Ologies with Alie Ward

Historical Toxicology (OLD TIMEY POISONS) with Deborah Blum

Metal poisons. Odorless ones. Toxic plants. Iocane powder, arsenic, old lace, poisons as self-defense, black mirrors, Aqua Tofanas, movie myths, and the start of testing for that which ails or kills you: we’ve got Historical Toxicology with Pulitzer Prize-winning science author & chemistry connoisseur Deborah Blum. She wrote the beloved “Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York” and takes us through a spooky walk in time, when chemistry was magic and homicide was an easier feat. Visit Deborah Blum’s website [https://deborahblum.com/] and follow her on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/deborahblum7] Buy her books [https://deborahblum.com/books/] including The Poison Squad and The Poisoner’s Handbook on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/stores/Deborah-Blum/author/B000AQ3O3E] or Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/beta-search?keywords=%22Deborah+Blum%22] Donations went to World Central Kitchen [https://wck.org/] and Earthjustice [https://earthjustice.org/] More episode sources and links [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/historicaltoxicology] Other episodes you may enjoy: Spooktober: Topics to Startle and Love [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/spooktober], Toxinology (JELLYFISH VENOM) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/toxinology], Medusology (JELLYFISH) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/medusology], Alligator Ecotoxicology (GATOR POISONS) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/alligatorecotoxicology], Environmental Toxicology (POISONS + TRAIN DERAILMENT) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/environmentaltoxicology], Conotoxinology (CONE SNAIL VENOM) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/conotoxinology], Scorpiology (SCORPIONS) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/scorpiology], Kalology (BEAUTY STANDARDS) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/kalology], Victimology (CRIME VICTIMS) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/victimology], Witchology (WITCHES & WITCHCRAFT) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/witchology], Mycology (MUSHROOMS) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/mycology], Foraging Ecology (EATING WILD PLANTS) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/foragingecology] 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.

Critical Ponerology (WHAT IS “EVIL”?) with Kenneth MacKendrick

What is evil? Who is evil? Does evil exist? Who decides? Can we scream over turkey at grandma’s house? Let’s chat Critical Ponerology with scholar, professor, author of Evil: A Critical Primer, and a gem of a person, Dr. Kenneth MacKendrick of the University of Manitoba. He’s been teaching courses on the notion of evil for 25 years and it’s a much deeper rabbit hole than you’d ever expect. So rub your fingers together and enjoy a discussion about different cultural approaches to evil, if your toddler is evil, vampires, angry mobs seeking vigilante justice, news personalities saying unhinged things, and subjects vs. objects. Also: why you should be nicer to your coffee table.  Get Dr. MacKendrick’s book, Evil: A Critical Primer, on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/Evil-Critical-Primer-Concepts-Religion/dp/1781796181] or Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/p/books/evil-a-critical-primer-kenneth-g-mackendrick/19719624] A donation went to North Point Douglas Women’s Centre [https://www.npdwc.org/] More episode sources and links [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/criticalponerology] Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes [https://pod.link/1746567248] Other episodes you may enjoy: Spooktober: Topics to Startle and Love [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/spooktober], Demonology (EVIL SPIRITS) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/demonology], Vampirology (VAMPIRES) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/vampirology], Teratology (MONSTERS) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/teratology], Genocidology (CRIMES OF ATROCITY) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/genocidology], Momiology (MUMMIFICATION) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/momiology], Witchology (WITCHES & WITCHCRAFT) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/witchology], Indigenous Pedology (SOIL SCIENCE) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/indigenouspedology], Environmental Toxicology (POISONS + TRAIN DERAILMENT) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/environmentaltoxicology], Disinfectiology (BLEACH) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/disinfectiology], Obsessive-Compulsive Neurobiology (OCD) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/ocdneurobiology], Disgustology (REPULSION TO GROSS STUFF) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/disgustology], Medieval Codicology (WEIRD OLD MANUSCRIPT ART & MEMES & SNAILS) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/medievalcodicology], Victimology (CRIME VICTIMS) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/victimology], Artificial Intelligence Ethicology (WILL A.I. CRASH OUT?) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/artificialintelligenceethicology] 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.

