My Nuclear Life

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On July 16, 1945, in a New Mexico desert, the Trinity Test ushered in the Nuclear Age. No other piece of technology has penetrated the American consciousness like the nuclear bomb and found a place in everything from culture to medicine. This podcast explores how nuclear science has impacted and changed our world in both beneficial and destructive ways. We explore the intersection of nuclear science and society using interviews from historians, policymakers, experts in their fields, and first-hand accounts to weave a picture of your nuclear life. mynuclearlife.com

Shelly Lesher


    • Jun 24, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 47m AVG DURATION
    • 74 EPISODES
    • 1 SEASONS


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    Latest episodes from My Nuclear Life

    The ethics of human radiation experiments | The Uncover Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2025


    Shelly meets up with Lee Kuhnle and Nathan Radke in Toronto to discuss the ethics behind human radiation experiments. We redefine what "fun" means, Nathan shows off his "ethics" knowledge, and Lee makes the Vatican proud.

    Day in the Life of a Nuclear Physicist | Kelly Chipps

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2025 37:39


    What do you think a nuclear physicist does every day? Lone genius or social butterfly? Listen to find out how Dr Kelly Chipps of Oak Ridge National Laboratory fills her time.

    Cold War Human Radiation Experiments | Eileen Welsome

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2025 53:49


    “As all these stories do, it started with a radioactive animal dump in Albuquerque,” is the best first line of a story I have ever heard. Listen as Eileen Welsome and Shelly Lesher discuss some of the medical experiments the US government funded on its own citizens involving radiation without their consent over the decades.

    Cold War Kids | Ann Kordas

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2025 48:32


    Ann Kordas joins Shelly to discuss the gendered roles of boys and girls during the Cold War and how children were taught to protect themselves from nuclear annihilation through toys, sitcoms, and government messaging.

    Nuclear Christmas List with Kelly Chipps

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2025 48:05


    Ever wonder what to buy with your Christmas money? Need a nuclear themed gift for that nerd in your family? Look no further, Shelly and her friend and fellow nuke, Kelly Chipps found lots of items for you to purchase from eBay to Amazon.

    (rerelease) Jimmy Carter - with Jonathan Alter

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2025 40:22


    On December 29, 2024 humanitarian, nuclear engineer, and the 39th president of the US passed away at 100 years old. Please enjoy this rerelease of Episode 35.

    Was the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion inevitable? with Adam Higginbotham

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2024 30:41


    If you were alive at the time, you remember an o-ring cased the January 28, 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger explosion 73 seconds after take off. But was it that simple? Adam Higginbotham discusses his new book, Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space and see how much you really know about that day.

    Ray Cats Nuke the Moon

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2024 41:01


    This episode was recorded in Toronto with Nathan Radke and Lee Kuhnle from the UnCover Up Podcast and special guest Nina Weston (a young person). We brainstorm some additional ideas on how to "hide" our nuclear waste far into the future.

    The return of Matt Caplan's - 10,000 Bombs

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2024 0:52


    Find Matt Caplan's podcast where every you find us.

    Threads turns 40 with Bob Milke

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2024 39:24


    Learn about the nuclear horror movie Threads with author Bob Milke and his new book from Die Die books https://diediebooks.com/products/threads1984

    Announcement - Contest & Free Documentary Premiere

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2024 2:52


    Enter our contest to out crazy the crazy email: mynuclearlife@protonmail.com and join My Nuclear Life and The UnCoverUp at our Documentary Premiere. For free tickets email: podcast@theuncoverup.com

    The Uranium Show with Lucy Santos

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2024 50:18


    What role has Uranium played in our society? Who was "hotter than radioactive yams"? What do fashionable Uranium prospectors wear? Lucy Santos answers these questions and more when she joins Shelly on this episode.

