This podcast is the antacid for my existential dread. Sometimes work is really rough and tedious and listening to all these different guests that are so enthusiastic about their specialties is always a good reminder of the joys and wonders of our world. Alie, please more podcasts about animals, and also slime mold would be cool <3

this is my FAVORITE podcast! i suggest it to students, friends, family, colleagues, professors of my own, and anyone who will stand still long enough to listen to me blab. i’m constantly telling my students about the latest ologists and hoping this podcasts ignites (and expands!) their learning flame as it does mine!

Too many smologies (it should have its own show)

Yes I know I’m late, but I recently listened to the witchology episodes as a practicing witch, and I was so relieved and excited that Alie had such a wonderful expert as Theo on the pod. I had faith in Alie because she always has such amazing folks to speak to and really does her research ramping up to an episode and it shows. But I was incredibly thankful that I felt represented properly. Witchcraft, in my opinion, is represented incorrectly more often than not and it made me so happy that was not the case on this pod. Alie thank you endlesslyyyyyy ily 🫶🏻

I found this pod by chance and it has changed my outlook on so many things. It has made me laugh, cry, and everything in between. I’m an undergraduate science student who found Ologies when I had forgotten why I was studying (and spending all this money) in the first place. By hearing from so many Ologists I was able to put into perspective that I’m just on my way to finding my ology, and can enjoy the process of getting there. This podcast accompanies me on my walks to class and has brought back my love of learning. I reccomend Ologies to anyone who will listen (mostly my roommates) and wish everyone involved continued success.

Alie Ward is awesome host, I’ve learned so much about everything. I run and listen to this podcast and I’m writing to say thanks Alie for making my long distance runs faster and more informed. If only I was an ultra-runner.

Hey I was looking for more podcasts and this one popped up. I listen to This Podcast Will Kill You. I love how you feature so many guests. I love science podcasts, thank you for making these episodes for the public.

3 Things: There is a great poem about capybaras called “Unit of Measure” by Sandra Beasley. I just ran across the word vexillology- the study of flags. If you haven’t already done it, could be interesting. Your episode on near death experiences gave me hope to keep on. I’m not exactly a believer in life after death, but I do believe that the world is made up of wondrous connections. The idea that in the end, we may understand these wonders a little better and find some peace is one of the things that can sustain me.

Alie has been my constant companion on every long dog walk for the past year or so. The joy this show inspires in me has me smiling ear from ear - even when toting a large doggie bag filled with excrement for a mile because I’m too much of a chicken to throw it in a random person’s trash can. From sea worms (the best!) to ADHD, I can’t believe how much I’ve learned from Ologies. I’m very grateful my therapist recommended it many moons ago. Thank you, Alie, and the Ologies team for the constant wonder and excitement you bring to learning. Signed, Looking for trash can

What a great podcast! Thank you Alie! I so enjoyed learning about trees from Casey Clapp! He’s one of my people, tree people. Thank you for searching for such great knowledgeable folks!

I found your podcast one year ago, in the middle of a medical mystery that left me incredibly sick, in lots of pain, and unable to do many things that bring me joy. Your podcast was a reminder of the wonder and curiosity of the world and I place I could go to learn when I couldn’t go many other places. While medical mystery is solved and I am back to l my daily life, your podcast remains a source of joy and a place where, in the best ways possible I am reminded of how much I don’t know and all the delightful things there still are to explore and learn. Thank you for helping me through a tough season! And helping me feel grateful in the better seasons. -Amy

Thank you for helping me know about crazy stuff that I never even knew I needed to know about.

All of it - the episodes, the guests, the production, and, of course, the host. Wonderful like each episode leaves you literally full of it…in a good way 🤓🤘

Ologies is one of those few beautiful things in life that one can count on to make you happy and bedazzle your brain. Infinite love for this podcast.

If it wasn’t for you Alie I wouldn’t know so much about so many things. I especially wouldn’t have known about Dr. William Domhoff’s AMAZING Dream Bank. Nor would I have had the courage to reach out and ask if he’d be interested in my dreams I’ve been writing down since 2007. It was surreal getting to correspond with such a kind, intelligent soul, all of which you seem to be Alie. So thank you and keep up the inspiring work!

I tried it because my wife recommended it. I stay because of how excited you are to share every single ology with us. Secret at the end of the review... I saw totality in a Bucee's parking lot in Temple Texas. I didn't cry. I did choke up listening to your experience afterwards.

