Fissionary

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Aug 2026

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About the show

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

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55 recent

October 1, 202629 min

Poland: Out With the Coal, in With the Nuclear With Robert Rudich

Poland ran on coal for decades —in fact, m ore 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 www.nei.org/fissionary . Connect with Robert: LinkedIn | SGE Website Music used in this episode was created by Beat Mekanik Fissionary Wants To Hear From You! Fill out our short listener survey

September 17, 202634 min

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

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 www.nei.org/fissionary . Connect with Millie: LinkedIn | NIA Website Music used in this episode was created by Beat Mekanik Fissionary Wants To Hear From You! Fill out our short listener survey

September 3, 202633 min

Working Toward a Nuclear-Powered Africa With Princy Mthombeni

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 nuclear, why the "just energy transition" framing misses the mark for developing nations, and why South Africa's own 40-year nuclear success story deserves way more attention than it gets. Visit us at www.nei.org/fissionary . Connect with Princy: LinkedIn | TikTok @princymthombeni Music used in this episode was created by Beat Mekanik Fissionary Wants To Hear From You! Fill out our short listener survey

August 20, 202626 min

Nuclear’s Got Talent With Callum Thomas

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 and what it tells us when countries get serious about workforce planning. Visit us at www.nei.org/fissionary . Thomas Thor Website: https://www.thomas-thor.com/ Music used in this episode was created by Beat Mekanik Fissionary Wants To Hear From You! Fill out our short listener survey

August 5, 202627 min

Japan's Nuclear Reset With Jane Nakano

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 energy demand and AI-powered data centers to decades of careful, community-by-community rebuilding of trust. Visit us at www.nei.org/fissionary . CSIS Website: https://www.csis.org/ Music used in this episode was created by Beat Mekanik Fissionary Wants To Hear From You! Fill out our short listener survey

July 23, 202623 min

Germany’s Nuclear Plot Twist With Britta Augustin

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 debate. Visit us at www.nei.org/fissionary . Learn more about Nuklearia https://nuklearia.de/ Music used in this episode was created by Beat Mekanik Fissionary Wants To Hear From You! Fill out our short listener survey

July 9, 202629 min

Nuclear Energy’s Global Comeback With Justin Friedman

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 www.nei.org/fissionary . Music used in this episode was created by Beat Mekanik Fissionary Wants To Hear From You! Fill out our short listener survey

June 25, 20261 min

Boarding Call for Season 6

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 for takeoff. Visit us at www.nei.org/fissionary . Music used in this trailer was created by Coma-Media Fissionary Wants To Hear From You! Fill out our short listener survey

May 27, 202627 min

Nuclear Energy’s World Tour With Stephanie Pronco

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 www.nei.org/fissionary . Fissionary Wants To Hear From You! Fill out our short listener survey Music used in this episode was created by Beat Mekanik

April 2, 202631 min

The Optimism of the Atom With Tim Gregory

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 is often misunderstood, how fear of radiation has shaped public perception, and why energy abundance is foundational to everything from healthcare to economic growth. Visit us at www.nei.org/fissionary . Read Tim’s Book: Going Nuclear: How Atomic Energy Will Save the World Fissionary Wants To Hear From You! Fill out our short listener survey Music used in this episode was created by Beat Mekanik