Thorny leaves! Embarrassing imports! Basket gossip! Making cool stuff from invasive vines! Renowned weaver and teacher, James C. Bamba, connected more deeply with his Mariana Island heritage through weaving and shares how you know when plant fiber is ready, the anatomy of a coconut tree, how to look a gift basket in the mouth, the baskets that he cherishes the most, how to design with your mind, what he thinks about when he’s weaving, basket jokes he hates the most, and when learning another culture’s craft is appropriate or appropriation. 

Follow James on Instagram

A donation went to Sagan Kotturan Chamoru

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Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes

Other episodes you may enjoy: Ethnoecology (ETHNOBOTANY/NATIVE PLANTS), Dendrology (TREES), Indigenous Fashionology (NATIVE CLOTHING), Indigenous Cuisinology (NATIVE COOKING), Indigenous Pedology (SOIL SCIENCE), Heliology (THE SUN/ECLIPSES), Neuroendocrinology (SEX & GENDER), Ergopathology (BURNOUT), Corvid Thanatology (CROW FUNERALS)

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Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jake Chaffee

Managing Director: Susan Hale

Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth

Transcripts by Aveline Malek 

Website by Kelly R. Dwyer

Theme song by Nick Thorburn

Exhaustion! Numbness! Anger! You’re stressed out. I get it. Let’s fix it. I cornered one of the world’s experts on Ergopathology, scholar and author Dr. Kandi Wiens, to ask about the causes of burnout, warning signs, what professions are more at risk, how to recover from burnout and prevent it in the future, which was the focus of her book, “Burnout Immunity.” We also chat about neurodiversity, hockey mascots, childhood trauma, how do you tell your boss you're burned the F out, grit, and guilt. Also, you don't need to wait until you're on a tropical vacation to recharge. In fact, don't.

Visit Kandi Wiens’ website

Buy her book, Burnout Immunity, on Amazon or Bookshop.org

A donation went to Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation

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Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes

Other episodes you may enjoy: Eudemonology (HAPPINESS), Personality Psychology (PERSONALITIES), Attention-Deficit Neuropsychology (ADHD), Funology (YES, FUN), Genocidology (CRIMES OF ATROCITY), Suicidology (SUICIDE PREVENTION & AWARENESS), Traumatology (PTSD)

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Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jacob Chaffee

Managing Director: Susan Hale

Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth

Transcripts by Aveline Malek 

Website by Kelly R. Dwyer

Theme song by Nick Thorburn

They’re acrobatic fliers with long bodies and veined wings and their babies breathe through their butts: dragonflies. Let’s get into the difference between a damselfly and dragonfly, how fast they dart around, how big they were in the age of the dinosaurs, sci-fi aviation inspiration, mating choreography, attracting them to your yard (maybe to eat them) and lots more with scholar, American Museum of Natural History curator, and dragonfly expert: Dr. Jessica Ware.

Visit Dr. Ware’s website and follow her on Google Scholar, Instagram and X

Buy Jessica’s children’s book, Bugs (A Day in the Life): What Do Bees, Ants, and Dragonflies Get up to All Day?, on Amazon or Bookshop.org

A donation went to the World Dragonfly Association

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Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes

Other episodes you may enjoy: Entomology (INSECTS), Lepidopterology (BUTTERFLIES), Cicadology (CICADAS), Sparklebuttology (FIREFLIES), Dipterology (FLIES), Entomophagy Anthropology (EATING BUGS), Plumology (FEATHERS), Melaninology (SKIN/HAIR PIGMENT), Ophthalmology (EYES)

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Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jacob Chaffee

Managing Director: Susan Hale

Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth

Transcripts by Aveline Malek 

Website by Kelly R. Dwyer

Theme song by Nick Thorburn

Folks, come with me. We’re hanging out under some train tracks late at night in Philadelphia doing street art. As the promised companion piece to our wonderful Modern Toichographology episode on murals and street art, this Field Trip takes us to where the action happens, chatting with several muralists as they work on their 17-foot paintings lining Front Street. You’ll meet UNAPXLXGETIQ, El Toro, and Iris Barbee Pendergrass a.k.a. These Pink Lips, Donna Grace Kroh, and Mr. Scoot and learn about their favorite inspirations, methods to making their designs huge, how many Sharpies it takes to outline a building-sized painting, sticker vs. marker vs. paint, graphic and text mural designs, freehand, and most of all, how not to get caught doing illegal art. Onward. 

