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

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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

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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

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