Dope Labs

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Lab 130: The Company We Keep with Alex Elle Jul 14, 2026

Show notes

Titi and Zakiya are back with a bonus lab, and they brought a very special guest: author Alex Elle, whose new book The Company We Keep: Friendship, Connection, and Redefining What It Means to Grow Together is the perfect excuse to dig into everything "big friendship" and platonic love require. We're talking main ingredients like capacity, honesty, repair, and the courage to put down the "strong friend" badge.

In this conversation, Alex opens up about learning that people show up differently (and that's not always a slight), the friendship that taught her what healthy communication actually looks like, and why silence can quietly destroy the relationships we're trying to protect. Titi and Zakiya bring their own friendship into the mix too, tracing 15+ years of confrontation, repair, and re-learning what it means to be a "high-maintenance" friend in the best way.

Grab a copy of The Company We Keep and press play — this one's a mirror.

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End of Semester 5: What We Learned - Lab 129 Mar 08, 2026

Show notes

This week we’re wrapping up Semester 5 in the lab.

Over the past year we’ve explored everything from bird flu and the microbiome to AI, addiction, air quality, and the psychology of Black Friday. We’ve talked about how systems—technological, biological, economic, and cultural—shape the way we live.

In this episode, Titi & Zakiya look back at some of the labs that surprised them the most and talk about the science stories they’re still watching right now. From AI governance to human behavior, the questions keep evolving.

The semester may be ending, but curiosity never stops!

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Reading Between the Lines: The Truth About Gen Z and Literacy - Lab 128 Mar 01, 2026

Show notes

You’ve seen the headlines — Gen Z can’t read, attention spans are shot, we’re all getting dumber. But is any of that actually true? This week, Titi and Zakiya slow down and actually look at the research behind the literacy panic. From international assessments to the Nation’s Report Card, they break down what the data really says, why the drops we’re seeing aren’t just a “kids these days” problem, and what gets lost when we conflate reading scores with intelligence.

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Weight for It with Ronald Young Jr. - Lab 097 (Re-Air) Feb 22, 2026

Show notes

We’re revisiting one of our most personal labs.

In this episode, we sit down with Ronald Young Jr., host of Wait For It, to unpack the complicated relationship many of us have with our bodies — and the ways we postpone our lives while we’re “waiting.”

Waiting to lose weight.
Waiting to look different.
Waiting to feel worthy.

We talk about how weight gets moralized, and how identity layers influence body image in ways we don’t always name.

And most importantly: what it means to stop waiting.

If you’ve ever thought, “I’ll start living when…,” this one’s for you.

Dope Labs is where science meets pop culture. Because science is in everything and it’s for everybody.

Stay up to date with us on Instagram at @DopeLabsPodcast and at DopeLabsPodcast.com

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The Language of Love (and AI) - Lab 127 Feb 15, 2026

Show notes

Valentine’s Day used to be about cuffing season, double texting rules, and who’s paying for dinner. But the love landscape has shifted and it’s not just humans in the mix anymore.

People are forming emotional and romantic relationships with AI chatbots. So what’s actually happening here?

This week in the lab, Titi and Zakiya talk with Arelí Rocha about her work studying intimate relationships between humans and AI companions. Explore how language makes something feel alive, how online communities shape relationships, and whether AI is replacing human connection or just changing how we understand it.

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Fantasy Sports & Betting - Lab 126 Feb 08, 2026

Show notes

On Super Bowl Sunday, it can feel like sports are way beyond just watching!

This week in the lab, Zakiya and Titi are joined by Jess Bryant, senior editor for fantasy sports and betting at The Athletic, to break down how fantasy sports, sports betting, and prediction markets actually differ and where they quietly overlap. From statistical modeling and intuition to player boundaries, we explore what’s really shaping sports culture in the era of legalized betting

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Is Financial Technology Helping or Hurting? - Lab 125 Feb 01, 2026

Show notes

Titi and Zakiya are joined by Hilary J. Allen, a professor who specializes in corporate law and financial regulation, to discuss the effects of FinTech on our everyday lives. Are these new methods of decentralization providing more opportunities, or accelerating financial inequity?

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Behind the Curtain: The Science of the Grammys - Lab 124 Jan 25, 2026

Show notes

In this lab, Titi and Zakiya pull back the curtain on the Grammys with music critic Sidney Madden. They break down how the Recording Academy works, who gets to vote, and why categories and nominees often feel disconnected from culture and fans.

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Oil, ICE, and the Science of Control - Lab 123 Jan 18, 2026

Show notes

This lab examines two unfolding stories where science and power collide: Venezuela’s century-long oil history and why the United States is now deeply involved, and the recent ICE shootings in Minnesota amid an unprecedented immigration enforcement surge. Listen to learn how these events reveal a critical moment in history, where decisions about resources, authority, and security are reshaping trust at home and abroad.

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Air Aware: Air Quality & Health - Lab 122 Jan 11, 2026

Show notes

We usually think about viruses this time of year, but what about everything else floating around us?

In this lab, Titi and Zakiya sit down with environmental health scientist Dr. Cavin Ward-Caviness to break down what’s actually in the air we breathe. They cover everything from pollution and tiny particles to everyday indoor sources like cooking, candles, and fireplaces.

Listen to learn how air quality affects the body beyond the lungs, why long-term exposure matters for inflammation and aging, and how awareness is the first step toward protecting our health.

Stay up to date with Dope Labs, Titi, and Zakiya on Instagram and at DopeLabsPodcast.com

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