Ologies with Alie Ward

Excuse me, why do you have teeth? How did they get in your mouth and where did they come from? Let’s ask researcher, tooth enthusiast, and Paleohistologist Dr. Yara Haridy.  She opened up the archives at Chicago’s Field Museum to chat about ancient skulls, drawers of bones, and the evidence that changed how we think about chompers. Drop your jaws as we discuss the origins of teeth, why yours hurt, the long-debated rumors of extinct species, how particle accelerators and paleontology worlds collide, what tools fossil pickers rely on, teeny tiny mysteries, why you should hug a tree before it kills you, and why a catfish might become your overlord. 
Visit Dr. Yara Haridy’s website and follow her on Instagram
A donation went to the Sameer Project
More episode sources and links
Other episodes you may enjoy: Osteology (SKELETONS/BODY FARMS), Selachimorphology (SHARKS), Elasmobranchology (MORE SHARK STORIES), Paleontology (DINOSAURS), Evolutionary Biology (DARWINISM), Functional Morphology (ANATOMY), Genicular Traumatology (BAD KNEES), Castorology (BEAVERS), Urban Rodentology (SEWER RATS), Biomineralogy (SHELLS), Scorpiology (SCORPIONS), Garology (LONG CUTE ANCIENT PATIENT BOOPABLE NIGHTMARE FISH)
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

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Tongue twisters. Frosty holidays. Scandals. Big ol’ rodent butts. Let’s talk groundhogs with UCLA conservationist, field biologist, professor and Marmotologist, Dr. Daniel Blumstein. We cover what broadly is a marmot, the Buddhism and paganism of the midwinter slump, marmot parenthood, what they are singing into the wind, how to co-exist with one in your garden, why they don't get stressed about holiday bingeing, the real estate layout of a groundhog lair, how and why we celebrate Groundhog Day, romantic advice you should not take from a marmot, what to do if you want a marmot as a pet, why their blood boggled science, and the wandering etymology behind their aliases. It’s an episode you’ll want to hear over and over. And over. And over. And over. 
Visit the Blumstein Lab and follow Dr. Blumstein on Google Scholar
A donation went to the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory
More episode sources and links
Other episodes you may enjoy: Sciuridology (SQUIRRELS), Hydrochoerology (CAPYBARAS), Castorology (BEAVERS), Erethizonology (PORCUPINES), Urban Rodentology (SEWER RATS), Mammalogy (MAMMALS), Procyonology (RACCOONS), Lutrinology (OTTERS), Urocyonology (LITTLE GRAY FOXES), Witchology (WITCHES & WITCHCRAFT), Thermophysiology (BODY HEAT), Acarology (TICKS), Vampirology (VAMPIRES), Environmental Toxicology (POISONS + TRAIN DERAILMENT), Road Ecology (ROAD KILL)
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.

Gassy veils! Orange sunlight! Alien life? It’s the sole goddess of our solar system: Venus. And to tour us through her beauty is the charming and enthusiastic planetary geologist and Venusian expert Dr. Vickie Hansen, a Senior Scientist at the Planetary Science Institute. In what is sure to become an instant classic, Vickie will delight you with tales of space probes past and future, dazzling terrain, myths, melting machinery, “noodle data,” analogues to Earth, tectonic misconceptions, and reactions to self-help books that capitalize on our solar geography. Also: what does Venus smell like? 
Donations went to the Planetary Science Institute and the Nature Conservancy
More episode sources and links: alieward.com/ologies/venusology
Jan. 15, 2026: "Bad Art for Good" Los Angeles event tickets
Other episodes you may enjoy: Heliology (THE SUN/ECLIPSES), Areology (MARS), Astrobiology (ALIENS), Cosmology (THE UNIVERSE), Selenology (THE MOON), Mythology (STORYTELLING), Astrobromatology (SPACE FOOD), Black Hole Theory Cosmology (WHAT ARE BLACK HOLES?!), Scotohylology (DARK MATTER), UFOlogy (UNEXPLAINED AERIAL PHENOMENA), Space Archaeology (SPACE JUNK), Quantum Ontology (WHAT IS REAL?)
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.

Did Part 1 leave you informed and now you need a pep talk? Get ready for an absolute banger of an encore episode with 5 experts: René Brooks of BlackGirlLostKeys.com, TEDTalk speaker and How to ADHD YouTuber Jessica McCabe and neuroscientist Dr. Jahla Osborne of University of Michigan. What is it like to get diagnosed? How do you know which medication – if any – is right for you? Why is there such a spike in ADHD diagnoses during the pandemic? Autism and ADHD: what’s the deal? What accommodations should a person ask for? How can you have a strong relationship with one (or more) ADHD brains? What if your boyfriend juggles flaming swords for fun? Sure there are tips and tricks, but get ready for the pep talk and self-acceptance honestly everyone needs to hear. Plus: two cameos from past Ologists: Dr. Tiara Moore (Forensic Ecology) and Dr. Adam Becker (Quantum Ontology). Oh, and how this relates to Alie’s own Dadbrain. HERE WE GO.
Start with Part 1 with Dr. Russell Barkley 
René Brooks of Black Girl Lost Keys on Bluesky, Instagram and Facebook
Jessica McCabe of How to ADHD on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok
Jahla Osborne on Google Scholar and Instagram
And check out these previous episodes with our cameo guests: Forensic Ecology (NATURE DETECTIVE) with Dr. Tiara Moore, Quantum Ontology (WHAT IS REAL?) with Adam Becker
More episode sources and links
Other episodes you might enjoy: Obsessive-Compulsive Neurobiology (OCD), Bonus Episode: The OCD Experience, Somnology (SLEEP), Chronobiology (CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS), Volitional Psychology (PROCRASTINATION), Sports & Performance Psychology (ANXIETY & CONFIDENCE), Personality Psychology (PERSONALITIES), Molecular Neurobiology (BRAIN CHEMICALS), Mnemonology (MEMORY), Traumatology (PTSD)
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.

Focus. Productivity. Relationships. Distraction. Neurodiversity. How do you know if you have ADHD? How can you get others to understand your ADHD brain? What are your treatment options and how can they help? In this encore of our wildly popular Part 1 episode, we talk racing thoughts, brilliant brains and the causes and effects of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder with the world’s leading expert, Dr. Russell Barkley who is A BIG DEAL. Psychologist, retired professor of clinical psychiatry, author and speaker, Dr. Barkley has a personal connection to ADHD and has studied it for nearly 40 years. Is it all cute quirks? Nope. It’s serious business. But next week, we’ll hear about tips and tricks and self-love from 3 more experts — Jessica McCabe of How to ADHD, René Brooks of Black Girl Lost Keys and ADHD researcher Dr. Jahla Osborne. I’M TRYING NOT TO USE A BUNCH OF EXCLAMATION POINTS. It’s exciting. 
Dr. Russell Barkley’s website dedicated to education and research on ADHD
Dr. Barkley’s book: Taking Charge of Adult ADHD
Additional books and papers by Dr. Barkley
Dr. Barkley’s seminar: 30 Essential Ideas you should know about ADHD
Donations were made to CHADD and Partners in Health
More episode sources and links
Other episodes you might enjoy: Obsessive-Compulsive Neurobiology (OCD), Bonus Episode: The OCD Experience, Somnology (SLEEP), Chronobiology (CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS), Volitional Psychology (PROCRASTINATION), Sports & Performance Psychology (ANXIETY & CONFIDENCE), Personality Psychology (PERSONALITIES), Molecular Neurobiology (BRAIN CHEMICALS), Mnemonology (MEMORY), Traumatology (PTSD)
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.