Naked Nuclear

Imagine filling up your car at a gas station in Washington, DC, and heading toward Richmond. Twenty miles down the road, you pull over, call a tow truck, and scrap the car, with 96% of the fuel still in the tank. That's what we do with nuclear fuel in the United States right now.Ed McGinnis is the CEO of Curio and a former senior official at the U.S. Department of Energy. He's spent decades in nuclear policy and energy security, and he's now building something that could change how we think about nuclear waste entirely. Spoiler: he doesn't even call it waste. He calls it "slightly used fuel."In this episode, Ed breaks down why the U.S. stopped recycling nuclear fuel in the 1970s, what went wrong with the Cold War-era Purex process, and how Curio's NuCycle technology does it differently ... without ever separating pure plutonium. We get into the $50 billion Nuclear Waste Fund that was collected from ratepayers and spent on other things, why the DOE is now paying over a billion dollars a year in court-ordered damages, and how 90,000+ metric tons of used fuel sitting at reactor sites across the country is actually the largest above-ground energy reserve in the world.Plus: Curio's planned recycling facility, bigger than a football stadium, processing more fuel than every other recycling facility on the planet combined, and the 3,000+ trades-based jobs it would create at around $125K a year for 60+ years.Topics covered:Why only 3-4% of nuclear fuel is actually used — and 96% is still usable energyThe difference between the Cold War Purex process and Curio's NuCycle technologyPresident Carter's ban on fuel recycling and the $13+ billion in lost investmentsHow recycling reduces radiotoxicity from 100,000+ years to about 300 yearsCurio's partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory since 2019The Nuclear Waste Policy Act, the $50 billion fund, and the billion-dollar-a-year lawsuit payoutsRussia still providing 20%+ of U.S. nuclear fuel — and what that means for energy securityCurio's planned facility: 4,000 metric tons per year, 3,000+ jobs, mostly tradesCurio's own SMR and micro-reactor designs (TrueFuel)Resources: Learn more about CURIO: curio.energy Jimmy Carter's Ruling on Reprocessing Spent Nuclear Fuel: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ml1209/ML120960615.pdf

What does it take to explain one of the most misunderstood technologies on Earth?This Final Friday on Naked Nuclear, Danielle sits down with Nick Touran for a new Follow Them Friday episode.Nick is the founder of What Is Nuclear, one of the internet’s most respected resources for understanding nuclear energy, reactor technology, fuel cycles, history, and policy in plain English. In a world drowning in hot takes and cold IQs, he built something useful.We discuss Nick’s journey into nuclear engineering, how he built What Is Nuclear, why communication matters, and how advanced reactors differ through choices like coolants and moderators. We also get into regulation, licensing, innovation bottlenecks, and what may be next for nuclear in maritime applications.If you’ve ever wanted nuclear explained clearly, or wondered where the industry is headed next, this is the episode.How Nick Touran got into nuclear engineeringWhy he created WhatIsNuclear.comExplaining reactors simply: coolants, moderators, and design choicesFast reactors vs thermal reactorsWhy licensing and regulation shape innovationNuclear power for maritime shipping and industrial useThe future of advanced reactorsWhy good science communication matters more than everNick is helping lead a new maritime nuclear venture focused on the future of clean shipping and advanced nuclear deployment.They’re seeking exceptional talent, including:Licensing EngineersReactor EngineersNuclear ScientistsRegulatory ExpertsAdvanced Reactor TalentTo be considered, complete the qualified candidate form here: Check out Nick's Youtube Page here: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisnuclear

I Asked If Solar Could Power California… and It Got ComplicatedWhat started as a simple question turned into a full-blown debate: If solar panels and batteries are getting so good…why does California still need nuclear energy?In this episode, we break down what actually keeps the lights on — beyond headlines, hot takes, and LinkedIn comment wars.What You’ll LearnWhy “more solar” doesn’t automatically solve the problemSolar energy is powerful — but it only works when the sun is shining.Electricity systems need to work all the time, not just during ideal conditions.The difference between dispatchable and weather-dependent powerNot all energy sources behave the same way.Dispatchable power = can be turned on whenever neededSolar & wind = depend on weather and time of dayThis distinction is at the heart of how power grids are designed.Why batteries help… but don’t solve everythingBatteries can store energy for hours — not days or weeks.Scaling them to support an entire grid would require:massive infrastructurelarge amounts of materialsand systems we haven’t fully built yetThe “last 10% problem”Getting to ~80–90% clean energy is achievable.But the final stretch to 100%?That’s where:costs rise sharplyreliability becomes harderand system complexity increasesCapacity factor (explained simply)Not all energy sources produce power at the same rate over time.Nuclear: ~90% uptimeSolar: ~20–25% depending on locationThis affects how much infrastructure you need to meet demand.What is grid inertia?Power grids rely on physical stability — not just energy supply.Traditional plants (like nuclear and hydro):use large spinning turbineshelp stabilize frequency and flowSolar and batteries don’t naturally provide this, which means engineers must recreate it in other ways.Nuclear’s role in a clean energy systemNuclear isn’t replacing renewables.It provides:consistent, 24/7 powerhigh energy output from a small footprintstability for the grid when other sources fluctuateSpecial ThanksThank you to everyone who contributed to the original discussion! Find the post here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/danielleallen-nuclear_in-the-most-civil-manner-possible-could-activity-7438758963921248256-o8EE🎙️ About Naked NuclearNaked Nuclear breaks down complex nuclear energy topics into clear, honest conversations — helping listeners understand not just the technology, but the systems and decisions shaping our energy future. Further Reading (Direct Links) Grid Inertia (the thing nobody explains well)IEEE Smart Grid (your reference):https://smartgrid.ieee.org/bulletins/november-2020/brief-understanding-of-inertia-in-the-smart-grid-its-challenges-and-solutionsGrid Reliability & Clean Energy SystemsInternational Energy Agency – Net Zero by 2050https://www.iea.org/reports/net-zero-by-2050International Energy Agency – Electricity Market Reporthttps://www.iea.org/reports/electricity-market-report Capacity Factors & Real-World Grid DataU.S. Energy Information Administration – Capacity Factors Explainedhttps://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=10191U.S. Energy Information Administration – Electricity Data Browserhttps://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/browser/ System Costs & “Last 10% Problem”OECD Nuclear Energy Agency – The Full Costs of Electricity Provisionhttps://www.oecd-nea.org/jcms/pl_51110/the-full-costs-of-electricity-provisionOECD Nuclear Energy Agency – System Costs in Decarbonised Power Systemshttps://www.oecd-nea.org/jcms/pl_15000/system-costs-of-electricity Batteries & Energy Storage International Energy Agency – Energy Storage Trackinghttps://www.iea.org/reports/energy-storageNuclear Performance World Nuclear Association – Nuclear Power Performancehttps://world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/nuclear-power-in-the-world-today.aspx

