Decouple
364 episodes - English - Latest episode: 13 days ago -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.
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Episodes
Quebec reconsiders Nuclear. Waters up with that?
August 25, 2023 22:27 - 9 minutes - 8.96 MBAs electricity demands increase Quebec is looking into refurbishing its lone mothballed CANDU reactor Gentilly-2. Mark Nelson joins us to discuss.
Gentilly-2 Refurbishment s’il vous plait
August 25, 2023 22:27 - 9 minutes - 8.96 MBAs electricity demands increase Quebec is looking into refurbishing its lone mothballed CANDU reactor Gentilly-2. Mark Nelson joins us to discuss.
Jigar Shah: Breaking the Nuclear Stalemate
August 18, 2023 19:00 - 56 minutes - 51.8 MBToday I am joined by Jigar Shah, the director of the US Department of Energy Loan Programs Office to discuss the future of nuclear, and nuclear finance in the USA.
An Oppenheimer on Oppenheimer
August 11, 2023 15:58 - 59 minutes - 54.4 MBCharles Oppenheimer, a serial entrepreneur in the software business and the grandson of J Robert Oppenheimer joins me to discuss the Christopher Nolan film, his Grandfather’s legacy and the organization he recently co-founded, the Oppenheimer project.
American Nuclear: The Next Chapter
August 05, 2023 00:24 - 51 minutes - 47 MBPhysicist James Krellenstein returns for a part two to talk about America’s nuclear future.
American Nuclear: Failure to Learn, Destined to Repeat?
July 31, 2023 12:32 - 1 hour - 61.4 MB“Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.” Physicist James Krellenstein joins me to deep dive the history of America’s great nuclear build out, its stalling and the age of the operator which saw capacity factors at US plants leap from 60% to 90%. How should this history inform future policy? What's the bull’s case for US nuclear going forward?
American Nuclear: failure to learn, destined to repeat?
July 31, 2023 12:32 - 1 hour - 61.4 MB“Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.” Physicist James Krellenstein joins me to deep dive the history of America’s great nuclear build out, its stalling and the age of the operator which saw capacity factors at US plants leap from 60% to 90%. How should this history inform future policy? What's the bull’s case for US nuclear going forward?
America’s Nuclear Future: Failure to learn, destined to repeat?
July 31, 2023 12:32 - 1 hour - 61.4 MB“Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.” Physicist James Krellenstein joins me to deep dive the history of America’s great nuclear build out, its stalling and the age of the operator which saw capacity factors at US plants leap from 60% to 90%. How should this history inform future policy? What's the bull’s case for US nuclear going forward?
Gone With the Wind: Denmark’s Stalled Energy Transition
July 17, 2023 17:24 - 1 hour - 58.1 MBDenmark is known around the world as a wind turbine superpower. It has been an early mover with the largest per capita deployments and large interties to manage fluctuating output. Denmark has implemented the world's most ambitious target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. But underlying this target is burning large amounts of biomass imported from abroad mainly the Baltics. New analysis from the Danish energy department show that biomass use exceeds international sustainability g...
Embrace the Waste
July 10, 2023 21:42 - 13 minutes - 12.8 MBIn this “Decouple Short” Madi Hilly shares the experience of her maternity photo shoot at Idaho National Laboratories and the responses so far.
The Case for Candu
July 04, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 77 MBChris Adlam, a senior analyst and cofounder of Canadians for Nuclear Energy joins me for an in depth discussion on the Case for the CANDU reactor. Read the “Case for CANDU” report from Canadians for Nuclear Energy at www.c4ne.ca
The Case for CANDU
July 04, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 77 MBChris Adlam, a senior analyst and cofounder of Canadians for Nuclear Energy joins me for an in depth discussion on the Case for the CANDU reactor. Read the “Case for CANDU” report from Canadians for Nuclear Energy at www.c4ne.ca
Bridging the Metabolic Rift
June 29, 2023 14:18 - 1 hour - 61.3 MBInspired by the recent Breakthrough Dialogues theme of the “Metabolic Rift,”Leigh Phillips joins me for a far ranging discussion about the challenges and consequences of humanity’s decoupling from natural ecological flows. We navigate perspectives from deep geologic time on mass extinction or so called “biological revolutions,” the likelihood of modern humanity’s disentanglement from fossil fuels and the optimal mix of markets and planning required to best navigate emerging ecological threats.
