Driven to Discover

University at Buffalo

A podcast that explores innovative University at Buffalo research through candid conversations with the researchers about their inspirations and goals.

  1. Sep 1

    Connection and Joy with Shira Gabriel

    Shira Gabriel first encountered research on our fundamental need to belong as a young grad student—and she was immediately hooked. Now a professor of social psychology at the University at Buffalo, Gabriel explores why connection is so essential to human beings, and how our relationships with other people, groups and even fictional worlds shape our happiness and sense of self. In this wide-ranging conversation with host Cheryl Quimba, Gabriel explores the evolutionary roots of our need to belong and the surprisingly varied ways we fulfill that need—from sharing an experience with a group of strangers to losing ourselves in a book to swapping silly memes with friends. She explains how even small moments of connection can add joy and meaning to our lives, and how we can make ourselves more attuned to them in the everyday. At a time when our differences seem to loom larger than ever, Gabriel offers a more hopeful vision—of a universal yearning for connection that ties us together despite the forces trying to pull us apart.  Credits:    Host: Cheryl Quimba Guest: Shira Gabriel Writer/Producer: Laura Silverman Production and editing by UB Video Production Group  Coming Oct. 6: Early on, social media fostered conversation and connection. Now it’s flooded with bots, influencers and, increasingly, AI-generated content. In the next episode, communication researcher Yini Zhang discusses the evolution of social media, how it has shaped our information landscape, and its broader impact on politics and society.

  2. May 5

    Surviving the Workplace with Min-Hsuan Tu

    Although Min-Hsuan Tu grew up wanting to be a teacher, she followed her parents’ advice and pursued a business degree instead. But her interest in human interaction never faded—and when a chance meeting with a classmate introduced her to the field of organizational behavior, she recognized it as the perfect fit. Now an associate professor of organization and human resources in the University at Buffalo’s School of Management, Tu studies workplace challenges that resonate widely, in part because her research draws on her real-world experiences. In this episode, she shares with host Jay Rey what she’s learned about managing everyday stressors—from never-ending to-do lists to the difficulty of unplugging at the end of the day—offering practical strategies to lead a more balanced, fulfilling life at work and beyond.  Credits:    Host: Jay Rey Guest: Min-Hsuan Tu Writer/Producer: Laura Silverman Production and editing by UB Video Production Group  Coming Oct. 6: Early on, social media fostered conversation and connection. Now it’s flooded with bots, influencers and, increasingly, AI-generated content. In the next episode, communication researcher Yini Zhang discusses the evolution of social media, how it has shaped our information landscape, and its broader impact on politics and society.

  3. Mar 31

    The Future of Neurosurgery with Elad Levy

    As a first-year med student, Elad Levy tried to balance competitive rowing with the demands of school. But he quickly came to realize he couldn’t pursue both at the highest level. He chose medicine, discovered neurosurgery—and was soon on a path to transforming the field.  Now the L. Nelson Hopkins Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University at Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Levy was instrumental in establishing a new standard of care for stroke and continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible. In this episode, he talks with host Ellen Goldbaum about the resistance he and his colleagues faced in the early days of stroke intervention, what it was like to implant one of the first brain-computer interfaces in a patient with paralysis, and his current push toward a future in which brain surgery requires no incisions.  Credits:    Host: Ellen Goldbaum Guest: Elad Levy Writer/Producer: Laura Silverman Production and editing by UB Video Production Group  Coming Oct. 6: Early on, social media fostered conversation and connection. Now it’s flooded with bots, influencers and, increasingly, AI-generated content. In the next episode, communication researcher Yini Zhang discusses the evolution of social media, how it has shaped our information landscape, and its broader impact on politics and society.

  4. Mar 3

    Closing the Food Gap with Lucia Leone

    Lucia Leone’s interest in nutrition began in childhood, as she watched her mother—without a car and on a limited income—still manage to put healthy meals on the table. Now an associate professor of community health and health behavior at the University at Buffalo, Leone studies how to make nutritious eating achievable for families facing similar barriers. In this episode, she joins host David Hill to explain why simply expanding access to food is not enough to ensure nutrition security. She discusses community-based interventions like mobile produce vans and food prescription programs, and what her research reveals about why some efforts succeed while others fall short. She also challenges misconceptions about SNAP and the people it serves, and examines what it will take at the societal level to close the food gap for good. Credits:    Host: David Hill Guest: Lucia Leone Writer/Producer: Laura Silverman Production and editing by UB Video Production Group  Coming Oct. 6: Early on, social media fostered conversation and connection. Now it’s flooded with bots, influencers and, increasingly, AI-generated content. In the next episode, communication researcher Yini Zhang discusses the evolution of social media, how it has shaped our information landscape, and its broader impact on politics and society.

