EARTH SAVING with Shah Selbe

More from Smologies with Alie Ward All episodes →

1. 

   21 May 2026 · 28 min

   GAR with Solomon David

   A long snout. Hundreds of teeth. Scales that could slice you. What is a gar and should we fear it? Should we hug it? One of the world’s most passionate and knowledgeable experts on this ancient, mysterious fish joins to make you fall in love with these slimy longbois. Dr. Solomon David is affable, charming, enthusiastic and absolutely shameless when it comes to fish puns. Slip into some hip waders and jump in the muck to learn all about a creature that -- despite decades of mudslinging -- is not a gar-bage fish. Also: why gar caviar is a very bad idea.

2. 

   15 May 2026 · 30 min

   ROCKS with Schmitty Thompson

   What is a rock? How big is a boulder? Why are they pretty and heavy? It’s rock talk with a true enthusiast, the charming and beloved Geologist Schmitty Thompson. Schmitty walks us through different types of rocks, minerals, crystals, geodes, roadside wonders, the best rock puns, and why you should take a closer look at your countertops. So pull up a petrified stump, take a seat, and enjoy Schmitty’s Geology Corner.

3. 

   7 May 2026 · 31 min

   SQUIRRELS with Karen Munroe

   Flying squirrels. Ground squirrels. Tree squirrels. Giant squirrels. Tiny ones. Grey ones. Red ones. Fluorescent ones? Alie is losing her mind talking to dream guest and Sciuridologist, Dr. Karen Munroe. This Baldwin Wallace University professor has studied squirrels for decades and addresses where they sleep, how many babies they have, how they find their acorns (or don’t), endangered squirrels, birdfeeder drama, the best place for squirrel tourism and more. You’ll scatter hoard so many nuggets of squirrel trivia. Enjoy.

4. 

   30 Apr 2026 · 27 min

   BASKET WEAVING with James C. Bamba

   Thorny leaves! Geometric recipes! Watertight weaves! Tiny sculptures! Making cool stuff from invasive vines! Renowned weaver and teacher James C. Bamba shares how he connected more deeply with his Mariana Island heritage through weaving, how to know when plant fiber is ready, the anatomy of a coconut tree, and the math, meteorology, materials science, and agriculture know-how that goes into weaving the best baskets.

5. 

   23 Apr 2026 · 26 min

   JELLYFISH with Rebecca Helm

   What even *is* a jellyfish?! How do they eat? What are they made of? Do they breathe? Where are their brains? Your new favorite Medusologist, Dr. Rebecca Helm, is a ray of human sunshine in the depths of the deep sea. Truly one of the finest biology conversations you may ever hear. Get ready for fuzzy babies, clones, the biggest and smallest jellies, new band names, live medusas, and the lengths that she will go to to see a jelly bloom.

6. 

   3 Apr 2026 · 26 min

   CAROB with Megan Lynch

   You might only know carob as not-chocolate, which is a tragedy of its disco-era branding. This tough, gnarly, drought-resistant plant is the real-life Giving Tree, explains passionate carobologist Megan Lynch. Dripping with leathery banana-shaped legume pods, this tree quietly dots suburban streets but can also be found in unexpected ingredients lists, beautiful furniture pieces, and tasty cheesecakes – when you let it be itself. Oh also? It can stand in for chocolate if you need it to. LET’S SHOW SOME RESPECT.

7. 

   26 Mar 2026 · 25 min

   NOSES with John Craig

   Allergies. Sinuses. Cartilage. Smell nostalgia. Snoring. Hang on to your faces because Dr. John Craig goes deep and shares his passion for rhinology. You'll have a whole new relationship with your whiffer, appreciating what happens behind your nostrils and why they get so leaky, stuffy and everything in between. Also: what grosses Alie out more than creepy crawlies or smelly drain clogs?

8. 

   19 Mar 2026 · 27 min

   PRAYING MANTISES with Lohitashwa Garikipati

   Pointy heads. Spiked arms. Genius disguises. It’s a whole episode about praying mantises with a real life Mantodeologist. Do they really eat hummingbirds? Are they extraterrestrial? How can you convince them to visit your garden? Get your fill of evolutionary gossip, camouflage strategies, their alien egg cases, huge eyes, pet advice, and why they’re compatible with cat lovers with this delightful entomologist and longtime keeper of mantises, Lohit Garikipati.

9. 

   12 Mar 2026 · 26 min

   CAVES with Gina Moseley

   Caves! Caverns! Grottos! Crystals! Let's get down and dirty with Speleology with explorer, researcher, professor, and paleoclimatologist Dr. Gina Moseley. We discuss the deepest and darkest caves, who counts as a spelunker, what’s a stalactite, what’s a stalagmite, and are giant cave crystals real? Also: How caves can tell us about ancient climates and why nothing beats the longing for the underground. Grab a friend and wear a helmet. We’re goin’ in.

10. 

    6 Mar 2026 · 25 min

    CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS with Katherine Hatcher

    Ahh, Daylight Savings Time: Does it mess with us? What time should you go to bed? How dark is dark enough? The wonderful and hilarious Dr. Katherine Hatcher got her PhD in hormones, sleep cycles and circadian rhythms, and helps Alie understand why she should make better sleep habits. We also chat about a tiny magical area in our brains that acts as your body's Big Ben. By the end of the episode, you'll be in footie pajamas eager to change your whole life.