GeoTrek

Sea-level rise has emerged as one of the greatest impacts of climate change. In this episode, Dr. Keren Bolter, a climate scientist from South Florida with a passion for sea-level rise education and communication, shares how communities can prepare for the impacts of this hazard. She shares that impacts may be more complex than people realize, but communities can find hope by planning ahead and ra...

Ice jam floods form when river ice jams along with pinch points and sharp turns in rivers after breaking up during warm or rainy weather. The ice jam acts as a dam, backing water up into riverine communities. This episode investigates the science and impacts of these unusual floods through interviews near the Pennsylvania-New York-New Jersey tri-state. Guests include Tom Vicchiariello, Director of...

It's amazing how much we rely on our phones and cell technology during major storms. In this episode, Jonathan Feuer, Vice President of Business Development for CellAntenna Wireless, shares insights about cellular technology with a special focus on natural disasters. He shares how Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) can be used to enhance cell service and gives advice on how homeowners, business own...

Leona Chereshnoski provides stories from one of the snowiest inhabited places on Earth, recorded at her family’s farmstead on the Tug Hill Plateau of Upstate New York. Leona provides practical insights related to the importance of removing heavy snow loads from roofs and winter driving safety. She also shares about the importance of snow in this region, as winter tourism is a large part of the loc...

German civil engineer Steffen Krei shares perspective on flood protection in Germany in this international episode of the GeoTrek podcast. This interview provides insights into Germany’s long-term flood records, major flood events, and efforts to protect the country in vulnerable ports like Hamburg. Mr. Krei also shares his personal reflections about growing up in East Germany, and how drastically...

Mark Rayome is the building code official in Camden, New York, a village in the heart of the snow belt that receives more than 200 inches of snowfall annually. This high-energy episode covers a wide variety of topics, including Mark's passion for history, cross-cultural experiences, building codes and waste water treatment. This interview is particularly applicable for people thinking about constr...

Don Gale and his wife Jodi have run Twin Maple SugarWorks in Lincoln, Vermont, since 1998. They produce certified organic, pure maple syrup in a 5200-tap sugarbush at the base of Mount Ellen. In this podcast, Don shares his wealth of experience to explain the intricacies of maple syrup production, including the impacts of weather and climate on this iconic regional product.

This is a question on a lot of people’s minds, as Christmas is right around the corner. Listen to this episode or read the article, What is the probability of a white Christmas this year? on geo-trek.com: https://geo-trek.com/blog/what-is-the-probability-of-a-white-christmas-this-year

Bonus episode: listen in as Geotrek guest host, Shaq Vaxter, interviews the Poor People's Campaign of Sacramento. Hear how they're working together with policymakers to develop solutions for the unhoused communities of California, and how they handled the pandemic to make sure the homeless were cared for.

This episode picks up with Megan's life in Guam, her adventures around the Tropical Pacific and Southeast Asia, and then her move to Death Valley, California, the site of the hottest recorded temperature on Earth. Megan shares about the beauty of Death Valley’s parched landscape, as well as a firsthand account of what it was like to feel temperatures reach 130F. She shares the tragic personal stor...

Adventurers and explorers, this episode is for you! Megan McAlonis Hernandez is a National Park Service employee who is currently stationed in New Mexico. For almost two decades, she has worked with the NPS, living in remote places like the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, and Guam. During that time, she has traveled extensively, visiting 35 countries and 46 states. This episode is great for adventure...

In Part 2 of this 2-part interview with Eleanor Kitzman, we discuss tree falls as a major hazard in windstorms, explore insights about hail as a major weather peril, and discuss the importance of disaster prevention. Kitzman is a lawyer, insurance executive, and entrepreneur, who lives near Austin, Texas. She is the former insurance commissioner for Texas and South Carolina.

In Part 1 of this 2-part interview with Eleanor Kitzman, we compare insights from the February 2021 Texas Freeze, discuss Kitzman’s journey into insurance, and give perspective on how to build better through the Fortified project. Kitzman is a lawyer, insurance executive, and entrepreneur, who lives near Austin, Texas. She is the former insurance commissioner for Texas and South Carolina.

Mostly recorded in the lobby of the Courtyard by Marriott hotel in Houma, Louisiana, on August 31 during Hurricane Ida, Hal interviews Marissa Moreno, General Manager of the hotel. The Marriott stood on relatively high ground and served as a refuge to local people who faced life-threatening flooding on the low-lying ground "down da bayou." This episode provides a great example of how professionals...

Growing up in the Everglades, Jennifer Tisthammer is now a public information officer with Miami Dade County and a doctoral candidate. Her lifelong relationship with South Florida gives her a unique perspective on the minute changes that have taken place in this important area, from climate change to invasive species. She'll also introduce us to micro-time periods.

Will Mizell, VP of People, at Waffle House, shares how Waffle House became such an integral part of disaster response. Mr. Mizell oversees Waffle House’s crisis response team and coordinates with teams in the field. We're also digging into the now-famous "Waffle House Index."

Melissa Moon is a storm chaser and mom based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. She shares her passion for tornadoes and severe weather, along with 18 years of insights into storm chasing. She currently works in the insurance industry, helping restore the lives of storm victims.

Ned Rozell is a science writer and adventure traveler who has lived in Interior Alaska for more than 30 years. In this episode, he shares stories on the impacts of a wide variety of disasters in The Last Frontier, including earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, heatwaves, extreme cold, and melting permafrost, a slow-motion disaster that occurs as frozen soil thaws in warming weather. Mr. Rozell has also...

☀️ Listen to our first full episode and interview, featuring Liz Chamberlain, a National Science Foundation postdoc, and scientist with extensive experience doing fieldwork in marine sedimentology. Liz shares insights from South Louisiana and Bangladesh—did you know that rivers naturally want to change their courses, meaning the infrastructure we build along rivers to control them is literally “fi...

Welcome to Geotrek! Hosted by Dr. Hal Needham and presented by CNC.