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 every 20 minutes. Today on Weather Geeks, we’re talking to Chris Van Arsdale, a leader behind the FireSat project, about how it all works and how they are using AI to help the firefight before it even starts

Chapters

1. 00:00 Introduction to Wildfire Challenges and Firesat
2. 03:10 Chris Van Arsdale's Journey to Google and Climate Research
3. 06:09 Understanding the Firesat Satellite System
4. 09:01 Operational Use and Future of Firesat
5. 11:48 The Role of Google in Wildfire Detection
6. 15:06 Machine Learning and Data Challenges in Fire Detection
7. 18:10 Implications for Firefighting Strategies
8. 20:52 Future Data Applications Beyond Fire Detection
9. 23:58 Global Interest and Collaboration on Firesat
10. 26:49 Environmental and Security Considerations
11. 29:59 Sustainability and Future Launch Plans for Firesat
12. 32:50 Global Applications and Community Engagement
13. 35:56 Final Thoughts on Firesat's Impact

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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 safely and accurately observe from inside tornadic storms. Today on Weather Geeks, we’re joined by members of the OTUS Project to talk about how UAVs are changing the way we study tornadoes, what it’s like to deploy them in the field, and how this data could lead to better forecasts and ultimately, save lives.

Chapters

1. 00:00 Introduction to the Otus Project
2. 01:37 Personal Journeys into Meteorology
3. 06:12 Understanding Tornadoes: The Need for Data
4. 10:17 Drone Technology in Tornado Research
5. 14:59 A Day in the Life of a Tornado Chase
6. 19:39 Challenges and Risks in the Field
7. 21:32 First Experiences Inside a Tornado
8. 24:50 Collaborations and Data Sharing
9. 26:34 Measuring Wind Inside Tornadoes
10. 30:19 Choosing Storms and Navigating Obstacles
11. 32:12 Regulatory Hurdles and Networking
12. 34:17 Future Aspirations for the Otus Project

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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 University of Georgia, who is an expert on infrastructure and making future building more resilient. There are many opportunities to build back better, smarter, and safer after these events happen, and hopefully strive to not have to rebuild in the same places over and over. From infrastructure challenges to communication gaps, we’ll explore what needs to change to keep these communities—both coastal and inland—safe.

Chapters

1. 00:00 Understanding Hurricane Helene's Impact
2. 04:58 Assessing Infrastructure Resilience
3. 15:11 Lessons Learned from Hurricane Helene
4. 28:02 Addressing Multiple Natural Disasters
5. 40:00 The Importance of Comprehensive Infrastructure Planning

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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, which is exactly the challenge our guest today is tackling! Dr. Anne Heggli wears many hats in her professional life, but her excellence in water resource management across the western United States will teach all of us how to process data and uncertainty just a little better after this episode of Weather Geeks…

Chapters

1. 00:00 Understanding Weather Forecasts and Uncertainty
2. 03:00 The Importance of Water Resource Management
3. 05:53 Communicating Probabilistic Forecasts
4. 09:13 Visual Communication in Weather Forecasting
5. 12:03 Challenges in Communicating Weather Risks
6. 14:51 Hurricane Forecasting and the Cone of Uncertainty
7. 19:07 The 40% Chance of Rain Explained
8. 29:52 The Future of Data Visualization in Weather
9. 36:00 Engaging Communities in Weather Preparedness

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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 modularity. We’re a society of mass production and overconsumption, but today you’ll see that less really is more. 

Chapters

1. 00:00 The Environmental Impact of Fashion
2. 05:48 Defining Sustainable Fashion
3. 11:57 Sourcing and Sustainability in Fashion
4. 19:51 The Disconnect in Textile Production
5. 26:14 The Impact of Super Capitalism
6. 36:48 Innovations in Modular Fashion

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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, whose latest research is shedding new light on these elusive events. From cutting-edge observations to the impact these events may have on aviation, space weather, and even our understanding of lightning itself, we’re thrilled to have Dr. Boggs here to break it all down!

Chapters

1. 00:00 Introduction to Upper Atmospheric Electrical Phenomena
2. 04:58 Transient Luminous Events: Types and Characteristics
3. 10:58 Differences Between TLEs and Traditional Lightning
4. 16:02 Observing TLEs: Opportunities and Challenges
5. 20:58 Research Focus: Gigantic Jets and Their Impacts
6. 25:14 Challenges in Studying Transient Luminous Events
7. 28:22 The Importance of Observations in TLE Research
8. 31:31 Field Campaigns and Citizen Science
9. 33:05 Understanding Lightning Through TLE Research
10. 36:24 Future Aspirations in TLE Research

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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 with Dr. Al Gasiewski, a leading expert in satellite-based meteorology and the founder of Weather Stream. His work is changing the game by using microsatellites to provide faster, more detailed, and more frequent weather observations than ever before.

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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 meteorology and urban landscapes with one of the leading experts in the field, Dr. Dev Niyogi. His research has uncovered how cities modify their own weather, impact storm patterns, and even contribute to climate change on a local scale!

Chapters

1. 00:00 The Urban Climate Connection
2. 08:08 Understanding Urban Weather Dynamics
3. 15:13 The Role of Cities in Extreme Weather
4. 19:56 Engineering Resilient Urban Environments
5. 25:12 Future Directions in Urban Meteorology

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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 plate in 2026 as he manages the relationship between academic, government, broadcast, and private meteorologists all across the country. How will his tenured career translate to get this done? Let’s ask him right now on Weather Geeks

Chapters

1. 00:00 The Journey of a Weather Geek
2. 03:07 Career Trajectory and Passion for Meteorology
3. 06:04 Navigating Challenges in Meteorology
4. 09:00 The Importance of Education and Communication
5. 12:00 Lessons Learned in the Broadcasting Industry
6. 15:05 Community Engagement and Impact
7. 18:04 Secrets to Effective Communication and Teaching
8. 20:57 Engaging Communication in Meteorology
9. 22:21 Approaching Severe Weather Coverage
10. 25:42 The Impact of Technology on Meteorology
11. 27:54 The Future of Broadcast Meteorology
12. 30:01 Leadership and Representation in Meteorology
13. 34:13 Exploring African American Contributions to Meteorology
14. 39:57 Alan Sealls' Literary Contributions

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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 process, if at all? Today on the show, we’re chatting with Stephen Wooten, a researcher who has been studying how parents feel about the tough calls schools have to make. As both a Weather Geek and a parent, this conversation hits close to home.

Chapters

1. 00:00 The Importance of Weather Decisions for Schools
2. 02:49 Understanding Parental Perspectives on School Weather Protocols
3. 06:07 Research Methodology: Gathering Insights from Parents
4. 08:59 Key Findings: Preferences for Early Dismissals
5. 11:54 Infrastructure and Safety: Parents' Concerns
6. 14:51 Communication: Building Trust Between Schools and Parents
7. 17:57 The Role of Social Media in Weather Communication
8. 20:55 Future Directions: Enhancing School Weather Protocols
9. 23:57 Conclusion: Balancing Safety and Parental Preferences

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