Fissionary

Meet MURR (the Missouri University Research Reactor), a leading facility in the production of life-saving medical isotopes that’s redefining what’s possible in both energy and healthcare. In this episode, we talk to Mike Hoehn, Program Director for NextGen MURR, and John Brockman, Associate Director of Research and Education at MURR, about how MURR’s cutting-edge research is revolutionizing cancer...

In a world where climate anxiety looms large, the power of storytelling shines as a beacon of hope. In this episode of Fissionary, we chat with Charly Frisk, Director of Climate Action at Time for Better, about her mission to reshape the climate conversation. Charly and her team are redefining what it means to gather around climate issues by creating vibrant spaces like the Hope House, where optim...

Ever thought nuclear energy and abstract art could be connected? In this episode, we sit down with Angel “Ralph” Rafael Vázquez-Concepción, an artist, educator, and advocate who blends nuclear technology with the beauty of abstraction. From uranium glass to abstract expressionism, Ralph explores the atomic world through a creative lens, using art to challenge our views on nuclear power. We dive in...

Rhino poaching remains a critical issue, threatening the survival of their species while fueling illegal trade networks. Luckily, there is hope for these creatures as new anti-poaching methods like the Rhisotope Project emerge. In this episode, James Larkin, the director of the radiation and health physics unit at the University of the Witwatersrand and the founder of The Rhisotope Project, shares...

Recent climate and energy reporting have emphasized the need to roll out new technologies on a large scale to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But what exactly needs to happen to make this a reality? In the Season 3 premiere, we sit down with Cat Clifford, senior science and economics correspondent at Cipher. With her extensive experience in climate reporting, Cat delves into the challenges of dep...

Welcome back to Fissionary! A podcast dedicated to exploring the potential of nuclear energy in addressing the climate crisis and securing our energy future. As our podcast continues to grow,  we’re diving even deeper into how nuclear technology is being used to heal, power, and save our planet. Season 3 launches on October 10, 2024! Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out. Sign up for o...

For Fissionary’s season 2 finale, Mary and Jordan speak with some nuclear power players!   We’re joined again by Dr. J’Tia Hart, along with Kaylee Cunningham (Ms. Nuclear Energy) and Ryan Pickering who are working hard to advocate for a cleaner world powered by nuclear. They discuss the current state of the nuclear industry, the challenges they face when educating others on nuclear, and where...

From the Manhattan Project to the Oscars— Oppenheimer brought nuclear back into the mainstream.  Charles Oppenheimer, grandson of J. Robert Oppenheimer, is building a legacy of his own with The Oppenheimer Project. In this episode, Charles reflects on seeing his grandfather portrayed on the big screen, funding a nuclear future, and the importance of distinguishing between nuclear weapons and...

Will fission be the future of energy on Mars?  Join us for an out-of-this-world conversation with Trudy Kortes, the director of technology demonstrations at NASA, and one of the minds behind the Fission Power Project. In this episode, Mary and Jordan dive into the fascinating ways NASA is harnessing nuclear technology to fuel our missions to the Moon (and Mars!) as well as the importance of l...

Grab your headsets and controllers because the future of nuclear operations is here!  Join Mary and Jordan as they discover how nuclear is harnessing the power of virtual reality with their guest, Derek Kultgen from Argonne National Laboratory. Derek shares how his team is using video game technology to revolutionize how we work in the nuclear industry, making operations safer, more efficient...

The worlds of nuclear energy and reality TV collide in this episode with Survivor alum and nuclear engineer, J’Tia Hart!    As Director of Nuclear Non-Proliferation at Idaho National Laboratory, J’Tia is paving the way for the future of nuclear energy all while championing diversity and representation in STEM. She shares her unique journey with Mary and Jordan as they chat about energy s...

