Episodes

  • Life after Lake Powell: Is dead pool coming soon?
    Aug 6 2025

    As the water levels continue to drop at Lake Powell, the possibility of dead pool becomes more and more likely. As Royal Norman found out from Zak Podmore, the author of the book “Life After Dead Pool,” a trusted water system in the west begins to break down quickly.

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    21 mins
  • Understanding Arizona's Water Situation
    Jul 30 2025

    Water is Arizona's most vital resource. Sarah Porter, the Director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University, joins Royal Norman for an in-depth discussion on the complexities of water management in Arizona, discussing the role of the Kyl Center, groundwater issues, aquifer recharge, and the challenges facing the Colorado River. They also examine the positive strides Arizona has made in water stewardship and the innovative proposals to ensure a sustainable water future for the state.

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    32 mins
  • Gardening in the Arizona Desert with Angela Judd
    Jul 23 2025

    On this episode of Sonoran Sky, Royal Norman dives into the art of gardening in the challenging Arizona desert with expert gardener Angela Judd from Growing in the Garden. Angela shares her journey of mastering desert gardening, offers practical tips for beginners, and discusses essential topics like soil preparation, effective watering systems, and the best crops to plant in August. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting, this episode is packed with invaluable insights on how to make your desert garden flourish. Don't miss out on Angela's advice and expertise to help you achieve gardening success in the desert!

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    30 mins
  • The Soundtrack of the Weather with Rich Berra
    Jul 16 2025

    The weather has always had the power to inspire, and that's certainly been true with music. Ian Schwartz welcomes in Rich Berra from The Johnjay & Rich Show to discuss their favorite weather-inspired tunes. Plus, Ian gives us his winding journey to becoming a meteorologist.

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    28 mins
  • The guy who wants to cool Phoenix down
    Jul 9 2025

    Dave Hondula is the city of Phoenix Director of Heat Response. For more than a decade, he’s been trying to figure out how to keep people cool when summer temperatures soar in the Valley. Finally, last year, there was a hint of success as the death rate from heat drop slightly. But for Dave, it was only a start. Royal Norman and Pete Mangione talked with “The man who wants to cool Phoenix down.”

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    27 mins
  • Fishing Arizona with Johnny Johnson
    Jul 2 2025

    In a special Sonoran Sky and Extra Point crossover episode, Meteorologist April Warnecke and AZ Family Sports Director Mark McClune talk to legendary angler and TV host Johnny Johnson. They find out the wild road Johnny took to TV fame, his favorite spots to fish in Arizona, and how the weather impacts fishing.

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    47 mins
  • Here's why what we remember about the monsoon is probably wrong
    Jun 30 2025

    In this episode of the Sonoran Sky podcast, Royal Norman is joined by Dan Henz and Jonny Malloy from Maricopa County Flood Control to discuss the intricacies of Arizona's monsoon season. They talk about the unusual weather patterns, the impact of urban areas on weather, and how the monsoon season has evolved over the years...and the ways it hasn't. Both guests share their personal journeys into meteorology, influenced by memorable weather events, and highlight the wealth of data and resources available for tracking Arizona’s unique climate phenomenon. Tune in to gain insights into the science behind monsoons, the challenges in forecasting, the critical role of flood control in managing Arizona's weather risks, and why the expectation of a monsoon that produces more rain than the seasons of the past five years is rising.

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    31 mins
  • Paul Horton versus Hurricane Hugo
    Jun 25 2025

    For much of his young life, Paul sailed large boats in the Caribbean. He sailed to foreign countries and dozens of islands. And during one of those island stops, Paul came face to face with one of the strongest hurricanes of the last century. His survival story ignited his passion to make weather his career.

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    17 mins