Episodes

  • Mark McEwen’s retirement advice for News 6 Chief Meteorologist Tom Sorrells

    Mark McEwen’s retirement advice for News 6 Chief Meteorologist Tom Sorrells
    Jun 27 2024
    Retirement is a milestone many people look forward to, but it also begs the question, what next? Do you take longer naps? Travel? Spend more time with family and friends? The decision really comes down to the individual, but it’s always nice to have a little help from those who have been there and done that. Former CBS meteorologist Mark McEwen has had a storied career full of impact. He finished his broadcast career as an anchor at News 6 in the early 2000s following a major stroke. Now, two decades later, he is back, sharing his retirement advice with News 6 Chief Meteorologist Tom Sorrells during his final episode of Talk to Tom. “My advice is - stay busy. Find something whether it be March of Dimes, or soup kitchen, or whatever. You don’t want to sit on the couch,” he said, “I’m thinking of moving to Brooklyn and becoming an actor, I don’t know,” Sorrells said. McEwen said when he retired his wife told him, “You need to get out of the house.” So he decided to get into the classroom. “I substitute teach. I teach at Lake Howell High School, Winter Springs High School, Haggerty High School and Oviedo High School,” McEwen said. If it’s not teaching McEwen said, “Find something to stay busy.” We are all looking forward to whatever Sorrells chooses to do in this next chapter. If you would like to send your memories and well wishes to Tom, you can send them to memories@wkmg.com. To hear more retirement advice from Mark McEwen, and some of the incredible stories from his time in front of the camera, including why Tony Bennett gave him a painting of himself, why a country star commissioned a ring for him, and so much more check out Talk To Tom. You can download the podcast from wherever you listen to podcasts or watch anytime on News 6+.
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    25 mins
  • Solar eclipse: When Disney will experience a blackout

    Solar eclipse: When Disney will experience a blackout
    Apr 4 2024
    Central Florida won’t get a full solar eclipse on Monday, but one is coming and that means much of Central Florida, including Disney World will be plunged into darkness in the middle of the day. News 6 Chief Meteorologist Tom Sorrells talked to Derek Demeter, the Director of the Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust Planetarium at Seminole State College of Florida. “There’s going to be an eclipse that’s going to go right over Orlando, Florida in August 12, 2045,” Demeter said. He told Sorrells it would likely happen during the afternoon and, “It’s going to be one of the longest eclipses in a long time.” He explained the one in 2045 will go for 6 minutes and 30 seconds. Sorrells said experiencing a solar eclipse in person is unforgettable. He said he went to Greenbriar, Tennessee to experience it in 2017. “I went back home to my hometown to watch it because I knew it was coming. All of my relatives were like, ‘Really, you came home for this?’ ‘Well yeah!’ Then my mom who wanted to see me very badly was like, ‘Well, I’m glad you came home, but I can’t believe you came home just for the eclipse.’ I’m like, ‘Mom!’ So, she watched it with me outside and she burst into tears,” Sorrells said. When the moon steps in front of the sun and creates a false night in the middle of the day, Demeter said you can expect some unusual things to happen. “Temperature drops, you hear birds, you hear insects, it’s just really incredible, and one thing that people don’t understand, if you do get a clear sky, you have a 360-degree sunset,” Demeter said. So, imagine, being in the center of Magic Kingdom and the sky goes dark for more than 6 minutes. While that phenomenon is still 21 years away, Floridians can experience Monday’s partial eclipse from their own backyard or the parking lot at their job. Just make sure to grab a pair of glasses to protect your eyes. Or you can watch the livestream through the Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust Planetarium at Seminole State College. The planetarium also offers a lot of other engaging programs surrounding space. “Our most common show that we do is called Central Florida nights and that is essentially a guided tour of the night sky. So, we take a look at what currently is in the sky, constellations, planets, if there are any meteor showers or things like you know lunar and solar eclipses,” Demeter said. You can catch their next Central Florida Nights presentation on April 26. It starts at 8:30 p.m. and goes until 9:30 p.m. Make sure to get there early because the show often sells out. Demeter is an animated narrator and even works in a few jokes, making the tour of space fun for the whole family. Even after you step out of the planetarium, the fun doesn’t end there. “My favorite part too is they actually get to go outside with one of our telescopes and see some of the things they saw in the planetarium,” Demeter said. The cost is $6 for adults and $4 for students and seniors. Only cash and checks are accepted. Learn more about the eclipse, the planetarium and the planets that surround us on Talk to Tom. You can download the podcast from wherever you listen to podcasts or watch anytime on News 6+.
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    17 mins
  • Bottled water is draining Florida’s aquifer

