Ep. #33 - Being In The Shadow w/ Eclipse Chaser Dr. Kate Russo

Episode 33: Being In The Shadow with Eclipse Chaser Dr. Kate Russo

 

Dr. Kate Russo (Pronounced Roo-so) - Author | Psychologist | Eclipse Chaser

Founder, Being in the Shadow

Only Australian member of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) Solar Eclipse Task Force 

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Website- http://www.beingintheshadow.com

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SHORT BIO

Dr. Kate Russo is an Author, Psychologist, Eclipse Chaser, and Founder of Being in the Shadow. Kate has now seen 13 total solar eclipses from 11 countries in her 24 years of chasing and will be an eclipse chaser for life. She has published three books on the experience of totality, leads niche eclipse tours, and is in demand as a speaker and in the media due to her passion for the awe and wonder of totality. From her exciting experiences and academic research insights, Kate will highlight how you can prepare for the most incredible show on earth.

Dr. Russo was backpacking for some time and was in the UK when she heard about the path of totality that would occur nearby. She traveled to the coast of France to get on the path despite not knowing much about it and described the experience as something you couldn't just sit and watch. The sky suddenly turns dark, the birds change their behavior, the temperature drops, more of the sun is covered, it gets eerie, and so many things happen at once. When you look up as the moon's shadow passes you, it looks like a hole in the sky. Totality feels like a lifetime, and you don't want it to end. Dr. Russo recalls feeling like a changed person after it's over, and there is a range of emotions. You feel insignificant but connected to something greater, and time is irrelevant. She describes that every continent has given her a different experience due to the time of day, elevation, and season. In Mongolia, she was part of a small tour walking up a hill, and you couldn't see anything man-made, just the landscape immersed in nature. 

Dr. Russo leads eclipse tours and firmly believes in letting participants, including herself, prepare for the event 15 minutes prior, letting everyone be caught up in the moment, and then reconvening with the group afterward. She recommends setting boundaries for that sacred space and a set time for that experience, which can range in the number of minutes, so it's best to take it in as much as you can. Dr. Russo admits it's not the time for deep thinking or logic but rather to celebrate. She tracks the weather two days in advance for a total eclipse to see clear skies. It's harder to pinpoint a location if it's a cloudy day. For an annular eclipse, cloudy skies are sufficient and won't affect your viewing location. Her experience organizing events and taking charge influenced her to write more guidance literature to encourage venturing into the unknown while on the ground. Her focus is evidence-based techniques and strategies, and she enjoys working with small rural communities who show their passion for the experience differently from city communities. This experience isn’t just an event but rather the heart and soul of a small community and a way to observe the rest of the environment that gives vital context to the eclipse experience.