Guests : Bejan Abtahi & Maria Augutis Every four years the most incredible athletes from around the globe gather to showcase their athletic abilities in the Olympics. The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee plays a pivotal role in providing critical resources to ensure the athletes excel on the Global Stage. One of the biggest influencers of the games can be the weather. Joining us today are Bejan Abtahi and Maria Augutis. Bejan is an Olympic Performance Advisor for the USOPC an...
Jul 02, 2025•36 min•Ep. 368
Guest : Chris Van Arsdale, Google Climate & Energy Research Lead Wildfires aren’t just a summer problem anymore. This past January, California faced an unusual and intense wildfire outbreak, with flames ripping through communities and forcing thousands to evacuate. What if we could catch wildfires in their earliest stages, before they spiral out of control? That’s the goal of Google’s FireSat, a revolutionary satellite system designed to spot fires as small as a campfire and deliver updates ...
Jun 25, 2025•40 min•Ep. 367
Guests : Nelson & Louis Tucker When it comes to tornadoes, getting close is both the goal and the danger. For decades, scientists have relied on radar, storm chasers, and ground-based instruments to study these violent storms. But what if we could send something right into the heart of a developing tornado? Maybe something small, nimble, and packed with sensors? That’s the mission behind the OTUS Project. Using cutting-edge drone technology, this team is pushing the boundaries of what we can...
Jun 18, 2025•38 min•Ep. 366
Guest : Dr. Brian Bledsoe, University of Georgia When a hurricane makes landfall, we expect the strongest impacts to hit the coast. But Hurricane Helene proved that the story doesn’t end there. With hurricane-force winds reaching more than 350 miles inland, this storm challenged the way we think about extreme weather risk. Are we truly prepared for the full reach of a hurricane, not just this decade but for centuries to come? Today on Weather Geeks, we’re joined by Dr. Brian Bledsoe from the Uni...
Jun 11, 2025•46 min•Ep. 365
Guest : Dr. Anne Heggli, Assistant Research Professor at the Desert Research Institute Weather forecasts are more than just high and low temperatures or the chance of rain—they’re a complex mix of data, models, and probabilities. But how do we effectively communicate uncertainty in forecasts? And why do so many people struggle with understanding probability-based predictions? It may be easy for us Weather Geeks, but we need to make weather forecasts accessible to as many people as possible, whic...
Jun 04, 2025•40 min•Ep. 364
Guest : Pamela James, CEO & Founder of Paloma St. James It’s no mystery that industrialization has a negative impact on the environment; however, an unexpected contributor is the fashion industry. Recent studies have shown that the production of textiles contributes nearly to 8-10% of global carbon emissions, superseding emissions from the aviation and shipping industries combined. Designer and CEO, Pamela James, joins us today to discuss her take on sustainable fashion and the concept of mo...
May 28, 2025•40 min•Ep. 363
Guest: Dr. Levi Boggs, Georgia Tech Research Institute When we think of lightning, we picture bolts striking the ground during a thunderstorm—but not all electrical activity stays within the lower atmosphere. High above the clouds, mysterious and fleeting flashes of light dance across the sky—sprites, blue jets, and gigantic jets—phenomena that are still not fully understood. Today on Weather Geeks, we’re exploring the enigmatic world of upper atmospheric electrical phenomena with Dr. Levi Boggs...
May 21, 2025•39 min•Ep. 362
Guest: Dr. Al Gasiewski, Chief Scientist at Weather Stream From hurricanes to heat waves, accurate weather forecasting relies on one crucial factor: data. But much of our atmospheric data comes from outdated or sparse observation networks, leaving gaps in our understanding of rapidly changing weather patterns. Enter microsatellites—small but powerful spacecraft revolutionizing how we monitor the atmosphere in real time. Today on Weather Geeks, we’re diving into the world of orbital micro systems...
May 14, 2025•25 min•Ep. 359
GUEST: Dr. Dev Niyogi, Professor at University of Texas at Austin Cities aren’t just concrete jungles—they’re microclimates of their own, shaping the weather in ways you might not expect. From intensifying heat waves to influencing severe storms, urban landscapes play a critical role in our atmosphere. But how exactly does this work, and what can we do to make cities more resilient in the face of extreme weather? Today on Weather Geeks, we’re diving into the fascinating intersection of meteorolo...
May 07, 2025•30 min•Ep. 358
Guest: Alan Sealls, AMS President-Elect For decades, broadcast meteorologists have been the trusted voices guiding us through hurricanes, tornadoes, and everyday forecasts. But behind every great weathercaster is a deep passion for both science and communication. Few embody that balance as well as Alan Sealls—a highly respected meteorologist, educator, and soon-to-be President of the American Meteorological Society. As we head into more uncertain times, Alan will certainly have a lot on his plat...
