Emmet Penney talks to experts, workers, journalists, and scholars from all over the world about nuclear energy, energy issues, culture, and society. Subscribe to the Substack to get the newsletter and the podcast sent directly to your inbox: www.nuclearbarbarians.com.
This podcast is supported by the Foundation for American Innovation.
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My good friend and all around nuclear energy badass Paris Ortiz-Wines of Stand Up for Nuclear swung by to talk about what’s changed in the nuclear narrative and what we can and should do about it. It ended up being a far-ranging discussion about fear, hope, and how people change their minds. How can advocates amplify global shifts in the nuclear energy narrative? by Paris Ortiz-Wines Check out my daily energy newsletter. Go see Nuclear Now ! Get full access to Nuclear Barbarians at www.nuclearba...
Alan Medsker , the one man nuclear revolution in Illinois, joined me to talk about convincing politicians in the Prairie state to protects its nuclear plants and repeal its moratorium. Read about Alan’s efforts to bring pro-nuclearism to the Episcopal Church. Subscribe to my daily energy newsletter . Get full access to Nuclear Barbarians at www.nuclearbarbarians.com/subscribe...
Darius Mortazavi of the new chemical engineering Substack, Feedstockland , joined me to talk about the industrial chemical processes, the newsletter game, industry comms, energy realities, and more! “ Visible Emissions and Invisible Problems ” by Darius Mortazavi “ Casino, Chemicals, and Kinetics !” by Darius Mortazavi Check out his other newsletter, The Column . Subscribe to my daily energy newsletter, Grid Brief . Get full access to Nuclear Barbarians at www.nuclearbarbarians.com/subscribe...
Doomberg , one of the best and most popular Substackers in the world, joined me to talk about the problems besetting the so-called energy transition, political decadence, and our quantum-pilled energy future. Thar She Blows by Doomberg The Streisand Effect by Doomberg Subscribe to my daily energy newsletter, Grid Brief . Get full access to Nuclear Barbarians at www.nuclearbarbarians.com/subscribe...
Author and journalist William D. Cohan joined me to talk about his new book on the rise and fall of General Electric— Power Failure: The Rise and Fall of an American Icon . Follow William on Twitter . Check out Puck News . Subscribe to my energy newsletter, Grid Brief . Get full access to Nuclear Barbarians at www.nuclearbarbarians.com/subscribe...
The climate scientist Roger Pielke Jr. joined me to talk about the origins of the 1.5c warming goals, its strange origins, and the troubled relationship between science, expertise, and politics. Check out Roger’s Substack . Check out his book . Subscribe to my energy newsletter . Articles Discussed: Get full access to Nuclear Barbarians at www.nuclearbarbarians.com/subscribe...
Julius Krein, the editor of American Affairs, sat down to talk with me about the origins of ESG and how to fight it. Here's Julius's piece in Compact: https://www.compactmag.com/article/why-the-right-can-t-beat-esg Follow Julius on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuliusKrein Subscribe to American Affairs: https://americanaffairsjournal.org/ Check out my newsletter: https://www.gridbrief.com/ Get full access to Nuclear Barbarians at www.nuclearbarbarians.com/subscribe...
Dr. Chris Keefer swung by to talk about all his big moves in Canada and why the Save Pickering campaign is popping off. Check out the Save Pickering campaign: https://www.canfornuclearenergy.org/save-pickering The Decouple: https://www.decouplemedia.org/ Follow Chris on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Dr_Keefer Get full access to Nuclear Barbarians at www.nuclearbarbarians.com/subscribe...
Austrian nuclear advocate Dominic Wipplinger joined me to talk about how nuclear support has changed, and what got him interested in nuclear. And he gives me an education in Austrian nuclear history. I learned a lot and I hope you do too! Here's Dominic's info: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NukerKernundEnergietechnik Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominic-wipplinger-682868234/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/55966637310/user/525989865 Nuklearia: https://nuklearia.de/ Discor...
