The objective of Fissionary is to showcase nuclear energy in a positive, accessible, and deeply human way.
Too often, nuclear energy is discussed through policy debates, technical jargon, or climate statistics. As a result, many people don’t realize how profoundly it already influences their daily lives. From medicine and agriculture to space exploration, public health, and community resilience, nuclear technology quietly powers systems most of us rely on- often without knowing it.
Season 5 continues our evolution by spotlighting the unexpected intersections of nuclear and everyday life. We intentionally move beyond traditional industry experts and instead center conversations around people and culture. We speak with innovators, historians, public health leaders, artists, and community advocates whose lives and work are shaped by nuclear in surprising ways.
By telling stories rarely explored in the nuclear space, we aim to:
Ultimately, we are broadening the narrative. We are not just explaining nuclear, we are demonstrating how it already powers the world around us.
Season 5 represents a strategic shift from informational advocacy to cultural immersion. Rather than beginning episodes with technical explanations, we start with a human question: What powers wonder in your work?
Whether it’s strengthening a remote Arctic community, preserving cultural history, protecting public health, or reimagining innovation for the future, anchoring each episode in personal motivation allows us to connect with our audience emotionally before introducing the science, history or technology involved with nuclear.
By leading with curiosity instead of complexity, we create an entry point that feels relatable, not intimidating. This season, we intentionally broadened our guest roster to include voices rarely centered in nuclear conversations. Our lineup includes:
By highlighting how nuclear intersects with culture, health, exploration, and preservation, we reveal dimensions of nuclear technology that audiences may not realize already shape their lives. These are human stories that just happen to intersect with nuclear innovation.
Each episode showcases:
Season 5 isn’t about persuading listeners through data alone. It’s about inviting them into stories they didn’t know nuclear was part of.
The effectiveness of Fissionary is measured not just in accolades, but in sustained audience growth, retention, and engagement.
To date, the podcast has reached:
More importantly, our audience doesn’t just sample episodes, they stay. A majority of listening on Apple Podcasts comes from followers, demonstrating that we’ve built a loyal community rather than relying on one-time discovery. Consumption rates consistently show listeners are invested in our content, reinforcing that our narrative-first approach strengthens engagement.
Season over season, Fissionary has demonstrated steady growth in followers across platforms, reflecting long-term audience loyalty and interest. Episodes centered on human storytelling consistently perform among the strongest in audience engagement.
Beyond audience metrics, the podcast has become a recognized creative voice in science and technology communication, earning multiple awards like Gold at the Marcoms and AVAs and a Bronze Shorty Award in 2025.
By shifting the conversation from debate to discovery, Fissionary has successfully expanded who feels invited into the nuclear conversation and kept them listening.