Well done Alie - your courage is unmatched. I’m always smarter after hearing your work, especially since you shared your experience. The fear is often worse than the reality. Carry on 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Iceland ‘26, that’s my plan! Can you even imagine?!

Well not that intense, but I have listen to 5 of podcasts and have enjoyed all of them! Thank you!

The perfect podcast, everyone else go home

I’ve been listening to ologies for a while, but always on my commute and I never had a moment to review before my ADHD took over. I’m sitting in my car listening to the eclipse field trip episode which I had to finish before going into work with tears in my eyes and was like ok I need to say something right now because this is amazing 🥹 I traveled to Vermont to see totality with a handful of friends and family in their back yard, and reliving the geeky joy of it through Alie’s adventure brought it all back in the best way. It somehow strengthened the memories of what we saw and felt during what was really such a brief moment in time. This review probably makes no sense at all but basically this is the best podcast and I’m so glad you got to see it Alie and maybe I’ll see you in Iceland in 2026 for the next one! 🩷 Your fellow umbraphile, Zee.

Thanks to ologies, I was able to have a casual conversation with a random person about periodical cicadas. Turns out, he witnessed Brood X the last time they emerged in 2004. I was able to distinguish between periodical and annual cicadas and talk about how cool they are!!! I never thought I’d be advocating for bugs, but thanks to ol’ dad Ward, I’m enjoying all sorts of stuff! I started listening because I’m a senior Biology student on the Pre-Med track, and I keep listening to hear about trees and bugs and fashion and stuff!! I love your show, keep it up! P.S. I wrote this review YEARS ago and I forgot about it! I kept myself from being dead last in a trivia night at a bar thanks to that cicada episode 🤣. I came back here to write about how moving these last two field trip episodes have been. You’ve moved me to tears talking about the fragility of life, facing your anxiety and mortality, and finding joy with loved ones in times of hardship. You are a phenomenal storyteller, and I’m so happy to be on this journey with you as a random pod child somewhere in the void (currently North Carolina). Thank you for all that you do. You’re an inspiration!

What started as an occasional listen to pique my curiosity has become a go-to when I need a dose of amazement, hilarity, reflection, and a good cathartic cry I somehow never see coming. I am still swallowing the lump in my throat from -Ologies most recent Field Trip episode on this year’s eclipse as I type, scheming on my own umbraphile moment with the people I love in 2026. I know you’re reading this Alie, so I want you to know that your sacrifice of missing the 2017 eclipse to start a humble little podcast has changed people’s lives — my own included, as I am a terrified 30something back in school to go from a career as a cocktail bartender to a midwife (surely Midwife-ology could be an episode?). -Ologies has inspired me to make my corner of this wonderous, weird planet a little better for future generations, and might inspire you to do the same, dear listeners. Cheers to your health, Dad Ward; I am glad we get to keep your sparkling sincerity around for many years, and moments of awe, to come. PS: fwiw, I loved the Witchology episodes. A hex upon the haters.

Love this podcast. Alie’s enthusiasm, well-researched asides, and willingness to be vulnerable make my curious heart happy. As a newer listener, I am really enjoying diving into the back catalogue of tasty topics. From one Reese’s-peanut-butter-cup-loving-elective-redhead to another, thank you for making this podcast!

I have listened to this show for a while. Today, I fell in love with the show. I, too, got to experience totality for the first time on Monday. It was incredible. Listening to you all experience the eclipse made my heart full. We bicycles around our hometown (Indianapolis) and then found an empty park to watch the show. It was perfectly clear. So lucky!! My sisters and I are planning to chase one together. Thank you for the show. I love my ologies time.