Stormy Waters Ahead for Offshore Wind
June 19, 2023 16:38 - 1 hour - 55.9 MBDecouple correspondent Angelica Oung joins me to discuss the challenges facing the offshore wind industry as commodity prices rise, turbines scale ever larger and countries struggle with supply chain localization.
Can the Left be Saved From Itself?
June 12, 2023 14:29 - 1 hour - 58.2 MBRuy Texeira, an American political scientist and commentator, joins me to discuss the “5 deadly sins” of the modern left and its growing self imposed exile from the working class and production itself. These “sins” coupled with an increasing intolerance for open debate and a reflex towards de-platforming and cancel culture are crippling the Left’s ability to self analyze and correct course. What is to be done?
Peak Oil and the End of Globalization?
June 06, 2023 04:34 - 54 minutes - 50.2 MBSystem engineer, James Fleay, joins me to discuss the unique relationship between liquid hydrocarbons and our six continent supply chains. Oil is the enabler of low cost transportation of people and goods. What does an inevitable decline in oil production, whenever it comes, mean for globalization and our future economies. What forms of economical and industrial complexity should be prioritized? All this and more in this thought provoking episode.
Peak Oil and the End of Globalization
June 06, 2023 04:34 - 54 minutes - 50.2 MBSystems engineer, James Fleay, joins me to discuss the unique relationship between liquid hydrocarbons and our six continent supply chains. Oil is the enabler of low cost transportation of people and goods. What does an inevitable decline in oil production, whenever it comes, mean for globalization and our future economies. What forms of economical and industrial complexity should be prioritized? All this and more in this thought provoking episode.
What About the Waste?
May 28, 2023 22:14 - 1 hour - 73.7 MBMadi Hilly, author of nuclear advocacy’s most viral tweet, joins me to discuss the ultimate bogeyman and best practices when it comes to talking about nuclear waste. https://twitter.com/madihilly/status/1550148385931513856?s=46&t=N4_61zANEvl1W3Q_ehy1nw
Non-Proliferation & the Antinuclear Mind
May 22, 2023 17:06 - 1 hour - 59.2 MBJeremy Whitlock of the IAEA joins me to debrief “The Great Canadian Nuclear Debate” explore the “antinuclear mind” and brush us up on the challenges of non-proliferation and safeguards. Jeremy’s Website: https://www.nuclearfaq.ca/
Non-proliferation & the antinuclear mind
May 22, 2023 17:06 - 1 hour - 59.2 MBJeremy Whitlock of the IAEA joins me to debrief “The Great Canadian Nuclear Debate” explore the “antinuclear mind” and brush us up on the challenges of non-proliferation and safeguards. Jeremy’s Website: https://www.nuclearfaq.ca/
The Uranium Masterclass
May 16, 2023 14:44 - 1 hour - 56 MBMark Nelson returns for an “Insanium Uranium Explanium!”
What’s Nu-clear in Japan
May 08, 2023 23:28 - 45 minutes - 42 MBRobert Bryce joins me to discuss his recent trip to Japan where climate concern is at the bottom of the list of grid planning priorities in favour of energy security imperatives. We discuss the Japanese U-turn on nuclear and the prospects of nuclear restarts and new build.
