Radon Reality Checks, Deep-Geological Doubts, and the Case for Keeping Waste On-Site
In the 22nd installment of The Atomic Exchange Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Goran Calic and Michael Tadrous open with a surprising PSA: radon gas, not reactors, is the deadliest radiation risk most people face—linked to roughly 21 000 lung-cancer deaths a year in North America—yet few homeowners even test for it. From cheap basement monitors to Canada’s uranium-rich soils, they lay out what listeners can do today. The conversation then shifts underground—literally—to deep-geological repositories. Finland’s Onkalo vault may soon become the world’s first “forever” dump, but Goran argues its tidy economics hinge on having just two nearby plants, nothing like the sprawl of ninety U.S. reactors. Michael counters that America’s stalled Yucca Mountain project shows one national site is politically impossible, while hauling fuel across state lines or Indigenous lands would likely push costs from today’s US $0.1–2 per MWh (on-site dry casks) to four-plus cents. Together they ask: if decades of safe, cheap on-site storage already exist, are DGRs solving a real safety gap or simply buying expensive peace of mind? Tune in for a brisk, number-driven debate that challenges nuclear orthodoxy and reminds us sometimes the safest place for waste is right where it sits.
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40:29
System Costs, SMR Showdowns, and a Dispatch from D.C.
In the 21st installment of The Atomic Exchange Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Goran Calic and Michael Tadrous debrief day one of MIT & CATF’s “Nuclear Energy: Key Facts & Figures” summit. They break down why levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) misses the true system price tag, compare the wildly different financing models behind Olkiluoto-3, Hinkley Point C, Barakah, and Turkey’s Akkuyu plant, and marvel at uranium’s 50-million-to-1 energy-density edge over coal. The conversation then turns to small-modular reactors: how venture capital might finally enter the game, whether water-cooled LEU designs will crowd out exotic sodium- or lead-cooled concepts, and why a handful of winners could dominate an “SMR buffet” of 900 possible variants. Along the way they swap first impressions of D.C. and wrestle with industry pessimism on whether this moment really is the last nuclear renaissance. Tune in for a conference-floor download packed with numbers, nuance, and a dash of travelogue.
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53:07
Europe’s Nuclear Pivot, Free‑Market Frictions, and the SMR Supply‑Chain Puzzle
In the 20th installment of The Atomic Exchange Podcast, co‑hosts Dr. Goran Calic and Michael Tadrous mark their double‑digit milestone by tackling Europe’s sudden rethink on atomic energy. From Italy’s plan to end its 40‑year ban, to Germany’s flirtation with SMRs after a decade of phase‑outs, to Spain’s soul‑searching after the Iberian blackout, they ask what’s really driving the policy U‑turn: AI‑supercharged demand, the shock of Russian gas, or a belated recognition of grid physics? Along the way they spar over free‑market theory versus regulatory reality, debate whether large PWRs or factory‑built 300‑MW modules make more sense for Europe’s patchwork grids, and game‑out the labour, fuel‑cycle and supply‑chain bottlenecks that could stall a renaissance. There’s even room for golf handicaps, sleep‑apnea LSAT prep, and a lively dog‑versus‑cat detour. Tune in for a wide‑ranging, policy‑packed conversation on how (and whether) nuclear can truly anchor Europe’s next‑generation power mix—and why the clock is already ticking.
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51:39
Trump’s 18‑Month Clock, Pentagon Power Plays, and America’s New Nuclear Race
In the 19th installment of The Atomic Exchange Podcast, co‑hosts Dr. Goran Calic and Michael Tadrous dissect President Trump’s four May 23rd executive orders—the most sweeping U.S. nuclear directives since Eisenhower’s “Atoms for Peace.” They break down the headline mandates: an 18‑month cap on every NRC license, Department of Defense and Energy fast‑tracking micro‑reactors for AI data centers and bases, a whole‑of‑government push to mine, convert, enrich and even recycle domestic fuel, and DOE loans to restart shut‑down plants while breaking ground on ten new gigawatt‑scale reactors by 2030.Along the way they ask whether the NRC can really shrink multi‑year reviews to a year‑and‑a‑half without eroding its “gold‑standard” independence, debate the safety optics of letting the Pentagon self‑license reactors, and run the numbers on fuel‑cycle bottlenecks—HALEU, workforce, and state mining bans. Goran argues the orders finally level the regulatory playing field; Michael probes the risks of weaker transparency and public trust. They zoom out to the geopolitical stakes, weighing how Washington’s 400‑GW-by‑2050 ambition squares with China’s 150‑reactor sprint and what it means for AI‑driven electricity demand that’s already doubling data‑center loads every few years. Tune in for a spirited, data‑rich tour of America’s nascent nuclear renaissance—where policy meets engineering, markets meet megawatts, and the clock on U.S. energy dominance has officially started ticking.
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48:33
China’s 150‑Reactor Sprint, AI‑Era Power Needs, and the Race to Secure Uranium
In the 18th installment of The Atomic Exchange Podcast, co‑hosts Dr. Goran Calic and Michael Tadrous dissect China's headline plan to roll out 150 new reactors—at roughly US $2.5–3 billion per gigawatt—before 2035. They probe how dirt‑cheap state loans, a 700 000‑person nuclear workforce, and factory‑style repetition let China pour concrete in five‑year cycles, and why the same formula could prove harder for India the U.S. to replicate. Along the way they tackle looming uranium bottlenecks, Generation IV fast‑breeder ambitions, and the jaw‑dropping electricity appetite of AI data centers that’s pushing policymakers back to baseload realities. Tune in for a fast‑moving discussion that blends engineering detail with geopolitical stakes, asking whether the West can—or even should—match China’s nuclear sprint.
Atomic Exchange is your gateway to the world of nuclear energy and beyond. Join Dr. Goran Calic, a business school professor at McMaster University, and Michael Tadrous, his research assistant and co-host, as they spark engaging, dynamic conversations on the latest developments in nuclear science, energy policy, and global innovation. With compelling discussions and authentic perspectives, Atomic Exchange is the fusion of news, ideas, and dialogue you’ve been waiting for.
Listen to The Atomic Exchange Podcast, The AI Daily Brief (Formerly The AI Breakdown): Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
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