Weather Geeks

Guest: Dr. Tracy Fanara
If you’ve ever fallen down a science rabbit hole on social media and thought, “Wow… I just learned something and had fun doing it,” there’s a good chance you’ve crossed paths with Inspector Planet. Today, we’re joined by Dr. Tracy Fanara — scientist, investigator, and one of the most recognizable voices in modern science communication. She’s built a career on asking bold questions, testing claims, and making complex science feel approachable, playful, and empowering. We’ll talk about how she spreads weather geekiness online, what it takes to cut through misinformation with creativity and humor, and why making science joyful might be one of the most powerful tools we have.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Dr. Tracy Fanara and Inspector Planet
02:35 The Journey to Science and Engineering
05:42 The Birth of Inspector Planet
08:31 Career Path and NOAA Experience
11:35 Understanding Florida Red Tide and the 2018 Water Crisis
17:10 Break 1
17:42 Project INKI: Transforming Flood Data into Actionable Intelligence
23:25 The Importance of Communication in Science
27:47 Break 2
29:33 Leveraging Social Media for Science Communication
35:25 Future of Science and Technology in Environmental Research

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Guests: Harlan Brothers and Jamie Perera
We spend a lot of time looking at climate data — charts, maps, graphs, trends. But what if, instead of staring at the numbers, we listened to them? What if rising temperatures, shifting seasons, and accelerating change had a sound? Today’s guests, Harlan Brothers and Jamie Perera, are pioneers in a growing and fascinating field known as climate data sonification. They take datasets that often feel distant or abstract and translate them into music and sound — turning climate change into something you don’t just understand, but feel. In this episode, we’ll explore how sound can open new doors to climate communication, why art and science don’t have to live in separate worlds, and how listening to the planet might help us connect with it in a whole new way.
Chapters
00:00 The Intersection of Sound and Climate Data
08:33 Understanding Sonification: Transforming Data into Sound
19:25 Break 1
19:44 Artistic Choices in Sonification: Making Data Listenable
27:06 Break 2
27:45 The Audience of Sonification: Education, Art, and Engagement
37:34 Future of Climate Data Sonification: Collaborations and Innovations

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Guest: Chris Vagasky, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Few things in weather grab our attention quite like lightning. It’s fast, powerful, a little bit mysterious — and for today’s guest, it’s been a lifelong fascination. Joining us is lightning expert Chris Vagasky, a scientist whose career has sparked everything from groundbreaking lightning safety work to a new chapter with Wisconet, one of the most advanced surface observation networks in the country. While his day-to-day role may have evolved, his passion for understanding and explaining lightning has never dimmed. In this episode, we’ll talk about career pivots in meteorology, why high-quality observations matter so much during severe weather, and how you keep your scientific spark alive even as your job changes. So stay grounded, because this conversation is charged with insight, curiosity, and a whole lot of lightning science.
Chapters
00:00 The Fascination with Lightning
14:30 Break 1
14:33 Career Pivot and WiscoNet
26:36 Break 2
26:54 The Future of Weather Communication and AI
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Guest: Dr. Connell Miller, Western University
When a tornado tears through the landscape, one of the first questions we ask is, how strong was it? Answering that usually means boots on the ground, surveying damage piece by piece. But what if part of that story could be told from hundreds of miles above Earth? Today, we’re joined by Dr. Connell Miller, whose research explores how satellite data can be used to detect and measure tornado damage from space, especially in rural and agricultural areas where traditional damage indicators can be hard to find. We’ll talk about using vegetation signals to infer tornado intensity, how this approach could complement ground surveys, and what it means for improving tornado climatology and post-storm analysis.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Tornado Research and Satellite Data
05:46 Innovative Use of Satellite Data in Tornado Assessment
12:12 Correlation Between Satellite Data and Ground Surveys
14:00 Break 1
17:56 Limitations and Future of Satellite Data in Tornado Rating
25:03 Break 2
25:05 AI and Automation in Tornado Damage Assessment

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Guest: Dr. Bruce Albrecht, University of Miami
Most of us look at the sky every day but let’s be honest, we usually only glance up long enough to decide if we need an umbrella. But what if your phone could actually help you notice the atmosphere again? Not doomscrolling… cloud-scrolling! Today we’re joined by Dr. Bruce Albrecht, the mind behind SeeMyClouds — the app that’s turning sky-gazing into a social, creative, totally addictive hobby. Whether you’re a cirrus superfan, a cumulus connoisseur, or someone who just likes a good sunset photo, Bruce is here to talk about why clouds deserve their moment…and how his app is bringing weather geeks and casual sky-watchers together one snapshot at a time.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Cloud Appreciation
02:56 Bruce Albrecht's Journey in Meteorology
05:50 The Science of Cloud Microphysics
09:06 Exploring Cloud Radar Technology
11:17 Break 1
11:49 Inspiration Behind See My Clouds App
15:02 The Role of Social Media in Cloud Appreciation
18:00 Features and Functionality of See My Clouds
20:10 Break 2
21:08 Potential for Scientific Research
24:03 Understanding Cloud Seeding
26:55 Final Thoughts on Cloud Enthusiasm
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