How Research Shows Up in Everyday Life

Research isn’t just happening in labs. It’s happening in your everyday life.

In this solo episode of Voices of Inclusive Research, I break down how research quietly shapes the products we use, the health choices we make, and the options available to our communities every day.

From health and beauty to food, fitness, and mental health, research has evolved to better reflect real people and real needs, especially in Black and Brown communities that have historically been excluded from these conversations.

This episode is about recognizing research as a tool, understanding how it already supports us, and staying curious enough to ask better questions.

If you’ve ever felt intimidated by research or unsure how it applies to your life, this episode will shift the way you see it.

Must-Hear Insights and Key Moments

• Research Beyond the Lab: From skincare and haircare to fitness tools and nutrition guidance.
• Representation Is Progress: More inclusive research has led to better options for textured hair, melanin-rich skin, and diverse bodies.
• Knowledge Creates Choice: Research gives us language to ask better questions and make informed decisions about our health.
• Mental Health Matters: Open conversations, tools, and resources around mental health are the result of research meeting real-life needs.
• Curiosity Over Perfection: Staying curious leads to better questions, better choices, and healthier communities.

Follow Dr. Ren:

• Website
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

We Want to Hear Your Voice!

Your insights on how inclusive research impacts your life and community are invaluable. Share your experiences and thoughts on how we can bridge the gap between research and real-world needs. Your stories drive our mission and inspire the future of inclusive research!

Transcript

Note: We use AI transcription so there may be some inaccuracies

Dr. Ren: Hi everyone. Welcome to another episode of Voices of Inclusive Research Podcast. I'm your host, Dr. Ren, founder of Diverse Research Now and today you will only hear my voice. This is a solo episode and I hope you guys are ready to hear some good news. All right. You know we're all about research and I am on a mission to make sure you know that research.

is not just something that happens in labs, but it is showing up in our everyday lives, and I want us to know that because when we know that that'll help protect us and help give ourselves options, sometimes we don't realize it. So today isn't about what you're doing wrong, it's about helping you see how much knowledge is already working for you and how to use it in ways that make sense for your life.

especially now at the start of the new year when folks are setting goals and trying new things and wanting to feel better in their bodies and minds. It's important to know. Okay, now when people hear research, they think they do, they think of labs and clipboards, but research also looks like safer product.

Better ingredients, clearer labels, more conversations about mental health, more options than our parents ever had, and that didn't happen by accident. Okay? Research helps improve the things we already use. So it could be from the shampoo in your shower. To the step counter on your phone.

Okay. So the key is realizing research is a tool. A tool works best when we know how to use them, right? we all know that. So. Let's talk about some things that we see in our everyday life, how research comes into play in our everyday life. So let's talk first about health and beauty because, hey, honestly, look how far things have come in health and beauty.

Let me bring this out a little bit. We now have products made specifically for textured hair, skincare lines for melanin rich skin. More conversations about ingredient safety and more black and brown scientists and creators in this space. I'm so excited about that. I hope you guys are too. That means that research is responding to our voices.

That's what we wanted to do. Research helps companies figure out what moisturizes us better, what protects our skin, what lasts longer without damage. And as consumers, we are more informed than ever. hey, we're throwing out wins today. That's a win. We now get to choose products that align with our needs, not just what's available.

And that is definitely progress. So this is definitely, you know, I'm such a positive person, guys. So I'm not just gonna talk about the bad things, but I definitely wanna point out the positive things that have happened in research and how we are moving forward and how we have so much work ahead us, but we're moving forward.

So let's talk about food and nutrition out. So one positive thing about research is that it has expanded options. Now. We're no longer stuck with one size fits all advice anymore. Okay. That's a no-no. Research has helped us understand the role of fiber, why hydration matters and how nutrient support energy.

immunity and brain health. Hey, key word, brain health. You know, I love brain health guys. and that's, it's so empowering. So yes, not everything on the shelf is for everybody, but research gives us language now. It helps us ask better questions. It helps us notice how our bodies respond instead of guessing, right?

We get to be more intentional. All right? And hey, that is another win when it comes to research. So then let's look at. Fitness and movement. Okay. Because hey, we all got these goals. We trying to do this year, right? So fitness research has also evolved so much. we now see more conversations about rest and recovery.

Super important, more focus on, sustainability, not punishment, right? more understanding that movement looks different for different bodies. Hmm. That one speaks to me personally. Research supports walking, stretching, strength training, low impact movement. All of it is good. All of it is good for us. It is not about doing everything okay.

It's about doing what fits for your life. Okay. And that shift, that research is catching up to real people. That's what we know. so it's super encouraging guys. something else that we could talk about is how mental health, how everything we've learned about mental health.

Mental Health is another area where research has really opened doors. And so, super important, in this climate, in this day and age, we're talking about anxiety, depression, burnout, stress, all openly. I'm so happy to know that we can all openly talk about this now, and research helps to normalize these conversations.

It really does help create tools. It helps to reduce stigma. and then you have apps, apps, therapy options, community conversations. These are all resources, not rules. All of this is here to help us, and they give people starting points and starting points matter. Okay? We all have to start somewhere.

Okay? So don't be so hard on yourself. Give yourself some grace. All right. another thing, let's talk about social media, because research, is really made accessible through social media. social media does get a bad rap. but there is a positive side to it. Research is more accessible. as I was mentioning, more than ever now, information that's, , used to be locked away.

It can now be explained, visualized, and shared in real time. That really does empower us guys. That's powerful. And so we have to use it for our good. Right? the opportunity is, now, it's learning how to pause, reflect, and choose what resonates with us. Okay? We have to discern things, that's going to resonate with us.

 and that's growth. and far away from failure, again, let's use these tools in a positive way. of course I always want to talk to my black community and other communities of color, and we are just, no, we are no longer just recipients of research. we get to ask questions now.

Oh, we are shaping conversations. We are creating solutions, and we are demanding representation. that's all what I'm about. That's all what diverse research now is about. and research is better when we are involved. Know that research is better. That's why spaces like voices of inclusive research exist to connect everyday life with trustworthy information in a way that feels.

Respectable and real. Okay, it is January. It's time for a reset, whatever didn't work in last year. Let's do it. let's try again. So as we move through this year, here's the takeaway that I want us to remember and as we move through this year, as I said, research isn't something to fear, it's something to you.

Okay. You don't have to do everything. Okay. Don't get overwhelmed. You don't have to follow heart every trend, and you don't have to get it. Perfect. All right. it's important just to stay curious. Stay learning. Okay. Curious leads to better questions. better questions lead to better choices and better choices lead to healthier communities.

S that's what we want. Okay? That's what we're building together guys. And so. I wish you all a wonderful year. Thank you for listening. And thank you for being a part of Voices of Inclusive Research Podcast. Thank you for listening. your voice matters. I would love to hear more from you all. If you have comments about, what you wanna hear about on Voices of Inclusive Research, I would love to get, more people to sign up to be a guest so I can, 

Interview you and hopefully you can share some, either positive or negative experiences you've had with research. That's what this platform is all about, is to, get your experience, the community experience on research. And even if you don't know much about it, let's talk about that. Why don't you know what things might you want to know about research?

So, key word, key word. For this episode research and I just wanted to definitely share with you all how it just shows up in our everyday lives. I want it. And so it's important to me again to normalize this conversation and I want you guys to start talking about it. So, and to next time, and to the next episode, take care.

Again, stay curious and I'll talk to you guys later. Bye.