Weather Geeks

GUEST: Allison Begalman

Hollywood is known for big ideas, big creativity, and big storytelling — but in recent years, one of the biggest forces reshaping the industry isn’t a genre or a trend… it’s the climate crisis. And at the center of that movement is Allison Begalman.  As the co-founder of the Hollywood Climate Summit, Allison has built a space where filmmakers, writers, activists, scientists, and executives come together to ask a simple but powerful question: What if the stories we tell could help shape a more sustainable future?  Today, we’re diving into how she’s mobilizing the entertainment world to take climate action seriously — not just in documentaries or disaster films, but in the everyday narratives that reach millions.

Chapters

1. 00:00 Introduction to Climate Crisis in Hollywood
2. 03:53 The Birth of the Hollywood Climate Summit
3. 10:29 Barriers to Climate Storytelling
4. 13:25 Break 1
5. 14:23 Climate-Informed Storytelling vs. Climate-Themed Content
6. 19:57 Successful Examples of Climate Storytelling
7. 24:44 The Role of Social Media in Climate Advocacy
8. 24:52 Break 2
9. 29:18 Measuring Impact in Climate Storytelling
10. 31:37 Future Vision for the Hollywood Climate Summit

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Guest: Max Van Wyk De Vries, Assistant Professor at the University of Cambridge

From wildfires sparking power outages, to hurricanes triggering chemical spills, today’s disasters rarely unfold in isolation. They cascade, compound, and collide — creating challenges far more complex than any single hazard on its own. At the University of Cambridge, the Complex and Multihazard Research Group is leading the charge to better understand these interconnected risks, and to help communities, governments, and industries prepare for a more uncertain world. In this episode, we sit down with the program head of the group Max Van Wyk De Vries to explore how their research is reshaping the way we think about hazards, resilience, and the future of global risk.

Chapters

1. 00:00 Understanding Complex and Multi-Hazard Risks
2. 10:47 The Role of Human Activity in Natural Hazards
3. 14:04 Break 1
4. 19:24 Techniques and Methodologies in Hazard Research
5. 23:41 Break 2
6. 29:24 Future Challenges and Opportunities in Multi-Hazard Risk Management

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Guest: Dr. Tracy Fanara

If you’ve ever fallen down a science rabbit hole on social media and thought, “Wow… I just learned something and had fun doing it,” there’s a good chance you’ve crossed paths with Inspector Planet. Today, we’re joined by Dr. Tracy Fanara — scientist, investigator, and one of the most recognizable voices in modern science communication. She’s built a career on asking bold questions, testing claims, and making complex science feel approachable, playful, and empowering. We’ll talk about how she spreads weather geekiness online, what it takes to cut through misinformation with creativity and humor, and why making science joyful might be one of the most powerful tools we have.

Chapters

1. 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Tracy Fanara and Inspector Planet
2. 02:35 The Journey to Science and Engineering
3. 05:42 The Birth of Inspector Planet
4. 08:31 Career Path and NOAA Experience
5. 11:35 Understanding Florida Red Tide and the 2018 Water Crisis
6. 17:10 Break 1
7. 17:42 Project INKI: Transforming Flood Data into Actionable Intelligence
8. 23:25 The Importance of Communication in Science
9. 27:47 Break 2
10. 29:33 Leveraging Social Media for Science Communication
11. 35:25 Future of Science and Technology in Environmental Research

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Guests: Harlan Brothers and Jamie Perera

We spend a lot of time looking at climate data — charts, maps, graphs, trends. But what if, instead of staring at the numbers, we listened to them? What if rising temperatures, shifting seasons, and accelerating change had a sound? Today’s guests, Harlan Brothers and Jamie Perera, are pioneers in a growing and fascinating field known as climate data sonification. They take datasets that often feel distant or abstract and translate them into music and sound — turning climate change into something you don’t just understand, but feel. In this episode, we’ll explore how sound can open new doors to climate communication, why art and science don’t have to live in separate worlds, and how listening to the planet might help us connect with it in a whole new way.

Chapters

1. 00:00 The Intersection of Sound and Climate Data
2. 08:33 Understanding Sonification: Transforming Data into Sound
3. 19:25 Break 1
4. 19:44 Artistic Choices in Sonification: Making Data Listenable
5. 27:06 Break 2
6. 27:45 The Audience of Sonification: Education, Art, and Engagement
7. 37:34 Future of Climate Data Sonification: Collaborations and Innovations

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Guest: Chris Vagasky, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Few things in weather grab our attention quite like lightning. It’s fast, powerful, a little bit mysterious — and for today’s guest, it’s been a lifelong fascination. Joining us is lightning expert Chris Vagasky, a scientist whose career has sparked everything from groundbreaking lightning safety work to a new chapter with Wisconet, one of the most advanced surface observation networks in the country. While his day-to-day role may have evolved, his passion for understanding and explaining lightning has never dimmed. In this episode, we’ll talk about career pivots in meteorology, why high-quality observations matter so much during severe weather, and how you keep your scientific spark alive even as your job changes. So stay grounded, because this conversation is charged with insight, curiosity, and a whole lot of lightning science.

Chapters

1. 00:00 The Fascination with Lightning
2. 14:30 Break 1
3. 14:33 Career Pivot and WiscoNet
4. 26:36 Break 2
5. 26:54 The Future of Weather Communication and AI

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Guest: Dr. Connell Miller, Western University

When a tornado tears through the landscape, one of the first questions we ask is, how strong was it? Answering that usually means boots on the ground, surveying damage piece by piece. But what if part of that story could be told from hundreds of miles above Earth? Today, we’re joined by Dr. Connell Miller, whose research explores how satellite data can be used to detect and measure tornado damage from space, especially in rural and agricultural areas where traditional damage indicators can be hard to find. We’ll talk about using vegetation signals to infer tornado intensity, how this approach could complement ground surveys, and what it means for improving tornado climatology and post-storm analysis.

