Ologies with Alie Ward

Are you creepy? How would you know? What’s “creepy” as opposed to scary or eerie? We talk to the pioneer of this research, Serpopsychologist, Dr. Frank McAndrew, a professor emeritus at Knox College. We chat: dates that give you the willies, Weary Willie the Clown, haunted dolls, college goths, dark alleyways, evolutionary neurobiology, what NOT to get Oprah, the line between horror and comedy, the phobia of balloons, dating tips, and why you should re-evaluate your bathmat. Welcome to Spooktober 2025. We have more waiting in the wings for you this month. Visit Dr. McAndrew's website [https://www.frankmcandrew.com/] and follow him on Google Scholar [https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=MxorsyYAAAAJ&hl=en], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/frank.mcandrew.5], and Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/ftmcandrew.bsky.social] A donation went to WTVP [https://www.wtvp.org/], the PBS affiliate for Central Illinois More episode sources and links [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/serpopsychology] Other episodes you may enjoy: Spooktober: Topics to Startle and Love [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/spooktober], Fearology (FEAR) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/fearology-pt-1], Demonology (EVIL SPIRITS) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/demonology], Disability Sociology (DISABILITY PRIDE) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/disabilitysociology], Speleology (CAVES) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/speleology], Quasithanatology (NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/quasithanatology], Thanatology (DEATH & DYING) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/thanatology], Attention-Deficit Neuropsychology (ADHD) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/adhd], Human Technomorphology (SWAPPING OUT BODY PARTS) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/humantechnomorphology], Systems Biology (MEDICAL MATHEMATICS) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/systemsbiology], Personality Psychology (PERSONALITIES) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/personalitypsychology], Obsessive-Compulsive Neurobiology (OCD) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/ocdneurobiology], Cosmology (THE UNIVERSE) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/cosmology] 400+ Ologies episodes sorted by topic [https://www.alieward.com/ologies-by-topic] Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes [https://pod.link/1746567248] Sponsors of Ologies [https://alieward.com/ologies-sponsors] Transcripts and bleeped episodes [https://alieward.com/ologies-extras] Become a patron of Ologies [https://www.patreon.com/ologies] for as little as a buck a month OlogiesMerch.com [https://www.ologiesmerch.com/] has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes! Follow Ologies on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ologies] and Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/ologies.bsky.social] Follow Alie Ward on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/alieward] and TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@alie_ologies] Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions [http://maitlandaudio.com/] and Jake Chaffee [https://www.jecmusic.com/] Managing Director: Susan Hale Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth Transcripts by Aveline Malek  Website by Kelly R. Dwyer [https://www.kellyrdwyer.com/photo] Theme song by Nick Thorburn Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Storming the Bastille. Facing off with tanks. Canceling a streaming subscription.  We’re talking protests, boycotts, insurrections, and demonstrations. Scholar, professor, and actual real life Revolutionologist Dr. Jack Goldstone lays out the whys – and the hows. What revolts have been the gold standard? How has social media impacted social change? What happens when you install the wrong new leader? Does non-violent protest work? And how does one go about orchestrating big social change? Also: defining facism, antifacism, anti-antifacism, and dusting off your guitar.  Follow Dr. Goldstone on Google Scholar [https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Yv4hXyEAAAAJ&hl=en] Buy his book, Revolutions: A Very Short Introduction (Second Edition), on Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/p/books/revolutions-a-very-short-introduction-jack-a-goldstone/8fee51bfcadd5e80?ean=9780197666302&next=t&] or Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/Revolutions-Short-Introduction-SHORT-INTRODUCTIONS/dp/0197666302/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=AUTHOR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.MzixbgJAyiiW-KRwfIpJrGe6FTDyDaut5HzFd6Az_r_wYhpp6cXMvnPWnQiJe7QbEbs2wJFOJBq9L_VO76IVN8v32kA-UCL17EkgowdjJ0k.nZCaKWtT_lSw4QTx3CWqjDiWT2if1Q9SVsrSjyd-9Dc] Donations went to City of Hope [https://www.cityofhope.org/] in honor of Rita Saleman and to the Hand of Salvation Initiative [https://gofund.me/3300ae72] in Gaza  More episode sources and links [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/reolutionology] Other episodes you may enjoy: Genocidology (CRIMES OF ATROCITY) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/genocidology], Nomology (THE CONSTITUTION) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/nomology], FIELD TRIP: Activism Art Panel Recorded at WonderCon [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/wondercon], Egyptology (ANCIENT EGYPT) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/egyptology], Classical