Weather Geeks

Guests: Doug Hilderbrand & Jennifer Sprague-Hilderbrand
When you think about the weather world, you might picture satellites spinning overhead, supercomputers crunching data, or meteorologists trying to explain that yes, the cone is not the size of the storm. But behind all of that is a whole community of people working together to keep us informed and safe. Today, we’re joined by two people who know that ecosystem better than almost anyone: Doug and Jennifer Hilderbrand, co-founders of the American Weather Enterprise Association. Together, they’re building a space where the public, private, and academic sectors can actually talk to each other — and maybe even agree on a few things — to strengthen the entire weather community. We’ll dive into why they launched the association, what they hope to change, and how collaboration can help us all navigate a future with more complex storms, more data, and more demand than ever.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Weather Community
03:04 Personal Journeys into Meteorology
06:03 The American Weather Enterprise Association Explained
07:56 The Importance of Economic Valuation in Weather
13:16 Break 1
13:45 Building a Strong Foundation for the Future
20:00 Advocacy and Engagement with Policymakers
25:50 The Personal Dynamics of Building an Organization
26:30 Break 2
32:02 Conclusion and Future Directions
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Guest: Dr. Russell Schneider
Spring may mean blooming flowers and warmer days, but for meteorologists, it means something else entirely: severe weather season is officially here. As we head into the months when thunderstorms sharpen, tornadoes spin up, and the atmosphere becomes anything but predictable, there’s one place every forecaster and weather enthusiast looks to: the Storm Prediction Center. Today, we’re joined by the Director of the SPC Dr. Russell Schneider, the person who helps oversee the outlooks, mesoscale discussions, and tornado and severe thunderstorm watches that millions depend on when the stakes are high. We’ll look back at what last season taught us, talk about what’s on the horizon for this year, explore how new tools — including emerging AI guidance — are shaping the forecasting landscape, and discuss the growing influence of storm chasers and open-access model data.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Severe Weather Season
01:03 Dr. Russell Schneider's Journey to Meteorology
04:42 Understanding the Storm Prediction Center (SPC)
10:17 Reflections on the 2025 Severe Weather Season
11:54 Break 1
12:38 Shifts in Tornado Activity and Trends
15:54 The Spectrum of Severe Weather Hazards
22:08 Preparing for the 2026 Severe Weather Season
25:20 Break 2
25:49 Innovations in Weather Forecasting Technology
30:01 Communicating Weather Risks Effectively
33:53 The Role of Storm Chasers and Social Media
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Guest: Ryan Hall
When severe weather is on the horizon, many people turn to their local meteorologist—but millions are heading to YouTube to get the latest from Ryan Hall, Y’all. With his signature down-to-earth style and real-time, no-nonsense weather coverage, Ryan has built one of the most popular and trusted weather communities online. But what’s it really like to cover major weather events on social media’s biggest stage? How does he balance entertainment with accuracy? And where does he see weather communication heading next? Today on Weather Geeks, we’re pulling back the curtain with Ryan Hall himself. From storm-chasing stories to the power of digital weather, we’re diving into how one YouTuber is changing the way we watch the skies.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Ryan Hall, Y'all
02:57 Ryan's Journey into Weather
06:07 The Rise of Ryan Hall, Y'all
08:49 Transitioning from Traditional Media to Digital
11:15 The Evolution of Weather Communication
14:37 Building a Community and the Y'all Squad
17:12 The Role of Teamwork in Content Creation
20:27 Navigating Severe Weather Coverage
23:26 Addressing Misinformation in Weather Reporting
26:25 The Impact of AI on Weather Communication
29:26 Advice for Aspiring Weather YouTubers
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Guest: Dr. Alexander Gates, Rutgers University - Newark
Weather doesn’t just shape our daily plans — sometimes, it shapes the course of history. From floods that altered empires to storms that changed the outcome of wars, extreme weather has quietly (and sometimes violently) rewritten the human story. Today, we’re joined by Dr. Alexander Gates, professor at Rutgers University–Newark and author of the upcoming book Wicked Weather. In it, he explores the natural disasters that didn’t just make headlines, but changed societies, politics, and the world as we know it. In this episode, we’ll talk about the historical storms, droughts, and disasters that left lasting marks on civilization, what those events teach us about risk and resilience, and why understanding the past may be one of our best tools for preparing for the future.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction: Weather's historical influence on civilizations
00:32 - Dr. Gates’ background & inspiration for Wicked Weather
01:06 - How natural disasters shape human societies
03:29 - The significance of weather-related events like hurricanes, volcanoes, and earthquakes
06:37 - Most impactful natural disasters in history
07:30 - Volcanoes from 536-540 AD changing the global climate
09:24 - The hurricane that helped end the American Revolution
11:06 - Human decisions impacting disaster resilience
11:40 - Break 1
11:42 - Building resilience: lessons from historical events
13:19 - Climate change’s role in intensifying weather extremes
16:16 - Lessons from historical weather disasters on modern emergency preparedness
17:37 - How different types of disasters prompt societal change
20:44 - Responses to weather-related disasters in different countries
23:31 - Break 2
23:33 - The importance of societal response and adaptation
28:04 - The science behind storms and the importance of understanding natural causes
29:28 - Final reflections: societal resilience and future preparedness

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Guest: Dr. Younes Alila, University of British Columbia
Floods are some of the most devastating natural disasters on Earth—washing away homes, reshaping landscapes, and testing the limits of our infrastructure. But what if the way we measure and plan for floods is decades out of date? A new study out of the University of British Columbia led by Dr. Younes Alila reveals that the so-called “100-year flood” may now be striking every 10 years or less across parts of British Columbia. Dr. Alila joins us to unpack how land-use changes, deforestation, and a warming climate are amplifying flood frequency, why natural features like wetlands and forests are key to protection, and what communities can do to adapt.
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