    What should we do with all the ray cats? with Matt Caplan

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2024 52:18


    What if you discovered warning signs of something very dangerous buried deep underground from an ancient civilization? Would you believe the item was dangerous or would you think it was valuable treasure? Would you continue exploring? Find out what could be buried and what Drs. Caplan and Lesher would do with the knowledge. Send an email us to My Nuclear Life or visit our website mynuclearlife.com. Please leave a 5-star review on iTunes and subscribe to My Nuclear Life wherever you listen to podcasts.

    The journey of a citizen scientist with Frank von Hippel

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2024 51:23


    Physicist and activist, Frank von Hippel discusses his career in arms control and what the future may hold for the world. Two corrections – 1) The Nuclear Weapons Freeze march was from the UN to Central park and 2) The banner in the Freeze march said 177 out of 195 towns voted for the Freeze in Vermont, not 193 out of 197.

    The Black Sea Experiment: Data taking and legacy

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2024 42:21


    Our team returns to the Soviet Union to take data on the Slava. We hear about the spectroscopy of a nuclear weapon and the legacy of the Black Sea Experiment.

    Prelude to the Black Sea Experiment: The Soviet's reach out

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2024 38:08


    This episode sets the stage for the Black Sea Experiment. We are introduced to Tom Cochran and Frank von Hippel, two people who had a hand in changing the way the US viewed arms control verification. This episode introduces seismic verification, used to verify nuclear tests for decades.

    Adventures in Nuclear Risk Reduction - Georgia Pt 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2024 52:44


    Shelly continues her stay in Tbilisi, Georgia and speaks to two Physicists, Giorgia Japaridz (Illia State Univ.) and Revaz Shanidze (Tbilisi State Univ). They discuss what life as a physicist was like under Soviet rule and after Georgian independence. Along the way we learn about scientists who protected nuclear material when security fled, why the Institute's reactor was unique, and find out how to survive in post-Soviet times. This podcast is in collaboration with The Stanley Center for Peace and Security.

    Adventures in Nuclear Risk Reduction - Georgia Pt 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2024 58:03


    Spend time with Shelly and two guest as she travels to Tbilsi, Georgia. First she discusses storytelling and Georgian's atomic Odyssey with Shorena Lortkipanidze from the Civil Council on Defense and Security (Tbilsi, Georgia). Next, Mariam Chabashvidi explains her love for computer programming after Georgian independence and how she became an invaluable member of the nuclear science team at the Institute of Physics in Tbilsi, Georgia. This podcast is in collaboration with The Stanley Center for Peace and Security.

    The new face of the nuclear nerd - Miss America (2023) Grace Stanke

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2024 40:16


    Start the New Year off with a bang. Join Shelly & Miss America 2023, nuclear engineer, and fellow Badger Grace Stanke to discuss a range of topics.

    Understanding Edward Teller with Istvan Hargittai

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2023 58:33


    What makes Edward Teller tick? Find out with physical chemist and author Istvan Hargittai on this episode.

    For the love of lasers with Donna Strickland

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2023 42:00


    Physics Nobel Laureate Donna Strickland talks about all things lasers, how lasers relate to nuclear physics, and explains why she had to pay the long-distance bill to Sweden.

    Are radiation limits based on a lie? with Ed Calabrese

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2023 50:15


    How to identify Manhattan Project Plutonium with Cody Folden

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2023 48:48


    How can you find the age of Plutonium? Why is it important? What are the applications? Find out the answer to these questions and more on this episode of My Nuclear Life when Cody Folden joins Shelly Lesher to discuss his paper in the Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry.

    Trying to stay alive at the Diefenbunker with Nathan Radke & Lee Kuhnle

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2023 64:01


    My Nuclear Life and The Uncover Up visit the Diefenbunker: Canada's Cold War Museum. Join Shelly, Nathan, and Lee as they journey 75 feet underground to compare how the Canadian Government planned to prepare for their survival versus the Civil Defense measured intended for their citizens.

    J. Robert Oppenheimer with Kai Bird

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2023 63:02


    Get ready for the summer movie by joining Oppenheimer biographer Kai Bird (author of American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer) as he discusses Oppie's life and science.

