The Atomic Exchange Podcast

In the 15th installment of The Atomic Exchange Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Goran Calic and Michael Tadrous reflect on a recent talk by Equinor’s Chief Economist, Eirik Wærness, delivered at the Ivey Business School. The keynote challenged prevailing energy narratives—arguing that we are not transitioning away from fossil fuels, but rather layering renewables on top. Goran and Michael dive deep into the implications for nuclear, carbon budgets, and why keeping global warming below 1.5°C may already be out of reach without unprecedented infrastructure buildout. But the episode doesn’t stop at energy. The conversation shifts into a candid discussion about Canadian politics, sparked by comparisons between Norway’s $1.7 trillion sovereign wealth fund and Canada’s failure to create anything similar. What makes resource coordination across Canadian provinces so difficult? Is political unity even possible in a federation so deeply divided along economic, linguistic, and ideological lines? And could Mark Carney be the leader to finally bridge the East-West divide? From nuclear energy math and decarbonization realism to interprovincial pipelines and election analysis, this episode is a wide-ranging exploration of how politics, policy, and engineering intersect in the climate era. Tune in for a thought-provoking exchange on sovereign wealth, strategic trade-offs, and the kind of leadership Canada needs to meet the moment.

In the 14th installment of The Atomic Exchange Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Goran Calic and Michael Tadrous dive into a newly published paper in Energy Policy titled “The Polarization of Energy Preferences: A Study on Social Acceptance of Wind and Nuclear Power in Sweden.” The study explores how public support for wind and nuclear energy is increasingly shaped not by safety or economics—but by political ideology and worldview. Goran and Michael unpack the findings, examine why nuclear tends to attract right-leaning supporters while wind appeals more to the political left, and discuss how gender and cultural values also factor into energy attitudes. They also explore broader questions about the future of energy engagement: Why are men more likely to support nuclear than women? Why do Swedes like wind power—just not in their own backyard? And what does it mean when energy decisions are driven more by identity than data? Tune in for a thoughtful discussion on politics, polarization, and the surprising ways our values shape our view of the grid.

In the 13th installment of The Atomic Exchange Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Goran Calic and Michael Tadrous dissect a newly published paper in Energy Policy titled “Atomic rivers. The (Un)sustainability of nuclear power in an age of climate change.”  The authors argue that nuclear plants relying on once-through cooling are environmentally unsustainable, legally problematic, and increasingly intermittent. But do the claims hold up? Goran and Michael break down why this study falls short—from its lack of quantitative analysis and misleading language to its sweeping conclusions based on narrow case studies. They explore the broader issue of bad science in energy policy, the dangers of taking academic research at face value, and the critical difference between presenting data and pushing a narrative. They also discuss why nuclear power is still one of the most reliable energy sources on the planet, how capacity factor data contradicts the study’s claims, and what needs to change in both academic publishing and public discourse to better inform decision-making. Tune in for a deep dive into thermal discharge, capacity myths, and the growing need for scientific literacy in climate and energy conversations.

In the 12th installment of The Atomic Exchange Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Goran Calic and Michael Tadrous dive into the surprising results of Goran’s recent research talk at McMaster University—where he revealed that building the same nuclear reactor design over and over doesn’t make things faster. In fact, it may slow things down. They explore the concept of “codification creep,” a form of managerial over-optimization that can backfire in large infrastructure projects. Could the way we document and standardize knowledge actually be holding nuclear back? And what does this tell us about why megaprojects across the U.S. have slowed down over the past 40 years? The conversation then pivots to breaking news out of Colorado, where nuclear has officially been redefined as “green energy.” Michael and Goran unpack whether this signals real progress or just political convenience, and what it tells us about the shifting narratives around clean energy. Tune in for a sharp and timely analysis of nuclear's past, present, and future.

In the 11th installment of The Atomic Exchange Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Goran Calic and Michael Tadrous turn their attention to South Korea—a country that has quietly become one of the most successful nuclear builders in the world. With 25 reactors and an impressive track record of delivering projects on time, South Korea stands in stark contrast to the delays and dysfunction plaguing Western nuclear development. The conversation dives deep into how South Korea built up its nuclear sector, the influence of export-oriented industrial policy, and how a shift to democratic governance briefly derailed progress. They unpack the parallels with Germany and France, explore whether democracy inherently slows nuclear progress, and question whether centralized decision-making is a necessary evil for effective energy planning. Tune in for a nuanced and thought-provoking discussion on geopolitics, infrastructure, and what South Korea’s story means for the global nuclear renaissance.

