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 Feb. 3: Frank Scannapieco is a leading oral biologist whose research has transformed our understanding of how oral health impacts overall health. He discusses the role oral bacteria play in a wide range of diseases—including diabetes, pneumonia, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and cancer—and outlines simple habits that can help keep your mouth, and your body, healthy.

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 Feb. 3: Frank Scannapieco is a leading oral biologist whose research has transformed our understanding of how oral health impacts overall health. He discusses the role oral bacteria play in a wide range of diseases—including diabetes, pneumonia, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and cancer—and outlines simple habits that can help keep your mouth, and your body, healthy.

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 Feb. 3: Frank Scannapieco is a leading oral biologist whose research has transformed our understanding of how oral health impacts overall health. He discusses the role oral bacteria play in a wide range of diseases—including diabetes, pneumonia, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and cancer—and outlines simple habits that can help keep your mouth, and your body, healthy.