Episode Content:

• John's introduction to nuclear during his work with the Geological Survey.  

• How radiocarbon dating actually works.  

• The interdisciplinary nature of the nuclear industry.  

• In what circumstances types of fuels are considered efficient.  

• Energy produced with plutonium v. uranium.  

• Core-reload strategies and how it can save billions in electricity production.  

• Improving efficiency without compromising safety.  

• The importance of economies of scale and innovation culture.  

• Why studying the effect of radiation on materials is important.  

• Isotope production and its different medical applications.  

• Stress-test procedures and radioactive contrast.  

• A discussion about high density fuel.  

Episode Content:

• Spencer's start studying the history of science at the American Institute of Physics.  

• Unraveling the origin of the French Nuclear Program.  

• The intersection of nuclear fear and politics.  

• The role of psychology in understanding public reluctance towards nuclear energy.  

• The interaction between carbon dioxide and oceans; the significance of climate change.  

• A discussion of the race between technology and the evolution of human morality.  

• How nuclear imagery can affect our perception of nuclear energy.  

• The importance of political culture in the international sphere.  

• The outlook of nuclear energy, moving forward.  

Episode Content:

• Ken's start doing safety analysis, including his work at Three Mile Island.  

• How probabilistic risk assessment correlates to what happens at plants.  

• An overview of the risk-informed regulation movement in the 90's.  

• The role of vents during nuclear plant accidents.  

• Nuclear maintenance, plant engineering, and risk assessment.  

• The best strategies to control fission products after severe accidents.  

• Severe accident analysis and international collaborations.  

• Defining HEPA filters and identifying its impact.  

• The roadmap to commercialization and the importance of identifying the market.  

• Why research and development is crucial to form partnerships.  

Episode Content:

• Chad's time as a Navy Nuke.  

• What makes one reactor in a submarine more advanced than another reactor?  

• Challenges faced when constructing, designing, and managing a reactor.  

• The effect of Three Mile Island on the perception of nuclear and its consequences.  

• Distinguishing between fast reactors and thermal reactors.  

• A discussion on sealed source weapons-grade plutonium.  

• An in-depth look at boiling water reactors.  

• An overview of the IAEA and the evolution of light water reactors.  

• How nuclear technology can reduce energy poverty.  

Episode Content:

• John's start working with Fluor Corporation and his transition to NuScale.  

• A discussion about the potential of NuScale's SMR in the global market.  

• The necessity of forging public-private relationships.  

• An overview of constraints nuclear start-ups face.  

• The importance of having a sustainable supply chain.  

• The impact of driving down costs on demand.  

• What the next generation of reactors will look like and the future of the environmental movement.  

• How economics trump politics with the SMR design.  

• The benefit of youth development and cultivating passions.   

• Applications of SMRs and what the world will look like in the future.  

Episode Content:

• Growing up as an environmentalist and making the transition to the nuclear industry.  

• The importance of humanizing nuclear technology.  

• International Safeguards and Policy.  

• Taking a state-level approach v. facility-level approach when it comes to safeguards.  

• The community-based approach and applications of SMRs.  

• How important it is to train and provide opportunities for the next generation.  

• Perceptions of nuclear energy in Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and the US.  

• How to best learn about nuclear if you're not already familiar with it. 

Episode Content:​

• Tom's start as a Shift Technical Advisor implementing transient response implementing procedures.  

• Nuclear Liability law.  

• The importance of educating and familiarizing others with nuclear terms.  

• Factors that determine whether technology is commercially attractive.  

• Tom clarifies: who buys power plants?  

• The features that make the NuScale's SMR design stand out.  

• Segmenting the market: what to look for in domestic and international buyers.  

• Levelized cost of electricity and the significance of acknowledging it through purchase.  

• Domestic v. International Competition and an in-depth look at the international market.  

• Painting a picture of the nuclear world in the future.  

Episode Content:

• Tom's unexpected interest in nuclear through the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Directorate.  

• Reliability inspect and reliability engineering.  

• An explanation of and the reasoning behind risk-informed categorization Rule 50.69.  

• Tom's transition from the NRC to NuScale and the private sector.  

• A detailed description of the content and tribulations of the licensing application.  

• The formulation of management topics.  

• The benefits of applying for and obtaining limited work authorization.  

• Short-term challenges and long-term aspirations of the company.  

Episode Content:

• Jose's captivation with the nuclear industry during high school and college.  

• The history, description, and findings of Counter Current Flow Limitation Testing.  

• An overview of Jose's time as the Department Head of Nuclear Science and Engineering.  

• Passive safety systems, the Bleed and Feed Approach, and the AP 600.  

• Embodying full-scale behavior into a small-scale system.  

• MASLWR: The Multi-Application Small Light Water Reactor.  

• The importance of simplicity in design.  

• How international competition and  natural gas empowered domestic unity.  

• Future implications of NuScale's groundbreaking design on an international scale.  

Episode Content:

• Pete's start in the weapons testing and Star Wars Program at Los Alamos National Lab.  

• An in-depth look at the relationship between nuclear energy and nonproliferation.  

• Pete's work with Senator Domenici to craft legislation for essential nuclear programs.  

• A discussion of the Nuclear Cities and Lab to Lab Initiatives.   

• Efforts Pete spearheaded at the NRC.  

• The importance of mitigating Station Blackouts and implementing safety measures.  

• Catalyzing a wave of innovation efforts through investment in research and development.  

• Highlights about and the ingenuity of NuScale's small modular reactor design.  

• Reflections upon the importance of US nuclear leadership in the global sphere.