Bonus Episode: COCKROACH MILK with Joshua Benoit and Sinead English

Cockroach milk for Spooktober. STAY HERE. Don’t tell me you like haunted houses and slasher films but can’t listen to a lovely conversation about how cockroaches make milk to feed their young. It’s one of the most nutritious substances on Earth, and I own some. Sort of. Coem along for a brief and enthralling discussion from two researchers, Dr. Joshua Benoit and Dr. Sinead English, all about why and how some insects give live birth and nurse their young. What does it taste like? Will we replicate it for barista use? And why didn’t I get to eat any on TV?  Watch Alie with bugs on her Tonight Show segment [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COMZPPVJHyY] Blattodeology (COCKROACHES) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/blattodeology] episode with Dr. Dominic Evangelista Learn about Dr. Josh Benoit’s lab [https://insect-biology.com/about/] and Dr. Sinead English’s lab [https://evelab.org/people.html] More cockroach sources and links [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/blattodeology] Other episodes you may enjoy: Spooktober: Topics to Startle and Love, [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/spooktober] Entomology (INSECTS) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/entomology], Mantodeology (PRAYING MANTISES) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/mantodeology], Odonatology (DRAGONFLIES) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/odonatology], Discard Anthropology (GARBAGE) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/discardanthropology], Forest Entomology (CREEPY CRAWLIES) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/forestentomology], Disgustology (REPULSION TO GROSS STUFF) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/disgustology], Fearology (FEAR) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/fearology-pt-1], Entomophagy Anthropology (EATING BUGS) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/entomophagy-anthropology], Speleology (CAVES) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/speleology] 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] Produced by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions [http://maitlandaudio.com/] Editing by Mercedes Maitland 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.

Blattodeology (YES, COCKROACHES) with Dominic Evangelista

Dazzling colors. Remote habitats. Gentle parenting. Fantastic genitalia. And yeah, swimming through sewers to surprise you. It’s cockroaches and I promise you will find something to love about them in this chat with cockroach evangelist and Blattodeologist Dr. Dominic Evangelista. Which are the prettiest? Are roaches better at raising kids than you? How do roach scientists feel about the ones in kitchens? How does one catch a cockroach in a dark rainforest? Can roaches pull a Ratatouille and steal our hearts with a casserole? Dominic explains it all. I swear they can be lovable, OKAY? Visit Dr. Evangelista’s Roach Brain Lab [https://www.roachbrain.com/] and follow him on iNaturalist [https://inaturalist.org/people/roach_brain] and Google Scholar [https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=uFymnT8AAAAJ&hl=en] A donation went to Teach for America [https://www.teachforamerica.org/] and Entomologists of Color [https://www.entopoc.org/] More episode sources and links [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/blattodeology] Other episodes you may enjoy:  Spooktober: Topics to Startle and Love, [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/spooktober] Entomology (INSECTS) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/entomology], Mantodeology (PRAYING MANTISES) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/mantodeology], Odonatology (DRAGONFLIES) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/odonatology], Discard Anthropology (GARBAGE) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/discardanthropology], Forest Entomology (CREEPY CRAWLIES) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/forestentomology], Disgustology (REPULSION TO GROSS STUFF) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/disgustology], Fearology (FEAR) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/fearology-pt-1], Entomophagy Anthropology (EATING BUGS) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/entomophagy-anthropology], Speleology (CAVES) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/speleology] 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.

Haunted Hydrology (SPOOKY LAKES) with Geo Rutherford

Mudbank bones. River wrecks. Salty seas. Pink ponds. Poison dust devils. Steamy streams.. It’s Haunted Hydrology with your favorite Spooky Lakes ambassador, the artist and author Geo Rutherford who is widely known as Geodesaurus. Geo covers the dark history of The Great Lakes, a stump that controls the weather, the what and why of a good lagoon, the field excursions she’s been on for research, the lakes she wants to see the most, and how a drought can shiver your spine. It’s a Spooktober spectacular, folks. It’s Haunted Hydrology.    Ologies live show tickets [https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/30006345FA86634E] for Monday Nov. 17 at the Bell House  Visit Geo Rutherford’s website [https://www.georutherford.com/] and follow her on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@geodesaurus?lang=en] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/geodesaurus/] Visit Geo Rutherford’s website [https://www.georutherford.com/] and follow her on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@geodesaurus?lang=en] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/geodesaurus/] Buy Geo’s Spooky Lakes Books [https://www.georutherford.com/book] including her new coloring book and 2026 calendar Visit SpookyLakes.com [http://spookylakes.com] to buy stickers, pins, prints and more designed by Geo  A donation went to the Alliance for the Great Lakes [https://greatlakes.org/] More episode sources and links [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/hauntedhydrology] Other episodes you may enjoy: Spooktober: Topics to Startle and Love [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/spooktober], Maritime Archaeology (SHIPWRECKS) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/maritimearchaeology], Speleology (CAVES) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/speleology], Oceanology (OCEANS) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/oceanology], Disasterology (DISASTERS) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/disasterology], Indigenous Pedology (SOIL SCIENCE) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/indigenouspedology], Environmental Microbiology (TESTING WASTEWATER FOR DISEASES) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/environmentalmicrobiology], Ichthyology (FISHES) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/ichthyology], Salugenology (WHY HUMANS REQUIRE HOBBIES) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/salugenology], Ethnoecology (NATIVE PLANTS) [https://www.alieward.com/ologies/ethnoecology] 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.