Shows
Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots538: Transforming Therapy with Gaming: How MindJam Supports Young MindsIn this episode of the "Giant Robots On Tour" podcast, hosts Sami Birnbaum and Rémy Hannequin interview Dan Clark, the Founder and CEO of MindJam, an innovative platform providing emotional and SEN (Special Educational Needs) support for young people through gaming, game design, and digital skills. Sami shares a personal story about how his mother, an educational psychologist, introduced him to MindJam, highlighting its impact and relevance. Dan explains that MindJam was born out of the need to support young people who feel out of place in traditional educational settings, particularly those with ADHD, autism, and other neurodivergent c...
2024-08-1543 min
Chatty AFS1 - EP5 - MindJam: Gaming for Mental Health and Neurodiversity with Dan ClarkIn this episode, Rosie Gill-Moss speaks with Dan Clark, founder of MindJam, a unique mentoring service that uses video games to support neurodivergent children. Dan shares how gaming can help kids manage anxiety, trauma, and autistic burnout, and how it builds trust and emotional resilience. Through MindJam, children who struggle in traditional settings find a safe and therapeutic space to connect and grow.Key Highlights:How video games can help neurodivergent children thriveThe impact of gaming on emotional well-being and communicationHow MindJam mentors use games like Minecraft and Roblox to foster trust and teach...
2024-07-181h 04
NeuroshamblesFamily Games | Dan ClarkBoard games, video games, a nice, relaxing game of crazy golf - fun for all the family, right? Not if you have neurodivergent kids. In this episode, Mark is joined by Dan Clark to explore how seemingly simple games can quickly spiral into chaos and meltdown when you’re parenting autistic, ADHD or PDA children.
They chat about fairness, turn-taking, emotional regulation and why Monopoly might be the most dangerous game in a neurodivergent household. Dan brings humour and honesty, sharing how video games have been a surprisingly good way to bond with his children.
Th...
2024-05-221h 21NeuroshamblesHonesty | Heidi MavirHow can we help our neurodivergent kids strike a balance between honesty and oversharing? In this conversation, Mark is joined by author and advocate Heidi Mavir to talk about why the truth is so important to our autistic children and why they sometimes find it difficult to understand the difference between honesty and brutal honesty.
They dive into the emotional labour of neurodivergent parenting, the fine line between honesty and fear, and why some conversations feel impossibly hard. Heidi shares her approach to talking openly with her son and the power of truth in building connection.
2024-01-031h 11
Parenting with ImpactEp 075: Yes, You Can Teach Life Skills Through GamingA child who feels most comfortable in the gaming world is not necessarily wasting their life. How can we turn this interest into a way to teach life skills, and perhaps find a career goal within the programming world?Dan Clark runs the service MindJam - online 121 mentorship and guidance for children struggling with SEN, anxiety, stress and social issues; through gaming and game design.He set this up in the pandemic and less than 2 years later he has 16 mentors supporting over 400 young people and is still growing.MindJam uses gaming, coding and game creation, digital music and digital art...
2022-09-1431 min
Love What You LoveClassical Indian Dance with Ajeetha GnanasambandanAjeetha Gnanasambandan is an accomplished performer who is absolutely passionate about classical Indian dance, particularly Bharathanatyam, the oldest classical dance tradition in India (dating from at least the second century CE). Ajeetha and I chat about $20,000 dance graduations, empathy and performance, dance as devotion, and so much more. ** Note: show notes don’t display consistently across podcast platforms. If your show notes are just a big block of nonsense, visit https://lovewhatyoulovepod.com/podcast for a clean version ** Find Ajeetha online: https://www.facebook.com/ajeetha.gnani Links of interest: ...
2020-09-0843 min
Ologies with Alie WardCervidology Part 2 (DEER) with Rhiannons Jakopak & KirtonThe spirited, laughy chatter with a duo of deer scientists named Rhiannon continues in the thrilling conclusion with Part 2. Buckle up for listener questions addressing everything from social structure to hunting to Chronic Wasting Disease to how *not* to hit a deer with your car. Also the weirdest animal fact Alie has ever learned in the history of Ologies. Soul-rattling. And if you missed Part 1, circle back and catch up to learn all about ungulates and deer and moose and elk and fawns and … some Stevie Nicks trivia and Welsh mythology for good measure. These episodes may change the wa...
2020-09-081h 06
Ologies with Alie WardCervidology (DEER) Part 1 with Rhiannons Kirton & JakopakWhat IS a deer? And an elk? And a moose? And a Rhiannon? One thing they all have in common: cervidology. Buckle up for some spirited, laughy chatter with a duo of deer scientists. They dish all about Welsh mythology and their field trips into the remote, gorgeous wilderness. They’ll explain what to do if you find a fawn, if you should feed backyard deer, what deer population numbers are like, hunting, ungulates, being a first-generation scientist and more. This episode is a quick overview and then the real fireworks are next week: in Part 2 we answer some qu...
2020-09-0250 min
Ologies with Alie WardDasyurology (TASMANIAN DEVILS) with Jarrah DaleTasmanian devils! Quolls! Carnivores! Wait … what is a quoll? In what will become an instant-favorite new episode, Dasyurologist and Australian critter scientist Jarrah Dale joins from Down-Down Under to discuss his work at Oxford University studying the ecology of misunderstood boofy bush babes. Alie learns about everything from the Tasmanian landscape to Looney Toons to flim flam, karaoke shrieking, wallaby standoffs, the most Australian afternoon ever, Tim Tam slams, moms with the munchies, teat shortages,Tassie tumors that are shrinking populations, and more. Also: Jarrah has perhaps the best laugh ever.Follow Jarrah Dale on Twitter and In...
2020-08-251h 07
Ologies with Alie WardExperimental Archaeology (OLD TOOLS/ATLATLS) with Angelo RobledoSpears! Sharp rocks! Ancient blades, bows and arrows and ...atlatls? What’s an atlatl? Experimental Archaeologist and decades-long ancient tool enthusiast Angelo Robledo is as passionate as an ologist can get. You likely have never heard of an atlatl, but by the end of the episode you’ll be carving one out of old lumber. Also covered: early axes, Indigenous traditions of Central and South America, ancient graffiti, tales of field work, archeology heroes, what to do if you find artifacts on a hike, and the physics of how far you can lob ancient weaponry, plus: the World Atlatl Asso...
2020-08-111h 45
Ologies with Alie WardToxinology (JELLYFISH VENOM) with Anna KlompenJellyfish stings: what are they and why do they hurt? And who studies them? Toxinologist Anna Klompen, that’s who. Speaking from her lab in Kansas, surrounded by jellies, the self-described professional jellyfish nerd invites us into her scientific Polyp Parlor to chat about barbs, neurotoxins, quick sting fixes, panty hose, the deadliest jellies, the harmless ones, pee, her favorite moments in science and the species that have her heart forever. Also: how and why to “find a way.”
Anna Klompen’s jellyfish venom website gelatinoussting.com
Follow her at Twitter.com/gelatinoussting or Instagram.com/gela...
2020-08-041h 13
Ologies with Alie WardMedusology (JELLYFISH) with Rebecca HelmWhat even *is* a jellyfish?! How do they eat? What are they made of? Can we eat them? Your new favorite Medusologist, Dr. Rebecca Helm, is a ray of human sunshine in the depths of the deep sea. Truly one of the finest biology conversations you may ever hear. Get ready for PacMan ghosts, pet jellyfish, the biggest and smallest jellies, new band names, live medusas, secret formulas to incite jellyfish puberty, and the lengths that she will go to to see a jelly bloom. And next week, your ears will fill with Toxinology as we explore jellyfish VENOM...
