Weather Geeks

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

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 tracking lightning patterns to developing new storm prediction models. We’re thrilled to welcome John Trostel, the director of SSRC, to tell us all about it…

Chapters

1. 00:00 Introduction to Severe Storms and SSRC
2. 03:10 The Role of Co-op Observers in Weather
3. 06:13 The Birth of the Severe Storms Research Center
4. 09:03 Understanding Severe Storms in the Southeast
5. 12:08 Innovative Radar Technology and Its Applications
6. 15:02 Lightning Mapping and Its Importance
7. 18:01 Microclimates and Their Impact on Weather
8. 20:54 Future Research Directions and Collaborations
9. 23:51 Distinguishing SSRC from Other Research Entities
10. 27:11 Vision for Future Storm Research Technology

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Engagement for the Institute, and has been instrumental in some efforts to assess Helene’s impact and help communities recover, using data-driven strategies to strengthen preparedness for future storms. How do we learn from past disasters to build a more resilient tomorrow? That’s what we’re diving into today.

Chapters

1. 00:00 The Aftermath of Hurricane Helene
2. 11:12 Personal Experiences During the Storm
3. 19:18 Infrastructure Vulnerability and Resilience
4. 34:20 Community and Partner Collaboration for Recovery
5. 39:04 Preparing for Future Disasters

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 challenges, strong leadership for the administration is more important than ever, especially in the face of political turmoil. Today on Weather Geeks, we’re sitting down with Dr. Rick Spinrad, the outgoing NOAA Administrator, to reflect on his tenure and the future of the agency. What were his biggest accomplishments? What challenges remain? And perhaps the biggest question of all—is NOAA going to be okay?

Chapters

1. 00:00 Introduction to NOAA and Its Importance
2. 09:55 The Role of Private Sector in NOAA's Mission
3. 19:55 Challenges Faced by NOAA
4. 30:11 Successes During Dr. Spinrad's Tenure
5. 35:57 Future Directions for NOAA

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.