We have a few surprises for our season 1 finale featuring Dr. Kaj Johnson, a geophysicist studying earthquakes remotely. Hear about Kaj's journey into the field, the connection between show choirs and teaching, listen in on a couple of potential new segments he promotes (including a drink of non-choice and a friendly competition), hear from a couple of new voices with familiar names - Cari Metz (our producer) and Betsy Leijas (our technical board operator), and stick around for Walther's Outlaws (our department band)...it's worth the wait.

Thanks to all of our listeners for sticking with us over the season, it has been so much fun getting to highlight so many great and interesting people in the field. I hope you join us again next season for new guests and stories (and maybe a new segment or two if Kaj has his way).

Special thanks on this episode to Cari Metz and Betsy Leijas for their contributions. Thanks, too, to Walther's Outlaws members - Kaj Johnson (vocals and guitar), Andrea Stevens Goddard (mandolin), Stuart Kenderes (banjo), Andrea Bridges (vocals), Jake Gearon (guitar), Mel Humbarger (bass), Arya Gotoh (vocals). Special thanks to Kyle Fulford for his technical expertise and leading the band recording. And thanks overall to the National Science Foundation for their financial support that makes the show possible.

Dr. Arndt Schimmelmann joins us today, a geochemist focusing on organics in both natural systems and when developing lab standards. Listen in to hear about a couple of close calls in the lab, exciting field work in caves and lakes in Vietnam, his well-known reference materials program (including a range of standards from foods to hydrocarbons to caffeine!), and his views on the current state of the public trust in science.

On the show today is Dr. Claudia Johnson, a geobiologist studying ecosystems of the past and present to understand what adaptations things like corals have made to survive environmental changes over geologic time. Hear about coral reefs and coral farming (or growing baby corals to then place in various spots in our oceans), the role of reefs in our daily lives (even when we don't realize it, like for fisheries, hurricane protection, and the global economy), how we are always evolving as learners and teachers, and the surprise appearance of scuba gear at the Oscars.

Joining us today is Dr. David Lilien, a glaciologist studying glaciers and ice sheets and how ice moves. Learn about party ice - popping and fizzy glacier ice, how ice flows and moves (and how we measure it!), what goes into a field excursion to study ice (like in Antarctica or Greenland), and mushroom hunting!

Joining us today is Dr. Chanh Kieu, an atmospheric scientist using modeling and machine learning to understand weather phenomena, particularly hurricane intensity and prediction. Listen to learn more about all that goes into weather prediction (and be thoroughly impressed that we can do what we can in that field!), the role of AI (artificial intelligence) in improving weather predictability, how you can think of training a model as building with LEGO bricks, and his transition from growing up in Vietnam to moving to Maryland.

On today's show we have Dr. Elizabeth Kenderes, an igneous petrologist interested in the stories that lavas and igneous rocks may tell about how or why a volcano erupted (or didn't!). Hear about some weird volcanoes that drew her into the field as a student, what makes a good gemstone for jewelry, underground mines and drilling blast holes, and fluid inclusions - literal pockets of fluid trapped in solid, crystallized rock!

On the show today is Dr. Simon Brassell, a molecular biogeochemist who specializes in organic matter and isotope geochemistry. Hear about his revolutionary work that has earned him the nickname "the Godfather of alkenones", his experiences at sea (including finding out about 9/11 while on a research cruise), the current uncertainties with US-based research cruises moving forward, and his favorite British cuisines.

We are back for the second half of our first season! Joining us to kick things off is Dr. Paul Goddard, a climate scientist and modeler who looks at how Earth may react to CO2 emissions and how we may combat some of those changes. Hear about geoengineering, or large-scale attempts to counteract anthropogenic climate change, Cincinnati chili (a warm-spiced chili with things from cinnamon to chocolate - but so, so good!), and a new way to think about golf course design. You can find more about Paul's work at http://climateengineering.indiana.edu/.