2020-07-301h 30
Ologies with Alie WardMinisode: Listeners Interview AlieUpdate! This episode posted on Tuesday per usual, then somehow un-published itself! Weird. Harrumph!
It’s been a rough week for ol' Dadward VonPodcast, including a technical difficulty that left her behind, so she asked listeners if they would rather have a bizzaro minisode that involved a 30-40 minute rant about raw tomatoes or an AMA, and guess what: here’s both, sort of. There was quite a bit of rambling an editing to make it a minisode, but we hope you enjoy.
This is just a weird summer porch hangout, answering your most asked ques...
2020-07-2335 min
Ologies with Alie WardAperiology (MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY) with Joseph SaundersLights! Cameras! Arachnids! And lizards and bees and beetles. Macro photography is like magic: curved glass gives an entirely new take on the world, from dust on a cricket’s brow to a curious mantid stare to the elegant symmetry of spider whiskers. Joseph Saunders is an Oklahoma-based wildlife photographer whose larger-than-life photos of bugs and reptiles will make you realize just how little we appreciate the creatures on our window sills and skittering up our porches. We talk shop about cameras, bug hunts, lenses, patience, Moth Week, BlackAFinSTEM, and also getting into nature with different mobility concerns. Alie is...
2020-07-151h 24
Ologies with Alie WardAgnotology (IGNORANCE) with Robert ProctorYes, there is an -ology for that. Dr. Robert Proctor is a Stanford professor of the History of Science and co-edited the book “Agnotology: The Making & Unmaking of Ignorance,” having coined the word 30 years ago. We chat about everything from the true evils of tobacco marketing, to the sugar lobby, to racial injustice, horse vision, the psychology of the Flat Earther movement, which countries have the highest rates of climate denial, empathy, how to navigate difficult conversations and why it's critical to dismantle the systems of willful ignorance, starting locally.
Dr. Robert Proctor’s book, Agnotology
Dona...
2020-07-081h 08
Ologies with Alie WardBryology (MOSS) with Dr. Robin Wall KimmererAn instant classic. You’ll listen on repeat as world-renowned author, botanist, Indigenous ecology professor and bryologist Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer talks about her passion for moss. Cozy up for the most beautifully doled-out information about hidden worlds, overlooked mysteries, botanical drama, forests in miniature, Native peoples’ uses for moss and philosophies about science and ecology. Dr. Kimmerer, author of “Gathering Moss” and “Braiding Sweetgrass,” will change the way you see mosses forever, will inspire you to wear a loupe on a rope, and will soothe your soul with her beautiful voice and prose. Also bathmats, lawns and smoothies made of moss...
2020-06-301h 13
Ologies with Alie WardNeuroendocrinology (SEX & GENDER) Part 2 with Daniel PfauThe wonderful neuroscientist and endocrinology researcher Dr. Daniel Pfau is back for Part 2 to answer listener mail about how hormones affect our moods, the variation of gender expression, queer lizards, how a strict gender binary is harmful to entire populations, hormone replacement therapy, hormones in sports, gender dysphoria, additional info on the Gender Unicorn and more. They remain just charming and kind and this episode will help you further understand just how many ways there are to be human. Also: it’s okay to take a mental health day once in a while.
Follow Dr. Daniel Pfau at...
2020-06-2456 min
Ologies with Alie WardNeuroendocrinology (SEX & GENDER) Part 1 with Daniel PfauHow many genders are there? How do you know if you’re queer? Is sexual orientation biological, and if so, how? The amazing Michigan State University neuroscientist and endocrinology researcher Dr. Daniel Pfau joins to share their path in academia finding the perfect research, understanding their own genderqueer identity, what animals in nature exhibit queer behavior, how hormones influence the brain, how important it was for them to find community and why the gender binary isn’t a good fit for a lot of people. They are just charming and kind and wonderful and this episode will help you unde...
2020-06-161h 09
Ologies with Alie WardVery Special Episode: BlackAFinSTEM with various OlogistsThe most ologists in one Ologies. And maybe my favorite episode ever. #BlackBirdersWeek was such a force that we wanted to keep the energy going by spotlighting not one, but 30 ologists. You’re about to meet 30 new science heroes who are @BlackAFinSTEM and chatting about electric fish snouts, urban birds, falcons, lizards, crocodiles, economics, carnivores, sea turtles, porcupine noses, butt breathing, Ivory Towers, microaggressions, and how being an ally is a learning process we can all get better at. Walk side by side through life as a Black academic and hear their tips to best support them as well as...
2020-06-101h 09
Ologies with Alie WardPelicanology (PELICANS) with Juita MartinezSpine mysteries, saggy sacs, limericks, flim flam, flags, #BlackBirdersWeek, sandals, divebombs, porcupine espionage, ice cream sandwiches and more! The warm and wonderful pelicanologist Juita Martinez studies these glorious dinosaurs and shares fieldwork stories, what it’s like to hold a floofy baby sea bird, what she loves about being in nature and resources for undergrads interested in becoming scientists. We also chat about birding and the amazing visibility campaign launched by BlackAFinSTEM, which is hosting online events this week to open the discussion about how racism affects Black naturalists, scientists, hikers and any other people of color who want to...
2020-06-041h 08
Ologies with Alie WardOikology (DECLUTTERING) with Jamie & Filip Hord + Joe FerrariWhy does clutter happen? How can we get rid of it and how will it affect us psychologically if we do? Buckle up for an episode that will lift your spirits and quite possibly change your life. We all have unfolded piles of laundry, that closet we don’t want to open, a tornado of papers on our desk that seems impossible to sort through. Enter: Oikology, the science of keeping things contained. Alie hunted down world-famous professional organizers, Jamie & Filip Hoard of Horderly to chat about -- FIRST OFF-- their name, plus gender and messes, when to call in...
2020-05-261h 33
Ologies with Alie WardPlanariology (VERY COOL WORMS, I PROMISE) with Oné PagánWho cares about flatworms? Guess what: you do. Planarian expert Dr. Oné Pagán shares his infectious enthusiasm for the teeny tiny ribbons of flesh that are helping scientists understand addiction, limb regeneration, stem cells, immortality and maybe aliens though probably not aliens. You’re about to be obsessed. We discuss where to find planarians, serendipitous science, taking risks in life, how these worms regrow themselves when they are cut into 279 pieces, marine flatworms, penis fencing, multipurpose mouth tubes, the Unabomber and more. Dr. Pagán is a gem of a human and you’re about to be smitten with fl...
2020-05-201h 00
Ologies with Alie WardCoronasode: Virology Update (COVID-19) with Shannon Bennett & Mike NatterWhat kind of masks should you wear? How many people have had COVID-19 and don’t know? Do antibody tests work? When will we have a vaccine? Is it okay to picnic? Will there be a second wave? You need updates and we’ve got ologists. The wonderful Dr. Shannon Bennett from the first Virology episode joins us again, as well as New York City physician Dr. Mike Natter from the Diabetology episode. These two warm, informed professions dispel rumors, explain what life has been like on the front lines, address medications, describe new symptoms, “proning,” rates of asymptomatic folks, w...
2020-05-121h 08
Ologies with Alie WardArchitectural Technology (COMPUTER PROGRAMMING) with Iddris SanduIddris Sandu is only 22, but his life story is already legendary. This Architectural Technologist learned to program at the age of 11 and has worked with everyone from Kanye West to Nipsey Hussle to Space X. We talk coding, web design, holograms, and how programming works and what languages should you learn and why it's important. The designer and entrepreneur also shares his creative process, favorite programming languages, philosophies on future technology and why empathy matters in life and in design. He’s a true inspiration and Alie shamelessly begged him for life advice. Bonus: this one is pretty kid-friendly so...