This podcast makes my life better everyday. I’m going through a stressful time and this podcast is a happy bright spot in my day. The combination of Alie’s delightful (perfect amount of swearing) personality and the Ologists’s amazing knowledge about so many fun things is magical. I love this podcast so much. Thanks for being a bright spot in my day and making me smarter. -Lisa

You know how sometimes, there is a famous person who is clearly intelligent and talented and hardworking, but also just seems like they must be genuinely KIND? (Not that we can actually know. Parasocial relationships aren’t real. But it would really be surprising if that person was ever found kicking puppies.) Ologies host Alie Ward has that energy. She’s such a skilled interviewer and host. The very best episodes are the ones where the expert matches Alie’s humor and charisma…check out the Corvid Thanatology episode about crow funerals with Kaeli Swift and the Delphinology episode about dolphins with Justin Gregg. (Even if the particular episode topic or expert isn’t exactly my cup of tea, I still usually find myself entertained and informed. If you just found this podcast and are trying a few episodes, do yourself a favor and don’t give up if you happen to pick one or two that don’t click with you.)

i’m currently making my family listen to the heliology episode on the way home from seeing the eclipse, and not only do i love the show but now my family does too <3 thank you for keeping this chemist’s (me) love of science alive in every day life (and now my family’s too!) :)

Clever, kind, thoughtful, and someone I wish was my personal friend! ADHD is our superpower! Thank you for both elevating learning while at the same time bringing it to a level that everyone can understand. You make me laugh, cry, and always learn. I’m constantly amazed at your interviews- WOW! Thank you for making this listener feel better every time I listen.

Ologies is like a bag of salty crunchy potatoes chips that, despite my better judgement, I won’t stop eating till I’ve emptied the bag and dumped the crumbs down my shirt trying to get that last little bit of salt. Please never stop making content. We love you, father pod.

Hi Aly! I’m always pleasantly surprised about what I learn and what I become interested in. My apartment has never been so clean! P.S. I thought I invented the Fancy Nancy sleep trick. My favorite category is thinking of characters of whatever book I’m reading or series I’m watching. P.P.S. Is there an ology for symbiotic relationships in nature? I wanna listen to that episode!

Super fun with so many amazing facts and the experts are so excited to share about their topics and answer the kinds of questions we all have but would be embarrassed to ask afraid in case we will appear silly. Questions about bear poops, what is the difference between a pirate and a corsair, some carnivorous animals don't eat meat. I didn’t know I needed to know but I needed to know!

This show brings me so much joy and solace. I am so grateful for this wondrous, fun, and exclusive place to learn, laugh, and cry. I find myself thinking most often if the pomology episode as I work with produce (is there an ology for cruciferous vegetables?((Does Cruciferous share a root word with Crucify?!))) I cannot say enough good things about this this podcast, seriously. Heal well from your Surgery, Pod Dad! Secret that will mostly remain a secret for idea theft reasons: I had a space based dream last night, and it gave me an idea for an Ologies based table top RPG. I sent an email. Reply to that if you’re interested:)

I love this podcast, I love all the research and questions she asks, Alie is absolutely wonderful and her open curiosity and enthusiasm for pretty much any topic you can think of, is a breath of fresh air.

Alie Ward, aka pod dad, You’re pretty much my favorite human, and I wish I knew you outside of my earballs. Your vulnerability in the surgery episode made my cry. Thank you for your hard work in finding amazing guests and for teaching us so much stuff. We love you, and I’m so glad you aren’t dying (right now). Love, Nicole

Alie, I loved this episode so much. I have endometriosis and had to get a hysterectomy several years ago, and I laughed out loud and cried over your scary, funny adventure. I was late getting home because I couldn’t pee, too! So glad you’re okay. I always love the show, but this one was very special to me.

I love Ologies. I found it four years ago when finishing my PhD and it is my hype music every day when driving to work to do Science. Cone snails, pumpkins: here for it. I was stoked to find the newest episode was about the same surgical procedure I had. I felt yet more aligned with PodDad! Win! And then came the anxious elevator to pre-op and reading study flyers and… Alie called aging solo depressing. That… that’s literally my ology. I know it was the pre-op anxiety but I was slightly crushed that my ology didn’t ology love. I will recover. So glad you’re on the mend, and maybe give some love to gerontology too.

Alie’s great and all, but…WHY ARE YOUR EPS SO LONGGGGG!!!

Love it! I would love to have an offshoot of ologies. Ali’s adventures with some of the peeps you have interviewed that have invited you to the field…. Bears, pelicans, bugs…… adventure Ali!

I’ve been a science and tech writer for like 30+ years and Alie Ward advances science literacy more in 10 minutes of podcast than I can in a week of writing. She communicates the joy and fun that is the secret (not actually secret) reason most of us get into science. Thank you Alie!

