Remembering names! Preventing dementia! Photographic memories! Weed! Goldfish! It’s the thrilling conclusion of Mnemonology with Dr. Michael Yassa, the Director... more

How are memories made? Where are they stored? Where do they go? What was I just talking about? Neurobiologist, professor,... more

Vaping and vein health! Covid and clots! Easy bruising! Movie blood! Spider veins! Free socks! The heroic vascular surgeon Dr.... more

What even IS a breadfruit? How do you cook it? Why have Pacific Islanders grown it for so long? Can... more

Thorny leaves! Embarrassing imports! Basket gossip! Making cool stuff from invasive vines! Renowned weaver and teacher, James C. Bamba, connected... more

Exhaustion! Numbness! Anger! You’re stressed out. I get it. Let’s fix it. I cornered one of the world’s experts on... more

They’re acrobatic fliers with long bodies and veined wings and their babies breathe through their butts: dragonflies. Let’s get into... more

Folks, come with me. We’re hanging out under some train tracks late at night in Philadelphia doing street art. As... more

Licorice opinions! War chocolate! Candy corn origins, circus peanut secrets, the sourest sourballs, and your great aunt’s purse. Stay until... more

Coffin engravings! Archaeology ethics! Linen wrappings! Repatriation! Sexy hippos! We’re back with more mummies in this Part 2 with the wonderful... more

Linen wrapping. Expensive resins. Sarcophagi. Preserving for eternity – or until someone raids their tomb. It’s a brand-new Spooktober episode... more

Let’s kick off Spooktober with… RATS: They love pizza. They invade taquerias at midnight. They scurry. They cuddle. They outsmart.... more

Murals! Frescos! Graffiti! Street art! Philadelphia is the birthplace of graffiti and the mural capital of the world so we... more

Smaller than you can imagine. Potato-shaped. Mysterious. Romantic. And tough enough to survive the vacuum of space or decades of... more

Give yourself a hug and take a deep breath and let’s chat with renowned Suicidologist Dr. DeQuincy Meiffren-Lézine. He is... more

When did coffee get into our mouths? Who’s right when it comes to the best coffee? What’s the most ethical... more

A very special encore in memory of our favorite Museologist, Ronnie Cline. In this 2018 episode, we talked about the... more

Caves! Caverns! Grottos! Crystals! Let's get down and dirty with Speleology with explorer, researcher, professor, and paleoclimatologist Dr. Gina Moseley.... more

Forks on teeth. Lip smacking. Metal on metal. (Don’t worry, there are no sonic examples of triggers in this episode!)... more

What exactly is “fun?” How will you know when you’re having it? Do introverts have special alone fun? Is it... more

It’s an updated mega-encore of one of my favorite episodes — with 2024 research — to learn: How many genders... more

Feathery gills! Adorable smiles! Cultural icons! Habitat ecology! And superhuman limb regeneration? It’s an entire episode on axolotls. You either... more

Part 2 is here! It’s wall to wall listener questions about magic mushrooms, LSD, ayahuasca ceremonies, set and setting, how... more

Magic mushrooms, LSD, ayahuasca ceremonies, DMT, ketamine: take a trip into the science and research of hallucinogens. Renowned... more

Sexuality and disability! Invisible illnesses! Airline frustrations! How many of us are disabled! July is Disability Pride Month, and professor,... more

What exactly IS a puffin? Who are they related to? Are they disco birds? WHY are they so cute? Should... more

Boy howdy hot dang, Ologies has hit its 300th new episode! In celebration of this milestone, we’ve turned the tables... more

Part 2 of mosquitoes is here! Now that you know WHY they would like to eat you mosquito expert and... more

They’re gorgeous. They’re picky moms, and tremendous flirts. They are sparkly. And they drink blood. We hopped on the line... more

Clay tablets! Printing presses! Old timey audio books! Speed reading strategies! Attention spans! Dyslexia history! Literacy campaigns! Dr. Adrian Johns... more

Pointy heads. Spiked arms. Tragic romance. It’s a whole episode about praying mantises with a real life Mantodeologist, Lohit Garikipati.... more

A short little episode to tell you about a change we're making to Ologies that I am genuinely very pumped... more

The world is confusing, but there are experts in everything. In our least funny episode ever, we thankfully convinced a... more

They are numerous. They are patient. They are COMING for the United States in droves this spring: They are cicadas.... more

Mustard gossip. Knotweed recipes. Cow parsnips. Serviceberry appreciation. Hogweed warnings. Dead man’s fingers. The incredibly knowledgeable and entertaining Alexis Nikole... more

The thrilling conclusion of PIGEONS, with Columbidologist and author Rosemary Mosco of Bird and Moon comics. It’s wall-to-wall listener questions... more

You love pigeons. You might not know it yet. Espionage! Fancy breeds! Internal GPS! Weird feet! Should you be afraid... more

