Girls Who Chase: Stories of Women in Weather & Storm Chasing – Détails, épisodes et analyse

GWC closes Season 2 with a very special episode. We had the opportunity to speak with three leaders who are all making significant contributions to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the weather space - and they’re tackling it from very different directions.

Dr. Stella Kafka is the Chief Executive of the American Meteorological Society.

Dr. Melissa Burt is an Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion in the Department of Atmospheric Science and College of Engineering at Colorado State University. She is also the Vice President for the non-profit 501(c)3 organization, the Earth Science Women’s Network, and a co-founder of Science Moms, a non-partisan group of climate scientists and mothers working to give our children the planet they deserve.

Dr. Kim Klockow-McClain is a Senior Social Scientist with the National Weather Service, and serves as the National Center for Environmental Prediction Coordinator for Social Science Applications.

References during show: American Meteorological Society: https://www.ametsoc.org/ AMS Annual Meeting 2024: https://annual.ametsoc.org/index.cfm/2024/ Clear Skies Ahead podcast: https://www.ametsoc.org/index.cfm/ams/education-careers/careers/career-guides-tools/all-about-careers-in-meteorology/clear-skies-ahead-podcast/

The Girls Who Chase Podcast is recorded and edited by Jen Walton. “Badlands” - our music - is by Lori Bailey and Inês Lobo.

“Motivation Orchestra” for Spring Training promo is licensed via Envato. Find out all about us and more at www.girlswhochase.com. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @girlswhochase. See our videos & podcast media on YouTube under Girls Who Chase Storms - youtube.com/girlswhochase Please support our important work on Patreon: www.patreon.com/girlswhochase

Karen Kosiba has always been fascinated by the world around her.  As a child she collected caterpillars, built model bridges, took lots of photos, and stayed up late watching lightning.  When she started college, she considered careers in architecture, patent law, and veterinary medicine, but ultimately decided that observational studies of severe weather (somehow) combined all of her interests. Karen now the Managing Director of the F.A.R.M. (Flexible Array of Radars and Mesonets) Facility and is an Adjunct Research Professor at the University of Illinois. Her research mainly focuses on the kinematics and dynamics of severe convective storms, characterizing the low-level wind structure in tornadoes, and understanding the boundary layer winds and small-scale structures in landfalling hurricanes. Key to her research is executing field projects to collect data that can be analyzed to better understand and predict these hazardous weather events.  A strong believer in experiencing weather from the inside of a mobile weather radar, she has participated as a radar operator, project scientist, and project leader in a multitude of field projects. She has collected data in over 100 tornadoes and has deployed radars in nine hurricanes. Additionally, she is passionate about science education, regularly participating in outreach activities at schools, museums, and festivals, and in media interviews.  She has a B.S. and an M.S. in Physics, an M.A.T in Teacher Education, and a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science.

A quick disclaimer about this interview, which was originally recorded in November 2022 –  while the project references are good, the timing on the projects is going to sound a bit off. Please take note of this when dates are referenced in the discussion. 

The Girls Who Chase Podcast is recorded and edited by Jen Walton. “Badlands” - our music - is by Lori Bailey and Inês Lobo. 

“Motivation Orchestra” for Spring Training promo is licensed via Envato.

Find out all about us and more at www.girlswhochase.com.

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @girlswhochase.

See our videos & podcast media on YouTube under Girls Who Chase Storms - youtube.com/girlswhochase

Please support our important work on Patreon: www.patreon.com/girlswhochase

Ginger Zee is the chief meteorologist at ABC News, reporting on the nation’s weather for “Good Morning America” and across ABC News broadcasts and digital platforms. She is also the managing editor of the climate unit at ABC News. Since joining ABC, Ginger – an Emmy award-winner – has covered almost every major weather event and dozens of historic storms. She broadcasted from the devastated Jersey Shore during Hurricane Sandy, the Colorado floods and wildfires, and covered the aftermath from tornadoes in Moore and El Reno, Oklahoma. In 2018, she was in the eye wall of Category 5 Hurricane Michael live in the Florida Panhandle and in the 2020 hurricane season, she told the stories of devastation from the record number of named storms. Ginger has storm chased since college and has a genuine passion for the atmosphere and a dedication to getting young people interested in science. She is the author of a trilogy for 8-12 year olds called “Chasing Helicity.” She is also the author of two bestselling memoirs, “Natural Disaster” and “A Little Closer to Home,” which feature her life and mental health journey. 

