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Discussion thread -- Field Trip: An Airport Full of Neuroscientists (Patreon)

Published:
2023-03-03 02:54:57
Imported:
2026-06

Content

Sure it's a little late, but it's up! I cruised around an airport terminal that was shoulder-to-shoulder brain scientists and made a Field Trip episode that covers everything from cravings to monogamy, consciousness and more. 

I hope you enjoyed a weird one -- it was certainly an adventure to record and assemble. What did y'all think? Was anyone else at that conference? Let me know below, kiddos. 

Viva la brains,

ol Pod Dad 

Files

Field Trip: An Airport Full of Neuroscientists - alie ward

I'm at the airport and there are hundreds of brain scientists everywhere. So I swallowed my dignity/anxiety and approached strangers about the neuroscience they do. The result is a bushel of info on cravings, sleep, consciousness, addiction, dopamine, monogamy, Ozempic, toxins in your brain and so m

Comments

Between Dumplings

Love that you did this. Go You! Can't wait to listen.

Darlene Skapura

I listened to it on the way home and LOVED it!! You are so funny and willing to put yourself out there for all science nerds! I hope they felt honored you would seek out the people with the poster holders, to ask questions!

Melissa Kane

I know you felt nervous, but you seemed and sounded as happy as a kid in a candy shop. Super fun episode.

Grandma Theresa

This episode was so good. Wow oh wow. Do this again. So much fun.

Sharon

This made me so happy, just delightful. And I'm so impressed with you for approaching all these strangers and getting them to talk about their research!

Megan H

This was THE. BEST. Thanks for doing this one! I just love hearing people loving what they do.

Isabel Vaz

Listening to this episode on my way to work and it's making the commute so much better 🥰

Shannon Bartels

I love this episode! Hearing the excitement in your voice when people agree to be interviewed is so much fun. When I travelled for work I always secretly hoped I might somehow bump into you at an airport. Then quarantine started and that job went away, and I was bummed that my chances of ever meeting the great Alie Ward went from .05% to nothing. Picturing all of these people meeting you at an airport makes me so happy!

Margaret Downs

As somebody who has been a nerd with a rolled-up poster in an airport several times, I would be THRILLED to talk to you, even if it was after a conference when my social battery is at approximately 0. I'd push through it for the one and only Dad Ward, if I didn't simply perish from excitement first. Also the wonder and joy in this episode was a balm for my poor exhausted grad student soul today. (Sidenote: I use mass spectrometry to study the brain; I'm more of a biochemist than a neuroscientist and LOVED the shoutouts to the various parts of my research. I keep adding to this comment as I continue the episode because I just can't contain myself.)

Ted Vician

Enjoyed this as a change of pace episode. There are tons of scientific and technical organizations’ conferences that might be willing to host Ologies to interview presenters.

JENN 'Benthopelagic squirrel' ALVAREZ

How might one follow you? "Are you Alie Ward?" Like, OBVIOUSLY! You don't know?! 😂😂 Overzealously excited. I'd probably fall down if I met Alie. That's enough awkwardness for now. I'm still listening to this episode.

floraandthefaun

this was such a fun, lovely, hug of an episode! people talking about brains never made my brain this happy before :)

fullmetalknee

Omg I love literally everything about this episode. I'd be thrilled to have a random person come up to me at an airport and ask me to talk about something cool. ❤️

Racheal Davis

Sooo cool the amount of people you can talk to in so little amount of time. Honestly the toxicology stuff is high key so stressful to think about while also super fascinating. Makes me wonder about the general state of everyone’s brains in development and it’s possible ties to recent events. Also la croix?? I’m trying not to judge hahaha

Kimberly Peck

I loved this episode! I am so glad you asked about the tube! I would have noticed and wondered too. I was so impressed by the scientist interviewed and their ability to explain what they are studying! What smart people!

Abby Grieb

Loved this episode! Running into Alie Ward in an airport is my literal dream!! Also- we never had a discussion thread on environmental toxicology, and I just wanted to say how awesome Dr. Garret was and how I loved that she talked about not passing the “weed out” classes in her chemistry program, but look how amazing and successful and smart she is now!! Just food for thought for future ologists that grades are not everything and if you have a passion for something then go for it! 💕

Quincey Robisheaux

Genuinely tempted now to go up to anti-vaxxers and say "you know what's actually causing autism? PFAS!"

Margaret Downs

I too would probably fall down if I met Alie, but that hasn't stopped me from adding "explaining my research to her in an airport terminal" to my bucket list. I'm not particularly on social media - sometimes I feel like I should delve into science Twitter, but with everything going on with Twitter in general I've stayed away.

Katie Hammond

I loved this episode. It really captured the academic brain blast and hectic-ness that is a scientific conference. I wish science festivals were better publicized for the general public and less costly. I absolutely would go to them for fun.