Do trees have feelings? How do they talk? Which trees can you use to make syrup? Do bananas really grow... more

Come along like a frog in my pocket for an adventure to see an eclipse. After last week’s Heliology episode... more

Sunset flimflam! Auroras! Eclipse tips! Let’s get to know the center of our solar system, the Sun, as the... more

Spine mysteries, face purses, limericks, flim flam, flags, dive bombs, sibling rivalries, and more! The warm and wonderful pelicanologist Juita... more

Taboos. Intolerable foods. Sad songs. Sexy kinks. Candy that looks like poo. Let’s get a little gross, shall we? The... more

Where have I been? What surgery did I have? Am I going to die? I took you along for the... more

Peach fuzz. Chin hairs. Mammalian ponytails. WHY DO THEY HAPPEN. Yale researcher and associate professor Dr. Valerie Horsley stops by... more

Why does clutter happen? How can we get rid of it and how will it affect us psychologically if we... more

Ever poked at roadkill? Watched videos of whales exploding? Drooled over a curio cabinet full of claws & bones? Peered... more

Classical Archaeologist and TV host Dr. Darius Arya is back for a smologized version of this classic episode to... more

Part 2! Black hole suns, black hole movies, wormholes, time travel, matter evaporation, scientists being bitches, risk-taking advice, Italy’s favorite... more

How big are black holes? Is time elastic? What is spacetime foam? Why is there a place called “elsewhere?” Enjoy... more

Ah, charismatic megafauna! Teeth, claws, fur, poop, hibernation, hiking, nature preserves, and living your childhood dreams with Alie’s longtime -ologist... more

CAPYBARAS! Blocky faces. Chill vibes. Spa days. Finally. Hydrochoerologist, Dr. Elizabeth Congdon, leads us into the muddy pond of Rodents... more

Environmental models! Poetry! Scientists who are poets! Novelists who are scientists! Art + science = an actual -ology. Creative... more

This one’s got it all: teeny tiny cellular factories, mitochondrial relevancy, what big smelly vats of poop have to do... more

Let’s explore our human machinery. And talk about Brazilian butt lifts. Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology and metabolism researcher Dr. Herman... more

Hairy crabs! Shell swaps! Carcinization! Will we all evolve to be crabs? What’s with having one giant claw? Why would... more

Plumage! Dance battles! Possible holographic disco birds? Natural History Museum of LA ornithology curator Dr. Allison Shultz is a professional... more

Claw hands! Beady eyes! Pinching forces that could crack your skull! Gentleman, scholar, curator of the Natural History Museum’s crustacea... more

The what, where, and who of native plants is … ethnobotany! Which is under the umbrella of Ethnoecology! The wonderful... more

At just 22, Iddris Sandu’s life story was already legendary. This Architectural Technologist learned to program at the age of... more

It’s like a whole episode of secrets. And your questions. And your podmom, Jarrett, hanging out in a guest room... more

Do penguins have flippers or wings? What’s up with pebble gifts? Are they squishy or dense? And why why why... more

How did these tree-hopping furry angels evolve to be the cutest thing in the world, objectively speaking? They have saucer... more

Tunnels of light. Unconditional love. Visions of dead aunts. And a lot of questions. What happens when you die… ... more

Scorpions: the victims of undue shade. A handful of people on planet Earth have a PhD in scorpions and Dr.... more

He’s the guy pointing to a NASA launch behind him, in the most legendary shot in television history. He’s a... more

You like Ologists. Ologists write books. You like books, so let’s dive into a new, curated sampler platter from your... more

Cumulus! Lenticular! Venti sugar-free stratocumulus stratiformis translucidus undulatus! Those light and fluffy things that hang overhead weigh thousands of pounds... more

Math wants to be friends. Let mathematician, author and Abstract Mathematologist Dr. Eugenia Cheng introduce you to a secret world:... more

Deer in headlights! Alligators in crosswalks! A possum in the oven? If you love wildlife, this is a must-listen to... more

Dig in for a bite-sized episode about how native foods aren’t just a part of a past, but an essential... more

November 6-12 is GAR WEEK! What is a gar, you ask? Picture: A long snout. Hundreds of teeth. Scales that... more

What’s on your mind? ZOMBIES. The planet is full of mind-controlling foes, and “Plight of the Living Dead” author Matt... more

Invisible but stronger than steel. Complex architectural marvels. Things that stick to your face. Spiderwebs are much more than just... more

Frankenstein’s Monster! Hungry ghosts! Moaning bloodsuckers! Goat draining goblins. Babadooks. Gorilla-whales. Slasher films. Body horror… and what these folk stories,... more

Green, yellow, striped, red, shiny, russet. Tart, sweet, sour, crunchy. Big, small, wild, heirloom, cultivated. How will you like them... more

