Best GeoTrek Podcasts (2025)

1
Smart Homes, Safer Communities with Carl Schneider 36:38

6d ago36:38

36:38

Join “Hurricane Hal” Needham as he sits down with Carl Schneider, insurance agent and co-founder of Smart Home America, for a story that spans continents and communities. Drawing on the ingenuity of his Swiss ancestors and the perspectives they passed down, Carl shares how smarter construction methods—honed in the rebuilding efforts of post-Katrina…

1
East Asia Typhoons & Florida Hurricanes – A Global Storm Perspective with Robert Speta 39:48

20d ago39:48

39:48

Join host Hal Needham as he talks with Meteorologist Robert Speta about the stark differences in preparing for and experiencing tropical cyclones. Speta shares invaluable insights into forecasting and living through powerful typhoons in East Asia, a region renowned for its exceptional disaster preparedness. He also raises critical concerns about hu…

1
Exploring the Interface of Climate Resiliency and Historic Preservation with Lisa Craig-Hensley 41:34

1M ago41:34

41:34

How do we protect our past from our future? On the latest GeoTrek, we tackle this crucial question with preservation powerhouse Lisa Craig-Hensley! With over 30 years' experience, Lisa reveals the strategies and innovations for making historic properties, from Annapolis to Lodi, more resilient to climate impacts. Prepare to be inspired.…

1
Forensic Meteorology at the 2025 Allied Trust Litigation Summit 28:55

2M ago28:55

28:55

How does forensic meteorology help protect homeowners and insurers from fraud? In this episode, recorded live at the 2025 Allied Trust Litigation Summit, we sit down with Amy Fail and Ron Ligocki from Allied Trust to explore how advanced weather science is being used in insurance claims investigations. They share insights on: The role of forensic m…

1
Living Shorelines with Ryan Gilbert 34:02

3M ago34:02

34:02

Coastal communities face growing threats from erosion, storms, and rising sea levels—but could nature itself be the key to resilience? In Episode 110 of the GeoTrek Podcast, we explore how living shorelines blend natural and engineered solutions to protect our coasts. Our guest, Ryan Gilbert, a natural resource specialist and project manager with H…

1
How Hail Causes Damage and How We Can Reduce it with IBHS 39:35

4M ago39:35

39:35

Hailstorms cause billions of dollars in damage each year, but how do we study hail to build stronger homes and communities? In Episode 109 of the GeoTrek Podcast, we dive into the world of hail research, forensic meteorology, and building science with two incredible guests: Brenna Meisenzahl – Researcher at the Insurance Institute for Business & Ho…

1
Optimizing Transportation Business for Winter Weather 32:18

4M ago32:18

32:18

In Episode 108 of the GeoTrek Podcast, we explore how extreme winter weather impacts the transportation and logistics industry. From blizzards to icy roads, truck drivers and logistics professionals must navigate unpredictable and often dangerous conditions to keep supply chains moving. Our guest, Gary Falldin, Senior Director of Industry Solutions…

1
The January 2025 Fires in Southern California 36:45

5M ago36:45

36:45

In Episode 107 of the GeoTrek Podcast, we analyze the devastating January 2025 wildfires in Southern California and discuss how communities can better prepare for future wildfire threats. Our special guest, Steve Hawks, Senior Director for Wildfire at IBHS and former CAL FIRE Battalion Chief, brings decades of expertise in wildland firefighting and…

1
How Extreme Weather Impacts Professional Sports Performances 32:22

5M ago32:22

32:22

In Episode 106 of GeoTrek, we explore the fascinating intersection of extreme weather and professional sports. Special guest Mark Paquette, an expert on how weather influences sports, gambling, and betting, joins Dr. Hal Needham to discuss the surprising ways weather conditions impact athlete performance and game outcomes. From wind and rain to hea…

1
All About Avalanches - How do Forecasters Predict Avalanches? 35:34

6M ago35:34

35:34

Join us for Episode 105 of the GeoTrek Podcast, where we dive deep into the world of avalanches! Simon Trautman, Director of the National Avalanche Center, breaks down the science behind how avalanches form, the tools forecasters use to predict them, and the essential steps to interpret avalanche ratings for safer mountain adventures. In this episo…

1
Insights on Hurricanes Helene and Milton with Dr. Jennifer Collins 32:17

9M ago32:17

32:17

Hurricanes Helene and Milton recently impacted west-central Florida, including the Tampa/ St. Pete metro area. Dr. Jennifer Collins, Professor in the School of Geosciences at the University of South Florida shares insights on the physical and social impacts of these massive storms.