    The 3rd Nuclear Age with Ankit Panda

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2023 50:33


    What is the 3rd Nuclear Age? Wait, what about the 1st and 2nd? Join Shelly as she speaks to Stanton Senior Fellow Ankit Panda about how the world is grabbling with nuclear proliferation and what challenges we face.

    The Origin of the Elements with Artemis Spyrou

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2023 40:30


    Chemical elements make up the matter we observe in the universe but how did they form? How did scientists figure this out and what is left to learn? Artemis Spyrou joins Shelly to discuss the evolution of the elements and the nuclear processes that govern stellar nucleosynthesis. Find the B2FH paper, Visit us at: mynuclearlife.com Patreon: www.patreon.com/mynuclearlife email us

    NIF fusion was a breakthrough, but what kind? with Bob Rosner

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2023 43:38


    In December 2022, Lawrence Livermore's National Ignition Facility (NIF) achieved ignition. Join Shelly as she speaks with Bob Rosner about what this milestone means to Stockpile Stewardship and to physics. Also - learn how cool it is to focus 192 lasers onto a tiny little capsule. Patreon: www.patreon.com/mynuclearlife email us Article: Bulletin Article

    Witnessing the Starfish Prime nuclear test with Jim Burkhart

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2023 39:20


    Have you ever wondered what it would be like to witness an above-ground nuclear weapons test? Shelly is joined by Jim Burkhart who was stationed on the Johnston Atoll in 1962 when the largest nuclear test in outer space was conducted. He will discuss this and other shots during his year "on island" as part of Operation Dominic. email us or visit our website mynuclearlife.com. Please leave a 5-star review on iTunes and subscribe to My Nuclear Life wherever you listen to podcasts.

    Solving the solar neutrino problem with Nobel Laureate Art McDonald

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 51:30


    From his beginnings as a nuclear physicist to his Nobel Prize-winning work on neutrinos, Arthur McDonald sits down with Shelly Lesher in the studio. Visit us at: mynuclearlife.com Patreon: www.patreon.com/mynuclearlife email us

    Is this the year NORAD shoots down Santa? With Martin Pfeiffer

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2022 32:05


    Martin Pfeiffer aka @nuclearanthro joins Shelly to discuss the origin story of NORAD Tracks Santa and why it matters. Not suitable for children and may contain foul language. Visit us at: mynuclearlife.com Patreon: www.patreon.com/mynuclearlife email us

    santa shoots norad norad tracks santa martin pfeiffer
    Mom, I'm scared, come pick me up! Students speak out.

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2022 50:38


    Young scientists from the Division of Nuclear Physics (DNP) Conference react to the nuclear weapon talks which opened the conference. Hear their thoughts about the role nuclear scientists play in the future of nuclear policy and disarmament. Visit us at: mynuclearlife.com Patreon: www.patreon.com/mynuclearlife email us

    US Nuclear Weapons and the Nuclear Posture Review with Steve Fetter

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2022 38:18


    With all the talk of nuclear weapons in Europe, learn about the US nuclear weapon triad with Dr. Steve Fetter. Recorded live during a nuclear physics conference, Drs. Fetter and Lesher discuss the US Nuclear Posture Review, the US Nuclear Triad, Nuclear Modernization, and the history of ICBMS.

    Inside the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone with Dominik & Lara from ChernobylX

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2022 48:40


    In this episode, we take you inside the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone with Dominik Orfanus founder of ChernobylX and lead tour guide, Lara Graldina. What is it like inside the "Zone"? Who lives there? What can you do to help? This and more on Episode 38. Note: This episode does not discuss the disaster itself. To hear about that event, listen to Episode 16 - The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Disaster with Adam Higginbotham. Send an email to ChernobylX to find out how you can contribute to their humanitarian work in the Exclusion Zone. Send an email to My Nuclear Life or visit our website mynuclearlife.com. Please leave a 5-star review on iTunes and subscribe to My Nuclear Life wherever you listen to podcasts.

