Weather Geeks

Guest: Dr. Michael Pritchard, Director of Climate Simulation Research
When we think about climate models, we often picture supercomputers humming away in government labs or university basements. But increasingly, some of the most powerful tools shaping the future of climate science are coming from an unexpected place — Silicon Valley. Today, we’re joined by Dr. Michael Pritchard, Director of Climate Simulation Research at NVIDIA. Yes, that NVIDIA — the company known for powering gaming, AI, and some of the world’s fastest computing systems. But behind the scenes, NVIDIA is helping drive a revolution in climate and Earth system modeling, using advanced GPUs and machine learning to build faster, higher-resolution simulations of our planet. In this episode, we’ll explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping climate science, what it takes to simulate Earth in unprecedented detail, and why the future of forecasting may depend as much on silicon as it does on physics.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to AI in Weather and Climate Modeling
03:21 Understanding NVIDIA's Role in Climate Simulation
05:34 The Motivation Behind Earth Simulation
07:40 AI vs Traditional Weather Modeling Techniques
11:10 Addressing Concerns About AI in Weather Forecasting
13:49 Break 1
14:19 The Earth 2 Project and Its Implications
18:37 Open Source Weather Models and Their Importance
23:33 Exploring GPUs and Their Role in AI
24:51 Stormscope: A New Era in Nowcasting
28:55 AI and Machine Learning in Mesoscale Forecasting
31:48 Break 2
32:15 Ensuring Ethical AI in Weather Forecasting
35:31 The Future of AI in Climate Modeling

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GUEST: Allison Begalman
Hollywood is known for big ideas, big creativity, and big storytelling — but in recent years, one of the biggest forces reshaping the industry isn’t a genre or a trend… it’s the climate crisis. And at the center of that movement is Allison Begalman. As the co-founder of the Hollywood Climate Summit, Allison has built a space where filmmakers, writers, activists, scientists, and executives come together to ask a simple but powerful question: What if the stories we tell could help shape a more sustainable future? Today, we’re diving into how she’s mobilizing the entertainment world to take climate action seriously — not just in documentaries or disaster films, but in the everyday narratives that reach millions.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Climate Crisis in Hollywood
03:53 The Birth of the Hollywood Climate Summit
10:29 Barriers to Climate Storytelling
13:25 Break 1
14:23 Climate-Informed Storytelling vs. Climate-Themed Content
19:57 Successful Examples of Climate Storytelling
24:44 The Role of Social Media in Climate Advocacy
24:52 Break 2
29:18 Measuring Impact in Climate Storytelling
31:37 Future Vision for the Hollywood Climate Summit
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Guest: Max Van Wyk De Vries, Assistant Professor at the University of Cambridge
From wildfires sparking power outages, to hurricanes triggering chemical spills, today’s disasters rarely unfold in isolation. They cascade, compound, and collide — creating challenges far more complex than any single hazard on its own. At the University of Cambridge, the Complex and Multihazard Research Group is leading the charge to better understand these interconnected risks, and to help communities, governments, and industries prepare for a more uncertain world. In this episode, we sit down with the program head of the group Max Van Wyk De Vries to explore how their research is reshaping the way we think about hazards, resilience, and the future of global risk.
Chapters
00:00 Understanding Complex and Multi-Hazard Risks
10:47 The Role of Human Activity in Natural Hazards
14:04 Break 1
19:24 Techniques and Methodologies in Hazard Research
23:41 Break 2
29:24 Future Challenges and Opportunities in Multi-Hazard Risk Management
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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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