Titans Of Nuclear | Interviewing World Experts on Nuclear Energy

1) Ryan's studies of political science and renewable engineering, and how he overcame his skepticism of nuclear energy and turned into a nuclear energy advocate 2) How Ryan went from listening to Titans of Nuclear to attending rallies in support of saving nuclear power plants 3) Ryan's impressive contributions to the nuclear energy movement, building relationships, and a quick dive into some Diablo Canyon history 4) What it's like to be a nuclear advocate and how to become one, as well as a call to grow and elevate the nuclear movement

1) Nolan's upbringing in a "small town in Texas," where he got his Ph.D., and how it led him to several of the passion projects of his career 2) His current work, as well as his recent retirement, and how he may still contribute to the nuclear industry as a Professor Emeritus 3) What Nolan thinks is the most significant discovery in nuclear technology over the course of his career, as well as how it has impacted the industry 4) What advice Nolan would give to someone starting out in the nuclear industry based on his experience and perspective

1) Dan's journey around the world learning, researching, and eventually teaching 2) The various subjects Dan has taught and a little bit about them, whether it be reactor physics and theory, reactor engineering, or experimental reactor physics 3) How Dan's background led him to space propulsion systems and a deep dive into his current work in the area 4) How Dan believes the "flying nuclear reactor" that brings students into his lab might come to fruition or develop in the coming years

1) Sharmistha's moves around the globe, her decision to join a Ph.D. program, and her early work with scintillators 2) The role of radiation monitoring in advanced nuclear technologies 3) Sharmistha's "dream job" at Georgia Tech and her work with Research & Development 4) A deep dive into the fascinating aspects of neutrons, as well as how Sharmistha's role marries the sciences and humanities together

1) Five-year-old Anna's memories of picking up newspaper clippings about Chernobyl and how this translated into a career in nuclear 2) How Anna ended up at the Georgia Institute of Technology and the important work she has conducted there thus far 3) A discussion of the next generation of nuclear engineers 4) Anna paints a picture for the future of nuclear energy and engineering

1) Michl's upbringing in Austria and the physics course which allowed his interests in science, astronomy, labs, and optics to bloom 2) A quick dive into the origins of fusion - Early labs to the creation of TAE 3) Taking a turn into the technical with a discussion of TAE's focuses and technology 4) TAE's current projects and what the regulatory path could look like for fusion in the future

1) Senator Cramer's background - How he originally sparked his interested in politics and public service 2) North Dakota's diverse energy mix and how it informs Senator Cramer's work in the U.S. Senate 3) Senator Cramer's work in the Environment and Public Works Committee and its oversight of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission 4) How we can improve America's global leadership in nuclear energy, as well as how we could support energy security and geopolitical issues abroad

1) Nils' incredibly interesting background in nuclear and his journey to becoming a prominent figure in the nuclear space 2) What Nils believes is the best model for nuclear regulation and the characteristics this entails 3) Nils' time at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and some of the highlights and challenges of his career 4) The challenges Nils believes we need to overcome in order to have the nuclear energy industry live up to its full potential

1) Josh Mesner joins us for the Episode 400 special, as he and Bret discuss Josh's background and beginning at Last Energy - From H.R. to Operations 2) How a young Last Energy first started hiring and onboarding new employees who were already thriving in their existing field 3) Josh's work with the internal efficiencies of Last Energy and the various projects this work led him to take part in 4) Overcoming challenges in the interest of a mission you believe in and strive for

1) How Bhavya sparked her interests in science and nuclear engineering, as well as traveling around to see power plants in India as a child 2) A deep dive into the types of technologies Bhavya and NASA are using in addition to radioisotope power systems and other power systems 3) The challenges Bhavya foresees having to overcome in terms of relying more on nuclear technology to achieve NASA's goals in space 4) The regulatory and international cooperation landscapes for nuclear technology in space

1) How Tim came to have a seat on the Georgia Public Service Commission and exactly what the Commission does in Georgia 2) A deep dive into Plant Vogtle, Tim's experience with nuclear, and how ratepayers and constituents view the nuclear construction process 3) An exploration of Georgia's unique energy mix 4) Tim's energy goals for the future, a discussion of his own podcast, and a bit about Tim's work with EVs

