What shapes how we see ourselves? From the media we consume to the chairs we sit in, the world is full of cues that influence how we feel in our bodies. We explore how these cues get under the skin and share new research revealing how fat cells behave differently as we age, independent of diet or exercise. 

Titi and Zakiya sit down with Ronald Young Jr., host of Weight For It, to unpack the social, emotional, and biological weight we carry. It’s a reminder that health, biology, and self-worth don’t fit neatly into a BMI chart.

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

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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 date.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is TSA keeping us safe or just stressed? Titi and Zakiya dig into the tech (and drama) behind airport security: from Real ID confusion to body scanning to biometrics for PreCheck and CLEAR. With help from No Such Thing podcast hosts Manny, Noah, and Devan, who recently did an amazing episode on TSA, they unpack the truth behind surveillance, bias, and why travel still feels like controlled chaos.

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

Check out Devan, Manny, and Noah on their show - No Such Thing

Read The Humiliating History of TSA written by Darryl Campbell

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TikTok says skip your student loans—but should you listen? Titi and Zakiya call in policy expert Colleen Campbell to cut through the chaos. From repayment plans to scams, wage garnishment, and what's left of forgiveness, we unpack what’s real, what’s myth, and what borrowers still deserve.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We use AI every day from music recommendations to writing emails, but what’s the environmental price of all that convenience? This week in the lab, Titi and Zakiya are joined by Dr. Shaolei Ren, a researcher studying the water, energy, and public health costs of AI systems like ChatGPT. They break down the difference between AI and automation, explain what’s really happening when you submit a prompt, and explore how server farms are quietly shaping our climate future.

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

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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 date.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Probiotic pillows? Postbiotic skincare? Yogurt in your hair?! This week in the lab, Titi and Zakiya dig into the world of probiotics, prebiotics, and the microbiome with gastroenterologist and professor Dr. Roshini Raj. From gut health to glowing skin, Dr. Raj helps us separate the science from the marketing and decode whether these trendy bacteria really live up to the hype. Spoiler: fiber is still queen.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we’re back with a grab bag of topics too good to leave behind! You gave us questions and we brought you answers. Titi and Zakiya cover everything from Cory Booker’s epic filibuster and Chappell Roan’s viral parenting comments to Benadryl and dementia, animal consciousness, and the Jurassic Park vibes of de-extinction science (hello, dire wolves 🐺). Plus, we get personal about lactation stigma and the pressures on parents to “get it right.”

Science, pop culture, and a healthy dose of friendship—just how y’all like it 💜

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

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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 date.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000—but it’s making headlines again. In this lab, we dig into why this highly contagious virus is resurfacing in places like West Texas. Plus, we talk about who’s most at risk, why public health experts are sounding the alarm, and how to separate medical fact from misinformation (yes, we’re looking at you, cod liver oil).

Titi and Zakiya are joined by epidemiologist and public health expert Dr. Katelyn Jetelina to help break it all down.

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

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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 date.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it the beat? The instruments? The artist’s look? Or is genre just… vibes?

This week in the lab, Titi and Zakiya are joined by Cole Cuchna, host of Dissect, to explore the psychology behind why our brains create categories, how we apply this to music, and the artists who bend and break genre rules.

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

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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 date.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From smart rings to glucose monitors, wearable technology is everywhere. But how much is too much? Titi and Zakiya unpack the promise, the privacy risks, and the hype with Wall Street Journal tech writer, Christopher Mims.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kendrick came with bars, and Drake clapped back with a lawsuit. That was a move that looked pathetic, but it might’ve exposed the real cracks in the streaming game. 

This week, Titi and Zakiya ask big questions about streaming: Who really gets paid? Who controls the charts? And are bots & AI inflating the numbers?

They’re joined by music industry expert Eric Drott to break down the hidden rules of streaming, the rise of click farms, and why owning your masters might be the real power move.

Plus, what today’s up-and-coming musicians should know about AI, algorithms, and why the dream of “going viral” might be more myth than method.

It’s deeper than rap—and it’s messier than you think.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.