Bonus Episode: Optical Technology (HISTORY OF EYEGLASSES + MODERN DAY VISION)
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When were glasses invented? What happened back then if your horse stepped on them? How is the digita...
Literary Olfactology (THE POLITICS OF SMELL) with Ally Louks
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Smell and culture. Scent descriptions in novels. Fragrances and class. Stink and stigmas. We cover i...
Bonus Episode: The OCD Experience with Neurobiologist Uma Chatterjee
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This one’s all about lived experience: What's it like to have OCD? What’s the therapy all about?...
Obsessive-Compulsive Neurobiology (OCD) with Wayne Goodman
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ruminations and reassurances. Checking and counting. Suffering and stigmas. It’s OCD, babes! OCD i...
Fromology (CHEESE) Part 2 with Kyra James
16 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re back with molten hot cheese trivia in Part 2 with Fromologist Kyra James of OwnYourFunk.com....
Fromology (CHEESE) Part 1 with Kyra James
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Soft. Hard. Fresh. Aged. Stinky. Illegal. Let’s talk cheese with Certified Cheese Professional (CC...
Lampyridology (FIREFLIES) aka Sparklebuttology Updated Encore with Sara Lewis
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Let’s light up your life and butt. World-renowned firefly expert Dr. Sara Lewis of Tufts Universit...
Crotalology (RATTLESNAKES) with Emily Taylor
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Fangs. Rattles. Misconceptions. Crawl out from under your rock for the angelic rattle of one of the ...
Aquaculture Ecology (SUSTAINABLE OCEAN FOODS) with Ben Halpern
18 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Farmed versus wild. Basement shrimp hustles. Mangrove drama. Anthropology. Animal welfare and plant-...
Bonus Episode: THE U.S. CONSTITUTION. Let's read it together.
14 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever read every word of The U.S. Constitution? You don't have to, because I read it with my...
Macrophycology (SEAWEED) with Patrick Martone, Charles Yarish, Danielle McHaskell, Angela Jones, and Becky Swerida
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Moonlit seaweeds. Dreamy underwater forests. Mounds of beach debris. Not plants. Let’s talk about ...
Cryptology (SECRET CODES) with Simon Singh
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Secret ciphers. Hidden treasure. Enigma breakers. Mysterious manuscripts. And … hog Latin. Cryptol...
Urocyonology (LITTLE GRAY FOXES) with Bill Leikam
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bushy tails! Stinky butts! Faces so cute you weep! Let’s talk foxes – specifically the little gr...
Maritime Archaeology (SHIPWRECKS) Encore with Chanelle Zaphiropoulos
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Shipwrecks. Treasure. Sunken planes. Scuttled submarines. New life forming around old machinery. The...
Araneology (SPIDERS) with Marshal Hedin
14 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why would a spider have a frog best friend? Why do they love your shower? Does lemon repel them? Sho...
Artificial Intelligence Ethicology (WILL A.I. CRASH OUT?) with Abeba Birhane
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Who’s babysitting AI? Will it steal your job? What happens when you’re rude to a chatbot? Cognit...
Salugenology (WHY HUMANS REQUIRE HOBBIES) Part 2 with Julia Hotz
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s Part 2 of how to fix your life with hobbies! Pretty much. Journalist/author of “The Connect...
Salugenology (WHY HUMANS REQUIRE HOBBIES) Part 1 with Julia Hotz
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Crafting. Motorcycle repair. Banjo lessons. Hobbies aren’t a reward, but tools to save your mental...
Climate Fervorology (ECO-ADVOCACY WITHOUT IT BEING A BUMMER) with AJR’s Adam Met
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Cleaner energy! Reasoning with climate deniers! Using fandom to pass policy! And not burning out. Ad...
Discard Anthropology (GARBAGE) Encore with Robin Nagle
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Landfills! Treasures in the trash! Corporate conspiracies! Composting! An instantly classic conversa...
