Disaster Discussions Podcast
Podcast Overview
Disaster Discussions is the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety’s (IBHS) podcast exploring the science behind natural hazards, disaster risk, their impact on the built environment – along with real-world solutions that strengthen resilience.
Each episode brings together IBHS researchers, industry partners, and subject-matter experts for in-depth discussions on reducing damage from severe weather and improving how homes, businesses, and communities are built, maintained, and protected.
From hurricane and hail to wildfire and wind, Disaster Discussions examines lessons learned from recent disasters and highlights innovations in building codes, construction practices, and public policy,
Whether you’re a homeowner, insurer, builder or policymaker, this podcast connects the dots between science and solutions- helping you better understand and prepare for the risks of tomorrow.
What You’ll Hear
- Expert insights from IBHS researchers and industry leaders
- Real-world analysis of recent disaster events
- Behind-the-scenes looks at IBHS field and lab research
- Practical strategies to reduce damage and improve resilience
- Conversations on building codes, standards, and policy
About the Host
Rachael Penton Gauthier is a meteorologist and science content producer at the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). With more than a decade of experience in media and hosting, she brings a clear, engaging voice to the complex topics at the intersection of weather, science, and the built environment.
As the host of Disaster Discussions Podcast, Rachael guides conversations with IBHS researchers, industry experts, and policymakers—translating technical research into accessible insights and real-world applications. Her background in meteorology and storytelling helps bridge the gap between scientific discovery and practical action, making each episode both informative and relevant for a wide range of audiences.
Episodes by Past Seasons
Weather, Research, & Resilience: 2024 Disaster Discussions Recap (Jan 2025)
Guests: Disaster Discussions guests from throughout 2024
Guests: Dr. Murray Morrison, IBHS Managing Director of Research and Steve Hawks, Senior Director for Wildfire
Guests: Dr. Murray Morrison, IBHS Managing Director of Research and Steve Hawks, Senior Director for Wildfire
Guests: Dr. Geoff Boughton, Adjunct Associate Professor at the James Cook University Cyclone Testing Station and Dr. Korah Parackal, IBHS Research Engineer and Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the James Cook University Cyclone Testing Station
Combating Conflagration in Communities: The Wildfire Prepared Neighborhood Standard (April 2025)
Guests: Dr. Ian Giammanco, IBHS Managing Director of Standards and Data Analytics and Lead Research Meteorologist and Evan Sluder, Research Project Engineer
Hail as America’s Loss Driver & Studying a Significant Hail Event in Rock Hill, SC (May 2025)
Guests: Jake Sorber, IBHS Research Project Scientist
On the Radar: All Hail the ICECHIP Field Campaign (May 2025)
Guests: ICECHIP scientists
Assessing Your Disaster Risk with Geotrek’s Hurricane Hal (June 2025)
Guests: Dr. “Hurricane Hal” Needham of Geotrek
Crushing It: ICECHIP Takes a Giant Leap Forward in Hail Science (July 2025)
Guests: ICECHIP scientists
Summer of Science: 2025 IBHS Interns and Fellows, Part 1 (July 2025)
Guests: IBHS summer interns
Summer of Science: 2025 IBHS Interns and Fellows, Part 2 (July 2025)
Guests: IBHS summer interns
Guests: Josh Morgerman, Storm chaser
Hurricane Sally Takes Aim at Alabama: Analyzing FORTIFIED Performance Proof Points (Sep 2025)
Guests: Mark Fowler from the Alabama Department of Insurance and Dr. Lawrence Powell from the University of Alabama’s Center for Risk and Insurance Research
Crafting Resilience: KB Home’s Journey to Wildfire Prepared Neighborhood (Oct 2025)
Guests: Steve Ruffner, KB Home’s President and Regional General Manager
Guests: Dr. Michael Gollner, UC Berkeley Associate Professor and Deb Faculty Fellow from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Dr. Wuquan Cui, Postdoc at UC Berkeley
Guests: Dr. Nathan Kreisberg, Senior Research Scientist for Aerosol Dynamics Inc, Dr. Allen Goldstein, Professor for the Dept of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Dept of Environmental Science, Policy, & Management, and Michael Milazzo, Graduate Student Researcher & PHD Candidate, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Calm After the Storm: Growing FORTIFIED in Oklahoma (Dec 2025)
Guests: Scott McCollum Sr, Fortified contractor and Master Haag Certified Inspector
Research and Operations: On a Tornado Damage Survey Together (Feb 2024)
Guests: John Quagliariello and Matt Gropp of the Columbia, SC National Weather Service office and Dr. Ali Merhi
Unacceptable Loss – Demanding More from Building Performance (March 2024)
Guests: Dr. David Roueche, Auburn University
Rating the States 2024 (May 2024)
Guests: Dr. Ian Giammanco, IBHS Managing Director of Standards and Data Analytics and Dr. Milad Shabanian, IBHS Codes and Standards Engineer.
