Clear Skies Ahead Podcast
Learn about careers in meteorology and beyond. Join the American Meteorological Society (AMS) as they talk to experts working in weather, water, and climate sciences.
Description: Clear Skies Ahead: Conversations about Careers in Meteorology and Beyond is a podcast series produced by the American Meteorological Society (AMS). Hosted by staff from the AMS Department of Career Development, this podcast series gives listeners the opportunity to step into the shoes of an expert working in weather, water, and climate sciences. Episodes are released monthly.
Trailer: Listen to our trailer here.
Reach out: Send us your ideas for other atmospheric and related science careers you would like to learn about. Please contact us if you would like to participate in a podcast. We are always looking for volunteers!
Episodes
Bill Sjoberg, Consultant with Leverage Information Technology in Lanham, MD
We talk to Bill Sjoberg about forecasting in the military, the challenges of making the right call, and keeping the human element in modern meteorology.
Jan Null, Forensic Meteorologist and Certified Consulting Meteorologist at Golden Gate Weather Services in Half Moon Bay, CA
We talk to Jan Null about the importance of integrity, giving back to your community, and staying connected with a variety of experts.
Ginger Zee, Chief Meteorologist and Chief Climate Correspondent of the Climate Unit at ABC News in New York
We talk to Ginger Zee about the realities of climate reporting, finding your "why", and the challenges women face in the weather, water, and climate industries.
Jason Samenow, Weather Editor and Chief Meteorologist at The Washington Post in Washington, DC
We talk to Jason Samenow about taking a chance to pursue a passion, keeping one finger on the pulse of ever-changing weather, and staying versatile in weather reporting in the age of social media.
DaNa Carlis, Director of NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, OK
We talk to DaNa Carlis about finding the degree that best suits you, developing a mentoring network as an early-career scientist, and remembering to set aside time to talk with scientists one-on-one as a leader in the weather, water, and climate sciences.
Andrew Markowitz, Meteorologist at Xcel Energy
We talk to Andrew Markowitz about working in the private sector, how to best communicate weather to the public, and the importance of counteracting misinformation on social media as a meteorologist.
Allison LaFleur, Consultant at RoVolus, LLC
We talk to Allison LaFleur about the importance of data analysis and data science in consulting work, applying meteorological knowledge to solve environmental issues, and the advantages of working remotely.
Kayla Hudson, Meteorology Graduate of Jackson State University
We talk to Kayla Hudson about Black pioneers in meteorology, reframing your mindset as a student, and the benefits of diverse internships.
Matthew Brown, Postdoctoral Fellow at the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) in Norman, OK
We talk to Matt Brown about the evolution of southeast storms, postdoctoral work-life-balance, and being your authentic self as a scientist in the weather, water, and climate community.
Kelly Núñez Ocasio, ASP Postdoctoral Fellow at the Mesoscale & Microscale Meteorology Laboratory at NCAR
We talk to Kelly Núñez Ocasio about the excitement of aircraft missions studying African easterly waves, the challenge of effectively communicating your science, and being strategic about pursuing opportunities in the weather, water, and climate sciences.
Maria Molina, Assistant Professor in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science at the University of Maryland
We talk to Maria Molina about the courage needed to successfully change careers from broadcasting to research, mentoring the next generation of researchers in the weather, water, and climate sciences, and the unique challenges that come with working as a bilingual meteorologist.
Melissa Burt, Assistant Professor and Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion at Colorado State University
We talk to Melissa Burt about the importance of internships in guiding career paths, seeing people for who they are and what they bring to the table, and how the climate and cultures of organizations can impact diversity, equity, and inclusion in the weather, water, and climate enterprise.
Maureen McCann, Weekday Morning Meteorologist at Spectrum News 13 in Orlando
We talk to Maureen McCann about the strengths and challenges in broadcast meteorology, the importance of internships in career development, and the growing synergy between emergency management and meteorology.
