Weather Geeks

Guest: Dr. Jennifer Collins & Dr. Nadia Bloemendaal
When it comes to hurricanes, we often rely on a familiar scale to understand their strength — categories based largely on wind speed. But anyone who’s experienced a storm knows that impacts go far beyond just how fast the winds are blowing. Today, we’re joined by Jennifer Collins and Nadia Bloemendaal, whose work is helping to rethink how we model and measure tropical cyclones. They’re the minds behind the STORM model, a powerful tool for simulating thousands of storms across the globe, and the developers of the Tropical Cyclone Severity Scale — a new way of looking at storm risk that goes beyond traditional categories. In this episode, we’ll explore how large-scale modeling is changing our understanding of hurricane risk, why current classification systems may fall short, and how new approaches could improve the way we communicate danger and prepare for future storms.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the New Storm Model
00:20 The Storm Model's Impact on Various Sectors
01:02 Challenges in Developing a Global Storm Model
02:21 Modeling Hazards Beyond Wind: Rain and Surge
04:31 Motivation for a New Hurricane Severity Scale
06:42 Limitations of the Wind-Only Scale
08:35 The New Scale: Incorporating Multiple Hazards
10:27 Break 1
11:28 The Concept of a Category 6 Storm
13:05 Public Perception and Education Strategies
15:22 Localized and Personalized Risk Communication
17:27 Real-World Applications and Case Studies
19:20 Future Directions and Climate Change Impacts
21:54 Inertia and Adoption Challenges in Meteorology
23:49 Break 2
25:00 Public Perception of Storm Categories
27:33 The Path Toward Standardization and Adoption
30:12 Future Collaborations and Final Thoughts
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Guest: Dr. Aran Mooney
When you think about saving coral reefs, you probably imagine divers, coral nurseries, or maybe even futuristic technology — but what if part of the solution starts with simply turning up the volume? Because it turns out, coral reefs don’t just look alive… they sound alive. Today’s guest, Dr. Aran Mooney, is helping scientists and conservationists tune into the ocean in a whole new way. His research explores how the natural “music” of healthy reefs — the pops, clicks, and choruses of marine life — can actually help guide coral larvae home and jump-start reef recovery. In this episode, we’ll talk about listening to the ocean, using sound as a conservation tool, and why sometimes the key to protecting our planet isn’t louder warnings — it’s learning how to hear what nature has been telling us all along.
Chapters
00:00 The Sound of Coral Reefs
06:00 Sound as a Restoration Tool
12:02 The Mechanics of Sound Playback
17:23 Break 1
17:55 Environmental Influences on Coral Soundscapes
20:17 The Power of Sound in Coral Restoration
26:59 Break 2
27:28 Hurricanes and Their Impact on Coral Reefs
30:43 Understanding the Time Scale of Sound Influence
35:39 Scaling Sound Solutions for Coral Reefs
40:51 Community Engagement and Partnerships for Coral Health

Resources
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution - https://www.whoi.edu/
NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program - https://coralreef.noaa.gov/
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Guest: Brad Panovich, WCNC Charlotte
If you’ve lived in North Carolina for any length of time, chances are you’ve turned to one familiar face when the weather turns serious. But being a trusted meteorologist today isn’t just about what happens on TV—it’s about showing up wherever your audience is, whether that’s on-air, online, or in the middle of a rapidly evolving storm. Today on Weather Geeks, we’re joined by Brad Panovich, Chief Meteorologist at WCNC Charlotte. For decades, Brad has helped guide North Carolinians through everything from day-to-day forecasts to high-impact events—including more recent storms like Hurricane Helene—building a level of trust that goes far beyond the forecast itself. We’ll talk about how his approach to communication has evolved in the age of social media, what it takes to cut through misinformation, and how you balance urgency, clarity, and calm when people are depending on you the most.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Brad Panovich and His Journey
02:55 The Evolution of Weather Communication
05:54 The Importance of Credentialing in Meteorology
08:56 The Role of Trust in Weather Forecasting
12:05 Break 1
12:08 Navigating Social Media as a Meteorologist
15:13 Handling Negativity and Criticism in the Digital Age
20:13 Understanding Public Perception of Weather Forecasts
23:40 Break 2
24:12 The Role of Social Media in Weather Communication
26:28 The Impact of AI on Meteorology
30:11 Personal Reflections on the Impact of Meteorology
34:26 The Educator's Role in Meteorology