  5. Feb 3

    The Mouth-Body Connection with Frank Scannapieco

    Frank Scannapieco wasn’t too interested in school as a kid; he went to college largely because his father insisted. But a few inspiring teachers, a growing fascination with biology and a chance encounter with oral microbiology set him on a path that would lead to an internationally recognized career. In this episode, Laurie Kaiser talks with Scannapieco, a SUNY Distinguished Professor in the University at Buffalo’s School of Dental Medicine, about his pioneering research linking oral health to systemic diseases such as pneumonia, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. He explains—in plain terms—how inflammation and bacteria in the mouth can affect the rest of the body, why dentistry and medicine have long been disconnected, and what simple steps we can all take to protect our oral and overall health as we age. Credits:    Host: Laurie Kaiser Guest: Frank Scannapieco Writer/Producer: Laura Silverman Production and editing by UB Video Production Group  Coming Oct. 6: Early on, social media fostered conversation and connection. Now it’s flooded with bots, influencers and, increasingly, AI-generated content. In the next episode, communication researcher Yini Zhang discusses the evolution of social media, how it has shaped our information landscape, and its broader impact on politics and society.

  6. 12/09/2025

    Sleep and the Brain with Carleara Weiss

    Growing up in a multigenerational household, Carleara Weiss was a caregiver from the start. But as she lay awake at night listening to her elders snore, she didn’t realize those sounds were signs of obstructive sleep apnea—or that OSA is linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Now, as an assistant professor of nursing at the University at Buffalo and a nationally recognized sleep researcher, Weiss is advancing our understanding of how sleep affects the brain. In this episode, she talks with host Cheryl Quimba about why sleep is essential, what happens when we don’t get enough of it, and how disrupted sleep can contribute to cognitive decline. She also breaks down her latest research and shares practical strategies for getting a better night’s rest. Weiss is currently recruiting for two studies related to sleep, aging and Alzheimer’s. If interested, please contact Ayesha Rahman at 716-829-3218.  Credits:    Host: Cheryl Quimba Guest: Carleara Weiss Writer/Producer: Laura Silverman Production and editing by UB Video Production Group  Coming Oct. 6: Early on, social media fostered conversation and connection. Now it’s flooded with bots, influencers and, increasingly, AI-generated content. In the next episode, communication researcher Yini Zhang discusses the evolution of social media, how it has shaped our information landscape, and its broader impact on politics and society.

  7. 11/04/2025

    Making Chatbots Better with Rohini Srihari

    Not all chatbots are created equal. Some, like those used in customer service, are relatively simple. Others—like the systems Rohini Srihari builds—can take on far more complex tasks, such as giving a voice to someone with ALS who has lost the ability to speak. In this episode, Srihari, an artificial intelligence pioneer at the University at Buffalo, shares how she combines her love of language with computer science to create AI-based tools that not only help people with motor neuron diseases communicate, but also address the nation’s mental health crisis, predict the flow of refugees, and even assist choreographers in creating new works. As she tells host Cory Nealon, this work represents just the beginning of how AI can be harnessed for the public good. Credits:    Host: Cory Nealon Guest: Rohini Srihari Writer/Producer: Laura Silverman Production and editing by UB Video Production Group  Coming Oct. 6: Early on, social media fostered conversation and connection. Now it’s flooded with bots, influencers and, increasingly, AI-generated content. In the next episode, communication researcher Yini Zhang discusses the evolution of social media, how it has shaped our information landscape, and its broader impact on politics and society.

  8. 10/07/2025

    Magic and Witchcraft with Phillips Stevens

    As a Peace Corps volunteer in Nigeria in his early 20s, Phillips Stevens witnessed an act of sorcery that blew his mind. He turned that moment into a 50-year career as a cultural anthropologist at the University at Buffalo, exploring religion, spirituality and the supernatural in cultures across the world. In this episode, Stevens joins host Tom Dinki to share insights from his new book, “Rethinking the Anthropology of Magic and Witchcraft: Inherently Human.” He explains why magical thinking isn’t a relic of the past—it’s hardwired into us, a survival strategy that still shapes how we navigate the unknown and process the unthinkable. From common superstitions and religious rituals to conspiracy theories like QAnon, Stevens shows how belief in magic and witchcraft persists, and what makes it inherently human.  Credits:    Host: Tom Dinki Guest: Phillips Stevens Writer/Producer: Laura Silverman Production and editing by UB Video Production Group  Coming Oct. 6: Early on, social media fostered conversation and connection. Now it’s flooded with bots, influencers and, increasingly, AI-generated content. In the next episode, communication researcher Yini Zhang discusses the evolution of social media, how it has shaped our information landscape, and its broader impact on politics and society.

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6 Ratings

About

A podcast that explores innovative University at Buffalo research through candid conversations with the researchers about their inspirations and goals.

Information

  • Creator
    University at Buffalo
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Driven to Discover
  • Show Website
    Driven to Discover