Ologies with Alie Ward Podcast By Alie Ward cover art

Ologies with Alie Ward

Ologies with Alie Ward

By: Alie Ward
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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.2025 Alie Ward Science Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Trolleyology (MORAL DILEMMAS + THE TROLLEY PROBLEM) with Joshua Greene

    Trolleyology (MORAL DILEMMAS + THE TROLLEY PROBLEM) with Joshua Greene
    Aug 20 2025
    Train tracks. Split decisions. And a philosophy humdinger worth debating. Dr. Joshua Greene is a Harvard Psychology professor, neuroscientist, and *actual* Trolleyologist. The moral humdinger that has been used in everything from Supreme Court decisions to board games looks at: What makes you a good person? How do you reason with people who make you scream into a jar like Yosemite Sam? How far would you go to save others? Which charities should get your money? What is active versus passive harm? And what would a monk do? Also: how neurodivergence influences moral decisions, religion used as a moral compass, and your new favorite skeleton on the planet. Visit Dr. Greene’s website, his charity platform Giving Multiplier, and his online quiz game TangoBuy his book, Moral Tribes: Emotion, Reason, and the Gap Between Us and Them, on Bookshop.org or AmazonA donation went to Giving MultiplierMore episode sources and linksOther episodes you may enjoy: Eudemonology (HAPPINESS), Genocidology (CRIMES OF ATROCITY), Obsessive-Compulsive Neurobiology (OCD), Bonus Episode: The OCD Experience, Artificial Intelligence Ethicology (WILL A.I. CRASH OUT?), Attention-Deficit Neuropsychology (ADHD), Suicidology (SUICIDE PREVENTION & AWARENESS), Dolorology (PAIN), Molecular Neurobiology (BRAIN CHEMICALS), Personality Psychology (PERSONALITIES), Ferroequinology (TRAINS)400+ Ologies episodes sorted by topicSmologies (short, classroom-safe) episodesSponsors of OlogiesTranscripts and bleeped episodesBecome a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a monthOlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes!Follow Ologies on Instagram and BlueskyFollow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTokEditing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jake ChaffeeManaging Director: Susan HaleScheduling Producer: Noel DilworthTranscripts by Aveline Malek Website by Kelly R. DwyerTheme song by Nick Thorburn
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    1 hr and 22 mins
  • Tempestology (HURRICANES) Part 2 with Dr. Kim Wood & Matt Lanza

    Tempestology (HURRICANES) Part 2 with Dr. Kim Wood & Matt Lanza
    Aug 13 2025

    The info storm continues! Part 1 covered the anatomy of a cyclonic storm, the bizarre histories behind the category system, and where hurricanes come from, but this week’s conclusion with Matt Lanza and Dr. Kim Wood gets you covered on emergency preparation for any disaster occasion, climate change trends and despair, the latest on the government funding drama, if you should trust a waffle house more than a weather person, and literally what is on the horizon in the future. Also: Sharpiegate.

    Read Matt Lanza’s tropical weather forecasts at The Eyewall and Houston-based forecasts at Space City Weather

    Follow Matt Lanza on Instagram and Bluesky

    Visit Dr. Wood’s website and follow them on Google Scholar and Bluesky

    Donations went to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country's Kerr County Flood Relief Fund and The Trevor Project

    More episode sources and links

    Other episodes you may enjoy: Meteorology (WEATHER & CLIMATE), Oceanology (OCEANS), Nephology (CLOUDS), Disasterology (DISASTERS), Fulminology (LIGHTNING)

    400+ Ologies episodes sorted by topic

    Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes

    Sponsors of Ologies

    Transcripts and bleeped episodes

    Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month

    OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes!

    Follow Ologies on Instagram and Bluesky

    Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok

    Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jake Chaffee

    Managing Director: Susan Hale

    Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth

    Transcripts by Aveline Malek

    Website by Kelly R. Dwyer

    Theme song by Nick Thorburn
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Tempestology (HURRICANES) Part 1 with Matt Lanza & Dr. Kim Wood

    Tempestology (HURRICANES) Part 1 with Matt Lanza & Dr. Kim Wood
    Aug 6 2025
    Hurricanes. Typhoons. Cyclones. Tropical storms. Tropical depressions. What does it all MEAAAN? Let’s dive in. Career meteorologists Dr. Kim Wood of the University of Arizona and Space City Weather’s Matt Lanza join for a two-guest two-parter to address the “deadlier” female-named hurricanes, why hurricane season happens, the category system, where hurricanes come from, why they have eyes, and how we track cyclones’ paths so we can stay out of them. Next week we’ll be back with Kim and Matt to chat about climate change, emergency preparation – for any disaster occasion –, the latest on the government funding drama, if you should trust a waffle house more than a weather person, and literally what is on the horizon in the future. Also: cows. Read Matt Lanza’s tropical weather forecasts at The Eyewall and Houston-based forecasts at Space City WeatherFollow Matt Lanza on Instagram and BlueskyVisit Dr. Wood’s website and follow them on Google Scholar and BlueskyDonations went to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country's Kerr County Flood Relief Fund and The Trevor ProjectMore episode sources and linksOther episodes you may enjoy: Meteorology (WEATHER & CLIMATE), Oceanology (OCEANS), Nephology (CLOUDS), Disasterology (DISASTERS), Fulminology (LIGHTNING)400+ Ologies episodes sorted by topicSmologies (short, classroom-safe) episodesSponsors of OlogiesTranscripts and bleeped episodesBecome a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a monthOlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes!Follow Ologies on Instagram and BlueskyFollow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTokEditing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jake ChaffeeManaging Director: Susan HaleScheduling Producer: Noel DilworthTranscripts by Aveline Malek Website by Kelly R. DwyerTheme song by Nick Thorburn
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 11 mins

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Featured Article Go Beyond the Lab with the Best Science Podcasts for Curious Listeners
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I first ‘met’ Alie on Forever35 pod and my fav murder pod when they had her share her hometown murder - I gave it a try for the ADHD episode and stuck around! Finally a science pod I enjoy and listen to and the Smologies are really great for the family -a benefit that they’re shorter, hold the kids attention longer and we can generally listen to in one car ride.

Love Alie

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Recently discovered podcasts and Ologies, so I'm starting from the beginning. Simply amazing! Love the variety.

love science

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The passion of the guests mixed with the enthusiasm of the host while neither takes themselves too seriouly is the perfect recipe for being entertained while learning new things and reaffirming beliefs in science and education.

Always entertaining, always exciting, always educational!

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over and over again, I share with people the amazing personality and all the information that Allie shares with us. she is such a great conduit of information.
My favorite part. another thing I learned over and over again is you don't always know where you are going to end up and to follow your inspiration.
I love when people can't find the worst part about their job.
cup bangs call your crush,we're all going to die anyways.

this is good for your brain.

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The GOAT podcast for those of us who love to learn, with literally, the BEST host! Everything she says is fun to listen to... she has the greatest sense of humor! A MUST LISTEN for any & everyone!

FAVE PODCAST EVER! AND THE HOST...EVEN BETTER!!!

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I am literally so addicted to this amazing host and her quirky enthusiastic approach to bring all the needed knowledge to the masses! PLEASE keep it up Alie (dad Ward) and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do an episode on Otters and Sloths! its very needed!

CANT GET ENOUGH!

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This Podcast is Big Brain Life Goals. I cannot recommend this podcast enough. Alie is funny, engaging and so refreshing. There are so many different categories to choose from and something for everyone. I think my spouse may divorce me because all I do all day is repeat new things I've learned from this podcast. 110% worth it. Thank you Alie and every amazing scientist on this show!!

Big Brain Life Goals

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You just proved my kid was right! An aha moment for mom! My kid has anxiety, makes so much more sense now why games are a happy place!

Mind blown!

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Great show. Enjoyable and entertaining. Knowledgeable and funny. Thank you for making your podcasts.

Another great show

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I have had several life altering changes recently, and this helped me so much💗 When I was 20, I got diagnosed with cancer while I was pregnant with my miracle of a daughter 3 years ago. While it's not terminal, it changed so much within me and within my family. I have struggled with my feelings about it ever since. Then, our daughters birth almost resulted in both of us dying. I grew up in a household where I wasn't really taught to confront emotions, but more so shove them down and cover them up. This specific podcast made me feel so at ease with everything, and I literally learned so much. I can not thank you enough. please pass along my thanks to Cole too if you have the time🥹💗

Exactly what I needed

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