PUMPKIN PUMPKIN! Not only a thing to scream while passing a patch, but also the name of the book by... more

More witches! History! Lore! Wardrobes! Movie trivia! And some advice from your elders? Part 2 is here with the wonderful,... more

IT’S HERE. Witches. Not just a witch expert, but also a witch. Author Fio Gede Parma has been a practicing... more

How long can we live? How much of aging is genetics vs. environment? How old are your cells? What can... more

Weird little mouths! Hairy skin tubes! Demon nematodes! Antarctic explorer and Nematologist Dr. Holly Bik charms us into loving deep... more

Sweet! Salty! Umami? What’s up with MSG? Why do you like your coffee black? Come down to flavortown and let’s... more

Dr. Mack returns with a new introduction and updates on… listener questions! The universe, dimensions, asteroid bags and cosmic vertigo... more

The Red Planet. A mysterious dusty orb millions of miles away. Our emergency escape bunker. Alie sits down with Dr.... more

Stars. Black holes. THE GAWDANG UNIVERSE. Astrophysicist and cosmologist Katie Mack (@astrokatie) re-introduces us to this 2017 episode along with... more

Alie takes a teeny tiny break from her vacation to reintroduce you to this laid back, super helpful fan favorite... more

Yep. Here it is. A kid-friendly episode on… poop. Camel poop. Rhino poop. Dog poop. Cat poop. Your poop. The... more

The brilliant and dazzling Helen Zaltzman pops in with some new asides in this encore episode of Ologies. Helen, host... more

Wrapping up our Diabetology 2 parter encore, diabetic diabetologist and wonderful person Dr. Mike Natter, MD is back with a... more

Dr. Mike Natter hosts this encore episode of Ologies (hosted by Alie Ward), it's a classic 2 parter: Diabetology about... more

Listen, kids... give your father a break, okay? Sponsors of Ologies Transcripts and bleeped episodes Become a patron of Ologies for as little... more

Machine poets. ChatGPT fails. Neurological surveillance. Brain implants that treat depression. Is it scary? Cool? Let’s firehose some questions at... more

Flying squirrels. Fox squirrels. Giant squirrels. Tiny ones. Grey ones. Black ones. Fluorescent ones? Alie is losing her mind talking... more

Hi! I’ve been in the hospital with pneumonia! But enjoy this banger of an encore about: Serotonin! Dopamine! Norepinephrine! Neurotransmitters:... more

It’s a kid-friendly episode on … thunder and lightning: very, very frighteningly interesting! Wildfire researcher and lightning scientist Chris Giesige... more

The thrilling conclusion of all-things-emoji! Eggplants, peaches, jumping ska dudes, gray hearts, family emojis, what NOT to text your Southern... more

Thumbs up? Thumbs down. Skulls of joy. And so many expressions of pain and comfort. This, my babies, is the... more

Grab your stuff and hop in our van full of weirdos to check out Boise Idaho’s finest attraction: a 580... more

Ahoy matey, we’ve we’ve brought ye another ensmol’d episode of Ologies (which just means cleaned of filth and cut for... more

Honeybees get all the attention, but native bees are the underbugs to root for. Photographer, author, and National Geographic Explorer... more

They clap. They swim. They have dozens of eyes and 2 million babies. They are scallops. Pectinidologist Dr. Samantha Lynch... more

Here we are with the smol (shorter, cleaner, kid-friendly) version of another Ologies classic, in this case: Mammals. You’re one.... more

Once again: the world is on fire. As wildfires burn across Canada and their smoke pours down the continent, we... more

What’s the difference between Southern cooking and “soul food?” Is there a correct type of mac and cheese? And whose... more

Jump in, we’re going to the Valley to talk to cool, funny screenwriters about ... Artificial intelligence-drafted scripts! Trillion-dollar companies... more

It’s 2-for-1! Ticks AND Lyme: together in one helpful, disgusting, gossipy, empowering episode. This pair of episodes is about tiny,... more

Invisibility cloaks. Transparent frogs. Stealth bombers. Gorilla mischief. Theoretical optical physicist and Invisible Photologist Dr. Greg Gbur joins Alie to... more

How do our bodies build our bodies? What does a stem cell look like? How do they know what to... more

This shorter, kid-safe edit of the classic Herpetology episode features frilly gills, frog tornadoes, legless lizards, and reasons to appreciate... more

Wow. It gets weirder. Military dolphins, dolphins on drugs, sensory deprivation, deciphering dolphin language, the search for alien life, and... more

Giant brains! Communication mysteries! Infamous sensuality! Dolphins are here to blow your relatively tiny mind with their squeaks, clicks, cliques,... more

Come check out my butt with me! 1 in 16 people in the U.S. will have colon cancer, and 0... more

We’re back for Part 2! If you missed Part 1, start there for the chicken basics and then come back... more

