Weather Geeks

Guest: Matthew Cappucci

If you’ve ever watched a weather forecast and thought, “Wow, that meteorologist has way more energy than the atmosphere itself,” there’s a good chance you were watching Matthew Cappucci. He’s a scientist, a storyteller, a storm chaser, an author, a communicator who somehow manages to make jet streaks sound exciting — and now he’s back on the show! Today, we’re talking to Matthew about how he bri...

Guest: Dr. Wallace Hogsett, Science & Operations Officer at the NHC

Every hurricane season tells a story — not just through the storms that form, but through the forecasts that guide us. And once the season ends, the real detective work begins: Which models nailed the track? Which ones struggled with intensity? And what did we learn that will help us prepare for the next big storm? Joining us today is Dr. Wallace H...

Guest: Samira Davis, United Cajun Navy

When disaster strikes, it’s often the people on the ground — not the headlines — who make the biggest difference. During Hurricane Florence, while historic floods swallowed neighborhoods across the Carolinas, Samira Davis was among those who stepped up. As a volunteer with the United Cajun Navy, she helped coordinate relief for families, pets, and even horses — filling the gaps between...

Guest: James Spann, Chief Meteorologist & Founder of the Alabama Weather Network

When it comes to weather, few names carry the respect, trust, and authority of James Spann. For decades, he’s been the steady voice that Alabamians turn to when the sky turns dark — part scientist, part storyteller, and always a servant to his community. But beyond the green screen, James has become a powerful advocate for local weather, fo...

Weather Geeks Team

What began as Fourth of July thunderstorms in Kerr County, Texas rapidly evolved into a catastrophic flash flood that overwhelmed campgrounds, highways, and homes. Today on Weather Geeks, we’re dedicating our episode to understanding the flood disaster in Texas’ Hill Country, how it happened so fast, and how we can better prepare for the next time the sky opens up. We’ll unpack the meteorological set...

RECORDED FEBRUARY 21, 2025; Originally released April 30, 2025

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...

Guest: Dr. Neil Jacobs

Every forecast, every watch or warning, every piece of storm research in America… starts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

And there’s a new leader in charge: Neil Jacobs.

Over the past year, as he waited for Congress to confirm his nomination, NOAA saw cuts to staffing, research and observations.

All while the infrastructure that predicts our weather keeps right on aging.

The Weathe...

RECORDED FEBRUARY 25, 2025; Originally released March 26, 2025

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. Journalis...

RECORDED MARCH 4, 2025; Originally released March 12, 2024

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...

RECORDED JANUARY 22, 2025; Originally released FEBRUARY 12, 2025

Guests: Dr. Ilan Price, Senior Research Scientist, & Matt Willson, Research Engineer

From the Euro to the GFS to the Canadian, there are multitudes of models that forecasters use to predict our daily weather. There are models for short-term severe forecasting, 10-day outlooks from your local news, and even models that predict our climate years ...

It’s been one wild ride through the atmosphere this year — from record-breaking heat waves to snowstorms that made us double-check the map, a hurricane that rewrote history, and tornadoes that left meteorologists speechless.  Today, we’re taking a step back (and maybe a deep breath) to relive the biggest, boldest, and most unbelievable weather moments of the year. We’ll break down what happened, why it happened, and w...

Guests: Dr. Steven Ackerman and Dr. Jonathan Martin

For most of us, weather talk is a quick chat about the weekend forecast or a snowy commute. But in Wisconsin, “The Weather Guys” have turned those conversations into something much bigger — a beloved radio show that brings science, stories, and a touch of humor to the airwaves. For years, they’ve been breaking down everything from blizzards to climate change, making meteor...

Guest: Ken Burns

He’s an Award-Winning Filmmaker known for his documentary films and television series, many of which chronicle American history and culture. Some of his most popular works include the Civil War, Baseball, Jazz, the National Parks, Prohibition, the Roosevelts, the Vietnam War, and Country Music. Behind the majestic shots and carefully chosen words, there’s another character always in the frame: the weat...

Guest: Alex Tomoff

When you think of weather and meteorology, you probably picture storm chasers, satellites, or your local forecast. But what about chocolate? At Mars, Inc. — the company behind favorites like M&M’s and Snickers — weather isn’t just background noise, it’s a critical part of the business. From the cocoa fields that depend on rainfall, to the sugar supply impacted by drought, to the logistics of getting c...

Guest: Sean Sublette

When science and policy meet, the results can shape the way communities prepare for the future. Our guest today, meteorologist and science communicator Sean Sublette, is on a mission to make sure that scientific insight has a stronger voice in Congress. From years of forecasting and breaking down weather impacts for the public, Sean now sees an opportunity to bring that same clarity and perspective to t...

Guest: Dr. Josh Kastman

When you think about Amazon, you probably picture two-day shipping, Prime Video, or that familiar brown package on your doorstep. But behind the scenes, the company has to navigate one force that doesn’t follow a schedule: the weather. From hurricanes threatening delivery routes to heat waves impacting worker safety, weather impacts nearly every aspect of Amazon’s operations. And at the center of it ...

Guest: Alan Gerard

From tornado outbreaks to hurricane landfalls, few have had a front-row seat to as many high-impact weather events as Alan Gerard. After decades of service with NOAA and the National Weather Service, Alan now brings his expertise to the public through Balanced Weather, a Substack dedicated to delivering clear, measured, and science-driven weather insights. In this episode, we’ll talk with Alan about the b...

Guest: Dr. Rachel Muncrief

When we think about tackling climate change, it’s easy to picture solar panels and wind farms. But there’s another piece of the puzzle that impacts us all, every single day: how we get from point A to point B.  Transportation accounts for a major share of global greenhouse gas emissions, but it’s also an area of rapid innovation and urgent opportunity. From cleaner fuels in shipping lanes to ...

Guest: Dr. Andy Hazelton, University of Miami

When a hurricane’s on the horizon, we turn to the forecast models—those swirling graphics and spaghetti plots that try to predict where the storm will go and how strong it might get. But behind every line and cone is a team of scientists working to make those models faster, smarter, and more accurate. One of those scientists is Dr. Andrew Hazelton, a hurricane modeling specialis...