Geeking Out About “Wicked Weather”

Guest: Dr. Alexander Gates, Rutgers University - Newark

Weather doesn’t just shape our daily plans — sometimes, it shapes the course of history. From floods that altered empires to storms that changed the outcome of wars, extreme weather has quietly (and sometimes violently) rewritten the human story. Today, we’re joined by Dr. Alexander Gates, professor at Rutgers University–Newark and author of the upcoming book Wicked Weather. In it, he explores the natural disasters that didn’t just make headlines, but changed societies, politics, and the world as we know it. In this episode, we’ll talk about the historical storms, droughts, and disasters that left lasting marks on civilization, what those events teach us about risk and resilience, and why understanding the past may be one of our best tools for preparing for the future.

Chapters

1. 00:00 - Introduction: Weather's historical influence on civilizations
2. 00:32 - Dr. Gates’ background & inspiration for Wicked Weather
3. 01:06 - How natural disasters shape human societies
4. 03:29 - The significance of weather-related events like hurricanes, volcanoes, and earthquakes
5. 06:37 - Most impactful natural disasters in history
6. 07:30 - Volcanoes from 536-540 AD changing the global climate
7. 09:24 - The hurricane that helped end the American Revolution
8. 11:06 - Human decisions impacting disaster resilience
9. 11:40 - Break 1
10. 11:42 - Building resilience: lessons from historical events
11. 13:19 - Climate change’s role in intensifying weather extremes
12. 16:16 - Lessons from historical weather disasters on modern emergency preparedness
13. 17:37 - How different types of disasters prompt societal change
14. 20:44 - Responses to weather-related disasters in different countries
15. 23:31 - Break 2
16. 23:33 - The importance of societal response and adaptation
17. 28:04 - The science behind storms and the importance of understanding natural causes
18. 29:28 - Final reflections: societal resilience and future preparedness

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