Nick Kosir never planned to become the Dancing Weatherman. The Fox Weather meteorologist was just trying to hit a quota. In 2019, his bosses at Fox 46 in Charlotte handed down an assignment that sent the whole newsroom into shock: post 12 times a day on social media. Most people balked, but Nick embraced it — until one afternoon, one nap, and one unrehearsed dance video later, his phone woke him up before he did.
Nearly 15 million followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube later, he’s still at it. Earlier this year, he moderated two panels at the Webby Awards’ Creator Weekend and landed two nominations for slipping CORTIS song lyrics into a live weather broadcast. Not bad for a guy who will tell you that he never took a dance class in his life.
Take us back to the beginning. How did the Dancing Weatherman actually happen?
It was all by accident. I wish I could tell you this was part of my master plan, but it’s not. In 2019, I worked in the local Charlotte news market at Fox 46 and our bosses sat us down one day and said, “I need you guys to post on social more.” I was already posting a lot, so I was like, “No big deal.” And then they said it had to be personal stuff, not about work. Dream assignment. Then the catch: we had to post 12 times a day. Not a week, not a month — a day.
Eventually I embraced it. I was going along for months doing that breakneck pace, and then one day I had 11 things posted and I needed one more to make 12 so I could go home and take a nap. I was scrolling through my feed for inspiration, saw some guys do a dance, thought I could do that, recorded it, put it on Instagram, didn’t think about it one bit. I went home, took that nap. I woke up and my phone was going berserk and my life has not been the same since.
That was about six years ago going on seven. It’s just been an incredible journey and I’m truly grateful and humbled for it every day. Not a day goes by where I don’t think, I can’t believe this is still happening.
You’ve been on TV and on social. What are the biggest obstacles moving between those two worlds?
The way you communicate on traditional linear television is a little more polished and maybe even a little more guarded. The internet really embraces authenticity and almost vulnerability — people see that as a strength or as relatability. You have to break the fourth wall a little more on social media, which I’ve never had a problem with. In fact I’m better at doing that than the polished linear TV version of communicating. And also, the more unpolished your content is, it almost seems like the better it does online. In TV I spent many years with this perfectionism streak where if it’s not perfect, we think it’s no good. But that is so wrong in the social media world in this day and age.
How would you describe your voice?
A stoner surfer. I’m a laid-back guy and I think my voice reflects that. I’ve met four or five people who just assume I’m from San Diego and I’m like, “No, I’m from Cleveland, Ohio.” I actually almost didn’t get into broadcasting because my voice would crack a lot well into my mid-20s and I’ve always kind of hated my voice. I don’t think I have a traditional broadcaster voice — it almost stopped me in my tracks. But sometimes if something isn’t perfectly traditional, it works in your favor because it’s different. It helps you stand out. I’ve learned to love my voice over the years.
What was your first username online?
Oh, hell no. Okay. Do you remember AOL Instant Messenger? My username was Funkster 15. I was 15 when I created it, so that’s my excuse. And to make it even more embarrassing, all the letters in Funkster were different — one would be lowercase, the next two uppercase. You just had to be there.
You picked up two Webby nominations this year. What advice would you give to someone thinking about entering?
Just do it. I don’t think you’re ever going to feel like your content is up to par — I’m always doubting myself and all the stuff that I do. But even if you don’t feel like you deserve a nomination, send it out there anyways. For the longest time I’d known about the Webbys and hadn’t submitted for that reason. I didn’t think I had a shot in hell. But then somebody nudged me in the right direction and I’m glad they did. I got two nominations and here I am. Even if you don’t think it’ll happen, do it anyway.
The interview has been edited for clarity.
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