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.In this episode of Naked Nuclear, Danielle sits down with nuclear welder Tyree McCall, who started his career at Plant Vogtle Units 3 & 4 at just nineteen years old. What began as a labor job quickly turned into a mentorship-driven apprenticeship where experienced workers pushed him to level up his skills and pursue welding.Working ten-hour days and attending welding school at night, Tyree eventually transitioned into nuclear welding—one of the most technically demanding and responsibility-heavy crafts in the industry.Together, they explore what it really takes to build nuclear infrastructure: discipline, safety culture, accountability, and the personal growth required to succeed in a high-stakes environment.This episode pulls back the curtain on the boots-on-the-ground workforce that makes nuclear energy possible.How Tyree landed his first job at Plant Vogtle Units 3 & 4What it feels like to walk onto a nuclear construction site at 19Why the mentors on site “raised him” in the craftThe reality of working full-time while attending welding school at nightThe difference between nuclear welding and other welding careersWhat nuclear safety culture actually looks like on a job siteThe intense pressure of passing nuclear welding certification testsHow failures and feedback shape skilled trades professionalsThe lifestyle changes that come with holding a nuclear badge and clearanceAdvice for students considering trades careers in the nuclear industryTyree credits much of his early success to experienced workers on the Vogtle site who encouraged him to pursue higher-skilled trades and pushed him to think long-term about his career.

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 scientist turned nuclear engineering researcher at Bangor University — and author of Island Energy Superhero: A Kids’ Guide to Energies in the Caribbean.From visualizing nuclear fuel behavior using astronomy-inspired methods… to printing her book in braille for visually impaired students… Zola is building an energy-literate Caribbean one classroom at a time.This conversation explores:Why representation matters in energy educationHow nuclear engineering “chose” herWhat it means to fail forward in a PhD programThe role of clean energy in Caribbean climate resilienceWhether you’re a student, parent, educator, policymaker, or just energy-curious , this episode will leave you thinking differently about who gets to be part of the energy transition. Get the BookIsland Energy Superhero: A Kids’ Guide to Energies in the CaribbeanAmazon:https://www.amazon.com/Island-Energy-Superhero-Energies-Caribbean/dp/1998245098Official Website:https://islandenergybook.my.canva.site/#homeThe book is also available in select Jamaican bookstores and at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston.About Zola HindZola Hind is a PhD researcher in nuclear engineering at Bangor University with a background in computer science and data visualization. Her research focuses on novel methods for modeling and visualizing nuclear fuel behavior.She is passionate about:Energy literacyClimate resilience in the CaribbeanAccessibility and inclusion in STEMMaking complex science understandable for everyone

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), to explore what’s behind the company’s incredibly low attrition rate, its investment in early talent, and how it’s preparing for the next generation of nuclear professionals.Bob shares how BWXT is going beyond traditional hiring — building weld schools in high schools, ramping up internships, offering internal growth pathways, and supporting students through scholarships and tuition reimbursement. We also discuss how you can stand out in the hiring process and what kinds of roles are most in demand right now — from engineers to machinists to project managers. With over 700 job openings (at the time of recording) you've gotta see what's cooking at BWXT. Apply to work at BWXT: https://www.bwxt.com/careers Learn more about BWXT: https://www.bwxt.comLearn more about Welding School in Mt. Vernon, Indiana https://investors.bwxt.com/news-releases/news-release-details/bwxt-opens-welding-program-mount-vernon-high-school BWXT in the Newshttps://investors.bwxt.com/news-events/news-releases 🎓 2025 BWXT STEM Scholarship Winners:Haris KhanElla SchmutzNeev ShahCorine GlicksteinLondon Puckett

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 on Earth. From spent nuclear fuel to life-saving radiopharmaceuticals, hot cells are the unsung heroes of nuclear science and medicine.✨ What We Cover:What hot cells are and why they matterHow they look and operate (hello, robotic arms!)The different types of hot cells: standard, GMP, mini cells, and mobileThe crucial role they play in nuclear fuel reprocessing, reactor safety, medical isotope production, and moreA look ahead at innovations in automation and training🎧 Listen to our full episode with Marcellus Boykin, where we first touched on hot cells and other nuclear workforce innovations: [LINK TO EPISODE]🔗 Learn more about hot cells:The Buzz on Hot Cells – Westinghouse BlogVon Gahlen Hot Cells OverviewGlobalSpec: Hot Cells ExplainedGot questions about hot cells or other nuclear tech? leave a comment or follow us on LinkedIn