    adam higginbotham exclusion zone chernobyl exclusion zone
    The Baby Tooth Study 2.0 with Marc Weisscopf

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2022 58:37


    The St. Louis Baby Tooth Study has been reimagined. Using the original teeth collected from the children of the 1950s and 1960s Marc Weisscopf and his colleagues at Harvard are seeking to find new answers from old teeth. Shout out to Taz & Mookie Weisscopf who make their presence known on the recording. Note: For background on the Baby Tooth Study listen to Episode 36 first. Artwork from href=https://theappendix.net/issues/2014/10/atomic-anxiety-and-the-tooth-fairy-citizen-science-in-the-midcentury-midwest>Atomic Anxiety and the Tooth Fairy Send an email us to My Nuclear Life or visit our website mynuclearlife.com. Please leave a 5-star review on iTunes and subscribe to My Nuclear Life wherever you listen to podcasts.

    St. Louis Baby Tooth Survey with Nina Gilden Seavey

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2022 34:17


    Nina Gilden Seavey discusses how the St. Louis Baby Tooth Survey helped persuade U.S. President Kennedy to sign the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty which ended above-ground nuclear weapons testing in the US, UK, and the Soviet Union. In the process, citizen science was born and children sported cool buttons on their lapels.

    What if a nuclear engineer was elected US President? with Jonathan Alter

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2022 40:22


    He was and served as the 39th President of the USA. But before his career in politics, Jimmy Carter was a Navy Nuke under Gen. Rickover. What did he do in the Navy? How did this time in the Nuclear Navy shape his policies? What would happen if someone who thought like a scientist gained access to the highest seat in the land? Find out in this episode when Shelly speaks to Jimmy Carter's biographer, Jonathan Alter. Visit us at: mynuclearlife.com Patreon: www.patreon.com/mynuclearlife email us

    How did the U.S. Government plan for nuclear war without you? with Garrett Graff

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2022 42:58


    Underground nuclear bunkers, the birth of FEMA, secret government plans for the end of the world, and more in this episode. Garrett Graff discusses his book Raven Rock: The Story of the U.S. Government's Secret Plan to Save Itself -- While the Rest of Us Die. Visit us at: mynuclearlife.com Patreon: www.patreon.com/mynuclearlife email us

    Exploring the end of the world with nuclear literature and Daniel Cordle

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2022 53:13


    This episode explores how we, as humans, grapple with the end of the world through nuclear literature including fiction, nonfiction, poems, etc. How do we grabble with the "end" if it is caused by humans and how do we explain these accidents to children? Visit us at: mynuclearlife.com Patreon: www.patreon.com/mynuclearlife email us

    Shipbuilding with the precision of a watchmaker - ITER with Michael Loughlin

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2022 41:39


    The history of fusion as a source of energy is discussed along with past and current projects. Is a fusion power plant still decades away? Visit us at: mynuclearlife.com Patreon: www.patreon.com/mynuclearlife email us

    Can Wargaming teach ethics? With John Emery

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2022 68:26


    What is a war game? How did they shape our understanding of the Cold War? Did the mathematicians or social scientists win the war of the COW game? Learn about issues surrounding wargaming at RAND and elsewhere as Shelly & John dive deep into the question, "Can wargaming teach ethics?" Find John Emery's paper here: Moral Choices without Moral Language Visit us at: mynuclearlife.com Patreon: www.patreon.com/mynuclearlife email us Send an email us to My Nuclear Life or visit our website mynuclearlife.com. Please leave a 5-star review on iTunes and subscribe to My Nuclear Life wherever you listen to podcasts.

    Nuclear Threat Reduction & Current Events with Matthias Grosse Perdekamp

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2022


    Special episode on reducing nuclear threat with Prof. Matthias Grosse Perdekamp. Recorded when Russia was invading Ukraine.