Alicia Wasula, President of STM Weather
We talk to Alicia Wasula about the benefits of mentorship and networking, the challenges and opportunities involved in a career in forensic meteorology, and the importance of communicating scientific concepts in an accessible manner.
Alec Kownacki, Meteorologist with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
We talk to Alec Kownacki about the benefits of mentorship and networking, the growing field of air quality meteorology, and using communication skills to bridge the gap between the scientific community and the general public.
Ashley Orehek-Rossi, STEM Librarian at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY
We talk to Ashley Orehek-Rossi about her role as a STEM librarian, perseverance in seeking career opportunities, and the importance of libraries in academia and beyond.
Matthew Cappucci, Meteorologist at MyRadar, The Washington Post, and Fox5DC
We talk to Matthew Cappucci about his role as a broadcast meteorologist in multiple media markets, navigating science communication challenges around social media, and what it is like to be a first-time published author.
Justin Sharpe, Research Scientist at the Cooperative Institute for Severe and High Impact Weather Research and Operations at the University of Oklahoma in Norman
We talk to Justin Sharpe about his role as a research scientist with CIWRO at the University of Oklahoma, navigating communication challenges around environmental hazards, and what it means to build trusting relationships with the community.
Angel Enriquez, Meteorologist at the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Glasgow, Montana
We talk to Angel Enriquez about his role as a meteorologist at the National Weather Service, navigating educational challenges transitioning from high school to college, and what it means to be a leader in the weather, water and climate community.
Mariama Feaster, Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Alabama in Huntsville
We talk to Mariama Feaster about her tornado research, navigating learning challenges with an autism diagnosis, and finding her voice in the weather, water and climate community.
Becky DePodwin, Senior Consultant at Guidehouse
We talk to Becky DePodwin about her background in meteorology leading to a career in emergency management consulting, the awareness of burnout and mental health struggles in the field, and the importance of effective communication.
William Turner IV, PhD Student in Atmospheric Science at University of California, Davis
We talk to Will about his love for music, giving back to his community through teaching high school math, and his research bridging atmospheric science and African studies.
Violeta Yas, Meteorologist for NBC New York at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City
We talk to Violeta about how journalism led her to a career in broadcast meteorology, the importance of being able to communicate your scientific knowledge, and her involvement in mentoring and serving underrepresented communities.
Kristie Ebi, Professor at the Center for Health and the Global Environment at the University of Washington in Seattle
We talk to Kris about the growing field of climate change and health, the importance of research funding, and her work with the World Health Organization.
Nick Cavanaugh, Founder and CEO of Sensible Weather, in Santa Monica, California
We talk to Nick about his roles in academia, finance, and as an entrepreneur, his love for the outdoors, and how he uses embedded fintech in the e-commerce sector to mitigate weather risk for consumers.
Nicole Casamassina, Hydrologist at the National Weather Service Southeast River Forecast Center in Peachtree City, Georgia
We talk to Nicole about her eighth grade speech on going green, how she created connections outside of meteorology at the USGS, and how GIS became essential to her work.
Kevin Petty, Vice-President of Weather and Earth Intelligence at Spire in Boulder, Colorado
We talk to Kevin about his interest in mathematics and secondary education, how teaching physical geography led him into weather, and how he developed business and technology strategies in the private sector.
Ayesha Davis, Meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Boulder, Colorado
We talk to Ayesha about being a full-time graduate student while working in forecasting operations, the unique weather in Colorado, and why you shouldn't ever doubt yourself.
Alyssa Bates, Research Associate at the University of Oklahoma's Cooperative Institute for Severe and High-Impact Weather Research and Operations and NWS Warning Decision Training Division, in Norman, Oklahoma
We talk to Alyssa about blending theoretical and operational meteorology, her passion for severe weather, and bridging the gap between research and operations.
Lessons in Storm Chasing with Jana Houser and Robin Tanamachi
We talk to Jana and Robin about their love of tornados, a respect for nature, and the distinction between research and thrill seeking in storm chasing.
