Geeking Out About “Wicked Weather”

Guest: Dr. Alexander Gates, Rutgers University - Newark

Weather doesn’t just shape our daily plans — sometimes, it shapes the course of history. From floods that altered empires to storms that changed the outcome of wars, extreme weather has quietly (and sometimes violently) rewritten the human story. Today, we’re joined by Dr. Alexander Gates, professor at Rutgers University–Newark and author of the upcoming book Wicked Weather. In it, he explores the natural disasters that didn’t just make headlines, but changed societies, politics, and the world as we know it. In this episode, we’ll talk about the historical storms, droughts, and disasters that left lasting marks on civilization, what those events teach us about risk and resilience, and why understanding the past may be one of our best tools for preparing for the future.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction: Weather's historical influence on civilizations
00:32 - Dr. Gates’ background & inspiration for Wicked Weather
01:06 - How natural disasters shape human societies
03:29 - The significance of weather-related events like hurricanes, volcanoes, and earthquakes
06:37 - Most impactful natural disasters in history
07:30 - Volcanoes from 536-540 AD changing the global climate
09:24 - The hurricane that helped end the American Revolution
11:06 - Human decisions impacting disaster resilience
11:40 - Break 1
11:42 - Building resilience: lessons from historical events
13:19 - Climate change’s role in intensifying weather extremes
16:16 - Lessons from historical weather disasters on modern emergency preparedness
17:37 - How different types of disasters prompt societal change
20:44 - Responses to weather-related disasters in different countries
23:31 - Break 2
23:33 - The importance of societal response and adaptation
28:04 - The science behind storms and the importance of understanding natural causes
29:28 - Final reflections: societal resilience and future preparedness

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