Noah Rettberg joins me again to talk about synth fuels. This time we go into hydrogen production and a whole bunch more. I love having Noah on as I always learn a ton. Follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoahRettberg Get full access to Nuclear Barbarians at www.nuclearbarbarians.com/subscribe
Phil Ord, who's been advocating for nuclear for way longer than I have, joined me to talk about how he became a "nukebro." We also talk about climate change, renewable propaganda, and how the nuclear movement has grown since Phil got into it. Note: we recorded this a week before Diablo Canyon was saved. Check out Phil's stuff: https://twitter.com/FissionPhil https://www.americansfornuclearenergy.org/ https://twitter.com/Americans4Nukes https://www.facebook.com/americans.for.nuclear.energy/ Get f...
Noah Rettberg joined me to talk about synthetic fuels. I learned a ton--and there's so much more to learn we're going to do a follow-up! Follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoahRettberg Subscribe to Grid Brief: https://www.gridbrief.com/subscribe Get full access to Nuclear Barbarians at www.nuclearbarbarians.com/subscribe
Nuclear advocate, UC Davis grad student, environmentalist, and barbell squatter Amelia Tiemann joined me to talk about convincing people of nuclear, the Beautiful Nuclear Report, and more! Check her out in Twitter: https://twitter.com/TiemannAmelia Subscribe to Grid Brief: gridbrief.com/subscribe Get full access to Nuclear Barbarians at www.nuclearbarbarians.com/subscribe...
My friend James Fleay, founder of Down Under Nuclear Energy (DUNE), joined me to talk about what's stopping Australia from building nuclear. We talk about the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal, electricity spot market, economic complexity, human capital, Australian economic history, and more! Detailed description of how the anti-nuclear legislation was snuck in under cover of darkness in Australia: https://www.brightnewworld.org/media/2018/10/18/history-of-australias-nuclear-prohibition-5ceab Interes...
Mark Hinaman joined me again to talk about his vision for the Fire2Fission fund, nuclear regulation, the value of human capital, what the fossil fuel and nuclear industries can do better, and more! Check out his blog: https://fire2fission.com/2022/03/19/fire2fission-a-fund/ Follow Mark on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarkHinaman Subscribe to Grid Brief: https://twitter.com/GridBrief Get full access to Nuclear Barbarians at www.nuclearbarbarians.com/subscribe...
Dr. Chris Keefer, the host of the Decouple podcast, stopped by to update me on the incredible progress being made in Canada for nuclear energy. https://www.gridbrief.com/subscribe Get full access to Nuclear Barbarians at www.nuclearbarbarians.com/subscribe
Brian Gitt was once a true Amory Lovins all-renewables believer. But then, as he spent time in the industry, things stopped adding up. We talk about his journey towards the radiant light of nuclear and what renewables advocates leave out when they make their case. Follow Brian on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrianGitt Check out his website: https://briangitt.com/ Subscribe to Grid Brief: https://www.gridbrief.com/subscribe Get full access to Nuclear Barbarians at www.nuclearbarbarians.com/subscr...
Mark Hinaman, who grew up in an oil and gas family and found great success in fracking, is now turning towards nuclear for a vision of the future. In this first episode in a two-parter, Mark and I dove into his background, what nuclear can learn from O&G, realistic energy transitions, and so much more. I absolutely loved talking to him and am looking forward to part 2. Check out Mark's work: https://fire2fission.com/2022/03/19/fire2fission-a-fund/ Reach him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin....
Jenifer Avellaneda is one of my favorite new Twitter follows. She's a young Nuclear Risk Analyst for Westinghouse whose been passionate about nuclear since she was a kid and who does a great job of communicating nuclear safety to the public. We had a fun chat about her background and our mutual love of nuclear. Follow Jenifer: https://twitter.com/NuclearHazelnut Subscribe to Grid Brief: https://www.gridbrief.com/subscribe Get full access to Nuclear Barbarians at www.nuclearbarbarians.com/subscri...
Wiliam Davison of Crisis Group joined me to talk about GERD. It's a hugely informative episode about the hurdles developing countries face in scaling up the energy ladder. Read more about it here: Shock death intensifies dam debate: was Abiy pessimistic or realistic about GERD? https://medium.com/@wdavison10/shock-death-intensifies-dam-debate-was-abiy-pessimistic-or-realistic-about-gerd-d306a98686fe Nile Dam Talks: Unlocking a Dangerous Stalemate https://www.crisisgroup.org/africa/horn-africa/et...