Gina Eosco, Social Science Program Manager at the Weather Program Office within NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research in Silver Spring, Maryland
We talk to Gina about the relationship between physical science, technology, and social science, what it means to "empower a protective response," and overcoming obstacles throughout her career.
Alice DuVivier, Project Scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado
We talk to Alice about using Alan Alda's improv philosophy to improve her public speaking, how polar meteorologists study some of the most extreme weather conditions, and the bottom line of why people become scientists.
Doug Kluck, Climate Services Director for the Central Region at NOAA’s National Centers For Environmental Information in Kansas City, Missouri
We talk to Doug about how to inform local and regional decision making, how severe flooding led to a webinar series on climate risks, and trust-building with tribal communities.
Steven Glazier, Lead Meteorologist at WeatherNation in Denver, Colorado
We talk to Steven about how drag racing with his father sparked his interest in weather, why he loves working in a weather geek environment, and communicating the impacts of Hurricane Irene while at a local TV station in Vermont.
Rosimar Rios-Berrios, Research Meteorologist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado
We talk to Rosimar about her personal connection to hurricane research from growing up in Puerto Rico, why she enjoys public speaking, and how she uses a bullet journal to stay focused on her work.
Larry Gloeckler, Principal Data Engineer at the Demex Group in Washington, DC
We talk to Larry about consulting for the energy and commodities sector, performing risk analysis for supply chains, and how machine learning is a highly sought after skill in the weather industry and beyond.
Brad Johnson, Assistant Professor in Geography at Florida State University in Tallahassee
We talk to Brad about his early work in interagency coordination, his transition to academia, the roles of research, teaching, and service in his professorship, and how the pandemic has normalized the access of professors to their students.
Morgan Yarker, Certified Consulting Meteorologist and Founder and Owner of Yarker Consulting in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
We talk to Morgan about being an expert witness in a courtroom, the credibility and community she gained by earning her CCM credential, and looking toward her peers as mentors.
Isha Renta, Management and Program Analyst, Oceanic and Atmospheric Research at NOAA in Washington, DC
We talk to Isha about adapting to a military mindset while working in the Navy, using a logic model to share NOAA's science successes, and how founding a nonprofit helped prepare her for leadership.
Kandis Boyd, Deputy Division Director at the National Science Foundation in Alexandria, Virginia
We talk to Kandis about her extensive experience in the government sector, her strong belief in mentoring, and how she's developed her skillset in project management.
Kerrin Jeromin, Meteorologist and Communications Strategist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado
We talk to Kerrin about how her passion for performance led her to broadcast meteorology, purposefully choosing internships outside of her focus, and crafting an educational product that is interesting and exciting.
Jake Carstens, Graduate Research Assistant at Florida State University in Tallahassee
We talk to Jake about the factors to consider when pursuing graduate school, the rewarding experience of teaching a class and fostering community, and the benefits (plus the pitfalls) of programming.
JP Kalb, Weather Observer at San Jose Airport Weather Station in Cupertino, California
We talk to JP about how his position helped inspire his thesis, creating a vlog to highlight aspects of his life as an autistic meteorologist, and how he built connections with fellow students at the AMS chapter at his university.
Irene Sans, Editorial Manager and Meteorologist at Weather & Radar in Miami, Florida
We talk to Irene about her early behind-the-scenes experience in emergency management, the importance of mentorship and continual learning, and how she advocates for bilingual weather information in Spanish communities.
Jan Dutton, CEO of Prescient Weather in State College, Pennsylvania
We talk to Jan about pursuing an MBA to boost his standing in the private sector, the different weather markets and products he has been involved with, and how his company uses science to create value for its customers.
Kelsey Doerksen, Space Systems Engineer and Satellite Operator at Planet in San Francisco, California
We talk to Kelsey about building a Mars Rover with her college classmates, how to keep a fleet of satellites healthy, safe, and productive with the help of automation, and her ultimate goal of becoming an astronaut.