How to Blow up a Pipeline
May 01, 2023 18:44 - 55 minutes - 51.3 MBEmmet Penney returns to offer a review of the film “How to Blow up a pipeline” which is based on the work of radical Swedish geographer Andreas Malm. Read About the Movie here: https://compactmag.com/article/a-hollywood-ode-to-eco-terrorism
How to Blow Up a Pipeline
May 01, 2023 18:44 - 55 minutes - 51.3 MBEmmet Penney returns to offer a review of the film “How to Blow Up a Pipeline,” which is based on the work of radical Swedish geographer Andreas Malm. Read About the Movie here: https://compactmag.com/article/a-hollywood-ode-to-eco-terrorism
The Great Canadian Nuclear Debate
April 27, 2023 02:06 - 1 hour - 99.9 MBDecouple host Dr. Keefer faces off against Canada’s most prolific antinuclear activist Dr. Gordon Edwards, president of the Canadian coalition for Nuclear Responsibility, in a cordial but passionate debate on the question “Do We Need to Scale Up Nuclear Power to Combat Climate Change?” This public debate took place at the University of Ottawa on April 25th and was hosted by Canada’s former ambassador of Climate Change and former ambassador to Chile Patricia Fuller.
A Eulogy for the German Atom
April 24, 2023 22:18 - 57 minutes - 53.6 MBDecouple’s Germany correspondent Noah Rettberg returns for a sombre discussion about the conclusion of Germany’s “Atom Exit” and its consequences.
Peak Shale: Not so fast!
April 17, 2023 18:15 - 58 minutes - 53.9 MBMark Hinaman, Director of Engineering and Innovation at Franklin Mountain Energy, joins me to give us a pad side view on Fracking and a response to claims of “Peak Shale” Mark is also the Principal and Founder of the nuclear energy think-tank, Fire2Fission and although he believes that there’s oil everywhere and natural gas is even more abundant, he explains why he thinks that nuclear is the ultimate energy source.
Barakah - A Nuclear Success Story
April 10, 2023 17:58 - 56 minutes - 52.6 MBIn an era in which the nuclear industry has struggled to deliver new nuclear power plants on time and on budget, the example of Barakah, a four APR-1400 reactor nuclear station located in the United Arab Emirates is an important success story and case study. His Excellency Mohammed Al Hammadi, the CEO of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, has been front and center throughout the planning, construction and operation of Barakah. In this podcast he shares the vital lessons, careful plann...
Limits to Growth for Precision Fermentation
April 03, 2023 14:27 - 1 hour - 58.6 MBWith concerns mounting about the biodiversity crisis, precision fermentation and cultured meats offer an enticing solution. Proponents argue that culturing mammalian cells and fermenting macronutrients with gene edited yeast can decrease the land footprint of agriculture by 1000 times all while eliminating animal cruelty. Skeptics like Dr. Paul Wood question whether the Moore’s law style expectations of cost reductions apply to biological systems and the scalability of these technologies. ...
Ontario’s Nuclear Advantage
March 27, 2023 17:59 - 1 hour - 67.7 MBGary Rose, VP of New Nuclear Growth at Ontario Power Generation, builds our understand of the CANDU refurbishment program, whose successes have laid the foundation for deployment of the West’s 1st grid scale SMR, the GE Hitachi BWRX-300. Gary and I explore the thesis that Ontario is the best equipped jurisdiction in the west to deploy new nuclear, which now extends beyond SMRs to a serious consideration of “Large Modular Reactors.” Stay tuned for a masterclass on project management from a...
The State of the Atom
March 20, 2023 18:32 - 1 hour - 57.3 MBMark Nelson delivers his annual “State of the Atom” address, taking a global look at the rapidly unfolding changes to the prospects of nuclear energy.
Peak Shale?
March 13, 2023 20:42 - 1 hour - 57.8 MBToday we deep dive fracking and shale, the energy source that put Peak Oil concerns on the back burner for a decade and a half. According to recent analysis by Goehring and Rozenswajg Shale field production is showing signs of sliding down the backside of Hubbert’s curve. What are the geopolitical and economic ramifications? Are there more shale booms on the horizon overseas? What are the implications for nuclear which has been sidelined in deregulated markets by cheap abundant gas? Leigh Goe...
