Ologies with Alie Ward cover art

Ologies with Alie Ward

Ologies with Alie Ward

Written by: Alie Ward
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About this listen

 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
  • Bonus Episode: How to Beat Perfectionism and Make a Quilt

    Bonus Episode: How to Beat Perfectionism and Make a Quilt
    Mar 5 2026

    Our Culcitology (QUILTS) episode taught you why quilts are agents of rebellion, community, and chill vibes all in one. This bonus episode will tell you how to start and how to dive into anything creative without freaking out first, featuring advice from Joe Cunningham and Kule Haynes, plus dozens of friendly Ologies listeners/quilters. Cut up some scraps, pick up a needle, and make something. You never know where it might lead you, and who it could help in the future. Including you, kiddo.

    Luke Haynes Ologies quilt pattern

    The quilt Luke made for Alie!


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    35 mins
  • Quantum Ontology (WHAT IS REAL?) Encore with Adam Becker

    Quantum Ontology (WHAT IS REAL?) Encore with Adam Becker
    Mar 4 2026

    Is anything real? How many universes are there? Is everything a simulation being run by a quantum computer through a wormhole from a future era? Is the answer to everything really ... 42? The affable and charming astrophysicist, author and philosopher of tiny particles Dr. Adam Becker pulls up a seat. And enjoy this encore episode as Alie has an existential crisis or two as they discuss the drama, intellectual battles and drunken debates of science past, and the hope that a new era of thinkers will figure out what exactly is going on in the world. Either way: cut bangs and text your crush.

    Follow Dr. Adam Becker on BlueSky and Instagram

    Purchase his book: What is Real? The Unfinished Quest for the Meaning of Quantum Physics

    Or his new book: More Everything Forever: AI Overlords, Space Empires, and Silicon Valley's Crusade to Control the Fate of Humanity

    A donation went to Techbridge Girls

    More episode sources & links

    Sponsors of Ologies

    Transcripts & bleeped episodes

    Support Ologies on Patreon for as little as a buck a month

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

    Follow Ologies on Instagram and Bluesky

    Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok

    Sound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media & Steven Ray Morris

    Managing Director: Susan Hale

    Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth

    Transcripts by Aveline Malek

    Website by Kelly R. Dwyer

    Theme song by Nick Thorburn


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    1 hr and 20 mins
  • Culcitology (QUILTS) with Luke Haynes, Olivia Joseph, and Joe Cunningham

    Culcitology (QUILTS) with Luke Haynes, Olivia Joseph, and Joe Cunningham
    Feb 26 2026
    Scrap quilts. Sewing bees. Secret codes. Political activism. Controversies. Three of your new favorite Culcitologists – Olivia Joseph, Luke Haynes, and Joe Cunningham – are stitched together for one mega episode on one of the most underappreciated and widely practiced arts in the world: quilting. We cover donated quilts, galleries vs. linen closets, incarcerated quilters, the ONE person you do not want to enter a fair with, quilting and covid, the Gee’s Bend Alabama quilters who turned modern art criticism on its head, and the icons you need to know about. Also: washing, preserving, appraising, repairing, and enjoying quilts. It’ll change the way you interact with your aunt, your local thrift store, art shows, and your very bed itself. Visit Joe’s website and follow him on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook Visit Luke’s website and follow him on Instagram Follow Olivia on LinkedIn Donations went to the National AIDS Memorial, Visit Gee’s Bend, San Diego Craft Collective, and Crafting the Future Download the FREE Ologies x Luke Haynes Quilt Pattern PDF More episode sources and links Other episodes you may enjoy: Museology (MUSEUMS), Genealogy (FAMILY TREES), Indigenous Fashionology (NATIVE CLOTHING), Cabinology (CABINS), Modern Toichographology (MURALS & STREET ART), Canistrumology (BASKET WEAVING), Mythology (STORYTELLING), Venereology (SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS) 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    1 hr and 46 mins

11 of the Best Science Podcasts that Will Boost Your Curiosity

Life science, neuroscience, space science, earth science – it’s all here in our collection of podcasts on the latest science, including some boundary-pushing thinking for the truly open-minded.

Featured Article: 11 of the Best Science Podcasts that Will Boost Your Curiosity
All stars
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I am really like this podcast. nice content. fantastic and excellent narration in this content.

Great!

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The positive and lively uplifting fun creative and fullfilling energy of Alie W. combined with the guests passion for their feild of interest and expertise truly creates an inspiring and we'll rounded in depth all encompassing narrative to really pull the listener in I used to be okay with science now it's my favorite thanks Alie!

Absolutely positively Fun in every Way imaginatable

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Ologies is an AMAZING podcast! Alie's asides and voiceover explanations provide a greater context for the HUGE amount of knowledge that is enjoyably downloaded into my brain. I have told so many people about this podcast. I have inundated my family with the cool facts I have learned about SOOO many topics that they assumed anything I tell them now is from this podcast. Keep going Alie! You are the information hero we need in today's world.

AMAZING PODCAST, My new favourite one

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This podcast was recommended to me and from the moment I pushed play I have been obsessed!! Seriously, my family and friends are now teasing me based on how often I recommend it. This podcast is a dream for anyone with a curious brain. I have learned so much from the wonderful, nerdy, passionate people featured. The sheer enthusiasm for life and science is infectious.

My only complaint is that there isn’t enough chemistry! I mean straight up chemistry because chemistry is at the heart of all science. I get it, chemistry doesn’t end in “ology” but seriously Alie, we can get around that. I can help! I will talk about chemistry all damn day. Why can that plant kill you if you eat it? Chemistry! What is a fire? Chemistry! Why do we salt sidewalks in the winter? Chemistry!

But anyway - give this podcast a listen and your curious mind will be hooked on it!

Love Love Love!

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Alie can make any topic interesting and entertaining.
Her enthusiasm is infectious and her ability to break down complex explanations into easy to understand portions, without seeming to dumb it down or speak down to people is amazing. It’s more about translating to real world language and dispensing with all the jargon.
Real world language includes the odd swear word, which I love and appreciate!
Incredibly passionate guests present the things they know so much about. It’s hard not to want to strive off into the sunset after each episode, determined to become the next entomologist, paleontologist, experimental archeologist, or even create your own new ology by following your own weird personal niche interest

Fantastic podcast that makes topics interesting and fun

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