Medieval Codicology (WEIRD MEDIEVAL MANUSCRIPT ART & MEMES & SNAILS) with Evan Pridmore
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Medieval art memes! Human-faced animals! Drunk monks! And a preponderance of snails. Middle Ages man...
Domestic Phytology (HOUSEPLANTS) with Tyler Thrasher
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Fungus gnats. Overloved cacti. Fiddle fig failures. $20,000 specimens. It’s house plants — and i...
Post-Viral Epidemiology (LONG COVID) Part 2 with Wes Ely
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Long Covid Part 2: Treatments. Studies. Histamines. Hormones. POTS. Clots. Hearts. Hope. Highly-resp...
Post-Viral Epidemiology (LONG COVID) Part 1 with Wes Ely
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What is Long Covid? Is it real? What does it feel like? Do you have it? And how do you cure it? With...
Reality TV Sociology (‘TRASH’ TV) with Danielle Lindemann
Wed, 5 Mar
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Nude strangers. Icy roads. Brain rot. True love. Class warfare. Queer visibility. Scripted ad libs. ...
Reality TV Sociology (‘TRASH’ TV) with Danielle Lindemann
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nude strangers. Icy roads. Brain rot. True love. Class warfare. Queer visibility. Scripted ad libs. ...
Field Trip: Activism Art Panel Recorded at WonderCon
01 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Exactly the inspiration you need. Exactly the perfect time. Pass it on to anyone who loves art and/o...
Cardiology (THE HEART) with Herman Taylor
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It beats. It throws blood. It breaks – but not if Dr. Herman Taylor can help it. He is a physician...
Erethizonology (PORCUPINES) with Tim Bean
Wed, 19 Feb
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Barbs. Grunts. Bone caves. Dogs who got too close. We got porcupines, folks. Dr. Tim Bean of Cal Pol...
Erethizonology (PORCUPINES) with Tim Bean
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Barbs. Grunts. Bone caves. Dogs who got too close. We got porcupines, folks. Dr. Tim Bean of Cal Pol...
Agnotology (WILLFUL IGNORANCE) Updated Encore with Dr. Robert Proctor
12 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Yes, there is an -ology for that. And yes, we’re airing this episode -– with a ton of 2025 updat...
Hippopotomology (HIPPOS) with Rebecca Lewison
Wed, 5 Feb
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Do they sweat blood? Will one kill you? What are cocaine hippos? Is Moo Deng… okay? Actual real li...
Hippopotomology (HIPPOS) with Rebecca Lewison
05 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do they sweat blood? Will one kill you? What are cocaine hippos? Is Moo Deng… okay? Actual real li...
Thyroidology (THYROID GLAND) with Kepal Patel
Wed, 29 Jan
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Sad? Cold? Hot? Wired? Blame the thyroid. Maybe. In your throat there is a butterfly-shaped gland un...
Thyroidology (THYROID GLAND) with Kepal Patel
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sad? Cold? Hot? Wired? Blame the thyroid. Maybe. In your throat there is a butterfly-shaped gland un...
Eco-Odorology (SCIENCE-SNIFFING DOGS) with Kayla Fratt
22 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dogs doing science. With their faces. As a follow-up to last week’s Ethnocynology episode about hu...
Ethnocynology (HUMANS & DOGS THROUGH TIME) with David Ian Howe
Wed, 15 Jan
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Ancient dogs! Domestic wolves! Anthropology! Archaeology! It’s all Ethnocynology: when humans and ...
Ethnocynology (HUMANS & DOGS THROUGH TIME) with David Ian Howe
15 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ancient dogs! Domestic wolves! Anthropology! Archaeology! It’s all Ethnocynology: when humans and ...
Fire Ecology (WILDFIRES & INDIGENOUS FIRE MANAGEMENT) Mega Encore with Gavin Jones & Amy Christianson (LA Fires Re-Release)
10 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As wildfires burn across L.A. — and my neighborhood evacuates — we thought it would be a good ti...
Eudemonology (HAPPINESS) Encore with Laurie Santos
Tue, 31 Dec 2024 08:00:00 +0000
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
HAPPINESS RESEARCH, straight up. What is happiness? How do our circumstances affect happiness? Why i...