A donation went to Mural Arts Philadelphia

Conrad Brenner / Streets Dept
Instagram | website

Mural Arts Philadelphia
Instagram | website

Donna Grace Kroh
Instagram

Iris Barbee Pendergrass/ These Pink Lips 
Instagram | website

Emmanuel Wisdom/ Unapxlxgetiq
Instagram | website

Michele Scott / Mr. Scooot
Instagram | website

Justin Nagatalon / El Toro
Instagram | website

Emily White (wasn’t in the ep but was the 4th muralist of the set)
Instagram

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Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jacob Chaffee

Managing Director: Susan Hale

Scheduling producer: Noel Dilworth

Transcripts by Aveline Malek 

Website by Kelly R. Dwyer

Theme song by Nick Thorburn

Licorice opinions! War chocolate! Candy corn origins, circus peanut secrets, the sourest sourballs, and your great aunt’s purse. Stay until the very end for the biggest shocked laugh I have ever had on this show. The incredibly charming author, journalist, candy historian, and Confectiologist Susan Benjamin chats about everything from apothecary origin stories, ethnobotany, having horehound on hand, the warheads that could save you, vegan candy controversy, sugar sources from beets to corn, Turkish temptations, Roman flim-flam, marzipan mini-sculptures, sugar plum ballets, what she gives out for Halloween candy. and the best way to enjoy treats if you're trying to stay healthy. An absolute instant classic. 

Visit Susan Benjamin’s historic candy company True Treats

Buy Susan’s latest book, Fun Foods of America: Outrageous Delights, Celebrated Brands, and Iconic Recipes, on Amazon or Bookshop.org

A donation went to Animal Welfare Society of Jefferson County

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Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes

Other episodes you may enjoy: Gustology (TASTE), Molecular Neurobiology (BRAIN CHEMICALS), Carobology (NOT-CHOCOLATE TREES), Glycobiology (CARBS), Diabetology (BLOOD SUGAR), Melittology (BEES), Native Melittology (INDIGENOUS BEES), Columbidology (PIGEONS? YES), Felinology (CATS), Attention-Deficit Neuropsychology (ADHD), FIELD TRIP: My Butt, a Colonoscopy Ride Along & How-To, Nephology (CLOUDS)

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Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jacob Chaffee

Managing Director: Susan Hale

Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth

Transcripts by Aveline Malek 

Website by Kelly R. Dwyer

Theme song by Nick Thorburn

Coffin engravings! Archaeology ethics! Linen wrappings! Repatriation! Sexy hippos!

We’re back with more mummies in this Part 2 with the wonderful Drs. Salima Ikram & Kara Cooneywho chat about animal mummies, eating mummified remains, plant resins, the debate over human sacrifice, coffin reuse, Egyptian tourism, the worst temple gift shop in history, and what happens if you’re late to your own funeral. Also: is all religion magic? Let’s get into it. 

More Spooktober episodes

Visit Dr. Cooney’s website and follow her on Instagram, X, YouTube, and Facebook

Get Kara’s latest book, Recycling for Death: Coffin Reuse in Ancient Egypt and the Theban Royal Caches, and browse her other books on Amazon or Bookshop.org

Subscribe to Kara’s Substack Ancient/Now

Visit Dr. Ikram’s website and follow her on Facebook

Get Salima’s latest book, Let a Cow-Skin Be Brought: Armour, Chariots and Other Leather Remains in Tutankhamun’s Tomb, and browse her other books on Amazon or Bookshop.org

Donations went to the Yellowhammer Fund and Doctors Without Borders

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Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes

Other episodes you may enjoy: Egyptology (ANCIENT EGYPT), Attention-Deficit Neuropyschology (ADHD), Vampirology (VAMPIRES), Forest Entomology (CREEPY CRAWLIES), Demonology (EVIL SPIRITS), Ethnoecology (ETHNOBOTANY), Witchology (WITCHCRAFT), Etymology (WORD ORIGINS), Suicidology (SUICIDE AWARENESS & PREVENTION), Biogerentology (AGING), Taphology (GRAVESITES), Desairology (MORTUARY MAKE-UP), Thanatology (DEATH & DYING)