David Curtis, Senior Vice President of WEST Consultants in Folsom, California
We talk to David about realizing the potential of automated flood warning systems in his career, finding the next generation of skilled communicators in his field, and how a grounding in math and physics has allowed him to enter markets that didn't exist when he earned his bachelor's degree.
Michelle Hawkins, Severe, Fire, Public, and Winter Weather Services Branch Chief at the National Weather Service in Silver Spring, Maryland
We talk to Michelle about how a supervisory position allows her to set up others for success in their careers, why diversity can help individuals and organizations reach their full potential, and how social science expertise can aid the NWS mission.
Paul Pisano, Consultant in the Transportation Operations Sector, in Arlington, Virginia
We talk to Paul about the merits of his time as a civil servant, applying technology to transportation challenges, and how public safety and mobility will always involve the weather.
Sarav Arunachalam, Deputy Director at the Institute for the Environment at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
We talk to Sarav about about his early work in applied research and public policy, how his university fostered on-the-ground connections with the surrounding community, and ensuring that air pollution isn't invisible to the public.
Special Episode: AMS Early Career Leadership Academy
Let's be clear about leadership: it's not just about being a manager. We talk to Becky DePodwin, Leyon Greene, and Matt Lacke about being co-chairs of the Early Career Leadership Academy, its inception, and how you can find your own personal definition of leadership if you apply!
Meredith Garofalo, Certified Broadcast Meteorologist at WeatherNation in Centennial, Colorado
We talk to Meredith about the value of working in all areas of the newsroom , flying alongside a satellite on the military's largest transport plane, and what she hopes to accomplish as the chair of the AMS Station Scientist Committee.
Javier Fochesatto, Professor and Chair of the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks
We talk to Javier about how there is no use for a great scientific idea if it cannot be expressed, why he encourages students to gain a more diverse experience abroad, and being deployed into grizzly country on a glacier.
Tom Kilpatrick, Oceanographer at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in Sterling, Virginia
We talk to Tom about the competitiveness of tenure track faculty positions, the challenges of being a student athlete while studying engineering and applied mathematics, and how a love for surfing inspired him to learn more about the ocean.
Jeff Strong, Research Scientist at AIR Worldwide in Boston, Massachusetts
We talk to Jeff about moving from academia into the private sector, translating high level science to a wide range of stakeholders, and driving across the country for a post-doctoral job at Scripps Institute of Oceanography.
Tanya Brown-Giammanco, Managing Director of Research at the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety in Richburg, South Carolina
We talk to Tanya about building the testing facility that she now operates, engaging with the major U.S. insurance companies that are investing in her research, and how to make hail in a lab.
Matt Fronzak, Weather Portfolio Advisor and Principal Aviation Systems Engineer at the MITRE Corporation in McLean, Virginia
We talk to Matt about working in baggage and cabin service for Delta Air Lines before becoming the first meteorologist hired from within the company, managing federally funded research and development centers, and communicating uncertainty.
Doug Hilderbrand, Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador Lead at the National Weather Service in Silver Spring, Maryland
We talk to Doug about the reality of working shifts on a 24/7 schedule, how the Southeast tornado outbreak in 2011 represented a crossroads for the weather enterprise, and how he has partnered with over 11,000 ambassadors as part of the Weather-Ready initiative.
Vanessa Alonso, Sunrise/Midday Meteorologist at WCBI in Columbus, Mississippi
We talk to Vanessa about borrowing every book on weather from the library while in grade school, being the first student to graduate the University of Miami with a dual major in meteorology and broadcast journalism, job searching during a recession, and her success story achieving the CBM designation.
Don Berchoff, CEO at TruWeather Solutions in Reston, Virginia
We talk to Don about flying reconnaissance missions in the Air Force, integrating weather data into operational decision-making, and why he decided to start his own company.
Carl Schreck, Research Scholar, North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies at North Carolina State University in Asheville, North Carolina
We talk to Carl about about experiencing the power of Hurricane Fran firsthand, how the extreme weather event led him into researching tropical meteorology, and the critical importance of math and computer programming skills in his field.