    Bottled water is draining Florida’s aquifer
    Mar 7 2024
    A lot of people choose to drink filtered or bottled water to avoid the taste of the tap. James Adamski is a geology professor at Valencia College East in Orlando. He said the flavor, “all comes down to the chemistry of the water and the plumbing.” Though he said he understands people’s preference for bottled water, he also said pumping the water out of our natural springs and shipping it across the country is unsustainable, especially since we are already pulling so much water out of our aquifer for our daily use. “We are using it at a much, much, much, much, much, faster rate than nature can replenish it,” Adamski said. If we were keeping all the water for ourselves he felt things might be different. “If they were only bottling it for residents in Florida then maybe we wouldn’t see that much of a change,” Adamski said. If we keep pulling water from Florida’s aquifer at the rate that we are Adamski said we could end up with a bigger problem on our hands. “The springs, like Wekiwa Springs near my house, Blue Springs, Silver Springs, they all come from the same aquifer and if we use the water at a faster rate than it’s being replenished, then ultimately what we are seeing through our research is the spring discharge is declining at these springs.” He said over the last 20 years Wekiwa Springs has dropped below the preferred level 60 times and Rock Springs has fallen below that level 30% of the time. Adamski pointed out that a declining discharge could impact tourism as many people come to our state to enjoy our natural habitats. Over time he said it could also impact the quality of the water. “When you withdraw the fresh water from the aquifer, especially if you are more towards the coastal areas, and eastern Orange County, toward Tampa area, then the freshwater gets replaced by what we call saltwater intrusion, so overtime the aquifer gets saltier and saltier until it becomes unpotable.” Adamski did point out that bottled water makes up only a portion of the water pulled from Florida’s aquifer but said the combined withdrawals could leave a nasty mark on the aquifer which supplies about 90% of Florida’s drinking water. To learn more about Florida’s aquifer and how people are impacting our drinking water check out Talk to Tom. The podcast can be downloaded from wherever you listen to podcasts or watch anytime on News 6+.
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    20 mins
  • How to fly over Florida without leaving the ground

    How to fly over Florida without leaving the ground
    Feb 29 2024
    News 6 Chief Meteorologist Tom Sorrells took off, flew through the clouds, and conducted an emergency landing on the water, all without leaving the ground. He took his podcast, Talk to Tom, on the road to Lockheed Martin in Orlando and test-drove their Prepar3d flight simulation technology from a modified cockpit. Chris Metel is the Program Manager for Prepar3d. He said the technology has been an important tool for pilots and others interested in flight. “Flying is very expensive, this is cheaper, it’s safer,” he said. Metel said the software has been used to train people working with the government and in the commercial airline industry. “We have people using it from F35 pilots, learning about the airport, learning about the cockpit, to a private pilot who is learning to fly for the first time,” he said. Metel said it allows them to experience traveling through different weather conditions like rain, lightning, and forest fires before they ever have to fly through them in real life. It also prepares them for the unexpected. “You don’t want to practice an engine failure in a real plane, but you want to be prepared when that happens, and this gives you the opportunity to do that,” Metel said. Beyond the sky, Lockheed Martin said its technology is also being used in the classroom. “A lot of schools use it for STEM activities. We actually have a lab at the Orlando Science Center that is populated by Prepar3d, so students can learn about aerodynamics or about planes. Me personally, it helps get them interested in aeronautics and engineering and hopefully become part of our team someday,” Metel said. Learn more about Lockheed Martin’s unique technology on Talk To Tom. You can download the podcast from wherever you listen to podcasts or watch it anytime on News 6+.
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    17 mins
  • Florida company searching for great white sharks