2020-05-051h 11
Ologies with Alie WardNassology (TAXIDERMY) with Allis MarkhamGlass eyes! Pelts! Antlers! Hides! Bones! Tanning! Hilarious, charming and globally celebrated taxidermist Allis Markham chats about her passion for preserving animals for museums and institutions. She’s won multiple awards for her artful poses and meticulous work as an ethical taxidermist. With her flair for vintage styling, is perhaps the most elegant badass on planet Earth. Learn the process of making museum taxidermy, her favorite pieces she’s ever made, the best diorama halls, how to DIY it at home, the dos and don’ts of picking up roadkill, why she’s not a fan of 'crap taxidermy' and if...
2020-04-281h 31
Ologies with Alie WardPenguinology (PENGUINS) with Tom HartDo penguins have flippers or wings? Why do they waddle? Do they really mate for life? What’s up with pebble gifts? Are they squishy or dense? And why why why are they so cute? April 25th is World Penguin Day and there’s never been a better time to sit down with renown Penguinologist Dr. Tom Hart, a research fellow with Oxford University. We chat all about life on Antarctica, how he counts colonies, how you can help him count colonies, what penguins smell like, behaviors he’s witnessed, and why he does NOT find penguins cute. Rather he see...
2020-04-2158 min
Ologies with Alie WardGastroegyptology (BREAD BAKING) with Seamus BlackleySourdough starters! Ancient yeasts! Why we need/knead dough! And why you don't need to buy a starter to start. Polymath, particle physicist, inventor of the Xbox, and truly delightful fermentation nerd Seamus Blackley joins to chat about his kitchen adventures resurrecting dormant yeasts from 4,000 Egyptian baking vessels, plus wild yeasts, the infuriating myth of “yeast scarcity,” the beauty of everyday objects, the debt we owe our ancestors, the joy of getting to know your dough plus tons of tips for newbie and experienced bakers. The first half is all about the history of baking and yeasts and some hot...
2020-04-151h 27
Ologies with Alie WardPhilematology (KISSING) with Robin DunbarWhy do we kiss? What makes a good kiss or a bad kiss? How many microbes do we exchange? Is it good for us? One of the world’s most accomplished researchers on kissing, social behavior and relationships, Dr . Robin Dunar of Oxford University reluctantly agrees to be interviewed and explains how kissing may have evolved, how discos are research labs and friends are people you can invite yourself to have a beer with. Also: how to deal with the loneliness of isolation, autism and intimacy, why your cheerfulness may impact people you don’t even know and … Alie’s first...
2020-04-071h 06
Ologies with Alie WardPlumology (FEATHERS) with Allison ShultzPlumage! Sexy dances! Feather heists! Possible holographic disco birds? Natural History Museum of LA ornithology curator Dr. Allison Shultz is a professional plumologist aka feather expert. We visit the museum’s collection of rare specimens and chat about everything from fossilized dinosaur feathers to silent owl flight to furry bird legs to why pigeons are so loud, peacock tails, down parkas, quill pens, heavy metal flautists, feather thieves, pigments, flight feathers, Vantablack, if you can eat feathers and why birdwatching is like seeing tiny purple raccoons zoom overhead. Birds: like Pokemon Go but weirder.
Visit Dr. Allison Sh...
2020-03-311h 19
Ologies with Alie WardLepidopterology (BUTTERFLIES & MOTHS) — Encore Presentation with Phil TorresSince we just put out the "All (Washed) Hands on Deck" episode on Sunday, we figured a happy Springtime encore about fluttery, colorful cuties was in order -- with a few new updates and asides. Because ... Butterflies are gross. Yes they are delightful and beautiful and part of any idyllic picnic-scape but lepidopterologist, TV host and jungle explorer Phil Torres is here to gossip about how shamelessly disgusting our favorite bugs actually are. Learn their secrets, their mating habits, how they turn themselves into goo and then into another creature, what moth is the most goth, what flowers to...
2020-03-251h 20
Ologies with Alie WardCoronasode: All (Washed) Hands on Deck -- How to Help Yourself & Others Right Now with Dr. Michael F. WellsCALLING ALL OLOGISTS: If you’re a scientist who wants to help with the COVID-19 pandemic -- boy howdy have we got an episode for you. Dr. Mike Wells, a neurobiologist at Harvard University and the Broad Institute, knows we need tests in the U.S. and is coralling all the wonderful scientists willing to pitch in. He explains how testing for the SARS CoV-2 virus works, what other countries are doing, and even the book that inspired him to pursue science. Also: if you’re feeling helpless and want to help, Patrons give dozens of ideas on how to h...
2020-03-221h 05
Ologies with Alie WardVeterinary Biology (CRITTER FIXING) with Dr. Vernard Hodges & Dr. Terrence FergusonAt long last: an episode dedicated to veterinary medicine! Dr. Terrence Ferguson & Dr. Vernard Hodges have been friends for nearly 30 years and have co-owned their rural Georgia veterinary clinic, Critter Fixers, for over 20 years. The two wonderful buddies talk about getting accepted into vet school, caring for spiders & camels & lizards & toads & kittens & doggos, the weirdest things they’ve extracted from animal tummies, if our pets love us back, keeping kidneys healthy, grain-free diets, what to do if your (Alie’s) dog is plumping up by a few pounds, what they wish animal owners knew, when it’s time to let go...
2020-03-181h 04
Ologies with Alie WardCoronasode: Virology (COVID-19) with Dr. Shannon Bennett + various ologistsFolks, it’s a megasode. Not one, but 4 ologists. “Coronavirus” is on everyone’s lips -- and some people’s hands -- but what is it? Where did it come from? How does it spread? How dangerous is it? What should we do? Who’s most at risk? Was it biowarfare? Do bats spread it? Should you wear a mask? Can we still smooch our dogs on the face? Do we need to doomsday prep? What’s it like to live in a leper colony? Alie sits down with Dr. Shannon Bennett: a microbiologist, a molecular epidemiologist, a virologist and the Chair...
2020-03-101h 23
Ologies with Alie WardScatology (POOP) with Rachel SantymireYep. Here it is. Let’s dive right in ... to poop. Hippo poop. Ferret poop. Octopoop. Dogs. Cats. Yours. The charming and informative Dr. Rachel Santymire -- aka Dr. Poop -- has a background in animal physiology and endocrinology and is elbow deep in dung as a research director at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Dr. Poop sits down with Alie to talk turds and how she uses poo to determine the health and stress of wild and captive animals, plus: poop vs. poo, why some animals poop pellets, muck middens, taking glitter pills, why the Bristol Stool Scale is “the...
2020-03-031h 06
Ologies with Alie WardVolitional Psychology (PROCRASTINATION) with Dr. Joseph R. Ferrari“Everyone procrastinates, but not everyone is a procrastinator,” quoth Dr. Joe Ferrari, a charming, hilarious expert on the subject. The research psychologist, author and DePaul University professor sits down for a truly delightful exploration of why we procrastinate, how prevalent it is, when it becomes harmful, some myths about procrastination, why it’s similar to gambling, how decision-making can feel paralyzing, how to trust your own abilities, and most importantly -- what to do if you’re a chronic procrastinator. Also: how and why you should embrace failure. Oh and a weird ASMR pencil trick.
Dr. Ferrari’s book “St...
2020-02-251h 05
Ologies with Alie WardCryoseismology (ICEQUAKES) with Celeste LabedzGlaciers: Where are they? What are they made of? What happens when chunks splinter off into the sea? There are ICEQUAKES? CalTech Cryoseismologist Celeste Labedz sometimes wears a cape with her snowpants and spends part of her career shooting explosions into giant chunks of ice and recording the seismic activity, analyzing the rivers that flow through glaciers, and keeping tabs on glacial melt. Also discussed: the most goth way to honor a glacier, and whether or not you should visit them IRL.