Chapters

1. 00:00 Introduction to Tornado Research and Satellite Data
2. 05:46 Innovative Use of Satellite Data in Tornado Assessment
3. 12:12 Correlation Between Satellite Data and Ground Surveys
4. 14:00 Break 1
5. 17:56 Limitations and Future of Satellite Data in Tornado Rating
6. 25:03 Break 2
7. 25:05 AI and Automation in Tornado Damage Assessment

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Guest: Dr. Bruce Albrecht, University of Miami

Most of us look at the sky every day but let’s be honest, we usually only glance up long enough to decide if we need an umbrella. But what if your phone could actually help you notice the atmosphere again? Not doomscrolling… cloud-scrolling! Today we’re joined by Dr. Bruce Albrecht, the mind behind SeeMyClouds — the app that’s turning sky-gazing into a social, creative, totally addictive hobby. Whether you’re a cirrus superfan, a cumulus connoisseur, or someone who just likes a good sunset photo, Bruce is here to talk about why clouds deserve their moment…and how his app is bringing weather geeks and casual sky-watchers together one snapshot at a time.

Chapters

1. 00:00 Introduction to Cloud Appreciation
2. 02:56 Bruce Albrecht's Journey in Meteorology
3. 05:50 The Science of Cloud Microphysics
4. 09:06 Exploring Cloud Radar Technology
5. 11:17 Break 1
6. 11:49 Inspiration Behind See My Clouds App
7. 15:02 The Role of Social Media in Cloud Appreciation
8. 18:00 Features and Functionality of See My Clouds
9. 20:10 Break 2
10. 21:08 Potential for Scientific Research
11. 24:03 Understanding Cloud Seeding
12. 26:55 Final Thoughts on Cloud Enthusiasm

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Guest: Paul Goodloe, Weather Channel Meteorologist

 Winter is officially in the rearview mirror and while some parts of the country were digging out from snow and ice, others were wondering if winter ever showed up at all! So today, we’re doing something a little different. We’re sitting down with a familiar face from The Weather Channel, meteorologist Paul Goodloe, to look back at the season that was. From headline-making storms like Winter Storms Fern and Hernando, to the surprisingly quiet winter across much of the Western United States, there’s plenty to unpack. So grab a warm drink — or maybe start thinking about putting the snow shovel away — as we recap the biggest winter weather moments of the season.

Chapters

• 00:00 Winter Weather Overview
• 10:55 Paul Goodlow's Journey to Meteorology
• 13:39 Characterizing the Winter of 2025-2026
• 19:44 Break 1
• 19:46 Winter Storm Fern: A Deep Dive
• 31:19 Break 2
• 31:21 Winter Storm Hernando: The Big Nor'easter
• 32:16 Hurricane Forecasting and Model Accuracy
• 34:53 The Impact of AI in Weather Forecasting
• 35:08 Experiencing Winter Storm Hernando
• 39:25 Blizzard Conditions and Snow Accumulation
• 41:48 Comparing Winter Storms: Fern vs. Hernando
• 46:07 Public Response to Weather Forecasts
• 48:15 The Western Winter: A Lack of Snow
• 54:23 Avalanche Risks and Climate Change
• 58:24 Wildfire Threats Due to Low Snowpack
• 01:00:02 Looking Ahead: Weather Patterns and Droughts

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Guest: Lt. Col. Andrew Gay

Forecasts don’t just matter for farmers, travelers, or weekend plans — they can influence decisions that ripple across the globe. Few people know that better than Major Andrew Gay, who has served as a meteorologist in the U.S. Air Force, at the White House, and at the Pentagon. In those roles, weather wasn’t simply data — it was mission-critical information that could impact safety, security, and strategy at the highest levels. Today, we’ll hear how his career has bridged science and service, and what it takes to forecast when the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Chapters

1. 00:00 The Importance of Weather Forecasting
2. 02:51 Andrew Gay's Journey to Meteorology
3. 05:56 Career Path in the Air Force
4. 08:53 Supporting Military Operations
5. 11:44 Weather Forecasting at the White House
6. 12:30 Break 1
7. 14:44 Current Role and Responsibilities
8. 17:55 Challenges in Weather Forecasting
9. 21:52 Emerging Technologies in Meteorology
10. 22:26 Break 2
11. 25:06 Effective Science Communication
12. 29:50 Advice for Aspiring Meteorologists

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Guests: Doug Hilderbrand & Jennifer Sprague-Hilderbrand

When you think about the weather world, you might picture satellites spinning overhead, supercomputers crunching data, or meteorologists trying to explain that yes, the cone is not the size of the storm. But behind all of that is a whole community of people working together to keep us informed and safe. Today, we’re joined by two people who know that ecosystem better than almost anyone: Doug and Jennifer Hilderbrand, co-founders of the American Weather Enterprise Association. Together, they’re building a space where the public, private, and academic sectors can actually talk to each other — and maybe even agree on a few things — to strengthen the entire weather community. We’ll dive into why they launched the association, what they hope to change, and how collaboration can help us all navigate a future with more complex storms, more data, and more demand than ever.

Chapters

1. 00:00 Introduction to the Weather Community
2. 03:04 Personal Journeys into Meteorology
3. 06:03 The American Weather Enterprise Association Explained
4. 07:56 The Importance of Economic Valuation in Weather
5. 13:16 Break 1
6. 13:45 Building a Strong Foundation for the Future
7. 20:00 Advocacy and Engagement with Policymakers
8. 25:50 The Personal Dynamics of Building an Organization
9. 26:30 Break 2
10. 32:02 Conclusion and Future Directions

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