Erethizonology (PORCUPINES) with Tim Bean
Barbs. Grunts. Bone caves. Dogs who got too close. We got porcupines, folks. Dr. Tim Bean of Cal Poly is as charming an ologist you can get, fielding questions about porcupine squeaks, stanks, cartoon...
19 Feb 20251h 12min
Agnotology (WILLFUL IGNORANCE) Updated Encore with Dr. Robert Proctor
Yes, there is an -ology for that. And yes, we’re airing this episode -– with a ton of 2025 updates -– because it’s never felt more relevant. Dr. Robert Proctor is a Stanford professor of the History o...
12 Feb 20251h 20min
Hippopotomology (HIPPOS) with Rebecca Lewison
Do they sweat blood? Will one kill you? What are cocaine hippos? Is Moo Deng… okay? Actual real life Hippopotomologist Dr. Rebecca Lewison explains how hippos have some of the best – and worst – PR. ...
5 Feb 20251h 6min
Thyroidology (THYROID GLAND) with Kepal Patel
Sad? Cold? Hot? Wired? Blame the thyroid. Maybe. In your throat there is a butterfly-shaped gland under a shield-shaped Adam’s Apple and it controls your whole life, kind of. We asked Thyroidologist a...
29 Jan 20251h 17min
Eco-Odorology (SCIENCE-SNIFFING DOGS) with Kayla Fratt
Dogs doing science. With their faces. As a follow-up to last week’s Ethnocynology episode about humans domesticating wolves, we chat with conservation biologist and Eco-odorologist Kayla Fratt (and he...
22 Jan 20251h 4min
Ethnocynology (HUMANS & DOGS THROUGH TIME) with David Ian Howe
Ancient dogs! Domestic wolves! Anthropology! Archaeology! It’s all Ethnocynology: when humans and dogs started living and working together. The wonderful and iconic David Ian Howe is an educator and p...
15 Jan 20251h 13min
Fire Ecology (WILDFIRES & INDIGENOUS FIRE MANAGEMENT) Mega Encore with Gavin Jones & Amy Christianson (LA Fires Re-Release)
As wildfires burn across L.A. — and my neighborhood evacuates — we thought it would be a good time to encore these Fire Ecology episodes so I can literally catch my breath. First Dr. Gavin Jones bring...
10 Jan 20252h 36min
Eudemonology (HAPPINESS) Encore with Laurie Santos
HAPPINESS RESEARCH, straight up. What is happiness? How do our circumstances affect happiness? Why is the word “gratitude” kinda cringey? What can we do to feel better? Should we feel guilty for feeli...
31 Dec 20241h 13min