    Radium & Marie Curie go Goth Rock with Charming Disaster

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2022 41:11


    Today's episode features the musical duo Charming Disaster. They discuss the process of writing their new album based on the life of Marie Curie and the element she discovered, stories that did not make it into their songs, and ways that this album should sound familiar to fans but is also a departure from their usual writing style. Also, Elia & Jeff dispel Shelly's notion of "Goth Rock". Preorder their new album:Our Lady of Radium Visit Charming Disaster Website Visit us at: mynuclearlife.com Patreon: www.patreon.com/mynuclearlife email us

    Using nuclear science to understand cultural heritage with Michael Wiescher

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2022 53:32


    What role does nuclear science play in understanding art and culture? Michael Wiescher from The University of Notre Dame explains. Visit us at: mynuclearlife.com Patreon: www.patreon.com/mynuclearlife email us

    Should Khrushchev receive story credit for Dr. Strangelove? With Nathan and Lee from The UnCover Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2022 39:18


    Nathan Radke and Lee Kuhnle from The UnCover Up podcast discuss Dr. Strangelove with Shelly and introduce an interesting conspiracy theory. Lee poses a question on if Nikita Khrushchev should receive story credit for the plot of the movie and backs it up with some interesting history of who could launch a nuclear attack. Wait - did Stanley Kubrick accidentally get it right? Visit us at: mynuclearlife.com Patreon: www.patreon.com/mynuclearlife email us

    The movie with the finest ending: Failsafe (1964) with Nathan & Lee from The UnCover Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2022 46:55


    Nathan Radke and Lee Kuhnle from The UnCover Up podcast discuss Failsafe (1964) with Shelly and compare it to Dr. Strangelove. Find out what character made Lee want to quit watching Failsafe, who the gang thinks would have a better chance at surviving a nuclear exchange: file clerks or prisoners, and what Shelly wants etched on her tombstone. Visit us at: mynuclearlife.com Patreon: www.patreon.com/mynuclearlife email us

    What's with all the Nuclear Movies? With Nathan & Lee from The UnCover Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2021 60:12


    Nathan and Lee from the UnCover Up podcast join today's conversation in discussing their favorite nuclear movies spanning over the decades, involving wars, nuclear disasters, and so much more! Amongst the 100's of movies, they'll be touching on just a sampling—this is a conversation you won't want to miss! Movie links can be found on our website. Visit us at: mynuclearlife.com

    Using radiation as a poison. The murder of Alexander Litvinenko with Pete Burgess

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2021 53:31


    In this episode Pete Burgess discusses the murder of Alexander Litvinenko, a Russian spy who defected to the UK. Why is polonium-210 a good poison? How do you make it? Why wasn't the public scared it could happen to them? All of those questions and more are answered in this exciting episode. Visit us at: mynuclearlife.com Patreon: www.patreon.com/mynuclearlife email us Send an email to My Nuclear Life or visit our website mynuclearlife.com. Please leave a 5-star review on iTunes and subscribe to My Nuclear Life wherever you listen to podcasts.

    How the Norwegians & British ended the Nazi atomic bomb program with Neal Bascomb

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2021 57:06


    In this episode, host Shelly Lesher is joined by Neal Bascomb, author of The Winter Fortress, which tells the story of the plan to sabotage Hitler's atomic bomb. Listen as Neal tells about the several different missions set out to destroy the Nazi atomic bomb program and how they affected the course of the World War II. Visit us at: mynuclearlife.com Patreon: www.patreon.com/mynuclearlife email us

    Announcement & Anniversary Give Away

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2021 2:11


    Our release schedule has changed to the last Tuesday of the month. This episode also introduces information about entering to win some great prizes at mynuclearlife.com drawing on 16 Dec 2021.

    Finger on the Button: Life as a Cold War Missileer with Col. (Ret.) Charles G. Simpson

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2021 59:39


    Go inside a US missile silo with Col. (Ret.) Charles G. Simpson as he discusses his time as a US Air Force Missileer which started weeks before the Cuban Missile Crisis and ends shortly before the end of the Cold War. Visit us at: mynuclearlife.com Patreon: www.patreon.com/mynuclearlife email us

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