In this powerful and timely conversation, Dr. John Izzo and Alain Gauthier sit down with award-winning filmmaker and journalist Paul Jay, whose upcoming documentary How to Stop a Nuclear War dives deep into the existential risks humanity continues to ignore. Together, they explore why the Cold War never truly ended, how nuclear weapons remain an urgent and immediate threat, and what each of us can do to break the silence and reclaim our collective future.

This episode is not just about nuclear war — it’s about truth, power, media silence, and our responsibility as citizens of a shared planet.

Jay shares the untold story behind the nuclear threat and the making of his new film inspired by Daniel Ellsberg’s The Doomsday Machine. He argues that the Cold War didn’t end — it simply evolved — and that the same forces of fear, profit, militarism, and denial continue to push humanity toward catastrophe.

You’ll hear why policymakers rarely talk about nuclear weapons, how media myths shape public perception, why dialogue with our “enemies” is essential, and how ordinary citizens can influence extraordinary change by confronting the “house of dynamite” we all live in before it explodes.

About Paul Jay

Paul Jay is an award-winning Canadian filmmaker, journalist, and founder of TheAnalysis.news (https://theanalysis.news).

He is also the founding chair of the Hot Docs International Documentary Festival, now the largest documentary festival in North America.

Paul is currently directing How to Stop a Nuclear War, based on Daniel Ellsberg’s The Doomsday Machine, examining the systems of power that shape global nuclear policy — and how citizens can reclaim agency over issues that determine humanity’s survival.

Explore more of his work: https://theanalysis.news

Our Sponsors

This episode is made possible through the generous support of our partners:

Their work empowers elders everywhere to stand up for democracy, climate action, justice, and the future of life on Earth.

Stay Connected

Thank you for joining us on The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations.

If this episode moved you, please:

Explore more episodes and sign up for updates at:

Upcoming Live Event

The Climate Crossroads: Why Haven’t We Changed — and How We Do Now

📅 Tuesday, December 2

A live global event presented by The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations Podcast.

https://www.youtube.com/@thewayforwardrc

We know the science — yet society still struggles to change. Why?

Moderated by Dr. John Izzo, this 90-minute event confronts the hard truth of where we stand — and explores the pathway from paralysis to courageous collective action.

Hosted by Elders Action Network, Elders Climate Action, and The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations Podcast.

Attendees will have the chance to ask live questions.

👉 Register now and be part of the generation that turns awareness into action: