Evening, scholar. Free with adsUpgradeLog in
Ologies
Podcast · Free

Ologies

Alie Ward

A different -ology every episode: a warm, curious, often hilarious chat with a real expert in their field.

12 recent episodesFree to stream
Hyaenidology (HYENAS) with Christine Wilkinson
Giggles. Pseudopenises. Matriarchies? Media slander. Hyaenidologist Dr. Christine Wilkinson delivers stories about the nature of matrilinearity, hot Lion King gossip, bristle backs, tiny heads, big teeth, animation errors, human-hyena interactions, tongue bumps, termite poisons,
5 Aug 202676:44
Sciuridology (SQUIRRELS) Encore with Karen Munroe
Flying squirrels. Fox squirrels. Giant squirrels. Tiny ones. Grey ones. Black ones. Fluorescent ones? Alie is losing her mind talking to dream guest and Sciuridologist, Dr. Karen Munroe. This Baldwin Wallace University professor has studied squirrels for decades and addresses whe
30 Jul 2026100:42
Bonus Episode: Menopause Advice for You & Loved Ones
Advice. Hot tips. Book recs. Perspective. It’s the third and final installment of our Emmenology series on perimenopause and menopause, and it’s all wise words from Patrons. Dealing with brain fog, giving spouses grace, finding estrogen patches amid short supply, what to ask the
30 Jul 202646:16
Emmenology (MENOPAUSE & PERIMENOPAUSE) Part 2 with Monica Christmas, Mary Claire Haver and Sarah Witkowski
Hormones or no hormones? Itchy ears. Disappearing pussy syndrome. Estrogen by land, by sea, by patch, by pill, or by cream. When is it T time? What's the deal with herbal remedies? Should your moisturizer have hormones in it? Is HRT safe? Four experts weigh in on bioidentical ver
23 Jul 2026122:43
Emmenology (MENOPAUSE & PERIMENOPAUSE) Part 1 with Monica Christmas, Mary Claire Haver and Lara Durgavich
Hormones. Mood swings. Brain fog. Night sweats. And why doesn’t your shoulder work? The time is here for this whopper of a 3-part series on menopause with a total of five Ologists. No matter what your age or gender, you owe it to the people in your life who go through this to und
15 Jul 202665:10
Conversational Psychology (CONNECTING WITH OTHERS) with Nicholas Epley
Social anxiety icebreakers. Third spaces. Slumber parties with old friends. Helping out strangers. And why primates are wired to be better connected than we are now. Dr. Nicholas Epley – a distinguished Professor of Behavioral Science at the University of Chicago and the author o
10 Jul 202650:18
Capsicumology (CHILE PEPPERS) with Paul Bosland
Scoville units. Nightshades. Hot ones. Sweet ones. Scandalous data. Pull up a seat for a wild, hot ride through New Mexico. Pepper expert, horticulturist, and Capsicumologist Dr. Paul “The Chileman” Bosland of New Mexico State’s Chile Pepper Institute dishes up stories of how chi
8 Jul 202687:14
Collapsology (SOCIETAL COLLAPSE, LOL!) with Joseph Tainter
What is your Roman Empire? It’s about to be this episode. What causes the big dogs to stumble and fall? Do societies collapse suddenly, or would one notice as it happens? What *is* a complex society – and is it better than a simple one? Depends on who you ask, and we went straigh
1 Jul 202687:08
BONUS EPISODE Creating Music with Jarrett Sleeper and David Bashwiner
The promised follow up bonus episode to our biomusicology episode with theoretical, neuro- and biomusicologist Dr David Bashwiner. This one is guest hosted by Podmother Jarrett Sleeper and we steer the discussion more toward the process of creating music, where creativity comes f
28 Jun 202655:11
Biomusicology (OUR MUSICAL NATURE) with David Bashwiner
Music. Emotion. Brain waves. Whale songs. Toadfish. Distant moons. Loud apes. And why it’s worth it to practice piano. Brilliant and warm musician and assistant professor at Albuquerque's University of New Mexico, Dr. David Bashwiner is a theoretical, neuro- and biomusicologist.
25 Jun 202692:53
Cnidariology (CORAL) Encore with Shayle Matsuda
Will changing your sunscreen save coral reefs? What even IS a coral? Where do they grow and what do they eat and why are they so pretty? Is it reefs or reeves? The wonderful and charming coral biologist and cnidariologist Shayle Matsuda takes time out of his busy schedule during
17 Jun 202681:59
Paternology (FATHERHOOD) with Darby Saxbe
DADS. What makes a good one? What if you had a bad one? And how can fatherhood turn the tides on toxic masculinity? Also: diapers. The brilliant USC research psychologist,  fatherhood expert, and thus Paternologist Dr. Darby Saxbe covers everything from prehistoric family systems
10 Jun 202681:22