Apr 30, 2025•42 min•Ep. 353
Guest: Stephen Wooten, Researcher As a parent, there’s nothing more important than making sure your child is safe—especially when severe weather threatens their school day. Whether it’s the decision to delay, dismiss early, or shelter in place, we rely on school officials to make the right call. But as any parent knows, those decisions aren’t always black and white. Should schools be more cautious, or are they sometimes too quick to pull the trigger? And how much say should parents have in the p...
Apr 23, 2025•31 min•Ep. 360
Guest: John Trostel, Director From towering supercells to fast-moving derechos, severe storms are some of the most powerful and unpredictable forces in nature. Forecasting these storms requires cutting-edge technology, real-time data analysis, and years of research to improve early warning systems and save lives. That’s where institutions like the Severe Storms Research Center at Georgia Tech come in. Today on Weather Geeks, we’re diving into the groundbreaking work being done at SSRC—from track...
Apr 16, 2025•29 min•Ep. 351
Guest: Jenny Dissen, NCICS When a hurricane strikes, the immediate damage is only part of the story. The real test comes in the days, weeks, and even years after the storm—when communities must rebuild, adapt, and prepare for what’s next. Hurricane Helene left its mark on North Carolina, exposing vulnerabilities but also sparking efforts to create a more resilient future. Today on Weather Geeks, we’re joined by Jenny Dissen of the North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies (NCICS). She leads E...
Apr 09, 2025•42 min•Ep. 361
Guest: Dr. Rick Spinrad, Outgoing NOAA Administrator From predicting hurricanes and monitoring our oceans to leading cutting-edge climate research, NOAA plays a critical role in protecting lives, property, and our planet. The phone that you may be listening to this podcast on right now would not have weather apps without NOAA. The computer you may be listening on won’t have easily accessible radar data over the internet without NOAA. But as the world faces more extreme weather and environmental ...
Apr 02, 2025•38 min•Ep. 357
Guest: Daniel Swain Winds are howling outside Los Angeles, California on a dry January day. The hillsides north and east of the city erupt in flames. A wall of fire begins to consume neighborhoods faster than firefighters can keep up. As wind-driven embers continue to fly down hill - a thousand miles away, Daniel Swain’s phone begins to light up. Journalists, companies, officials - all want answers to California’s extreme weather and the impact of climate change. On this week’s episode of Weathe...
Mar 26, 2025•46 min•Ep. 354
Guests : John Banghoff, Jonathan Guseman, Jase Bernhardt We’ve all seen it. A multi-car pile-up accident that seems unstoppable. One weather phenomenon is often at the root of these - snow qualls. These aren't your typical snow flurries; they can bring sudden, near-zero visibility and treacherous driving conditions in a matter of minutes. We're joined today by 3 meteorologists with snow squall experience: John Banghoff, and Jonathan Guseman from NWS State College and Dr. Jase Bernhardt, Associat...
Mar 19, 2025•46 min•Ep. 356
Guest: Dr. Sean Waugh, National Severe Storms Laboratory research scientist As we’ve seen in the movies, and real life, tornadoes are some of the most destructive forces in nature, capable of leveling homes and damaging entire communities in a matter of minutes. And what about hail? It causes BILLIONS and billions of dollars in damage in the US every year. But how do we get up-close, real-time data on these violent storms in order to learn what is needed for better predictions? That’s where cutt...
Mar 12, 2025•42 min•Ep. 355
Guest: Jason Deese, CEO of Flash Weather AI Weather forecasting has always been a mix of art and science, relying on tools like the Euro and GFS models to predict everything from tomorrow’s sunshine to next week’s storms. But now, artificial intelligence is reshaping the field, offering faster and more precise insights than ever before. Today on Weather Geeks , we’re exploring Flash Weather AI, a cutting-edge tool designed to revolutionize how we predict and prepare for the weather. How does it ...
Mar 05, 2025•39 min•Ep. 350
Guest: Anthony Edwards, Newsroom Meteorologist with the San Francisco Chronicle With every new year comes hope for a prosperous year. For thousands in southern California, that hope quickly turned into a nightmare. One week into the new year, devastation quickly set in when multiple wildfires began to spread in Los Angeles County. A historic Santa Ana Windstorm, with winds gusting to 100 mph in spots, sent flames into highly populated areas, prompting evacuation orders.Our next guest was followi...
Feb 26, 2025•36 min•Ep. 352
Guest: Eric Berger 4.…3….2….1…. Liftoff! - of this week’s episode of Weather Geeks with our special guest - Eric Berger. Launching his career as a science & space writer, Eric’s trajectory would be considered - by most in the space industry - as ‘nominal’. However, Eric’s late stage separation would send him on a new course to launching the website we all know today - Space City Weather. Since 2015 - Space City Weather has kept Houston informed during extreme weather events. Hurricane Harvey...
