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Critical Mass

Critical Mass 12 Episodes Oct 9, 2026

Critical Mass offers in-depth interviews with experts, thought leaders, and innovators on topics spanning nuclear energy, global geopolitics, and markets. Each episode explores complex issues with a focus on insightful analysis and expert perspectives. The podcast aims to inform listeners about the intersections between energy policy, international relations, and economic trends.

Episodes

From nuclear ambition to nuclear capacity [WNS Special] Critical Mass Episode 13 Oct 9, 2026 00:16:00 This special episode launches our series of interviews recorded at World Nuclear Symposium 2026, bringing together conversations with leaders shaping the next chapter of the nuclear industry.In this episode, Boris Schucht, CEO of Urenco, joins Critical Mass to discuss whether nuclear can scale fast enough to meet rising electricity demand and what has to change across the fuel cycle to make that p

The new power economy - the grid and compute Sep 21, 2026 00:18:25 What if the biggest constraint on the AI boom isn’t generating enough electricity, but getting that power through the grid?In Episode 12, Andrii Garanin, Co-founder of the Silicon Foundation and Chief Energy and Infrastructure Officer of its Raw Protocol division, joins Critical Mass to explore how AI, data centres and rising electricity demand are reshaping the energy system.Andrii argues that nu

The triangle of trust in the age of energy expansion | Critical Mass EP. 11 Aug 29, 2026 00:14:41 What happens when the world needs dramatically more electricity, but the minerals, infrastructure, and supply chains behind it cannot expand fast enough?In this episode, Peter Bryant, Board Chair of Clareo and Co-founder and Board Chair of the Development Partner Institute, explores what he calls the “age of energy expansion”, a period shaped by AI, data centres, electrification, industrial growth

Grid Electrification: The Scale Problem Nobody's Talking About | Critical Mass Episode 10 Aug 7, 2026 00:16:26 Can the world electrify its way to net zero? And what will power the parts of the economy that electricity cannot reach?In this episode, we sit down with Gerben Hieminga, Senior Energy Economist at ING Research, to examine how electrification could reshape the global energy system.In a net-zero scenario, electricity’s share of energy use in developed economies could rise from around 20% today to b

How To Manufacture nuclear energy at scale Jul 28, 2026 00:20:13 Can nuclear energy scale by building reactors more like products than megaprojects?In this episode, we sit down with James Walker, CEO at Nano Nuclear Energy, to discuss the company’s vision for advanced nuclear energy and the role microreactors could play in meeting rising demand for reliable power.As data centers, military bases, industrial sites, and remote communities look for alternatives to

Beyond the Reactor - The waste, risk, and opportunity Jul 7, 2026 00:19:21 Can nuclear energy scale without solving the back end of the fuel cycle?In this episode, we sit down with Brett Rampal, nuclear energy expert and adviser, to examine one of the most important but often under-discussed parts of the nuclear sector: used fuel management.As nuclear energy gains renewed momentum in the US and globally, driven by reliability, energy security, AI, data centers, and indus

The Fatal Trifecta | Critical Mass Episode 7 Jun 23, 2026 00:14:13 Can electricity markets built for efficiency deliver the redundancy required for national resilience?In this episode, we sit down with Meredith Anguin, author of Shorting the Grid, to examine the growing vulnerabilities within modern electricity systems. We discuss why power should be understood not as a conventional consumer good, but as essential infrastructure that requires long-term planning,

Cyclical to Structural | Critical Mass Episode 6 Jun 11, 2026 00:12:42 Is a once-opaque commodity market becoming a fully-fledged financial asset class?In this episode, we sit down with Crispin Clarke, Strategic Advisor at Curzon Uranium and founder of DLT Advisory, to explore the structural shifts reshaping nuclear fuel markets. We discuss how new mechanics and investment vehicles are bringing greater liquidity, transparency, and institutional participation to a mar

When does reality bend ideologies? | Critical Mass Episode 5 May 18, 2026 00:15:04 How will the rise of AI reshape global energy demand, and is the world prepared?In this episode, we sit down with Mark Mills, author of The Cloud Revolution and Executive Director of the National Center for Energy Analytics, to explore the growing collision between AI, energy infrastructure, and geopolitics. We explore why AI is becoming one of the largest drivers of new electricity demand, how da

Applying moderation in convictions Mar 25, 2026 00:11:03 Uranium has many of the ingredients of a great asset class. But will those ingredients ever come together?In this episode, we speak with Arthur Breitman, co-founder of Tezos and the visionary behind tokenized uranium xU3O8, for a wide-ranging conversation at the intersection of technology, markets, and probability. We explore shifting attitudes among younger generations, how AI is acting as an acc

Cautiously optimistic about nuclear Mar 9, 2026 00:17:29 In this episode, we are joined by Ashutosh Shastri, Master Fueller of the Worshipful Company of Fuellers, to explore how centuries-old institutions are engaging with one of today’s most forward-looking energy transitions. We unpack the role of the Worshipful Company of Fuellers and dive into the radical regulatory reforms highlighted in the nuclear energy task force’s report.We discuss why long, l

The answer to climate problems? Feb 24, 2026 00:15:16 In this episode, we speak with Lucien Pugliaresi, President at the Energy Policy Research Foundation, to challenge conventional climate narratives and explore why scale, efficiency, and integration may matter more. We discuss the role of open trade systems and integrated energy markets in driving efficiency and resilience.We also examine how AI is beginning to influence energy policy, public opini

Tripling global nuclear capacity Feb 11, 2026 00:14:55 In this episode, we sit down with Sama Bilbao y León, Director General of the World Nuclear Association, to unpack the landmark declaration signed by 33 countries to scale nuclear power. We explore how public opinion on nuclear energy is shifting, why today’s nuclear renaissance looks different from past cycles, and what’s driving renewed momentum across global markets.From the role of small modul

Introducing Critical Mass Feb 3, 2026 00:00:50 In-depth conversations with experts, thought leaders, and innovators across nuclear energy, global geopolitics, and markets.

Critical Mass

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