My Nuclear Life

My Nuclear Life

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 with historians, policymakers, experts in their fields, and first-hand accounts to weave a picture of your nuclear life.
Were we saved from nuclear annihilation by a bottle of vodka?
November 03, 2026
83
00:52:4448.28 MB

Were we saved from nuclear annihilation by a bottle of vodka?

Join Shelly Lesher and Nathan Radke as they discuss how the Black Brant, Canadian designed, multi-stage rocket almost ended us in January 1995 (The Black Brant Scare). Did Boris Yeltsin have a heroic moment or was he full of vodka? Along the way we find out where Shelly & Nathan were in the 90s and wha...

Happy Stanislav Petrov Day & Able Archer (1983)
September 26, 2026
82
00:55:2650.75 MB

Happy Stanislav Petrov Day & Able Archer (1983)

In this episode, Nathan Radke and Shelly are joined by Lee Kuhnle to discuss the last few months of 1983. Today you should celebrate Stanislav Petrov Day (September 26) and not participate in a nuclear simulation.

1983 - The Year of Living Dangerously
September 15, 2026
81
00:54:1349.63 MB

1983 - The Year of Living Dangerously

It wasn't the mullets or shoulder pads but how close the world came to nuclear annihilation. Join Shelly and Nathan Radke as they discuss what happened in 1983 and why you should have been scared. Very, very scared.

Project Paperclip | Brian Crim
July 28, 2026
80
00:52:1147.77 MB

Project Paperclip | Brian Crim

Project Paperclip; or how the US gave citizenship to Nazi scientists so we could build rockets to get to the moon and defeat the Soviets. This episode will explore this project with Brian Crim, PhD, Professor for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Keene State College.

The JASONS | Ann Finkbeiner
June 09, 2026
79
00:59:0254.05 MB

The JASONS | Ann Finkbeiner

Who are the JASONS? What do they do and can Shelly ever fulfill her dream of becoming one? Find out on this episode with Ann Finkbeiner.

Not Dead Yet | Conspiracy Theory with Uncover Up
May 14, 2026
78
00:49:41113.7 MB

Not Dead Yet | Conspiracy Theory with Uncover Up

What is going on with all the missing scientists? Should we be worried? Should Shelly be worried? Is there a Mayor McCheese secret plot? Join Nathan & Lee from the Uncover Up as they check in on Shelly to make sure she is ok.