Ologies with Alie Ward Alie Ward
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- Science
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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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Columbidology (PIGEONS? YES) Part 2 with Rosemary Mosco
The thrilling conclusion of PIGEONS, with Columbidologist and author Rosemary Mosco of Bird and Moon comics. It’s wall-to-wall listener questions and you’ll hear all about bonded pairs, the fate of the extinct passenger pigeon, the best cinematic pigeons, how to help their nubby feet, gender reveals gone very wrong, Las Vegas mysteries to boil your blood, and so much more. Also: did I just see a wedding bird escapee?
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Columbidology (PIGEONS? YES) Part 1 with Rosemary Mosco
You love pigeons. You might not know it yet. Espionage! Fancy breeds! Internal GPS! Weird feet! Should you be afraid of them? Should you adopt one? Pigeon advocate, comic artist and author of “A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching,” Rosemary Mosco finally joins to answer all of our questions in a beautifully mellow and melodious wall-to-wall pigeon exploration. I loved every minute of making this one and if you stick around for the secret, I’ll take you behind-the-scenes. Listen, then sit on a bench and watch your new friends.
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Smologies #42: TREES with J. Casey Clapp
Do trees have feelings? How do they talk? Which trees can you use to make syrup? Do bananas really grow on trees? Possibly the world's most enthusiastic tree expert, J. Casey Clapp, explains what makes coastal redwoods the coolest trees, how roots communicate with each other, and why a tree is like a cup of tea. Plus: bonus guest appearance by our friends (and the trees’), fungi.
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Field Trip: I Chased the 2024 Eclipse with Umbraphiles
Come along like a frog in my pocket for an adventure to see an eclipse. After last week’s Heliology episode on the Sun, I rushed out of state to see what the fuss was about and to witness my first ever total eclipse of the Sun. Did it go as planned? Of course not? Did it work out? You’ll have to listen. We’ve got: a rollercoaster of emotions, last-minute pivots, chats with strangers, highway scenery, hope, anxiety, awe, and tears as we see if my seven-year wait for totality pans out.
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Heliology (THE SUN/ECLIPSES) with India Jackson and Michael Kirk
Sunset flimflam! Auroras! Eclipse tips! Let’s get to know the center of our solar system, the Sun, as the April 8th eclipse approaches. What is it made of? How big is it? Will it explode soon? Why can’t I stare at it? And why is it wearing sunglasses? Dr. Michael Kirk and almost-Dr. India Jackson are brilliant and charming Heliologists who have both worked with NASA’s heliophysics departments. Get to know them and also the giant hot plasma ball we revolve around. You’ll never (not look at it) the same.
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Smologies #41: PELICANS with Juita Martinez
Spine mysteries, face purses, limericks, flim flam, flags, dive bombs, sibling rivalries, and more! The warm and wonderful pelicanologist Juita Martinez studies these glorious dinosaurs and shares what it’s like to hold a floofy baby sea bird, how these birds’ ecosystems are being restored, and what she loves about being in nature. Also: How much fish can they fit in there, anyway?
Customer Reviews
Smart and funny and makes me laugh
Can’t believe how much I’ve learned listening to your podcast over the last few months. I have a one hour commute to and from work and I am just laughing and amazed at your depth of knowledge and you are a funny writer and you get the best guests I just love this podcast so much.
Ologies is like a brainy power up for life
I found ologies a couple of years ago during a big mid life transition when I was feeling pretty bummed out by humans. Alie helped drag me out of this slump like the best possible imaginary internet friend / pod dad. Each episode is full of wonderfully nerdy info about the world around us (like did you know ANCIENT LEMURS FLOATED ON GIANT VEGGIE MATS)… and also some good stories about how each of the ologists found their way to doing something that they love. I appreciate the diversity of hosts and topics (yes to witchery, the Constitution and everything in between) and look forward to forever torturing my children with “guess what I learned on ologies” fun facts. Thanks Alie for sharing your joy, wit and ups and downs as we all fly through space together on this little dot called earth.
i can’t get enough!
i wish i would have discovered this podcast sooner! each episode is so delightful and it is single handedly curing all of my life’s issues. each episode of this podcast reminds me how amazing of a world we live in and how lucky we are to learn all about it. i wouldn’t want to learn with anyone else but you alie. ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