Dope Labs

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 designing an effective vaccine for HIV has proven so elusive. You can find more Dope Labs, show notes, and cheat sheets at dopelabspodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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's so we're talking about how scientists are using endocrinology and genetics to make more personalized medicine for individuals. You can find more Dope Labs, show notes, and cheat sheets at dopelabspodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 the factory to your doorstep. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 diverse stories in media. For more info visit dopelabspodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.