Episodes

What happens when an environmentalist changes their mind about nuclear energy? In this episode of Naked Nuclear , Danielle sits down with Zion Lights, environmental advocate, award-winning science communicator, and author of ...

When people talk about building nuclear power plants, the conversation usually centers on policy, engineering, and billion-dollar infrastructure. But reactors aren’t built in conference rooms. They’re built by craft workers. ...

What an EPC Actually Does: Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Explained What does it actually take to build a nuclear power plant ? In this After-Pop! episode of Naked Nuclear , Danielle breaks down one of the most im...

Nuclear power is often described as essential for climate goals, grid reliability, and energy security. But here’s the real question: Can we actually build it safely, on time, and on budget? In this episode of Naked Nuclear, ...

What happens when a nuclear engineering PhD student realizes that the book she needed as a child… doesn’t exist? She writes it. In this episode of Naked Nuclear , Danielle sits down with Zola Hind , Jamaican-born computer sci...

In this episode, Danielle talks with Uchenna Ezibe about how the American Nuclear Society is shaping the future of nuclear education—starting as early as kindergarten. They dive into ANS’s hands-on programs like cloud chamber...

In this crossover episode between Naked Nuclear and Nuclearn’s The Future of Nuclear , we bring together two teams with different backgrounds but a shared philosophy: curiosity, collaboration, and the courage to try. Danielle...

What exactly is plasma, and why are some of the world’s brightest minds betting on fusion energy to power our future? In this episode of Naked Nuclear, host Danielle sits down with Dr. Arturo Dominguez — Head of Science Educa...

What happens when you unleash more power than every power plant on Earth — for just a few billionths of a second? Welcome to After-Pop! — today, we’re diving into the Z Machine , the crown jewel of Sandia National Laboratorie...

In this Student Spotlight, we trace how childhood curiosity—sparked by Nikola Tesla and MythBusters—led Ryan Zerpa from building a Tesla coil in grade school to pursuing fusion research. Ryan shares how he reframed a mostly-f...

What does it mean to be the #1 nuclear engineering program in the country? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Todd Allen , department chair of the University of Michigan’s Nuclear Engineering & Radiological Sciences (NERS)...

Ever wonder how tiny particles can power whole cities? In this After-Pop! we follow our previous episode with Ikhwan Khaleb and dive into the world of reactor physics — the science behind nuclear chain reactions, neutrons, an...

Ikhwan Khaleb tells the story of moving from Malaysia to study in the University of Michigan’s NERS program, learning reactor physics in a second language, and turning TikTok into a platform for clear, visual nuclear educatio...

Breaking into the nuclear industry can feel overwhelming, from specialized certifications and security clearances to jobs that never even make it to job boards. In this episode of Naked Nuclear , Danielle shares an exciting n...

What makes someone stay at the same company for decades — or even generations? In this episode of Naked Nuclear , we sit down with Bob Duffy , Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of BWX Technologies (BWXT) ...

On this episode, we dive into the power of curiosity—how simple questions can spark revolutions in science, technology, and society. Inspired by a roadside observation, we explore why cultivating curiosity is critical at ever...

You don’t have to be a math genius to change the world — just ask Veronica Annala. In this inspiring Student Spotlight, Danielle sits down with Veronica, a recent Texas A&M nuclear engineering graduate and founder of the Nucl...

Thanks for tuning in. In this episode, Danielle highlights four in-demand skilled trades in the nuclear energy industry that require months to years of training instead of a doctorate. For each trade, we cover: Commercial Div...

After-Pop! Episode: What the Heck is a Hot Cell? In this After-Pop! Danielle breaks down the mysterious world of nuclear hot cells —shielded enclosures that let scientists safely handle some of the most radioactive materials ...

In this episode, we continue Season 2 with our second Student Spotlight , featuring Marcellus Boykin, a PhD student in nuclear engineering at Georgia Tech. Marcellus shares his journey from math major and football player to s...

In this episode of Naked Nuclear , Danielle sits down with Dr. Rebecca Steinman, PhD and the American Nuclear Society (ANS) to explore Nuclear 101 —a hands-on, introductory course designed not just for engineers, but for anyo...

In this After-Pop!, host Danielle explores the rise of commercial nuclear propulsion and how companies like CORE Power are reimagining the future of maritime shipping. Unlike military nuclear propulsion systems, these next-ge...

Nuclear-powered cargo ships might sound like science fiction—but CORE Power is making them a science reality. In this episode of Naked Nuclear , Danielle sits down with Tobi Menzies and Dr. Rory Megginson from CORE Power to e...

In this episode, we dive into the world of scholarships, grants, and fellowships available for students at various academic levels and fields, particularly within the nuclear sector, STEM, and the energy world. We dispel the ...