Titans Of Nuclear | Interviewing World Experts on Nuclear Energy · Bret Kugelmass, Energy Impact Center

Ep 410: Nick O'Hara - Writer and Producer, Gridlocked

·35 min·3 clips

Nick O'Hara admits he once thought nuclear was bad, but a meeting with an MIT professor changed everything.

This episode of Titans of Nuclear features Nick O'Hara, a writer, producer, and public policy strategist who hosts the podcast Gridlocked. O'Hara discusses his personal journey from having misconceptions about nuclear energy to becoming an advocate, sparked by conversations with experts like MIT's Jacopo Buongiorno. He details how his communications firm, Renovata, and the Gridlocked podcast aim to address complex 21st-century issues, starting with an inaugural season focused on energy. O'Hara recounts his first exposure to nuclear energy during a 1989 school trip to the Fawley Power Station in England, which initially did not interest him. His perspective changed after engaging with Professor Jacopo Buongiorno and author Joshua Goldstein, co-writer of the book "A Bright Future" and the film "Nuclear Now." He describes Gridlocked as a thought leadership platform created with his business partner, Mark Havener, to explore why modern society feels "broken" and to present solutions from diverse experts. The podcast's first season includes interviews with figures like architect Norman Foster, climate scientist Kerry Emanuel, and space architect Guillermo Trotti. A key insight is O'Hara's belief that the public has been "brainwashed" with negative perceptions about nuclear safety and waste, which he once shared. He argues the nuclear industry must stop defensively debating past incidents like Chernobyl and instead promote a unified, positive narrative about modern technology's safety and potential. O'Hara emphasizes that nuclear energy's safety record is statistically on par with wind and solar power. He advises the industry to coalesce around a core message and tell more human stories about workers and communities near plants to build public connection. The conversation highlights the importance of accessible communication, with O'Hara praising resources that translate technical details for general audiences, like Joshua Goldstein's book. He stresses that effective modern advocacy requires building communities and engaging in two-way conversations through platforms like podcasts, rather than relying on traditional public relations. O'Hara sees nuclear energy as a critical, immediate tool for decarbonization and enabling a sustainable future, but cautions that the industry is out-lobbied by fossil fuel and renewable alliances. The tone is conversational and educational, blending personal narrative with strategic communication advice. O'Hara speaks as a converted advocate, framing the discussion around broader societal challenges and the urgency of the climate crisis. The style is informal yet persuasive, aiming to inform and shift listener perspectives through reasoned argument and storytelling. Listeners interested in energy policy, strategic communications, or personal conversion stories regarding nuclear power will find this episode engaging. Those seeking deep technical analysis of reactor technology or debates on specific nuclear policies might find the focus on broader narrative and advocacy less suited to their interests.

As heard by us

A clear, systems-minded conversation about Gridlocked and the energy bottlenecks shaping the 21st century.

Nick O'Hara gives a clear account of how Gridlocked came together and why its frame matters. The talk moves from a podcast about why the 21st century feels broken and how it might be fixed into the larger system story around energy, climate change, the energy crisis,…

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Why you'd press play

Press play if you want nuclear thinking tied to the wider machinery of modern life.

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