1
Heavy Rainfall Below Sea Level – The Challenge of Freshwater Flooding in New Orleans 32:39

9M ago32:39

32:39

Gain insights on the challenge of freshwater flooding below sea level, as we explore New Orleans with Chris Franklin, Andrew Woodroof and Johnny Vindigni.

1
Voices from the 2024 Texas Groundwater Summit 33:47

10M ago33:47

33:47

In this episode of the GeoTrek Podcast, we bring you exclusive insights from the 2024 Texas Groundwater Summit, where industry experts and thought leaders gathered to discuss the latest trends, challenges, and advancements in groundwater management in Texas. Join us as we sit down with special guests from the summit to explore the critical issues s…

1
Tropical Storm Debby and The Science Behind Slow-Moving Tropical Cyclones with Jim Kossin 33:03

11M ago33:03

33:03

After making landfall in Florida as a hurricane, Tropical Storm Debby stalled out along the South Carolina coast, bringing days of heavy rain impacts to the region. This podcast investigates the science behind the increasing number of slow-moving tropical cyclones impacting the U.S. over the past decade.…

1
Historic Hurricane Beryl with Brian McNoldy and Phil Klotzbach 38:31

11M ago38:31

38:31

Historic Hurricane Beryl broke many Atlantic basin hurricane records, becoming the farthest east hurricane and the only cat-4 hurricane to form in June, then the earliest cat-5 hurricane on record. This podcast features interviews with Brian McNoldy and Phil Klotzbach, who provide historic context for this record-breaking storm, as well as on-the-g…

1
Coastal Resiliency from an Engineering Perspective, with Dr. Bret Webb 37:18

12M ago37:18

37:18

Engineering provides many solutions to reduce losses from coastal hazards. But how do we determine optimal solutions, considering design criteria, budgets, and community input? Dr. Bret Webb, Professor of Civil Engineering at University of South Alabama, provides engineering perspectives on coastal resiliency in this episode.…

1
Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) with Leslie Chapman-Henderson 35:10

1y ago35:10

35:10

Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) President and CEO, Leslie Chapman-Henderson, shares her vision to reduce property losses through groundbreaking awareness initiatives for homebuilders, homeowners and design professionals.

1
The Journey of Meteorologist Alan Sealls - Forecasting Weather for 37 Years and Winning 16 Emmys 30:08

1y ago30:08

30:08

Join us to dive deeper into the journey Alan Sealls took to become the meteorologist we know and love! Hear about Alan's early life, education, and the path that lead him to where he is now.

1
Forecasting and Communicating Tropical Weather and Meteorologist Alan Sealls 31:17

1y ago31:17

31:17

As we kick off the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season we want to be prepared and informed about tropical weather communication. Join us as none other than meteorologist Alan Sealls joins us to share information about tropical weather communication.

1
Hurricane Videography and Storytelling with Mark Sudduth and HurricaneTrack 31:19

1y ago31:19

31:19

Mark Sudduth, founder of HurricaneTrack, takes us along on his journey through more than two decades of hurricane videography and storytelling.

1
Top 10 Misunderstandings about Hurricane Impacts 35:38

1y ago35:38

35:38

Hurricanes are complex storms that generate four deadly hazards- destructive winds, storm surge flooding, rainfall flooding and tornadoes. In this episode, Dr. Hal counts down his top 10 list of misunderstandings about hurricanes that increase the chance people will be blindsided.

1
An Interview with the World's Top Hurricane Chaser - Josh Morgerman (Hurricane Man) 29:13

1y ago29:13

29:13

Josh Morgerman (Hurricane Man) joins us for an interview that captures the intense impacts of the world's most powerful storms, discusses how to build better in hurricane country, and talks about the dangers of generalizing hurricane impacts based on observing a few named storms.

1
Perspectives from the National Tropical Weather Conference 40:05

1y ago40:05

40:05

Forecasters, scientists and disaster relief specialists weigh in on what we can expect this upcoming hurricane season and how we can be better prepared. We also take a look at the connection between AI and weather forecasting.

1
A Chat with My Favorite Meteorologist - Carl Parker from The Weather Channel 50:32

1+ y ago50:32

50:32

My favorite meteorologist, Carl Parker from The Weather Channel, joins us for a discussion about climate change impacts on tropical weather, advice on science communication, and the importance of having empathy with those impacted by extreme weather events.

