In Episode 67 of The Atomic Exchange Podcast, host Dr. Goran Calic is joined by Jennifer Ward to break down the surprising new partnership between Anthropic and SpaceX. Rather than looking at the deal as a standard tech headline, they take a strategic management lens: analyzing why xAI’s massive Colossus data center was running at just 11% utilization and what that reveals about the diverging business models of building AI hardware versus software. They explore how the upcoming SpaceX IPO factors into this arrangement, weighing whether pitching "data centers in space" is a genuine engineering endeavor or a brilliant valuation tactic. They also wrestle with the physical footprint of the AI boom: who decides if the massive energy and water expenditures are actually worth it, the difference between AI as an educational crutch versus a medical lifesaver, and why industry standardization might be a better path forward than government bans. Tune in for an engaging conversation on tech infrastructure, aerospace economics, and the business choices shaping the future of AI.

In Episode 66 of The Atomic Exchange Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Goran Calic and Michael Tadrous announce a bittersweet transition: Michael will be stepping away from the podcast to attend Columbia Law School. They take a trip down memory lane, reflecting on their favorite episodes from the first "Good Signs, Bad Signs" breakdown to the heartfelt conversation with Mo Syed and the Venezuelan crisis analysis with Professor Andy Wu. They discuss what made certain episodes special, the value of long-form content in building connections with listeners, and why teaching matters more than many academics admit. Looking ahead, they share ideas for the podcast's future, including more frequent guests, the possibility of video content, and a special episode featuring Goran's wife Andrea. Tune in for an honest conversation about the journey so far and what comes next.

In Episode 65 of The Atomic Exchange Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Goran Calic and Michael Tadrous are joined by Jenn Ward, one of the newest members of the team, to discuss a side of nuclear expansion that often gets overlooked: housing. Using Bruce Power and the broader Canadian nuclear buildout as a starting point, they explore why large energy projects are not just engineering challenges, but labour, infrastructure, and community challenges as well. The conversation looks at what happens when thousands of workers need to be brought into one region, why housing can become a real constraint on project delivery, and what this reveals about the broader difficulties of scaling nuclear in practice. They also discuss what it means to think seriously about nuclear growth, not just in terms of reactors and capital, but in terms of the physical and social systems needed to support it. Tune in for an interesting discussion on nuclear expansion, workforce constraints, and the infrastructure behind the infrastructure.

In Episode 64 of The Atomic Exchange Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Goran Calic and Michael Tadrous discuss artificial intelligence, what it actually does, and why that matters. Drawing on the idea that AI is best understood not as magic or true intelligence but as a prediction machine, they explore how falling prediction costs change the value of judgment, action, and business decision-making. They also examine the supply side of AI, including why AI differs from earlier software models, and how inference and training create real capacity constraints. Tune in for a thoughtful discussion on AI, business strategy, and the economic logic shaping the next phase of technological change.

In Episode 63 of The Atomic Exchange Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Goran Calic and Michael Tadrous are joined by Daniel Arbour, President and CEO of Oshawa Power, former CEO and Global Head of Shell Mobile Fuelling, and founder of Mountainview Strategy, for a wide-ranging conversation on what it actually means to lead in the energy sector today. Together, they discuss Daniel’s journey from oil and gas into the utility world, what customers really value in energy, why utilities often struggle to innovate, how regulation can hold the sector back, and how energy companies are thinking about reliability, grid modernization, EVs, distributed energy, AI, and rising demand in a changing energy system. Tune in for a thoughtful discussion on leadership, innovation, and the future of energy.

In the 62nd installment of The Atomic Exchange Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Goran Calic and Michael Tadrous unpack the recent strikes on Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant and the panic they caused. They explain why a nuclear power plant cannot explode like a nuclear bomb, what the real risks of a direct strike actually are, and why public fear around nuclear often goes far beyond the physics. They also compare nuclear plants to other kinds of major infrastructure, from dams to skyscrapers, and ask why nuclear is still treated so differently.

In the 61st installment of The Atomic Exchange Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Goran Calic and Michael Tadrous are joined by Jennifer Ward, a master’s student in engineering physics at McMaster University, to discuss her path into nuclear and why so many young people still overlook the industry. They explore why energy, and nuclear in particular, can feel uninteresting or distant to younger audiences, how public fears and misunderstandings take shape, and why safety culture and better communication matter so much. Along the way, they also touch on nuclear waste, regulation, SMRs, and why curiosity matters more than fitting some stereotype of who belongs in nuclear. Tune in for a thoughtful discussion on why the industry still struggles to capture the imagination of the next generation.

In the 60th installment of The Atomic Exchange Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Goran Calic and Michael Tadrous are joined by Colby Arsenault, a master’s student in nuclear engineering at McMaster University, for the latest entry in their student spotlight series. They discuss how Colby found his way into nuclear, why portrayals like Chernobyl can sometimes spark curiosity rather than fear, and what his reactor physics research reveals about the future of the industry. The conversation then turns to one of nuclear’s biggest questions: will the future belong to large conventional reactors, SMRs, or microreactors? Tune into this episode for a thoughtful discussion on where nuclear may be headed next.

In the 59th installment of The Atomic Exchange Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Goran Calic and Michael Tadrous are joined by Willow Paraskevas, a McMaster Engineering Physics student, McMaster reactor tour guide, and outreach lead with NAYGN McMaster, for the first episode of a special student spotlight series highlighting emerging voices in nuclear. They discuss why fear, misinformation, and poor communication continue to shape public views of nuclear energy, how younger audiences are engaging with the industry differently, and why honest, accessible communication may matter just as much as technical progress.

In the 58th installment of The Atomic Exchange Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Goran Calic and Michael Tadrous follow up on last week’s Iran discussion and revisit their opposing oil-price predictions. They ask whether Iran’s new leader really changes anything, why Brent crude stayed above $100, and how Iran may still be able to disrupt oil markets without defeating the U.S. Navy directly. The conversation focuses on the Strait of Hormuz, asymmetric tactics, and why insurance risk and commercial hesitation can matter just as much as military force.