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

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

Guest: Dr. Younes Alila, University of British Columbia

Floods are some of the most devastating natural disasters on Earth—washing away homes, reshaping landscapes, and testing the limits of our infrastructure. But what if the way we measure and plan for floods is decades out of date? A new study out of the University of British Columbia led by Dr. Younes Alila reveals that the so-called “100-year flood” may now be striking every 10 years or less across parts of British Columbia. Dr. Alila joins us to unpack how land-use changes, deforestation, and a warming climate are amplifying flood frequency, why natural features like wetlands and forests are key to protection, and what communities can do to adapt.

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

Guest: Dr. Marcus Williams, Research Meteorologist

Wildfire is one of the most complex weather-driven hazards we face — shaped by wind, terrain, fuel, and timing, where the forecast isn’t just about what happens next, but about keeping people safe in real time. Behind every major fire response and every carefully planned prescribed burn is a team of scientists working to understand those conditions down to the finest detail. Today, we’re joined by Dr. Marcus Williams, a research meteorologist with the U.S. Forest Service whose work sits at the intersection of science, operations, and on-the-ground decision-making. We’ll talk about what it takes to provide weather support during major California fires, why prescribed fire depends so heavily on getting the forecast right, and how USFS research is shaping the future of fire weather forecasting.

Chapters

1. 00:00 Introduction to Wildfire and Meteorology
2. 00:51 Marcus Williams: Journey to Meteorology
3. 04:58 Role of Meteorologists in the US Forest Service
4. 07:46 Experiences in Wildfire Deployment
5. 10:52 Understanding Prescribed Fires
6. 12:33 Break 1
7. 12:40 Meteorological Tools in Prescribed Fires
8. 15:32 Challenges in Fire Management
9. 18:14 Weather Modeling and Its Applications
10. 21:09 Break 2
11. 21:40 Leadership and Mentorship in Meteorology
12. 25:46 Future of Meteorology in Fire Management

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