Yes, Chickenology is a real word. And we have questions. Such as: should you get a chicken?! Chicken-haver and author... more

A G-rated, kid-safe Smologies edit all about getting your Zzzzzs. Neurologist and somnologist Dr. W. Chris Winter is an expert... more

What’s inside that boarded up house? Should you explore an abandoned mall? A vacant factory? And how much of an... more

Ahh, Daylight Savings Time: does it mess up your brain? What time should you go to bed? Are you sleeping... more

Ichthyology is not easy to say, but fish are easy to love. Dr. Chris Thacker will get you so thrilled... more

Why an episode on Detroit?! It’s got a great story. Standalone, this episode is a fascinating look at a metropolis... more

I’m at the airport and there are hundreds of brain scientists everywhere. So I swallowed my dignity/anxiety and approached strangers... more

Chemical spills, historical disasters, water quality, airborne toxic events, clear gasses, White Noise, dead fish, dark clouds, chemistry tests, trench... more

Skin color! Hair texture! Biological anthropology! The incredibly informed and infectiously funny Dr. Tina Lasisi joins to chat sunscreen, ashiness,... more

It’s invisible. It’s mysterious. It’s all around us – and no one knows what it is. Let’s have a fun... more

Part 2 is here! Pull up a seat for singing techniques, baby talk, baritones, whistle notes, stroke recovery, vibrato, Julie... more

Voices! Singing! Anxiety busters! Breathing! The absolutely magnetic, charismatic Laryngologist and surgeon Dr. Ronda Alexander makes her long-awaited Ologies debut... more

Lights! Cameras! Arachnids! And lizards and bees and beetles. Macro photography is like magic: curved glass gives an entirely new... more

Part 2 is here: Lucid dreaming! Teeth falling out! Medications and dreaming! The source of creativity! Even how to clean... more

WHY do we dream? What do dreams mean? What parts of our brain are working after-hours? We sought out UC... more

It’s a weird rambling bonus episode for the lonely week between the holidays and New Years! I thought I’d serve... more

Another G-rated edit of a classic! This Smologies with Dr. John McCormack of Occidental College is all about evolution, Darwinism,... more

Very special episode for a very special cat. The day after the legendary Los Angeles mountain lion P-22 took his... more

Bomb cyclones! Polar vortices! Atmospheric rivers! And rained out barbecues. One of the world’s leading Meteorologists, Dr. Marshall Shepherd –... more

Crosswords! Puzzles! Wordles! Magic? Ah yes, world-renowned Enigmatologist David Kwong drops in to chat about the intersection of sleight of... more

In celebration of Dr. Tom Volk’s life: Mushrooms! Psilocybin! Humongous fungus! Black mold! Foraging! The incredibly charming and warm Dr.... more

Soil! Dirt! Earth. Dr. Lydia Jennings, aka Native Soil Nerd, breaks down the stuff under our feet and explains everything... more

Kid-friendly and quick! It’s another Smologies G-rated cut of a classic episode. Loosen your belts and tuck a napkin under... more

It’s November and you need chill vibes. And Native American Heritage Month is the perfect time to encore this classic.... more

Landfills! Treasures in the trash! Corporate conspiracies! Composting! An instantly classic conversation with the incredibly knowledgeable, frank and wonderful Dr.... more

A kid-friendly, shortened version of our classic episode on …flags! E. Tory Laitila, a textile expert who has also handled... more

Start with Part 1 for all the folkloric history, superstition, and Dracula basics. And then this Part 2 has vampire... more

Fangs! Capes! Undead bloodlust! Are vampires soul-draining ghouls or a hot prom date? No better person to ask than Indiana... more

We're back with another shorter, cleaner, edition of an Ologies classic, today it's all the way back from Episode 11:... more

Let’s get spooky. Venture below Parisian streets and into the catacombs: hundreds of miles of subterranean tunnels housing millions of... more

Consider this an audio postcard from my first vacation in 13 years. I travel a lot for my other job... more

What’s the customary 5th Anniversary gift? Apparently… WOOD! So we wrangled our favorite sawmill owner/operator of LA’s Angel City Lumber,... more

We’re back! Listen to Part 1 first, then hit this follow-up with your favorite geologist Schmitty Thompson, who answers listener... more

It’s a shorter, swear-free version of the wonderful Genealogy episode with author Stephen Hanks -- who teaches genealogy classes in... more

What is a rock? How big is a boulder? Why are they pretty and heavy? It’s rock talk with a... more

Mountain goats are not goats. And there’s only one living species, Oreamnos americanus. WHAT?? Montana-based wildlife biologist and Oreamnologist Julie... more

How many legs? Why so many legs? What's a millipede versus a centipede? And again WHY SO MANY LEGS. We... more

How do societal structures affect the planet? Why should we get to know our neighbors? What’s the ecological price we... more