My Nuclear Life

Latest Episodes:

HItler and the Bomb | Mark Walker Oct 16, 2025

Show notes

How close were the Germans to building an atomic bomb? What went wrong? Listen to the conversation with historian Mark Walker to find out more.

Hidden in plain sight. The Greenbrier Bunker | Deanna Hylton Sep 02, 2025

Show notes

Not actually a bunker but a fallout shelter under the Greenbrier Hotel in the hills of West Virginia. Shelly visits the bunker and then speaks with the manager of bunker tours and historian Deanna Hylton.

The Atomic Pilgrim | James Patrick Thomas Aug 05, 2025

Show notes

James Patrick Thomas speaks to Shelly about his walk for nuclear disarmament in 1981 which lasted 20 months. Along with 18-19 other pilgrims, James left Washington and journeyed to Bethlehem, walking over 6,700 miles. We hear about his decision to undertake such a monumental task, how the group made a major decision, and if Shelly would do the same thing. >> The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or the sponsoring agencies

The ethics of human radiation experiments | The Uncover Up Jun 24, 2025

Show notes

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 May 13, 2025

Show notes

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 Apr 08, 2025

Show notes

“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 Feb 25, 2025

Show notes

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 Jan 07, 2025

Show notes

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 Jan 01, 2025

Show notes

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 Nov 26, 2024

Show notes

If you were alive at the time, you remember an o-ring caused 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.

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