The Girls Who Chase Podcast is recorded and edited by Jen Walton. “Badlands” - our music - is by Lori Bailey and Inês Lobo. 

Find out all about us and more at www.girlswhochase.com. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @girlswhochase. See our videos & podcast media on YouTube under Girls Who Chase Storms - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8dosZVkS3PXHIO8XpjVt1g. Please support our important work on Patreon: www.patreon.com/girlswhochase

Raychel Sanner is an Emmy Award-winning storm chaser based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and is the co-founder of the chase group Tornado Titans. She first started chasing in 2003 and has documented hundreds of tornadoes across the Great Plains. She is a self-taught chaser, which has contributed to her uncanny ability to break down complex topics around weather forecasting. She is also the creator and curator of Titan U – a free resource library packed with educational videos and blogs about how to chase storms. Tornado Titans/Titan U: https://www.tornadotitans.com/titan-u/

Fix a Flat: https://www.fixaflat.com/  Viaero Wireless (eastern Colorado wireless service): https://www.viaero.com/ 

The Girls Who Chase Podcast is recorded and edited by Jen Walton. “Badlands” - our music - is by Lori Bailey and Inês Lobo. 

Find out all about us and more at www.girlswhochase.com. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @girlswhochase. See our videos & podcast media on YouTube under Girls Who Chase Storms - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8dosZVkS3PXHIO8XpjVt1g. Please support our important work on Patreon: www.patreon.com/girlswhochase

Names mentioned during the conversation: Tornado Titans: tornadotitans.com Mike Hollingshead: https://stormandsky.com/ Andy Gabrielson: Find the tornado on YouTube - RIP

Cameron Nixon: Twitter - @CameronJNixon 

Nicholas Isabella:  Twitter: @NYCStormChaser IG: @NYCStormChaser

Mike Scantlin: Twitter: @StormChaseTV & @thescantman  IG: @stormchasetv & @thescantman 

Skip Talbot: YouTube: Skip Talbot Storm Chasing Web site: http://www.skip.cc/chase/ FB: SkipTalbotsStormChasingChronicles Twitter: @skiptalbot Jennifer Brindley social & links: FB: https://www.facebook.com/FaceOfAStorm  IG: @jbrinubl Twitter: @JBePhotography 

The Girls Who Chase Podcast is recorded and edited by Jen Walton. “Badlands” - our music - is by Lori Bailey and Inês Lobo. 

Find out all about us and more at www.girlswhochase.com. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @girlswhochase. See our videos & podcast media on YouTube under Girls Who Chase Storms - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8dosZVkS3PXHIO8XpjVt1g. Please support our important work on Patreon: www.patreon.com/girlswhochase

Raychel Sanner is an Emmy Award-winning storm chaser based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and is the co-founder of the chase group Tornado Titans. She first started chasing in 2003 and has documented hundreds of tornadoes across the Great Plains. She is a self-taught chaser, which has contributed to her uncanny ability to break down complex topics around weather forecasting. She is also the creator and curator of Titan U – a free resource library packed with educational videos and blogs about how to chase storms. Tornado Titans/Titan U: https://www.tornadotitans.com/titan-u/

The Girls Who Chase Podcast is recorded and edited by Jen Walton. “Badlands” - our music - is by Lori Bailey and Inês Lobo. 

Find out all about us and more at www.girlswhochase.com. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @girlswhochase. See our videos & podcast media on YouTube under Girls Who Chase Storms - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8dosZVkS3PXHIO8XpjVt1g. Please support our important work on Patreon: www.patreon.com/girlswhochase

Jennifer Brindley Ubl is a storm chaser and professional photographer based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She saw her first tornado in 2007, and has been chasing – and photographing - full seasons with her chase partner Skip Talbot since 2011. They spend the spring months focused on storm chasing and tornado research in the United States. When she’s not chasing storms, Jennifer owns and operates a boutique Portrait Studio in Milwaukee.