Melissa Huffman, Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Corpus Christi, Texas
We talk to Melissa about about her experience with Hurricane Harvey and partnering with local emergency management, local government officials, broadcast meteorologists, and storm spotters to communicate weather risks.
Rob Cifelli, Research Scientist and Lead of the Hydrometeorology Modeling and Applications Team at NOAA’s Physical Sciences Laboratory in Boulder, Colorado
We talk to Rob about about the difficulty of long-term planning with a government budget, bipartisan support for a research agenda that involves crucial issues like flooding and drought, and bonding with a diverse array of scientists on field campaigns.
Karthik Mukkavilli, Machine Learning Project Scientist in the U.S. Department of Energy's Exascale Initiative at the University of California
We talk to Karthik about the next generation of computing, its transformative power, the emerging interdisciplinary space for machine learning and environmental science, and the cutting edge research taking place in industrial and tech labs.
Azar Abadi, Research Assistant Professor at the University of Nebraska’s College of Public Health Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska
We talk to Azar about about how climate change is affecting people worldwide, the need for climate change expertise in many different sectors, and the challenge of communicating climate risks to rural communities in the United States.
Ryder Fox, Research Fellow in the Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship Program at the University of Miami and Consultant at Diversity Learning Solutions
We talk to Ryder about their nontraditional background, their time-management superpower, the need for diversity, equity, and inclusion advocacy in the sciences, and working for an organization that shares your values.
Sheila Steinberg, Professor of Social and Environmental Sciences and Faculty President at Brandman University in Irvine, California
We talk to Sheila about her field work in the Peace Corps, infusing mixed methods research into curriculum, working in an interdisciplinary environment, and the social component of science.
Brett Edwards, Meteorologist at AccuWeather in State College, Pennsylvania
We talk to Brett about the unrivaled importance of networking, the need for coding skills in the industry, his personal forecasting “wins,” avoiding burnout, and the collaborative science behind a forecast.
Bernadette Woods Placky, Chief Meteorologist and Climate Matters Program Director at Climate Central in Princeton, New Jersey
We talk to Bernadette about transitioning out of broadcast television, how a minor in French eventually coincided with international work around the Paris Climate Change Agreement, mentors that built her climate IQ, and environmental takeaways from Dr. Seuss.
Randy Bass, Manager of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Weather Research Branch and AMS Certified Consulting Meteorologist
We talk to Randy about serving as an officer in the Air Force, close calls with tornadoes, transitioning a research capability into operations, and making your next flight as smooth and safe as possible.
Colleen Iversen, Senior Staff Scientist in the Environmental Sciences Division and in the Climate Change Science Institute at Oak Ridge National Laboratory
We talk to Colleen about communicating science, devoting time to her family, having a natural curiosity for the world, asking new questions, finding answers through teamwork, and shaping a story.
Tim Heller, Talent Coach and Media Weather Consultant at HellerWeather in Houston, Texas
We talk to Tim about how broadcast meteorology has evolved during his 35 years in the studio, unusual college classes worth taking, navigating station contracts, and communicating the weather in the digital age.
COVID-19 Special Episode: Going Remote
We talk to previous guests Elizabeth Austin, Albert Betancourt, Tony Praino, Max Vido, and Jeff Yuhas about working in weather during the pandemic.
Max Vido, Meteorologist at ACES Power in Indianapolis, Indiana
We talk to Max about finding a niche in the energy and long range product line at Accuweather (his previous job), his beneficial mentoring experience with the Board of Private Sector Meteorologists at the AMS, and using climate studies and statistics while working with utility clients.
Jeff Yuhas, K–12 Science Teacher at the Morristown-Beard School in Morristown, New Jersey
We talk to Jeff about a blizzard interrupting his childhood paper route, watching the clock tick backwards during his consulting career, and the advantages of teaching in either public or private schools.
