Dope Labs

Latest Episodes:

Tenderheaded: Hair, History, and Healing with Michaela Angela Davis - Lab115 Oct 26, 2025

Show notes

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 pop culture. Because science is in everything and it’s for everybody.

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

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.

Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors

To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scream With Me - Lab 114 Oct 19, 2025

Show notes

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 Shining reveal cultural anxieties around feminism, bodily autonomy, and power—and why today’s horror feels more urgent than ever.

You can purchase her book Scream With Me here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Scream-with-Me/Eleanor-Johnson/9781668087633

Keep up with Dr. Johnson’s latest essays on horror and culture at her substack Eleanorshorrors.aubstack.com

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 Instagram and at DopeLabsPodcast.com

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.

Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors

To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Falling For it: Brains Wired for Bias - Lab 113 Oct 12, 2025

Show notes

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 illuminate why bias is so tough to beat.

✨ Want to be part of our upcoming planetarium film, Remixed: The Unexpected Side of Science? We’d love for our Dope Labs community to join in! Find all the details and your chance to participate here - https://bit.ly/3VVkVa1

Previous Labs Mentioned:

Lab 037 - In Denial

Lab 038 - So Anxious

Lab 076 - Monkeypox: Fact vs Fiction

Lab 082 - In Your Feed: Social Media

Lab 112 - Addiction: A Chronic Condition

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 Instagram and at DopeLabsPodcast.com

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.

Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors

To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Addiction: A Chronic Condition - Lab 112 Oct 05, 2025

Show notes

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 treatment and who gets punished. Tune in to learn about the biology, myths, and the path towards recovery.

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 Instagram and at DopeLabsPodcast.com

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.

Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors

To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Period Brain: Rethinking Hormones, Cycles, and Everything In Between - Lab111 Sep 28, 2025

Show notes

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 for too long. From PMS to PMDD, from stigma to science, this episode dives into how periods impact energy, mood, relationships—and how understanding your own cycle can change everything. Whether you have a period or love someone who does, 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 Dope Labs, Titi, and Zakiya on Instagram and at DopeLabsPodcast.com

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.

Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors

To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unpacking Pain - Lab 110 Sep 21, 2025

Show notes

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/placebo, and what common meds like ibuprofen actually do. Come for the science, stay for the empathy, fresh takes on headaches, tender-headed braids, phantom limbs, and more.

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 Instagram and at DopeLabsPodcast.com

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.

Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors

To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health & Hype - Lab 109 Sep 14, 2025

Show notes

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

Sleep-dependent growth hormone release

Insomnia & Cognitive Outcomes

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 Instagram and at DopeLabsPodcast.com

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.

Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors

To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lab 051: HBCUs Edition (Re-Air) Sep 07, 2025

Show notes

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’s for everybody.

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

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.

Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors

To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lab 047: All Immune Systems Go (Re-Air) Aug 31, 2025

Show notes

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. Because science is in everything and it’s for everybody.

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

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.

Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors

To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ARFID is More than Picky Eating - Lab 108 Aug 24, 2025

Show notes

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 looks like, and why social media is playing a huge role in raising awareness and empathy for those who struggle.

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 Instagram and at DopeLabsPodcast.com

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.

Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors

To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected