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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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

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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

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Guest: Daniel Swain

Winds are howling outside Los Angeles, California on a dry January day. The hillsides north and east of the city erupt in flames. A wall of fire begins to consume neighborhoods faster than firefighters can keep up. As wind-driven embers continue to fly down hill - a thousand miles away, Daniel Swain’s phone begins to light up. Journalists, companies, officials - all want answers to California’s extreme weather and the impact of climate change. On this week’s episode of Weather Geeks we learn how one high schooler, with a blog, ignited his career to become one of the leading communicators on climate change and the Weather out West.

Chapters:

1. 00:00 California's Wildfires and Climate Change
2. 10:08 Daniel Swain: The Weather Geek's Journey
3. 19:52 The Importance of Effective Communication
4. 27:05 Linking Climate Change to Extreme Weather
5. 40:05 Understanding the Complexity of Weather Events

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Guests: John Banghoff, Jonathan Guseman, Jase Bernhardt

We’ve all seen it. A multi-car pile-up accident that seems unstoppable. One weather phenomenon is often at the root of these - snow qualls. These aren't your typical snow flurries; they can bring sudden, near-zero visibility and treacherous driving conditions in a matter of minutes. We're joined today by 3 meteorologists with snow squall experience: John Banghoff, and Jonathan Guseman from NWS State College and Dr. Jase Bernhardt, Associate Professor at Hofstra University. We'll explore the science behind these intense bursts of weather, why traditional winter warnings often fall short, and the critical steps being taken to better communicate the dangers. This is a deep dive into the evolving world of snow squall warnings.

Chapters

1. 00:00 Introduction to Snow Squalls and Their Impact
2. 04:51 The Evolution of Snow Squall Warnings
3. 10:02 Challenges in Communicating Snow Squall Warnings
4. 15:06 Understanding Snow Squall Warnings and Their Importance
5. 20:05 Forecasting Snow Squalls: Techniques and Challenges
6. 22:22 Challenges in Forecasting Snow Squalls
7. 24:37 Understanding Snow Squalls vs. Blizzards
8. 26:41 Vulnerability on Highways During Snow Squalls
9. 28:16 The Importance of Road Temperature Data
10. 29:12 Communicating the Risks of Snow Squalls
11. 33:46 Future of Snow Squall Warnings
12. 38:20 Advancements in Weather Forecasting Technology
13. 43:49 Climate Change and Its Impact on Snowstorms

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Guest: Dr. Sean Waugh, National Severe Storms Laboratory research scientist

As we’ve seen in the movies, and real life, tornadoes are some of the most destructive forces in nature, capable of leveling homes and damaging entire communities in a matter of minutes. And what about hail? It causes BILLIONS and billions of dollars in damage in the US every year. But how do we get up-close, real-time data on these violent storms in order to learn what is needed for better predictions? That’s where cutting-edge field research comes in. Today on Weather Geeks, we’re diving into the world of storm observation and mobile weather technology with Sean Waugh from NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory. From deploying instrumented drones and mobile mesonets to braving the extreme environments of tornadoes and hailstorms, his work is helping scientists better understand the atmospheric conditions that drive severe weather for years to come…

Chapters

1. 00:00 The Destructive Power of Tornadoes and Hail
2. 02:58 Sean Wu: A Journey into Meteorology
3. 05:57 Innovative HAIL Camera Technology
4. 08:47 Chasing Hail: The Challenges and Safety Measures
5. 11:59 Observing Hail: The Role of High-Speed Cameras
6. 14:46 Mobile Mesonets: Gathering Atmospheric Data
7. 17:59 Machine Learning and AI in Weather Prediction
8. 21:02 AI in Meteorology: Enhancing Forecasting Accuracy
9. 24:23 Hands-On Learning: Training the Next Generation of Meteorologists
10. 26:00 Tornado Research: Understanding Formation and Behavior
11. 28:05 Behind the Scenes of Twisters: A Meteorologist's Role
12. 32:20 Authenticity in Film: The Science of Twisters
13. 36:41 Passion in Meteorology: Inspiring Future Generations

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