Dope Labs
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.
Episodes
Titi and Zakiya sit down with Dr. Darrell West from the Brookings Institution to unpack what’s really going on behind the economy and job numbers. We talk about why unemployment stats can underestimate pain, how cuts to NIH/NSF and university funding hit entire local economies built on “eds and meds,” and why AI is shaking up the knowledge sector. We also hear from a Dope Labs listener who is a laid-off pharma wor...
It feels like everyone’s sneezing, coughing, or cutting out gluten—but what’s really behind the allergy explosion? Titi and Zakiya dig into why seasonal allergies seem worse than ever, how climate change and “too much cleanliness” play a role, and what the difference is between an allergy, an intolerance, and just being sensitive. With allergist and immunologist Dr. Purvi Parikh, they unpack myths from...
Screen names with your graduation year are out; but Ring cams, smart fridges, and “accept all” cookies seems to be in. This lab is all about how we’re using the internet! Titi and Zakiya sit down with Bridget Todd, host of There Are No Girls on the Internet, to talk about surveillance disguised as convenience, the rage-bait economy, and why our feeds feel worse. From doorbells to teaching the next generation, this...
Titi and Zakiya sit down with writer and image activist Michaela Angela Davis to talk about her book Tenderheaded and the tangled relationship between hair, colorism, and identity. From childhood memories to the legacy of magazines like Vibe and Essence, Michaela unpacks how beauty standards and media have shaped generations of Black women—and how healing begins when we tell our own stories.
Dope Labs is where science meets p...
It’s spooky season and the Dope Labs crew LOVES a good horror film. From Rosemary’s Baby to Get Out, horror movies have always reflected the fears and tensions of their time. This week, Titi and Zakiya dig into the art, psychology, and sociology of horror with Dr. Eleanor Johnson, a professor at Columbia University and author of Scream With Me. Together, they unpack how films like The Exorcist, Alien, and The Shin...
Jumping to conclusions, letting stories override statistics, and getting swept up in the crowd—turns out, we’re all wired for it. Titi and Zakiya explore how evolutionary psychology and group identity shape the way we process information, especially in our fast-paced digital world. From the spread of misinformation about Tylenol to viral rapture predictions, the hosts share relatable moments and surprising examples to i...
We’ve been told addiction is about bad choices or weak willpower. But the science says otherwise. Addiction is a chronic brain condition that rewires circuits for reward, stress, and self-control. In this lab, Titi and Zakiya talk to Dr. Nzinga Harrison about what’s really happening in the brain when tolerance builds, cravings hit, and dependence takes hold. They also dig into how stigma and bias shape who gets treatmen...
Periods are more than just cramps and cravings. This week, Titi and Zakiya are joined by research psychologist and author of “Period Brain” Dr. Sarah Hill to break down what’s really going on in our brains and bodies throughout the menstrual cycle. They unpack the science behind hormonal shifts, why estrogen and progesterone are doing way more than we think, and how the medical field has ignored these complexities...
Why do some aches fade fast while others take over your life? This week we crack open the neuroscience of pain—how the brain goes from “incident” to “ouch,” why chronic pain is different from acute pain, and how memory, mood, and expectation shape what we feel.
Guest expert Lindsay Ejoh (Neuro_Melody) walks us throughthe brain’s natural opioid system, the power (and limits) of mindfulness/p...
This week Titi and Zakiya let the conversation flow as they catch up on the latest news, from shifting vaccine guidelines to the rise of the “Great Lock-In” trend. They discuss the latest research on the importance of sleep, the dangers of digital scams, and why your favorite oysters might be off the menu.
Federal vaccine policies from NPR
The Great Lock In on TikTok
It's back to school season, so homecoming is around the corner. In this episode we are throwing back to our episode 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.
Dope Labs is where science meets pop culture. Because science is in everything and it&rsquo...
The fall sniffles are back, COVID cases are climbing, mysterious one-day colds are making the rounds, and everyone’s talking about “boosting immunity.” But what does that actually mean? In this lab, Titi and Zakiya break down how the immune system really works, bust some common myths, and explore what science says (and doesn’t say) about keeping it strong.
Dope Labs is where science meets pop culture. Becaus...
Are all picky eaters the same? Not quite. In this lab, Titi and Zakiya dig into Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), a serious and often misunderstood eating disorder. Joined by Dr. Jessica Bodie, they unpack what ARFID actually is, how it’s different from classic “picky eating,” and why identifying it can be life-changing for families. You’ll learn how to spot red flags, what treatment really ...
Maps aren’t neutral. From redlining and colonial borders to Texas redistricting and ICE checkpoints, lines on a map are decisions—about who gets power, who gets protection, and who gets pushed out. In this episode, Zakiya and Titi talk with Dr. Joshua Inwood, a professor of geography and African American studies at Penn State, about the racial politics of cartography. They trace the history of mapmaking, explore T...
Titi and Zakiya reminisce about how Dope Labs came to be and talk to some of their favorite science communicators on social media. Raven the Science Maven, Lindsay Ejoh, and Dr. Andre Issacs share how they each used their platforms to bring science to the world.
Dope Labs is where science meets pop culture. Because science is in everything and it’s for everybody.
Stay up to date with Dope Labs, Titi, and Zakiya on Insta...
Flash floods swamp Texas, Canadian wildfires choke the Midwest, Trump’s swollen ankles launch “Ankle-Gate,” and the UN warns 295 million people face acute food shortages. Titi and Zakiya unpack the science behind each headline — plus real-life tips to stay safe and informed.
Floodplain by Tapí Story
Links to support Gaza - This link provides several organizations and families in Gaza that you can supp...
Why do some sounds feel like a personal attack while others just fade into the background? In this episode, Titi and Zakiya dive into the science of noise with journalist Chris Berdik, author of Clamor: How Noise Took Over the World and How We Can Take It Back. They explore how noise impacts your sleep, stress, heart, and focus—even when you think you’re tuning it out. From the sonic fallout of gentrification to rogue s...
Overwhelmed by the explosion of new AI tools? Titi and Zakiya team up with creative tech expert Lauren deVane (a.k.a. the “AI Auntie”) to cut through the noise. They decode the most game-changing tools on the market, talk cognitive debt (are our brains getting lazier?), and ask what it means to stay creative in the age of ChatGPT, Gemini, NotebookLM, and more. Plus, learn how one wild AI turned scribbles into a wh...
From your morning Lion’s Mane latte to zombie ants in The Last of Us—fungi are having a moment. In this episode of Dope Labs, Titi and Zakiya dig deep into the world of mushrooms with park ranger, data scientist, and mycology educator Darling Ngoh. They explore the underground networks keeping forests alive, the science behind cordyceps, and whether mushroom supplements are legit or just really good marketing.
Dop...
Zakiya and Titi chat with Dr. Cicely Shillingford from Amika to break down the real science behind hair care. From personal hair wins (and fails) to the latest product innovations, they’re getting to the root of what it means to have “healthy hair.”
What’s discussed:
- What’s actually happening on your scalp and with your hair at a microscopic level
- ...
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