Bullied as a kid, Nick Henshue spent much of his childhood roaming the woods behind his house, fueling a love for nature that propels him to this day. Now an associate teaching professor of ecology at UB, and co-director of the EarthEd Institute, Henshue is an expert in restoration and soil ecology, with a primary focus on earthworms. He is also a passionate and celebrated educator. His conversation with host Cheryl Quimba dives deep into earthworm ecology, and it is fascinating—a testament both to the surprising complexity of this humble creature and to the remarkable talent Henshue has (he calls it his “superpower”) to engage and entertain while teaching about the natural world.

Credits:

Host: Cheryl Quimba
Guest: Nick Henshue
Writer/Producer: Laura Silverman
Production and editing by UB Video Production Group

Coming This Fall: Driven to Discover is taking a break for the summer. We will be back in early September with a whole new slate of UB experts and innovators discussing what sparked their passion for their subject and what makes their research meaningful for the world at large.

Nicole Albanese grew up in a holistic household that emphasized diet over drugs. Now, as a clinical associate professor of pharmacy practice at the University at Buffalo, she embraces medication—but as only one piece of the overall health puzzle. In this episode, Albanese, whose research focuses on diabetes, obesity and nutrition, talks to host Laurie Kaiser about the pros and cons of modern weight-loss drugs. Their conversation covers everything from unforeseen side effects to unexpected health benefits, with discussions along the way on how these drugs work, why they’re so hugely popular, what prevents most users from achieving long-term success, and what’s next on the horizon. Hint: It won’t be long before we’re looking back on Ozempic and Wegovy as weight-loss drugs 1.0.

Credits:

Host: Laurie Kaiser
Guest: Nicole Albanese
Writer/Producer: Laura Silverman
Production and editing by UB Video Production Group

Coming This Fall: Driven to Discover is taking a break for the summer. We will be back in early September with a whole new slate of UB experts and innovators discussing what sparked their passion for their subject and what makes their research meaningful for the world at large.

Since his band teacher went alphabetically by last name, Jeff Scott’s choices were limited when it came his turn to pick an instrument. The sixth grader pointed to the French horn—and the rest is history. Today, Scott is one of the nation’s premier French horn players and a Grammy-winning composer. Among other accomplishments, he’s played on Broadway, toured with the likes of Barbra Streisand and Ray Charles, and co-founded a world-renowned woodwind quintet. In this laughter-filled episode, Scott tells host Cory Nealon about his unlikely path to musical success, his experiences on the road with A-list artists, what it felt like to win a Grammy, and how his multicultural upbringing in Queens, N.Y., shaped the urban classical music he shares with the world today.

Credits:

Host: Cory Nealon
Guest: Jeff Scott
Writer/Producer: Laura Silverman
Production and editing by UB Video Production Group

Coming This Fall: Driven to Discover is taking a break for the summer. We will be back in early September with a whole new slate of UB experts and innovators discussing what sparked their passion for their subject and what makes their research meaningful for the world at large.