Madi Hilly of the Campaign for a Green Nuclear Deal joined me to talk about her organization's latest report on repowering retiring coal plants with nuclear reactors. We talk about giving energy communities a chance to choose their future, preserving American industrial ability, obstacles to repowering, and much more. Read the report: https://gndcampaign.org/repowering-coal Follow Madi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MadiHilly Subscribe to Grid Brief: https://www.gridbrief.com/subscribe Get full...
Return guest Robert Bryce joined me to talk about the NRC’s decision to rescind its license extension to Turkey Point in Florida. The conversation then turns to the dismal state of current energy policy, Biden’s State of the Union, the problem with how most people (especially those in the media) think about energy, what we can do about it, and some of my weird theories about how the internet has deeply changed our polity Read Robert’s piece on the Turkey Point situation: https://www.forbes.com/s...
Princy Mthombeni from Africa4Nuclear sat down with me to talk about how she ended up becoming such an amazing advocate for nuclear, the obstacles to building nuclear in Africa, overcoming energy poverty, and more! Check out her youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQZmA_Zryw077ModGyDEKpw Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Princymthombeni Get full access to Nuclear Barbarians at www.nuclearbarbarians.com/subscribe...
DJ LeClear, The Rad Guy, sits down to talk to me about working in radiation safety, how he became a nuclear advocate, how he changed his mind on climate, what it means to be an advocate, and more! Follow The Rad Guy: www.youtube.com/channel/UCNRNPA4-VzJiNVOHEmLSEAg www.instagram.com/theradguyglows/?hl=en www.tiktok.com/@theradguyglows?lang=en twitter.com/ThatRadGuy5 www.patreon.com/join/TheRadGuy ? rads-glowing-apparel.creator-spring.com/ Subscribe to my newsletter to get curated energy news and...
Italian nuclear advocate Luca Romano joins me to talk about the history of Italian nuclear, how he's amassed such an impressive pro-nuclear following, the great news of the EU's new green taxonomy, and more! Support Luca's work! Patreon: https://patreon.com/nicodaemon Facebook: https://facebook.com/AvvocatoAtomico Instagram: https://instagram.com/avvocatoatomico/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AvvocatoAtomico Twitch: https://twitch.tv/avvocatoatomico Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeieW...
Isaac Orr of the Center of the American Experiment returns to talk about his latest article on MISO's potential for cold weather blackouts this winter. We dive into what's happening with solar in Minnesota, grid unreliability, coal, how wind turbines can be net consumers of energy in cold weather, phony environmental justice language, and more. Check out Isaac's article here . Get full access to Nuclear Barbarians at www.nuclearbarbarians.com/subscribe...
Emmet chats with Edgardo Sepulveda about Ontario's unique history of public power, starting from early 20th-century populist movements against private monopolies to the establishment of Hydroelectric Commission of Ontario (HEPCO), a model that inspired New Deal programs like the TVA. The discussion then fast-forwards to Ontario's current reliance on public nuclear power, particularly the Pickering plant, which faces a 2025 shutdown. They explore the political and economic factors threatening its refurbishment, the shift towards "soft energy" policies, and the urgent need to save Pickering to avoid a return to gas-fired generation and preserve Ontario's clean energy grid.
The legendary Rod Adams (@atomicrod) of Atomic Insights and Nucleation Capital joined me to talk about his time as a Navy nuke, changes in nuclear, what advanced nuclear is all about, and more! Get full access to Nuclear Barbarians at www.nuclearbarbarians.com/subscribe
Nick Touran , creator of whatisnuclear.com , joins me to talk about stewarding our nuclear past and learning from our engineering forefathers. Nick’s a great guy and I’ve learned a lot from his work. We had a fun time chatting and I encourage everyone to consult his website for valuable information about the development of nuclear energy in America. Get full access to Nuclear Barbarians at www.nuclearbarbarians.com/subscribe...
Host of the famous Titans of Nuclear podcast and Managing Director of the Energy Impact Center , Bret Kugelmass joined me to talk about his background, the corruption of the American utility industry, nuclear deadlocks, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, regulation, and more! Check out Bret's podcast, Titans of Nuclear . Get full access to Nuclear Barbarians at www.nuclearbarbarians.com/subscribe...