Skip Talbot’s Storm Spotting Secrets: https://youtu.be/bq0-QXXtOro Pecos Hank: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAQpSHsgUcNt6uCOjpgD8kw Mike Hollingshead Forecasting 101: https://stormandsky.com/stormanalysis101 

Jennifer Brindley social & links: FB: https://www.facebook.com/FaceOfAStorm  IG: @jbrinubl Twitter: @JBePhotography 

The Girls Who Chase Podcast is recorded and edited by Jen Walton. “Badlands” - our music - is by Lori Bailey and Inês Lobo. 

Find out all about us and more at www.girlswhochase.com. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @girlswhochase. See our videos & podcast media on YouTube under Girls Who Chase Storms - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8dosZVkS3PXHIO8XpjVt1g. Please support our important work on Patreon: www.patreon.com/girlswhochase

Raychel Sanner is an Emmy Award-winning storm chaser based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and is the co-founder of the chase group Tornado Titans. She first started chasing in 2003 and has documented hundreds of tornadoes across the Great Plains. She is a self-taught chaser, which has contributed to her uncanny ability to break down complex topics around weather forecasting. She is also the creator and curator of Titan U – a free resource library packed with educational videos and blogs about how to chase storms.

Chasing and forecasting resources discussed on the show: Tornado Titans/Titan U: https://www.tornadotitans.com/titan-u/ Skip Talbot storm chasing videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkB7RBehEqHvsD60C1yfAAg Pecos Hank on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAQpSHsgUcNt6uCOjpgD8kw Stormtrack: https://stormtrack.org/community/

The Girls Who Chase Podcast is recorded and edited by Jen Walton. “Badlands” - our music - is by Lori Bailey and Inês Lobo. 

Find out all about us and more at www.girlswhochase.com. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @girlswhochase. See our videos & podcast media on YouTube under Girls Who Chase Storms - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8dosZVkS3PXHIO8XpjVt1g. Please support our important work on Patreon: www.patreon.com/girlswhochase

Melanie Metz, by her words, was born to chase tornadoes. With 20 years of storm chasing now under her belt – and a track record that makes her one of the best storm chasers out there – we don’t disagree. Melanie has had a passion for storms since she was young, and used to dream about tornadoes – even though she grew up in Arizona, which is better known for its epic lightning displays. She picked up photography in high school, and then started chasing and photographing storms after college. Melanie and her long-time chase partner Peggy Willenberg starred on the reality show “Twister Sisters,” which aired on Women’s Entertainment Network in 2007 and 2008. Peggy has since retired and Melanie has hit the road on her own (and was just nominated “2021 Storm Chaser of the Year,” in fact), but remains dedicated to encouraging women in chasing. 

Melanie Metz socials & links: https://www.melaniemetzstormchasing.com Twitter: @ MetzStormMedia IG: @ melaniemetzstormchasing FB: Melanie Metz Storm Chasing

Twisted Sky Tours - led by Shanda Hinnant, https://www.twistedskytours.com/index.html 

The Girls Who Chase Podcast is recorded and edited by Jen Walton. “Badlands” - our music - is by Lori Bailey and Inês Lobo. 

Find out all about us and more at www.girlswhochase.com. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @girlswhochase. See our videos & podcast media on YouTube under Girls Who Chase Storms - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8dosZVkS3PXHIO8XpjVt1g. Please support our important work on Patreon: www.patreon.com/girlswhochase

The Girls Who Chase Podcast is recorded and edited by Jen Walton. “Badlands” music is by Lori Bailey and Inês Lobo.

Find out all about us and more at www.girlswhochase.com. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @girlswhochase. See our videos & podcast media on YouTube under Girls Who Chase Storms - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8dosZVkS3PXHIO8XpjVt1g.

Please support our important work on Patreon: www.patreon.com/girlswhochase