Follow Celeste at Twitter.com/celestelabedz or Instagram.com/celestelabez
A donation went...
2020-02-1857 min
Ologies with Alie WardGenealogy (FAMILY TREES) with Stephen HanksHistories, mysteries, memories and families: it’s time to clamber up our ancestral trees. Author and genealogist Stephen Hanks -- who teaches genealogy classes in Portland, Oregon and has contributed to PBS genealogy documentaries -- sits down to chat about what ignited a passion for learning about his own history. Also: how to find your family through census records, county archives, death certificates and more, plus which DNA tests he’s taken, our most recent common ancestor, and how America can try to heal from its past. Also: capes, detectives and hairy fanny packs.Stephen Hanks books: “1619 -- Twe...
2020-02-111h 08
Ologies with Alie WardNephology (CLOUDS) with Rachel StorerCumulus! Lenticular! Venti sugar-free stratocumulus stratiformis translucidus undulatus! Those light and fluffy things that hang overhead weigh thousands of pounds and form under all kinds of conditions. Cloud doctor and nephologist Dr. Rachel Storer chats about why she loves clouds, the different varieties of them, weather modification, sun dogs, bad emojis, tornado chasing, flim flam, conspiracy theories, cloud tattoos and diamond rain. Also: the common factor in whoopee cushions, boob implants and your lunch.
Follow Dr. Rachel Storer at Twitter.com/cloudsinmybeer
A donation went to: WWF's Australian Wildlife and Nature Recovery Fund
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2020-02-0456 min
Ologies with Alie WardDiabetology (BLOOD SUGAR) Part 2 with Dr. Mike Natter, MDDiabetic diabetologist and wonderful person Dr. Mike Natter, MD is back to answer all of your questions about blood sugar, the cost of insulin, pancreas transplants, keto, glucagon, how exercise can save your life, his most meaningful interactions with patients, pudding theft, and the best place to cry at work. Also: why you should always keep frosting in your purse.
This episode is swear-free and okay for all ages, and a bleeped version of Diabetology Part 1 can be found at this link.
Follow Dr. Mike Natter at Instagram.com/mike.natter or at Twitter.com...
2020-01-281h 20
Ologies with Alie WardDiabetology (BLOOD SUGAR) Part 1 with Dr. Mike Natter, MDYour blood sugar can make you happy, moody, sweaty, unconscious and possibly even homicidal. In this episode, Dr. Mike Natter dishes about how blood sugar works, what insulin does, and how prevalent diabetes is in all of its various forms. Also: keto vs. vegan, hypoglycemia, cyborg organs, owl hoots, gestational diabetes, type 1 vs. type 2 and ... does Gwyneth drink her own pee? Also: the emotional side of the disease and how to help those in your life who are diabetic.
Next week, the doc addresses your questions, from diets to diagnoses to infuriating insulin prices.
Follow...
2020-01-2159 min
Ologies with Alie WardBisonology (BUFFALO) with various bisonologistsBison bison! Not just something to holler into the sky, but also the scientific name for North America's majestic wild bovines that once roamed the plains in the tens of millions. What's up with their humps? On what occasion do they wear capes? What noises do they make? How many are out there? What are the best ways to help them? In this special episode, you get 4x the usual number of ologists as we talk to archeologist Dr. Ken Cannon, wildlife biologist Dr. Dan McNulty, Alie's cousin Boyd and his wife Lila Evans, of the Blackfeet Tribe, who...
2020-01-151h 32
Ologies with Alie WardFuturology (THE FUTURE) with Rose Eveleth"The future's not ours to see..." OR IS IT? Professional futurologist Rose Eveleth -- host of the podcast Flash Forward -- endures all kinds of breathless questions from Alie about shiny metal and implanted microchips and biohacking and population density curves and flying cars and equality and utopias and the Jetsons and technology and nuclear fusion and whether or not our phones are spying on us and if we should have kids or dogs. Also: how long do we, as a species, have on Earth? Despite some grim conditions, find out why Rose remains an optimist and get fired...
2020-01-071h 28
Ologies with Alie WardAudiobook Mixtape: Gift Ideas from the Ologists’ BrainsNeed holiday gift ideas? GET BOOKS. This episode is like an audiobook… but also a mixtape? It's got a little bit of everything, from cozy cabin tales to dark caves to our own reflections, how your atoms will be recycled, New Year’s resolutions, cat training, dog rescues, battling past demons, aging, the apocalypse, crime TV and even Egyptian boobytraps. Alie has wanted to deliver excerpts from ologists’ books for over a year but she let them pile up for an even bigger compilation. Consider this like a refresher of some episodes you’ve loved, a teaser for ones you have...
2019-12-1856 min
Ologies with Alie WardChronobiology (CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS) with Katherine HatcherWhat time should you go to bed? Are you sleeping enough? Is Daylight Savings good for us? Is shift work really that bad? How dark is dark enough? Katherine Hatcher, who studies hormones, sleep cycles and circadian rhythms, helps Alie dissect her terrible sleep habits and talks about a magic tiny area in our brains that acts as your body's Big Ben. By the end of the episode, you'll be in footie pajamas eager to change your whole life.Follow Katherine Hatcher on Twitter A donation went to STEM Advocacy InstitutePrevious Ologies e...
2019-12-101h 12
Ologies with Alie WardPhonology (LINGUISTICS) with Nicole Holliday — Encore PresentationAlie is delirious with the flu, so it’s an encore presentation of a favorite episode. If you slept on this when it first aired, get into Phonology now. Vocal fry. Code switching. Black Twitter. Valley girls. Culture vultures. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TALKING. Alie battles traffic to sit down with linguistics professor Dr. Nicole Holliday about intonational phonology: how tones and pitch help us bond with others and construct identities. Inspired in part by former President Barack Obama's masterful linguistic variability, Dr. Holliday's work focuses on how language is used in the crossing and construction of racial/ethnic boundaries. Sh...
2019-12-031h 04
Ologies with Alie WardQuantum Ontology (WHAT IS REAL?) with Adam BeckerIs anything real? How many universes are there? Do we know what dark matter is all about? 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 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...
2019-11-261h 19
Ologies with Alie WardLupinology (WOLVES) with Bridgett vonHoldtWolf howls, wolf packs, wolf pups and more! As the holiday Wolfenoot approaches, lupinologist and Princeton professor Dr. Brigette vonHoldt sits down to talk about her research looking at everything from wolf populations to modern dog behavior, canine family dynamics, Game of Thrones direwolves, Yellowstone wolfies, the ecological impact of predators, if wolves howl at the moon, myths and truths about alphas, the wolf movie she refuses to see, how dog and human genetics are similar, and how you can help our lupine friends. Also: how social media is howling for humans.The vonHoldt Lab: https://vonholdt...
2019-11-191h 16
Ologies with Alie WardMolecular Neurobiology (BRAIN CHEMICALS) with Crystal DilworthSerotonin! Dopamine! Norepinephrine! Neurotransmitters: what's their deal? Dr. Crystal Dilworth, aka Dr. Brain, stops by to have a spirited discussion about how chemical messengers change our moods and behaviors. We chat about depression, anxiety, what chemicals drive us to get off the couch, how antidepressants work, ADHD, addiction, the microbiome, new habits, quitting smoking, starting meditation, Oreos vs. cocaine, SSRIs vs. SNRIs, what it's like to hold a human brain in your hands and if she would donate hers to science. Also: what's up with "lizard brains?" Dr. Dilworth's website: www.crystaldilworth.comSocial media...