Eudemonology (HAPPINESS) Encore with Laurie Santos
31 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
HAPPINESS RESEARCH, straight up. What is happiness? How do our circumstances affect happiness? Why i...
Cabinology (CABINS) Encore with Dale Mulfinger
24 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The time is right to revisit cabins: Log cabins, woodsy getaways, A-frame cuties, cottages, tiny hom...
Castorology (BEAVERS) with Rob Rich
Wed, 18 Dec
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Orange teeth! Vanilla butts! Architecture with twigs! Olde-timey joke books? Field naturalist, conse...
Castorology (BEAVERS) with Rob Rich
18 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Orange teeth! Vanilla butts! Architecture with twigs! Olde-timey joke books? Field naturalist, conse...
Mnemonology (MEMORY) Part 2 with Michael Yassa
11 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Remembering names! Preventing dementia! Photographic memories! Weed! Goldfish! It’s the thrilling ...
Mnemonology (MEMORY) Part 1 with Michael Yassa
04 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How are memories made? Where are they stored? Where do they go? What was I just talking about? Neuro...
Surgical Angiology (VEINS & ARTERIES) with Sheila Blumberg
27 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Vaping and vein health! Covid and clots! Easy bruising! Movie blood! Spider veins! Free socks! The h...
Field Trip: A Hawaiian Breadfruit Rev‘ULUtion
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What even IS a breadfruit? How do you cook it? Why have Pacific Islanders grown it for so long? Can ...
Canistrumology (BASKET WEAVING. YES, BASKET WEAVING) with James C. Bamba
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Thorny leaves! Embarrassing imports! Basket gossip! Making cool stuff from invasive vines! Renowne...
Ergopathology (BURNOUT) with Kandi Wiens
13 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Exhaustion! Numbness! Anger! You’re stressed out. I get it. Let’s fix it. I cornered one of the ...
Odonatology (DRAGONFLIES) with Jessica Ware
06 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
They’re acrobatic fliers with long bodies and veined wings and their babies breathe through their ...
Field Trip: I Take You to the Making of a Mural
30 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Folks, come with me. We’re hanging out under some train tracks late at night in Philadelphia doing...
Confectionology (CANDY) with Susan Benjamin
23 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Licorice opinions! War chocolate! Candy corn origins, circus peanut secrets, the sourest sourballs, ...
Momiology (MUMMIFICATION) Part 2 with Salima Ikram & Kara Cooney
17 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Coffin engravings! Archaeology ethics! Linen wrappings! Repatriation! Sexy hippos!We’re back with ...
Momiology (MUMMIFICATION) Part 1 with Kara Cooney & Salima Ikram
09 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Linen wrapping. Expensive resins. Sarcophagi. Preserving for eternity – or until someone raids the...
Urban Rodentology (SEWER RATS) Encore with Bobby Corrigan
02 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Let’s kick off Spooktober with… RATS: They love pizza. They invade taquerias at midnight. They s...
Modern Toichographology (MURALS & STREET ART) with Conrad Benner
26 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Murals! Frescos! Graffiti! Street art! Philadelphia is the birthplace of graffiti and the mural capi...
Tardigradology (TINY SEMI-INDESTRUCTIBLE WATER BEAR MOSS PIGLET CREATURES CALLED TARDIGRADES) with Paul Bartels
18 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Smaller than you can imagine. Potato-shaped. Mysterious. Romantic. And tough enough to survive the v...
Suicidology (SUICIDE PREVENTION & AWARENESS) with DeQuincy Meiffren-Lézine
11 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Give yourself a hug and take a deep breath and let’s chat with renowned Suicidologist Dr. DeQuincy...
Coffeeology (COFFEE) with Peter Giuliano
03 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When did coffee get into our mouths? Who’s right when it comes to the best coffee? What’s the mo...
