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Dope Labs

iHeartPodcastswww.dopelabspodcast.com

Dope Labs is a podcast hosted by best friends (and two of the dopest scientists you will ever meet), Titi and Zakiya. In each episode, they serve up scientific principles with a healthy dose of tea. From cuffing season to Cardi B, they’ll take what’s trending and put it under the microscope with the help of some very smart (and cool) scientific friends. At Dope Labs, we believe “science is for errybody” and our mission is to bring out the inner scientist in YOU.

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Episodes

Lab 052: Retail Apocalypse

Shopping is easier to do than ever these days. In Lab 039: Add to Cart, we talked about what happens after you buy something with one click. Today, we start our two-part fashion series by talking about what happens BEFORE you buy. So much has changed since going to the mall was a social activity in the 90s (remember the mall?!!). In this Lab, and right on the heels of all the major fashion weeks, Titi and Zakiya talk about how we make decisions about what we buy, how retail has changed, and the ...

Feb 24, 202233 minSeason 4Ep. 16

Lab 051: BHM: HBCUs Edition

It’s Black History Month and we are celebrating by talking about Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with special guest Xavier Jernigan! In this episode, Titi and Zakiya talk with X about community, mentorship, Homecoming, and what makes the HBCU experience so special. You can find more Dope Labs, show notes, and cheat sheets at dopelabspodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Feb 17, 202249 minSeason 4Ep. 15

Lab 050: Gold Medal Physics

The 2022 Winter Olympics are in full swing and we are glued to the TV (go Nathan Chen!). But it takes more than just discipline and guts to be an Olympic athlete - you’ve got to know your physics! In this episode, Titi and Zakiya talk to Dr. Sophia Nimphius about how athletes harness the power of physics to go for the gold in ski jumping, curling, luge, figure skating, and more. You can find more Dope Labs, show notes, and cheat sheets at dopelabspodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...

Feb 10, 202241 minSeason 4Ep. 14

Lab 049: The Habit Equation

For our final lab in the New Years series, Titi & Zakiya want to learn all about the science behind habit formation. Dr. Wendy Wood, author of “Good Habits, Bad Habits,” tells us why bad habits are easier to make than good ones, and how to form new habits that stick. You can find more Dope Labs, show notes, and cheat sheets at dopelabspodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Feb 03, 202238 minSeason 4Ep. 13

Lab 048: Your Daily Dose

We have seen the custom supplement packs on IG and it looks like a lot of you are increasing your Vitamin C, but is that the BEST way to help our bodies? In the next installment of our New Year’s series, Titi and Zakiya talk to Dr. Alice Lichtenstein about vitamins, minerals, and supplements and how to make sure it all balances out! You can find more Dope Labs, show notes, and cheat sheets at dopelabspodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/l...

Jan 27, 202236 minSeason 4Ep. 12

Lab 047: All (Immune) Systems Go

We are continuing our wellness series and the next topic is at the root of our overall wellness, our immune systems. So we are diving into to all of the complexities of our super-powered systems. Titi & Zakiya talk with Dr. Payel Gupta about how the immune system works to keep us well. You can find more Dope Labs, show notes, and cheat sheets at dopelabspodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Jan 20, 202232 minSeason 4Ep. 11

Lab 046: Do Not Disturb Part II

We continue our two-part episode on Sleep with Dr. Giardin Jean-Louis, focusing on the environmental factors associated with poor sleep, different sleep disorders, and treatments and tips for getting a better night's sleep. You can find more Dope Labs, show notes, and cheat sheets at dopelabspodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Jan 13, 202232 minSeason 4Ep. 10

Lab 045: Do Not Disturb Part I

We’re kicking off our New Years series with a two-part episode on sleep, featuring renowned sleep expert Dr. Giardin Jean-Louis. We all know sleep is important, but WHY? In Part I, we’re diving into the health benefits of sleep, what it means to get “quality” sleep, and why certain people, especially communities of color, aren’t getting enough of it. You can find more Dope Labs, show notes, and cheat sheets at dopelabspodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Se...

