SKIN & HAIR COLOR with Tina Lasisi

Smologies with Alie Ward

Full-length (*not* G-rated) Melaninology episode + tons of links

26:18

How do you know when it’s time to make your next big career move? With International Women’s Day around the corner, we are excited to feature Avni Patel Thompson, Founder and CEO of Milo. Avni is building technology that directly supports the often overlooked emotional and logistical labor that falls on parents—especially women. Milo is an AI assistant designed to help families manage that invisible load more efficiently. In this episode, Avni shares her journey from studying chemistry to holding leadership roles at global brands like Adidas and Starbucks, to launching her own ventures. She discusses how she approaches career transitions, the importance of unpleasant experiences, and why she’s focused on making everyday life easier for parents. [01:26] Avni's University Days and Early Career [04:36] Non-Linear Career Paths [05:16] Pursuing Steep Learning Curves [11:51] Entrepreneurship and Safety Nets [15:22] Lived Experiences and Milo [19:55] Avni’s In Her Ellement Moment [20:03] Reflections Links: Avni Patel Thompson on LinkedIn Suchi Srinivasan on LinkedIn Kamila Rakhimova on LinkedIn Ipsos report on the future of parenting About In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element? About The Hosts: Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030. Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders. Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

about a year ago 26:24

MP3•Episode home

Follow Dr. Tina Lasisi on Instagram & TikTok

Visit Dr. Lasisi’s website

A donation went to The Fieldwork Initiative

More kid-friendly Smologies episodes!

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

OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes!

Follow Ologies on Instagram and Bluesky

Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok

Sound editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions & Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media

Made possible by work from Noel Dilworth, Susan Hale, Jacob Chaffee, Kelly R. Dwyer, Aveline Malek and Erin Talbert

Smologies theme song by Harold Malcolm

47 episodes

#Science #Podcasting Education #Alie Ward

Smologies with Alie Ward

SKIN & HAIR COLOR with Tina Lasisi

Smologies with Alie Ward

52 subscribers

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

Follow Dr. Tina Lasisi on Instagram & TikTok

Visit Dr. Lasisi’s website

A donation went to The Fieldwork Initiative

Full-length (*not* G-rated) Melaninology episode + tons of links

More kid-friendly Smologies episodes!

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

OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes!

Follow Ologies on Instagram and Bluesky

Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok

Sound editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions & Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media

Made possible by work from Noel Dilworth, Susan Hale, Jacob Chaffee, Kelly R. Dwyer, Aveline Malek and Erin Talbert

Smologies theme song by Harold Malcolm

47 episodes

#Science #Podcasting Education #Alie Ward

All episodes

Smologies with Alie Ward

1
MOSS with Robin Wall Kimmerer 25:46

7 days ago25:46

25:46

An instant classic. You’ll listen on repeat as world-renowned author, botanist, Indigenous ecology professor and bryologist Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer talks about her passion for moss. Cozy up for the most beautifully doled-out information about hidden worlds, forests in miniature, making a home in the tiniest of spaces, why moss makes great diapers, whether they’re cozy to sleep on, and philosophies about science and ecology. Dr. Kimmerer, author of “Gathering Moss,” will change the way you see mosses forever, will inspire you to wear a loupe on a rope, and will soothe your soul with her beautiful voice and prose. Follow Dr. Kimmerer on Facebook Look for her books at independent bookstores or wherever books are sold: “ The Serviceberry ,” “ Braiding Sweetgrass ” and “ Gathering Moss ” Donations went to the ESF’s Center for Native Peoples and the Environment and American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) Full-length (*not* G-rated) Bryology episode + tons of science links Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes! Follow Ologies on Instagram and Bluesky Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok Sound editing by Jacob Chaffee, Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions , Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media , and Steven Ray Morris Made possible by work from Noel Dilworth, Susan Hale, Kelly R. Dwyer, Aveline Malek and Erin Talbert Smologies theme song by Harold Malcolm…