Resources
Ohio State University Meteorology Program - https://meteo.osu.edu/
UNC Charlotte Weather Communication Course - https://physics.charlotte.edu/

Guest links
Brad Panovich on Twitter - https://twitter.com/WXBrad
Website - https://www.wcnc.com/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@wxbrad
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Guest: Seth Borenstein, Associated Press
Every day, new scientific discoveries shape the way we understand our world — from extreme weather to the changing climate. But most of us don’t read scientific journals. Instead, we rely on journalists to translate complex research into stories that inform the public and help us make sense of what it all means. Today we’re joined by Seth Borenstein, a veteran science reporter with the Associated Press who has spent decades covering everything from hurricanes and heat waves to the latest breakthroughs in climate research. Over the years, his reporting has helped bring critical science stories to audiences around the world. In this episode, we’ll talk about how science journalism has evolved, how the media approaches reporting on Climate Change, and what it takes to translate complex science into clear, trustworthy stories for the public.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Guest Credibility
01:43 How Seth Became a Weather and Climate Geek
04:02 The Evolution of Climate Science Narratives
07:47 From Uncertainty to Scientific Certainty
11:53 Finding and Vetting Credible Scientific Sources
16:04 The Role of AP and Wire Services in Science Reporting
17:48 Break 1
18:16 Challenges and Opportunities in Science Journalism
21:52 How Seth Finds His Experts
25:03 Impact of Social Media on Climate and Weather Reporting
27:57 Dealing with Disinformation and Misinformation
28:39 Break 2
29:46 Memorable Stories and Impactful Reporting
32:20 Embedded Reporting with Storm Chasers
34:15 The Human Side of Weather Disasters
36:55 Advice for Future Climate and Science Journalists
39:25 Where to Find Seth's Work
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GUEST: Ken Graham, Director of NOAA National Weather Service
National Weather Service Director Ken Graham visited The Weather Channel for a wide-ranging conversation with Jim Cantore about the future of weather forecasting and public safety.
They will discuss ongoing efforts to modernize the National Weather Service, the challenges of maintaining critical infrastructure, the latest developments in forecasting technology and AI, and what improvements may be on the horizon for everything from hurricane forecasts to severe weather prediction. They also talk about staffing, observations, and the tools that help forecasters turn data into decisions when lives are on the line.
And as he marks four years as Director, Jim will ask Ken to reflect on the experiences that shaped his career, the accomplishments he's most proud of, and what he wants the public to better understand about the work happening behind the scenes every day.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Guest Credibility
00:59 Ken Graham's Ten and Progress Overview
02:24 Reflecting on Achievements and Vision
03:45 Staffing Challenges and Hiring Boom
05:19 Reorganizing for the Future
07:01 Modernizing Infrastructure and Cloud Transition
08:20 Partnering with Emergency Managers
08:59 Radars: Aging Systems and Next-Gen Plans
10:29 Private Sector Collaboration on Radars
12:48 Innovations in Data Collection: Drones and Balloons
13:42 NWS Chat and Communication Tools
14:17 Break 1
14:31 Communicating Strong El Nino and Hurricane Risks
15:47 Aircraft and Data for Better Forecasts
16:38 Improvements in Track and Intensity Forecasts
17:19 AI and Machine Learning in Weather Models
18:36 Future of High-Resolution and Rapid Refresh Models
20:17 Balancing Over-Preparation and Real-Time Response
21:28 Next-Generation Modeling and Cloud Computing
22:50 Break 2
22:50 Vision for Year 10: Fully Cloud-Based, Well-Staffed NWS
24:26 Memories of Weather Disasters and Motivation
25:37 The Drive to Save Lives and Limit Damage
26:30 Engagement with the President and Policy Support
27:35 Office Culture and Workforce Changes
28:49 Challenges of Modernization and Change Management
29:23 Supporting NWS Staff and Future Outlook

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