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PODCAST

Fissionary

Have you found yourself searching for answers to some of today’s most pressing questions like how to solve the climate crisis and secure our energy independence? Luckily, we have an answer for you—nuclear energy. But don’t just take it from us. Hear from experts, researchers, and influencers (and even a pageant queen!) from a variety of backgrounds as they envision a world powered by clean nuclear energy. Tune into Fissionary on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen

science earth sciences

All Episodes

29:20

Poland: Out With the Coal, in With the Nuclear With...

Fissionary ·

2026/10/01

Poland ran on coal for decades—in fact, more than 90% of its electricity came from it. Now the coal is running out, the grid needs replacing, and Poland is building its first commercial nuclear power plant. In this episode, Jordan talks with Robert Rudich about what it actually takes to build a nuclear industry from the ground up: the policy hurdles, the workforce challenges, the financing puzzles, and why Poland moved faster than every other country in the region.Visit us at

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34:23

Nuclear Is the UK’s Cup of Tea With Millie Beaver

Fissionary ·

2026/09/17

The UK once held the crown in nuclear development, and now they are eager to reclaim that title. In this episode, Jordan chats with Millie Beaver, the Public Affairs Director at the Nuclear Industry Association, to explore what’s shaping up to be one of Europe’s most ambitious nuclear projects. They discuss Sizewell C, which will feature two reactors capable of powering six million homes for 60 years, and Project Gwyndaf, the innovative Rolls-Royce SMR making its way to Wales.Visit us at

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33:46

Working Toward a Nuclear-Powered Africa With Princy...

Fissionary ·

2026/09/03

In much of Africa, the question isn't how to optimize the grid. It's how to build one at all. Princy Mthombeni grew up in a rural South African village without electricity until she was 14 and that experience shapes how she talks about energy today. As founder of Africa4Nuclear, Princy makes the case that nuclear isn't just a power source for the continent; it's a path to jobs, medicine, clean water, and so much more. Jordan talks with Princy about which African countries are moving fastest on

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26:51

Nuclear’s Got Talent With Callum Thomas

Fissionary ·

2026/08/20

A nuclear renaissance doesn't just happen on paper, it takes thousands of people to design, build, operate, and sustain it. In this episode, Jordan sits down with Callum Thomas, a workforce strategist and talent expert who works across the nuclear sector in the UK, Europe, and beyond, to explore one of the industry's most urgent and underappreciated challenges: building the human infrastructure behind the new era of nuclear growth. Callum breaks down what's actually happening across Europe right now

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27:59

Japan's Nuclear Reset With Jane Nakano

Fissionary ·

2026/08/05

After Fukushima in 2011, Japan went from getting roughly a third of its electricity from nuclear power to running zero reactors for two full years- and spending $270 billion more on fossil fuel imports in the process. Today, Japan's government has reversed course, officially committing to maximize nuclear energy in its national strategic energy plan. Jane Nakano, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, joins Jordan to unpack what actually drove that shift, from rising

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23:33

Germany’s Nuclear Plot Twist With Britta Augustin

Fissionary ·

2026/07/23

Germany shut down its last nuclear plants in 2023. Now, the country is asking whether that decision came at a cost. In this episode of Fissionary, Mary and Jordan head to Germany to talk with educator and Mothers for Nuclear Deutschland co-founder, Britta Augustin, about the country’s changing nuclear conversation. From rising energy prices and economic pressure to shifting public opinion and growing political support, Britta explains why nuclear is once again becoming part of Germany’s energy

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29:37

Nuclear Energy’s Global Comeback With Justin Friedman

Fissionary ·

2026/07/09

Nuclear is having a global moment and this season of Fissionary is taking you around the world to understand why. In the Season 6 premiere, Mary and Jordan sit down with former diplomat and nuclear policy expert, Justin Friedman, to unpack the rapidly changing international nuclear landscape. From Europe and Southeast Asia to Africa and Latin America, countries are rethinking energy security, economic prosperity, and what it takes to build reliable power systems for the future.Visit us at

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1:09

Boarding Call for Season 6

Fissionary ·

2026/06/25

Pack your bags because Season 6 is going global! This season, Mary and Jordan travel around the world to explore how different countries are approaching nuclear energy and why the conversation is accelerating everywhere from Japan and Poland to the UK and beyond. From energy security and climate goals to workforce development and innovation, every country has a different nuclear story to tell. So grab your passport, make sure you’re subscribed, and get ready for a season that’s officially cleared

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27:12

Nuclear Energy’s World Tour With Stephanie Pronco

Fissionary ·

2026/05/27

Pack your bags, Fissionaries! Season 6 is going global. In this special kickoff episode, Mary and Jordan are joined by an international trade expert from the Nuclear Energy Institute, Stephanie Pronco, for a whirlwind tour of the countries shaping the future of nuclear energy. Through a trivia-style game packed with nuclear facts and surprisingly difficult clues, Steph breaks down how countries around the world are approaching nuclear in completely different ways.Visit us at

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31:45

The Optimism of the Atom With Tim Gregory

Fissionary ·

2026/04/02

Sometimes wonder doesn’t come from discovering something new, but from realizing we misunderstood something all along. In this episode of Fissionary, Mary and Jordan sit down with Dr. Tim Gregory, senior nuclear chemist at the UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory and author of Going Nuclear: How the Atom Will Save the World. Tim shares how his journey from cosmochemistry to nuclear science reshaped the way he thinks about energy, progress, and human flourishing. Together, they explore why nuclear power