In the 10th installment of The Atomic Exchange Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Goran Calic and Michael Tadrous go deep into the nuclear split in Europe—how two of its most powerful economies ended up on opposite ends of the atomic spectrum. Why did France double down while Germany phased out? What role did politics, energy resources, and climate narratives play? They also unpack what it will take to get Germany back on the nuclear train. Will energy prices and blackouts finally push them over the edge? Tune in for a wide-ranging conversation on geopolitics, energy infrastructure, and how democracies make decisions that shape the planet.

In the 9th installment of The Atomic Exchange Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Goran Calic and Michael Tadrous break down three of the biggest stories shaping nuclear strategy and energy policy. They start with Canada’s latest response to U.S. tariffs—Premier Doug Ford slaps a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to Michigan, Minnesota, and New York, while Pierre Poilievre proposes an even steeper 50% tax on U.S. steel imports. Next, they dive into China’s bold claim that its new thorium breakthrough could power the country for 60,000 years and discuss whether thorium is the future or just an overhyped alternative to uranium. Finally, they tackle one of the nuclear industry’s biggest hurdles: leadership and management. With nuclear projects plagued by cost overruns and decade-long delays, what kind of leadership is needed to achieve rapid reactor construction? Can the industry learn from the efficiency of companies like SpaceX and Tesla? They explore how better incentives, accountability, and a culture shift could finally make the 2.5-year reactor build a reality. Tune in for a high-energy discussion on tariffs, thorium, and the leadership crisis holding nuclear back.

In the 8th installment of The Atomic Exchange Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Goran Calic and Michael Tadrous unpack the latest tensions between Canada and the United States—and why knee-jerk nationalism could be Canada’s biggest mistake. The conversation kicks off with reflections on Jordan Peterson’s recent Toronto talk, his shifting audience, and whether his philosophy leans too much into self-help. From there, the discussion pivots to the growing push in Canada to decouple from the U.S.—a movement that nuclear energy history suggests is neither practical nor strategic. They examine why Canada has never truly operated independently in the nuclear sector, how past geopolitical deals show the U.S. holds the cards, and why doubling down on deeper integration—not economic retaliation—may be the smartest move here. Could aligning closer with the U.S. actually be in Canada’s best interest? Tune in for a controversial yet pragmatic take on trade wars, nuclear power, and the future of U.S.-Canada relations.

In the 7th installment of The Atomic Exchange Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Goran Calic and Michael Tadrous take a critical look at a Nature Energy study titled Differences in Carbon Emissions Reduction Between Countries Pursuing Renewable Electricity versus Nuclear Power. The study claims that renewables reduce emissions more effectively than nuclear and suggests that the two energy sources compete rather than complement each other. But is the data telling the full story? Goran and Michael break down why this study is an example of bad science—packed with normative claims, flawed methodology, and misleading conclusions that could shape policy in the wrong direction. They discuss the broader issue of bias in scientific research, the challenges of separating fact from ideology, and why studies like this do a disservice to meaningful discussions on energy and climate solutions. Tune in for a deep dive into the dangers of misleading data and the importance of critical thinking in energy policy.

In the 6th installment of The Atomic Exchange Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Goran Calic and Michael Tadrous explore Michael’s journey into nuclear energy—from early exposure to politics and misconceptions about nuclear power being inherently dangerous to the pivotal moments that reshaped his views. They discuss why many people still associate nuclear energy with weapons, why myths about catastrophic meltdowns persist despite decades of safety advancements, and how misconceptions about renewables being a perfect replacement for baseload power continue to dominate public discourse. The conversation also delves into a deeper issue: how people are often taught what to think rather than how to think critically about energy. Tune in for a compelling discussion on misinformation, public perception, and why challenging mainstream narratives is key to understanding nuclear’s role in a sustainable future.