Interviews with women of color on human rights, science, & beauty.

Director Ava Duvernay interviews Angela Davis on this moment – and what came before: "Global capitalism has to be a part of the conversation. Privatization is why the hospitals were so unprepared for COVID-19, because they function in accordance with the dictates of capital. They don’t want to have extra beds because then that means that they aren’t generating the profit. And why is it that they’re asking children to go back to school? It’s because of the economy. We’re in a depression now, so they’re willing to sacrifice the lives of so many people in order to keep global capitalism functioning." >> Full Story

The Nigerian woman who brought her trafficker to justice: Thousands of young women leave home in Nigeria every year on the promise of a good job in Europe, only to be trapped by debt and forced into prostitution. But one joined forces with investigators in Italy to expose the traffickers. >> Full Story

Female athletes strike for Jacob Blake: Jacob Blake was shot in the back seven times by a police officer earlier this week. His sister gave a two-minute speech to the media: "Don't be sorry — because this has been happening to my family for a long time, longer than I can account for...I don't want your pity. I want change." In solidarity with protests across the US, female players are protesting on and off the court. Players of the WNBA's Washington Mystics each wore a white T-shirt printed with seven bullet holes on the back, and world champion tennis star Naomi Osaka delayed her semifinals match at the 2020 Western & Southern Open. >> Full Story 
 

Dope Labs is a podcast run by two close friends and female scientists of no-color: Dr. Titi Shodiya and Dr. Zakiya Whatley. The two met in 2011 at Duke's grad school, Zakiya for a PhD in Genetics and Genomics, and Titi for a PhD in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science. Their friendship and shared love of making science "for everyone" inspired them to begin what is, as the name *subtly hints* at, a DOPE podcast – one that's been included across the web in articles featuring must-hear black women hosted podcasts.

The show makes science easily accessible by merging pop-culture with science, while also addressing racism and sexism in STEM: "It's intentionally designed for people who are most often left out from the scientific narrative. So that's women, people of color; So we try to center what's going on in those communities." 

Something truly special about their work is how much love they give not just to the series itself but to building fun complementing resources. On their website, for example, you'll find "Cheat Sheets" for each episode with print-worthy graphics bringing together core topics from the episodes. We recommend starting with Lab 28: There's Something In The Water on climate change's impact on oceans or Lab 26: What About Your Friends? exploring the psychology behind being a good friend.