Museology (MUSEUMS) Encore in Memory of Ronnie Cline
28 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A very special encore in memory of our favorite Museologist, Ronnie Cline. In this 2018 episode, we ...
Speleology (CAVES) with Gina Moseley
21 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Caves! Caverns! Grottos! Crystals! Let's get down and dirty with Speleology with explorer, researche...
Misophonology (DISTRACTING SOUND & NOISE RAGE) with Jane Gregory
14 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Forks on teeth. Lip smacking. Metal on metal. (Don’t worry, there are no sonic examples of trigger...
Funology (YES, FUN) with Catherine Price
07 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What exactly is “fun?” How will you know when you’re having it? Do introverts have special alo...
Neuroendocrinology (SEX & GENDER) Mega Encore with Daniel Pfau
31 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s an updated mega-encore of one of my favorite episodes — with 2024 research — to learn: Ho...
Ambystomology (AXOLOTLS… AND LIMB REGROWTH?) with Jessica Whited
24 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Feathery gills! Adorable smiles! Cultural icons! Habitat ecology! And superhuman limb regeneration? ...
Psychedeliology (HALLUCINOGENS) Part 2 with Charles Grob
17 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Part 2 is here! It’s wall to wall listener questions about magic mushrooms, LSD, ayahuasca ceremon...
Psychedeliology (HALLUCINOGENS) Part 1 with Charles Grob
11 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Magic mushrooms, LSD, ayahuasca ceremonies, DMT, ketamine: take a trip into the science and resear...
Disability Sociology (DISABILITY PRIDE) with Guinevere Chambers
03 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sexuality and disability! Invisible illnesses! Airline frustrations! How many of us are disabled! Ju...
Puffinology (PUFFINS) with Jill Taylor
27 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What exactly IS a puffin? Who are they related to? Are they disco birds? WHY are they so cute? Shoul...
Andragogology (300TH EPISODE SPECIAL) with Alie Ward
19 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Boy howdy hot dang, Ologies has hit its 300th new episode! In celebration of this milestone, we’ve...
Culicidology (MOSQUITOES) Part 2 with Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
12 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Part 2 of mosquitoes is here! Now that you know WHY they would like to eat you mosquito expert and C...
Culicidology (MOSQUITOES) Part 1 with Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
05 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
They’re gorgeous. They’re picky moms, and tremendous flirts. They are sparkly. And they drink bl...
Anagnosology (READING) with Adrian Johns
29 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Clay tablets! Printing presses! Old timey audio books! Speed reading strategies! Attention spans! Dy...
Mantodeology (PRAYING MANTISES) with Lohitashwa Garikipati
22 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Pointy heads. Spiked arms. Tragic romance. It’s a whole episode about praying mantises with a real...
Minisode: Some Small/Smol Announcements
16 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A short little episode to tell you about a change we're making to Ologies that I am genuinely very p...
Genocidology (CRIMES OF ATROCITY) with Dirk Moses
08 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The world is confusing, but there are experts in everything. In our least funny episode ever, we tha...
Smologies #43: CICADAS with Gene Kritsky
06 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
ANNOUNCEMENT: SMOLOGIES NOW HAS ITS OWN FEED! SUBSCRIBE FOR NEW EPISODES EVERY THURSDAY. Subscrib...
Foraging Ecology (EATING WILD PLANTS) Encore with @BlackForager, Alexis Nikole Nelson
01 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Mustard gossip. Knotweed recipes. Cow parsnips. Serviceberry appreciation. Hogweed warnings. Dead ma...
Columbidology (PIGEONS? YES) Part 2 with Rosemary Mosco
24 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The thrilling conclusion of PIGEONS, with Columbidologist and author Rosemary Mosco of Bird and Moon...
Columbidology (PIGEONS? YES) Part 1 with Rosemary Mosco
17 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You love pigeons. You might not know it yet. Espionage! Fancy breeds! Internal GPS! Weird feet! Shou...
Smologies #42: TREES with J. Casey Clapp
13 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
ANNOUNCEMENT: SMOLOGIES NOW HAS ITS OWN FEED! SUBSCRIBE FOR NEW EPISODES EVERY THURSDAY. Subscrib...
