Rephonic
Artwork for Decouple
Nuclear Energy
Climate Change
Nuscale
Vogtle
Carbon Free Power Project
Geopolitics
Silicon
Glass
Supply Chains
Energy Transition
Material World
Lithium
Copper
Interest Rates
COP28
China
Energy Security
Advanced Nuclear Reactors
Western Europe
United States

There are technologies that decouple human well-being from its ecological impacts. There are politics that enable these technologies. Join me as I interview world experts to uncover hope in this time of planetary crisis.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes316Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

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Artwork for Decouple

Latest Episodes

Europe once treated energy as the foundation of civilization. After the oil shocks of the 1970s, it built nuclear at scale, opened the North Sea, and secured long term pipeline supply. That system produced resilience, surplus, and industrial strength... more

YouTube

This episode features Joe St. Julian, President of Nuclear at AtkinsRéalis, outlining why Canada may be closer to a new nuclear fleet build than most observers realize. Drawing on his background delivering complex U.S. nuclear megaprojects, St. Julia... more

YouTube

The Iranian drone strike on Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial complex has sent shockwaves through global energy markets, triggering force majeure on 20 percent of the world’s LNG supply and closing the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping. To understa... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Ken Petrunik
Former project manager for the last two CANDU units ever constructed, with extensive experience in international nuclear projects.
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL)
Episode: A Case Study of Excellence from Canada’s Nuclear Golden Age
Michael Seeley
Returning guest, also known as the Atomic Blender
Episode: EPR: The Reactor That Tried to Please Everyone and Satisfied No One
James Crollenstein
CEO of Alva Energy
Alva Energy
Episode: Why the First Nuclear Renaissance Failed: Can America Build Eight AP1000s Now?
Samuel Gibson
Founder and CEO of Hadron Energy, a micro modular reactor startup
Hadron Energy
Episode: Microreactors: A Mirage of American Nuclear Innovation?
Dan Wang
Canadian-Chinese writer and economist known for his insights on industrial policy and technology
Episode: Engineering State v. Lawyerly Society
Jesse Ausubel
An American environmental scientist and visionary leader in sustainability and biodiversity research.
Rockefeller University
Episode: Where Is Nature Going?
Jesse Huebsch
Principal process engineer with a specialty in designing chemical plants
Episode: Handling the Heat
Michael Seely
Expert in nuclear energy, known as the Atomic Blender.
Episode: Nuclear Meme Stocks
Professor Alex Wellerstein
An associate professor of science and technology studies, known for NukeMap and author of Restricted Data: The History of Nuclear Secrecy in the United States.
Not specified
Episode: To Bomb or Not to Bomb

Host

Chris Keefer
Host and a medical doctor known for advocating for rational and evidence-based discussions on nuclear energy and its role in solving ecological issues.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 606 ratings
  • Extra positive

    You should learn about the genetic bottleneck phenomenon, quite easy to drive extinct. We are deliver actual WWE backbreakers to life everyday. Cheetah’s would be done in short order if they dropped to 0.3%. The Cheetah’s niche may get refilled over time.

    Great positivity for nature’s resilience, but animals and plants are actually quite fragile. We’ve destroyed most of it in not very long compared to the scales you like consider.

    Stay positive, but try to empathize or walk-a-mile in the shoes ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WilderLead
    United States6 months ago
  • Very Guest Dependent

    So while I’m giving it three stars, it’s more like a middle point between 5 and 2. James Krellenstein’s episodes are amazing, for example, but many episodes can fall into nuclear advocacy traps, such as excessive hippie punching. Hence, this is a series which can be great, but is very uneven.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Factor96
    United States9 months ago
  • Brilliant episode.thanks for your ongoing excellent podcasts🙏

    Podcast Addict
    5
    billodea
    10 months ago
  • Well worth the time if you like digging deeply.

    Great guests going into great details of the fascinating topic of (not only) nuclear energy. An absolute must if you are tired of black and white oversimplifications from mainstream content. You learn how old the molten salt idea actually is; under what circumstances EVs help fighting global warming; how to build reactors in time and budget (and how not). Sehr empfehlenswert. Дякую за Вашу працю.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    listeningNerd
    Germanya year ago
  • Nuclear bro

    Ever wonder why a smart guy talks nuclear all day when renewables are the solution? He’s a nuclear industry shill. An oligarch puppet! Shame! Your kids will know you stalled the transition MF!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    HammerOz
    Australiaa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The podcast is praised for its ability to clarify complex energy issues without resorting to oversimplification, making it a favorite for those seeking in-depth understanding.
Listeners appreciate the depth of content and expert insights, valuing the rational and detailed discussions on technical topics.
Some mention a bias towards nuclear energy, with criticisms suggesting a need for greater balance in discussing alternative energy options.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#151
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#58
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#136
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#132
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#223
Germany/Science
Apple Podcasts
#26
Mexico/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Fuels Powering Nuclear's Biggest Promises
Q: What is the economic outlook for Oklo and similar projects using HALU and metallic fuels?
Their economics hinge on fuel costs (HALU and reprocessing), fuel cycle efficiency, and achieving scale; if fuel becomes a dominant cost and reprocessing isn't economical, overall project viability remains challenged despite potential small-scale advantages.
The Fuels Powering Nuclear's Biggest Promises
Q: How do metallic fuels compare to UO2 in terms of heat transfer and safety?
Metallic fuels offer superior heat transfer and better containment of fission gases, reducing centerline temperatures and gas release risks, but they have a lower melting point and require high enrichment, which raises other cost and safety considerations.
The Fuels Powering Nuclear's Biggest Promises
Q: What are the main economic hurdles to scaling TRISO fuel?
The key hurdles are the high uranium costs at HALU levels, the expensive and diverse fabrication steps, and the lack of a large, automated production market which drives up unit costs until demand increases.
The Fuels Powering Nuclear's Biggest Promises
Q: What makes TRISO containment so robust, and how does that impact reactor design?
TRISO's multi-layer structure, especially silicon carbide, provides extremely high containment of fission products and resilience to high temperatures, enabling meltdown resistance but necessitating very tight manufacturing tolerances and complex processing that limit early commercial scale.
The Fuels Powering Nuclear's Biggest Promises
Q: Why is TRISO fuel so expensive to produce today?
Because the manufacturing process involves creating billions of tiny UO2 kernels, each requiring multiple coating layers and precise control; the rejection rate in several steps is high, and there isn't yet large-scale automated mass production to bring per-kilogram costs down.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Decouple

What is Decouple about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Episodes often explore the interplay between technological advancements and environmental considerations, particularly how nuclear energy serves as a pivotal solution to current ecological challenges. Discussions range from detailed analyses of nuclear reactor designs and their operational challenges, such as the European Pressurized Reactor (EPR), to evaluations of policy frameworks governing energy transitions. The series features expert insights into other technologies like artificial intelligence and their societal implications, all framed within the context of fostering hope amid a climate crisis. A unique aspect of the content is its focus on rational discussions that clarify complex topics without oversimplification, appealing to lis... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with Decouple:

1. The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens
2. Odd Lots
3. Dwarkesh Podcast
4. EconTalk
5. Making Sense with Sam Harris

How many episodes of Decouple are there?

Decouple launched 6 years ago and published 316 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Decouple?

Recent guests on Decouple include:

1. Ken Petrunik
2. Michael Seeley
3. James Crollenstein
4. Samuel Gibson
5. Dan Wang
6. Jesse Ausubel
7. Jesse Huebsch
8. Michael Seely

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