1
Resiliency Planning with Melissa Beaudry 47:34

1+ y ago47:34

47:34

Melissa Beaudry, Senior Resilience Planner at Halff, provides insights on how to help communities improve resilience plans.

1
Resilient Perspectives from the Gulf of Mexico Conference in Tampa, Florida 39:57

1+ y ago39:57

39:57

This podcast features interviews with four professionals focused on making Gulf Coast communities more resilient from coastal hazards. They were recorded at the Gulf of Mexico Conference, which brought together more than 1100 professionals to share the latest research and best practices, in Tampa, Florida.…

1
The Atlas Mountains Earthquake in the Kingdom of Morocco on September 8, 2023 50:52

1+ y ago50:52

50:52

On September 8, 2023, a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, in northwest Africa, inflicting more than 2,900 fatalities. This podcast provides on-the-ground interviews from the Kingdom of Morocco, including interviews with earthquake survivors in an earthquake tent village, and perspectives about the pros and cons of trad…

1
Perspectives from the CNC Connect Conference 48:03

1+ y ago48:03

48:03

This podcast highlights interviews with seven participants from the CNC Connect Conference in Mobile, Alabama, from Jan 8-10, 2024. The conference brought together hundreds of professionals in the insurance services and extreme weather response industries. We also interview seasonal hurricane forecasting expert Phil Klotzbach to get a sneak peek of…

1
Virginia's Deadliest Natural Disaster - Hurricane Camille's Floods and Landslides in 1969 56:37

1+ y ago56:37

56:37

After striking the Gulf Coast as a cat-5 hurricane in 1969, Camille inflicted the deadliest disaster in Virginia's history, killing 114 people in catastrophic floods and landslides near Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. This podcast interviews three storm survivors on live interviews recorded at the Nelson County Historical Society's Oakland Museum.…

1
Top 10 Memories of the GeoTrek Podcast from The Past Year (2023) 34:23

1+ y ago34:23

34:23

This episode provides the top 10 memories from the GeoTrek podcast during the past calendar year (2023).

1
Perspectives from The 22nd Bell County Water Symposium in Central Texas 48:41

1+ y ago48:41

48:41

Stakeholders at the 22nd Bell County Water Symposium came together to discuss the future of water in Central Texas, in an area that has observed severe droughts and explosive population growth in recent decades.

1
The Maui (Hawaii) Wildfires with Kainoa Horcajo 46:10

1+ y ago46:10

46:10

Kainoa Horcajo, Director of Community Development with Global Empowerment Mission Hawaii, provides insights on the impacts of the catastrophic wildfires that struck Maui this past August.

1
Hot Dates in Minnesota - Stories and Insights from a Firefighting Couple 49:08

1+ y ago49:08

49:08

Firefighting couple Gary Ringate and Kellie Murphy-Ringate share stories and insights from decades of fighting fires in Minnesota. Their perspectives on topics like hazard prevention and having a disaster plan, relate closely to disaster mitigation efforts for other hazards.

1
Revisiting Hurricane Ian - One Year After Landfall in Southwest Florida 57:49

1+ y ago57:49

57:49

Last year, Hurricane Ian inflicted the deadliest natural disaster in Florida since the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, and the costliest disaster in state history. This podcast looks back at this catastrophe, the recovery process, and lessons learned, through interviews with WINK-TV Chief Meteorologist Matt Devitt, as well as Casper and Kylie Gregory …

1
Climbing to the Roof of the World with Pete Athans 52:30

1+ y ago52:30

52:30

Himalayan mountaineer and Mount Everest Expert Pete Athans shares insights from leading expeditions to the world's highest mountains, perspectives on high-altitude weather extremes, and first-hand accounts of how the 2015 earthquake and Covid-19 Pandemic impacted Nepal.

1
Warren Faidley - America's Premier Storm Photographer 54:56

2y ago54:56

54:56

Join us on an adventure with Warren Faidley, America's Premier Storm Photographer. Warren is an American adventurer, photojournalist, storm chaser, and disaster survival expert. He is officially credited as the first storm-chasing photojournalist, documenting hurricanes, tornadoes, lightning, mudslides, blizzards, and many more types of extreme wea…

1
Voices from Hurricane Idalia 40:12

2y ago40:12

40:12

Hurricane Idalia was the first major (cat 3+) hurricane to strike Florida's Big Bend Region since the late 1800s. This podcast documents storm impacts on the region, as well as voices from many storm survivors.

1
Extreme Weather and Aviation with Jonathan Frank 39:22

2y ago39:22

39:22

Boeing 777 Captain and accomplished artist Jonathan Frank takes us on an around-the-world adventure to explore the impacts of extreme weather on aviation.

