Episode 64: Mike McCall

Host Dave Fiore speaks with Mike McCall, chief meteorologist at WCTV, a position he has held for more than 30 years.

Mike caught the weather bug in 1977 at age 12 when a legitimate snow blanketed his hometown of Tampa, and he says everyone lost their minds. To encourage his interest, his mom arranged a trip to a local TV station where Mike met the man who would offer him a job a decade later after he earned his meteorology degree from Florida State.

Another lifelong passion was ignited around the same time when Mike noticed an employee air drumming to the thumping music at a local skating rink. He got a snare drum the next Christmas, started taking lessons and was soon rocking out to Van Halen and Styx. Mike’s love of percussion paid off in other ways as well as it led him to the FSU Marching Chiefs where he met his wife, Mallory, on the Big 8 drumline.

Mike shares candidly about the emotional stress of his profession, being wrong sometimes and dealing with the helpless feeling of being right but knowing people are still going to get hurt.

Finally, Mike talks about his dreams for the future, which includes staying in front of the green screen during the week and maybe finding a gig in an ‘80s cover band on the weekends.

This episode is sponsored by Barineau Heating and Air Conditioning.