Smologies with Alie Ward

1
MAGIC & WORD PUZZLES with David Kwong 25:09

14 days ago25:09

25:09

Crosswords! Puzzles! Magic? Ah yes, world-renowned Enigmatologist David Kwong drops in to chat about the intersection of sleight of hand and brain games, covering everything from tips for solving crosswords to how to get away with a surprise party unsuspected. Also: how puzzles are like hot sauce, why our brains like them, cryptic crosswords, how to get over your intimidation of all those empty squares, and a bonus read from his new kid’s book How to Fool Your Parents: 25 Brain-Breaking Magic Tricks . Follow David Kwong on Instagram or check out his website A donation went to lollipoptheater.org Full-length (*not* G-rated) Enigmatology episode + tons of science links More kid-friendly Smologies episodes! Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes! Follow Ologies on Instagram and Bluesky Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok Sound editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions , Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media , and Mark David Christenson Made possible by work from Noel Dilworth, Susan Hale, Jacob Chaffee, Kelly R. Dwyer, Aveline Malek and Erin Talbert Smologies theme song by Harold Malcolm…

Smologies with Alie Ward

1
MAMMALS with Danielle N. Lee 24:02

21 days ago24:02

24:02

Mammals. You’re one. Your dog is one. So are giant rats. What do we have in common? I promise you’ll find out the answer from the incredible Southern Illinois University professor, researcher, science communicator and mammalogist Dr. Danielle N. Lee as she joins us to chat about everything from nature’s parenting styles, mysteries of the platypus, how the dinosaurs affected mammal evolution, the origin of the word mom, and how we’re all in this together. Follow Dr. Danielle N. Lee on Bluesky and Instagram A donation went to Science Engineering Mathematics Link Follow SEM Link on Instagram Full-length (*not* G-rated) Mammology episode + tons of science links More kid-friendly Smologies episodes! Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes! Follow Ologies on Instagram and Bluesky Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok Sound editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions , Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media , and Steven Ray Morris Made possible by work from Noel Dilworth, Susan Hale, Jacob Chaffee, Kelly R. Dwyer, Aveline Malek and Erin Talbert Smologies theme song by Harold Malcolm…

Smologies with Alie Ward

1
REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS with David Steen 20:10

28 days ago20:10

20:10

This kid-safe edit of the classic Herpetology episode features frilly gills, frog tornadoes, legless lizards, and reasons to appreciate snakes. Also, why you shouldn’t kiss one. Dr. David Steen is a beloved herpetologist and wildlife conservationist and his answers are full of facts and flim-flam busters. Dr. David Steen’s website & Instagram A donation went to: The Alongside Wildlife Foundation Full-length (*not* G-rated) Herpetology episode + tons of science links More kid-friendly Smologies episodes! Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes! Follow Ologies on Instagram and Bluesky Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok Sound editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions , Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media , and Steven Ray Morris Made possible by work from Noel Dilworth, Susan Hale, Jacob Chaffee, Kelly R. Dwyer, Aveline Malek and Erin Talbert Smologies theme song by Harold Malcolm…

Smologies with Alie Ward

1
SKIN & HAIR COLOR with Tina Lasisi 26:24

5 weeks ago26:24

26:24

Skin color! Hair pigment! Biological anthropology! The incredibly informed and infectiously funny Dr. Tina Lasisi joins to chat sunscreen, redheads, light skin, dark skin, in-between skin, hair color, UVAs, UVBs, ocher, freckles and more. Dr. Lasisi is about to become your new favorite science communication and internet friend. Also: sunscreen, people. Follow Dr. Tina Lasisi on Instagram & TikTok Visit Dr. Lasisi’s website A donation went to The Fieldwork Initiative Full-length (*not* G-rated) Melaninology episode + tons of links More kid-friendly Smologies episodes! Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes! Follow Ologies on Instagram and Bluesky Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok Sound editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions & Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media Made possible by work from Noel Dilworth, Susan Hale, Jacob Chaffee, Kelly R. Dwyer, Aveline Malek and Erin Talbert Smologies theme song by Harold Malcolm…

Smologies with Alie Ward

1
SLEEP with Chris Winter 26:03

6 weeks ago26:03

26:03

A G-rated, kid-safe Smologies edit all about getting your Zzzzzs. Neurologist and somnologist Dr. W. Chris Winter is an expert on sleep, and since his first interview, he’s released a book called “The Rested Child” all about sleep and kiddos! So parents, kids and anybody else can dive in to learn about different sleep stages, what sleep does to the brain, insomnia, ideal bedtime conditions, brain performance and how doctors often overlook pediatric sleep disorders. You’ll learn so many facts that will help you get to dreamland. Visit Dr. W. Chris Winter's website and sleep clinic Follow Dr. Winter on Bluesky and Instagram His books: The Rested Child , The Sleep Solution Listen to his podcast Sleep Unplugged with Dr. Chris Winter Full-length (*not* G-rated) Somnology episodes + tons of science links Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes! Follow Ologies on Instagram and Bluesky Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok Sound editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions , Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media , and Steven Ray Morris Made possible by work from Noel Dilworth, Susan Hale, Jacob Chaffee, Kelly R. Dwyer, Aveline Malek and Erin Talbert Smologies theme song by Harold Malcolm…