Ready for a dose of nuclear medicine? By using the power of radioactive molecules, doctors are reshaping the landscape of cancer treatment, offering more effective diagnoses and enhanced quality of life for patients. Paulien Moyaert is a doctor and content creator with more than 160,000 subscribers on YouTube. She joins Jordan and Mary to discuss how nuclear medicine can be used to treat cancer, d...

Cryptocurrencies and AI are becoming a larger part of our everyday lives, but how are we going to power this rapidly growing demand for digital energy?  Tom Mapes is the founder of Digital Energy Council, the first member association focused solely on digital energy. He joins Mary and Jordan to explore the intersection of technology, energy and innovation, and uncover how nuclear energy is th...

Energy is life, and as demand for it surges, so does the urgency for more investment into reliable clean energy solutions. But what will it take and is the world ready for it?   Well-known (and anonymous) Substack economic and energy writer Doomberg is ready to ruffle a few feathers and address this question head on. If you can believe it, they cover everything from nuclear energy to chicken...

Join Jordan and Mary as they embark on an electrifying new season of Fissionary. From powering space exploration to transforming medicine, nuclear energy continues to push boundaries and stay on the cutting edge. Get ready to take a closer look at some of the ways nuclear technology is changing our world.   Fissionary Wants To Hear From You! Fill out our short listener survey Music used in th...

COP is one of the biggest events of the year for tackling climate issues—and some have been referring to COP28 as the “nuclear COP,” with more and more nations looking to next-generation nuclear technology as a solution.   Jackie Toth is live from Dubai to discuss everything she’s seen at COP28. She works as the deputy director at Good Energy Collective, an organization that advocates for pol...

The fashion industry is responsible for 1.7  billion  tons of carbon emissions annually. Rickey Ruff wants to fix that, but it is going to take a lot of work.   With his background in the fashion industry, working for Ralph Lauren and Adidas, he started Global Nuclear Concepts (GNC) as a solution to decarbonizing the industry. The goal? To retrofit factories with micro-nuclear react...

While nuclear energy does a lot of things really well, our guest thinks there is room for improvement in one area in particular: marketing.   In fact, John Marshall founded Potential Energy Coalition because climate change has a big marketing problem. His work aims to help rebrand nuclear energy and reshape the way we communicate about the climate crisis.   You can check out the recent r...

Jesus Nunez, the CEO of the  Nuclear Alternative Project  (NAP), wants to bring nuclear energy to Puerto Rico. The island’s electric grid is regularly destabilized by hurricanes, and with climate change, this could get worse. Jesus believes nuclear could play a major role in fixing that.  On this episode, he joins Mary and Jordan to talk about how extreme weather can impact electric...

What happens when our favorite characters and shows get nuclear power all wrong? From Jane Fonda to The Simpsons, nuclear is often misrepresented. Without realizing it, The Simpsons, and many other pieces of pop culture, influenced an entire generation to believe in the misconceptions about nuclear energy.   Environmental advocate Zion Lights joins Fissionary to discuss how pop culture got nu...

If you can learn about what hotel to book for your vacation through an influencer, you can learn about the safety and effectiveness of nuclear energy from one.  Probabilistic Risk Assessment Engineer and Influencer, Jenifer Avellaneda (aka Nuclear Hazelnut) joins our co-hosts to talk about her role in making nuclear safe and how she disseminates this complex information for all of her social...

The climate crisis isn't going away, and energy demands will only grow. This reality is pushing people and countries toward clean, reliable nuclear energy.  Director of International Policy for Third Way’s Climate and Energy program Lindsey Walter joins our co-hosts to break down changing perceptions around nuclear energy, the main reasons behind the shift, and the global perspective on a net...

Nuclear energy, the largest clean energy generator in the United States, is more than just a power source.  Grace Stanke, Miss America 2023 and a nuclear engineer, breaks down some of the ways that nuclear fission contributes to society—she also gives a crash course on how to become a nuclear advocate! Grace Stanke:  Instagram  |  Twitter  |  Tiktok Visit us at ...

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 nucle...