Ologies with Alie Ward - Human Technomorphology (SWAPPING OUT BODY PARTS) with Mary Roach

Pigs with human kidneys. Iron lungs. Bionic prostheses. And bendable genitals. Mary Roach is here, and Alie is freaking out. Over the last two decades, this science icon has written seven New York Times bestsellers, including Stiff, Bonk, Gulp, and Packing for Mars. Her latest release, Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy is all about Human Technomorphology. Prep your flesh for getting to 4th base in a lab, bugs on drugs, elective amputation, gene-tweaked farm animals, vacuum chambers, beating hearts, leftover tendons and much more with a scicomm legend who’s Alie’s personal career hero. 

Visit Mary Roach’s website and follow her on Instagram

Check out Mary’s books including her latest, Replaceable You, available on Amazon and Bookshop.org

Donations went to The Amputee Coalition and United Ostomy Associations of America

More episode sources and links

Other episodes you may enjoy: Disability Sociology (DISABILITY PRIDE), Genicular Traumatology (BAD KNEES), Stem Cell Biology (CELLS MAKING CELLS), Systems Biology (MEDICAL MATHEMATICS), Neurotechnology (AI + BRAIN TECH), Osteology (SKELETONS/BODY FARMS), Surgical Oncology (BREAST CANCER), Dipterology (FLIES)

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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


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This Machine Kills - 423. Violence, Fast and Slow

We discuss the assassination of Charlie Kirk and its potential role as a catalyst of further violence and blowback by right-wing forces who want to avenge a martyr, by left-wing groups who want to kick off years of lead, or perhaps as simply another immense yet ephemeral moment in a strange world where “our whole life is surrounded by an immense accumulation of spectacles.” Then we segue expertly to talking about a new essay on “the weaponized world economy,” which adds great detail and depth to our analysis of the geoeconomic dynamics and conflicts that drive global politics, markets, finance and technology. ••• What We Know About the Hyundai-LG Plant Immigration Raid in Georgia https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/us/politics/hyundai-plant-immigration-raid-georgia.html ••• The Weaponized World Economy https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/weaponized-world-economy-farrell-newman ••• BRICS in 2025 https://www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/brics-in-2025/ Standing Plugs: ••• Order Jathan’s new book: https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520398078/the-mechanic-and-the-luddite ••• Subscribe to Ed’s substack: https://substack.com/@thetechbubble ••• Subscribe to TMK on patreon for premium episodes: https://www.patreon.com/thismachinekills Hosted by Jathan Sadowski (bsky.app/profile/jathansadowski.com) and Edward Ongweso Jr. (www.x.com/bigblackjacobin). Production / Music by Jereme Brown (bsky.app/profile/jebr.bsky.social)

It Could Happen Here - Thi’sl, The Nispey Hussle of St. Louis, On What It Really Takes to Make Our Hoods Better feat. Prop

Thi'sl is a child of the Lou, who ran the streets, was in the foster care and justice systems. Now he runs an incredible mentoring program. He talks about how to really REALLY reduce crime, you have to be a trusted voice.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Stuff They Don't Want You To Know - CLASSIC: Betty and Barney Hill: The UFO Case that Changed Everything, with Toby Ball

In September of 1961, on an empty country road in rural New Hampshire, Barney and Betty Hill experienced the most profound, bizarre night of their lives in what would become the first widely-publicized account of an alien abduction in US history -- the case that would go on to influence hundreds, if not thousands, of abduction cases to follow. But what exactly happened that September night? Join the guys as they sit down with author Toby Ball, host of the Strange Arrivals podcast, to explore the facts, the claims, and the questions that remain unanswered in the modern day.

They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Native America Calling - Tuesday, September 16, 2025 – Tribal advocates sound the alarm over radioactive exposure

The advocacy group, Tewa Women United, is warning nearby Pueblo citizens and other local residents about Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico releasing gas containing the weak radioactive substance, tritium. The group says, despite assurances by lab experts and regulators that the substance is safe in relatively small doses, it is a dangerous substance and could pose a threat to pregnant women and others. Tritium is a naturally occuring substance, but is also produced in quantities during nuclear power generation and is a key component in nuclear weapons. LANL says it is forced to release the radioactive gas because the containers they’ve been in for decades pose a risk. We’ll discuss what tritium does and whatever threat, if any, it poses.

