Off the Radar

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The Best of 2025: Off the Radar Year-End Special Dec 30, 2025

Show notes

It's been a monumental year, both for weather and for Off the Radar. From Hurricane Melissa's record-breaking assault on Jamaica to devastating Texas floods, from NOAA layoffs to groundbreaking AI forecasting models, 2025 reminded us how powerful and vulnerable we are when it comes to our changing climate.

In this special year-end episode, host Emily Gracey sits down with associate producer Brian Pietrus to count down their favorite episodes of 2025. They revisit the conversations that stuck with them, the research that blew their minds, and the projects that deserve far more attention.

It's also been an award-winning year for the podcast. Off the Radar took home a national Headliner Award for Best Information Podcast, and Emily Gracey won the Women's Podcast Award for Best Science Podcast Host!

Stay tuned until the very end to hear Emily's absolute favorite project of the year - the moment that resonated most in a year of extraordinary science and storytelling.

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'Twas the Week Before Christmas at Off the Radar Dec 23, 2025

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Happy Holidays! Here's a special Christmas message from Off the Radar host, Meteorologist Emily Gracey.

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The Drake Passage: From Ship Graveyard to Influencer Destination Dec 16, 2025

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The Drake Passage, a 600-mile stretch of ocean between South America and Antarctica, is one of the most dangerous bodies of water on Earth. With waves that can exceed 40 feet and a history littered with shipwrecks, it's claimed the lives of an estimated 10,000 sailors. Yet today, thousands of tourists willingly cross it every year on their way to Antarctica, documenting the experience with hashtags like #DrakeShake and #DrakeLake.

In this episode, we explore what makes the Drake Passage so treacherous and why it's become a rite of passage for modern adventurers. Travel influencer Alyssa Ramos, who has crossed the Drake eight times, shares what it's really like aboard a ship battling these notorious waters. Then, marine meteorologist Alvaro Scardilli from the Argentine Navy breaks down the atmospheric forces and ocean dynamics that create some of the most volatile conditions on the planet.

From its days as a ship graveyard to its current status as a bucket-list destination, this is the story of the Drake Passage.

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The Science behind Red Light Therapy Dec 09, 2025

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Red light therapy masks are everywhere on social media - glowing, slightly terrifying, and according to influencers, life-changing. But beyond the hype, there's legitimate science here: specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light can penetrate skin tissue, boost cellular energy production, and potentially speed healing and reduce pain. In this episode, meteorologist Emily Gracey explores the physics behind red light therapy and investigates whether it lives up to its promises. Joining her is Dr. Zakia Rahman, Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Stanford University School of Medicine, who breaks down which benefits have solid research backing them and which claims need more study. They discuss the cellular mechanisms at work, how to use red light responsibly without getting ripped off by overpriced devices, and the critical question: given our history of getting "harmless" light exposure wrong, from X-rays to radium to tanning beds, should we be concerned about long-term effects we don't yet understand? Whether you're curious about adding red light therapy to your routine or just want to understand the science behind the glow, this episode separates evidence from marketing in the booming world of light-based wellness.

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The Dust Bowl Dec 02, 2025

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In the 1930s, the Great Plains transformed from a land of promise into an apocalyptic landscape of suffocating dust storms. For nearly a decade, massive black clouds swept across 150,000 square miles of Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Colorado, and New Mexico, turning day into night and forcing families to abandon their homes. Dust storms lasted for days at a time, reducing visibility to zero. People coughed up clumps of earth and developed "dust pneumonia," while livestock died with inches of dirt lining their digestive tracts. But how did this happen? And more importantly, could it happen again? We speak with Dr. Jeff Lee of Texas Tech University and Dr. Thomas Gill of the University of Texas at El Paso to explore the causes of this catastrophic period in American history, how the Dust Bowl reshaped the nation, and what vulnerabilities we still face today.

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Happy Thanksgiving! Nov 25, 2025

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Here's a special message from OTR host, Emily Gracey.

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The Forecast for your Lungs Nov 18, 2025

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Dr. David Beuther, a pulmonologist, reveals how climate change is creating a quiet respiratory health crisis - one where patients with lung disease are increasingly trapped indoors by poor air quality. In this conversation, we explore the growing impact wildfire smoke, extended pollen seasons, and shifting weather patterns are having on our ability to breathe. Dr. Beuther shares practical strategies for protecting lung health, from choosing the right air filters to understanding air quality forecasts, and discusses how he advises patients about the connection between climate change and their symptoms. This isn't a distant environmental threat; it's happening now, in doctors' offices and homes across the country, affecting millions of people who just want to take a breath of fresh air.

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The Space Debris Dilemma Nov 11, 2025

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In January 2025, astronomers mistook Elon Musk's space-launched Tesla Roadster for a asteroid. It took seventeen hours to realize the "near-Earth object" was actually a seven-year-old sports car orbiting the Sun.

We're losing track of what we've sent into space.

This week, Emily sits down with Dr. Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics who has tracked every rocket and satellite launched since the 1940s. A decade ago, there were 1,000 satellites in orbit. Now there are 12,000. In ten years, we could hit 100,000.

Dr. McDowell explains what happens when these objects die: atmospheric burn-up, ocean crashes, graveyard orbits, or trajectories into solar orbit. He discusses why our regulations—rooted in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty—can't keep pace with mega-constellations, and why we need international cooperation and updated policies.

We explore the real risks: collision probabilities in crowded orbits, the environmental impact of using our atmosphere as an incinerator, and public safety concerns around uncontrolled reentries. Dr. McDowell shares his vision for sustainable space practices, including an orbital "recycling plant."

The space debris dilemma isn't just about what's up there—it's about what comes back down, and whether we're ready for it.

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iCyclone: Inside the World's Deadliest Storms with Josh Morgerman Nov 04, 2025

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When Hurricane Melissa, a catastrophic Category 5 storm with 185 mph winds, slammed into Jamaica last week, the world's top hurricane chaser Josh Morgerman was there by choice. For 36 hours after the eyewall passed over him, he went silent, leaving his followers worried and waiting.

In this episode, Emily sits down with Josh to explore his incredible three-decade career chasing more than 80 hurricanes and typhoons around the globe. From his early days as a storm chaser to his terrifying experience inside the eye of Hurricane Dorian, Josh shares what drives him to pursue these deadly storms and what it's really like when you're standing in the path of nature's most powerful force.

Plus, hear what happened in Jamaica as Josh intercepted what may be the mightiest hurricane he's ever witnessed.

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Fearing the Weather: From Trauma to Recovery Oct 28, 2025

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Have you ever felt anxious about the weather, or wondered if you should cancel plans due to the forecast? You're not alone. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Millicent Rose, a Professor of Clinical Psychology at Pepperdine University, to explore the often-overlooked intersection of weather and mental health. Dr. Rose discusses the causes behind weather-related fears, phobias, and trauma, and explains the various treatment options available for those who experience debilitating anxiety when severe weather threatens to strike. She offers a surprising perspective on how the weather is communicated during dangerous situations, revealing what meteorologists and emergency officials are getting wrong when it comes to addressing the mental wellbeing of those in harm's way. Whether you struggle with weather anxiety yourself, know someone who does, or you're a weather professional looking to better serve your community, this conversation offers practical insights, hope, validation, and a roadmap toward finding peace of mind.

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