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. 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.
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42:20
TSA Checkpoint Chaos - Lab 096
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 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.
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50:29
Student Loan Whiplash - Lab 095
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. 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.
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42:58
AI’s environmental cost - Lab 094
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 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.
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27:59
Friendly Bacteria: Probiotics and Your Microbiome - Lab 093
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.
Dope Labs is a podcast hosted by best friends (and two of the dopest scientists you will ever meet), Titi and Zakiya. In each episode, they serve up scientific principles with a healthy dose of tea. From cuffing season to Cardi B, they’ll take what’s trending and put it under the microscope with the help of some very smart (and cool) scientific friends. At Dope Labs, we believe “science is for errybody” and our mission is to bring out the inner scientist in YOU.
México