Dope Labs

Valentine’s Day used to be about cuffing season, double texting rules, and who’s paying for dinner. But the love landscape has shifted and it’s not just humans in the mix anymore.
People are forming emotional and romantic relationships with AI chatbots. So what’s actually happening here?
This week in the lab, Titi and Zakiya talk with Arelí Rocha about her work studying intimate relationships between humans and AI companions. Explore how language makes something feel alive, how online communities shape relationships, and whether AI is replacing human connection or just changing how we understand it.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Super Bowl Sunday, it can feel like sports are way beyond just watching!
This week in the lab, Zakiya and Titi are joined by Jess Bryant, senior editor for fantasy sports and betting at The Athletic, to break down how fantasy sports, sports betting, and prediction markets actually differ and where they quietly overlap. From statistical modeling and intuition to player boundaries, we explore what’s really shaping sports culture in the era of legalized betting
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Titi and Zakiya are joined by Hilary J. Allen, a professor who specializes in corporate law and financial regulation, to discuss the effects of FinTech on our everyday lives. Are these new methods of decentralization providing more opportunities, or accelerating financial inequity?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this lab, Titi and Zakiya pull back the curtain on the Grammys with music critic Sidney Madden. They break down how the Recording Academy works, who gets to vote, and why categories and nominees often feel disconnected from culture and fans.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This lab examines two unfolding stories where science and power collide: Venezuela’s century-long oil history and why the United States is now deeply involved, and the recent ICE shootings in Minnesota amid an unprecedented immigration enforcement surge. Listen to learn how these events reveal a critical moment in history, where decisions about resources, authority, and security are reshaping trust at home and abroad.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.