Archaeology (ANCIENT ROME) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/classical-archeology], Agnotology (IGNORANCE) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/agnotology], Critical Ecology (SOCIAL SYSTEMS + ENVIRONMENT) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/criticalecology], Economic Sociology (MONEY/FREAKONOMICS) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/economicsociology], Vexillology (FLAGS) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/vexillology] 400+ Ologies episodes sorted by topic [https://www.alieward.com/ologies-by-topic] Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes [https://pod.link/1746567248] Sponsors of Ologies [https://alieward.com/ologies-sponsors] Transcripts and bleeped episodes [https://alieward.com/ologies-extras] Become a patron of Ologies [https://www.patreon.com/ologies] for as little as a buck a month OlogiesMerch.com [https://www.ologiesmerch.com/] has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes! Follow Ologies on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ologies] and Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/ologies.bsky.social] Follow Alie Ward on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/alieward] and TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@alie_ologies] Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions [http://maitlandaudio.com/] and Jake Chaffee [https://www.jecmusic.com/] Managing Director: Susan Hale Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth Transcripts by Aveline Malek  Website by Kelly R. Dwyer [https://www.kellyrdwyer.com/photo] Theme song by Nick Thorburn Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pigs with human kidneys. Iron lungs. Bionic prostheses. And bendable genitals. Mary Roach is here, and Alie is freaking out. Over the last two decades, this science icon has written seven New York Times bestsellers, including Stiff, Bonk, Gulp, and Packing for Mars. Her latest release, Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy is all about Human Technomorphology. Prep your flesh for getting to 4th base in a lab, bugs on drugs, elective amputation, gene-tweaked farm animals, vacuum chambers, beating hearts, leftover tendons and much more with a scicomm legend who’s Alie’s personal career hero.  Visit Mary Roach’s website [https://maryroach.net/] and follow her on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/authormaryroach/?hl=en] Check out Mary’s books [https://maryroach.net/index.html] including her latest, Replaceable You, available on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1324050624/ref=cm_sw_su_dp] and Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/p/books/replaceable-you-17-glimpses-of-the-fabricated-human-mary-roach/22245131?ean=9781324050629&next=t&next=t] Donations went to The Amputee Coalition [https://amputee-coalition.org/] and United Ostomy Associations of America [https://www.ostomy.org/] More episode sources and links [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/humantechnomorphology] Other episodes you may enjoy: Disability Sociology (DISABILITY PRIDE) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/disabilitysociology], Genicular Traumatology (BAD KNEES) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/knees], Stem Cell Biology (CELLS MAKING CELLS) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/stemcellbiology], Systems Biology (MEDICAL MATHEMATICS) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/systemsbiology], Neurotechnology (AI + BRAIN TECH) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/neurotechnology], Osteology (SKELETONS/BODY FARMS) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/osteology], Surgical Oncology (BREAST CANCER) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/surgical-oncology], Dipterology (FLIES) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/dipterology] 400+ Ologies episodes sorted by topic [https://www.alieward.com/ologies-by-topic] Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes [https://pod.link/1746567248] Sponsors of Ologies [https://alieward.com/ologies-sponsors] Transcripts and bleeped episodes [https://alieward.com/ologies-extras] Become a patron of Ologies [https://www.patreon.com/ologies] for as little as a buck a month OlogiesMerch.com [https://www.ologiesmerch.com/] has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes! Follow Ologies on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ologies] and Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/ologies.bsky.social] Follow Alie Ward on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/alieward] and TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@alie_ologies] Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions [http://maitlandaudio.com/] and Jake Chaffee [https://www.jecmusic.com/] Managing Director: Susan Hale Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth Transcripts by Aveline Malek  Website by Kelly R. Dwyer [https://www.kellyrdwyer.com/photo] Theme song by Nick Thorburn Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Porcelain. Earthenware. China. Archaeology. Stoneware. Anthropology. Amphora. Throwing wheels. We got it all. Master potters, history aficionados and Potted History’s icons Sarah Lord Taylor and Graham Taylor are here for our 8th anniversary episode. We get the dirt on ceramics versus pottery, where clay comes from, if there’s enough in the world, how can you spot clay in the wild, how long have humans being making pots, what were the first ceramics, what is glaze exactly, why did your pots explode, what excavations of stoneware have revealed about our ancient ancestors, the Venus figurines of history, the hidden ingredients that might surprise you, and how to feel about thrift store finds. Also: how to bond with a potter instantly.   