Ronelle Williams, Broadcast Meteorologist at KSNW-TV in Wichita, Kansas
We talk to Ronelle about why Walmart deserves credit while he was putting his first reel together, trading jokes with Al Roker, and being in the field during a hail storm.
Marshall Shepherd, Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Sciences and Geography at the University of Georgia
We talk to Marshall about getting stung by a honeybee, appearing in front of Congress on NASA's behest, and the ivory tower in science and academia. He was also a past AMS president and we talk about that leadership experience.
Albert Betancourt, Catastrophe Management Analyst at American Family Insurance
We talk to Albert about taking a roadtrip with his dog and discovering that insurance catastrophe modeling was his dream job, how he uses geographic informational systems (GIS), and why insurances companies buy reinsurance.
Elizabeth Austin, Forensic Meteorologist and CEO of WeatherExtreme
We talk to Elizabeth about the public speaking skills needed to give depositions and testimony in the courtroom, how she was able to start her own business while teaching snowmaking and avalanche control in Lake Tahoe, and the impact of weather conditions on litigation.
Elliot Abrams, Broadcast Meteorologist & Senior Vice President at AccuWeather (retired)
We talk to Elliot about about why human meteorologists won’t lose their jobs to computers, the stress of covering a major weather event, and how George Washington used a personal forecast to win the Battle of Princeton in 1777.
Mona Behl, Oceanographer & Associate Director NOAA's Sea Grant Program, University of Georgia
We talk to Mona about the first time she saw the ocean, using science to inform public policy choices, managing publicly funded research, and the mentoring tradition in Indian culture.
Tony Praino, Chief Engineer & Meteorologist at IBM Research in Yorktown Heights, New York
We talk to Tony about about the allied skills of engineering and programming for the field of meteorology, his early work on digital storage systems, and the implications of the acquisition of The Weather Company by IBM.
Jim Kurdzo, Radar Meteorologist at MIT's Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington, Massachusetts.
We talk to Jim about about the different programming languages used for radar analysis and algorithm development, and the occasional disconnect in radar meteorology between electrical engineering and atmospheric science.
Jen Henderson, Interdisciplinary Social Scientist at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences in Boulder, Colorado
We talk to Jen about her early training as a creative writer, her interest in the life of Dr. Tetsuya Fujita, and conducting focus groups with forecasters.
TRAILER
Learn all about the American Meteorological Society's newest podcast and meet some of the professionals working in weather, water, and climate sciences that you'll get to know in future episodes. Subscribe today in your podcatcher of choice!
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About the Team
KELLY SAVOIE (Co-Host) is the Director of Career Development at the American Meteorological Society (AMS) in Boston where she oversees all career development activities including podcasts, webinars, the career center website, certification programs, AMAs, virtual career fairs, and other initiatives. Growing up in New England, she enjoys swimming, hiking, cycling, and winter sports.
MATT MOLL (Co-Host episodes 65 to present) is the American Meteorological Society's Career Services Associate. At the AMS, he supports the certification programs and creates resources for individuals in all stages of their careers. Outside of AMS, Matt's interests include education, aviation and meteorology and he can usually be found enjoying all that New England weather has to offer with his family.
PETER KILLELEA (Sound Technician) is the Digital Media Support Specialist at the American Meteorological Society, where he provides technical support and assists the Webinar and Short Course programs.
PETER TREPKE (Editor, episodes 8 to present) resides in Los Angeles and is involved with media and entertainment of all kinds, including podcasts (like this one) and audiobooks, to TV and films. Website: www.PeterTrepke.com
STEVE SAVOIE (Theme Music) is a keyboard player, songwriter and vocalist who does solo, duo, and band performances. Steve is also a piano and vocal instructor at the Carver School of Rock.
BRANDON CROSE (Executive Producer and Guest Host epidsodes 1-64)
REX HORNER (Co-Host episodes 8 to 64)
JASON EMMANUEL (Co-Host and Editor, episodes 1 to 7)