1) Brian's background as a Mechanical Engineer and his experience being hired in the first group of Shift Technical Advisors at Indian Point 3 2) A day in the life of Indian Nuclear Power Plant back in the mid 1900's and a discussion of its unique build 3) The mentorship which made Indian Point special and the excitement of outages and refueling 4) Some standout photos from Brian's book and the family members that worked at Indian Point together

1) We kick off 'Nuclear Now' Day with a story of how the film came to be - Listen in for the story behind it all 2) How Oliver Stone and Joshua Goldstein took a deep dive into the nuclear industry in search of the film's content, as well as what and who viewers might see in 'Nuclear Now' 3) A discussion of how we'll get electrons on the grid and some of the most thought-provoking discoveries made in the production of 'Nuclear Now' 4) A glimpse into what our nuclear future looks like according to Oliver and Joshua

1) A roundtable discussion of Brent and Lex's backgrounds in science, nuclear, engineering, and more 2) How Brent and Lex came to connect about the ideas behind Solid Atomic, as well as a deep dive into what these ideas could mean for nuclear energy 3) How transmission from 500 feet under the ocean works in the Solid Atomic gameplan 4) A discussion of HALEU fuel and where the Solid Atomic team currently stands in terms of prototyping

1) The choice that lead Roger into his nuclear career and the nuclear submarine it all started on 2) Roger's work in public speaking and how to get involved in grassroots nuclear organizations or groups 3) A deep dive into Argonne and the multidisciplinary benefits of national labs 4) How projects work at a national lab - Support, funding, management, and more

1) The history of Chalk River and how Canadian Nuclear Laboratories covers the whole spectrum of nuclear projects 2) How Joe's career path lead him into the broader energy and nuclear spaces - A 'how to' on entering the nuclear industry 3) The public perception of nuclear energy and how CNL focuses largely on environmental remediation and cleanup 4) A deep dive into medical isotopes and the Vision 2030 Plan

1) Exploring Julianne's background and the arguments for and against nuclear she heard back at the start of her career 2) Julianne's transition from deep technical work into more of a commercial, business development, and strategy space 3) They key pillars of growing a business into a scalable and sustainable entity 4) Julianne's current role in the consulting space and how nuclear fits in to it all

1) Wayne's background and a celebration of the one-year anniversary of his current role at General Atomics 2) A detailed explanation of a tokamak device and what it means in the space of fusion power 3) General Atomics' leadership in the magnetic fusion energy field, as well as their involvement in the recent fusion breakthrough at LLNL 4) Talking points to showcase nuclear energy's potential to those who aren't familiar with the technology

1) Yasir's background, his first internship in the industry, and how Fukushima shaped the start of his nuclear energy career 2) A deep dive into the microreactor work that eventually lead Yasir to Idaho National Laboratory 3) A discussion of the MARVEL project and what it stands for - both the acronym and the mission for the project itself 4) Yasir explores the mindsets of collaboration and competition in the nuclear industry

1) Bret's educational background and the best piece of advice he would give to someone currently in their undergraduate years 2) A discussion of passive safety and the difference between reactor types 3) A look into the future of where USNC's microreactors could be deployed 4) For those who missed it, a component of Bret's speech given at the MIT-CANES Symposium

1) Ken's impressive career and how he ended up working in the roles of U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. and Arms Control Director 2) A discussion of the world's nuclear programs 3) A deep dive into the Strategic Defense Initiative 4) Looking back on the history of nuclear, where we've been, and where we're going

1) Marco's book, "Why We Need Not Fear Nuclear Energy," and how he came to write about this particular topic 2) The inspiration for Marco's book and how he went about researching the multitudes of materials it contains 3) The culture of debate around nuclear energy and how Marco believes we can appeal to those who stand in the middle 4) An exploration of tradition vs. innovation and simplicity vs. complexity when it comes to the nuclear industry

Stefano's background and how newcleo came to be A deep dive into nuclear technology and newcleo's ideas The regulatory environment in Italy vs. other places around the globe A discussion of emerging technology and common debates surrounding the nuclear industry

