Podcasts · Smologies with Alie Ward

BASKET WEAVING with James C. Bamba

30 Apr 2026 · 27 min

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.

Follow James on Instagram

A donation went to Sagan Kotturan Chamoru

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

More kid-friendly Smologies episodes!

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Sound editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions & Jake Chaffee

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

Smologies theme song by Harold Malcolm

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Links in the notes 12

• https://www.instagram.com/ginenguahan/
• https://www.facebook.com/skchamoru/
• https://www.alieward.com/ologies/canistrumology
• https://www.alieward.com/smologies
• https://www.patreon.com/ologies
• https://www.ologiesmerch.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/ologies
• https://bsky.app/profile/ologies.bsky.social
• https://www.instagram.com/alieward
• https://www.tiktok.com/@alie_ologies
• https://www.jecmusic.com/
• https://pcm.adswizz.com

The episode on the publisher’s site ↗ (opens in a new tab)