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Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jacob Chaffee

Managing Director: Susan Hale

Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth

Transcripts by Aveline Malek 

Website by Kelly R. Dwyer

Theme song by Nick Thorburn

Linen wrapping. Expensive resins. Sarcophagi. Preserving for eternity – or until someone raids their tomb. It’s a brand-new Spooktober episode with not one but two guests: Dr. Salima Ikram is a professor of Egyptology and expert on mummification of both people and animals, and is joined by veteran guest from the Egyptology episode, professor and author Dr. Kara Cooney. The two chat about mummification techniques, how food studies lead into the pyramids, controversy over the word “mummy,” whiffing the dead, socioeconomic factors in mummification, animal mummies, lingering mysteries, field work, a house mouse, and more. Next week in Part 2 we’ll dive into more ethics of collections, human sacrifice, the people who ate mummified remains, paint colors, coffin engravings and the meaning of “magic.” 

Visit Dr. Cooney’s website and follow her on Instagram, X, YouTube, and Facebook

Get Kara’s latest book, Recycling for Death: Coffin Reuse in Ancient Egypt and the Theban Royal Caches, and browse her other books on Amazon or Bookshop.org

Subscribe to Kara’s Substack Ancient/Now

Visit Dr. Ikram’s website and follow her on Facebook

Get Salima’s latest book, Let a Cow-Skin Be Brought: Armour, Chariots and Other Leather Remains in Tutankhamun’s Tomb, and browse her other books on Amazon or Bookshop.org

Donations went to the Yellowhammer Fund and Doctors Without Borders

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Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes

Other episodes you may enjoy: Egyptology (ANCIENT EGYPT), Taphology (GRAVESITES), Desairology (MORTUARY MAKE-UP), Thanatology (DEATH & DYING), Ambystomology (AXOLOTLS … AND LIMB REGROWTH?), Melaninology (SKIN/HAIR PIGMENT), Spooktober episodes of the past

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Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jacob Chaffee

Managing Director: Susan Hale

Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth

Transcripts by Aveline Malek 

Website by Kelly R. Dwyer

Theme song by Nick Thorburn

Let’s kick off Spooktober with… RATS: They love pizza. They invade taquerias at midnight. They scurry. They cuddle. They outsmart. They inspire movies that inspire musicals. Proving that not just woodsy megafauna can be charismatic, rats have lives we would never suspect. Globally-lauded Urban Rodentologist Dr. Robert Corrigan, or Bobby if you like, has been studying these animals in their big-city ecosystem for decades and he is a wonder-filled joy. Learn about rats’ origin story, the difference between a rat and a mouse, where they live, their preferred “food dialects,” and how to (hopefully humanely) keep one out of your house -- or car? Might as well start to love and respect them, because we’re not-too-distantly related and one day… they may be steering the ship. 

Follow Bobby on X

A donation went to the Yash Gandhi Foundation

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Other episodes you may enjoy: Sciuridology (SQUIRRELS), Hydrochoerology (CAPYBARAS), Procyonology (RACCOONS), Opossumology (O/POSSUMS), Columbidology (PIGEONS? YES), Mammalogy (MAMMALS), Disgustology (REPULSION TO GROSS STUFF), Discard Anthropology (GARBAGE), Epidemiology (DISEASES), Maritime Archaeology (SHIPWRECKS)

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Sound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media, Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions, & Steven Ray Morris

Managing Director: Susan Hale

Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth

Transcripts by Aveline Malek 

Website by Kelly R. Dwyer

Theme song by Nick Thorburn

Murals! Frescos! Graffiti! Street art! Philadelphia is the birthplace of graffiti and the mural capital of the world so we sit down with city historian, journalist, curator, and Toichographologist Conrad Benner to chat about public vs. private art, cultural movements, commissioned vs. um… un-commissioned murals, how mural topics are chosen, how much it costs to make a mural, where to get that money, vandalism and murals and the fine line between, and how everything you do is art. Let Philly’s history and 5,000 murals inspire you to gaze at what’s in your city and find out who made it, how you can get involved, and why it matters. Also: this episode will have a bonus Field Trip we’ll release in a week or so that will take you to a series of murals in the process of being born. 