Field Trip: I Chased the 2024 Eclipse with Umbraphiles
10 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Come along like a frog in my pocket for an adventure to see an eclipse. After last week’s Heliolog...
Heliology (THE SUN/ECLIPSES) with India Jackson and Michael Kirk
03 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sunset flimflam! Auroras! Eclipse tips! Let’s get to know the center of our solar system, the Sun,...
Smologies #41: PELICANS with Juita Martinez
30 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
ANNOUNCEMENT: SMOLOGIES NOW HAS ITS OWN FEED! SUBSCRIBE FOR NEW EPISODES EVERY THURSDAY. Subscrib...
Disgustology (REPULSION TO GROSS STUFF) with Paul Rozin
27 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Taboos. Intolerable foods. Sad songs. Sexy kinks. Candy that looks like poo. Let’s get a little gr...
Field Trip: Alie’s Mystery Surgery!
21 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Where have I been? What surgery did I have? Am I going to die? I took you along for the whole wacky,...
Smologies #40: HAIR with Valerie Horsley
18 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
ANNOUNCEMENT: SMOLOGIES NOW HAS ITS OWN FEED! SUBSCRIBE FOR NEW EPISODES EVERY THURSDAY. Subscrib...
Oikology (DECLUTTERING) Encore with Jamie & Filip Hord + Joe Ferrari
12 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why does clutter happen? How can we get rid of it and how will it affect us psychologically if we do...
Functional Morphology (ANATOMY) Encore with Joy Reidenberg
05 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever poked at roadkill? Watched videos of whales exploding? Drooled over a curio cabinet full of cla...
Smologies #39: ANCIENT ROME with Darius Arya
02 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
ANNOUNCEMENT: SMOLOGIES NOW HAS ITS OWN FEED! SUBSCRIBE FOR NEW EPISODES EVERY THURSDAY. Subscrib...
Black Hole Theory Cosmology (WHAT ARE BLACK HOLES?!) Part 2 with Ronald Gamble, Jr.
28 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Part 2! Black hole suns, black hole movies, wormholes, time travel, matter evaporation, scientists b...
Black Hole Theory Cosmology (WHAT ARE BLACK HOLES?!) Part 1 with Ronald Gamble, Jr.
21 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How big are black holes? Is time elastic? What is spacetime foam? Why is there a place called “els...
Smologies #38: CARNIVORES with Rae Wynn-Grant
17 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
ANNOUNCEMENT: SMOLOGIES NOW HAS ITS OWN FEED! SUBSCRIBE FOR NEW EPISODES EVERY THURSDAY. Subscrib...
Hydrochoerology (CAPYBARAS) with Elizabeth Congdon
14 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
CAPYBARAS! Blocky faces. Chill vibes. Spa days. Finally. Hydrochoerologist, Dr. Elizabeth Congdon, l...
Theoretical & Creative Ecology (SCIENCE & ECOPOETRY) with Madhur Anand
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Environmental models! Poetry! Scientists who are poets! Novelists who are scientists! Art + science ...
Smologies #37: PROTEINS + DNA with Raven “The Science Maven” Baxter
03 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
ANNOUNCEMENT: SMOLOGIES NOW HAS ITS OWN FEED! SUBSCRIBE FOR NEW EPISODES EVERY THURSDAY. Subscrib...
Evolutionary Anthropology (METABOLISM) with Herman Pontzer
31 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
*Content warning up top: This episode discusses sensitive themes like diet culture, caloric intake, ...
Carcinology (CRABS) Part 2 with Adam Wall
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hairy crabs! Shell swaps! Carcinization! Will we all evolve to be crabs? What’s with having one gi...
Smologies #36: FEATHERS with Allison Shultz
20 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
ANNOUNCEMENT: SMOLOGIES NOW HAS ITS OWN FEED! SUBSCRIBE FOR NEW EPISODES EVERY THURSDAY. Subscrib...