Podcast
Off the Radar
Hosted by The National Weather Desk · EN
Join National Weather Desk Meteorologist Emily Gracey every week as she leads listeners on an exciting voyage exploring a diverse range of topics related to weather, climate, space, and beyond. The podcast offers exclusive interviews with leading experts on topics that you wouldn't usually come across in a typical weather broadcast. It’ll enlighten, entertain, and educate, whether you’re a novice weather follower to the most passionate weather geek.
119episodes
Episodes
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The Weather Officer: A Father's Day Story
Jun 10, 202500:36:52Summary readyJune 15th is Father's Day, and this week we're going off the radar with author Kelly V. Porter. She's honoring her late father, Alonzo Smith Jr., who was one of the first Black American meteorologists in history and the subject of Kelly's book, The Weather Officer. Join Kelly and Emily for an emotional and eye-opening historical perspective on the history of meteorology and race in America as we pay tribute to this barrier-breaking dad.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryConcerts and Climate Activism with AJR's Adam Met
Jun 3, 202500:42:13Summary readyWhen Adam Met isn’t playing bass or recording albums with his brothers in the sensational pop-rock band AJR, he finds novel ways of keeping busy. Adam founded a renewable energy and climate policy nonprofit, earned a PhD in Human Rights Law, and he also teaches at Columbia University. In his spare time, Adam Met recently wrote a book, Amplify, about activism in the art and music scenes. Climate change and global climate policy are hugely important topics to Adam. This week, Emily is going off the radar with Met to discuss music as activism, the global climate crisis, and what needs to be done to ensure corporations don’t “Burn the House Down” on our planet.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryHurricane Season 2025: Stories, Stats and Survival
May 27, 202500:45:32Summary readyAs the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season begins, Jamie Rhome, Deputy Director of the National Hurricane Center, joins Off The Radar to discuss how hurricane science and communication have evolved over his 26-year career.While forecasting accuracy has reached new heights, getting life-saving information to communities remains a critical challenge. Jamie reveals the Hurricane Center's lesser-known fieldwork—quiet missions to storm-affected areas where teams gather crucial data from survivors about their evacuation decisions.This episode explores groundbreaking research into hurricane mortality, the technological and communication breakthroughs that have transformed the field. . Jamie also shares practical safety advice and how he's preparing his own home for potential impacts this upcoming season. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryThe Artificial Forecaster: Innovation or Impersonation?
May 20, 202500:43:08Summary readyArtificial intelligence is everywhere – some people feel it’s unavoidable and needs to be embraced. After all, it can save time and has the potential to make writing, editing, and researching drastically easier. But what about weather forecasting? And what happens when people use this technology with bad intentions? In this episode, Emily talks with two meteorologists with very different AI experiences: one who created her own AI avatar to deliver important weather updates to viewers, and another who had her likeness stolen by someone on the internet. We’ll get into the pros and cons of using AI, along with the ethics of AI, and we’ll cover some basic advice on how you can safeguard yourself from being manipulated by others who use this technology.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryDeadly Debris Flows – The Flood After the Fire
May 13, 202500:27:06Summary readyAfter a wildfire is put out, there’s another risk that develops, one that’s far more deadly than the fire itself: rain. While water might seem like nature’s remedy for parched and fire-ravaged landscapes, heavy rainfall can trigger catastrophic mudslides and flash floods in burned areas. That’s because the fire has destroyed the plants and trees whose roots help stabilize the ground. Without living plants, hillsides pummeled with rain become fast-moving slurries that can carry boulders and move at terrifying speeds of over 35 mph. These debris flows can wash out highways and roads, carry cars away with ease, and destroy buildings in their path. This week, Emily welcomes Dr. J.J. Gourley, Research Hydrometeorologist at NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory, to discuss how scientists are utilizing lifesaving NOAA technology to predict these post-wildfire hazards. Tune in to learn what communities need to know to stay safe when the flames are extinguished but the danger isn’t over.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryWhen the Lights Went Out: Anchor Moms Reflect on Helene
May 6, 202500:45:22Summary readyWhen Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina last September, it left a trail of destruction that thrust communities back to a pre-modern era. In Asheville, TV news anchors Katie Killen and Karen Zatkulak found themselves simultaneously reporting on a disaster...and living through it with their families. Katie and Karen are not just reporters — they're also mothers and hosts of the "Anchor Moms" podcast. This week they join Off the Radar to share their unique dual perspective—broadcasting the catastrophe while trying to comfort their own families through weeks without power or water. They discuss how they balanced professional responsibilities with protecting their children, what they wish they'd known before the storm hit, and how the experience fundamentally changed their approach to motherhood and emergency preparedness.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryStorm Rights: Tornado Chasers vs. Oklahoma Legislation
Apr 29, 202500:25:06Summary readyIn this episode, veteran storm chaser Warren Faidley discusses Oklahoma's controversial legislation that would restrict independent storm chasers while giving local television stations preferential access during severe weather events. With decades of experience in the field, Faidley explains why independent chasers are crucial for public safety, providing real-time ground verification that radar alone cannot capture and collecting valuable data that improves our understanding of dangerous storms. He offers practical solutions for a more productive relationship between broadcasters and independent storm chasers with the ultimate goal of saving lives. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryHealing the Hole: The Ozone's Road to Recovery
Apr 22, 202500:19:52Summary readyThis Earth Day, we’re celebrating a triumph of human endeavor: the healing of the ozone layer! Many listeners will remember the hole that formed in the ozone layer, due in large part to human-made chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs. My guest this week is Dr. Paul Newman, a Senior Scientist at the University of Maryland Baltimore and retired NASA Chief of Atmospheric Sciences. We’ll dive into what these chemicals are, how they damaged our vital ozone layer, and how countries around the planet came together to repair the damage we caused.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryAre Dire Wolves Back? The Science & Ethics of De-Extinction
Apr 15, 202500:18:47Summary readyIn Jurassic Park, scientists bio-engineered dinosaurs by splicing preserved dino DNA with modern-day frog DNA. It sounded like science fiction…until now. A real-life biotech company with visions of “de-extinction” recently spliced gray wolf DNA with that of the dire wolf, a mammal that’s been extinct for thousands of years. And they have plans to do the same thing with other extinct species. This week we’re going off the radar with Dr. Jay Odenbaugh, a professor and researcher who specializes in the ethics of de-extinction. We’ll discuss what this company did, and what the implications might mean.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummarySilenced Science: Inside NOAA's Communication Challenge
Apr 8, 202500:43:52Summary readyDo you know what NOAA does? Or why this federal agency has (controversially) been in the news lately? With important offices like the National Weather Service and the National Ocean Service, NOAA – the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – collects valuable data and conducts essential research that can mean the difference between national safety and widespread tragedy. On today’s episode, we’re going off the radar with two former NOAA employees: Tom Di Liberto, a climate scientist and public relations specialist who was laid off during government cutbacks; and Dr. Tracy Fanara, a scientist and regular TV figure who recently resigned from government work. We’ll be discussing the disconnect between NOAA’s lifesaving scientific research and the public’s confusion around this essential government agency.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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