Smologies with Alie Ward

1
NATURE DETECTIVES with Tiara Moore 25:16

7 weeks ago25:16

25:16

Yep — it’s detective work! But instead of crime scenes, environmental scientist, marine biologist and Forensic Ecologist Dr. Tiara Moore travels the world to sample the sea and the soil looking for the ghosts of larvae past, whispers of frog spit, fungal traces in loamy soil, and the unseen forces that lead to algal blooms and toxic tides. So buckle your life jacket and join a spirited chat about labwork, forest fungus, sedimentary soil science, marine science careers, and whether or not she may have found evidence of Bigfoot. Visit Dr. Moore's website and follow her on X and Instagram Dr. Moore works with The Nature Conservancy ! More on #BlackinMarineScience (BiMS) Donations went to BiMS and BWEEMS Full-length (*not* G-rated) Forensic Ecology episode + tons of science links Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes! Follow Ologies on Instagram and Bluesky Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok Sound editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions , Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media , and Steven Ray Morris Made possible by work from Noel Dilworth, Susan Hale, Jacob Chaffee, Kelly R. Dwyer, Aveline Malek and Erin Talbert Smologies theme song by Harold Malcolm…

Smologies with Alie Ward

1
FISHES with Chris Thacker 21:43

8 weeks ago21:43

21:43

Ichthyology is not easy to say, but fish are easy to love. Dr. Chris Thacker will get you so thrilled to stare into a pond or look up pictures of silvery sea serpent-looking fish friends. Hilariously charming fish expert and LA County Natural History Museum Curator of Ichthyology, Dr. Thacker took Alie to a basement full of several million jars of fish to chat about the worst fish husbands, the weirdest mating behaviors, the scariest fish, the nicest fish, the tiniest fish, how they breathe, how you can help reverse global warming, and whether you should pee in wetsuits. I love her so much and so will you. Follow Dr. Chris Thacker on Instagram A donation went to SeafoodWatch.org Full-length (*not* G-rated) Ichthyology episode + tons of links More kid-friendly Smologies episodes! Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes! Follow Ologies on Bluesky and Instagram Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok Sound editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions , Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media , and Steven Ray Morris Made possible by work from Noel Dilworth, Susan Hale, Jacob Chaffee, Kelly R. Dwyer, Emily White, & Erin Talbert Smologies theme song by Harold Malcolm…

Smologies with Alie Ward

1
ICEQUAKES with Celeste Labedz 25:51

9 weeks ago25:51

25:51

Glaciers: Where are they? What are they made of? What happens when chunks splinter off into the sea? There are ICEQUAKES? CalTech Cryoseismologist Celeste Labedz sometimes wears a cape with her snowpants and spends part of her career shooting explosions into giant chunks of ice and recording the seismic activity, analyzing the rivers that flow through glaciers, and keeping tabs on glacial melt. Follow Celeste on Bluesky and Instagram A donation went to the International Association for Geoscience Diversity Full-length (*not* G-rated) Cryoseismology episode + tons of links More kid-friendly Smologies episodes! Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, masks, totes! Follow Ologies on Bluesky and Instagram Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok Sound editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions , Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media , and Steven Ray Morris Made possible by work from Noel Dilworth, Susan Hale, Jacob Chaffee, Kelly R. Dwyer, Aveline Malek and Erin Talbert Smologies theme song by Harold Malcolm…

Smologies with Alie Ward

1
ALLIGATORS with Laura Kojima 25:51

10 weeks ago25:51

25:51

Alligators! Crocodiles! The excitement never ends when you’re Laura Kojima, an Alligator Ecotoxicologist. A longtime reptile cheerleader, Laura has passion to match some truly bananas stories about field work, what an alligator will do for its favorite snack, crocodilian evolution, overbites, crocodile tears, locomotion and so much more. [Audio note: the connection was a little spotty so please forgive occasional static!] Follow Laura Kojima on Instagram A donation went to the Wildlife Conservation Society Full-length (*not* G-rated) Alligator Ecotoxicology episode + tons of links More kid-friendly Smologies episodes! Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes! Follow Ologies on Bluesky and Instagram Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok Sound editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions , Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media , and Steven Ray Morris Made possible by work from Noel Dilworth, Susan Hale, Jacob Chaffee, Kelly R. Dwyer, Aveline Malek, & Erin Talbert Smologies theme song by Harold Malcolm…