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33:49

How Nuclear Became a Design Trend With Alessandra Wood

Fissionary ·

2026/03/19

What does nuclear energy have to do with your living room? More than you might think. In this episode of Fissionary, Mary and Jordan talk with design historian Alessandra Wood about how the Atomic Age reshaped the visual language of the 20th century. From starburst clocks to Sputnik chandeliers, the shapes and symbols of atomic science made their way into furniture, architecture, and everyday objects, transforming fear of new technology into a sense of optimism about the future.Visit us at

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31:54

From Fallout to Futurism With Los Alamos National Lab

Fissionary ·

2026/03/05

When a new technology changes the world overnight, culture feels it first.In this episode of Fissionary, Mary and Jordan sit down with historian Alan Carr and archivist Patty Templeton from Los Alamos National Laboratory to explore how the Atomic Age reshaped not just science, but culture. From the birth of the phrase “Atomic Age” to Godzilla, Googie architecture, Star Trek, and the nuclear rocket engines that almost took us to Mars, this conversation traces how fear, optimism, and imagination

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30:40

How the Arctic Could Run on Nuclear With Gwen Holdmann

Fissionary ·

2026/02/19

What if turning on the lights wasn’t a given, but a daily question mark?In this episode of Fissionary, Mary and Jordan sit down with Gwen Holdmann, an engineer, energy researcher, and longtime off-grid Alaskan, about what energy access really means in some of the most remote places in the United States. Gwen shares what it was like to live for decades without reliable electricity, how fragile Alaska’s power systems really are, and why energy is about far more than convenience when heat can be a

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31:52

How Nuclear Is Stopping Bugs Before They Bite With...

Fissionary ·

2026/02/05

Mosquitoes might be small, but the science used to stop them is anything but. In this episode of Fissionary, Mary and Jordan talk with Dr. Zach Adelman, a geneticist and professor of entomology at Texas A&M, about how nuclear science is being used to fight some of the deadliest and most destructive insects on the planet. From malaria-spreading mosquitoes to flies that threaten the global food supply, Zach explains how sterile insect techniques work, why radiation is essential to the process, and

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29:55

Night at the (Nuclear) Museum With Jennifer Hayden

Fissionary ·

2026/01/22

What if a museum could change the way an entire generation thinks about nuclear? In this episode, Mary and Jordan sit down with Jennifer Hayden, President and CEO of the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History, to explore how museums spark curiosity, reshape narratives, and make even the most complex topics feel accessible. Jennifer shares how her team brings nuclear to life through storytelling, hands-on learning, community events, and a bold new vision for the museum’s upcoming nuclear

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31:58

Walt Disney’s Wish Upon an Atom With Sam Gennawey

Fissionary ·

2026/01/08

What if Walt Disney had actually built the city of the future—powered by nuclear energy?In the Season 5 premiere of Fissionary, hosts Mary Carpenter and Jordan Houghton sit down with urban planner and author Sam Gennawey to uncover how Walt’s imagination extended far beyond theme parks. From Disneyland to his unrealized vision for Epcot, Walt dreamed of communities built around innovation, clean power, and human connection. Sam shares how those plans included a nuclear-powered city under a

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1:17

Fissionary: What Powers Wonder?

Fissionary ·

2025/12/18

Every era has its spark- a force that drives imagination, innovation, and the will to build something extraordinary.Fissionary returns with Season 5: What Powers Wonder, an exploration of how energy fuels creativity, culture, and progress. From life-saving breakthroughs to designs and the boundless imagination of Walt Disney himself, hosts Mary Carpenter and Jordan Houghton uncover the surprising ways nuclear shapes our world.Visit us at www.nei.org/fissionary.

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1:01

Driving Curiosity With Fissionary

Fissionary ·

2025/12/04

The world runs on energy, but the real power comes from curiosity. Fissionary is the podcast that uncovers how nuclear energy shapes our lives in ways you might never expect, from medicine and design to space exploration and climate solutions. Hosted by Mary Carpenter and Jordan Houghton, Fissionary brings together scientists, artists, policymakers, and creators to explore how innovation and imagination collide.Visit us at www.nei.org/fissionary.

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27:16

I Heart Nuclear: Going Viral on GameDay With Gabriel...

Fissionary ·

2025/08/14

Gabriel Ivory, one of the creative forces behind the "I Heart Nuclear" sign at College GameDay, joins us for the season finale of Fissionary to talk about how a bold move turned into a nationwide campaign. Gabriel shares the story behind the sign, the strategy that helped it go viral, and how he’s using his platform to change the conversation around nuclear energy. It’s not just about advocacy; it’s also about making nuclear relatable, creative, and fun for a new generation of activists. Tune in to

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31:15

A State’s Recipe for Nuclear Success With Illinois...

Fissionary ·

2025/07/31

When it comes to moving the needle on nuclear energy, support is needed at every level, and Illinois is at a turning point. In this episode of Fissionary, Mary and Jordan sit down with Illinois State Senator Sue Rezin—a longtime advocate for nuclear energy—to talk about lifting the state’s partial moratorium and Illinois’ unique position to support nuclear energy production.With Illinois home to the largest nuclear fleet in the country and transmission infrastructure already in place, Sue makes the

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