John Ratterree

A great episode! Another pod I listen to sets up in the lobby or by the pool at professional conferences and interviews presenters and attendees during the breaks.

choirqueer

I'm listening to this while high right now and this is AMAZING

choirqueer

Alie if you ever want suggestions about vegan food please talk to me anytime. I've been vegan for ~20 years, I looooooove food and cooking and talking to people about how to vegan, seriously please hmu anytime.

Emmalee Jones

This episode tickled my neurospicy brain in all the right ways. Top-notch improvised journalism/SciComm/podcasting. Well done everyone 🏆👏

Myrtle Snowball

Best episode ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I have at least a dozen episodes starred.

Myrtle Snowball

Also all the baby undergrad neuros made my heart sing. I used to run the library in a massive geoscience program and this made me miss all my baby geologists so hard.

Myrtle Snowball

(and so many memories of helping them get ready for their first poster presentations 🥲)

Kate Webb

Alie gives major Ms. Frizzle vibes and I am so down for any and all future field trips! It would be neat to highlight a non-profit aquarium/museum/ conservatory, interview a selection of the ologists who work there, and then donate to that organization.

Anna Thompson

I loved this format! It was so fun to get little snippets of so much stuff!

Karlie V

An AMAZING episode - made my aspiring neuroscientist heart happy

Kathleen Sachs

Loved it. I was diagnosed with autism in my 40s. I would love to hear you interview an expert on it.

Michael Wegman

I also was diagnosed with autism in my 40s and completely agree with this suggestion.

beccaand

loved Dr Co's comment about neuroscientists and rock climbing, it's just like engineers and mountain biking

jimmyoconn

The episode was just the perfect balance between neurologist excitement and airplane chaos :)

Kathryn Knopinski

Has anyone else watched one of those YouTube videos where they give a golden retriever like a hundred tennis balls all at once? And she’s just so excited and overwhelmed at the same time? No? Just me?

Irit Mogilevsky

Hi Alie! I Wanted to share a personal experience. I was actually on my path to become a neurobiologist, but quit during my M.S. after a completely devastating week of working with mice. I slightly chuckled when you asked about forming a connection with the mice, because I remember how desensitized the other students in my lab were. I won't describe the details of what was done to these animals because you probably wouldn't be able to sleep at night. I understand some of these studies are potentially life-saving, but I also think the current ethical norms are not being questioned enough. I just want to remind people that not all means justify the ends. Glad to hear you're considering going vegetarian. come to the dark side!

Alie Ward

Aahaha, thank you so much! That first person who rejected me threw me off my extrovert game!

Alie Ward

Thank you so so so much -- I've been hatching plans to do more Field Trip episodes from weird gem and mineral shows, museums, solar eclipses, fungus hikes, etc. You dig it?

Alie Ward

I just didn't want to bother anyone, but I'm glad I did!

Alie Ward

How far is the commute? My condolences!

Alie Ward

It felt like my birthday every time someone said yes

Alie Ward

Gotta do some live shows AMIRITE

Alie Ward

I definitely like mixing things up and I want to do more of them!

Alie Ward

Awww... I'm sure one of the people in line for a bagel sandwich could have told you WHY it made your brain happy

Alie Ward

Bless you for being amenable, Concetta!

Alie Ward

It was like a game show lightning round, but with more screaming babies. And durdurs

Alie Ward

Did you like the durdur sound effects in the intro? Had you heard that secret from Vampirology before?

Alie Ward

AAAHHHHH! Abby we didn't?!? Oh my word. I am so sorry. I have been having brain struggles recently but am on the mend. Turns out my thyroid might be a jerk!

Alie Ward

they should sell Layperson Tickets, right?

Alie Ward

Which podcast??? I'm intrigued. Have you ever hear Podcast Outside?

Alie Ward

Aaahahaha, how hungry were you?

Alie Ward

Thank you so much! I shall pass it on to the team!

Alie Ward

Aww, thank you! Any other faves?

Alie Ward

Someone get this bitch an iguana! (Me, I'm this bitch.)

Alie Ward

Thank you! I was so thrilled to record it

Alie Ward

Awww, yay! any field in particular?

Alie Ward

Yes! I have been looking for an autistic researcher for it and am always fielding suggestions. There are so many ways to do an autism episode wrong, and I will not let that happen.

Alie Ward

That was so surprising to me! I never realized the brain-game of it; I thought it just was goat-adjacent fun and a convenient way to get out of a crevasse should you get trapped in one

Alie Ward

That baby crying was also a PhD neuroscientist

Alie Ward

it's me that's me. I felt like a lady on those old game shows where they put someone in a box with dollar bills and start the clock

Abby Grieb

That’s fine!! I hope everything is okay!