Follow Conrad on Instagram, TikTok and X

Visit his guide to Philadelphia’s public art and public space at StreetsDept.com

Donations went to the William Way LGBT Community Center and SkypeAScientist.com

Purchase a Frog Facts Advent Calendar at SquidFacts.net 

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Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes

Other episodes you may enjoy: Political Sociology (VOTER TURNOUT & SUPPRESSION), Nomology (THE CONSTITUTION), Domicology (ABANDONED BUILDINGS, RECYCLED HOUSES & GHOST TOWNS), Wildlife Ecology (FIELDWORK), Very Special Episode: BlackAFinSTEM, Mythology (STORYTELLING), Museology (MUSEUMS)

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Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jacob Chaffee

Managing Director: Susan Hale

Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth

Transcripts by Aveline Malek 

Website by Kelly R. Dwyer

Theme song by Nick Thorburn

Smaller than you can imagine. Potato-shaped. Mysterious. Romantic. And tough enough to survive the vacuum of space or decades of desiccation. Join professor and confirmed Tardigradologist Dr. Paul Bartels to saunter into a microscopic wonderland of bizarrely long naps, foreign genomes, moon landings, glow-in-the-dark moss piglets, cryptobiosis, kitten claws, knife mouths, balloon butts, spiders on Mars, splicing tardigrade DNA into ours, debunking flim-flam and the friends living in your gutters. 

Follow Dr. Bartels on ResearchGate and Google Scholar

A donation went to the Xerces Society

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Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes

Other episodes you may enjoy: Bryology (MOSS) with Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer, Planariology (VERY COOL WORMS, I PROMISE), Benthopelagic Nematology (DEEP SEA WORMS), Radiology (X-RAY VISION), Microbiology (GUT BIOME), FIELD TRIP: My Butt, a Colonoscopy Ride Along & How-To, Diplopodology (MILLIPEDES & CENTIPEDES), Saurology (LIZARDS), Astrobiology (ALIENS), UFOlogy (UNEXPLAINED AERIAL PHENOMENA), Etymology (WORD ORIGINS), Ursinology (BEARS), Carnivore Ecology (LIONS, TIGERS, & BEARS)

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Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jacob Chaffee

Managing Director: Susan Hale

Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth

Transcripts by Aveline Malek 

Website by Kelly R. Dwyer

Theme song by Nick Thorburn

Give yourself a hug and take a deep breath and let’s chat with renowned Suicidologist Dr. DeQuincy Meiffren-Lézine. He is an absolute wonder and helps us understand the risk factors for suicide, prevention strategies, socio-economic factors, gender statistics, LGBTQ+ suicide prevention, what happens if you call a hotline, thoughts on hospitalization, how to support loved ones who have ideation, mourning those lost, learning to take care of yourself and your mental health and how living through the worst means by definition, shit gets better. 

** IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING A CRISIS, PLEASE CONNECT WITH THE 988 SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE. CALL OR TEXT 988 OR VISIT 988LIFELINE.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION. OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES, CONSULT WITH FINDAHELPLINE.COM **

Follow Dr. Meiffren-Lézine on ResearchGate, Instagram and LinkedIn

Buy his book, It is My Blood to Scribe: Poetry of a Suicide Attempt Survivor, on Bookshop.org or Amazon

More books by Dr. Meiffren-Lézine available on Amazon

A donation went to Active Minds

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Other episodes you may enjoy: Dolorology (PAIN), Molecular Neurobiology (BRAIN CHEMICALS), Addictionology (ADDICTION), Traumatology (PTSD), Eudemonology (HAPPINESS), Awesomeology (GRATITUDE FOR LITTLE THINGS)

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Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month

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Follow @Ologies on Instagram and X

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Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jacob Chaffee

Managing Director: Susan Hale

Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth

Transcripts by Aveline Malek 

Website by Kelly R. Dwyer

Theme song by Nick Thorburn