Short questions with Dana Perino

July 26, 2023 at 11:59 AM EDT

This week, in her regular "Short questions" series for Fox News Digital, Dana Perino talks with Janice Dean, meteorologist, mom, author — who reveals why she's trying to be a hope for others.

You've seen us on screen, but have you ever wondered what we're like off-camera?

For the last few months, I’ve enjoyed checking in with some of your favorite Fox personalities to learn more about who they are behind the scenes.

What's the one thing Jesse Watters couldn’t live without? What's Bill Hemmer’s favorite Halloween costume? And what's sitting on Greg Gutfeld’s nightstand?

But that's not all! The fun is just getting started.

This week we're excited to shine the spotlight on Janice Dean. She joined Fox News Channel in January 2004 and currently serves as senior meteorologist for the network. In addition, she is the morning meteorologist for "Fox & Friends" (weekdays 6-9 a.m. ET).

Her personal memoir, "Mostly Sunny: How I Learned to Keep Smiling Through the Rainiest Days," came out in 2019, and in 2021, she published "Make Your Own Sunshine: Inspiring Stories of People Who Find Light in Dark Times."

P.S. We have so much more in store for you. Stay tuned each week for new editions of "Short Questions with Dana Perino" — and if there’s a question you want answers to or a suggestion for the person I should interview next, leave a note in the comments section below!

JD: Well, after being in a rain deficit here in the Northeast, we just got through a record-breaking flooding event, and we’re expecting another batch of wet weather later this week …

I feel like we’ve had a lot of weather extremes lately, from the wildfire smoke to the record-breaking heat across the South. It’s certainly keeping us busy in the weather department.

JD: Hard to put it in one word, but "grateful" comes to mind. These are selfless men and women with serving hearts who decide to run into danger when others are running away from it.

In my opinion, firefighters are not compensated enough for the level of personal risk they face. It really is a calling, because they are clearly not doing it for the money.

Here in the New York area, our first responders who survived 9/11 are still getting sick from being down at Ground Zero, and that is going to be a challenge in the years ahead.

It’s something I worry about with Sean, and he does have some health challenges that are now just showing up two decades later from digging through the ash and rubble trying to find the remains of his friends who died that day.

JD: Social media has been both a blessing and a curse. I love that you can get the word out quickly when it comes to weather events, being able to show the video aftermath of a storm that went through — but that can also lead to disinformation and confusion, which in my business can sometime mean life or death.

You want to make sure people are getting the most accurate information for themselves and their families when it comes to a potentially life-altering storm impacting their area.

JD: Hurricane Sandy was one of the biggest weather events I’ve ever covered, and the forecast was very accurate many days out.

I was here at work for many days while my husband had to balance doing his job and taking care of the kids, which was challenging personally, but I would say covering Hurricane Katrina was the most memorable storm.

I remember going to bed the night before it strengthened into a monster Cat 5 in the Gulf of Mexico and having a lump in my throat every time I went on air to talk about the dire forecast, knowing it would be catastrophic and would kill people.

JD: I have never been out in the field covering a hurricane or a tornado — and to be honest, I don’t feel the need to.

Even though there is value in showing what’s happening outside as it’s happening, I feel it’s my primary job to warn people not to go outside and put yourself in danger. It would be hypocritical to not take my own advice.

JD: One of the best decisions I’ve ever made is revealing my MS diagnosis despite many telling me not to.

I’m someone who prides myself with being honest in my life and to the viewers. Having MS is a very scary disease because there are a lot of unknowns, and there’s a great deal of stigma still attached to it.

When I was newly diagnosed, I remember yearning for some good news — to see people doing well despite the illness, and have a glimmer of hope that I might be OK.

Almost 20 years later, I’m trying to be that hope for others, and I’ve had so many people tell me that it helps them, seeing me still doing what I love despite the challenges and living life to the fullest.

JD: We need to change this, Dana. You need to come to the Kentucky Derby at least once!

Favorite Derby hat — this is a tough one. It’s like picking my favorite child. I’m really lucky because the milliner who designs my hats is now a really great friend. Her name is Christine Moore, and she truly has a gift for designing hats that fit the person.

I will say the hat that has the most sentimental value is the one she named after me because people started calling her immediately after they saw me wearing it on TV!

JD: Oh, wow. Good question. We always talk about the drinks. The Mint Julep has been the traditional beverage of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby, but the food is really incredible, too.

The southern deviled eggs are always delicious, but a couple of years ago I was introduced to something called Kentucky Benedictine spread.

It was created in Louisville Benedict’s restaurants over a century ago and it’s really easy to make (and delicious): cucumber, cream cheese, onion dip mixed together.

Tastes great dipping veggies or on a sandwich. Sounds weird but it's so good.

JD: Yes! I do bet. Not a lot, though. I usually bet on the horses that I have a connection to — for example, if I interview a trainer, owner or the jockey of a horse while I’m at the track, I will always bet on them to win. Usually a $5 bet.

One year I did a trifecta bet using the horse trainers/owners that I had talked to during "Fox & Friends" and I won quite a bit! But that’s never happened again.

JD: If you’re thinking of having kids, don’t wait. Just go for it.

I wish I had started earlier (having a family) because I think I would have had more children.

We started pretty late in the game. I was 39 and 41 when I had my boys. Of course, I wouldn’t change it for the world, but there’s always something that might postpone having children like career aspirations, or not having enough savings or the right house, etc.

But I always tell women don’t put it off. Things will eventually fall into place.

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To read all of Dana Perino's earlier "Short Questions" interviews for Fox News Digital, check out this (long) list!

For her interview with Charles Payne, click here.

For her interview with Trey Gowdy, click here.

For her interview with Johnny "Joey" Jones, click here.

For her interview with Bill Melugin, click here.

For her interview with Jimmy Failla, click here.

For her interview with Tyrus, click here.

For her interview with Ainsley Earhardt, click here.

For her interview with Lawrence Jones, click here.

For her interview with Dr. Arash Akhavan, click here.