Dope Labs

 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.

Gather around as Titi and Zakiya delve into the wild world of biases that shape our beliefs! They explore why we often trust stories over stats, revealing the role of evolutionary psychology. Discover how social media algorithms amplify sensational narratives, while our own vulnerabilities lead us to jump to conclusions. From the dangers of Tylenol misinformation to the viral predictions of rapture, they highlight the interplay of group identity and information processing. Join them for insight and a sprinkle of empathy!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 The Green Book as a form of resistance, and unpack how today’s fights—like the border crackdown and redistricting battles in Texas—are part of a long tradition of drawing lines to control people. Instagram post showing the true size of countries: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLsFqaPRj8a/?igsh=MWhncGs3ZnhndGE5eA==  Slavers of NY Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/slaversofny?igsh=MWI3Y2lpeHJyb2VsbA== The Folded Map Project:  https://www.foldedmapproject.com/ The Living Black Atlas: https://derekalderman.com/the-living-black-atlas/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.