Summer is here and our Shorty Award-winning podcast, Fissionary, is returning for a sixth season! And if you haven’t heard (and haven’t listened to our bonus episode with NEI’s own international expert, Stephanie), Mary and Jordan will be exploring nuclear topics around the world.
But before we can set off on our international journey, make sure you take some time to explore what powers wonder here at home! Kick off your summer activities lineup with a season 5 re-listen:
Plan a Trip to Walt Disney World…
Season five started out with Fissionary’s most magical episode yet, especially for all the Disney fans out there! Urban planner and author Sam Gennawey sat down with Mary and Jordan to explore how Walt Disney’s imagination extended far beyond theme parks and all the way to nuclear energy.
Discover how Walt’s love for nuclear tech led to an atomic TV special, plans for a nuclear-powered Epcot, and more with season five episode one, Walt Disney’s Wish Upon an Atom with Sam Gennawey.
…or to a Nuclear Museum
Museums have the power to inspire people of all ages and from all walks of life. This is what Jennifer Hayden loves about her work at the National Museum of Nuclear Science in Albuquerque, New Mexico. On this episode, Jennifer shares details about the ongoing revitalization of the museum’s nuclear energy exhibit and her interactions with its diverse range of guests.
Get a behind-the-scenes look at how a nuclear museum operates with season five episode two, Night at the (Nuclear) Museum with Jennifer Hayden.
Stop Mosquitoes with Nuclear Science
Unfortunately, it is mosquito season here in the States. Fortunately, Dr. Zach Adelman of Texas A&M’s entomology department is here to explain how sterile insect technique—a combination of genetic and nuclear sciences—is being used to fight some of the deadliest insects on the planet.
Learn about how sterile insect technique has been protecting human health and agriculture for decades with season five episode three, How Nuclear Is Stopping Bugs Before They Bite With Zach Adelman.
Enjoy the Air Conditioning
While many of us in the U.S. depend on our air conditioning as the weather heats up, reliable power isn’t always a given. Engineer and fellow podcast host Gwen Holdmann sat down with Mary and Jordan to talk about life off the grid, her experience racing sled dogs (wow), and how nuclear could be a perfect power solution for remote Alaskan communities.
If you want to feel extra grateful for your reliable AC, listen to season five episode four, How the Arctic Could Run on Nuclear With Gwen Holdmann.
Add Some Nuclear History to your Summer Reading List
Historian Alan Carr and archivist Patty Templeton of Los Alamos National Lab are looking to the past to tell us about the future. On this episode, they take a deep dive into the mid-20th century Atomic Age and how nuclear has shaped both science and culture, from Godzilla and Star Trek to Googie architecture.
To find out how advancements in nuclear science made their way into pop culture, listen to season five episode five, From Fallout to Futurism With Los Alamos National Lab.
Redecorate Your Space
If you love the mid-century modern aesthetic, this episode is for you! Alessandra Wood, a design historian, professor, and interior decor expert, joined Mary and Jordan to hone in on one facet of nuclear’s influence on our lives: the way we decorate our homes. She explains that iconic designs like the Sputnik chandelier, Ball clock, and more were actually inspired by atoms!
Find out if anything in your home is a product of the Atomic Age by listening to season five episode six, How Nuclear Became a Design Trend With Alessandra Wood.
Add Some Nuclear Optimism to your Summer Reading List
Book rec alert! Dr. Tim Gregory, senior nuclear chemist at the UK’s National Nuclear Lab and author of Going Nuclear: How the Atom Will Save the World, joined Mary and Jordan for the season five finale. Together, they discuss how nuclear power is often misunderstood and what we need to do to get the good word out there.
If you’re feeling optimistic about nuclear’s future (and we definitely are), listen to season five episode seven, The Optimism of the Atom With Tim Gregory.
Throw a season five episode or two into your listening rotation, and pack your bags—Fissionary season six takes off July 9!
