Shawn Ryan Show #219 Isaiah Taylor - CEO of Valar Atomics
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Jul 17, 2025 
Isaiah Taylor, CEO of Valar Atomics and a high school dropout turned nuclear innovator, aims to revolutionize atomic energy. He shares his vision for mass-manufactured reactors that could produce carbon-neutral fuels from CO2 and water. Taylor's journey, fueled by a passion inherited from his physicist great-grandfather, highlights the challenges of venture capital in the nuclear sector. He compares the evolution of nuclear energy to SpaceX's early days, advocating for innovative, small-scale reactors to revitalize the industry and meet future energy demands.
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Isaiah's Humble Beginnings
- Isaiah Taylor grew up very poor and on food stamps in various rough places.
- His father invested time and belief in his children, which Isaiah credits for his success.
Small, Fast Prototyping Needed
- Nuclear needs to be smaller and built fast to innovate effectively.
- Learning by rapid prototyping, like SpaceX, is key to rebooting nuclear energy.
Permitting is Nuclear's Bottleneck
- The complexity in nuclear is not the reactor but the licensing and permitting process.
- Once a nuclear site is approved, building multiple reactors there makes economic sense.