CURRENT SEASON
2026-2027
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Dr. Reed Timmer, Storm Chaser
“Dominate the Storm: A Heart-Pumping Evening with Reed Timmer, America’s Most Famous Storm Chaser.”
Having intercepted over 1000 tornadoes and a dozen powerful hurricanes since he started chasing 20 years ago, Reed Timmer is well-known as the most successful and extreme storm chaser in the world, and is one of the few people in existence to document both an F5 tornado, and the most devastating hurricane in U.S. history (Hurricane Katrina).
Reed's "hands-on" experience with a vast assortment of hazardous weather and natural disasters, as well as his extensive education in the science of meteorology, have made him one of the world's most respected experts on severe weather forecasting, safety, and survival. Reed is a strong advocate for extreme weather and disaster education and conducts storm spotter seminars for the National Weather Service, emergency managers, and the public. In 2015 he completed his Ph.D. in Meteorology.
As a star on Discovery Channel's Storm Chasers in 2008, Reed became the first person in history to capture High-Definition video inside a tornado. The eight-episode series had a record 19 million viewers during the 2008 season and was one of the highest rated shows on Discovery Channel. Reed has also appeared on all major news networks, including Good Morning America with Diane Sawyer, CNN with Wolf Blitzer, CBS, NBC, and The Weather Channel.
Reed is CEO of Weather Fusion, LLC, offering forensic meteorology and consulting services, and extreme weather media. His tornado, hurricane, and blizzard footage has been licensed to over 100 production companies and television networks since 1997 and has been seen by 100s of millions of people worldwide on television, internet, and mobile video devices. He is also the lead meteorologist for WarningAware.com, an extreme weather customized alerts company, and storm chaser for Accuweather.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Dexter Ingram, Counterterrorism
"Secrets and Statecraft: What Three Decades in National Security Taught Me About the History of Spying"
History books lie. Not always intentionally—sometimes the truth is just locked away in forgotten archives or purposely buried in redacted files. Behind every major world event lurks a shadow narrative. The "official story" you learned? That's the magician's trick designed to distract you from the real power players. Wars don't just happen. Revolutions aren't spontaneous. The truth is always messier than fiction—and can be infinitely more disturbing. Once you know what happened behind closed doors, history will never look the same again. Tonight we will hear about how a career in national security changed one man's perspective on history.
Dexter Ingram is a speaker with a unique perspective fusing STEM, Spy History, and Public Service at the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. He is a counterterrorism, counter weapons of mass destruction, and counter violent extremist strategist with over 25 years of experience. Dexter has led U.S. interagency delegations to Asia and Africa focusing on nuclear proliferation deterrence. His assignments have included serving as Senior Advisor to the Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, Senior CT Advisor to INTERPOL in Lyon, France; Senior Political Advisor in Helmand, Afghanistan; Deputy Director of the State Department's WMD Terrorism effort; International Counterterrorism Fellow at the National Defense University; and as a senior liaison to the FBI and DHS.
Dexter is the author of "The Spy Archives: Hidden Lives, Secret Missions, and the History of Espionage." Dexter's private spy collection combines historical CIA, KGB, Stasi, OSS, SOE, and French Resistance "real life" gadgets with fictional media memorabilia from James Bond.
Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Cpt. Tom Murphy (USN Ret.)
“Beyond the Trident:
A Navy SEAL's Search Through Trauma for Meaning in Life.”
Embark on an extraordinary journey through the life of this U.S. Navy SEAL as he transcends the depths of trauma to explore the essence of life. From the adrenaline-fueled world of SEAL operations to the introspective depths of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Murphy provides a rare glimpse into the dual nature of the military combat experience. Drawing upon the metaphor of a three-legged stool representing mind, body, and spirit, Murphy delves into the enduring impacts of trauma on each facet of our existence.
A retired Navy Captain, a combat veteran in Vietnam, an Olmsted Scholar, and a U.S. Navy SEAL for 25 years, Tom rose through the ranks to become the Commanding Officer of two different SEAL commands, including the much-publicized SEAL Team Six. His military career is marked by significant combat experience and leadership in high-stakes operations. After retiring, Murphy has focused on sharing his experiences and insights, particularly regarding trauma and recovery.
Tuesday, March 23, 2027
National Geographic Live
Dr. Lisa Briggs, Underwater Archaeologist
“A Pirate's Life”
Pirates might be reduced to a Halloween costume for some people, but they are a year-round fascination for archaeologist and National Geographic Explorer Lisa Briggs. We go on assignment with her to the Mediterranean Sea to explore how pirating shaped ancient cities. We also meet the icons of the Golden Age of Piracy, explore the “pirate code,” and then follow Lisa to the wreck of the most famous renegade, Blackbeard.
Lisa Briggs is an underwater archaeologist, archaeological scientist, and documentary filmmaker. She is best known for her work excavating shipwrecks and conducting scientific analysis on artifacts recovered from some of the world's most important underwater archaeological sites including Blackbeard's flagship, the Queen Anne's Revenge, the Bronze Age Uluburun and Cape Gelidonya shipwrecks of Turkey, the Hellenistic era Kyrenia ship of Cyprus, the Classical age Mazotos shipwreck, Cyprus, and the Renaissance period Gnalic shipwreck of Croatia. Her scientific research focuses on ancient biomolecules recovered from shipwrecks, including waterlogged grape seeds, olive stones, resins, and the invisible residues trapped inside of ceramic jars. Through her DNA analysis of shipwreck plant materials, Lisa attempts to trace the domestication and trade of important crops species throughout time.
Tuesday, April 27, 2027
Lisa Doughten
Director of the Financing and Outreach Division, United Nations OCHA
“Frontlines of Hope: International Disaster Response in an Uncertain World”
Lisa Doughten is a prominent figure in humanitarian financing and resource mobilization. Within the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Doughten has demonstrated a strong commitment to creating impactful partnerships and financing solutions to focus on disaster preparedness and response. Doughten will take us into the world of international disaster response and cover current hot topics impacting relief efforts in the Ukraine and the Middle East.
Lisa Doughten was appointed OCHA’s Director of Financing and Outreach Division in November 2022. Doughten brings over 30 years’ experience in humanitarian and development settings, with a strong commitment to creating impact through strategic partnerships and financing solutions, managing international operations and gender equality. Between 2008 to 2022, she served in various leadership roles in OCHA, UNICEF and UN Women building partnerships, financial support and advocacy for people affected by crises and poverty.
Prior to that, she focused on field operations through her work with the World Food Program (2004-2008) and the US Agency for International Development’s Disaster Assistance Response Team in the former Yugoslavia (1993-1998). She also worked for a private sector consulting firm, during which she designed and implemented disaster preparedness and response plans in Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Doughten, an American national, has an MSc in International Relations from the London School of Economics and a BA in International Studies from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
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