A survivor's view from inside a tornado episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 18, 2026 · 12 MIN

A survivor's view from inside a tornado

from Short Wave

What’s the dumbest thing Perry Samson says he’s ever done? Getting caught inside a tornado.  But when you’re an atmospheric scientist who studies supercell thunderstorms—with a special interest in the ones that cause tornadoes—that sort of thing is a bit of an occupational hazard. Lucky for Perry, he also made a split-second decision while in the tornado that may be the smartest thing he’s ever done. So today on the show: What we can learn from nature at its wildest.Interested in more science behind the weather? Email us your question at [email protected] public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Aug 18, 2026

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A survivor's view from inside a tornado

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