2019-11-121h 27
Ologies with Alie WardChiropterology Part 2 (BATS) with Merlin TuttlePART 2: The stunning conclusion of a 3-hour gab session about frickin' bats with America's favorite chiropterologist, Dr. Merlin Tuttle. Learn about bat conversations, their close friendships, surprising dongs, where they keep their nipples, how to go bat spotting after the sun sets, more myths and misconceptions about bat danger, perhaps the grossest thing Merlin has ever put in his mouth, how to hang up a bat house for maximum bat party funtimes, the latest on white nose syndrome and how it feels to get slapped by a bat. Once again: Indiana Jones can get bent because Dr. Merlin Tuttle...
2019-11-051h 01
Ologies with Alie WardChiropterology (BATS) Part 1 with Merlin Tuttle“People fear most what they understand least." Words of wisdom from explorer/American treasure/bat expert, Dr. Merlin Tuttle. Alie headed to the bat capital of Austin and sat down with the legendary chiropterologist to discuss wild field stories and close calls and caves and comebacks and bat chatter and what a bat actually is and how big they get and what's up with their smushy noses, why folks are so frightened by them, the evolution of flight, echolocation, getting a bat out of your house, how they sleep upside down, which ones guzzle blood, and the latest on wh...
2019-10-291h 40
Ologies with Alie WardDemonology (EVIL SPIRITS) with Alyssa BeallDemons, spooky spirits, devils, fallen angles, hungry ghosts: every culture has them. And West Virginia University Religious Studies professor, demonologist and history buff Dr. Alyssa Beall runs down how humans have used myths and stories to explain the feelings that make our hairs stand up and our stomaches sink. Is possession a mental illness? Are demons pranksters from hell? Is your baby evil or just cranky? And why do we like to be scared and poke at the line between life and death? Also: demon dongs. Oh wow.Follow Dr. Alyssa Beall at Instagram.com/religiontraveler
2019-10-231h 13
Ologies with Alie WardSpidroinology (SPIDERWEBS) with Randy LewisInvisible but stronger than steel. Complex architectural marvels. Things that stick to your face. Spiderwebs are much more than just Halloween decor or something to feather dust from your corners. Spider silk expert Dr. Randy Lewis of Utah State University not only coined the word "spidroin" for the proteins comprising the many types of silk, but he is considered one of the foremost experts on the wonders of spiderwebs. Alie visits his lab and chats about how spiders weave them, what the silk is made of, the street value of a spool, future applications of spider silk, transgenic experimentation...
2019-10-151h 12
Ologies with Alie WardCucurbitology (PUMPKINS) with Anne CopelandPUMPKIN PUMPKIN! Not only a thing to scream while passing a patch, but also the name of author and human delight Anne Copeland's gourd opus. Yes, she's so charmed by pumpkins that she dedicated a whole book to exploring their folklore, history, planting protocol, care, and cooking. On a lark, Alie stops by her house in the rural hamlet of Yucaipa, California to chat about everything from creation myths surrounding pumpkins to Anne's favorite recipes, how to make a pumpkin last longer on your porch, the secret medicinal properties of pipitas, why humans might need to go bananas on...
2019-10-081h 00
Ologies with Alie WardOsteology (SKELETONS/BODY FARMS) with Daniel WescottLet's dig right into Spooktober with ... BONES. You're a steak-covered skeleton and it's nothing to fear. The amazingly kind and committed osteologist Dr. Daniel J. Wescott of Texas State University's famed Forensic Anthropology Research Center sits down -- surrounded by skulls and femurs and ribs -- and chats about how bones are formed, how they break, why they might hurt when the weather changes, what CSI gets wrong, how long it takes a body to decompose, looking for isotopes in found remains, cast iron coffins, skeleton myths, body donation, and more. Will Alie freak out, or will this exposure...
2019-10-021h 18
Ologies with Alie WardPhenology (FALL/SEASONS) with Libby EllwoodThe seasons are a-changin'! It's sweater weather in both hemispheres and seasonal researcher and expert Phenologist Dr. Libby Ellwood weighs in with amazing information about why fall smells so good, why leaves change color, why we like to cronch them, historical records of blossoms and twigs, bird migrations, Daylight Savings, seasonal mythbusting, pumpkin spice vs. apple cider, the best temperature to wear sweaters, why the Halloween aisle springs up in summer and how global temperature shifts affect the whole food web. Bonus: the most candid, touching thoughts Alie's ever heard from a scientist studying climate. Get this one in...
2019-09-251h 25
Ologies with Alie WardPotterology Part 2 (WIZARD SCIENCE) with Rebecca Lai**UPDATE: since this episode was first released, J.K. Rowling has said and written some deeply transphobic sentiments and for this, Alie no longer stans nor supports her. So in listening to this episode, let's marvel at the -ologist herself and her love of Chemistry and remember that feminism is intersectional and trans women are women, and trans folks are welcome and beloved in the Ologies universe.**
PART 2: Your questions answered by Dr. Rebecca Lai, as a continuation of last week's foundational episode.
Accio: ALL YOUR DREAMS COMING TRUE. Whether you've never read...
2019-09-1748 min
Ologies with Alie WardPotterology Part 1 (WIZARD SCIENCE) with Rebecca Lai**UPDATE: since this episode was first released, J.K. Rowling has said and written some deeply transphobic sentiments and for this, Alie no longer stans nor supports her. So in listening to this episode, let's marvel at the -ologist herself and her love of Chemistry and remember that feminism is intersectional and trans women are women, and trans folks are welcome and beloved in the Ologies universe.**
Accio: ALL YOUR DREAMS COMING TRUE. Whether you've never read the Harry Potter series -- or you have dogeared copies on your nightstand -- there's something for everyone in this 2...
2019-09-101h 12
Ologies with Alie WardVexillology (FLAGS) with E. Tory LaitilaFlags! How long have we flown them? Will you get arrested for stomping on one? Which ones are cute and which are fugly? Which colors don't we see on flags and why? How did all this flag etiquette originate? E. Tory Laitila, a textile expert who also handles Honolulu's flag protocol, gives the skinny on how to dispose of a flag, flags and conspiracy theories, history of the Pride flag, the oldest flags, which state flag needs a makeover the hardest, how to store flags, who designed our modern American flag and how you too can have ... fun with...
2019-09-031h 18
Ologies with Alie WardPaleontology (DINOSAURS) Encore Presentation with Michael HabibIt's a trip back in time to a baby podcast! Hear the humble beginnings of Ologies as your Ol' Dadward takes a week to celebrate her parents' 50th wedding anniversary. This encore presentation of Paleontology -- complete with new bells, whistles, intro and a fresh secret or two at the end -- will remind you of the wonders of dino digs. Dr. Michael Habib of the beloved Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County answers questions such as: Did Ross Gellar ruin being a paleontologist? What's the hot goss on dino feathers? How did some dinos have four wings...
2019-08-2851 min
Ologies with Alie WardDisasterology (DISASTERS) with Samantha MontanoFloods, earthquakes, tsunamis, tornados, explosions, hurricanes, oil spills, bombings, BAD THINGS: Why do they happen? What can we do to prepare? What is a disaster vs. a catastrophe? Who makes it their life's work to go help? Professional Disasterologist and Emergency Management expert Dr. Samantha Montano sits down to talk about disaster movies, the addiction of helping others, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the floods, looting, doomsday prepping, keeping calm under pressure, climate change, governmental budgets, cathedrals vs. islands, the myths of disasters, looking for the helpers, and how humans tend and befriend each other in times of...
2019-08-211h 26
Ologies with Alie Ward100th Episode: Best Life Advice from Ologists + 100 More OlogiesONE HUNDRED EPISODES, kiddos. From slimy hagfish coils on the ocean floor to the outer reaches of space. Into our brains and out a bird butt and beyond. Ol' Dadward reflects on the past 100 episodes by distilling the 5 best peptalk lifehack self-helpy pieces of advice she's learned from making Ologies for the last nearly two years. Also: a list of 100 potential more episodes and what's cooking for the next few weeks.A donation went the SciCommCamp.com scholarship fundSponsor links: betterhelp.com/ologies (code: OLOGIES); TheGreatCoursesPlus.com/OLOGIES; TakeCareOf.com (code: OLOGIES)...