Hurricane Ready with Bill Read (June 2024)
Guests: Bill Read, former director of the National Hurricane Center
One Hail of a Trip: Recapping the 2024 Hail Field Study (July 2025)
Guests: IBHS research scientists Dr. Ian Giammanco, Brenna Meisenzahl, and Jake Sorber
Using Science to Defend Your Home: The FORTIFIED Standard (Aug 2025)
Guests: Fred Malik, Managing Director of the FORTIFIED Program
Breaking the Chain of Fire: Wildfire Research & the Pathway to Wildfire Ready (Sep 2025)
Guests: Dr. Faraz Hedayati, IBHS Lead Research Engineer, Dr. Xareni Sanchez Monroy, IBHS Research Scientist
From Science to Solutions: Advancing Resilience Through Public Policy and Investments (Oct 2025)
Guests: IBHS General Counsel Michael Newman and IBHS Public Policy Associate Manuela Ekowo
Weathering the Storms: Small Business Resilience and Commercial Lines Mitigations (Nov 2024)
Guests: Insurance Information Institute, U.S. Small Business Administration, and Chuck Miccolis, IBHS Managing Director of Commercial Lines
The Art of Communicating Science: Messaging Hurricane Helene (Dec 2024)
Guests: Dr. Ian Giammanco, IBHS Lead Research Meteorologist and WCNC Chief Meteorologist Brad Panovich
Don’t Let Winter Put You on Ice – Prepare Your Homes & Businesses (Jan 2023)
Guests: Anna Midgley and Brian Schwab of Western National Insurance
Are We Setting Ourselves Up for Disaster? (Feb 2023)
Guests: Dr. Ilan Kelman, University College London
Home Resilience and Real Estate: What’s It Worth to You? (March 2023)
Guests: Scott Wurtzbacher, Real Estate Broker
Reducing the Risk: Strategies and Solutions for Wildfire Mitigation (April 2023)
Guests: Steve Hawks, IBHS Senior Director for Wildfire
Committed to Resilience: Alabama and the FORTIFIED Program (May 2023)
Guests: Mark Fowler, Alabama Department of Insurance Commissioner
On the Radar – Extreme Weather of 2023 (June 2023)
Guests: IBHS Lead Research Meteorologist Dr. Ian Giammanco and Senior Meteorologist Sarah Dillingham
Dollars & Disasters: The Value of Resilience (July 2023)
Guests: Dr. Kevin Simmons, Professor, author, and economist
The Fifth Season: How Hurricane Forecasting Informs Industries (Aug 2023)
Guests: Dr. Phil Klotzbach, Senior Research Scientist with the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University
On the Radar – Insights on the Lahaina Wildfires (Sep 2023)
Guests: Dr. Ian Giammanco, IBHS Lead Research Meteorologist and Steve Hawks, IBHS Senior Director for Wildfire
Wildfire Risk Rising – There’s More To Be Done Oct 2023)
Guests: Yana Valancovich, University of California
Water, Water, Everywhere: Pioneering Observations of Wind-Driven Rain (Nov 2023)
Guests: Dr. Ali Merhi, IBHS Research Engineer
1-Year Anniversary Podcast Top 5 (Dec 2023)
Guests: Disaster Discussions guests from 2023
IBHS & NOAA – Partnering Pathways to Resilience (Oct 2022)
Guests: Dr. Sarah Kapnick, Chief Scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Back to the Future of Hail (Nov 2022)
Guests: Dr. Ian Giammanco of IBHS and Dr. Julian Brimelow of the Northern Hail Project and Western University
Severe Local Storms Series: Are You Talking to Me? (Nov 2022)
Guests: Dr. Makenzie Krocak, Research Scientist with the OU Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis and CIWRO/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Severe Local Storms Series: EF-Scale, It’s Time for an Upgrade (Nov 2022)
Guests: Dr. Tanya Brown-Giammanco, Chair of the EF Scale Subcommittee
Severe Local Storm Series: Setting the Standard for Wind (Nov 2022)
Guests: Jim Ladue, NIST
Severe Local Storms Series: I Spy with My Little Radar…Hail (Nov 2022)
Guests: Dr. Matthew Kumjian, Penn State University
It Only Takes One: Recapping Hurricane Ian & the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season (Dec 2022)
Guests: Dr. Rick Knabb, The Weather Channel