    Florida company searching for great white sharks
    Feb 1 2024
    Several sharks have been spotted off the coast of Florida recently. That includes Breton, a 1,400-pounder, who pinged just north of Cocoa Beach last week. Dr. Harley Newton is the Chief Scientist and Veterinarian for the shark research group OCEARCH. She said Breton is just one of the 92 sharks her organization has caught, outfitted with a tracker, and released. Newton told News 6 Chief Meteorologist Tom Sorrells during a recent episode of Talk to Tom that OCEARCH wants to catch and tag eight more sharks, to reach its goal of 100. Newton said OCEARCH started tagging sharks in Cape Cod back in 2012. At that time she said they didn’t really know much about the oceans’ giants, but over the years they have been able to learn more about their migration, preferred habitats and diet. Part of that migration includes an annual trek around the Northeast to the Southeast coast of the U.S., which skirts Florida, and ultimately ends with them wintering in the Gulf of Mexico. Their travels can be tracked on the OCEARCH app and website. Newton said even though they have learned a lot since 2012 there is still more to learn, especially about reproduction. That’s why OCEARCH is looking specifically to catch and tag eight adult sharks that are within the reproductive stage of their life. She said it is no easy feat. “Weather is always a challenge — and it really is about having the right day on the water,” Newton said. But Newton said they have a great team. “We have an incredible master fisherman who looks at all the different aspects of oceanography and water temperatures and really picks the places where we want to go.” Newton said the goal is to share the information with other shark researchers so more can be done to protect Great White Sharks. She said OCEARCH’s most recent expedition left from Jacksonville and that they plan to open their global headquarters in that city in the near future. But their work will not be limited to the waters solely around the Sunshine State. In the Summer Newton said she will be heading over to explore the waters just outside of the Mediterranean Sea, not far from Spain and Ireland. Learn more about OCEARCH and their study of great white sharks on Talk to Tom. You can download the podcast from wherever you listen to podcasts and watch any time on News 6+. Just download the app for your smart TV to see every episode of the show.
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    22 mins
  • Space junk: Researcher says rocket launches are littering the air, is concerned about ozone layer

    Space junk: Researcher says rocket launches are littering the air, is concerned about ozone layer
    Dec 28 2023
    A record-breaking number of launches have happened on the Space Coast this year. That number is only expected to keep growing, as is the pollution the launches leave behind. Dr. Daniel Murphy with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said, “When the rockets burn up you get vaporized aluminum, you get vaporized copper, other metals, and that burn-up is happening at 40 to 80 kilometers, so well above 100,000 feet.” But, he said the vaporized metals don’t stay put. “We were finding products from the burnup of rockets, that happens much higher in the atmosphere down in the stratosphere at about 60,000 feet. So finding what’s left over of the burn-up at much lower altitudes than people expected I think,” Murphy explained. He said the research is new. “We made measurements on a NASA airplane from Fairbanks, AK last February and it was looking at the data from those flights that we really started recognizing these metals,” Murphy said. It’s not clear what it all means and Murphy said more research is needed. “We don’t think there is going to be impacts at ground level to people’s health and things, but what we are concerned about is that the stratosphere is the altitude where the ozone layer is and we don’t know for sure right now that there are any bad impacts from these metals, but it’s also a new thing to have found and we don’t know what the impacts are and I think there is always concern if you put some new material in at the same altitude as the ozone layer,” he said. According to Murphy, one of the next steps is studying the tropics, where he said scientists may discover particles from rocket launches are actually floating upward from the ground level into the atmosphere. To hear more about the space junk found in the air and how space companies are reacting, check out Talk to Tom. You can download the podcast from wherever you listen to podcasts or watch anytime on News 6+.
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    22 mins
  • Top 5 ways Florida wildlife stays warm in winter