1
Women In Coastal Science: Engineer Tiffany Staten with PEA Group 41:53

2y ago41:53

41:53

Tiffany Staten, Engineer with PEA Group in Houston, Texas, shares her vision for sustainable development that mitigates flood losses. This interview was part of the Women in Coastal Science Speaker Series, organized by Galveston's Park Board of Trustees.

1
Perspectives on Social Science for Hurricane Risk Mitigation with Dr. Laura Myers 49:55

2y ago49:55

49:55

Dr. Laura Myers, Senior Research Scientist and Director of Resiliency at the Alabama Center for Insurance Information and Research, University of Alabama, provides social science perspectives to mitigate losses from hurricanes.

1
All About Air Quality, with David Lu, Co-Founder and CEO of Clarity Movement. 46:35

2y ago46:35

46:35

This summer, smoke from Canadian wildfires and enhanced urban and industrial pollution have made air quality a high-profile weather story. David Lu, Co-Founder and CEO of Clarity Movement, shares the science behind air pollution, how we can better detect air quality, and practical steps we can take to protect ourselves.…

1
From Flood Victim to Innovator: Rahel Abraham and CLIMAGUARD 37:14

2y ago37:14

37:14

Hurricane Harvey flood victim Rahel Abraham innovated a large, waterproof bag that zips around cars and other large valuable items, like grand pianos. Her Houston-based product is now gaining widespread attention, as it promises to make flood-prone communities around the world more resilient.

1
The Janitor Threw Out the Data- The Back Story of Seasonal Hurricane Forecasting with Phil Klotzbach 43:57

2y ago43:57

43:57

A janitor throwing out an important stack of tropical climate research papers led Dr. Bill Gray to redirect his research into seasonal hurricane forecasting at Colorado State University. Dr. Phil Klotzbach shares this story, and the science behind seasonal hurricane forecasts.

1
Making Communities Stronger with Tim Riecker, The Contrarian Emergency Manager 44:58

2y ago44:58

44:58

Tim Riecker, The Contrarian Emergency Manager, shares timeless insights on how to help communities better prepare for disasters, with a focus on extensive stakeholder collaboration to develop better plans.

1
The Value of Local Knowledge - Building for Epic Snow Loads in the Sierras 39:57

2y ago39:57

39:57

Local knowledge is crucial for building and planning for extreme weather and natural disasters. In this episode, which was recorded live in California's Sierra Nevada during a historic snowfall winter, three professionals share perspectives on what it was like to live and work in such extreme environments.…

1
Advances in hurricane research, forecasting products and education/ outreach from the National Tropical Weather Conference - recorded LIVE on South Padre Island, Texas 50:53

2y ago50:53

50:53

Six experts share insights on cutting-edge hurricane research, forecasting products and education/ outreach at the National Tropical Weather Conference. Explore these insights from Leslie Henderson, Jaime Rhome, Julie Rochman, Brian McNoldy, Ryan Rickert and Derrick Herndon.

1
Academic perspectives on the California mega-winter with Daniel Swain, Andrew Schwartz and Julie Kalansky 54:14

2+ y ago54:14

54:14

Academic climate experts Daniel Swain, Andrew Schwartz and Julie Kalansky weigh in on perspectives about California's mega-winter, including measuring near record snow depth, analyzing climate patterns, and discussing potential snow/ flood impacts.

1
Landscape Architecture and the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake with Benjamin George 48:37

2+ y ago48:37

48:37

The 1755 Lisbon, Portugal earthquake revolutionized building and planning practices around the world. Check out this story along with other insights about landscape architecture from Benjamin George, associate professor at Utah State University.

1
The U-Surge Project and Flood Information Systems 51:17

2+ y ago51:17

51:17

U-Surge provides the most comprehensive archive of coastal flood data for hurricanes and tropical storms around the world since the mid-1800s, providing insights into the frequency and magnitude of storm surge floods, the world’s most deadly and costly natural disaster. Flood Information Systems analyze the impacts of these floods, by overlaying di…

1
Art, Aerosmith and Atmosphere with Tulsa Meteorologist Michael Seger 48:17

2+ y ago48:17

48:17

Tulsa Meteorologist Michael Seger took an unconventional path in his pursuit of weather work. This podcast tells his back story, which involves years of studying art and some crazy times in South Florida- like hanging out with Aerosmith. He also covers tornado safety and communication in this episode.…

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