Alie Ward

this is a great comment! And you know, I edited out a big portion of that aside because I worried it was just too much of me talking, but maybe i should put it back in. It read: "So just a personal side note and when are they not? But my goal is to be more vegetarian or even vegan. And though I still eat meat maybe a few times a week, I feel terrible about it. And I also feel terrible about just the number of organisms killed by my living indoors. How many worms got fucked over when the foundation to my house was dug in the seventies? How many pharmaceuticals have I taken that have been tested on animals? I have no answers here. Only questions about impact and I'm trying to learn from it. And also whenever I see something at the end of a movies that says that no animals were harmed in the making of the film, I'm like, you never served meat or dairy on set? That's. I used to be an onset caterer. I've worked in tv. I've eaten so many Doritos and kebabs on set anyway, I would like to eat fewer animal items because anything helps and it seems less outwardly cruel. So that's an intention I'm stating publicly. Moving on." .... But I cut much of that out. And I was TRYING to draw attention to the fact that we owe so much of our survival to other organisms, even if we do choose a plant-based lifestyle. And that the way we talk about animal cruelty is really selective. And for the record I am 100% in support of the research neuroscientists and other doctors do. It's just not lost on my that even if I were completely vegan, animals die every day for me to survive and to acknowledge that and be grateful for the work people are doing to keep me and my loved ones alive. Anyway.

Isabel Vaz

Thanks hahaha I just handed in my notice, it wasn't worth it

Myrtle Snowball

I've listened since Episode 0, so I have A LOT of favorites. Thanatology (Corvid and OG), Ornithology, Entomology, Melittology, Oology, Somnology, Felinology, Acarology, Osteology, Spidroinology, Demonology, CHIROPTEROLOGY!, Nassology, Lampyidology, KINETIC SALTICIDOLOGY (changed my life!), and the ADHD series was huge for me, coming on the heels of my and my spouse's late life (age 48 and 51 respectively at the time) diagnoses of ADHD in Dec 2020. Seriously, thank you for chasing all the best smarty pants scientists. It makes a huge impact on so many of us (hopefully former) closet science nerds. <3 (note, this is only my super mega favorites, but I've never hated an episode ever.)

Myrtle Snowball

Yikes, how could I forget Dolorology -- this one truly changed my life. Even my therapist bought her workbook!

Alie Ward

well good because I love you so much, deal with it greg

Kimberly Peck

Of course! I loved the sound effects and know the secret 😉

choirqueer

I would also love to know what podcast this is!

choirqueer

::inhales a bowl of popcorn, a mug of cocoa with marshmallows, a microwave bowl cake, and a salad:: a lot of hungry

Becca Van Tassel

I loved this episode! There are so many ologists doing such great research to make the world a better place. My girlfriend has been a firefighter for 15 years and has told me some really scary PFAS exposure stories. She was really thrilled to hear someone is working to know more. Thank you for being so brave and giving us a peak into the world of research!

John Ratterree

He doesn’t do it all the time but they are my favorite episodes

John Ratterree

Oh and I tried to find Podcast Outside but there are so many. Sorry for so many different replies, I’m a little starstruck that you actually replied!

Karlie V

First off omg, hiiii! And I’m not super sure yet but probably cellular neuroscience. I’m also two years post-concussion and still struggling with chronic pain, so I might be interested in studying the physiology of brain injuries :)

MB

I'm so sorry to be this person.... But PFAS in sparkling water is potentially lower than in tap water, depending on your municipality. Where I live, it's pretty comparable. If you love sparky water, it's okay to keep loving it.

Emily

This episode was a delight! Was it a total accident that you and the neuroscientists were at the airport together?

Michelle Chick

I was going to suggest this exact thing - you could 'accidentally' happen to be in the same city as the festival and plan to get to the airport extra early just to interview people. This was such a cool way to do an episode, like a tiktok podcast!

Curtis Grimba

This is rad! (First time asker) I know that in ancient Greece and in mythology the dolphin was a great symbol and figure for sailors and some gods. How and why did they become that symbol, And not a manatees in or dugongs? Or is it all under the same umbrella?

Omexamorph

I loved this ep. Everyone you talked to sounded so passionate and happy to share.

Darlene Skapura

I work in a research lab and many of our students were off to a conference in Denver 3.14.23, carrying their poster tubes- i told them if anyone with a microphone ask about their poster in an airport- TALK to them!! Love your podcast !! It makes me laugh and i have turned many of my lab mates onto it! The wasp in the figs started it all for me, thanks to my daughter, danielle! Huge huge fans! I have to share a secret, i had the first 3 or 4 episodes set to 1.5x by accident and i told my daughter how does she talk SO freaking fast! 🤣🤣 thank heavens for daughters, we both laughed so hard!

Nancy Anderson

This episode was great! Thanks for such a terrific idea and effort!

Amber Dickerson

This episode was great! I hope you try this more often. Thank you for persevering despite the rough start. So many eager ologists!!