    Top 5 ways Florida wildlife stays warm in winter
    Dec 28 2023
    When the weather drops below 70 degrees, Floridians are known for pulling out the boots and scarves. But alligators, snakes, manatees and spiders don’t have a winter wardrobe, so how do they stay warm? News 6 meteorologist Samara Cokinos went down the rabbit hole to find out and joined News 6 Chief Meteorologist Tom Sorrells on Talk to Tom to share the interesting and unusual ways they stay toasty. Spiders They do something similar to car manufacturers. “Spiders make their own so-called anti-freeze,” Cokinos said. “They have a chemical inside of their bodies that prevents ice from forming inside their bodies.” She also warns they can be squatters, “Starting in September and October they start to be more active, you’ll see them out making webs and stuff and then all of a sudden you will notice them in your home. They are trying to come inside because it is getting colder and they need a place to be for shelter and of course, if they lay their eggs, your home is their home.” Birds They are more like us than you think. “They actually shiver — those muscle contractions actually allow for their body to maintain some type of heat or make heat, kind of like when we shiver, same type of thing that they are doing,” Cokinos said. Alligators These reptiles take advantage of the sun. “If you ever see an alligator in the winter out in the middle of open land, in the sunshine, mouth wide open, that’s exactly what it’s doing,” Cokinos said. “It’s regulating its temperature, because they are cold-blooded reptiles, they like to bask in the sun to regulate their internal temperatures. It doesn’t get any more Florida than that does it? Snakes These cold-blooded creatures turn leaves into blankets. “If you are going to be collecting all the leaves that you just raked up, but they have been there for a few days, you may want to check that pile of leaves because snakes like to hide in those leaves because it also provides them warmth,” said Cokinos. She also said they are a bit less active during the winter months, but could also pop up from under a downed tree. Bears They get a thicker blanket, eat a big meal, and take a nap. Cokinos pointed out, they grow thicker fur and start chowing down. “You’ll notice they’re looking a little extra fluffy and that’s because they eat more to pack on the pounds, so when they are less active in the winter they can conserve a lot of that energy and use that stored fat for energy,” Cokinos said. She said they also hibernate, though they don’t have to sleep for as long as their counterparts up north because our weather is not quite as cold as some of the more northern states. To learn more about how Florida’s wildlife, including manatees, stay warm in the Winter check out Talk to Tom. You can download the podcast from wherever you listen to podcasts or watch any time on News 6+.
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    22 mins
  • Florida fishermen reeling in sharks, fish

    Florida fishermen reeling in sharks, fish
    Dec 7 2023
    Right after watching the Talk To Tom episode about great white sharks heading to Florida, fishing boat captain Allyn “Big Al” Graham reached out to the show to say he has reeled in a lot of blacktip and bull sharks in the Mosquito Lagoon. “We caught 18 bull sharks in the backwaters of Edgewater this summer, some of them were 8 feet long,” Graham said. So, News 6 reached out to him to learn more and see what is biting right now. Graham said that in all of his years fishing in the lagoon, he had never seen so many big sharks in the backwater and that reeling them in was tough. But, now that it’s winter, Graham said he and the people he takes out on the water are seeing more fish than sharks. He said right now he is catching mangrove snapper, black drum, whiting, sheepshead, ladyfish, redfish and snook. “Our lagoon is coming back to life” after nasty algae issues plagued Florida’s waterways, he said. As January approaches, Graham said clients can expect to catch more trout and he knows the right fishing holes to take people to, adding he’s not afraid to hop around if the fish are not biting. “I have the biggest flats boat in our county, 25-foot Carolina Skiff that floats with 7 people on it in 10 inches of water, and sometimes we are moving up in that 10 inches of water to get those fish,” Graham said. If you are interested in fishing the Mosquito Lagoon, you can learn more about Big Al’s Inshore Charter Service on “alk To Tom. You can download the podcast from wherever you listen to podcasts or watch any time on News 6+.
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    22 mins