During season one of Fissionary, hosts Mary Carpenter and Jordan Houghton invited expert guests to help dissect a plethora of nuclear and clean energy topics from policy to marketing to fashion, winning not one, but two awards along the way.
Before Mary and Jordan dive back in for season two, make sure you’re all caught up. If you need help choosing an episode to start with (or give a second listen), we’ve got you covered. There’s a Fissionary episode for everything, including…
… a nuclear advocacy crash course.
New to the whole “nuclear energy” thing? Start with episode one, featuring nuclear engineer and Miss America 2023, Grace Stanke. To kick off the podcast, Mary and Jordan asked Grace about her “origin story” with nuclear energy — how she got into nuclear engineering (it’s a funny story), how she became a nuclear advocate and, of course, her experience as Miss America.
For an intro to Fissionary and the world of nuclear advocacy, listen to episode one: Nuclear Energy 101 with Miss America
… changing perspectives around nuclear and climate.
Episode two is for the climate advocates and the policy nerds. Mary and Jordan sit down with Lindsey Walter, director of international policy for Third Way’s Climate and Energy program and co-founder of Carbon-Free Europe to discuss takeaways from her work on tech-inclusive policy in the U.S. and abroad.
Lindsey has noticed a shift happening around her. Countries around the world are increasingly embracing nuclear to enhance their energy independence as well as to meet emissions reduction targets (as evidenced by conversations at COP28… but more on that later).
For an in-depth exploration on the world’s shifting perspective on nuclear, listen to episode two: Getting Off the Nuclear Fence with Lindsey Walter
… using social media to inform and educate.
These days, there’s truly an influencer for everything, whether you’re into skincare like Jordan or you’re a world traveler like Mary. There are even influencers dedicated to — you guessed it — nuclear energy.
Episode three’s guest, Jenifer Avellaneda, better known online as @nuclearhazelnut, uses her platform to talk about nuclear safety. She is an expert on the subject, considering she works in nuclear risk assessment at Westinghouse when she’s not on social media.
For an influencer’s perspective on social media as an educational tool, listen to episode three: Nuclear Influencing in a Nutshell with Nuclear Hazelnut
… nuclear myth-busting.
Be honest — when you hear “nuclear energy,” does your first thought involve a three-eyed fish? You’re not the only one, and pro-nuclear climate activists like Zion Lights are working to change that and other common misconceptions. Zion joined Mary and Jordan to discuss how TV shows and movies from The Simpsons to Star Trek have influenced the way we think about nuclear energy.
Zion actually spent years campaigning against nuclear. But through conversations and research, she changed her mind and is now dedicated to doing the same for others with her organization Emergency Reactor.
For a deep dive on how pop culture has shaped the way we view nuclear and how we can change the narrative, listen to episode four: How The Simpsons Got Nuclear Wrong with Zion Lights
… keeping the lights on during extreme weather.
In 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria hit Puerto Rico and left much of the population without power, some for up to a year. Jesus Nunez, CEO of the Nuclear Alternative Project (NAP), sees nuclear as a way to keep it from happening again.
Jesus sat down with Mary and Jordan to discuss how his experience growing up in Puerto Rico and his work as an engineer with Bechtel led him to form NAP. He explains how marginalized communities like those on the island often end up with the short end of the stick when it comes to reliable power.
For a look into how nuclear can be the solution to keeping the power running amid (increasingly common) extreme weather events, listen to episode five: A Nuclear Alternative for Puerto Rico with Jesus Nunez
… rebranding nuclear.
Fissionary is hosted by two communicators, so it only makes sense to have an episode all about improving the way we tell the story of nuclear. Founder and CEO of Potential Energy Coalition and longtime marketing professional John Marshall came on the podcast to talk about how to rebrand nuclear energy.
Younger generations are increasingly climate-conscious, and based on John’s research, decades-old sayings like “reduce, reuse, recycle” aren’t cutting it anymore.
For a masterclass in climate-focused nuclear energy marketing, listen to episode six: Nuclear Needs a Rebrand with John Marshall
… sustainable fashion.
We’re all aware of the negative impact fast fashion has on the environment. Rickey Ruff has a solution: nuclear energy.
As the founder of Global Nuclear Concepts and a veteran of the fashion industry, Rickey has some big ideas about how to power the fashion industry with nuclear. He explains that brands need to start from the source, working with the countries and stakeholders that manufacture the clothing and replacing their carbon-emitting energy sources with clean nuclear.
For the fashionistas out there, listen to episode seven: Bringing Fission to Fashion with Rickey Ruff
… nuclear developments around the world.
All good things must come to an end, but season one of Fissionary went out with a bang. Mary and Jordan checked in with Jackie Toth, deputy director and board secretary of Good Energy Collective, for a live report on what went down at COP28.
The annual Conference of the Parties (COP), the UN’s big climate conference, seemed to be all about nuclear last year. Jackie shared her “COP-servations,” from exciting nuclear funding announcements to exploring the city of Dubai, where the conference took place.
For an on-the-ground report from the world’s biggest climate conference, listen to episode eight: Live From COP28, It’s Fissionary with Jackie Toth!
Stay tuned for Fissionary’s big comeback next month. Get listening, share your favorites with the nuclear-curious people in your life, and see you soon for season two, Fissionaries!