Smologies with Alie Ward

1
EVOLUTION with John McCormack 22:25

11 weeks ago22:25

22:25

Another G-rated edit of a classic! This Smologies with Dr. John McCormack of Occidental College is all about evolution, Darwinism, birds, bacteria, natural selection and how our mutations can be our greatest strengths. Also: breaking down terms like genetic drift and Linnaean taxonomy and why Charles Darwin had to face haters under his own roof. Follow John McCormack on X or the Moore Lab of Zoology on Instagram A donation went to BirdNet.org Full-length (*not* G-rated) Evolutionary Biology episode + tons of links More kid-friendly Smologies episodes! Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes! Follow Ologies on Instagram and Bluesky Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok Sound editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions , Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media , and Steven Ray Morris Made possible by work from Noel Dilworth, Susan Hale, Jacob Chaffee, Kelly R. Dwyer, Aveline Malek and Erin Talbert Smologies theme song by Harold Malcolm…

Smologies with Alie Ward

1
FLAGS with E. Tory Laitila 22:46

12 weeks ago22:46

22:46

A kid-friendly, shortened version of our classic episode on …flags! E. Tory Laitila, a textile expert who has also handled Honolulu's flag protocol, gives the skinny on the oldest flags, skull and crossbone Jolly Rogers, his favorite state flag, Scandinavian simplicity, the hardest flags to draw, who designed our modern American flag and how you too can have ... fun with flags all year round. A donation went to Connecting to Collections via CulturalHeritage.org Full-length (*not* G-rated) Vexillology episode + tons of links More kid-friendly Smologies episodes! Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes! Follow Ologies on Instagram and Bluesky Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok Sound editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions , Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media and Steven Ray Morris Made possible by work from Noel Dilworth, Susan Hale, Jacob Chaffee, Kelly R. Dwyer, Aveline Malek and Erin Talbert Smologies theme song by Harold Malcolm…

Smologies with Alie Ward

1
FIREMAKING with Ellery Frahm 27:08

13 weeks ago27:08

27:08

Grab your fire extinguisher and hang on to your eyebrows, we’re building FIRES today. We’ll hear all about how our ancient ancestors learned to wield a flame, tame it, transport it, and use it to make tools, keep us warm, and maybe even make us smarter. So get ready for sharp rocks, hairy jello, sooty caves, glowing coals, iron sparks, fluffy fungus, molten metal, ember tending and more with Yale anthropologist and pyrotechnologist, Dr. Ellery Frahm. Visit Dr. Frahm’s website and follow him on Bluesky and Instagram A donation went to Armenia Fund Full-length (*not* G-rated) Pyrotechnology episode + tons of science links More kid-friendly Smologies episodes! Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes! Follow Ologies on Instagram and Bluesky Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok Sound editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions , Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media and Steven Ray Morris Made possible by work from Noel Dilworth, Susan Hale, Jacob Chaffee, Kelly R. Dwyer, Aveline Malek and Erin Talbert Smologies theme song by Harold Malcolm…

Smologies with Alie Ward

1
INSECTS with Lila Higgins 20:14

14 weeks ago20:14

20:14

Quite likely Alie's favorite subject ever: INSECTS, just straight up buuuugs. In this Smologized classic, Alie sits down with an ologist who quite likely also dramatically shifted her life. That would be Lila Higgins, with passion more powerful than a Goliath Beetle's "especially large slicey mandibles." We cover a lot of ground, from dinosaur bugs to why wasps are so problematic, and even why it's totally fine to kiss a cockroach. Lila Higgins' Book Wild LA: Explore the Amazing Nature in and Around Los Angeles A donation went to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Community Science Program Full-length (*not* G-rated) Entomology episode + tons of science links More kid-friendly Smologies episodes! Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes! Follow Ologies on Instagram and Bluesky Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok Sound editing by Steven Ray Morris and Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions Made possible by work from Noel Dilworth, Susan Hale, Jacob Chaffee, Kelly R. Dwyer, Aveline Malek and Erin Talbert Smologies theme song by Harold Malcolm…

Smologies with Alie Ward

1
DEER with Rhiannons Jakopak & Kirton 26:27

15 weeks ago26:27