Ologies with Alie Ward

By: Alie Ward
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  • Summary

  • 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.
    2024 Alie Ward
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Science Social Sciences
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Episodes
  • Domestic Phytology (HOUSEPLANTS) with Tyler Thrasher

    Domestic Phytology (HOUSEPLANTS) with Tyler Thrasher
    Mar 26 2025
    Fungus gnats. Overloved cacti. Fiddle fig failures. $20,000 specimens. It’s house plants — and it’s wild, folks. Widely beloved author, artist, house plant expert and Domestic Phytologist Tyler Thrasher joins to talk about root rot, what to grow in a dark basement, the rarest plants in the world, the punishments for poaching them, grow lights for people and plants, houseplant ethics, how to keep your cats from taking whizzes in them, if you should name your plants, how often to repot them, how to keep an orchid out of your trash can, pet-safe, plants, if one should use their own surplus blood to feed them, and what botany crimes I have committed against my own plants.Visit Tyler Thrasher’s website and follow him on Instagram, Bluesky and TikTokBuy his book, The Universe in 100 Colors, at Bookshop.org or Amazon, and his journal, Grow a Damn Plant JournalSee Tyler at San Diego’s Oddities Flea Market March 29 & 30, 2025A donation went to The Loveland FoundationMore episode sources and linksSmologies (short, classroom-safe) episodesOther episodes you may enjoy: Cycadology (RARE PLANT DRAMA), Dendrology (TREES), Indigenous Pedology (SOIL SCIENCE), Mycology (MUSHROOMS), Pomology (APPLES), Attention-Deficit Neuropsychology (ADHD), Genocidology (CRIMES OF ATROCITY), Zymology (BEER), FIELD TRIP: I Go France and Learn Weird France Stuff, Carnivorous Phytobiology (MEAT-EATING PLANTS), Suicidology (SUICIDE PREVENTION & AWARENESS), Carobology (NOT-CHOCOLATE TREES), Cicadology (CICADAS), Chronobiology (CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS), Tiktokology (THE TIKTOK APP) with Hank Green, Erethizonology (PORCUPINES), Coffeeology (YEP, COFFEE), Foraging Ecology (EATING WILD PLANTS) with @BlackForager, Alexis Nikole NelsonSponsors 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 34 mins
  • Post-Viral Epidemiology (LONG COVID) Part 2 with Wes Ely

    Post-Viral Epidemiology (LONG COVID) Part 2 with Wes Ely
    Mar 19 2025

    Long Covid Part 2: Treatments. Studies. Histamines. Hormones. POTS. Clots. Hearts. Hope. Highly-respected Long Covid expert, Dr. Wes Ely, is back for all of your listener questions. We also check in with Physics Girl Diana Cowern on her years-long struggle with the disease. So start with Part 1, and then finish up with this episode addressing all your straggling questions, and great advice for patients and caregivers.

    Follow Dr. Ely on GoogleScholar

    Buy Dr. Ely’s book, Every Deep-Drawn Breath, on Bookshop.org or Amazon

    Donations went to: Critical Illness, Brain Dysfunction, And Survivorship (CIBS) Center, Cohen Center for Recovery from Complex Chronic Illness, and Open Medicine Foundation – Diana Cowern’s favorite cause to support clinical trials

    More episode sources and links

    Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes

    Other episodes you may enjoy: Surgical Angiology (VEINS & ARTERIES), Cardiology (THE HEART), Disability Sociology (DISABILITY PRIDE), Molecular Biology (PROTEINS + SCIENCE COMMUNICATION), Nephrology (KIDNEYS), Diabetology (BLOOD SUGAR)

    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
  • Post-Viral Epidemiology (LONG COVID) Part 1 with Wes Ely

    Post-Viral Epidemiology (LONG COVID) Part 1 with Wes Ely
    Mar 12 2025

    What is Long Covid? Is it real? What does it feel like? Do you have it? And how do you cure it? With fatigue and brain fog, you don’t want to spend hours scrolling through conflicting opinions. So we’ve got you covered with the wonderful and highly-respected pulmonologist and intensive care physician and Long Covid expert, Dr. Wes Ely. So tuck in, breathe deep and let’s load you up with true facts about what Long Covid is, how it differs from other post-viral illnesses, variants and Long Covid risk, why people say it’s not real, advice for caregivers, changing opinions in medicine, similarities to HIV, treatment options, auto-immune issues, POTS, post-exertional malaise, the best way to prevent it. Next week: Part 2 with even more info.

    Follow Dr. Ely on GoogleScholar and Bluesky

    Buy Dr. Ely’s book, Every Deep-Drawn Breath, on Bookshop.org or Amazon

    A donation went to the Critical Illness, Brain Dysfunction, And Survivorship (CIBS) Center

    More episode sources and links

    Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes

    Other episodes you may enjoy: Surgical Angiology (VEINS & ARTERIES), Cardiology (THE HEART), Disability Sociology (DISABILITY PRIDE), Molecular Biology (PROTEINS + SCIENCE COMMUNICATION), Nephrology (KIDNEYS), Diabetology (BLOOD SUGAR)

    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
    56 mins

Featured Article: Go Beyond the Lab with the Best Science Podcasts for Curious Listeners


Our picks for the best science podcasts run the gamut from general scientific trivia to earth science, outer space, food, plants, the human body, and much more. They're all accessible—any listener can learn about scientific history, breaking science news, and visions for the future from these shows, which often feature interviews with a variety of interesting experts who provide valuable insight, perspective, context, and clarity.

Featured Article Go Beyond the Lab with the Best Science Podcasts for Curious Listeners

What listeners say about Ologies with Alie Ward

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Profile Image for M Crow

Love Alie

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.

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Profile Image for Charity Johnston

love science

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

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Profile Image for Ali M.

always solid and time well listened

been listening for years - it's a delight to get glimpses into the knowledge of so many different folks who have dedicated precious time and energy to learning about their "thing." easily one of my favorite podcasts

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Profile Image for Ivy Luna

Dad Von Podcast Ward a must have in your earhole

LOVE this podcast. Cannot get enough of each topic. Learning something new in every episode that just blows my mind and great humor. I want all the Ologiest to be my friends and Ali to be my big sister. SMITTEN! Okay Bur bye! :-)

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Profile Image for critical consumer

Fascinating!

Having grown up in Florida, near Marineland in St. Augustine, I love dolphins and this episode touched my inner child's curiosity. Taking the deep dive into this subject brought back memories of summer camps at Marineland, watching the dolphins for hours and imagining their conversations. Marineland is no more and now the dolphin center is focused on education rather than entertainment. These wonderful creatures deserve our respect and yes, they will rule the future water world with Kevin Costner as their court jester!! Thanks for another great interview Alie!

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Profile Image for kortney

this is good for your brain.

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.

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Profile Image for Laura Lee Queen Bee 👸🐝

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

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!

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Profile Image for Melissa

CANT GET ENOUGH!

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!

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Profile Image for Jessica Trites

Big Brain Life Goals

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!!

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Profile Image for Teresa Friden

Mind blown!

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!

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