2019-08-1424 min
Ologies with Alie WardSaurology (LIZARDS) with Earyn McGeeSaurologist and professional lizard scientist Earyn McGee visits Alie to go on a little lizard hunt, then they hunker down to chat about everything from tiny chameleons to drooling dragons, venomous thiccbois, legless lizards, geckos’ antigravity grip, festering dragon mouths, gila monster sightings, close encounters with lions, tangles of snoozy lizards, virgin births, and blood shooting from eyeballs. We also discuss Earyn’s wildly popular #FindThatLizard Twitter game and she gives us all some sound advice on social anxiety and how to succeed in literally any field or ambition. You’ll be squinting at bushes looking for lizards and when y...
2019-08-061h 07
Ologies with Alie WardGraphology (HANDWRITING/FORGERY) with Sylvia KesslerIs it weird to have different handwritings? How do you forge ancient documents? What pen should you use to write checks? Who is the greediest person in American history? Forensic document examiner Sylvia Kessler met up with Alie in the back of a Nebraska office store to chat about penmanship, ransom notes, court cases, self-expression, and we *very* lightly touch on the fringe -ology that uses handwriting to analyze personalities and how Barnum knew best when it comes to carnival "magic."More about Sylva: http://forgerydetectionexperts.comA donation went to: Care.org...
2019-07-311h 03
Ologies with Alie WardCnidariology (CORAL) with Shayle MatsudaWill 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 of the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology/UH Mānoa takes time out of his busy schedule during a coral spawning event to chat about how magical and beautiful coral can be and why reef health is important. Also: whether or not "Finding Nemo" got coral right, making transitions during grad school, and how to pursue your a...
2019-07-251h 21
Ologies with Alie WardDisinfectiology (BLEACH) with Evan RumbergerIt lives under your sink and may have saved your life but… WHAT THE FUNK IS BLEACH? Hot off of a beaker-laden lab tour, Alie chats with Dr. Evan Rumberger, a bleach scientist, about his work, his history, what bleach IS, what it turns into, and how to appreciate this household staple. Also: what exactly is in swimming pools and how to tie-dye shirts when you’re goth. This was part of a partnership with Clorox, but Alie thought the chemistry was cool enough to share with Ologites.For more bleach facts, this link's got 'em: FactsAboutBleach.com
2019-07-1752 min
Ologies with Alie WardNomology Part 2: (THE CONSTITUTION): Let's read the whole friggin thing.Have you ever read every word of The U.S. Constitution? You don't have to, because ol' Dadward here is about to read it into your ears and give little sidenotes to make sure we both understand it. This episode is a follow up to Nomology with law professor Franita Tolson, so start there for the basics and learn why knowing your rights and using your voice can change the future. Follow Franita Tolson at Twitter.com/ProfTolson and read more about her work here.More links at alieward.com/ologies/nomology
2019-07-101h 20
Ologies with Alie WardNomology (THE CONSTITUTION) with Franita TolsonIf you've never read The Constitution, you're like most of us. What does it even say?! Most Americans aren't law scholars, which is why we sat down with a Dean of USC's Gould School of Law, Professor Franita Tolson, to have her give us the crib sheet on the most important document in the free world. What's up with the amendments? What are the articles? What does it mean to be an American? What rights do we have? How did we get them and how do we keep them? We also discuss what it was like having Barack Obama...
2019-07-021h 30
Ologies with Alie WardCabinology (CABINS) with Dale MulfingerLog cabins, woodsy getaways, A-frame cuties, cottages, tiny homes, lake houses: WE GET INTO IT. World famous Minnesota architect, author, professional cabinologist and human delight Dale Mulfinger sits down to discuss everything from what makes a cabin a cabin, to why we bond better surrounded by wood, Scandinavian hygge-ness, where to situate windows, cabin history, horror flicks and vacation activities. Alie sits there starry-eyed and stammers a bunch because she's so excited.More on Dale Mulfinger: salaarc.comSALA Architects on InstagramDonations went to: Clarence Wigington Minority Architectural Scholarship & slavedwellingproject.org
2019-06-2559 min
Ologies with Alie WardDisease Ecology (LYME/TICK-BORNE ILLNESSES) with Andrea SweiLyme Disease! Powassan virus! That Lonestar tick meat allergy! Paralysis ticks! Acarology taught us all about the eight-legged villains that aim for our crevices, but Disease Ecologist Dr. Andrea Swei offers a deep dive under the skin to learn more about what nasties a tick can give us. We chat a whole bunch about Lyme Disease: its prevalence, testing, treatment, which animals carry it, “chronic Lyme” vs. post-treatment Lyme. We also cover how lizards might harbor a helpful protein, two Ukrainian princesses by the names of Borrelia and Babesia, why you'll want chickens and possums hanging out at your barb...
2019-06-181h 12
Ologies with Alie WardIsland Ecology (ISLANDS) with Andy KraemerWhat IS an island? How do birds and plants and mammals GET there? Why do we like going to islands? Dr. Andy Kraemer studies how life populates and survives on hunks of remote rock and chats all about the Galapagos Islands -- where he does his research. We address the smallest island in the world, the largest, some bananas biological adaptations, Darwin's finchy mistakes, some nude people and a Baroness who got caught up in a homicide scandal, and shrinking skeletons. Also: pirates and prison islands.Follow Dr. Andy Kraemer at www.twitter.com/andykraemer...
2019-06-1148 min
Ologies with Alie WardAcarology (TICKS) with Neeta Pardanani ConnallyTicks: They’re tiny. They’re thirsty. They’re drooling vectors of various illnesses and they want nothing more than to cuddle up to your darkest crevices. In the episode, learn how to remove a tick, if you should spray your yard and with what, how landscaping affects tick exposure, why Lyme Disease is spreading, the Lone Star Tick rolling into town, how to protect your pets and why the CC ruined poppyseed muffins. Acarologist, medical entomologist and tick expert Dr. Neeta Pardanani Connally chats with me from her West Connecticut State University Tick Lab to discuss al of these...
2019-06-051h 19
Ologies with Alie WardPsychological Traumatology (PTSD & STRESS) with Nicholas BarrWhat happens to the brain under extreme stress? Why do past traumas haunt us? What kind of therapies work for veterans? And what can we do in day-to-day life to be more resilient to adverse experiences? Traumatologist and social worker Dr. Nicholas Barr has studied PTSD in veterans and homeless youth and explains how traumas affect the rest of our lives and how to bounce back by getting a little help. Also: great resources for lower-cost therapy and what you can do to support loved ones who have experienced trauma. Oh, and Alie needs to adopt a dog.
2019-05-281h 28
Ologies with Alie WardBehavioral Ecology (REPRODUCTIVE TRADEOFFS) with Amy WorthingtonWhy do we bone? Why should we have kids? When should we have kids? Crickets might answer all these questions. Dr. Amy Worthington of Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska studies "life history tradeoffs:" when to allocate resources to reproduction versus preserving your own health. Whether you're an insect ghosting a buster mate or a millennial waiting to have kids until the economy gets better, you may learn a thing or two about whether having kids is worth it.Follow Dr. Amy Worthington at Twitter.com/WorthingtonLabDr. Worthington's blog amymworthington.wordpress.comA...