Listening to Ologies gives me that little energy boost anytime during the day. Loved your field trip to your surgical procedure and I’m so grateful that you shared your experience with your loving podcast family. I worked in hospitals during college, and I recognize that for most folks it is a VERY foreign and scary environment. Your episode will reduce this uncertainty for many listeners. ♥️ Hoping you feel totally better very, very soon.

Wow this one was great! Disgustology feels like a guide to so many of neuroses. Love the ologist and Allie as always (and the cockroach ‘licking’ your food description was topnotch)

Alie is awesome! We recently went on a road trip and listened consistently to “Ologies.” When another Olivier was referenced, that was the next one we listened to. Our jaws dropped, we laughed out loud, we said, “Really?!?” a bunch, and repeated Alie’s puns and giggled. It was a great experience and we highly recommend Alie’s inquiring mind to everyone!

I’m a huge fan of Alie Ward since my kids discovered Netflix’s Brainchild. (Gone too soon - what happened between Julius Caesar and Bruce Lee? The people need to know!) So when I heard about Ologies, I was excited for more Alie! The candor, the lightheartedness attached to real content, the great editing - it all works so well. I’m a high school composition teacher, and I often pass along titles of episodes that would be of interest to specific students (with warnings about language and inappropriate content, of course). I like to listen to episodes during my lunch break - it feels like I have really smart pals hanging out with me. I also really enjoy the online content with Alie’s down-the-rabbit-hole research. Guys, this one is a gem. If you aren’t listening, you should start. And you should buy some totes. They’re great.

I love the host and the way she allows us to engage our inner child while using our adult brains. Thank you!!! However I am concerned by her promotion of nutritional supplements and tacit support of the non-evidence-based wellness industry. This, to me, is a contradiction and red flag. If it seems like this is an over-reaction please consider interviewing Dr. Andrea Love, a cancer immunologist and science communicator who specializes in debunking misinformation. She can break down, among other things, the reason why most people do NOT need to take vitamin D and how supplement promotion is not benign but actively harmful and props up the quackery of the wellness industry and in fact undermines the science perspective- something which we need now more than ever. Thanks for making your show and thanks for considering!

Hi Dad Ward. Long time listener and first (ever?!) podcast review. Listened to the mystery surgery episode and ran to my bathroom at work to type this / be emotional lol - I had a somewhat traumatic abortion at 19 and almost 10 years later I still have some surgery trauma. Just wanted to say thank you for making this episode and being so honest about your fears and for the dark humor that made me smile, this brought me a little bit closer to feeling less scared about that dang ol’ baby maker down there. Also side note thank you for making me feel excitement about math and science again - your abstract mathemetology episode with Eugenia Cheng made me feel less scared about doing math and maybe a little capable and maybe I’ll finish my degree one of these days. Sorry for the novel! Thank you for what you do!

Allie, I really like your show but you should have canceled the one on black holes. It was obvious everything that guy said went over your head and the audience’s head. I stopped listening as it made me uncomfortable to listen to it knowing you were pretending to understand. If you can’t understand, your audience won’t get it either.

I’m obsessed with this show.

Michael Jordan was born to play basketball. Julia Child was born to cook. Alie Ward was born to podcast. There is no mind I want to spend time exploring the world and life with than Alie. She is curious, asks the questions that I have plus two more, and is engaged with every guest in a way that I haven’t heard since the early days of Larry King’s radio show. Her mind is busy and her warm stream-of-consciousness explanations are pure entertainment. Every episode elicits a smile or a tear and occasionally both. Her realistically positive view of the world makes me want to change my own outlook. I want Alie to host all of the things but, failing that, I’ll learn to be content with her hosting this podcast.

I’m not really on Twitter or Tik Tok, so since I know Alie with one L reads all the reviews, this is more of a message to you (you being Alie, not you random person snooping on our conversation, you should be ashamed of yourself!) I love everything about this podcast. I don’t understand how I went so long without knowing about it. Just listened to the Disgustology episode, and it made me feel all kinds of warm and fuzzy inside, and I don’t care what that says about me. But mostly I wanted to say that I listened to the recent episode about your surgery, and it made me want to give you so many hugs, but only if you’re ok with that. I’m glad you got through it and thanks so much for sharing!

This show is the key to unlocking that child-like sense of wonder, unleashing that innate desire to learn, and also impressing/annoying your friends with random unsolicited factoids about everything. I love it, and you should too.