logo
episode-header-image
Aug 19
1h 6m

Simon Goes Nuclear with nuclear energy i...

SIMON SINEK
About this episode

“Nuclear” might make you wince—but the real problem isn’t the energy, it’s the branding. Safe, low-carbon, and scalable, nuclear could be a climate hero—if only we told the story right.

Isabelle Boemeke is on a mission to change how we think about nuclear energy. A Brazilian model turned the world’s first nuclear influencer, she created her alter ego, Isodope, to show a new generation the benefits of clean energy—while cutting through the fear shaped by war movies and disaster shows. In her new book, Rad Future, she makes the science, history, and promise of nuclear power accessible to everyone.

In this episode, we talk about why nuclear scares us, how we need to rethink the climate conversation, and why embracing nuclear energy could be one of our smartest moves yet. Isabelle also shares her personal journey—from modeling to advocacy, building Isodope, and helping shift the conversation around clean energy for a better, brighter future.

This is… A Bit of Optimism. 

Learn more about Isabelle’s work here. 

https://isodope.com/

And order the new book Rad Future here. 

https://isodope.com/rad-future/

Up next
Sep 23
Rob Lowe Names Names: The Power of ‘Screw It’
Hey Optimists! We’re taking a little hiatus, but exciting things are coming your way! We’ll be back on October 21 with some amazing new episodes that we can’t wait to share. In the meantime, take care of yourself, enjoy the little moments, and remember—good things are just around ... Show More
1h 2m
Sep 16
The Future You Avoid Is Riskier Than the One You Face with LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman
The future is something we create, not just something that happens. To guide progress toward real good, we need bold, optimistic visions of what society can become.Reid Hoffman makes the case for better science fiction - stories that don’t just entertain, but illuminate the futur ... Show More
1h 6m
Sep 9
What Your Love Life Can Teach You About Work Relationships with psychotherapist Esther Perel
We’ve never had more freedom in our relationships—yet many of us feel more disconnected than ever. Marriage, family, and even the workplace have all been reshaped by shifting norms, new technologies, and rising expectations. Happiness, once a nice-to-have, is now the very glue th ... Show More
1h 2m
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2022
It's Time to Expand Nuclear Power
The calls for nuclear are growing louder. The Biden administration recently announced that it was putting $6 billion toward saving distressed nuclear power plants from closure, considering them carbon-free alternative to fossil fuels. Elon Musk doubled down, not only calling for ... Show More
53m 15s
May 2022
Who Killed Nuclear Energy?
Emmet Penney, creator of Nuclear Barbarians, Grid Brief, and the ex.haust podcast, walks us through the rise, fall and future prospects of nuclear power in the United States. Emmet dives deep on the historical, regulatory, political, and environmentalist forces behind nuclear ene ... Show More
1h 15m
May 2025
When Nuclear Power Is Cheap—and Safe
We could be on the verge of a nuclear power renaissance. Climate change is one reason: nuclear power remains the largest source of carbon-free energy in the United States. Also, demand for electricity is surging. BCG’s Ben Vannier imagines a future where the promise of less expen ... Show More
32m 8s
Jun 2024
WAGD: The Blinding Future of Nuclear Weapons
Much of our discussions about nuclear weapons focus on Oppenheimer, the Manhattan Project, or the Cold War. But what does the current nuclear age really look like? Sarah Scoles joins Heather Williams to discuss her book “Countdown” and share first hand reporting on the scientists ... Show More
34m 35s
May 2025
Nuclear power’s global revival
Dozens of new nuclear power projects are planned across the world, amid efforts to reduce the use of fossil fuels. But why build more reactors when renewable sources of generating electricity, like wind and solar might be cheaper?We explore why countries are turning - or returnin ... Show More
17m 28s
Nov 2021
Michael Shellenberger: A Heretic Among Heretics
In this episode, I am joined by returning guest Michael Shellenberger. We briefly discuss his new book San Fransicko, which, like his best-seller Apocalypse Never, takes a heterodox stance on an issue that progressives feel they champion -- in this case, the drug and homelessness ... Show More
1h 3m
Dec 2024
#518 | Atoms For Peace | The Early Years of Nuclear Power
  In part one of our mini-series on nuclear energy, we'll explore the origins of nuclear power as it emerged alongside nuclear weapons.   Learn how President Eisenhower envisioned "Atoms for Peace" and how political events like the 1973 oil crisis propelled nuclear energy into th ... Show More
19m 8s
Mar 2023
Ontario’s Nuclear Advantage
Gary Rose, VP of New Nuclear Growth at Ontario Power Generation, walks us through the CANDU refurbishment program whose stunning 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 ... Show More
1h 13m
Sep 25
Everyone is talking (again!) about a coming revival in nuclear power. What needs to change to make it happen? | More from New York Climate Week
At Climate Week NYC continues, the hottest topic is the question of how to meet growing demand for electricity while cutting emissions. In New York State, electricity use is expected to increase by 25% over the next 15 years. To meet that demand, the state plans to add tens of gi ... Show More
47m 50s
Jul 2024
A Radical Reboot of Nuclear Energy
Nuclear power, once the great hope for a clean way to meet the world’s energy needs, fell out of favor decades ago.Brad Plumer, who covers technology and policy efforts to address global warming for The New York Times, explains how one company with a radical idea is now working t ... Show More
25m 24s