Advanced Nuclear, the Official Podcast of UCAN Power

Kevin Kong, founder and CEO of Everstar, discusses the transformative potential of AI in the nuclear industry. He explores how digital twins and advanced simulations can accelerate regulatory processes, making nuclear energy more accessible and efficient. Kevin shares his vision for a future where AI and nuclear power drive innovation, addressing current bottlenecks and paving the way for sustainable energy solutions. Join us as we delve into the challenges and opportunities at the intersection of technology and energy. Kevin Kong is the CEO and Founder of Everstar, a company using advanced artificial intelligence to accelerate nuclear deployment. Drawing on his background in engineering leadership and AI development, Kevin is focused on transforming how nuclear projects are planned, approved, and built, reducing regulatory timelines from years to months. Before founding Everstar, he served as CTO and Co-Founder of Hyperquery, an AI collaboration platform backed by Khosla Ventures, and as Head of Engineering at Bird, where he led large-scale software and hardware initiatives. Kevin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Harvard University.

Host, Dominique Cooper, welcomes Braden Stover on this episode. They explore the potential economic impact of Tennessee's leadership in energy innovation, particularly through the deployment of small modular reactors. It highlights the limitless opportunities for job creation and workforce development that could arise from this initiative. Braden Stover, Chief Policy Officer at the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development (TNECD). In his role, he leads policy development, supports Tennessee’s nuclear and advanced-energy investment strategy, and helps position the state as a national leader in next-generation nuclear technologies, supply chain innovation, and workforce development. Braden has been deeply involved in Tennessee’s Nuclear Energy Advisory Council and the state’s efforts to build a competitive advanced nuclear ecosystem. He brings insight on how policy, industry, and innovation must converge to meet today’s energy and national-security challenges.

Joe Miller, President of Government Operations at BWX Technologies, shares insights from his extensive career in the U.S. Navy nuclear program. The discussion dives into BWXT's pivotal role in naval reactor manufacturing and the innovative Project Pele, highlighting TRISO fuel's advantages and tactical benefits. Miller emphasizes the challenges of workforce development and scaling production to meet increasing nuclear energy demands. He also explores the integration of AI in design processes, showcasing BWXT's commitment to advancing nuclear technologies and ensuring a sustainable energy future.

In this episode of the Advanced Nuclear podcast, host Jim Howe discusses the critical role of nuclear power in America's energy landscape with guests Ethel Bunch and Jordan Marsh from the Palmetto Nuclear Coalition. They explore South Carolina's significant contributions to nuclear energy, the current status of the VC Summer nuclear plant, the state's efforts to attract new nuclear businesses, and the strong, bipartisan support nuclear power receives from South Carolina's elected leaders. The conversation highlights the importance of legislative support, the essential need for workforce development, and the competitive landscape among states in advancing nuclear power.

In this episode of the Advanced Nuclear podcast, host Jim Howe speaks with Ed Petit de Mange, Senior Director of Fuel Recycling at Oklo, about the company's plans for recycling used nuclear fuel. They discuss the elements of the recycling process, the different recycling technologies available, and Oklo's recent announcement of America's first-of-its-kind commercial recycling facility, to be built in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Ed shares valuable insights on the many benefits of recycling, the importance of collaboration with national labs, how recycled fuel will power Oklo's fast spectrum reactors, and the regulatory landscape surrounding fuel recycling. The conversation highlights the role of advanced nuclear technologies in shaping the future of America's energy security.

In this episode of the Advanced Nuclear Podcast, Stephen Long, CEO of Global Laser Enrichment (GLE), discusses his company's work to bring the next generation of uranium enrichment technology to market. The conversation explores the evolution of enrichment technologies, focusing on the innovative laser-based method that GLE has developed. Steve describes recent advancements in the nuclear fuel supply chain, the significance of GLE's test loop facility in Wilmington, North Carolina -- where actual enrichment is being conducted at demonstration scale -- and the strategic plans for the company's Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility. He emphasizes the importance of cost competitiveness, regulatory compliance, and partnerships in the nuclear industry, while also addressing nonproliferation safeguards and the future of nuclear innovation.In his role, Steve is responsible for providing strategic, operational, and project leadership of GLE, including the management of GLE’s day-day operations and delivery of the company’s technology development and commercialization objectives. Steve also serves as the Senior Management Official on the company’s independent Board of Managers.Prior to joining GLE, Steve spent over thirteen years with GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) and Global Nuclear Fuel (GNF) in a variety of global project, commercial, and business leadership roles. Most recently, Steve served as the Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development for GEH, where he was instrumental in advancing GEH and GNF’s interests and securing partnerships in the emerging small modular reactor and advanced nuclear fuel market segments.Steve began his career as a Submarine Warfare Officer and Naval Nuclear Propulsion Engineer in the United States Navy, where he was repeatedly recognized as one of the Navy’s top junior officers over his eight years of service. He holds a B.S. in Systems Engineering from the United States Naval Academy, an M.S. in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler School of Business.