Jan 06, 202228 minSeason 4Ep. 9

Lab 044: Our 2021 Mixtape

So much happened in 2021 that we didn’t get to talk about, so in this episode, Titi and Zakiya bring back a favorite tradition: the end of the year mixtape! From BBL’s to the metaverse, we’re breaking down all the science behind the year's biggest moments. You can find more Dope Labs, show notes, and cheat sheets at dopelabspodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Dec 30, 202140 minSeason 4Ep. 8

Lab 043: Understanding HIV Part II

We’re continuing our conversation on the HIV vaccine with Dr. Christine Daniels. There was just too much for one Lab! This week, we’re shifting the lens from the science to the people, and talking about HIV, and a potential vaccine, in a cultural and anthropological context… because science does not happen in a vacuum! You can find more Dope Labs, show notes, and cheat sheets at dopelabspodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

Dec 23, 202135 minSeason 4Ep. 7

Lab 042: Understanding HIV Part I

We’ve all been learning a LOT about vaccines this year, and it got us thinking, what about vaccine development for other viruses? Currently, almost 40 million people worldwide have HIV, and scientists have been working on a vaccine for four decades. In Part I of this two-part series, Titi and Zakiya talk to Dr. Christine Daniels, a cell biologist who works on developing novel vaccines for HIV, about the progress we’ve made so far, how the HIV virus is similar and different to SARS-CoV-2, and why...

Dec 16, 202125 minSeason 4Ep. 6

Lab 041: Out of Control

Reproductive health has been in the news a lot lately, most recently with the Supreme Court hearing Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization last week. So in this Lab, we talk to Dr. Elizabeth Ruzzo, the founder of Adyn, all about birth control. It’s proven very effective at preventing pregnancy, as well as treatment for symptoms of some reproductive health issues like uterine fibroids and PMDD, but can come with some pretty nasty side effects. Birth control has not changed much since the 60'...

Dec 09, 202138 minSeason 4Ep. 5

Lab 040: Money Moves

The holiday season is upon us and that means more online shopping but this doesn't mean that we have to put our accounts in the negative to get the things we need or the things we want. In this lab we talk to Natalia Brzezinski, head of strategy at Klarna, about how fintech can save our pockets. You can find more Dope Labs, show notes, and cheat sheets at dopelabspodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Dec 02, 202129 minSeason 4Ep. 4

Lab 039: Add to Cart

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday coming up, and the holiday shopping season right around the corner, there’s going to be a lot of people clicking “Add to Cart” over the next few weeks. This year has been full of headlines about labor shortages, trucker strikes, and stalled cargo ships. In this crazy economic climate, how are companies managing to source, ship, and deliver goods? We’re talking to Christopher Mims, author of “Arriving Today,” on the complex choreography of getting products from ...

Nov 25, 202135 minSeason 4Ep. 3

Lab 038: So Anxious

The holiday season is here, and with that, comes a lot of anxiety. In her new book, “Good Anxiety: Harnessing the Power of the Most Misunderstood Emotion,” guest Dr. Wendy Suzuki traces the origins of anxiety, why it’s so prevalent today (spoiler alert: EVERYONE has it), and how to make it work for us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Nov 18, 202135 minSeason 4Ep. 2

Lab 037: In Denial

Dope Labs is BACK and WEEKLY! And so much has happened since our last Lab, it’s hard to even know where to start. So we’re kicking off Semester 4 by talking about science denial with Dr. Gale Sinatra and Dr. Barbara Hofer. Their book, “Science Denial: Why it Happens and What to Do About It,” explores the psychological issues that keep folks from having a broad understanding of science. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...

Nov 11, 202144 minSeason 4Ep. 1

Semester 4 Sneak Peek 👀

Semester 4 kicks off brand new, weekly episodes on November 11th. But we couldn’t wait that long to show you what we’ve got cooking! Here’s a little sneak peek. Don’t forget to follow us on Spotify! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 10, 20216 min

Semester 4 is WEEKLY Starting November 11!

