Show Notes
In 1816, the world experienced something unthinkable: a year without summer. Mount Tambora's catastrophic eruption in Indonesia – the most powerful volcanic blast in recorded history – sent eighty times more ash than Mount St. Helens into the atmosphere, blocking sunlight globally and altering weather patterns worldwide. Thousands of miles from the volcano, people witnessed blood-red sunsets and snow falling in June. Crops failed, famine spread, and in the United States, entire populations migrated west to less-affected regions. The event reshaped America and built the Midwest into an agricultural hub. Join Emily Gracey and Brian Pietrus as they chat with Dr. Kevin Anchukaitis from the University of Arizona. He'll reveal how tree rings and paleoclimate data unlock this incredible story and explore Tambora's far-reaching effects on agriculture, migration, and even art. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More from Off the Radar
In this final episode of Off the Radar, host Emily Gracey reflects on how the podcast started back in April 2023, how it grew into more than 150 episodes, and the unexpected journey along the way. From learning how to tell stories and break down complex science, to memorable conversations with astronauts, experts, and friends, this show became something much bigger than originally planned. Emily also shares her gratitude for the guests, the weather community, and the team behind the scenes who helped bring Off the Radar to life - along with a hint at what’s coming next.
As hurricane season approaches, this repeat episode revisits one of our most memorable and moving conversations about the human impact of extreme weather. Emily goes off the radar with Traci Curry, director of the National Geographic docuseries Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time, and hears from Shelton Alexander, a New Orleans resident who survived the storm inside the Superdome and later captured his experience in a powerful poem. It’s a sobering reminder of how these storms shape lives, and why those stories still resonate today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Adam Met, best known as the bassist for chart-topping band AJR, is as active offstage as he is on it. In this repeat episode, Emily revisits her conversation with the climate advocate, nonprofit founder, Columbia University lecturer, and author of Amplify. Together, they explore how music and art can drive real-world change, the urgency of the global climate crisis, and what it will take to hold corporations accountable before it’s too late. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In Part 2 of our Earth Day special, we're returning to Niagara Falls, NY, where residents of the idyllic-sounding Love Canal community confronted tragedy. Last week, we talked to toxicologist Stephen Lester, who helped the residents study Love Canal when the government refused to help them. This week, we're talking to Luella Kenny. She's a former Love Canal resident who lost her son after he was born with health problems due to environmental pollution. Luella turned her grief into determination, dedicating herself to a life of activism. She's committed to making sure no one else gets sick from corporate irresponsibility and government obstruction. Guest hosted by Brian Pietrus!
For Earth Day this year, we're heading to Niagara Falls, New York, where the idyllic-sounding Love Canal community holds a dark secret: a neighborhood was built on top of a toxic waste dump. Residents were lied to. Adults got sick, babies were born with unbelievable health problems, and the government spent years trying to conceal the truth.