2019-05-2147 min
Ologies with Alie WardMycology (MUSHROOMS) with Tom VolkMushrooms! Psilocybin! Humungous fungus! Black mold! Foraging! The incredibly charming and warm Dr. Tom Volk, world-renown mushroom expert, welcomes Alie into his office to dive deep into the underground world of fungal enthusiasts and touch on pathogens and medicinal therapies. Dr. Volk himself is a heart transplant patient, and shares how his life has been changed since a donor saved it. Also: Alie holds his old heart in her hands.Dr. Tom Volk's awesome fungus websiteThis week's donations were made to DonateLife.net and The Mycological Society of America Sponsor links: KiwiCo...
2019-05-141h 16
Fight Stuff!Upkicks, Spinning shit and Five for FightingTHE SHOW NOTES-A Croatian MMA fight in Crimea leads to one fighter losing twice in the same MMA fight to both his opponent and the referee via technical submission. This weekend’s Bellator over delivered with three super viral finishes that made the rounds on IG.This Week in Sporps: Spinning shit, upkicks KOs, and a super rare gogoplata in MMA. Spinning Shit: Raymond Daniels, in just his SECOND mma appearance, hit the craziest tornado punch against Wilker Barros (spinning back kick into nutty tornado punch). Is there a parallel between the relationship of...
2019-05-111h 19
Ologies with Alie WardBufology (TOADS) with Priya NanjappaToaaaaads! Friend or foe? Dive into a toad hollow with bufologist and charming human Priya Nanjappa, who is a wealth of knowledge and a font of affection for toads. Which toads are the biggest, the most poisonous, the history of the cane toad, toad licking, orgies with pythons, mating calls, evolution, wart film flam, witch myths , toad abodes and more. This episode will change the way you crouch down and shake hands with your tiny backyard grumpa.Follow Priya at www.twitter.com/toadallypriya or Instagram.com/wildbeautifulworldA donation was made to The Amphibian...
2019-05-071h 09Fight Stuff!Every Bunny was Kung Fu Fighting and the Mascot MassacreHe. Is. Risen. - The easter bunny delivers a boxing style beat down that is most eggcellent leaving egg on the face of a wandering attacker. We ALMOST skip past the show open yet again!!! One day we will get it right… This Week in Sporps! UFC St. Petersburg took place in russia as giving stateside fight fans a saturday morning treat not unlike the World Cup or Olympics. Zeke and Jarrett take a quick trip to the possibility of MMA/submission grappling making its way into the olympics. We discuss the possibility of a...
2019-04-2648 min
Ologies with Alie WardAddictionology (ADDICTION) with Erin Parisi"Addiction doesn't have to be a bummer!," quoth addictionologist Erin Parisi, who has some uplifting and hopeful tales from her professional life. But content warning: it's definitely not a day in the park. Tune in for some info on alcohol dependence, smoking, opiates, behavioral addictions, how addiction can futz with your reward systems, some sobering statistics, what we can learn from rat parties, how childhood experiences can set the stage for substance dependence later, how many people are in recovery, what to do if a friend or loved one seems to have a problem, how to tell if you...
2019-04-231h 31Fight Stuff!Hockey Fights , UFC 236 roundup and the XARM fever dreamA scrappy 19 year old hockey player picks the wrong guy to challenge to a hockey fight, we accidentally skank our way back to the 90’s with a Mighty Mighty trip down memory lane, Plus we talk UFC 236 with Stylebender and Kelvin Gastelum delivering an early contender for fight of the night, and we strap in for this week's show-and-tell that proves two great tastes don’t always taste great together in Xarm.SHOW NOTESA new genre of viral fight clip of the week… Hockey fights! Ovechkin delivers sock classic chin music via a label...
2019-04-2059 minFight Stuff!Bear spray wielding canadians attempt to rob a dispensary! 16 Movie Badasses: BRACKETS pt. 2Bear spray wielding Canadians attempt to rob a dispensary only to have their hopes dashed by a three glass bong, the Golden Snitch finally catches up to TJ Dillashaw for EPO, Jarrett and Zeke debate the pronunciation and use of Kratom, are supplements on the razor's edge of PEDs, Cody predicted TJ’s on everything, billionaire’s will probably have nanobots repairing their bodies while us plebes face our inevitable demise, we advocate for the use of PEDs in most sports, bare knuckle boxing is the new hotness as Artem Lobov and Jason Knight cut each other to shreds as t...
2019-04-161h 13
Ologies with Alie WardHagfishology (HAGFISH) with Tim WinegardHagfish: these floppy hot dogs of the deep sea deserve our undying respect. Tim Winegard is a professional hagfishologist (YES IT'S A WORD) at Chapman University, and he dishes on the world's slimiest treasures. Prepare to hear about swift escapes, spellbinding clots of slime, patchy backstories, aphrodisiacs, outlasting extinction events, why you don't always need a spine, eating your way out of a dead whale, and -- like a slippery messiah -- turning water to slime. Also Alie confronts her fear of m*cus.Comparative Biomaterials Lab at Chapman University: https://sites.chapman.edu/fudge/...
2019-04-161h 13
Ologies with Alie WardScorpiology (SCORPIONS) with Lauren EspositoScorpions: the victims of undue shade. If you've ever wanted to impress a date with weird facts THIS IS THE EPISODE FOR YOU. A handful of people on planet Earth have a PhD in scorpions and Dr. Lauren Esposito is one of them. She spills the beans on how venom works, what's up with the blacklight glow effect, how dangerous they *really* are, what all the movies get wrong, the best names for scorpions, where she's traveled to look under rocks, where a scorpion's butt is, if scorpions dance or make out (SPOILER: YES), what good mothers they are...
2019-04-091h 09Fight Stuff!Guy Throws Hands With Cops and Our Top 16 Movie Badasses: BRACKETS pt. 1As usual all over the place, today we talk: guy throws hands with cop, weapon retention drills, the places we come up with most of our bad ideas, keep your chin tucked so we can enjoy the videos of you getting your ass kicked online, verbal taps, oh I got two stripes on my brown belt, gettin’ TILTED, gettin PISSED at ESPN, a tilting field, Gaethje and Barboza tossin down, Josh Emmett and Michael Johnson with a last minute knockout, Jack Hermannson taps Renzo Gracie BB David Branch, which is WILD, submissions that match your bod, and then we ba...
2019-04-081h 11Fight Stuff!British Schoolboy Fisticuffs! Pettis and Wonderboy! Jarrett Does Pans!We kick off this episode of Fight Stuff with a couple British students havin' a square off in a round of fisticuffs which prompts a whole episode discussing filling up the basement before heading to the attic, the etiquette of no ground game but you have to shake hands after you're done. We discuss the class war surrounding leg attacks in jiu jitsu and the civility of sportsmanship fighting. We discuss our new tagline: The Combat podcast for everyone! And then Sporps: Bellator takes us to Thackerville, OK where Gerald Harris and Anatoly Tokov and went back and forth...
2019-03-281h 25
Ologies with Alie WardVictimology (CRIME VICTIMS) with Callie RennisonIn a world saturated with CSI spinoffs and true crime documentaries, we look at a criminology subset focusing not on the pathology of the killers, but on the victims of crime: their experiences, vulnerability, survival rates, statistics, trauma, and recovery. In the least goofy episode to date, the brilliant and warm professional victimologist Dr. Callie Rennison of the University of Colorado chats about resources, historical changes of perspective, gender's role in victimization and how people of color and Native populations are at a tragically higher risk for violent victimization. Also covered, PTSD and fear at school, trauma from homophobia...