1) Craig's start as an entry-level engineer and the path of experience that eventually lead him to EPRI 2) Live from EPRI's annual Nuclear Power Council, Craig discusses advanced reactors, the development of nuclear and EPRI's thought leadership 3) An exploration of how EPRI supports both the existing nuclear fleet, as well as what they like to call the "future fleet" 4) A look at EPRI's recent accomplishments, including their Owner-Operator Requirements Guide and Siting Guide

1. John's history of working with major renewable energy sources and when he began to combat the issue of climate change 2. The impressive progression of nuclear projects in Canada and a discussion of where they currently stand 3. A deep dive into CANDU reactors and what drove Canada to develop them 4. Important messages regarding learning about nuclear, supporting all renewables, and how we can all have a hand in the progression of nuclear energy

1) Boris' background as a nuclear engineer from Germany and how looking at the energy transition as an opportunity spurred his continuing career in the industry 2) A deep dive into all things Urenco, including its international scope and more 3) Urenco's growth into the medical isotope space and a discussion of SMRs 4) How hydrogen will play a role in the nuclear energy industry

1) A deep dive into Adam's background in engineering, nuclear and consulting, and the variety of projects he worked on 2) The Breakthrough Institute's mission and Adam's step into the research and policy sectors 3) The history of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and how it affects policy today 4) An exploration of the NRC's current ways of operating and how the states may play a role in future policy

1) Rusty's early curiosity about nuclear energy and how it led to him becoming the Director of NEXT Lab at ACU 2) Rusty's initial skepticism about molten salt reactors and how it eventually gave way to interest and execution 3) The landmark meeting with the DOE that moved NEXT Lab's research forward 4) The NRC's process of reviewing applications, as well as how this process could evolve and change in the future

1) Grace shares her passion for learning, engineering and nuclear energy, as well as nuclear's role in medicine 2) A discussion of the varied and exciting day-to-day life of working in a nuclear power plant 3) Grace's time as a scholarship competitor, her new role as Miss America 2023 and traveling the world 4) The philosophical importance of communication and spiritual fulfillment in a future career path

1) A lively in-person interview detailing Jim's background from music to nuclear law 2) The history of the Atomic Energy Commission and Jim's transition to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission 3) The importance of building relationships, learning the industry, and the role of law in the nuclear landscape 4) Major law-related moments in nuclear to keep an eye on as they develop

1) Tammy's scientific background and how an LLNL outreach event influenced the career trajectory of her highschool self 2) A deep dive into the National Ignition Facility and some of the momentous experiments Tammy has been a part of 3) An explanation of fusion reactions, lasers, and the various components involved in the recent fusion breakthrough 4) Lawrence Livermore's mission to create a fusion industry that is equitable, diverse, and just

1) Charles discusses what it was like to grow up with the Oppenheimer legacy and how his Grandfather's life has been captured and represented in history 2) How the Bhagavad Gita, family life and a trip to Corsica fit into Robert Oppenheimer's life story 3) The recent restoration of Robert Oppenheimer's security clearance and how this led to inspiration on Charles' part 4) Charles' founding of The Oppenheimer Project, exploring nuclear and making connections in the nuclear space

1) An overview of Bob's background, his childhood in Brooklyn, and the book which sparked his enduring interest in nuclear 2) Bob's former negotiations with North Korea and how light water reactors fit into the story 3) A deep dive into the varying forms of plutonium and a debate about the intricacies of engineering 4) Bob's views on international safety and the accompanying safety of nuclear power

1) Heather's background in Materials Engineering and her path to nuclear 2) A deep dive into misconceptions about nuclear power plants and how Heather overcame her initial skepticism 3) Heather's advocacy and the story of Mothers for Nuclear 4) The saving of Diablo Canyon and predictions for what the future could hold

1) How Mikal's background in shipping led him to the energy industry and the founding of CORE POWER 2) CORE POWER's role in working alongside TerraPower and Southern Company to develop an MSR 3) The innovative designs of floating nuclear and how they fare on the ocean 4) The benefits and potential challenges of working towards a long-term nuclear energy solution

