“Spotify: Mic Check" Podcast Welcomes The Hosts Of Dope Labs Podcast

 Titi Shodiya and Zakiya Whatley host Dope Labs, which is part of Spotify’s podcast network.

Dope Labs is founded on the belief that science is for everyone, not just academics locked away in ivory towers. The show is all about revealing the science behind stories and topics that are trending right now - everything from coronavirus, to plant based meat substitutes and even vibranium, the fictional metal from the Black Panther movie. By ditching the usual jargon and replacing it with compelling narratives and on-point pop culture references, Titi and Zakiya are bringing important research to a much wider audience.

Spotify has released the newest episode of its original podcast series, “Spotify: Mic Check,” - a series aimed at connecting fans with the world’s biggest creators from around the globe through exclusively intimate conversations. This week’s episode features creators Dr. Zakiya Whatley and Dr. Titi Shodiya of the Spotify-original Dope Labs podcast which, mixes hardcore science, pop culture and a healthy dose of friendship. 

 You can listen to the latest episode of “Spotify: Mic Check” here.

Fresh off of their first live show since the start of the pandemic, Dr. Zakiya and Dr.Titi share on this week’s Mic Check: the origins of their friendship at Duke, their interest in science, the impact of the pandemic and how Spotify’s Sound-Up program for podcast creators helped to get their show off the ground. 

Spotify: Sound-Up is a program designed to amplify the voices of aspiring podcasters from underrepresented backgrounds.

See below for interview highlights in the episode:

• Dr. Zakiya on why she and Dr.Titi started Dope Labs.
• “We were like any other pair of friends, we thought we were funny, laughing at our own jokes, right? And we felt like we had something to say and what we quickly found from not just thinking we have something to say, but feeling like we were having really great conversations in a lot of different places. It felt like people wanted to hear what we had to say.” 

• Dr. Zakiya on how she and Dr.Titi approach scientific topics with their listeners
• “What we try to do is to help people realize that we're not the sage on the stage, right? We are sitting down talking through this together, and that is how we want Dope Labs to feel.”

• Dr. Titi on the impact of Dope Labs for listeners. 
• “I think the feedback from our listeners has been really amazing. Some of our favorite comments that we get are, I really don't like science and I don't like science podcasts, but I love your podcasts, or we've also had folks that send us emails that say, I listen to your podcast and now I'm going back to school to pursue a science degree. Or they'll send us their master's thesis…When folks feel the friendship, they feel like they're learning something and they feel like we are not like other science podcasts.”

• Dr. Titi on how Spotify’s Sound-Up program helped get Dope Labs off the ground.
• “They teach you how sound works, they explain story arc, they explain through lines and they get you really acquainted with the technology and really give you the confidence to just start. I think for us, we had this idea, but I mean, you just don't even know where to begin. And like how to structure an episode, how to structure a season. I think that without Sound Up, would we be making the show? really don't know. I don't think so.

• Dr. Titi on Dope Lab’s first live show since the start of the pandemic.
• “I think doing this live show in the way that we did it, is something that was really exciting for us and something that we want to continue doing because we're able to not only bring dope labs in person and show people what we are like in person, but also make customize it to where we are and the audience so we can pivot based on the things that they're interested in. Like we can dive deeper in the topics. We had a lot more time, which was really fun.”

Listen to Spotify: Mic Check here.