Fire2Fission Podcast

On this episode of the Fire2Fission Podcast, Mark Hinaman interviews Florencia Renteria, PhD in Nuclear Science and Technology. They discuss various topics related to the nuclear industry, including; high temperature gas reactor (HTGR) technology, her nuclear energy education and experience from around the world, and the importance of international collaboration in the nuclear industry. Florencia...

Trey Lauderdale, the founder and CEO of Atomic Canyon, discusses the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the nuclear power industry. Atomic Canyon focuses on bringing next-generation technologies to the existing nuclear power fleet to drive efficiencies and make nuclear power more efficient and cost-effective. Trey explains the intersection of fast-moving AI technology and the slow-moving, ris...

In this episode of the Fire2Fission podcast, Mark Hinaman interviews Michael Crabb, SVP Commercial at Last Energy. They discuss Last Energy's background and their mission to build, own, and operate micro nuclear power plants. Michael shares his experience in the energy industry and the challenges faced by the nuclear industry. They also talk about the importance of learning, collaboration, and com...

In this episode of the Fire2Fission podcast, Mark Hinaman and Ryan Pickering interview Heather Feldman, the director of training and development at EPRI. They discuss the Global Forum for Nuclear Innovation (GFNI) and the importance of innovation and education in the energy sector. Heather shares her background in mechanical engineering and her experience working on the space shuttle program. She...

In this episode of the Fire2Fission Podcast, Mark Hinaman interviews Lauren Thew, President of Bluestone Group, about her background in the nuclear industry and the role of technical staff augmentation in nuclear projects. They discuss the need for more young professionals in the industry and the importance of spreading awareness about nuclear power. Lauren emphasizes the potential of small modula...

In this episode of the Fire to Fission podcast, Mark Hinaman interviews Martin Hjelmeland, a postdoc researcher in Norway. They discuss Martin's background in energy and environmental engineering, his work in hydropower scheduling, and his interest in nuclear energy. They also touch on Norway's nuclear history and the country's transition from oil and gas to nuclear. The conversation highlights th...

In this episode of Fire2Fission, Mark Hinaman talks with Jeff Whitt from Framatome about the changing dynamics of nuclear energy. From his journey in the field to spearheading initiatives for the US government, Jeff sheds light on the pivotal role of nuclear power in environmental sustainability, the obstacles of innovation and talent acquisition, and the promising future of advanced reactor techn...

Mark Hinaman talks with Craig Ranson from Framatome about the nuclear industry's past, present, and future. From robotics to reactor vessel examination and the challenges of expanding nuclear energy, Craig provides insights into Framatome's contributions and the industry's need for innovation and new talent.

Mark Hinaman interviews Sean Farrell, Senior Vice President of Operations at TeraWulf, a company focused on zero-carbon cryptocurrency mining. Farrell shares his extensive background in the energy sector, including his time at Siemens and Siemens Gamesa. He discusses TeraWulf's unique approach to sustainable crypto mining, leveraging existing infrastructure at retired power plants, and the importa...

Host Mark Hinaman interviews Doomberg, an anonymous energy analyst and head writer for the Doomberg Substack. They discuss the importance of nuclear energy in addressing climate change and energy needs, criticizing the nuclear industry's lack of effective marketing and political advocacy. Doomberg advocates for a more assertive approach in promoting nuclear power, emphasizing its benefits over ren...

Caleb Tomlin, Senior Technical Leader at EPRI, discusses the transition from coal to nuclear power. He explains the research being done on synthetic fuels and the opportunities for nuclear beyond electricity. Caleb highlights the challenges and considerations involved in converting coal plants to nuclear, including site characterization, technology and design selection, and securing land and trans...

Host Mark Hinaman interviews Arjun Murti, Partner at Veriten. Murti discusses the complexities of energy transition, emphasizing the importance of balancing environmental concerns with the need for reliable and affordable energy. The conversation delves into various topics, including the role of traditional and renewable energy sources, the impact of market dynamics on energy strategies, and the f...

In this episode of the Fire2Fission podcast, Mark Hinaman interviews Dr. Joshua Goldstein, Professor Emeritus of International Relations at American University and Research Scholar at the University of Massachusetts. Goldstein, an environmentalist and author, discusses his shift from anti-nuclear to pro-nuclear views, the role of nuclear power in climate change mitigation, and the impact of societ...

Mark Hinaman interviews Irina Slav, a seasoned energy writer with a focus on the oil and gas sector. Their discussion pivots around energy supply dynamics, the pivotal role of nuclear power, and the limitations of renewables like wind and solar. They delve into the geopolitical energy landscape, especially concerning Eastern Europe and the EU. The episode concludes with actionable insights for pro...

This episode of the Fire2Fission Podcast featured Bob Hargraves, co-founder of ThorCon International, discussing nuclear power's economic viability and the importance of cost reduction. Hargraves shared his diverse background, including software development and consulting in the energy sector, and his transition to advocating for nuclear power. The discussion also covered ThorCon's focus on molten...

Shawn Connors speaks with Mark Hinaman about his career in the publishing business, his admiration of the nuclear energy industry, and the opportunity nuclear energy has to tell an optimistic story about it's capability to save the world. They also discuss Connors' new novel, Chain Reaction, which tells the story of a young, female, pro-nuclear scientist and environmentalist trying to save a nucle...

DJ Hanson sits down to discuss with Mark Hinaman the thorium fuel cycle, molten salt reactors, and Flibe Energy's strategy to commercialize the technology in the United States.

Everett Redomond, Senior Director of Fuel Affairs at Oklo, discusses his career history at Holtec, NEI, and his new role at Oklo. He covers a lot of the nuance around the uranium fuel cycle and how the nuclear energy industry faces shortages in the future if domestic conversion and enrichment capacities aren't increased.

Tiffany Dickenson and Mark Hinaman discuss the economic struggles of northwest Colorado, the challenges for communities associated with closing coal mines and coal fired power plants, and how nuclear energy can be a viable replacement during the energy transition.

Christine King speaks with Mark Hinaman about her diverse background in the nuclear industry, her time at EPRI and Nucleation Capital, and the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) at Idaho National Labs.

Meredith Angwin, author of Shorting the Grid, chats with Mark Hinaman about her journey in learning about the grid, demystifying it for herself, and writing a powerful book about it and some of its shortcomings. They discuss existing issues with electricity markets, the shortfalls of renewables, and the benefits of nuclear energy to the grid.

DJ LeClear chats with Mark Hinaman about his background and work as a radiation health physicist, the differences between radition dose, dosage, and units, the Linear No Threshold (LNT) hypothesis, and if modern radiation limits are appropriate.

Dr. Adam Stein speaks with Mark Hinaman about Dr. Stein's background, his time at the Breakthrough Institute, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the current state of nuclear regulatory policy and how it can be improved to advance the industry more quickly.

Suzie Jaworowski discusses her background in the oil and gas industry, the nuclear energy office at the Department of Energy, and her role in communications as an international energy consultant.

Vanessa and William chat with Mark Hinaman about their backgrounds in space technology as well as their new spacecraft which will taxi vessels in low earth orbit.