Atomically Speaking, the Nuclear Energy and National Security Coalition's Official Podcast

NENSC
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The Atomically Speaking podcast, hosted by the Nuclear Energy and National Security Coalition (NENSC), is a forum to bring together leading national security experts who recognize the essential benefits of a strong national nuclear energy enterprise to the continued national security of the United States. Contributors and guests offer a range of opinions and engage in a robust dialogue about topics, trends, and advancements regarding the instrumental role that nuclear energy plays in promoting U.S. national security interests.

Episodes

  1. A Conversation with Dr. Thom Mason: What Does The “Fourth Age” Of The Nuclear Landscape Have In Store?

    2D AGO

    A Conversation with Dr. Thom Mason: What Does The “Fourth Age” Of The Nuclear Landscape Have In Store?

    In this episode, NENSC Co-chair Daniel Poneman and Dr. Thom Mason, Director of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, talk about Dr. Mason’s three decades of experience in the industry, and his leadership of the Laboratory’s national security, science, and mission-delivery portfolio. This active discussion covers prior and recent geopolitical events, the evolution of the nuclear deterrence environment, and the state of the U.S. national security and civilian nuclear energy enterprise.

    54 min
  2. U.S. – Saudi Nuclear Cooperation: Imperatives for National Security

    10/28/2025

    U.S. – Saudi Nuclear Cooperation: Imperatives for National Security

    In this episode, NENSC Co-Chair Dan Poneman convenes two leading experts for a thoughtful conversation regarding ongoing negotiations between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on a “123 agreement,” a civil nuclear cooperation agreement that provides a framework for peaceful nuclear energy cooperation. Participants include Robert Einhorn, a senior fellow in the Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Initiative and the Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology at the Brookings Institution, and Pranay Vaddi, a senior nuclear fellow at the Center for Nuclear Security Policy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

    42 min
  3. Project Pele and the Future of U.S. Military Energy Resilience: A Discussion with Dr. Jeff Waksman

    07/31/2025

    Project Pele and the Future of U.S. Military Energy Resilience: A Discussion with Dr. Jeff Waksman

    In this episode, NENSC Co-Chair Dan Poneman sat down for an informative discussion with Dr. Jeff Waksman, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy, and Environment, to discuss the evolving landscape of military energy resilience. Their conversation centered on the critical role of Project Pele, the strategic value of nuclear energy for the U.S. military, the promise of civil-military collaboration in advanced nuclear technologies, and how the pursuit of these innovations by the Department of Defense aligns with broader U.S. ambitions for technological and energy leadership.

    52 min
  • 3 Episodes

About

The Atomically Speaking podcast, hosted by the Nuclear Energy and National Security Coalition (NENSC), is a forum to bring together leading national security experts who recognize the essential benefits of a strong national nuclear energy enterprise to the continued national security of the United States. Contributors and guests offer a range of opinions and engage in a robust dialogue about topics, trends, and advancements regarding the instrumental role that nuclear energy plays in promoting U.S. national security interests.

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