Hello, friend. It’s been a minute. We’ve missed you. But we have some exciting news! Dope Labs is back November 11th, with new episodes every Thursday. Follow us on Spotify so you don’t miss a beat! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 25, 20213 min

Lab 036: Shoot Your Shot - A COVID Update

In the final Lab of Semester 3, Titi and Zakiya give a highly requested coronavirus update. They’ll highlight the advances in science and the public health plans with guests Dr. Rupali Limaye and Molly Sauer from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Read Titi and Zakiya’s editorial in Scientific American here: https://bit.ly/3mz060I Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Dec 03, 202036 minSeason 3Ep. 12

Lab 034: Presently Futuristic

Like everyone else on the planet, Titi and Zakiya have been obsessing over Lovecraft Country. It’s the latest in what could be called a renaissance in Afrofuturism and Black horror, along with Watchmen, Get Out, and Black Panther. In Lab 034, they do a deep dive on all things Afrofuturism, and how to distinguish it from other popular genres like science fiction and horror with our guest Dr. Kinitra Brooks. Actor Levar Burton also drops in to give his perspective on the importance of developing d...

Oct 29, 202036 minSeason 3Ep. 10

Lab 033: Supermarket Sweep

Remember in the beginning of the pandemic when grocery stores ran out of a lot of pantry staples? We also saw a lot of food waste during that time, for example, farmers dumping a lot of produce that had gone bad. In Lab 033, Titi and Zakiya explore the complexities and scale of the United States food system to understand how these things are all connected. Guest: Dr. Marie Spiker. For more info visit dopelabspodcast.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystu...

Oct 15, 202038 minSeason 3Ep. 9

Lab 032: Life Avalanche

All the stress we are feeling in 2020 is leading to what feels like worldwide burnout. In Lab 032, Titi and Zakiya talk about what causes burnout, most common burnout behaviors, and how you can recognize burnout when it happens to you. Guest: Dr. Anne Helen Petersen. For more info and show notes, visit dopelabspodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Oct 01, 202031 minSeason 3Ep. 8

Lab 031: Persuadables

Are you seeing political ads everywhere? We are! This week we talk to guest experts Dr. Chryl Laird and Jenna Golden about the advertising machine behind the 2020 elections. Listen to learn about ad strategy, the resulting political behavior, and how social media is making you a prime target . Check out dopelabspodcast.com for more info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Sep 17, 202032 minSeason 3Ep. 7

Lab 030: Signed, Sealed, Delivered

It’s time to support the USPS, whether it’s buying stamps, or writing more handwritten letters. In this Lab, Titi and Zakiya unpack the benefits of writing by hand, how reading handwriting is different than reading type, and what happens in the brain when you see and process letters. Guest: Dr. Robert Wiley. For more info and show notes visit dopelabspodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Sep 03, 202037 minSeason 3Ep. 6

Lab 029: The Roof is on Fire!

In Lab 029, we’re talking about how COVID-19 has magnified the housing shortage into a housing crisis with our guest, Michael Neal from the Urban Institute. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 20, 202030 minSeason 3Ep. 5

Lab 028: There’s Something in the Water

The ocean covers 70% of the earth's surface, but we know so little about it and how it affects our lives. In this Lab, Titi and Zakiya bring the ocean to your front door, exploring how the ocean is impacted by climate change and how it fights back. Guest: Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Aug 06, 202038 minSeason 3Ep. 4

Lab 027: Here Comes the Boom

To add to the list of reasons why 2020 is trash: fireworks have been keeping us up all night. We may not be able to stop the fireworks from happening, but at least we can understand more about how they work. Guest: Fran Scott Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 23, 202025 minSeason 3Ep. 3

Lab 026: What About Your Friends?

Friendships are especially hard when we're all socially distanced. So join Zakiya and Titi as they explore the psychology behind being a good friend. This lab features a special appearance from the hosts of the podcast Call Your Girlfriend , Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman, who talk about their new book, Big Friendship . Guest Expert: Dr. Marisa G. Franco. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Jul 09, 202035 minSeason 3Ep. 2

Lab 025: Skin Deep

Titi and Zakiya kick off Semester 3 by holding up a mirror to the scientific community, unpacking the history of science and racism. Guest: Angela Saini Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 25, 202031 minSeason 3Ep. 1

Semester 3 Starts June 25th!

Who needs some good news? Dope Labs is coming back for Semester 3 on Thursday, June 25th! 2020 has been a YEAR and there is a lot to unpack. If you have an idea for an upcoming Lab, call us at 202-567-7028 and leave a message. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 19, 202030 sec
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