Feb 19, 2025•31 min•Ep. 349
Guests: Dr. Ilan Price, Senior Research Scientist, & Matt Willson, Research Engineer From the Euro to the GFS to the Canadian, there are multitudes of models that forecasters use to predict our daily weather. There are models for short-term severe forecasting, 10-day outlooks from your local news, and even models that predict our climate years into the future. As technology advances, so do all of these models and the technology we are focusing on today on Weather Geeks is AI. While it may se...
Feb 12, 2025•24 min•Ep. 346
Guest: Dr. Philip Mulder, Assistant Professor at UW-Madison Once you become a homeowner, you are flooded with the overwhelming responsibility of protecting your home, which means that you are going to need home insurance! But is it fair that your insurance may cost significantly more because of the weather that tends to happen around you? Or, what if homeowner’s insurance isn’t even available to you at all because of the weather? That is the current reality for some home and business owners acro...
Feb 05, 2025•41 min•Ep. 348
Guest: Dr. Victor Gensini When discussions are had about Billion-Dollar Disasters, odds are your mind goes to the biggest hurricane landfalls and tornadoes that struck the country this year. But the sneakiest of disasters has become hail storms. As the convective storm passes through a town and dumps tons of ice on cars, roofs, and windows, the costs very quickly add up and the infrastructure is put to the test. But do we know all we can about these hail storms and how we can mitigate future dis...
Jan 29, 2025•26 min•Ep. 347
RECORDED MARCH 28, 2024 Originally released MAY 29, 2024 Guest : Dr. Paul Markowski, Penn State We are in the throes of the springtime severe season and even as we transition to summer, the potential for supercells and tornadoes doesn’t slow down. In fact, the severe risk moves more from the Central Plains and into the Eastern states…and that’s where we find today’s guest! Dr. Paul Markowski is the Head of the Meteorology and Atmospheric Science Department at Penn State and an expert in tornado ...
Jan 22, 2025•55 min•Ep. 322
RECORDED JULY 9, 2024 Originally released JULY 31, 2024 Guest : Dr. Jessica Murfree, Assistant Professor at UNC Chapel Hill The biggest event in the sporting world is taking place in Paris this summer! The Olympics brings in hundreds of athletes and even more spectators from all across the world from so many different backgrounds and ideologies. How do all of these minds come together not just to compete, but also think about our environment and climate as they do so? We have sports ecologist Dr...
Jan 15, 2025•40 min•Ep. 330
RECORDED MARCH12, 2024 Originally released MAY 15, 2024 Guest : Jared Rennie, NCEI Research Meteorologist Gathering and analyzing data today to help us prepare for tomorrow. One sentence with a multitude of implications. NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information seeks to provide not just data, but solutions to help the U.S. and those around the world as our climate continues to change. Jared Rennie is a Research Meteorologist with NCEI and works to support the integration of both cli...
Jan 08, 2025•42 min•Ep. 319
RECORDED JULY 30, 2024 Originally released AUGUST 7, 2024 Guest : Rick Smith, Warning Coordination Meteorologist for NWS Norman If you feel it, chase it! That is the tagline for one of the biggest movies of the summer and probably the biggest weather movie of the decade: Twisters. After the initial geek out took place, we were left with a lot of questions! Did it live up to its predecessor Twister, which inspired meteorologists all across the country to pursue their passion? Will we see a brand ...
Jan 01, 2025•44 min•Ep. 331
RECORDED MARCH 15, 2024 Originally released JUNE 12, 2024 Guest: Dr. Jason Senkbeil, Associate Professor at the University of Alabama Hurricane season is rapidly approaching! Many elements that go into a busy tropical season, like warm SST’s and the ENSO phase, already have forecasters worried that we could have a blockbuster season. I’m sure a lot of us Weather Geeks are prepared for what that could entail, but is the rest of the general public ready? And today we’re not talking about prep kits...
Dec 25, 2024•35 min•Ep. 323
RECORDED JUNE 7, 2024 Originally released JULY 17, 2024 Guest : Dr. Shepherd & the Creators of Weather Geeks As long as there has been weather, we have had weather geeks. Before we had the radar to see storms from different layers and the satellites to see hurricanes from space, the fascination of weather has always been there. But only for the past 10 years has there been a Weather Geeks show; first starting as a half-hour geek out on The Weather Channel and now a podcast that you’re listen...
Dec 18, 2024•43 min•Ep. 328
RECORDED APRIL 1, 2024 Originally released April 3, 2024 Guest : Dr. C. Alex Young, NASA Heliophysicist You may have noticed there’s been plenty of conversation concerning the closest star to us over the past year or so. From the total solar eclipse in April to the increase in solar storms as we approach the solar maximum, the sun has been getting plenty of attention. So we wanted to take a deeper look into our celestial neighbor and what better way to do that than to invite Dr. Alex Young, a he...
Dec 11, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 313