1) Maria's upbringing in Ukraine and how her close proximity to Chernobyl inspired a future career 2) How studying the environment led Maria to feeling at home in the nuclear industry 3) The ins and outs of Maria's role as a Supply Chain Inspection Manager 4) The importance of Nuclear New Build and diversity, equity and inclusion in the nuclear workforce

1) Greg's interest in space leading him to electrical engineering and data recovery and away from fusion… and then back to fusion again 2) The intricacies of fusion and the public's view of its potential 3) The process of working with the NRC and receiving approval for safety procedures 4) SHINE Technologies' ideas, innovation and fusion processes

Derek's fusion background all the way from middle school to his time at MIT How CTFusion differentiates itself from other fusion companies, as well as its various milestones The technical setup of spheromak and tokamak reactors in a fusion setting The overcoming of mechanical and fusion challenges, as well as insights into the future of fusion

Chris Keefer and his work with Canadians for Nuclear Energy The saving of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station and its CANDU Reactors How the refurbishment of CANDU Nuclear Reactors and their lifetime shakes out in the political space Chris's nuclear worldview and his very own "Decouple" podcast

1) Kate Fowler's background and early career experience working in nuclear fire protection and safety 2) Kate's expertise in nuclear insurance and how insurance is handled in the nuclear industry 3) How the nuclear insurance industry is preparing for the development of SMRs and AMRs 4) Kate's vision for the future of nuclear energy and the role insurers will play

1) Maria Korsnick's background working as Chief Nuclear Engineer for Constellation 2) A deep dive into NEI's work and Maria's role there 3) A look at the challenges current operators and new nuclear developers are facing in the United States 4) Maria's vision for the future of nuclear energy in the US and globally

1) Alex Kaufman's background growing up in New York and becoming a writer 2) How Alex approaches writing about scientific topics and communicating complicated technical concepts to an audience 3) Alex's recent articles about nuclear energy and his journey learning and writing about nuclear 4) Alex's vision for the future of clean energy and the role nuclear can play

1) Edgardo's background growing up in Chile and Canada 2) Edgardo's work in telecommunications consulting and energy economics 3) A deep dive into the economics of nuclear energy and where Edgardo has seen challenges 4) Edgardo's vision for the future of the clean energy transition

1) David Stearns' early career at the intersection between finance and policy and how that led him to nuclear 2) David's experience working on nuclear projects in the 1990s 3) A deep dive into nuclear financing models and the pros and cons of various routes 4) David's vision for the future of nuclear energy

1) Rep. Donald's background working in finance and his inspiration to join the House of Representatives 2) A deep dive into the role clean, baseload power plays in enabling innovation 3) A look at the roadblocks in current domestic nuclear development and how to overcome those roadblocks 4) Rep. Donald's vision for the future he hopes to help enable

1) Philip Johnson's career working at UxC starting as an analyst and working up to VP of Fuel Cycle 2) A deep dive into uranium markets and UxC's role as a leading data source 3) The impact of geopolitical issues on uranium markets 4) A look at new nuclear development projects and opportunities for SMRs around the world

1) Dominique Minière's long career with EDF and his transition to Ontario Power Generation 2) The relationship between OPG and Global First Power and the work they are doing with USNC 3) An update on OPG's SMR project with GE Hitachi at the Darlington site 4) Dominique's vision for the future of nuclear energy in Canada

1) Ian Grant's early career working for Babcock and Wilcox in the United Kingdom 2) Ian's move to Canada working with Atomic Energy of Canada Limited 3) CANDU reactor's unique design and the technological advantages they offer 4) Ian's vision for the future of SMRs and nuclear energy development

1) Jim Howe's career path from the Coast Guard to nuclear fuel enrichment 2) A deep dive into the history of Centrus Energy and their unique role in the nuclear fuel cycle 3) How Jim's role in government relations contributes to Centrus' overall mission 4) Jim's vision for the future of nuclear energy and nuclear fuel

1) Brett Plummer walks us through his career evolution starting in the naval nuclear program 2) Brett's role at NB Power and the steps he's taken to help them drive towards excellence 3) SMR development in New Brunswick and NB Power's work with Moltex and ARC Canada 4) Brett's vision for the future of nuclear power in Canada and around the world