A nuclear-powered rocket? Is that possible? Dr. Fred Kennedy, CEO of Dark Fission Space Systems and one of America's leading experts on the use of nuclear technology in space, explains how nuclear space propulsion is not only possible but an essential capability for the nation. With a distinguished career in the Air Force, at DARPA, and in the private sector, Dr. Kennedy details the significant operational benefits of nuclear-powered spacecraft, the state of the technology, development and testing strategies, and how such nuclear systems enhance our national security and commercial prospects in space. Dr. Kennedy provides an overview of Dark Fission's vision for bringing nuclear thermal propulsion to market, the type of propulsion technology under development by the company, and how advances in AI, additive manufacturing, and analytical modeling will greatly reduce the time and expense of bringing nuclear propulsion to the final frontier.Dr. Fred Kennedy is the founder and CEO of Dark Fission, a company advancing nuclear propulsion for space. A retired U.S. Air Force colonel, he previously led the Department of Defense’s Space Development Agency and DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office. Dr. Kennedy has also held senior roles at Momentus and Astra and served as a space policy advisor at the White House. He contributes to Forbes on space and defense issues and serves on multiple aerospace advisory boards.00:00 Introduction to Y-12 and CNS02:45 Y-12's Current Missions and Workforce05:39 Safety Protocols and Improvements08:27 Future Growth and Challenges11:33 Facility Modernization and Workforce Issues14:18 Planning for Future Warheads17:15 Collaboration with Design Labs19:43 Wishes for the Future

Elmer Dyke, an internationally-recognized nuclear fuels expert and founder of New Horizons Nuclear Associates, shares his insights on the nuclear fuel industry. He discusses the entire fuel supply chain, from mining to fabrication, highlighting the challenges posed by the ban on Russian uranium imports. Elmer explores the need for new enrichment capacities and fuel forms for Generation IV reactors, as well as the potential for the U.S. to become more self-sufficient in nuclear fuel production. A must-listen for anyone interested in the future of nuclear energy!

In this Special Episode of the Advanced Nuclear podcast, Lee Robinson, a founding member of America's newest uranium enrichment provider, General Matter, speaks about the company's mission to bring new uranium enrichment capacity to the nation. Lee discusses the importance of domestic uranium enrichment, the use of innovation to dramatically lower General Matter's deployment costs, and announces the location of the company's first enrichment facility, as well as the rationale for selecting that site. Lee also shares a variety of insights about the company's technology development, manufacturing, and supply chain strategies, why General Matter was founded, the company's initial production focus, and his nuclear experiences at DOD's Defense Innovation Unit, where he oversaw DIU's broad energy portfolio, including the stand-up of an innovative microreactor deployment program.Before joining General Matter, Lee was the Deputy Director and Co-Founder of the energy portfolio at the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). In that role, he was responsible for launching the majority of DIU's 35 energy projects, including the Advanced Micro-Reactor initiative in 2024.Prior to DIU, Lee worked at Bridgewater Associates, advising some of Europe’s largest institutional investors on strategic asset allocation. He began his investment career in private credit, leading middle-market transactions across the energy and manufacturing sectors.Between his roles in private credit and Bridgewater, Lee joined the U.S. Army as an intelligence officer. His active-duty assignments included the 75th Ranger Regiment, Special Operations Command, and the Intelligence Community.Lee holds a Bachelor's degree from Pace University and an MBA from Fordham University. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter holder.

In this episode of the Advanced Nuclear podcast, Simon Irish, CEO of Terrestrial Energy, talks about his company, its Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) technology, and the financial aspects of the advanced nuclear industry. Simon shares his unique background in finance and how it influences his approach to reactor development and deployment. The conversation covers the company's strategic move to go public and the evolving investment landscape for advanced nuclear projects. Simon highlights Terrestrial Energy's impressive industry and supply chain partners, the company's distinguished Board of Directors and Board of Advisors, and the industries Terrestrial Energy is targeting to power using the IMSR technology. The episode concludes with Simon's insights on the future of the U.S. advanced nuclear industry and the current pro-nuclear environment.Simon Irish is founder and Chief Executive Officer of Terrestrial Energy. He has 20 years of global investment banking and investment management experience in New York and London, and has a formal education in the quantitative sciences and quantitative finance. Mr. Irish has established and managed multi-billion-dollar alternative investment businesses in North America. Mr. Irish began his banking career at Credit Suisse Financial Products in London before moving to New York, where he led the investment effort in North America for Man Group Plc, a leading global investment management business. In 2010, he focused on investment opportunities in breakthrough energy technologies and specifically nuclear energy given its unique virtues, and the unparalleled commercial potential of Generation IV fission technologies in many industries at a time when global energy fundamentals are shifting rapidly with nuclear energy emerging as a critical component of future supply. Mr. Irish holds an MA in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University and an MSc in Finance from the London Business School.