Peak Shale
March 13, 2023 20:42 - 1 hour - 57.8 MBToday we deep dive fracking and shale, the energy source that put Peak Oil concerns on the back burner for a decade and a half. According to recent analysis by Goehring and Rozencwajg Shale field production is showing signs of sliding down the backside of Hubbert’s curve. What are the geopolitical and economic ramifications? Are there more shale booms on the horizon overseas? What are the implications for nuclear which has been sidelined in deregulated markets by cheap abundant gas? Leigh Go...
Much Ado About Tritium
March 08, 2023 20:11 - 47 minutes - 44.3 MBThe topic of tritium continues to be a focal point for nuclear opponents, who use anti-science claims to stoke fear among a public they know does not, by and large, understand complex topics of radiation biology. Thus, to the victims of anti-nuclear ideology, the "science" behind tritium offers little comfort. Still, we try to do our best this week with radiation expert Dr. Geraldine Thomas. Dr. Geraldine Thomas is a senior academic and Chair in Molecular Pathology at the Faculty of Medicin...
How Big Things Get Done
February 27, 2023 15:49 - 42 minutes - 39.5 MBDecouple correspondent, Angelica Oung, joins me for a review of Bent Flyvbjerg’s new book which examines the lessons that can be learned from the failures and successes of mega projects. https://twitter.com/dr_keefer/status/1627709184123740161?s=46&t=Q7nak44UxDdAvVJ7V61RsQ
Energy Modeling: the Good, the Bad, and the Misleading
February 21, 2023 18:12 - 1 hour - 61 MBMark Nelson, managing director of the Radiant Energy Group, joins me for a deep dive of the uses and abuses of energy modelling. Intro and outro music: Malagueña by Ernesto Lecuona performed by Mark Nelson immediately prior to the interview.
The Climate Aristocracy
February 13, 2023 19:11 - 46 minutes - 43.4 MBRobert Bryce, author, film producer, and host of the Power Hungry Podcast, discusses his recent article "The Billionaires Behind the Gas Bans", and gives insight into the funding of massive NGOs such as Climate Imperative. "The Billionaires Behind the Gas Bans" article: https://robertbryce.substack.com/p/the-billionaires-behind-the-gas-bans More work from Robert: https://robertbryce.substack.com/ Listen to the Power Hungry Podcast: https://robertbryce.com/power-hungry-podcast/
It's Not Impossible, We Just Need a Better Plan
February 06, 2023 17:00 - 1 hour - 62.3 MBDr. Simon Michaux, Associate Professor at Geometallurgy at Geological Survey of Finland, discusses the minimum requirements for a net zero future, as well as the restraints on our renewables going forward. Read academic works by Dr. Michaux: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Simon-Michaux-2
It's Not Impossible, We Just Need a Better Plan...
February 06, 2023 17:00 - 1 hour - 62.3 MBDr. Simon Michaux, Associate Professor at Geometallurgy at Geological Survey of Finland, discusses the minimum requirements for a net zero future, as well as the restraints on our renewables going forward. Read academic works by Dr. Michaux: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Simon-Michaux-2
Wizards and Prophets, Ecomodernists and Environmentalists w/ Charles C. Mann
January 30, 2023 17:18 - 1 hour - 72.7 MBJust as the political spectrum is divided between left and right, thinking on environmental problem solving is similarly split into two rival camps exemplified by the archetypes of the Wizard and the Prophet. Award winning science writer Charles Mann explores these archetypes as personified by the father of the Green Revolution, Norman Borlaug and the intellectual godfather of the environmental movement, William Vogt. Crudely put wizards are foremost humanists who eschew limits believing th...
Lignite Coal: A German Love Story
January 23, 2023 21:26 - 45 minutes - 41.6 MBNoah Rettberg, physics lab technician in training and popular Decouple guest, sheds some light on the protests regarding the expansion of the Garzweiler mine into Lützerath and unearths the deeps roots that Germany and lignite share. Germany, with limited bituminous coal and no petroleum to speak of, has always been able to lean on its sizable lignite coal reserves. It has been transformed into anything from synthetic fuels to margarine to autobody.
