world’s most passionate and knowledgeable experts on this ancient, mysterious fish joins to make you fall in love with these slimy longbois. Dr. Solomon David is affable, charming, enthusiastic and absolutely shameless when it comes to fish puns. Slip into some hip waders and jump in the muck to learn all about a creature that -- despite decades of mudslinging -- is not a gar-bage fish. Also: why gar caviar is a hella bad idea. Follow Dr. Solomon David at Twitter.com/SolomonRDavid and Instagram.com/solomon.r.david Dr. Solomon David’s website: https://solomondavid.net/ A donation went to Ranger Rick at https://rangerrick.org/, part of NWF.org Sponsors of Ologies: alieward.com/ologies-sponsors More links and info at alieward.com/ologies/garology Transcripts & bleeped episodes at: alieward.com/ologies-extras Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month: www.Patreon.com/ologies OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, pins, totes and now… MASKS. Hi. Yes. Follow twitter.com/ologies or instagram.com/ologies Follow twitter.com/AlieWard or instagram.com/AlieWard Sound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media & Steven Ray Morris Theme song by Nick ThorburnSupport the show: http://Patreon.com/ologies
Space Archaeology (SPACE JUNK) with Alice Gorman
Gaze into the cosmos and wonder at broken satellites, retired rockets and shattered contraptions. Archaeologist Dr. Alice Gorman is a leading expert on orbital debris and chats about what’s up there, how it got there, and how to get it down. Strap in to hear about everything from Sputnik to sports cars, flaming garbage bonking us, alien clutter, collision potential, the most adorable space rubbish, cosmic burials and how one does this type of archeology without boarding a rocket. Also: steaming hot cruise ship gossip. Follow Dr. Alice Gorman at Twitter.com/DrSpaceJunk A donation went to Deadly Science: https://deadlyscience.org.au/ Dr. Gorman’s book: Dr. Space Junk vs. The Universe Sponsors of Ologies: alieward.com/ologies-sponsors More links and info at alieward.com/ologies/spacearchaeology Transcripts & bleeped episodes at: alieward.com/ologies-extras Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month: www.Patreon.com/ologies OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, pins, totes and now… MASKS. Hi. Yes. Follow twitter.com/ologies or instagram.com/ologies Follow twitter.com/AlieWard or instagram.com/AlieWard Sound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media & Steven Ray Morris Theme song by Nick Thorburn Support the show: http://Patreon.com/ologies
Alligator Ecotoxicology (GATOR POISONS) with Laura Kojima
Alligators, crocodiles and … a shut-down nuclear weapons plant? The excitement never ends when you’re Laura Kojima, an Alligator Ecotoxicologist. A longtime reptile cheerleader, Laura has passion to match some truly bananas stories about field work, tail smacks, gator jaws, mercury levels, swamp boats, and crocodilian evolution, overbites, and locomotion. Her incredible work keeps people -- and the gators -- safer in toxic waters and she recalls her favorite alligator bite and the one animal that sent her to the hospital. Also discussed: jorts & gator crotches. [Audio note: the connection was a little spotty so please forgive occasional static!] Follow Laura Kojima Twitter.com/laurakojima and Instagram.com/laura.kojima A donation went to the WCS wild Siamese Crocodile conservation Sponsors of Ologies: alieward.com/ologies-sponsors More links and info at alieward.com/ologies/alligatorecotoxicology Transcripts & bleeped episodes at: alieward.com/ologies-extras Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month: www.Patreon.com/ologies OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, pins, totes and now… MASKS. Hi. Yes. Follow twitter.com/ologies or instagram.com/ologies Follow twitter.com/AlieWard or instagram.com/AlieWard Sound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media & Steven Ray Morris Theme song by Nick ThorburnSupport the show: http://Patreon.com/ologies