Weather Geeks

GUEST:

Jim Bridenstine, Administrator of NASA

DESCRIPTION:

From flying high above the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan, to being elected as a Congressman of Oklahoma in the U.S. House of Representatives, our guest has dedicated his life to serving his country. Today we’re excited to welcome newly confirmed NASA Administrator, Jim Bridenstine.  Jim hails from Tulsa, OK where he became all too familiar with extreme weather, so he understands the importance of improving our forecasting capabilities. We’ll discuss the major piece of legislation he helped pass to support the expansion of weather research and forecasting. Plus, we’ll hear about his evolution on issues like climate change and how the work at NASA can further our understanding of its impacts. If that’s not enough, we’ll also get Jim’s thoughts on the future of space exploration. Could it include a visit to Mars?

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Guest: Bryan Norcross - Hurricane Specialist at Local 10 Miami

Description: 

His first weather report came over the radio back in 1969 and spoke of a hurricane named Camille heading toward the Gulf coast. Since then Bryan Norcross has covered dozens of major weather events - including Hurricane Andrew, which changed South Florida and his life forever. Bryan has worked at local new stations, national cable networks including and The Weather Channel. He has seen it all, done it all and has the stories to prove it. Today we hear about Bryan’s 50 years in broadcasting - a career filled with incredible timing, amazing achievements and a whole lot of fun.

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This week on Weather Geeks we go to the front lines of the firefight. The 2018 deadly and devastating wildfires could get even worse as brave men and women put their lives on the line. We explore the day to day conditions that help and hurt the effort and explore the factors that makes their job so dangerous. Weather Channel Correspondent Dave Malkoff, tells some of their stories and explains what it's like to battle these monster fires. Joining the conversation is Jess Gardetto from the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. We look at the factors making this season so bad and what it will take to get some of these fires out before the rainy season - which is still months away. 

Guests

Dave Malkoff

The Weather Channel corespondent 

Jess Gardetto

Deputy Chief, External Affairs - BLM National Fire and Aviation - National Interagency Fire Center

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Guest

Dr. Paul Sutter

Astrophysicist, writer, speaker, producer and podcast host 

Description

This week on Weather Geeks Astrophysicist Dr. Paul Sutter joins us. Paul is an "Agent to the Stars" - passionately interacting with the public in science outreach. He is host of the "Ask a Spaceman!" podcast, where he answers space questions posted on social media. And today we get to ask him questions...with topics ranging from the the cosmos to communicating the complicated. It is sure to be an entertaining, engaging, and educational.

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Guest: Dr. David Novak, Director, Weather Prediction Center

Description: Whether it is forecasting an epic flood event days before the first raindrop or warning the public about an upcoming blizzard when it comes to tracking storms the meteorologists at The Weather Prediction Center play a critical role in keeping Americans safe from the dangers of weather. This week, meet the man in charge of directing this critical group of forecasters. Dr. Dave Novak joins me to discuss Weather Prediction Center operations, forecasting challenges and what the future might look like.

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Guest: Astronaut Terry Virts 

Description:

This week on Weather Geeks we are honored to have International Space Station Commander Terry Virts. Terry first flew into space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 2010. Four years later he returned and spent 200 days aboard the ISS taking more photos from space that any other astronaut. Many of these photos appear in his book “View From Above”. We’ll talk about that view, space travel, the fragility of our planet and much more.

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Guest: Ed Mansouri, CEO & Founder WeatherSTEM

Description:

Just because you are a meteorologist doesn’t mean you aren’t exempt from the hazards of severe weather...and our guest proves this point. Ed Mansouri, founder and CEO of WeatherSTEM, a company that utilizes a network of weather stations for emergency planning purposes, agriculture needs, and K-12 education, recently had lightning cause damage at his house while he and his kids were home. We’ll hear more about his experience and how it ties into his company's education and safety initiatives. We’ll also learn about WeatherSTEMs new statewide mesoSTEMs...you won’t believe all of the information provided by this network of weather stations.

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Guest: Angela Fritz - Deputy Weather Editor for the Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang

This week on Weather Geeks - Take the hot tempers inherent to any science or political discussion, combine them, and give them a national stage to debate on one of the most prominent weather blogs on the web, located at the heart of the political world - The Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang based in Washington, D.C.  We will discuss the nightmare that can be communicating science through a high-profile public medium, dominant across social media, where there are no rules, all gloves are off and users can crush peers with both informed and ill-informed opinions all while hiding behind anonymous usernames.

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From the Weather Geeks Archives - Most Americans probably don't realize that the first ones behind enemy lines are often a small group of meteorologists who are sent in to harms way to collect the weather data needed to give the U.S. armed forces the home field advantage they need to win the battles necessary to protect our freedom. Major Jonathan Sawtelle, a former Special Operations Weather Team operations officer, will provide amazing insight into this truly special force.

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Guest: Stephanie Abrams 

On Camera Meteorologist

The Weather Channel

In a time not too long ago, schoolboys would be the ones taking math and science classes so they can grow up to become engineers or doctors, while schoolgirls would take more general studies so they can focus on becoming housewives. Only recently have women smashed through the glass ceiling, championing careers in STEM. As an on-camera meteorologist for The Weather Channel for 15 years, Stephanie Abrams has seen her fair share of hurricanes, nor’easters and everything in between!  In that time, the titles have changed from “weather girl” to “meteorologist,” and Stephanie is a prominent one.

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