Ologies with Alie Ward

The premise is simple and brilliant: each episode, Alie Ward interviews an expert in a specific "-ology" and asks them all the questions you would want to ask if you could corner a scientist at a party. Volcanology. Ferroequinology (that is the study of trains). Lepidopterology. Scorpiology. The range is wild, and Ward's genuine enthusiasm makes even the most obscure field feel urgent and fascinating. Ward has a background in science communication and comedy, and that combination is the show's secret weapon. She is not afraid to ask basic questions, crack jokes, or go on tangents that somehow always circle back to something illuminating. The interviews run about an hour to 90 minutes, giving guests real room to nerd out about their life's work. With nearly 500 episodes and a stunning 4.9-star rating from over 24,000 reviews, Ologies has built one of the most passionate audiences in podcasting. The community calls themselves "ologists" and regularly submit questions for the experts. Ward reads and answers listener queries at the end of most episodes, which adds a communal feel that many interview shows lack. The production is clean and professional, but it never loses the warmth of a real conversation between two people who are excited about the same thing. If you have ever wanted to understand what a professional slug sex researcher actually does all day, Ologies has you covered. And yes, there really is an episode about that.