2019-03-261h 30Fight Stuff!Paraglider Attacked By Killer Kangaroo! Masvidal's Three Piece And A Soda, and The Legend of Michael "The Count" BispingWhat’s up Fight Fans! This week on Fight Stuff!: an aggressive kangaroo, marsupial martial arts, the xenophobic tendencies of wild animals, United Kingdom crowds, is there such a thing as home team advantage in fighting?, Jorge Masvidal’s sneaky footwork (not to mention his big teep to the groin to start the fight), THREE PIECE AND A SODA THREE PIECE AND A SODA THREE PIECE AND A SODA, the warrior in me recognizes and bows to the warrior in you, the magic of British guys shit talking, the FASCINATING origins of Michael Bisping’s nickname “The Count”, how Europe is r...
2019-03-201h 07
Ologies with Alie WardAstrobiology (ALIENS) with Kevin Peter HandALIENS! EXTRATERRESTRIALS! MARTIANS! Let's. Get. Into. It. The phenomenal Dr. Kevin Peter Hand of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory dishes on the oceans of distant moons, methane rivers, E.T., ice crusts, what might be out there, the timeline of possibly finding them, ghosts, aliens, dark matter, if we should fear making contact with intergalactic beings, if the government is hiding alien secrets, how finding extraterrestrial microbes would change the way we see life on this here tiny blue dot in space. Also: the galactic bulge. Dr. Kevin Peter Hand's JPL profileDr. Kevin Peter Hand...
2019-03-191h 22Fight Stuff!My Anus!, MMA Cartoon Heavyweight Skullduggery, and The Top 5 Rules of FightingWhat's up Fight Fans! Today we share a very delightful and childish clip from the annals of MMA history, talk a bit about the BARN BURNER that was UFC Wichita, specifically Derrick Lewis and Dos Santos scrappin' like cartoon kids and The Dirty Bird Tim Means' and bummer of an ankle injury, then I present Zeke with my theoretical Top 5 Rules of Fighting, something we end up discovering we might just be able to start a self-help empire off of? Join us for mooooore FIGHT STUFF!If you have a suggestion for viral clip of the...
2019-03-131h 10
Ologies with Alie WardLudology (VIDEO GAMES) with Jane McGonigalVideo games! Tabletop games! IRL role-play gaming! The ... lottery? Dr. Jane McGonigal is a video game developer, TED speaker, bestselling author and total badass with a deep knowledge of how games -- and especially video games -- can motivate, soothe and connect us. We talk about everything from Monopoly to dance offs, Fortnite, vintage Atari, VR, the challenge of Dark Souls, the sweetness of League of Legends, how Tetris can get you through rough times and the health issue that caused Dr. McGonigal to create her huge hit, SuperBetter. Also: why everyone who loves games and everyone who hates...
2019-03-121h 16
Ologies with Alie WardEtymology (WORD ORIGINS) with Helen Zaltzman of The Allusionist PodcastThe brilliant and dazzling Helen Zaltzman, host of The Allusionist podcast and person who technically for a living researches the origins of language and thus is an etymologist, visits Alie's apartment to chat about various word origins, gender in language, the Bible a.k.a. The Oxford English Dictionary, origins of the filthiest slang, emoji decoding, mediocrity, step parents, babies wearing glasses, Greek kimonos, the romance of languages and the fundamental truth that language is always changing whether you want it to or not. Also tomatoes, pliable boobs, avocados, and fish trails.The Allusionist...
2019-03-051h 00Fight Stuff!Karate Cashier Defends Her Customer, UFC 235, Right Leg Hospital Left Leg Cemetery: a Farewell to Mirko CroCopAfter a delightful video of a heroic cashier using some impressive striking abilities to protect a large man from an even larger man getting bullied in her store, we discuss UFC 235, especially the Askren Lawler fight, and eventually Zeke takes us on a tour of the VERY recently retired Mirko Cro Cop. A certain legend of the sport who inspires us to get a bit philosophical about why humans love to invest so much in things (like their lives) just to destroy them. Along the way we discuss the power of simple 1s and 2s, injuring yourself on the...
2019-03-0555 minFight Stuff!School Fight Over Screenshotting Stories, Combat Jiu Jitsu, and CTE in Ancient and Modern WarfareKicking off with a deep breakdown of a high school girl fight guard game, we get into it and do not slow down. Topics we bop around include the rules of the personal bubble, hair as a lapel substitute, why you should never get in fights, sparring in parking lots, martial arts buddies who don't believe in grappling, the true cost of jiu jitsu in the streets (RIP knee skin), reminiscing about old mma sponsors like golden palace and condom depot, why school fights are good sometimes, a tale of Zeke working it out with a volleyball teammate, Bugsy...
2019-03-041h 02Fight Stuff!Teacher Breaks Up A Fight, GSP Retires, and The Legend of The Techno Giant: Hong Man ChoiHellooooo fight fans! After discussing a viral clip involving a stocky, responsible teacher shoving some fighting kids off each other we spend some time discussing Georges St. Pierre upon his retirement from MMA, and conclude with an educational segment regarding our first LEGEND of mma: Hong Man Choi. Over the course of this we touch upon : after school fights, tank tops with the sleeves cut off and the sort of dudes who wear them, why bouncers should be big and not Swayze, the dangers of intervention and why you should avoid all conflict, what we bleep and what we...
2019-03-0458 minFight Stuff!Asian Kid Knocks Out Frat Boy, Kron Gracie's Debut, and Pankration: The Original (Naked) MMAWhat's up fight fans! We're super pumped to kick off this pod. Our viral fight clip this week entitled "Asian Kid Knocks Out Frat Boy!!!!" does NOT disapoint. Among too many other things to mention, we discuss: standard street fight strategies like rushing in with your hands down, the jogger who killed a cougar with his bare hands, the tragedy of Cain Velazquez and Ngannou, what it must be like to finally debut in the UFC as Rickson Gracie's son, how Derrick Lewis is morally superior to Fuckjerry, fighting with a collapsed lung, cringey shit talk, and a deep...
2019-03-041h 11Fight Stuff!Fight Stuff Promo!Welcome to Fight Stuff! Fight Stuff is THE podcast for violence and violence enthusiasts, each week we will bring you:Viral Fight Stuff! - every episode we kick off sharing a viral fight clip from the internet at large which we then breakdown and analyze to exhaustive lengthsSport Fight Stuff! - a discussion of highlights from the past week in the world of fight sports, from MMA to Kickboxing to Boxing to hockey fights, and if there's a charge the field baseball dust up? You bet your sweet ass we'll be covering that.Educational Fight Stuff! - each...
2019-02-2704 min
Ologies with Alie WardThermophysiology (BODY HEAT) with Shane Campbell-StatonThis episode, and Dr. Shane Campbell-Staton, are a true joy. The UCLA professor, host of the Biology of Superheroes Podcast and Thermophysiologist talks about big animals vs. little ones, lizard storms, dinosaur blood, hibernating bears, why you sweat in your sleep, antifreeze frogs, miracle hamsters, why different people run at very different temperatures, how comic books influence the way he sees science, learning how his brain works and some time management hacks that he uses as a professor and host of an amazing podcast. Get ready to have a new science buddy.Listen to The Biology of...
2019-02-261h 23
Ologies with Alie WardPersonality Psychology (PERSONALITIES) with Simine VazireWHO ARE WE? Personality researcher & psychology professor Dr. Simine Vazire dishes about introverts, extroverts, self-esteem, sociopaths, neuroticism, conscientiousness, Buzzfeed quizzes, yearbook inscriptions, trusting people, screwing up your kids, acting like your parents, changing personality traits through therapy or medication and astrology being put to the test. Also, Alie finds out what kind of dog she is. Dr. Simine Vazire on TwitterThis week's donation was made to improvingpsych.orgSponsor links: TheGreatCourses.com/ologies, Takecareof.com (promo code: Ologies50), Handy.com/ologies (promo code: Ologies), and TimesuckPodcast.comMore links at...
2019-02-191h 17