In this episode of Up Close, host Casandra Eames sits down with Bill Gallus, a man who’s been chasing storms—and his passion—since childhood. From choosing between the legendary meteorology programs at Penn State and Iowa State to following tornadoes across the Midwest, Bill shares how a lifelong fascination with weather shaped his career and his life.
He talks about the moment he knew the weather bug wasn’t going away, the thrill (and risk) of storm chasing, and why Iowa State ultimately became home. If you’ve ever looked at a radar map with curiosity or felt the adrenaline of a fast-moving storm, this episode is for you.
Topics Covered:
-
Penn State vs. Iowa State: The decision that changed everything
-
Early signs of a weather obsession
-
The science—and thrill—of chasing tornadoes
-
Building a career out of natural curiosity
The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not reflect those of the City of Ames or its employees.
Want to Be On Up Close? Have a story to share? Reach out to Casandra Eames in the City Manager's Office or email Casandra.Eames@CityofAmes.org to be featured on a future episode.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!