GUESTS

Marissa Naranjo (Santa Clara Pueblo), deputy director of Sovereign Energy and a board member for Honor Our Pueblo Existence (HOPE)

Pat Moss, deputy manager of National Nuclear Security Administration’s Los Alamos field office

Arjun Makhijani, Ph.D. in nuclear fusion from the University of California at Berkeley and the president of the Institute of Energy and Environmental Research

Martha Izenson, a tribal attorney for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

 

Break 1 Music: Current (song) Chuck Copenace (artist) Oshki Manitou (album)

Break 2 Music: Capoeirablues (song) XOCÔ (artist) XOCÔ (album)

You're Wrong About - Samantha Smith vs. the Cold War with Maris Kreizman

Who really ended the Cold War, Ronald Reagan or a ten-year-old girl? Eighties correspondent Maris Kreizman joins us for a heartfelt conversation about America’s Youngest Ambassador, Samantha Smith, a child who wrote a letter to Soviet General Secretary Yuri Andropov in hopes of cooling nuclear tensions. Then, Andropov wrote back. Maris and Sarah discuss the burden we place on the youth to “change the world” while simultaneously scolding them for their naivety. Digressions include the millennial urge to cut up plastic soda can rings, Christina Applegate’s SNL infomercial, and an important lesson from the Golden Girls.

More Maris Kreizman:

Buy the book, I Want to Burn This Place Down

Subscribe to the newsletter, The Maris Review

Maris on Bluesky


More You're Wrong About:

Bonus Episodes on Patreon
Buy cute merch
YWA on Instagram

Sarah's other show, You Are Good

Support the show

It Could Happen Here - DC Police Takeover Update feat. Bridget Todd

Bridget Todd talks with Garrison about what the expiration of Trump's emergency order means for Washington DC, how it was a cover for increased immigration enforcement, and why the lack of statehood makes DC more vulnerable than other cities. 

Follow Bridget:

https://bsky.app/profile/bridgettodd.bsky.social

https://www.instagram.com/bridgetmarieindc/

There Are No Girls on the Internet: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-there-are-no-girls-on-the-65877505/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Stuff They Don't Want You To Know - Strange News: ICE Raids in Georgia, Swedish Teen Assassins, LSD and Mass Surveillance in China

US authorities raid a Hyundai battery plant in Georgia, detaining nearly 500 workers and sparking an international crisis with South Korea. The QAnon Queen of Canada is arrested. The rise of teenage assassins in Sweden. US tech companies are complicit in mass surveillance across China. The good and bad of LSD. All this and more in this week's strange news segment.

They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Native America Calling - Monday, September 15, 2025 – Native women making leadership gains

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians just elected four women to what had been an all-male tribal council. The Seminole Tribe of Oklahoma just installed women in their top two leadership positions for the first time in history. As with the general population, Native women lag behind men when it comes to elected political power. The non-profit RepresentWomen finds Native women have a slightly higher average representation on tribal councils than non-Native women on local municipal elected bodies. We’ll talk with some Native women about their progress in tribal and community leadership.

GUESTS

Shelly Fyant (Bitterroot Salish),  Representative for Montana’s House District 91; former Chairwoman of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

Shennelle Feather (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians), councilwoman-elect for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians tribal council.

Shannon Swimmer (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians), councilwoman-elect for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians tribal council.

Rep. Michelle Abeyta (Diné), Representative for New Mexico’s House District 69.

 

Break 1 Music: Women’s Honoring Song (song) Red Hawk Medicine Drum (artist) New Beginnings (album)

Break 2 Music: Capoeirablues (song) XOCÔ (artist) XOCÔ (album)

It Could Happen Here - Charlie Kirk’s Assassination: Sorting Fact from Fiction

Robert and Garrison discuss the memes, disinformation, and conflicting theories surrounding the political orientation of the Charlie Kirk assassin. Groyper? Antifa? Or just Reddit? 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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