Visit the Potted History website [https://potted-history.co.uk/] and follow them on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/pottedhistory/], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@pottedhistory], and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@PottedHistory] Donations went to Cancer Research UK [https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/] and Little Lifts [https://www.littlelifts.org.uk/] More episode sources and links [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/ceramology] Other episodes you may enjoy: 5th Anniversary Special! Xylology (LUMBER) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/xylology], Experimental Archeology (OLD TOOLS/ATLATLS) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/experimentalarcheology], Canistrumology (BASKET WEAVING) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/canistrumology], Museology (MUSEUMS) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/museologyencore], Indigenous Pedology (SOIL SCIENCE) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/indigenouspedology], Geology (ROCKS) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/geology], Scatology (POOP) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/scatology] 400+ Ologies episodes sorted by topic [https://www.alieward.com/ologies-by-topic] Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes [https://pod.link/1746567248] Sponsors of Ologies [https://alieward.com/ologies-sponsors] Transcripts and bleeped episodes [https://alieward.com/ologies-extras] Become a patron of Ologies [https://www.patreon.com/ologies] for as little as a buck a month OlogiesMerch.com [https://www.ologiesmerch.com/] has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes! Follow Ologies on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ologies] and Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/ologies.bsky.social] Follow Alie Ward on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/alieward] and TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@alie_ologies] Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions [http://maitlandaudio.com/] and Jake Chaffee [https://www.jecmusic.com/] Managing Director: Susan Hale Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth Transcripts by Aveline Malek  Website by Kelly R. Dwyer [https://www.kellyrdwyer.com/photo] Theme song by Nick Thorburn Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Neurons. Immune systems. MRIs. Weed gummies? One of the greats in neurology, Dr. Aaron Boster, takes time to chat all about Multiple Sclerosis, a neurological autoimmune disease close to our hearts. Alie’s mom, your grammapod a.k.a. Fancy Nancy, was diagnosed with MS over two decades ago, and this episode explores in depth the factors that can cause MS, therapies that do – and don’t –  show promise, how diet, exercise and mindfulness actually can help folks who have MS, the oftentimes agonizing journey to a diagnosis, and advice for those who’ve MS for a while – or are newly in the community. Also: yeah, weed.  Visit the Boster Center for Multiple Sclerosis [https://bosterms.com/] and follow Dr. Boster on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/c/AaronBosterMD] A donation went to MS Views and News [https://msviewsandnews.org/] More episode sources and links [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/neuropathoimmunology] Other episodes you may enjoy: Disability Sociology (DISABILITY PRIDE) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/disabilitysociology], Diabetology (BLOOD SUGAR) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/diabetology], Post-Viral Epidemiology (LONG COVID) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/postviralepidemiology], Dolorology (PAIN) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/dolorology], Salugenology (WHY HUMANS REQUIRE HOBBIES) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/salugenology], Psychedeliology (HALLUCINOGENS) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/psychedeliology], Cardiology (THE HEART) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/cardiology], Somnology (SLEEP) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/somnology] 400+ Ologies episodes sorted by topic [https://www.alieward.com/ologies-by-topic] Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes [https://pod.link/1746567248] Sponsors of Ologies [https://alieward.com/ologies-sponsors] Transcripts and bleeped episodes [https://alieward.com/ologies-extras] Become a patron of Ologies [https://www.patreon.com/ologies] for as little as a buck a month OlogiesMerch.com [https://www.ologiesmerch.com/] has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes! Follow Ologies on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ologies] and Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/ologies.bsky.social] Follow Alie Ward on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/alieward] and TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@alie_ologies] Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions [http://maitlandaudio.com/] and Jake Chaffee [https://www.jecmusic.com/] Managing Director: Susan Hale Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth Transcripts by Aveline Malek  Website by Kelly R. Dwyer [https://www.kellyrdwyer.com/photo] Theme song by Nick Thorburn Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.