Nuclear Barbarians

John and I continue our series on Leo Marx’s The Machine in the Garden: Technology and the Pastoral Ideal in America. This chapter delves deep into the symbol of the garden—we dive into Marx’s reading of Jefferson, the nature of the pastoral ideal and how it evolved, the vision of Virginia, and more. Get full access to Nuclear Barbarians at www.nuclearbarbarians.com/subscribe

Hugo Kruger is a razor sharp engineer with a deep knowledge of energy systems. He came onto the show to talk to me about what’s going on with South Africa’s grid. I learned a ton from this episode—I hope you guys enjoy it!Check out Hugo’s work on Substack.Connect with him on LinkedIn. Get full access to Nuclear Barbarians at www.nuclearbarbarians.com/subscribe

John Goodson, my old co-host from the ex.haust podcast, joined me in the first of our series on Leo Marx’s The Machine in the Garden: Technology and the Pastoral Ideal in America. There are a few audio problems in this episode, for which we apologize. Thankfully, they’re brief. “Believing in America,” Leo Marx, Boston Review. The Elizabethan World Picture: A Study of the Idea of Order in the Age of Shakespeare, Donne and Milton by Eustace Tilyard Get full access to Nuclear Barbarians at www.nuclearbarbarians.com/subscribe

Spencer Klavan, an author, podcaster, and editor, discusses neo-paganism, Apple's clean energy video, quantum physics, Galileo's challenge to theology, the hunger for philosophical truths, and an inappropriate incident at an AA meeting.

Nick O’Hara—writer, host of the Gridlocked podcast, and owner of an enviable speaking voice—joined me to talk about climate, energy, how to have a sane conversation in insane times, and much more. Listen to Gridlocked: Why the 21st Century is Broken and How to Fix It. Why Big Oil Loves the Renewable Energy Industry by Nick O’Hara, Salon.We abandoned nuclear power. Now the earth is paying the price. by Nick O’Hara, Salon.Abandoning nuclear power was a mistake. Germany must return to the future of energy. by Nick O’Hara, Salon. Get full access to Nuclear Barbarians at www.nuclearbarbarians.com/subscribe

Wireline worker Andrew De La Rosa came on to talk to me about the fracking process and how wireline works. I learned a ton from this conversation and had a great time. I hope you guys enjoy it!Follow Andrew on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tejanobrown Get full access to Nuclear Barbarians at www.nuclearbarbarians.com/subscribe

Writer and film critic Andrew Plimpton joined me for a new running series we’re doing: Energy Cinema. For our inaugural episode, we decided to talk about the new Oppenheimer movie. Hope you enjoy it! Get full access to Nuclear Barbarians at www.nuclearbarbarians.com/subscribe

Entergy’s Chief Nuclear Officer Kimberly Cook-Nelson stopped by the pod to talk to me about Entergy’s nuclear fleet, her experience working in the nuclear industry, how utilities plan on changing nuclear comms, and more. Get full access to Nuclear Barbarians at www.nuclearbarbarians.com/subscribe

Juan David Rojas returns to Nuclear Barbarians to talk to me about Brazilian industrial history. We touch on Eletrobas, Petrobras, Brazil’s nuclear energy missteps, and a whole lot more. “The Center That Will Always Hold: Brazil’s Lost Decades,” by Juan David Rojas, American Affairs Get full access to Nuclear Barbarians at www.nuclearbarbarians.com/subscribe

Pat O’Brien, Holtec’s Director of Government Affairs and Communications, sat down with me to talk about his background in nuclear energy, Holtec’s attempts to save the Palisades plant in Michigan, its new SMR design, and more! Get full access to Nuclear Barbarians at www.nuclearbarbarians.com/subscribe