All Episodes
Supercomputer as stepping stone
“I was always interested in technology, ever since I was a little kid. I remember the first computer my dad bought us was an old Compaq and he thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread.”
-Bob Torgerson
Tracking bear dens with dogs and drones
” It’s a working dog that’s here to help keep you safe. And no one wants to pet your drone, you know? But they might want to pet your dog.” -Nils Pedersen
Identifying incompatibilities and resolving conflicts in research
“When I see people, I’d say maybe more senior personnel, get very angry about this, that, or the other, it almost comes out as like, an entitlement to that anger. ʼI have every right in the world to be this way,ʼ and there’s no longer any room to be like, ʼHm, maybe we need to take a step back.ʼ” -Jessie Young-Robertson
Navigating the last mile to deliver research results
“I think it’s something that you and I have in common—loving to do science but really wanting to see it connect with the people who need it.”
-Nancy Fresco
Alaska Voices Season 2 Coming Soon
The second season of Alaska Voices will be released December 1st with new episodes every Monday. Listen for your weekly dose of Alaskan lore, place-based knowledge, science stories, and climate adaptation.
Alaska Weather Voices – Episode 4: Reflections
This podcast miniseries focuses on the life and career of Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP)’s climate specialist, Rick Thoman. This podcast, hosted by Liz Carter, is made by ACCAP in partnership with Alaska Voices. In this episode Rick Thoman shares lessons learned throughout his time in Alaska. He offers advice on how to build trust and serve rural communities.
“Ultimately I feel like I’ve made a difference in a positive way and that’s a good feeling when you’re in your 60s … but y’know most of my career is behind me and to think I’ve made a positive difference is an important feeling for me.” – Rick Thoman
Alaska Weather Voices – Episode 3: Successes
This podcast miniseries focuses on the life and career of Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP)’s climate specialist, Rick Thoman. This podcast, hosted by Liz Carter, is made by ACCAP in partnership with Alaska Voices. In this episode Rick Thoman shares key career accomplishments, and several collaborators weigh in on what makes Rick such a trusted source of climate information in Alaska. The episode includes conservations with Gay Sheffield (University of Alaska Fairbanks, Bering Strait Sea Grant Agent), Diana Haecker (Nome Nugget, editor), Ed Plumb (National Weather Service, marine and coastal flood program manager), and Uma Bhatt (University of Alaska Fairbanks, professor of atmospheric sciences).
“There’s people with lots of questions. And people know for the weather and storms, everyone gets a service. You can pick up the paper, there’s Rick Thoman. Facebook, there he is. And we know that takes time.” – Gay Sheffield
Alaska Weather Voices – Episode 2: Career
This podcast miniseries focuses on the life and career of Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP)’s climate specialist, Rick Thoman. This podcast, hosted by Liz Carter, is made by ACCAP in partnership with Alaska Voices. In this episode Rick Thoman outlines the bulk of his career thus far, covering his time at the National Weather Service in Nome and Fairbanks as well as his transition to working for ACCAP in 2018. The episode delves in on defining moments that set the trajectory for his career and approach working with Alaska communications.
“Nome was my very first lesson in listening to what’s important to people as far as weather and climate impacts and the kinds of information that they need.” –Rick Thoman