Peak Oil & the End of Growth
January 16, 2023 22:38 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBNate Hagens, host of the podcast “The Great Simplification,” discusses the implications of fossil fuel/material depletion and the ways that our financial system is accelerating consumption under the shadow of a looming economic correction. Nate argues that classical economics neglects the central role of energy, and he offers a critique of the idea of resource substitution, especially when it comes to liquid hydrocarbons. Will peak oil rear its head again as we slurp up dwindling oil reserve...
Natrium, Coal Gasification, and Synfuels Oh My!
January 09, 2023 21:50 - 1 hour - 60.5 MBCal Abel, CTO of Signal Power and Light, discusses the engineering behind the sodium-cooled fast reactor Natrium, and argues for their centrality in the U.S. coal to nuclear transition, as their high temperatures could be used for the dual production of electricity and synthetic fuels from the gasification of coal.
Natrium, Coal Gasification, and Synfuels, Oh My!
January 09, 2023 21:50 - 1 hour - 60.5 MBCal Abel, CTO of Signal Power and Light, discusses the engineering behind the sodium-cooled fast reactor Natrium, and argues for their centrality in the U.S. coal to nuclear transition, as their high temperatures could be used for the dual production of electricity and synthetic fuels from the gasification of coal.
What’s All the Fuss About Fusion?
January 03, 2023 15:10 - 1 hour - 56.7 MBGerrit Bruhaug, based out of the Laboratory for Laser Energetics at Rochester University, joins Decouple to talk about the significance of the recent ignition event at Lawrence Livermore Laboratories.
From Sierra Leone to Sweden: A Panel Discussion on Nuclear at COP27
December 30, 2022 14:44 - 56 minutes - 52.1 MBAn IAEA panel discussion at COP27 on how nuclear energy intersects with the lives of individuals and a diverse array of nations including Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, the USA and Sweden. Moderated by: Mark Nelson, Managing Director, Radiant Energy Group Panelists: Seth Grae - American Nuclear Society - CEO, Lightbridge Corporation Heba Elkomey - International Youth Nuclear Congress - PhD Candidate at Claremit, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority Amanda Mbhele - Women in Nuc...
Human Factors and Nuclear Reactors
December 20, 2022 01:18 - 1 hour - 65.9 MBNoah Rettberg, physics lab technician in training and popular Decouple guest, updates us on Germany's return to fossil fuels and discusses a salient topic in the energy transition debate: that of human factors.
Mining Our Way to Net Zero
December 12, 2022 23:19 - 1 hour - 86.6 MBDr. Simon Michaux, Associate Professor at Geometallurgy at Geological Survey of Finland, uncovers the truth about the vast mining requirements behind any proposed transition to a "clean" energy future. Watch the Decouple Studios episode on Dr. Michaux's work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19-gqgugKOc Read academic works by Dr. Michaux: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Simon-Michaux-2
Pyramids to COP27 Panels
December 06, 2022 01:08 - 1 hour - 47 MBMark Nelson, managing director of the Radiant Energy Group, digests COP27, whose location in Egypt leads him to reflect on the incredible structure and longevity of the pyramids and what lessons on energy they harbor for the modern observer. Intro and outro music: Overture (Lawrence of Arabia) by Maurice Jarre, performed by Mark Nelson immediately prior to the interview.
Mark Nelson on Pyramids & COP27 Panels
December 06, 2022 01:08 - 1 hour - 47 MBMark Nelson, managing director of the Radiant Energy Group, digests COP27, whose location in Egypt leads him to reflect on the incredible structure and longevity of the pyramids and what lessons on energy they harbor for the modern observer. Intro and outro music: Overture (Lawrence of Arabia) by Maurice Jarre, performed by Mark Nelson immediately prior to the interview.